Slow or Fast?

 

I know some people who are slow and thoughtful when they speak.  But I know some other people who “speak their mind.”  They talk until they have something to say.  Their first few sentences sound like they are arguing with themselves, but their last few sentences are really what they think because they have finally talked it over with themselves.  James 1:19, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”  James said that we should weigh our words BEFORE they come out.  Last night, I said something, and as I was saying it, I realized it was hurtful WHILE I WAS SAYING IT!  I felt like I wanted to reach out and grab the end of the sentence and pull the words back into my mouth.  But I couldn’t.  So I immediately said, Wait, no, that isn’t what I meant to say,” and self- corrected.  The person that I was talking with understood and accepted my retraction.  Hey, don’t let hurtful words continue to live.  Filter bad ideas in your mind BEFORE they come out of your mouth and have a life.  Kill them before they have a life.  Think before you speak.  Hey, keep James 1:9 before you today.  I hope to.  Today I want to think … and then speak.

Admitted

 

Texas was admitted into the union on December 29, 1845.  Hey, have you been admitted into God’s forever family?  You can be right now.  Actually, there’s no better time than now.  Ask the dear Lord to forgive your sins and to give you a home in heaven when you die.  And if you’re sincere when you ask Him, He will forgive your sins and welcome you into His forever family … just like the United States of America welcomed Texas in 1845.

My Favorite 8" Skillet

 

I went to get my favorite 8” skillet out of the cabinet, and it wasn’t there!  Yikes!  I have had family and friends at my house over the past week, and they have helped do the dishes (and I am grateful) but … my favorite 8” skillet has been put away somewhere in my kitchen/dining room, and I don’t know where!  I know that I seem ungrateful, but I need that skillet.  So, I had to go on an Easter egg hunt last night for my favorite 8” skillet.  Did I tell you it was my favorite skillet?!!!  It wasn’t in the cutting board cabinet.  It wasn’t in the pots and pans cabinet, and it wasn’t in the back with the bigger pots.  It wasn’t overhead with the mixing bowls, pie pans, or serving bowls.  It wasn’t above the stove … wait … could it be in the drawer under the stove?  Yes, there it was!  Great!  That was close!  I use that skillet almost every morning to cook my bacon and eggs.  Did I tell you it was my favorite?  Hey, when I lose something precious, I go all out to find it!  I search every place that I can think of looking for that special item!  Hey, do I seek the dear Lord with that same urgency?  Isaiah 55:6&7, “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”  I like that part about “mercy” and “pardon”, but especially “abundantly”, don’t you?