Louder Than the Mob

   In Matthew 20:29-34, two blind men received their sight from Jesus. It says that a great multitude followed Jesus from Jericho. As they went along, two blind men sat on the street. When they heard that Jesus was coming, they cried out to Jesus that He would heal them, but the multitude told them to be quiet. It says that they cried out even louder for Jesus. They cried out, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!" Jesus stood in front of them and asked them what they wanted Him to do for them, even though He already knew.  They asked that their eyes may be opened. It said that Jesus had compassion and He touched their eyes, and immediately they were opened. 

  This is a true story, but it also has a spiritual meaning. When we were lost and dying, we too had to cry out to Jesus. He was moved by our cries, came into our lives and our spiritual eyes were opened. The thing I find most inspiring by this story, is when the blind men were crying out to Jesus, the crowd was trying to silence them, but they cried out even louder. The enemy doesn't want us crying out to Jesus. He wants to keep us quiet, complacent and blind. Today, we have so many things trying to silence our cries to Jesus; television, social media, YouTube, TikTok, the list goes on and on. I'm not saying that these are bad things. In fact, these can be used to spread the gospel to a lost and dying world, but too much of a good thing is a bad thing, right? We have people trying to silence the words of the righteous, calling good bad, and bad good. The words of Christ are foolishness to them. Our cries to Jesus have to be louder than that of the world. They will not silence us. We have to stand firm, and cry louder than they, so that they may have their eyes opened as well. Today, I pray that we can be louder than the mob so that they too can receive their spiritual sight.

From the Pit to the Palace

  I posted a video on my Facebook page earlier and a good friend of mine shared a few of his life verses and it inspired me to write this entry. It comes from Psalms 40:1-3; "I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth. Praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and many will trust in the Lord." 

  This passage really lit a fire under me, because of the pit that I was in. I was miserable before giving my life to Christ. I would stay in bed for days on end with no purpose or any relief in sight. I tried everything to numb my brain and ease my mind, but nothing worked. One morning as I was about to get into the shower, I knew something had to change, so I hit my knees and fell on my face on the bathroom floor. I cried out to God and asked Him to cleanse me and give me another chance. I know that doesn't sound so pleasant, being on a dirty bathroom floor, but that floor was cleaner than the filth that I was mired up in, but when I came up, I was a new man. I was cleansed of my sins and was a brand new creature.  God heard my cry and listened. You don't know the desperation I felt without Him in my life. I was miserable, but since that day, I have a new song in my mouth and a new desire to follow Him. I'm on my way to heaven and I want to take as many with me as I can. 

  The rock that David was talking about was Jesus Christ. It's like the analogy of the wise man in Matthew 7, who built his house on a rock, and when the floods came, the house stood firm because it was built on a solid foundation. The same couldn't be said about the foolish man who built his house on the sand. When the floods came the house fell. What foundation is your life built upon? Is it built upon the rock of Christ, or is it crumbling under the weight of the world? I can't promise you that you won't have problems on this road. As a matter of fact, it says that you will have problems in this life, but if your house is built on that Rock, you got nothing to worry about. Let come what may, you will remain unshaken. I love you guys and I hope that this will touch someone. Love ya, mean it.

Wake Up

   Romans 13:11-14 "And do this, knowing the time, that it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts"

  This passage is more relevant now than when it was written. We are in the 11th hour. It's not going to be long until we hear the trumpet sound and we all go home. It is time that we wake up and shake off the things of this world. It's time that we get off our hindquarters and start working fervently to get the lost of this world into the family of God. First Peter 4 verses 7 and 8 say that the end of all things is at hand, so be serious and watchful in your prayers, and above all to have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins. If there is a more fitting time to love another, it's now. The devil knows that his reign on earth is almost through and he is doing his very best to bring as many people down with him as he can. Colossians 4 verse 5 says to walk in wisdom toward those who are outside and to make the most of the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, not saltiness, so that we will know how to answer one another.  The world has seen enough strife and backbiting from the so-called "Church." We need to love one another as was demonstrated by Christ Jesus. It is time to stop bickering with each other and start loving the lost. We are all on the same team, with the same objective. Let's start acting like it. 

Endurance

     Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with ENDURANCE the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 
 -Hebrews 12:1

   The writer of Hebrews compared the spiritual life to a runner. The "great cloud of witnesses" are the spectators. They are the ones who have gone on before us and have finished the race. They are cheering us on in the heavenly grandstand. A good friend of mine once told me that the spiritual race is a marathon, and not a sprint. How does a runner prepare for such a race? Training, and lots of it. First Timothy 2:3 tells us the recipe for success. "Train yourself towards godliness" Exercise and shedding all the excess weight of the world is key for success. "Train" comes from the Greek word "gumnos" which means naked. "Gumnos" is where we get the English word gymnasium. Competitors in New Testament times would compete naked so as not to be encumbered by the weight of clothing. Athletes of all kinds spend hundreds of hours in the gym and on the playing field practicing and training for competition. They're not inherently good, it takes tons of practice and dedication. These athletes have a little thing called endurance.  First Corinthians 9:24-26 says this; "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives a prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown."

  Second Timothy 2:3-6 gives us these analogies; "You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. And also if anyone competes in athletics (there it is again), he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops" 

  A soldier, when he is in the heat of battle isn't checking his Instagram, or checking to see what's trending on X (formerly Twitter). He is focused on one thing; survival, because if he were to lose focus for even one second, his life could be over. An athlete doesn't win the prize if he doesn't adhere to the rulebook. So as in the life of the believer; we have to adhere to the Holy Rulebook. We also see a farmer in this analogy. You can't get the crops unless you first till the ground, plant the seeds, and water them. This all takes endurance, patience and hard work. Galatians 6:7-9 says this about the spiritual "farmer". "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that will he also reap. For he who sows to the flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not grow weary. ENDURE. 

  Romans 5:3-5 says this; "But we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given us." You see, tribulations and trying times toughen up our spiritual skin. It leads to perseverance. ENDURANCE. Perseverance builds character and in Proverbs 22:1 it says that a good name is to be chosen rather than great riches. Character leads to hope, and our hope is in God who has poured out His love through the Holy Spirit. 

  Don't give up. Don't lose hope. We have a lot to gain if we just keep pressing on. Don't let the cares of this world drag you down. You got this in Jesus' mighty name. Now go, have a God day. Love ya, mean it.

Dollars and Pennies

     As I was reading my devotional this morning, I came across a very powerful statement. Charles Spurgeon once said, “A man’s life is always more forcible than his speech. When men take stock of him, they reckon his deeds as dollars and his words as pennies.” What this means is that your actions far outweigh your words. Your words are worthless if your life does not back them up. Philippians 1:27 says to let your conduct be worthy of the gospel. Stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel.” If our lives do not reflect the words we speak, our words are worthless. 

  I was talking to my son, who recently accepted Christ as his Savior about the importance of clean speech. I read Ephesians 4:29 to him and explained to him the importance of not letting any “corrupt communication” be spoken and how our words should only be used to build people up. I explained how that people watch his actions and if his words and his actions didn’t line up with his profession of faith, it could be a hindrance to the unbeliever, and how it could hurt his testimony.

  Back in the late 1900’s, as my kids call it, there were bracelets with the letters WWJD on them. It stood for What Would Jesus Do?. Feeling nostalgic, I ordered a pack for myself and the family. I gave one to my son, but before I put it on his wrist, I gave him a little encouragement and warning. I told him to let that be a constant reminder to always ask if Jesus would do what he was doing. I told him to always think before acting because people are always watching. 

  I know it sounds cliche, but sometimes you are the only Bible someone reads. Our actions and words should always reflect the light of Christ. Ephesians 5:1 says, “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children, and walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us.” If our actions don’t line up with our profession, it is detrimental to the unbeliever. I don’t want someone looking at my actions and saying, “Well, if that’s how a Christian acts…” Matthew 5:16 says, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”  Let us walk in the light as He is in the light as 1John1:7 says. Love ya, mean it.

Of Buzzards and Eagles

   As I was driving home the other day, I came across a racoon that had been run over in the road. Feeding on its carcass were two old vultures, and it gave me a message idea. The buzzards, as they're known here in East Tennessee, mainly  only feed on rotting flesh. Death and decay do not deter them, rather attract them. The same is the spiritual life of the unbeliever. They fill their lives with things that do not have anything of godly value. The things they watch, listen to and speak are not things of God. Romans 8:5-6 says; "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." Take for example the opposite of the vulture, the bald eagle. It soars high and swoops down and grabs living food from rivers and lakes. Its diet are fish and other smaller living things. The eagle is beautiful and majestic. Buzzards? Not the same. 

 After the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus gives the crowd a little analogy. In John 6:35, He tells them, "I am the Bread of Life. He who comes to me shall never hunger." It goes on to say in verse 63 that the words Jesus spoke were life. Jesus IS life, and the words He speaks give life. In Matthew 5:6 Jesus tells the multitude, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled." He wasn't talking about physical hunger, because the children of Israel ate the manna from heaven and they died. He was talking about spiritual hunger. He loved speaking in parables and analogies. He says in John 6:26 to not labor for the food that perishes but for the food which endures to eternal life. Don't get it twisted; He didn't say that we didn't need to eat, but our main focus should be on the Bread of Life, which leads to an eternity with Him. 

  Proverbs 15:14 says that the heart of him who seeks understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on foolishness. You would have to be living under a rock to not know that this world has lost its collective mind. You have men wanting to be women and women wanting to be men. You have men dressed as women reading story books to children. Romans 1:24-27 says this; "Therefore, God also gave them up to uncleanliness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature, rather than the Creator. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due." Paul was talking about the children of Israel, but we see this kind of behavior running rampant in today's society as well. These people are feeding on the death and decay of sin, and are regurgitating it all over the world. 

 Philippians 4:8 offers this; "Finally brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue, and if there is anything praiseworthy- meditate (feast) on these things" We need to stop feeding our minds with the things of this world. As the saying goes, "garbage in, garbage out". The things that we put in our mind are the things that come out of us. Jesus said to Peter in Matthew 15 verse 17, "Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the hear, and they defile a man." Let's stop feeding on the carcasses of the world, and let's eat from the Bread of Life, and let the things that come out of our mouth be used for the edification of our fellow man. Now go, and have a God day. Love ya, mean it.

  

Holy Boldness

   Good morning all my brothers and sisters in Christ. I want to bring you all a little encouragement this morning. In my time of study this morning I came across a cool little story in the book of Acts. In chapter 3 of Acts Peter and John heal a crippled beggar in the temple. This man had been crippled from birth. As they passed by, the man asked them for money, and Peter tells him that they don't have silver or gold, but what they did have was far better than physical riches. They spoke the name of Jesus and the man stood up. In typical Sanhedrin fashion, they became upset and arrested Peter and John. The name of Jesus is offensive to those lost and dying, but to us, it is the only name in which we are able to do mighty things. 

  Here's the part of the story that got me fired up. In verse 7, the religious leaders asked the disciples "In what name or power did you do this miracle". Verse 8 says that Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit,  said to them that it was by the name of Jesus the man was made whole. Brothers and sisters, there is power in the name of Jesus. Demons shudder at that name. Chains and addictions are broken in that name. People are made whole through that name. That name is the only name by which we are saved. Allah can't save you. Buddha is dead. Only Jesus remains. 

  It goes on to say that the religious leaders perceived Peter and John as untrained and uneducated, but when they saw the boldness of the two they realized they had been with Jesus. When you have an encounter with the Savior, you are visibly different. People can tell that you have been with Jesus. No questions asked. When they saw the lame beggar they couldn't deny the power of God. I know that really put a burr in their saddles. The one that they killed is the one STILL performing miracles. They commanded the men not to speak or teach the name of Jesus. The name of Jesus freaks the unbeliever out. Peter and John tell the religious leaders that they can't help but to speak the name of Jesus. When you have a true encounter with the Savior, you can't help but to tell others of what He has done for you. 

  Verse 29 says "Grant to your servants that with all BOLDNESS they may speak your word". Just as in that time, so is today that the name of Jesus is being silenced. It's "offensive" to the world. It makes people uncomfortable, it convicts of sin, but let me tell you something; now, more than ever does the name of Jesus need to be shouted from the rooftops. It may be a little scary, but we need to be speaking His name to every one we see. The time is growing short. The sky is about to rip apart and He is going to call His bride, the church, home. 

  Father, today I pray that every reader is filled with the boldness of the Holy Spirit that they may speak the name of Jesus to this lost and dying world. As in the Great Commission, "Go into ALL the world and preach the gospel to every creature." Love ya, mean it!

Friend or Foe

  Today, I want to ask you a serious question. Are you a friend of God, or are you a friend of the world and all of its darkness? James chapter 4 verse 4 gives us a pretty cut and dry explanation of this. James asks the question, "Don't you know that friendship with the world makes us enemies of God."  I know you may say that sounds rather harsh, but in Exodus 20, verse 5, God says that He is a jealous God, and to not put anything before Him. Take for example a husband and a wife. The husband comes home from a long day at work and finds his wife doing her makeup and getting all dolled up. He asks her where she is going, and she tells him that she is going out with Joe from the office. How do you think that makes the husband feel? The same is with our Father. The jealousy and betrayal He feels when He sees you doing things that are worldly and not of Him breaks His heart. 

  2 Corinthians 6:14-17 says  "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness win lawlessness, and what communion has light with darkness. And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are a temple of God." Verse 17 says to "Come out from among them and be separate. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you." I know we've all heard the saying "Do not be unequally yoked", and there have been many interpretations of this in which I will not go into at this time, but what the writer of second Corinthians is really saying is that the "unbelievers" were the false teachers of the time that were distorting the message. These teachers were not of God. "Unequally yoked" depicts two different kinds of animals plowing a field with the same yoke. They both will pull two separate directions. That creates chaos, and the God is not a God of chaos, rather Satan. 

  First Corinthians 10:21 tells us that we cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and of demons. The cup of the Lord represented the Lord's supper, which was for the believers. You simply cannot put the contents of the two in the same body. Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 3:16-17).

  Ephesians 5:8-11 says that we were once in darkness, but now we are in the light of the Lord. Walk as children of light, and to have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of the darkness, but to rather expose them. Our job as Christians is to be a light to this dark world. If the light of God is in us, how can there be any darkness?

  Keep this in mind my friend that if you are a friend of God, you are an enemy of the world, but take heart, Jesus said in John 15:4 that if the world hates you, it hated Him first. We do not need to be afraid of this because it says in first John 4:4 that we are of God and we have overcome them (the world), because He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world. 

  In conclusion, I would like to remind you of what Joshua 24:15 says. Choose this day whom you will serve.

Faith and Works

   Can faith alone save a person? James chapter 2, verses 14 through 26 says that faith without works is dead. James gives an example of this principle. In verse 15 he asks what it profits if we say to a naked, homeless, or hungry person, "Be blessed and warm" and do not do anything to help their situation. Our words alone can't help that person. The same is as faith without works is useless. He says that faith alone is dead. He goes on to say that even the demons believe in God, so your belief alone is of no use. James gives an example of Abraham and Isaac. God put Abraham's faith to the test when He told Abraham to sacrifice his only son on an altar. This story appears in Genesis 22:1-19. God told Abraham to take his son to the land of Moriah and sacrifice him on an altar. Verse 5 really shows his faith in God. Abraham left the two young men that was with him to help him on the journey, and says to them, "Stay here with the donkeys, my son and I are going up the mountain, and WORSHIP." I find the wording of this rather funny because he said "worship" because he already knew that God would provide a sacrifice, and they would praise God for the provision. They left the men and headed up the mountain with all the items needed for a sacrifice. As they were heading up the mountain, Isaac says to his father that they have all the things needed for a sacrifice, but no sacrifice. Abraham, in his faith, basically told Isaac to relax, that God would provide the sacrifice. He built the altar and laid his only son on the altar, and as he was stretching out his hand with the knife, an angel called to him and said not to harm the boy. The angel goes on to say that he knew that Abraham feared God, and he would be blessed. Abraham looked around and saw a ram stuck in the bushes, and sacrificed it instead. Back to the book of James; It says that Abraham was justified and made perfect through his faith working together with works. The chapter concludes by saying that just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead. Another thing to note is that in just these 12 verses, the author uses the phrase, "faith without works is dead." Don't get it twisted; works alone cannot save you. Take the Pharisees for example. They were works driven, but had no faith. Jesus called them out and compared them to whitewashed grave markers; pretty on the outside, but full of dead mens' bones. Works alone can't save you. See Titus 3:5. "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us." When one accepts Christ as their Savior, they want to do good works to show their appreciation to God for His mercy. Belief in God alone won't save you. The fallen angels were with God at one point, so they of anyone believe in God. Works alone won't save you either, because if that were the case, Jesus wouldn't have had beef with the Pharisees and religious leaders of the time, because they were always doing "good deeds". Faith coupled with works is the way to please the Father. Now go, and have a God day. Love ya, mean it.

Speak Life

  I know you've all seen The World's Strongest Man competitions, and have marveled at the size of their muscles and their brute strength, but I can show you a muscle that is far more powerful than any muscle in the body. That muscle is located in your mouth. Yes, the tongue is the strongest muscle known to man. In Proverbs 18:21 it says that death and life are in the power of the tongue. We wield the world's strongest power inside our mouths. As the old saying goes; "With great power comes great responsibility." We have the choice to either lift someone up, or utterly destroy them. In Ephesians 4:29 it says, "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for edification (building up), that it may impart grace to the hearer." It goes on to say in verses 31 and 32 to let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice (desire to cause pain), and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God, in Christ forgave you. In this day and time there is far too much pain and sadness in the world. We have seen enough of this. What this world needs now, more than ever are more people speaking life, love and forgiveness. Proverbs 16:24 says that pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul, and health to the bones.

  On the flip side of this coin are the harsh words that one can speak to another. Proverbs 18:19 says that a brother offended is harder to win than a walled city, and contentions (anger or disagreement) are like the bars of a castle. Sometimes in the heat of anger, we can say something so harsh that it cuts to the core. Sometimes the harsh words that someone speaks to you can leave you behind the bars of a prison cell inside your mind. I know speaking from personal experience some of the words spoken to me 30 years ago. They still echo inside my mind. Words can hurt far more than physical pain. James 1:19 says let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath, for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. God is love, and he wants us to show the love that He has for us. 

  In closing ,I want to bring you two more verses from the book of Colossians. Verses 5 and 6 in chapter 4 say to walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt (not saltiness) that you may know how you ought to answer one another. Today, I am encouraging you to think before you speak, and to always speak in love. Words can either hurt or heal. The choice is up to you. Have a God day.

Rest in Peace

   Romans 6:6 says this; "Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Christ, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin." Before we experience this freedom, we must first crucify ourselves with Christ. Just as in the life of Christ; He was crucified, and rose again, we must die to self, and be resurrected in new life with Him. Does that mean that we will not be tempted and sin? Absolutely not, but the new man will no longer have a desire to sin. Sin will not be as "fun" as it used to be. As a matter of fact, the sin that once held you captive will be shameful. 

  As I was telling a dear brother of mine today, living for Christ and doing His work is way more satisfying than any drink or drug I have ever consumed. I was once an alcoholic and a drug user. I am not proud to say this, but He saved me from that life, and the destruction and death it was leading me to. Thanks be unto Him, I can say that I no longer have a desire for those things today. I have become a new man. The Father has taken those desires and replaced them with a hunger for His word. I no longer have a desire to fill my mind and body with the garbage of the world, but instead, I long to be in His presence, with His people, doing His work. In Galatians 2:20 the apostle Paul said, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ in me" .  2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a NEW creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." 

  If you are bound by sin, and the old man still lives in you, I encourage you to cry out to God as the Psalmist did in Psalms 51:10 and say; "Create in me a clean heart O God, and renew a steadfast spirit in me." Put to death that old man, and become a new creation and walk in the newness of Life everlasting.

The Power of the Tongue

As a child, one of the songs that I used to sing in Sunday School went, "Be careful little mouth what you say, for the Father up above is looking down in love, so be careful little mouth what you say." It's a cute little song with a huge meaning. The power of the tongue is discussed in the book of James chapter 3, verses 1-12. The first thing the passage compares the tongue to is a bit that is placed in a horse's mouth used to guide the horse. As we all know, a horse is a rather large and powerful animal, but it is guided by a small bit of metal placed in its mouth. The second thing the tongue is compared to is a rudder used to guide a large ship. Notice how the first two analogies refer to something small guiding something large. It goes on to compare the tongue to a fire. Massive forest fires are started by a tiny little spark. Back in 2016, thousands of acres, houses and businesses were destroyed by a forest fire in Gatlinburg Tennessee. The fire killed 14, damaged or destroyed 2400 structures and burned 17,000 acres. Allegedly, the fire was started by two youths playing with matches. just a small match caused such a tragedy. Let's take a look at our tongues. It is a small member of our body, but it can cause a lot of damage if used improperly. 

  The passage goes on to say that animals can be tamed by mankind, but no man can tame the tongue. It is unruly and full of deadly poison. With it, we bless God and curse our brother, who was made by God. A few verses down it compares the tongue to a fresh water spring. Can a fresh water spring produce salt water, and can a fig tree produce olives?

  When I was a kid, I was a little rowdy, and sometimes I would get into scraps with my friends. I can't remember most of them, but I can recall the harsh things said to me. The old saying we used to say was, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me", but that couldn't be farther from the truth. Physical injuries heal, but harsh words spoken to us can hurt for the rest of our lives. 

  Ephesians 4:29 says, "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, except what is good for building up, that it may give grace to the hearer." Today, let's be mindful of what comes out of our mouths. Mankind has had enough hurt and negativity. Let's use our mouths to lift up and encourage our fellow man.

The Valley of Dry Bones

   Good afternoon everyone, Travis here with some encouraging words for you. Today, I want to bring you a story from the book of Ezekiel. This is one of my favorite stories in the Bible. It is a story of hope, restoration and redemption. It comes in chapter 37, verses 1-14. It starts out saying, "The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit, and set me out in the midst of the Valley, and it was full bones."

  When it says, "The hand of the Lord was upon me", it means that God gave Ezekiel a vision. He was in the midst of a valley full of dried up bones. These bones represented the house of Israel. They were dry, representing that death had occurred a long time ago, and there was no hope of resuscitation. God called Israel a "rebellious nation" in chapter 2, verse 3. First Samuel 15:23 says that "rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft and idolatry, two things God hates. In Proverbs 29:18 it says, "Where there is no vision, the people perish, but he that keeps the law, happy is he". Israel had turned their back on God and were spiritually dead. 

  In verse 4, God gives the prophet an instruction to, "Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord' Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Surely, I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. I will put sinews on you, and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you will know that I am the Lord." 

  A few things that I gleaned from this text is that the breath represents the life that only God can give. In Genesis 2:7 God breathed life into Adam. The sinews literally means tendon, but figuratively they represent strength, energy, force, might and power according to the dictionary. The skin represents the covering of God's protection. 

  The word "prophesy" doesn't always mean to predict the future. One of the definitions in the Merriam Webster dictionary means "to give instruction in religious matters. 

In verses 9-10, Ezekiel commands that the breath of God to breathe upon the bones. God breathed and the bones came to life and stood on their feet. They said, "Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we are cut off. God tells the army that he will open their graves and bring them back into the land of Israel. He also says that He will put His Spirit in them.

  These bones represent a once mighty army of strong soldiers. When you become a child of God, you are enlisted in his heavenly army. If you feel like hope is lost, and you are cut off, ask yourself, "What killed my spirit?" Sometimes we have to get to a point of desperation to cry out to God. I know that was true in my case. God loves to show up when it seems like all is lost. Take the Lazarus story in John chapter 4. Jesus knew that Lazarus was sick, but He said that this was for the glory of God.

  Today, I want to call out the breath of God to breathe on each one that is reading this who is spiritually dead. Lord breathe the breath of life on each individual, and give them the life that only you can give.