What is the difference between sharing information and gossiping. What does the Bible say about gossip? A biblical definition of gossip is: one who reveals secrets, one who goes about as a talebearer or scandal-monger. So how do we carry this into our everyday lives?
My mind drifts as I think of everything I need to do. Is their time to pause? Is their time to pray? Maybe I could multitask? Watch the kids, clean the dishes, plan my day’s agenda all while giving a shout out for uncle Jim’s stubbed toe. Sure, God hears us anywhere we pray, but are we praying in a reverent way? In a way that we expect mountains to move? In a way that we are bowing to a risen King? I have tried both types of prayer, and from personal experience, pausing, and taking my time to focus and humble my spirit to Christ is the way to go.
Sometimes we need to look at the heart of a child to remind us of the timeless truths God has tried to impress upon our hearts for years. We look at what we have or don’t have and feel limited. How could God find favor in me, or use me, when all I have doesn’t look good in comparison to what we see others offer. This is not how God weighs our offerings. God looks at the heart, and values the unseen things above all else.
Resentment, gossip, pain, and anger, these are some of the effects of unresolved conflict. Hurt by those we love, whether it be intentionally or unintentionally, our emotions stew up inside us. Instead of confronting our accuser we either talk to everyone but the one who hurt us, or bottle up the hurt convincing ourselves we should not have been hurt in the first place. Where does this get us? No where.
Sharing my faith and convictions can sometimes get discouraging. Not everyone is going to share the same mindset or come to the same conclusions in life. Yet God gently reminded me that everyone is going to be held accountable for there own choice. I cannot make that choice for them. This personal choice cannot be forced but lovingly and patiently shared. I always tried to grasp this concept, yet God really sent the message home when my son struggled getting in the pool.
When times are good isn’t it easy to trust the God who holds the world in His hand? But when times are hard our insecurities mount. Our trust and security start to flee. It is then that we are unmasked. Do we truly trust? Are we holding on strong enough to our Fathers hem, believing Him at His word.
As we view how our children respond to us, we receive a visual of our relationship with our Heavenly Father. My daughter (Isabella, but we call her Izzy) just started crawling; wherever I am in the house, she will find me. Her determination makes my heart soar, because I am her prize. She huffs and puffs, crawling until she can’t push any farther. She rests for a second and then keeps on going.
In Genesis 4, two men offer a sacrifice to God. Abel is respected for his offering, Cain is not. Was God against vegetables, the offering brought by Cain? Shouldn’t just bringing a sacrifice be sufficient? What is the deeper meaning here?
We’ve all heard the saying, ‘patience is a virtue’- now are we sure that’s in the Bible? I didn’t realize how much I struggled with patience before I had kids. The daily struggles of motherhood are uprooting a lot of things that I realize I have to work on. With one step in front of the other I go. Yes, God, I understand it is Your timing not mine, but please can you just let me follow my personal agenda today.
The smell of coffee in the morning, the laughter of children when you are tired with exhaustion, the faithful husband who works to provide, the quiet moments with God. Thanksgiving is an intentional action of gratitude for our many blessings. Unfortunately, in today’s society, it is much like the Robert Frost Poem, “The Road Not Taken.” We are so overwhelmed with our day to day tasks, we lose sight of our many blessings. We fail to stop to and be thankful for all that we have.