Sunday at Church we had a sermon about listening, truly listening not just saying things to make the other person listen. How many of us really listen to what is being said to us? I have to admit I am guilty of this when my kids speak. Even my husband is learning as our son begins to speak more and more that he needs to really listen. For instance my son said "Yea time to play Poppy's phone" and my husband not really listening, (keep in mind our son has a bit of a speech delay so it hasn't always been clear what he is saying) and my husband responds with "Yes" so guess who had to hand over his phone for the little one to play games?
Here is the scriptural path that we took on Sunday, maybe there is a message in there for you too.
The pastor started with James 1:19-21 19) Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: Which means listen closely to what is said and then quite possibly you will hear the entire message and there will be no need to be angry. This is often hard to do when you communicate via text messages and Facebook, because body language and tone cannot be read through a message it must be experienced first hand. 20) For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God, this is explained in my Bible this way: Trials require silence and patience because talk inflames anger, and anger inflames talk. Anger also distracts from listening to God. 21) Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
We then moved over to Ephesians 4 starting with 14) That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. We must continue to grow into the word in order to keep from being swayed by false doctrine. There is a lot of that out there especially with the internet. 15) But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.
Proverbs 15: 1) A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. You can remove anger from the equation by a gentle response, knowledge as a heated response it will fuel the flame. 2)The tongue of the wise useth, Knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness. 3) The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. 4) A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit. Be kind to those around you. Try to be patient with others even as they annoy you. I will be the first to say that this is very hard to do. I find it nearly impossible to deal with people who work in fast food restaurants this is one area I pray that the Lord will convict me and help me to be a much better and nicer person. Also having to deal with the referral department for our insurance is a major stumbling block for keeping my anger in check.
Ephesians 5:33) Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. This can be achieved by each partner agreeing to love the other through the good and the bad. I get a lot of negative feedback when people find out that I talk to my husband about everything. We make all decisions both the big and the small together. Each day I tell him what the kids and I will be up to. Since his work days are pretty much the same day to day he doesn't always explain unless it is a deviation from the norm. Every night over dinner we discuss our days and things coming up. We are a team.
Luke 6:45)A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
I hope that you enjoy reading these scriptures and that maybe they will also speak to you. I enjoy sharing the scriptures that I hear in Church along with other things going on in my life. I am trying to be a better Christian, Wife, Mother, Daughter, sister and the list goes on. One day I pray that I can minister to other young believers the way that so many others have ministered to me. May peace be with each of you
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