Proverbs 21: 23 ” He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.”

You may know someone…it might even be yourself that’s developed this fateful disease know as Foot in Mouth.  Some people are so affected,  that the only time their foot comes out of their mouth – is to change socks!  It takes wisdom and discipline not to just blurt out anything that comes to mind.  It takes us thinking before we speak…is this appropriate?…is this kind?…will I regret saying this tomorrow?  So much trouble and misery could be avoided if we’d just learn to think before we opened our mouth.

II Corinthians 1: 22 ” He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”

Do you know  how much God loves you?  He loves you so much, that  He has stamped His name on your heart… and you are now His forever and ever.  No person or thing  can ever take you away from Him.  That Holy stamp is indelible, unchangeable, and eternal.

II Peter 1:21 ” For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

The difference between a prophet and a false prophet is where their word come from. If it’s based on selfish wants and desires…that’s a false prophet.  But if the person is attentively listening to the prompting of the Holy Spirit…inspired and motivated only by His voice…that is true prophecy.

James 1:26 ” If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.”

Nothing gives Christianity a bad name like a person who claims to serve God, but constantly puts his foot in his mouth. When we claim to have Jesus in our hearts, but yell and curse in public, our influence is useless. Those around us will quickly judge us a hypocrite, and any chance of reaching them for Christ is gone forever. If you call yourself a Christian, people are watching and listening to see if you’re genuine…and most times it’s not what you say, but rather what you don’t say that makes the biggest difference.

Proverbs 10:12 ” Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs.”

Hatred is one of the strongest words we humans have…the sheer intensity and emotion tied to it makes the word almost have a life of its own. This unbridled emotion of hatred will provoke all kinds of hostility, bitterness, and strife into ours and others lives. But Godly love shows forgiveness towards others, and a willingness to put away adversity for the good of all. As Jesus said, “Forgive as you have been forgiven.”

Galatians 6:9 ” Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

It can be very discouraging when our acts of kindness and good will go unacknowledged and unappreciated. But rather than losing heart and feeling defeated spiritually, we must remember that the opportune time is coming…the bountiful season is approaching, when if we but persevere in doing good, the fruits of all we’ve done will be ours.

Isaiah 40:8 ” The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of our God stands forever.”

Everything around us is temporal…here for a short time and then gone. Everything that is, except the Word of God. His Word is eternal and forever, and always fulfilled by Him. God’s Word will never pass away…it will never fade from sight.

Ecclesiastes 5: 19-20 ” Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work – this is a gift of God. He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.”

Maybe you’ve heard the saying, Bloom where you’re planted…but if you really think about it, 99% of whether we’re happy and satisfied with things depends on our attitude rather than the physical environment around us. If you’re doing your job unto the Lord, regardless if you’re the President of a great corporation, or the night janitor, you can be happy in your work and be fulfilled. As it says in Deuteronomy 12:7, ” You shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the Lord your God has blessed you.”

Deuteronomy 16: 15 ” For the Lord your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete.”

The garden in mid-September is starting to look a little tired. This afternoon as I was out there bringing in the last of the broccoli, the Lord started comparing Harvest-time with our lives. The plants come Fall know Winter is just around the corner, so they’re expending as much energy as they can to fulfill their destiny…they may look kind of bedraggled, but their mission is not done yet, so they persevere. If you are like me…in the “Fall” of your life…look at the Harvest-time coming, don’t allow your energy to falter…you have much to accomplish yet.

Genesis 11:4 “Then they said, ‘ Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth.’ ”

Man’s pride was reaching towards the sky, but it was in direct contradiction to what God had told them to do. Rather than segregating themselves together, He had commanded them to, “Be fruitful, increase in number, and fill the earth.” In response to their rebellion, God confused them by changing their one language into many, and dispersing them across the landscape.