A NEW OLD RULE

On the way home from church this past Sunday, Mother’s day I might add :), our kids had to sit right beside each other on the way home. Not the best idea…siblings are going to aggravate each other..that is just a fact of life friends. Isn’t there an unspoken rule that your kids have to get along on Mother’s day and your birthday?? 🙂

Well, I spoke up…rather quickly..before I had thought out exactly how I wanted to word it…”Ok..we are NOT going to talk to each other like this..I have a NEW rule..(silence…)..and the NEW rule is…” What’s the new rule Momma, asks our youngest? “Hang on, stick to the OLD one while I try to put into words what the NEW one is…(laughing).”

Here is what I told them: From now on before you speak to each other or act..I want you(and me and Daddy) to think, “Is what I am about to say or do going to bring God glory(make Him proud of me) or is it going to make Him ashamed of me?”

Now, does this mean that because I said this, that now every time before we act or speak that we are perfect in our words and deeds? Only in a fairytale world! When you mess up, that is a perfect time to teach your children the importance of confessing and repenting. Yes, kids are going to fuss..and so are parents. Yes, this is a rule we have taught our children since they were little…but, it never hurts to remind them and yourself of how we should treat one another. Especially within the family.

Your home should be a place where there is love and peace and acceptance. There is enough negative that we receive from the outside world. What if though..we all practiced this NEW rule..not just in our homes with our family..but with EVERYONE. See, that is the intention that I had when telling our children this NEW rule. It isn’t really NEW… It goes along with what Scripture tells us: Love your neighbor as yourself..and bridle or control your tongue.(this is not quoted scripture..just referring to scripture)

Our words and our actions relate to being an effective witness for Christ. Our words and behavior reflect what we truly believe in our hearts.

Words are extremely powerful! Our words can heal or they can tear down. Words can lift somebody up or bring them down. Words can be restrained and controlled or they can run wild. Our relationship with Christ Jesus is reflected through our words. (tone, choice of words, self-control) Do your words reflect Jesus or do they reflect you?

Proverbs 13:3 (NIV) ~ He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.

Proverbs 15:28 (NIV) ~ The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.

Luke 6:45 (NIV) ~ The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart his mouth speaks.

Our actions reflect what we truly believe. Many people claim to know God…our behavior will speak volumes about our beliefs. We all make mistakes, and we all sin, it is our attitude about those things that reflect our beliefs though. If you truly know God..those things that keep you separated from Him will convict you..and make you sad and want to repent and change.

Titus 1:16a (NIV) ~ They claim to know God, but their actions deny Him.

If you don’t really know God, don’t let shame or pride keep you from knowing Him. He loves you…he loves me…thank goodness He doesn’t want “perfect people”. If you do know God as your Savior and Redeemer but you know your actions and words haven’t reflected that, it is time to give in and give it all to God. There is freedom in letting Jesus take control.

Thanks for letting me share with you what God has put on my heart to share. I wish for you all the freedom that comes from letting go and letting GOD!

UNTIL NEXT TIME! 🙂

Sisters..best friends one day..