Put Down That Rock

 

By Andrea Merrell

Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone.

If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody.

Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do.

“I’ll do the judging,” says God. “I’ll take care of it.”

Romans 12:19 MSG

 

The little boy stood with feet apart and hand raised high, ready to throw the rock at his older brother for teasing him. “You’ll be sorry!” he shouted.

Seconds before the threat was carried out, their mom stepped outside. “Put down that rock, Son. That’s not how we handle things.”

I wonder how often God wants to say to us, “Put down that rock, my child. That’s not how I’ve taught you to handle things.”

Rocks come in the form of verbal jousts. Criticism. Judgements. Those times we’re tempted to fling accusations and hurtful words to get back at someone.

When the woman was caught in the very act of adultery and flung at Jesus’ feet, her accusers stood by, ready to stone her to death. Jesus told them to go ahead—as long as they were without sin. In other words (my translation), “Forget it, boys, not a one of you is sinless.”

We’re told all through the Scriptures to love one another. To be kind. To pray for our enemies. Not to repay evil for evil. To turn the other cheek. That involves a choice and requires a large measure of self-control When our flesh screams, “I’m going to make them pay,” God says to us, “No, my child, leave it in my hands. Love, forgive, and move on. I’ve got this.”

No matter what, God’s way is always better … so put down that rock.

Photo by Arnaud Gillard on Unsplash

Home Sweet Home

 

By Andrea Merrell

 

O Lord, you have always been our home.

Psalms 90:1 TEV

 

I smiled as I opened a gift from a friend. The beautiful gold lettering on a long piece of parchment paper unfolded a lifetime of memories, and I realized the truth in those few simple words: Home—the place your story begins.

 

Some say we are what we eat. Others say we are what we read. Still others insist we become like the people we associate with. I believe we are the sum total of our life experiences, yet it all begins at home from our earliest recollections.

 

As a writer, I draw from everything that has touched my life. Even when creating fictional stories and larger-than-life characters, I find many of my own attitudes, experiences, and hang-ups sneaking their way into the story.

 

Everyone who touches us leaves an impression—some to a greater degree than others. We are influenced by success, relationships, and blessings, as well as pain, heartache, and failures. Seeds are planted throughout our days—both good and bad—and they spring up when we least expect them.

 

Even though home has great bearing on who we become, it has not always been my safety net. There were times in my life I wanted to be anywhere else but home. The good news is God takes all the broken pieces, smooths out the rough edges, and strategically puts the puzzle together, forming the bigger picture. When we belong to Him, He takes every trial and every triumph, refines them, and wraps them in His grace. God promises to work every situation for our good, His glory, and the benefit of those around us. He also promises to prepare a place for us where we will spend eternity. That’s when the journey really begins.

My story began in my childhood home, dysfunctional at best. It continues today as a wife, mother, grandmother, author, editor, and devoted child of God. He is my dwelling place. My Forever home.

 

In the Wizard of Oz, young Dorothy had a grand adventure and met lots of quirky characters on her way. I’ve had some pretty grand adventures myself, but one day when I reach my heavenly destination I will say just like Dorothy, There’s no place like home.

 

How about you? Will you let Him re-write your story and become your forever home?

 

 

 

Faith in a Nutshell

 

By Andrea Merrell

What is faith? It is the confident assurance

that something we want is going to happen.

It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us,

 even though we cannot see it up ahead.

 Hebrews 11:1 TLB

 

“What is faith?” the leader asked the group.

After a long moment of silence, answers slowly came. Trust. Belief. Hope. The last member of the group finally said, “Something I wish I had.”

Faith is not about religion or denominations. And it’s not some pie-in-the-sky, super-spiritual thing that we search for and hope to someday find. If it were something that out of reach, the Bible would not tell us that without it, it is impossible to please God.

The Greek word for faith is pistis and means firm persuasion or a conviction based on hearing and learning. Hearing and learning what? The living, powerful Word of God—everything He has to say on the matter.

“But I don’t feel like I have any faith,” I’ve heard people say. The truth is faith is not a feeling. It is not something we drum up and has nothing to do with intellect. Simply put, The Word for You Today says, “It’s a choice you make to fully embrace what God says in His Word. When that happens, it creates a heart climate that motivates you to act in keeping with what you choose to believe.”

Now that’s faith in a nutshell.

 

Photo by Mufid Majnun on Unsplash

Are You Willing to Change?

 

By Andrea Merrell

Give your complete attention to these matters.

Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress.

1 Timothy 4:15 NKJV

 

“I’ve done everything I know to do,” the woman said to her therapist. “I’ve always used the same methods to get great results, but nothing seems to be working now.”

The problem comes when we’re unwilling to change. They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results. In other words, if we want to see or have something different, we have to do something different. Otherwise, we’re stuck. No moving forward. The same old, same old.

This applies to every area of our life. The Word for You Today says:

If you want to grow, you must be willing to change. General Douglas MacArthur said, “Life is a lively process of becoming. If you haven’t added to your interests within the past year; if you are thinking the same old thoughts, relating the same personal experiences, and having the same predictable reactions, rigor mortis of the personality has set in.”

I’ve heard it said that the only constant in life is change. Nothing remains the same except God and His Word. He accepts us just as we are but loves us too much to let us remain the same. As we submit to Him, He will lovingly lead and guide us, helping us to grow and mature into the person He created us to be.

Change is always good when God is in the driver's seat.

Photo courtesy of Unsplash.com and Ross Findon.

 

The Power of Gossip

 

By Andrea Merrell

The words of a talebearer are as wounds,

and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

Proverbs 18:8 KJV

“Did you hear about that new girl at church?” the woman asked the group. “I got an earful from someone she used to be friends with.”

Someone in the group moaned and walked away. A couple of others followed. Only one stayed behind, anxious to hear the latest dirt.

Gossip: reports about other people that are generally not true. Some folks make it a part of their everyday life, thinking no harm can come from sharing everything they know—and a lot they don’t know for sure—about others. Many even try to disguise it in the form of a “prayer request.” We need to pray for so and so because …

If you’re of the opinion that gossip has no power to harm anyone, listen to this from The Word for You Today:

I maim without killing. I break hearts and ruin lives. I am cunning and malicious, and I gather strength with age. The more I’m quoted, the more I’m believed. I flourish at every level of society. My victims are helpless; they can’t protect themselves against me because I have no name and no face. To track me down is impossible. The harder you try, the more elusive I become. I’m nobody’s friend. Once I tarnish a reputation, it’s never the same. I topple governments, wreck marriages, and make innocent people cry. Who an I? My name is gossip.

The Bible clearly tells us in Proverbs that the words of a talebearer are like wounds. But what does it say about those who anxiously listen to those slanderous words? The Message puts it like this: “Listening to gossip is like eating cheap candy. Do you really want junk like that in your belly?”

Sounds like a good place to apply the Golden Rule—treating others as we want to be treated and letting our words be uplifting and encouraging. If we have a tendency to say things we shouldn’t, let’s pray as the psalmist David did: “Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips” (Psalm 141:3 NLT). But let’s not forget that our ears are not trash cans to collect all the garbage others might want to throw in there.

Let’s do everything we can to diminish the power of gossip.

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash