The words of a good person give life, like a fountain of water, but the words of the wicked contain nothing but violence.
–NCV Proverbs 10:11
Month: April 2010
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Suffer Not the Little Children
Last week, I took my children to a restaurant.
My six-year-old son asked if he could say grace.
As we bowed our heads he said, ‘God is good, God is great. Thank you for the food, and I would even thank you more if Mom gets us ice cream for dessert. And Liberty and justice for all! Amen!’
Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby, I heard a woman remark, ‘That’s what’s wrong with this country. Kids today don’t even know how to pray. Asking God for ice cream! Why, I never!’
Hearing this, my son burst into tears and asked me, ‘Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me?’
As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job, and God was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the table. He winked at my son and said, ‘I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer.’
‘Really?’ my son asked.
‘Cross my heart,’ the man replied.
Then, in a theatrical whisper, he added (indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole thing), ‘Too bad she never asks God for ice cream. A little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes.’
Naturally, I bought my kids ice cream at the end of the meal. My son stared at his for a moment, and then did something I will remember the rest of my life.
He picked up his sundae and, without a word, walked over and placed it in front of the woman. With a big smile he told her, ‘Here, this is for you. Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes; and my soul is good already.’
–Collected from my inbox
13 Some people brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch them, but his followers told them to stop. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was upset and said to them, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to people who are like these children. 15 I tell you the truth, you must accept the kingdom of God as if you were a little child, or you will never enter it.” 16 Then Jesus took the children in his arms, put his hands on them, and blessed them.
–NCV Mark 10:13-16
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We Make Our Own Success
Your business is never really good or bad “out there.” Your business is either good or badright between your own two ears.-Zig Ziglar -
Presidential Quotes on the Bible
I have always said and always will say that the studious perusal of the Sacred Volume will make better citizens, better fathers, better husbands…. The Bible makes the best people in the world.
–THOMAS JEFFERSON:
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5 Things the New Testament Says About Gossip
The Gossips – 1948 – Norman Rockwell In Matthew 12:33-34 Jesus taught us:
- that we will be known by our fruit
- and the mouth bears the fruit of the heart.
Gossip is a particularly aggressive sin against the commandment to love thy neighbor. We can go out of our way to gossip, or we can do it without giving it a second thought.
How ever we do it, the result is never good.
Scripture leaves little doubt as to how God feels about gossip. Here are five things the New Testament has to say about the aspects gossip:
- The tongue is a small member that can cause big trouble – James 3:5
- Corrupt speech is sinful Ephesians 4:29-31
- Mind your own business 1 Thessalonians 4:11, 2 Thessalonians 3:11-12
- Babbling is ungodly 2 Timothy 2:16
- Lay aside the evil thoughts 1 Peter 2:1
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Wisdom Calls
1 Wisdom calls to you like someone shouting;
understanding raises her voice.
2 On the hilltops along the road and at the crossroads,
she stands calling.
3 Beside the city gates, at the entrances into the city,
she calls out:
4 “Listen, everyone, I’m calling out to you;
I am shouting to all people.
5 You who are uneducated, seek wisdom.
You who are foolish, get understanding.–NCV Proverbs 8:1-5