SPEAK
LIFE
BREAD
14 May
the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight,
O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Psalms 19:14 (NIV)
20 The
tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of
little value. 21 The
lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment.
Proverbs 10:20-21 (NIV)
23 A wise
man's heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction. 24 Pleasant words are a
honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
Proverbs 16:23-24 (NIV)
26 She
speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
Proverbs 31:26 (NIV)
45 When
Moses finished reciting all these words to all Israel, 46 he said to them, “Take to
heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may
command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. 47 They are not just idle words
for you--they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are
crossing the Jordan to possess.”
Deuteronomy 32:45-47 (NIV)
BUTTER
“Blazingly,
Jesus illustrated this with the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4). No self-respecting Jew of that time would speak
to a Samaritan. But Jesus, caring more
for the person than the tradition, knew she had an unquenched thirst. He sought her out, found common ground -- and
the rest is history. It’s a model I’m
seeing lived out all around me - people finding common ground, taking risks,
running toward instead of away from threat. Being brave to love and heal and bless -- no
matter the cost to self. Daring to hold back, or to step in to forge a way for
peace, stem a destructive tide, or build a river in a desert. I’m seeing that being salt and light means
engaging our world precisely where we are placed. Wherever we find ourselves,
there, living simply, profoundly, giving our best at all times for Jesus’ sake.
Upfront or behind the scenes, whether
like me you are a helper, or whether you are a leader; a doctor, an executive,
a parent, a principal, a granny or a golfer, it matters not -- only that we are
givers and love at all times.” Paula Kirby
“Just so you know,
the need for repentance, redemption, and forgiveness is universal. I don't care
if you are a liberal or a conservative, a religious fanatic or a militant
atheist, a ‘spiritual’/’religious’ person or someone who runs from all that. It
doesn’t matter to me if you listen to Billy Graham or follow Camus—you are in
need. No one in the human race is exempt.
It’s in our DNA…When we finally acknowledge our need for forgiveness and
come to God in repentance, we find true power; for we now have nothing to hide
or protect, we don't care what people say or think about us, we are willing to
speak truth gently, and we are enabled to speak with tremendous, supernatural
power.”
Steve
Brown
“God employs His people to encourage one another. We should delight that God usually works for human beings with other human beings. It forms a bond of friendship, and being mutually dependent on one another, we are fused more completely into one family. Work to help others, and especially strive to encourage them. Talk cheerily to the young and anxious inquirer, lovingly try to remove obstacles out of his way. When you find a spark of grace in the heart, kneel down and blow it into a flame. Leave the young believer to discover the roughness of the road by degrees, but tell him of the strength which dwells in God, of the sureness of the promise, and of the charms of communion with Christ. Aim to comfort the sorrowful, and to animate the hopeless. Speak a word in season to him who is weary, and encourage those who are fearful to go on their way with gladness. God encourages you by His promises; Christ encourages you as He points to the heaven He has won for you, and the Spirit encourages you as He works in you to will and to do of His own will and pleasure. Imitate divine wisdom, and encourage others according to the Word.” Charles H. Spurgeon
“Each day offers us an
opportunity to build or to tear down. We do both with our actions, attitudes,
and most of all, with our words. Wherever you are today, the critical question
to ask yourself is, ‘Am I building or am I tearing down?’ We build our legacy
one choice and one day at a time. Hudson Taylor once wrote that there are three
phases to any impossible project, "Impossible...difficult...done!” Donna Evans
HEART SAVOR
- · I am to use my words to speak life not death – to build up rather than tear down.
- · I am to encourage others as long as it is today – while I still have an opportunity: 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. Hebrews 3:13 (NIV)
- · I must know Truth to speak Truth: 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 2 Timothy 2:15-16 (NIV)
