One spring day, I sat in my backyard with my friend Suzy and our kids. While we relaxed in lawn chairs, sipping lemonade, a few of the children played on the swing set. The rest sat at our bright yellow children’s picnic table, purchased just days earlier. They were happily creating masterpieces on the pages…
Keep It Shut Bible Study
Sparks, Squabbles, Spats, and Such: Our Words Matter Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. – Proverbs 18:21 Editor’s Note: Words are one of the most powerful weapons we have. They can be a sharp sword or a soothing salve, both having the ability…
Zip It and Pray!
How to Talk to God Before You Talk to Others Prayer will make a man cease from sin, or sin will entice a man to cease from prayer. ~ John Bunyan When I was in college in the 1980s, I came across a pamphlet entitled “How to Spend an Hour in Prayer.” I had been a Christian for just a…
Talking: Taming the Tongue
The apostle James has more good advice about the tongue. My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. — James 1:19-20 Even if you don’t consider yourself a major…
Retreat!
“I want honey in my tea. And a lemon slice too! Oh, and can I use great-grandma’s teacup, pretty please? I’ll be super careful. Pinky promise!”, my then five-year-old daughter sweetly begged. We were enjoying our afternoon mother-daughter ritual while her two baby brothers napped. Each day we pulled out china teacups and saucers from…
Laced with Grace
Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. — Proverbs 16:24 I am such a Bible nerd. Not only do I love to learn the meaning behind the Hebrew or Greek words in Scripture, but I like to study certain English words that pop up at me, pogo-stick style,…
Something to Talk About
Wonderful Ways to Use Your Words A word fitly spoken and in due season is like apples of gold in settings of silver. — Proverbs 25:11 They can build up or tear down. They can impart wisdom or bring shame. They can deliver encouragement or deflate the spirit. Words can be a weapon or a healing balm. A welcome sound…
What Would Jesus Say on Social Media?
If you play the fool and exalt yourself, or if you plan evil, clap your hand over your mouth! – Proverbs 30:32 Here it is, translated for social media: “If you are tempted to slam someone online or brag on Facebook or send off a nasty tweet, turn off the screen and walk away!” That’s it in a nutshell,…
How to Stop Gossiping
I’ve tried all kinds of things to try to keep myself from talking about others when I shouldn’t. Sometimes my methods worked. Other times I just kept yacking. And when gossiping with others, I mistakenly felt secure in thinking that the person I was talking to would not tell the little morsels to the person…
Top 10 Book Gift Ideas for 2016
We love books! And we love getting books as gifts! Slippers are wonderful, a blender is so helpful, a puppy… well a puppy is a precious lot of delight and work, but books… books are like friends. Friends for a lifetime. As you’re preparing your Christmas lists, here are 10 titles your friends and family with…
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