Thoughts and words

How often do you find yourself thinking about other people? Thinking less than lovely thoughts about them. Then perhaps even sharing those less than lovely thoughts with someone else - gossiping. It can be very easy to do.

Here is one of the scriptures that God gave me for 2017.

 

Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults – unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don’t condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you’ll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you’ll find your life given back, but not merely given back – given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity. Luke 6:37-38 The Message

God's word provides us with so much wisdom. How I love it. I have printed out this scripture and put it in the toilet room, for all family members to read.

We were in the car a couple of days ago and one child started to say something less than lovely about someone they knew. Then the other three started adding in their thoughts. And it was all on.

I managed to interrupt them and ask them, 

'Do you know what you are doing? How would you feel if in another car, a family was talking about you that way? Haven't you read the new scriptures in the toilet?'

They went quiet. And then one said, 

'I can't read those big words.'

Okay, so I think this scripture needs to be one that we learn off by heart in the car, with the goal of next time the gossip starts, one of the children (rather than me) steps in to stop  it.

Question for today, how well is your thought-life and conversation aligning with this scripture? The scripture is asking us to do the opposite to what seems to be the norm in today's world. It takes purposeful action in each of us to stop those unlovely thoughts and words. Today, let's ask God to help us reject those thoughts and be the 'encouragers' that He designed us to be.

May the Master of Peace himself give you the gift of getting along with each other at all times, in all ways. May the Master truly be among you! 2 Thessalonians 3:16 The Message