Saturday, January 21, 2012

Conflict of Interest

Conflict of Interest

I accepted Jesus into my heart;
but I’m having trouble with the obedient and faithful part,
there appears to be a conflict of interest.

I say that it is You, God, that I love and trust;
Yet I say and do things that bring You disgust.
There appears to be a conflict of interest.

I claim in Your Name that I will be delivered, made whole,
and that Jehovah Rapha will heal; but more often than not
I’m speaking into the air another deal;
How can You bless me when I’m not for real.
There appears to be a conflict of interest.

In You I am to get my rest;
Because like a good parent You know what is best.
But I’m busy working, funning, ripping,
and running all of the time.
When will I spiritually open my eyes and see
that all You say and do is beneficial to me.
There appears to be a conflict of interest.

Every day it’s my same old way.
It’s either this or that, and Lord I don’t know what to do;
when will I humble myself and ask for more of you?
There truly appears to be a conflict of interest.

                                                            To God Be The Glory
                                                            Sis. Gail Miller (05/27/04)

I would like to thank the following: the bar, Conflict of Interest, (were I used to get my drink on) for the inspiring title.  My husband for saying that I should write a poem titled “Conflict of Interest.”  My brothers and sisters-in-Christ and, foremost, myself based on our fleshly weaknesses.  I saved the best for last.  I thank God for the gift of writing poetry, and for delivering me from 26 years of hard liquor drinking.  What do you need to be delivered from?

Friday, January 20, 2012

Spread the Gospel, Not the Gossip

Gospel: unquestionable truth (Webster's Dictionary).  The Bible refers to the Gospel as the Good News.

Gossip: idle (malicious) talk about other persons.

Isn't it interesting that the definition Webster's Dictionary gives for gossip is hateful talk about other persons.  Because, of course, we would never say anything bad about ourselves.

We all are guilty of gossiping at one time or another.  We like to talk about what we know.  The next time any of us get ready to tell something, we should first think about whether we would want the information told if it was about us?!

"A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends." (Proverbs 16:28)


"Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about.  I am compelled by God to do it.  How terrible for me if I didn't preach the Good News!" (1 Corinthians 9:16)

Thursday, January 19, 2012

God Purifies!






Malachi 3:3 says: “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.”

This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God? 

One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.

That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work.       

As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.  

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says:  ' He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.'

She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time.  

The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the sliver the entire time it was in the fire.  If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. 

The woman asked the silversmith, 'How do you know when the silver is fully refined?'

He smiled at her and answered, ‘Oh, that’s easy – when I see my image in it.

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.  

 



Monday, January 16, 2012

Why Would You Keep Wisdom From Me?

Whenever the good Lord blesses you with wisdom, share it with others. What good is wisdom if you keep it to yourself?  Unshared wisdom is only knowledge or experience, but when you pass it forward to others, it becomes something that creates positive success for generations to come!

Were you not listening at God's secret council. Do you have a monopoly on wisdom?  (Job 15:8 NLT)