I am about wiped out for the
day. Haven’t been out of town, except
for the drives to OHSU, for quite some time.
I also wanted to get up to Deed and Josh’s before winter set in, so Carla
and I took a drive this morning.
They are doing a lot of work up
there, Josh has the barn done and is putting floors in for the goats. He has the cover built for their deck on the
back side of the house – and a number of other jobs done since we were last
there.
Duck hunting is coming up, so he
only has a couple more weeks to finish his projects – course the weather will
have something to say about it too.
Right now the two have the same
days off, that will change in October when Deed changes jobs. But, both are active and will continue to
work on the property, even if they can’t do it together.
Their ranch is only about an
hour away, but between that drive and walking around their place I really
started feeling it. Then it didn’t help
when I realized I had been so focused on getting ready to go up I completely
forgot to take my meds. It isn’t real
critical, they aren’t time sensitive, but it does make a bit of difference.
We got home, I am now sitting
back and will be watching the games, shortly.
A quick sandwich coupled with a nice cold glass of milk AND taking my
meds has definitely helped make me feel better.
Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt
communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of
edifying, that it may minister grace unto the
hearers.
We look at this verse and think
about the ‘bad’ words, the curse words that can be uttered when under
stress. We also need to remember that
even words that are substitutes for curses should not be spoken – we can do
better than that, and yes I still struggle with that.
One of my Pastors pointed that
out over 40 years ago, yet, I still struggle – getting better I hope, but
still.....
But this verse speaks more than
just that – gossip, angry words, belittling and being condescending can also be
described as corrupt communications.
Instead of lifting up, we tear
down. That does not mean that we don’t
offer correction, that we don’t critique another’s behavior. It doesn’t me that we can’t point out areas
they need improvement, but it should be done in a manner that will help the
listener, cause them to improve become more efficient - not discourage.
There are times that we will
honestly explain to someone that they are not suited for a particular job, etc.
but it shouldn’t be done in a manner that makes them ‘feel’ small and
unimportant.
We want to build people up, not
just to make them ‘feel good’ but to make them stronger and more effective in
their job, whether it be employment or spiritual life.
You know me well enough to know
I am not referring to praising everything a person does – that is okay for a 4
year old, but becomes embarrassing when an older child – and even adults – must
be constantly patted on the back just because they show up regardless of the job
they do.
We have the ability to encourage
and lift people up as we live in Christ.
We have the Holy Spirit that guides us, and the desire to be effective
witnesses for Him.
For some these things come easy
and are automatic, for the rest of us we have to work on it, take time to
concentrate on what needs to be said – not just speak off the cuff, and yes,
that too is a problem for me.
What God desires of us is to
help others. If not, once we accepted
His Son He would have taken us up to heaven.
There are so many verses that remind us of our mission here on earth to
bring His Gospel to others AND act as He would have us to act which will draw
others to Christ.
Later, Art :-)
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