I love your definition of gossip "pornography of the mouth" and the damage it can do. I've been on both sides, and am much more cautious than I used to be but not always cautious enough. On the other hand, I am without a church because a pastor dug up some dirt on me (he went directly to one who had falsely accused and slandered me to get 'his side') and then passed it on to the rest of the staff. The damage that one phone call did has been horrendous.
Wow. How hopeful and sobering. This reorients my heart to look at the beauty of the gospel. I needed this today, Pastor Scott. That final line has grabbed hold of my heart. Hope you are doing well, and I am enjoying your writing.
Fits in perfectly with what I have been considering this week, thank you very much.
Humility is the courage to love God as we are, so that he will guide us in changing to be as he is:
Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1Cor 10:12-13)
He will test us to allow us to work through and trust him to provide the way to escape- not so that we can get away and not have the issue but "that you may be able to endure it."
God doesn't give us trials so we can get out of them, but so that we can endure them to learn how to change in the way he wants us to, this is for our perfecting:
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
(Eph 4:12-13)
To be a reflection of the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. That is some goal, but it is what God expects of us.
That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Thank you for your post here. I was blessed in the reading of it. I was taken by the part your wife played. She must love you greatly. I have one of those and am continually grateful to a God who took a broken man, homeless and mentally unstable, and restored him to the point where he could sustain a marriage.
I love your definition of gossip "pornography of the mouth" and the damage it can do. I've been on both sides, and am much more cautious than I used to be but not always cautious enough. On the other hand, I am without a church because a pastor dug up some dirt on me (he went directly to one who had falsely accused and slandered me to get 'his side') and then passed it on to the rest of the staff. The damage that one phone call did has been horrendous.
Wow. How hopeful and sobering. This reorients my heart to look at the beauty of the gospel. I needed this today, Pastor Scott. That final line has grabbed hold of my heart. Hope you are doing well, and I am enjoying your writing.
Great Post Scott
Fits in perfectly with what I have been considering this week, thank you very much.
Humility is the courage to love God as we are, so that he will guide us in changing to be as he is:
Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1Cor 10:12-13)
He will test us to allow us to work through and trust him to provide the way to escape- not so that we can get away and not have the issue but "that you may be able to endure it."
God doesn't give us trials so we can get out of them, but so that we can endure them to learn how to change in the way he wants us to, this is for our perfecting:
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
(Eph 4:12-13)
To be a reflection of the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. That is some goal, but it is what God expects of us.
That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
(Eph 4:22-24)
Terrific reminder on Easter. Can't comprehend God's love and I know that I know how deep and wide God's love is.
Thank you for your words Scott, wishing you a blessed Easter ✝️
Thank you for your post here. I was blessed in the reading of it. I was taken by the part your wife played. She must love you greatly. I have one of those and am continually grateful to a God who took a broken man, homeless and mentally unstable, and restored him to the point where he could sustain a marriage.
Good timing... I am one of these. Thanks be to God for letting me in.