Ok, I don't really know how to "sugar coat" this. My name is Kari Michele. I have gone the first part of my life as Kari. Everyone I know knows me by that. I have had some major, no wait... MAJOR life changes. The first part of my life, I have been known to "carry" burdens, lots that are truely not my own. And, found myself with so much burden upon my life and heart, that it has weighed me down terribly, leaving me empty and exhausted. So, during some serious self examination and "chucking" of a whole bunch of crap that really was not my problem. I found myself in a weird place of "I just don't care" land. Well, it was very foreign to me because I have spend my life more or less "meddleing" in others affairs, and helping carry their burdens, that the Lord has NOT asked me to bear.
I found this extremely interesting today that as I hit this place of "I just don't care" about so much "land," that I was also beating myself up about it. Because it was not my "normal" way. So, I thought I had really done some major thing wrong. And, granted, there are still many things that break my heart and cause me to pray and lift up and even possibly be involved in. But, the majority not. So, this evening, as our Lifeguards meeting was going on and discussion was getting deeper, I felt the urge to confess, that "I have just hit a place of I just don't care about so much stuff and I don't know if it should bother me or not?" Well, the LORD once again spoke through Todd and said, "let me help you rephrase that...."You are not 'carrying' so much stuff anymore, so you can carry what I have called for you to carry"..
So, hence the name change....no more "Kari our burdens, Kari" but simply Michele. I have always loved my middle name, legally, there is nothing I need to do to change it, it's already legal! :) I'm sure that some people will think I have really jumped off the deep end...Well good! I have! And straight into the arms of my Savior! And, otherwise, I could care less about what they think!! :)
Wow! What a day!
Monday, January 17, 2011
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Say WHAT?
Exactly. Say What?!
Anyway, today's sermon was on "Why is what we say important?"
Very timely, at least in my life. Especially due to the most recent circumstances.
In starting our year off, as Ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20), spiritual fitness has been our main topic. One aspect of being spiritually fit, is guarding our mouth.
Colossians 4:5-6 "Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one."
"Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out."
Ephesians 4:29 "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers."
Be considerate that every word you say is a gift to those who hear it. And, Please don't tear others down, so you feel better about yourself. That is flat out destructive.
Our Words are so powerful that silence is sometimes the wisest action.
Saying nothing is doing something. There is power in silence. Proverbs 13:3 "He who guards his mouth preserves his life, But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction." (Scarey thought...If I keep my mouth shut, I save my life vs open it and run it...destruction.) Hmmmmmmm~
Our words reveal what is in our hearts.
Matthew 12:33-37 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. 34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks 35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart[g] brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
Our words ought to please God
Ever get hung up in wanting to please others, that what you say will impress them? Yeah, well don't. Worry about pleasing God. And, actually your speech will reveal whether you are concerned about pleasing Him or not.
Psalm 19:14 "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer."
"Psalm 19 (NLT)
For the choir director: A psalm of David.
1 The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
The skies display his craftsmanship.
2 Day after day they continue to speak;
night after night they make him known.
3 They speak without a sound or word;
their voice is never heard.[a]
4 Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,
and their words to all the world.
God has made a home in the heavens for the sun.
5 It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding.
It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race.
6 The sun rises at one end of the heavens
and follows its course to the other end.
Nothing can hide from its heat.
7 The instructions of the Lord are perfect,
reviving the soul.
The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The commandments of the Lord are right,
bringing joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are clear,
giving insight for living.
9 Reverence for the Lord is pure,
lasting forever.
The laws of the Lord are true;
each one is fair.
10 They are more desirable than gold,
even the finest gold.
They are sweeter than honey,
even honey dripping from the comb.
11 They are a warning to your servant,
a great reward for those who obey them.
12 How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?
Cleanse me from these hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant from deliberate sins!
Don’t let them control me.
Then I will be free of guilt
and innocent of great sin.
14 May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing to you,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer."
Anyway, today's sermon was on "Why is what we say important?"
Very timely, at least in my life. Especially due to the most recent circumstances.
In starting our year off, as Ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20), spiritual fitness has been our main topic. One aspect of being spiritually fit, is guarding our mouth.
Colossians 4:5-6 "Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one."
"Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out."
Ephesians 4:29 "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers."
Be considerate that every word you say is a gift to those who hear it. And, Please don't tear others down, so you feel better about yourself. That is flat out destructive.
Our Words are so powerful that silence is sometimes the wisest action.
Saying nothing is doing something. There is power in silence. Proverbs 13:3 "He who guards his mouth preserves his life, But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction." (Scarey thought...If I keep my mouth shut, I save my life vs open it and run it...destruction.) Hmmmmmmm~
Our words reveal what is in our hearts.
Matthew 12:33-37 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. 34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks 35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart[g] brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
Our words ought to please God
Ever get hung up in wanting to please others, that what you say will impress them? Yeah, well don't. Worry about pleasing God. And, actually your speech will reveal whether you are concerned about pleasing Him or not.
Psalm 19:14 "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer."
"Psalm 19 (NLT)
For the choir director: A psalm of David.
1 The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
The skies display his craftsmanship.
2 Day after day they continue to speak;
night after night they make him known.
3 They speak without a sound or word;
their voice is never heard.[a]
4 Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,
and their words to all the world.
God has made a home in the heavens for the sun.
5 It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding.
It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race.
6 The sun rises at one end of the heavens
and follows its course to the other end.
Nothing can hide from its heat.
7 The instructions of the Lord are perfect,
reviving the soul.
The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The commandments of the Lord are right,
bringing joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are clear,
giving insight for living.
9 Reverence for the Lord is pure,
lasting forever.
The laws of the Lord are true;
each one is fair.
10 They are more desirable than gold,
even the finest gold.
They are sweeter than honey,
even honey dripping from the comb.
11 They are a warning to your servant,
a great reward for those who obey them.
12 How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?
Cleanse me from these hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant from deliberate sins!
Don’t let them control me.
Then I will be free of guilt
and innocent of great sin.
14 May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing to you,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer."
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