Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.
Use Your Filter
Pass The Salt Please!
Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.
How Do You Use Your Tongue and Ears
Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.
Is Your Oath Any Good?
James 5:12
Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.
This verse has some interesting background. According to Jewish writes Philo, Josephus, and Serach, it was commonplace to take an oath to do or not do something in God’s name. One would say, “May God do such-and-such to me if I do not perform this act”. By doing so, people were actually bringing curses down upon themselves. Later people started swearing by things such as the temple, Heaven and Earth or even Jerusalem itself to try to avoid the use of God’s name. However, James was telling people to not even do that because these things were considered holy as well. It was believed to do so was a violation of the third commandment. I think what he was saying was let your integrity shine through. Let your own word be good enough. When you say yes or no people should know you mean it and they can trust you.
Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.
Excuses!
James 4:17
If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.
This is my ouch verse! There have been times in my life I know I have been asked to step out and do something. My fear got in the way. I turned into a Moses with all of my “yeah, but Lord…” My daddy used to sing a song called “Excuses.” One of the verses said, “the devil he’ll supply them if the church you stay away.” I can’t put this one on the devil. I am good at supplying my own excuses.
Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.
Who Died and Made You God?
James 4:11-12
Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?
Who are we to think we have the right to judge each other? The old phrase, “Who died and made you God?” certainly fits here. My job is to love and let God do the judging and changing.
Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.
Peacemaker Not Doormat
James 3:18
Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
This verse hit my heart today. I so want to be that peacemaker. However, I have to remember to rely on God’s peace. In other words, I can’t do the ‘keep everybody happy all of the time’ manufactured peace. That doesn’t work. That is not true peace. The peace that comes from God is beyond all understanding. I am not meant to agree with everyone. I am just meant to love them which brings Godly peace.
Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.
Envy is a Junk Food
Galatians 5:22-26
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
These verses remind me of dieting. You are cruising along, eating all the good healthy foods and then BAM! That one food you struggle with hits you right in the face. You can give in and try eating just a little. What harm could just a little do, right? Before you know it, you have eaten the whole thing and are back at the store loading your cart up with more!
Envy can sneak up on you like that too. It is great to have goals and work hard toward something but beware of that slippery slope. The obsession with that goal can quickly turn your heart to envy of someone who has already reached it. Feast on the fruits and you will reach your goal.
Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.
Lift Your Shield and Keep Walking!
Ephesians 6:16
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Have you ever seen those movies where the good guy (or sometimes the bad guy) keeps getting shot but still walks on to get his target?
With the shield of faith at our disposal, we can be ‘that guy’ in the movie. We can take ALL fiery flaming arrows and keep walking. Reminds me of the lyrics to a song by Toby Mac:
I know your heart been broke again
I know your prayers ain’t been answered yet
I know you’re feeling like you got nothing left
Well, lift your head, it ain’t over yet, ain’t over yet so
Move, keep walkin’ soldier keep movin’ on
Move, keep walkin’ until the mornin’ comes
Move, keep walkin’ soldier keep movin’ on
And lift your head, it ain’t over yet, ain’t over yet
No! It’s not over yet. Lift Your Shield and Keep Walking!
Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.
Battle Fear with Love
1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
Mark Twain once said, “Courage is not the absence of fear, but the mastery of it.” God never said we would never face fear. He said to use love against it. To fight, we must master fear by building love.
Fear is often brought on by not understanding something or someone. We choose to lead with, “I don’t know therefore I must fear.” Instead, if we let love lead us, we take a moment to step back, see God in the situation or person and realize there is nothing to fear. God has this all under his control.
Before you know it, we are letting God lead us, instead of our fear. Let your love of God lead you into battle and you will fight fear right where it stands.
Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.