Watch Out for Sparks

We live on a few heavily wooded acres that I call the Magic Forest. Part of life here involves picking up fallen sticks and eventually burning them. We’d hesitated to do anything with this year’s stack for fear that sparks might spread through the woods.

What made this year different, you ask? Well, conditions changed. A 100-year-old pine tree died suddenly on the edge of the clearing where we burn becoming a fire hazard. To be safe, we had a tree company out recently to remove it.     

Did you know that wildfires have already damaged nearly 1.9 million acres in America so far this year? Fire moves quickly and spreads rapidly anywhere conditions are hot, dry, and brittle, be it in forest, in grasses, or in human hearts...Read More

 

Warning: May Cause Damage

My computer came with built-in protection software that gives me a warning whenever I run a program or visit a website that could potentially harm its system. The pop-up message gives me the opportunity to think about what I’m doing and decide if I really want to proceed with the action. If I’m not fully confident in the site or programming, I don’t risk it. I don’t want to damage my laptop.

Just like a computer virus, words can cause great harm, sometimes irreparable.  And when negative emotions are involved, the more likely the first words out of the mouth will be toxic.

What if we came with safety programming like a computer? Our brain could scan our pending words and warn us that, if we proceed, they could cause potential harm to our relational system. What damage could be prevented if we’d allowed time to think about the larger impact of speech.

The mouth has far too much freedom and today’s culture encourages even more. But simply because we have the legal freedom to say something, doesn’t mean it should be said. The Bible is clear in warning us repeatedly of the destructive power of the tongue.

As believers, we, more than anyone, should have a safety switch on our words. There is one available to us, the Holy Spirit living inside of us. But we must train ourselves to turn to Him first. The more we do, the more automatic it becomes to seek His input before responding. And, in turn, the less likely our words will cause damage to our relationship systems.

Before speaking, but most especially when emotions are involved, ask the Holy Spirit to give you the right words. They’ll be:

T-  true

H-  helpful

I-   ideal

N-  necessary &

K-  kind

“And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.”

Matt. 12:36-37

©AnnWilds2012

Learning How to Dance in Step

The cheerleaders lined up across the gym floor and took their positions. As they waited to begin, my mothering eyes could tell that some of them were apprehensive about the new dance routine they'd just learned. Would they remember the steps? There was no time left to wonder. The music started and as one they began to move.

                   

Life is a dance but the style of dance is ours to choose. We take an earthly approach when we choose—like dancers in a nightclub—to do our own thing. Some go all out moving to the beat with every part of their body, while others simply sway in place. Each dancer is different because they each move in whatever way feels good to them.  As a result, it is difficult to tell if anyone is out of step.

But on the cheer squad’s half time dance it is clearly obvious when someone is out of step. There is no way to hide imperfections and inconsistencies when working to move as one.  

So it is in the Christian determined to move in step with the Spirit. In that dance, it is easier to recognize areas of sin, for life in step with the Holy Spirit is evident in the fruit within us and our lives—love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, gentleness, kindness, self-control, faithfulness, and patience. Where any of these are lacking, there is sin. We are out of step with Him and back in step with the world which follows the desires of self—and seeks to justify the antithesis of His fruit.

When I was in high school, I once danced with my friend’s eighty year old grandfather. I worried about trying to follow him in a dance I didn’t know. Imagine my surprise when he took me in his arms and led me effortlessly around the floor. He was an incredible dancer and never did I think about what to do. In his hands I was secure as we twirled and moved fluidly, in and out of the other dancers, with skill and finesse.

When we actively seek God, our gifted dance partner is the Holy Spirit. When we let Him lead, He smoothly guides us around the dance floor of life, directing us around barriers and keeping us safe from falls. It is when we take the lead, we falter out of step.

Message for the Journey:

Each of us is a dancer on the dance floor of life. We can choose to move in whatever way feels good to us or we can accept the offer to have the Holy Spirit as our dance partner. When we follow His lead we remain in step with God’s purpose for our lives moving beautifully along the promenade.  

Happy Dancing!

                                                                                                               ©AnnWilds2012

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 

Gal 5:25