Dyn-o-mite! Words are like TNT.

Dyn-o-mite!

A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends. - Proverbs 16:28

Words are like TNT. They are very powerful. Just the way you say something can change its meaning and really sting others. Even truthful words can hurt. That is something to always remember. Words are like verbal dynamite. Throw a few into a fiery debate and watch the conversation start to burn.

Wise men store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin. - Proverbs 10:14

No one wants to be a fool, but with the social media craze as it stands now, it's hard not to fall to gossip. You have to change that status update every day or people will think you're stale and boring. We pressure ourselves to keep up with the virtual Jones'.

Proverbs has plenty of advice when it comes to the importance of your words and how to speak.

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked. Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all wrongs. - Proverbs 10: 11-12

That is really the crux, isn't it. Love is always the answer. If you have a question, really error on the side of love and you should be okay. Use your discernment. Truthful words can help as well. They can also hep a friend from going wrong. Discernment has been the word of the week this week.

The Lord detests the thoughts of the wicked, but those of the pure are pleasing to him. - Proverbs 15: 26

One of my favorite things about the tv show Good Times was Jimmie Walker and his familiar catch phrase "Dyn-o-mite!" No matter what situation he came upon he always had the right attitude. 

When you say positive things to yourself, positive things appear in your life. Like attracts like. That's why the saying "birds of a feather flock together," is so appropriate. 

Notice what you are noticing in your world. Notice what you say to others and yourself. Because it all came to you due to your thoughts and the words that came out of your mouth.

So, today, remember to say kind things to everyone.... including yourself.

Have an abundant and blessed day.

Our Mountains

Our Mountains

by Toni Walker

Life is a mix of mountains and valleys, hills and dales, bad times and good times. Some days you are flying so high thinking no one could ever deflate your bubble and other days you want to stay in bed and hide under the covers.

God is our refuge and strength. 

- Psalm 46:1

These mountains might not be literal, they could be emotional, physical, spiritual, or mental. Whatever they are, they could be a major challenge when placed in our paths.

So, what do we do when life threatens to overwhelm us? You can either tough it out and scale that mountain; or you can by pass it all together; or you can dig a tunnel and plow right through it. Your choice.

One of God's greatest strengths is turning our stumbling blocks into our spiritual stepping stones, closing doors that don't serve us and opening new doors that resonate with us more.

And remember, God will not condemn you if you can't scale life's mountains. He appreciates your continued effort. Because he knows that with focused intention and God's grace you can accomplish anything. He is not concerned if you do or don't accomplish something, he is more concerned with your faithful effort.

God always has a Plan B for our lives. Don't give up if Plan A fails. God's will can be found in the middle of life's mountains, not necessarily only at the summit.

Blessings

Life's Lemons

Life's Lemons

When life hands you lemons, it's time to make lemonade.

Do you ever think someone is out to get you, put the kibosh on a project or ruin a relationship with someone you love?

Take heart.

If God is for us, who can be against us.

God isn't one of those fair-weathered friends who are only around for the good times. He's also there when life dumps a bunch of lemons in your lap saying, " there! Deal with that!"

He carries us when we struggle and comforts us when we are weak. You don't have to earn his loyalty. And you won't lose it either because you've made a mistake .

The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs. - Isaiah 58:11

Life can be tough sometimes, there is no doubt. But if rivals do come against you, if tough times threaten, know that spiritually you cannot be defeated because you have a big God who can roll with the punches and handle it all. He's always in your corner rooting you on and instructing you in His ways. Notice the little signs he leaves you every day. He instructs you in gentle ways and he doesn't leave you.

Because if God is for you, it doesn't matter who is against you.

Blessings.

Go the distance in life's storms

Go the Distance
By Toni Walker

Those people who keep their faith until the end will be saved. - Matthew 24:11

Jesus didn't say if you succeed you will be saved. Or if you come out on top you will be saved. He says, if you endure, if you hang in there, if you go the distance, you will be saved.

The saved may go to the edge of life's cliffs, but if they stay the course that points them to God's will, they will be saved.

Life throws us a lot of curve balls. We just need to dig our claws into the firm foundation of Christ and hang on until life's storms pass us by.

Have you ever noticed that sometimes you don't realize you're in one of these storms until the hail starts coming down and the shutters start to rattle?

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. - Jeremiah 29:11

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have because God said, never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. - Hebrews 13:5

When life's storms hit like a rogue tornado, we are left reeling. That is where my church is now. We are stumbling forward with our hands outstretched. Who is gonna catch us, we wonder.

I implore you to open your eyes. You are always protected by God's grace. He has put measures into effect to keep you safe. Look for these signs. Look for God's presence in the small ways and you will realize even in life's storms, he is carrying you and helping you to go to the distance.

Blessings.

Which Way? Lead me, Lord.

Which Way?
By Toni Walker

You are like foreigners and strangers in this world. - 1 Peter 2:11

When you are in unfamiliar territory, you feel lost, discombobulated and out of sorts. It is a sick feeling in the pit of your stomach. Which way soul's I go? Which way is the right direction for me to travel?

Are you in a strange and foreign land like this in your life?

What is the first thing we should do when we are lost? Ask for directions, of course. We need to find the nearest person and shout for help. Help! Help me! I'm lost and I can't find my way home.

But there is one question I need to ask you -- where do you want to go?

That should always be your first thought. What is the right direction for me to move today? What is my Intension for today? What do i want to accomplish today? So many times we wander through our day with no sense of where we are going and where we want to be.

These questions will help lead you in the direction you need to go. And we also need to do this in our spiritual life. Ask yourself the hard questions. Did I pray for myself and those I love today? Did I pray for right direction on my spiritual path? Did I pray for my church and fellow church members?

Like a child praying before bedtime, we need to incorporate prayer into our day. Not just once in a blue moon, but every day. It sets a positive spiritual Intension for our day and sends up blessings of abundance for those you love and care for.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
- John 14:6

What way are you going today? Is your road leading you to your Father in heaven or somewhere off-road where you are stuck learning lessons?

I pray you find your way today.

Blessings.

Picking up kernels of a broken church

Psalms 119:35
Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.

There are times when one thing is on the minds of the entire congregation. Right now that question is: "what now?."

Let me explain.

The pastor of my church quit recently or as they like to say, "put in his resignation." it's all been really hush-hush. Most of the congregation didn't know the pastor was leaving until the day he left. It left the entire church in a sort of hazy flux asking themselves, "what now?"

So, what do we do now? The answer is simple.

PRAY.

Pray for the pastor that he finds employment elsewhere that more than adequately meets his and his family's needs.

Pray for the church staff that they are blessed and spiritually fed so that they in turn can feed us, the congregation.

Pray for the Deacons. Pray extra hard for this. Pray for discernment on the part of the Deacons so that they use wise discernment in the days and months that follow as they try to find a new direction for the church. Pray that the Deacons find a silver thread on this murky road that lies before them. And pray that this thread leads them to God's Will.

Pray that the congregation plays their part by inviting newcomers and singing the praises of the church to the community and not bad mouthing the situation as it stands now. There is always room for healing.

And lastly, pray for yourself. Pray that you heed God's will for your life and that you follow the signs he leaves for you.

Right now we are all walking on a dark road with a barely working flashlight. We can only see a few feet ahead of us. And as we walk forward we find kernels. Think breadcrumbs. We ask ourselves as we pick up each kernel: is this worthy to keep or part of the deadwood we need to leave behind on our journey?

I pray that the kernels we keep lead us to the cross.

Blessings.