Monday Writings...7/25/16

Good morning...
I hope that y0u have had a wonderful weekend. It was hot here in California as it was in most of the country. It is supposed to cool down later this week. I am looking forward to that moment. Have a great Mondayl   

God bless from
Corinne

In her devotional titled "The Knife Sharpener" Mary Wilkins used the analogy of a sharpened knife to show the importance of choosing  words  that build up and do not hurt. The sharpened knife is more efficient than a dull knife. Mary wrote, "When I am sarcastic or 'funny' at someone else's expense - that is sharpness from my mind.  When I speak words that bring peace and encouragement - that comes from attentiveness to God's truth and grace."                                                                       

  Today's Devotional   

"The Knife Sharpener"

written by

Mary M. Wilkins

"I'd really like a knife sharpener," my husband points out, as we walk through the fancy kitchen store. I roll my eyes over the necessity of a knife sharpener as I admire a pan that costs the same as a weeks' worth of groceries. I don't ask why he wants one since I have heard the reasons many times. The bottom line is that properly sharp knives are safer and do their job more smoothly with less pressure than dull knives. 

When I think about it, whenever I really listen to God's Word and take it to heart, my edges are being gradually smoothed. Which is just like a knife being sharpened. 

When I am sarcastic or 'funny' at someone else's expense - that is sharpness from my mind.  When I speak words that bring peace and encouragement - that comes from attentiveness to God's truth and grace.

When I am full of God's love, like a knife newly sharpened, my words will be smooth even when I need to address something difficult. When I am mad/upset/angry/hurt about something or someone - I try to wait and let myself cool off before speaking. Waiting for my emotions to settle down helps me to figure out what it was about the situation that actually upset me. Then I can, if I choose to, share honestly with the other person. 

Become wise by walking with the wise;

    hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces.

Proverbs 13:20 MSG

Words kill, words give life;

    they’re either poison or fruit—you choose.

Proverbs 18:21 MSG

Dear Lord, thank You for giving us wisdom on how to use the hearts and minds You have given us. Please help us to remember that we see only on the outside and we cannot assume how people are doing. We are called to love others - we are not called to decide who needs some love today. We all need love. In Jesus name, amen.

                                 Toby Mac performs "Speak Life"

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   In The News   

When Tithing Comes With a Money-Back Guarantee

How did churches like NewSpring and Life.Church get thousands of Christians to start giving? 

By offering a refund if God isn't faithful

.

This month, hundreds of Christians at a South Carolina megachurch can request a refund on all the money they’ve given since March.

NewSpring Church, led by pastor Perry Noble, is one of hundreds of congregations across the country that have offered 90-day tithing challenges.

Participants sign up with a commitment to give 10 percent of their income or more, and if “God doesn’t hold true to his promises of blessings” after three months, they can request their money back—no questions asked. It’s the church’s version of “satisfaction guaranteed.”

The challenge pulls inspiration from the last book of the Old Testament, Malachi, which states...
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it (Mal. 3:10).

“God literally says, 

"Test me out, see if I’m God,” Perry Noble  preached, 

“You and I cannot out-give him.” 

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   Snippets of Spiritual Insights  from Beverley   

And 🌼 if you were asked 

to name all the things you love, 

how long would it take

 for you to name yourself...

Written by
 Beverley Ann Napier (c)

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   Today's Inspiring Graphic   

"ALL"

not just "some"

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Prayers are lifted up daily for 

you by the Devotional Writers 

and the Monthly Writing Staff

of Women's Focus Ministries.

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