April 16, 2016

Speak Truth

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. -- Colossians 4:6

It was a comment meant to praise and encourage. “You’re a good mother.” It sounded, well, good. Except the young girl accepting the praise isn’t a good mother.

I stayed silent. I’ve learned to do that sometimes. (Other times I wish I’d learned to stay silent.) But it really bothered me. The young mother loves her baby. It’s not that. It’s just that she refuses to take responsibility for the day to day care giving an infant requires.

Happy photo ops are not the norm. They are the show. The responsibility -- the dirty diapers, the waking up in the middle of the night, the expenses -- are all shouldered by her parents. She not only doesn’t appreciate all they give, she resents them.

Surely, the person making the comment knew that. Didn’t she? Or was she only seeing what she wants to see? Sometimes we turn a blind eye to something that makes us uncomfortable. Sometimes we refuse to see what is right in front of us.

I am not the most diplomatic person. I am outspoken and sometimes I put way too much salt in my words. I’m trying to learn that just a little salt goes a long way when I’m speaking truth that is difficult to hear.

But I’m also learning more and more not to be silent. I was a silent victim for too long, always being cautioned to “not say anything” in order to keep the peace. It didn’t work. Volcanoes can only be contained for so long before they erupt into a fiery disaster. I wonder sometimes if the eruption would have changed in magnitude had I refused to stay silent. I’ll never know.

I do know that we sometimes avoid people who speak truth over our lives. We don’t want to hear it. We don’t want to face whatever it is we need to face. We don’t want to accept that maybe, just maybe, the words were sent from God Himself to speak truth. Like the prophet Nathan speaking truth over King David.

As Christians, we’re to weigh our words carefully. The tongue has such power to wound. We’re to let caution still our anger before we lash out with words that can never be unsaid.

But we’re also to speak truth, seasoned with salt. Build people up, yes, but do it in truth. Lies don’t benefit anyone. Neither does silence when it’s done for all the wrong reasons.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Sing Praises To Our God

Sing for joy to God our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob! Begin the music, strike the tambourine, play the melodious harp and lyre.

-- Psalm 81:1-2

Did you hear the music last night? Did your heart swell up with gladness as the choirs sang, the bells rang and the musicians shared their talents? So many churches had their musical events and it was such a joyous time.

We forget sometimes that worship isn’t always about serious topics of repentance and law. It isn’t always about what we shouldn’t have done and what we haven’t yet done. And it isn’t always somber and serious.

How awesome to shout aloud to our God! Oh, how wonderful to sing His praises. What joy to be glad and thankful and filled with pleasure at praising His Holy Name.

When did we get so serious? When did we decide that church services were meant to be solemn and sedate? Surely God didn’t intend for us to hide our gratitude and praise behind serious faces and laborious songs.

I’ve never believed that God meant to bind us to Him with rules intended to limit our ability to praise Him. I know. Some folks believe that anything beyond serious worship is dishonoring God. I don’t see it that way at all. While there is certainly a time and a place to be solemn, there is also a time to dance in the aisles and sing His praises. Like David did as he danced before his God.

Toward the end of the service I attended, the choir director told the audience that everything the choir had done, all the hours of hard work, had been done to please and praise Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. We were blessed to hear it too. But they performed for Jesus. Maybe that was why it was so wonderful and moving and filled the hearts of everyone with gladness.

It seems we are always asking God for something. We’re always whining and needing and desiring. When was the last time you just thanked God for all that He’s done for you? When was the last time you sang to His Glory? When was the last time you dropped to your knees in gratitude?

The choirs tonight reminded us that sometimes the best gift we can give our Creator is the gift of song. It is the gift of thanks. It is the heartfelt gift of love.

Thank you God for sending your Son to us. And thank you Jesus for sacrificing yourself so that all who believe might live.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Be Generous With Praise

“Now please command that cedars from Lebanon be cut for me. Let my men work alongside yours, and I will pay your men whatever wages you ask. As you know, there is no one among us who can cut timber like you Sidonians!” -- (King Solomon to King Hiram of Tyre) -- 1 Kings 5:6

When Hiram received Solomon’s message, he was very pleased and said, “Praise the LORD for giving David a wise son to be king of the great nation of Israel.” -- 1 Kings 5:7

Isn’t it amazing how smart other people think we are when we are praising them or doing what they want? Solomon was wise. He wanted the best for the temple of the LORD. In this case, that was cedars from Lebanon.

It was no wonder that Hiram thought Solomon was smart. Solomon praised the king and his people. Maybe it was true. Who knows. But it worked and Solomon got what he wanted.

What about you? Have you ever been tempted to praise someone to get what you want? You’ve probably heard people talk about using honey rather than vinegar when making a request. It does make a difference. Praise makes people want to help you.

I know a man who has a reputation for being a really difficult boss. He’s a wonderful man. He can be kind and generous. Sometimes he gets taken advantage of because he wants to do good things for people. He can also be demanding and difficult, expecting perfection and refusing to hear any excuses. He can be completely unreasonable in his demands. He’s gone through four managers in five years. People leave because the stress of working for him outweighs the overall goodness of his character.

I wonder sometimes what would happen if he were as generous with praise as he is with criticism. People respond to sincere praise. Notice that word “sincere.” Most people can spot fake praise. I once had a professor who said she always found one good thing in every paper her students turned in. Sometimes it was difficult to find but she kept at it until she could offer a sincere compliment. That compliment would give the student hope and belief that he/she could do better next time.

People will work hard to earn praise. Consider yourself. Won’t you put in extra effort to do a project if you know that people will recognize and reward your achievement? I know we shouldn’t need praise or encouragement but we are human and we do.

And while we love to get praise, it’s important to give it to. Not only does praise help the other person, praise also helps us appreciate what others do for us. It could be a special breakfast. Or help with a project. Or a ride to the ballgame. Whatever it is, take time to sincerely thank the person who did something nice for you.

Solomon was wise in many ways. He understood that praise benefits everyone. Give it a try. Look around and appreciate all that others do for you -- and tell them that you do.

　

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Thank God

"One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him -- and he was a Samaritan." -- Luke 17:15-16

How many times a day do you ask God to do something for you? Maybe you ask Him to protect you on a trip. Maybe you ask Him for help with a co-worker or a child. Maybe you need a little extra money or healing for someone you know. Maybe you're just frustrated and need a parking space ... right now! We all ask God for things big and small, day after day. But how often do we thank Him?

In this story, Jesus healed 10 lepers but only one came back and thanked Him. And that person was a Samaritan, a foreigner that the Jews looked down on. But he was the one who recognized the gift Jesus had given him. Do you see the gifts God gives you? Do you thank God when He does protect you, when He does provide healing, when He walks with you through difficult situations? Thank about it -- and thank Him right now.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Praise God in All Things

"He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God." -- Acts 3:8

It isn't popular to praise God. Oh, we might "Praise the Lord" when someone who is sick gets better. But we don't "Praise the Lord" when we get a promotion or have a safe journey or find strength in turmoil.

I know a dear Christian couple who seek daily to live their faith. They are quick to pray, deliver a freshly-baked pound cake or visit the sick. She even teaches Sunday school.

Their son is in commercial property leasing. This industry has been hit hard during the economic downturn. He still has a job. In fact, he is one of only two people with his position in his company who still has a job. Everyone else has been let go.

I used to ask about him. When the pink slips started, they had expressed worry that he soon would be unemployed. Do they "Praise the Lord" that he still has a job? No.

I made the comment one day that God had really blessed their son by allowing him to keep his job. They quickly corrected me. Oh, no, they said. He has kept his job because he works hard and is good at what he does.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm sure he does work hard and he is good at his job. I'm also fairly certain that some of those people who lost their jobs worked hard and were good at their jobs too. I believe their son still has his job because God has blessed him. Silly me.

Why are we so hesitant to praise God when something goes right in our lives? We certainly don't mind blaming Him when something goes wrong. But we want to take credit for anything that goes right. It amazes me. It's like taking a test and blaming God for causing you to fail then taking the test again and praising yourself for passing!

Personally, I would be terrified to not give God credit for the good in my life. Look at the Israelites. Everytime God did something wonderful for them, they complained. God kept them wandering in the desert for 40 years. Only two people of that original group made it to the Promised Land -- because they believed God.

I want to always give God credit when He blesses me. And I want to thank Him that I am not alone when my journey hits rough terrain. I want to be like the man who, after Peter healed him in Jesus' name, danced and loudly praised God.