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I recognize that craving such an outward appearance is utterly prideful. The Spirit reminds me to find my identity in Christ, not in a facade of capability and certainly not in others' opinions of me. Oh, how difficult this is for an approval-addicted, over-achieving, "gee, I hope she likes me" kind of gal such as I. I must swim crosscurrent and make life choices, not for the crowd, but rather and rightly only--as my Bible-teacher friend We..
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Karen Ehman |
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Different isn't wrong. It's just different.
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Karen Ehman |
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Don't say something permanently painful just because you are temporarily ticked off.
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Karen Ehman |
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Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs. Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning. PROVERBS 10:12 - 13
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Karen Ehman |
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Marriage is not about our ultimate happiness," she replied. "That is a lie from the devil. Marriage was made to refine us, to grow our character. It exposes the worst in us so that we see the need for humility, grace, forgiveness, and, most of all, our need for Jesus in our marriage."
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Karen Ehman |
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God created us with emotions, and anger is one of them. Feeling the emotion of anger is not the problem. The problem is when we let our anger trigger actions that result in wrongdoing.
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Karen Ehman |
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Psychiatrist Louann Brizendine states in The Female Brain, "Men use about seven thousand words per day. Women use about twenty thousand."
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Karen Ehman |
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When we read the Bible, we learn. However, when we write out biblical commands in a way that is personal to us, we allow the Word to take root deep within our hearts. This will help us the next time we are faced with a challenging situation and need to use words wisely. When we have trained our brain to recall and apply biblical nonnegotiables, we are equipped to speak, act, and react in ways that honor God.
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Karen Ehman |
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Are you willing to try -- really try? If you've struggled with words like I have, you may have some mixed feelings in response to this question. You really do want to try, but you also remember times you've "really tried" and failed. If that's the case, allow me to whisper a little encouragement to that word-weary heart of yours. Believe me when I say that if it is possible for someone like me to run her words through the grid of God's holi..
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Karen Ehman |
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Just Because You Have a Reason to Retaliate Does Not Mean You're Justified in Doing So
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Karen Ehman |
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God is patient. He doesn't fly off the handle in anger.
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Karen Ehman |
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Long before our words go wrong, our hearts are the place in which they fester and brew. We must take very careful care of our hearts and their condition so that the words that come forth will be pleasant and sweet instead of hurtful and bitter. But just how do we do this?
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Karen Ehman |
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Gracious words promote instruction" (16:21)."
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Karen Ehman |
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What is the result of intentionally speaking graciously to our family, friends, and other necessary people? Of loving them without stopping? Of containing our anger when we speak and dealing with them in a patient and faithful way? When we choose to lace our words with grace, healing happens: "Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones" (Proverbs 16:24). Yes,"
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Karen Ehman |
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Father, I face another day in which I will be called upon to use my words wisely and well. May they encourage those who listen. May they speak truth but also be said in love. May I pause before I pounce. May I be bold enough to speak when I would rather run away. Lord, I give my mouth to you today. May what comes forth be sweet and not bitter. May the journey each word takes from my mind to my heart to my lips be guided by your hand. May wh..
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Karen Ehman |
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c2ff819
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Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs. Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning" (Proverbs 10:12 - 13)."
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Karen Ehman |
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b251129
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With our tongues we curse men and women who are made in God's likeness and then, at other times, we praise God. Out of our mouths flow both praising and cursing. But, says the New Testament writer, this should not be! James tells us that a spring cannot suddenly shoot out both sweet and bitter water. Neither can a fig tree produce olives or a grapevine decide to grow a whole mess of figs instead of grapes. You can't get salt water from a fr..
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Karen Ehman |
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But wait. Have you prayed about it?" We are better poised to process life's troubles after petitioning God first. I'm still learning this lesson, but the calm I feel when I get the order straight encourages me to keep on trying."
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Karen Ehman |
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In fact, if you are in the middle of a heated discussion with someone and they ask, "Well, what do you think?" it is perfectly reasonable to tell them you don't yet know what you think. Yes, this may frustrate some people. They may think you're copping out. They may even accuse you of not knowing your own mind. But I have found that many times what I was going to say (but thankfully didn't!) was not in the end what I wanted to express. Givi..
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Karen Ehman |
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bound to experience frustration, anger, and at times, wounded feelings. People who are not wired as we are, who don't think like we do, and who make decisions and carry out actions we would never dream of, are going to rub us the wrong way. That's a fact.
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Karen Ehman |
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we read a little farther in James, we find that the tongue cannot be tamed (James 3:7 - 8). Every creature, reptile, bird, or animal can be tamed, but not the tongue. Imagine a colossal circus full of every kind of creature: dancing bears, prancing horses -- even a ferocious looking feline or two performing tricks or jumping through hoops when their trainers give the signal. But way off in one corner stands a booth with a closed curtain and..
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Karen Ehman |
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If there is room in your heart, you'll make room in your home.
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Karen Ehman |
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Judgment does not win others over. Kindness does.
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Karen Ehman |
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Kindness starts simply. An encouraging word. A loving gesture. A tender sentiment sent through the mail. A thoughtful small token. The gift of unhurried time. A rousing pep talk. Simply vowing to speak and act in a way that is gentle and kind is the starting point. Aesop was right: "No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted."
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Karen Ehman |
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As we scatter kindness, we help to create a safe space where we can openly share the gospel with others. We get to see a life change right before our eyes. Not only the life of another. But our lives as well.
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Karen Ehman |
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Even a fool when he holds his peace is considered wise; when he closes his lips he is esteemed a man of understanding" (Proverbs 17:28). Yes, sometimes the best thing to say is nothing at all. We"
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Karen Ehman |
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Un-soft answers only worsen the mama drama in my house. And they don't win many points with my coworkers or neighbors either. When we give an un-soft answer, we drizzle a little gasoline on the tiniest spark of a potential spat. It may combust and flare, setting off a big old blaze. However,
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Karen Ehman |
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Start dreaming. Pray hard. And if God is calling you, don't be afraid to take a step of faith.
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Karen Ehman |
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There's so much good in the worst of us, and so much bad in the best of us, that it hardly becomes any of us, to talk about the rest of us.
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Karen Ehman |
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May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)
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Karen Ehman |
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93b67d7
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God knows we are limited by time and space; Jesus himself was. He didn't preach to everyone, heal everyone, comfort everyone, or even convert everyone. He simply showed up where God told him to go and did what God told him to do.
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Karen Ehman |
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If you play the fool and exalt yourself, or if you plan evil, clap your hand over your mouth!" (30:32). Here it is, translated for social media: "If you are tempted to slam someone online or brag on Facebook or send off a nasty tweet, turn off the screen and walk away!"
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Karen Ehman |
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good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of" (Luke 6:45)."
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Karen Ehman |
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each word takes from my mind to my heart to my lips be guided by your hand. May what comes out be life-giving rather than causing death. May my words make you proud and bring you glory. In Jesus' name, Amen. * Louann Brizendine, The Female Brain (New York: Morgan Road Books, 2006), 4.
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Karen Ehman |
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Don't say something permanently painful just because you are temporarily ticked off. Will
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Karen Ehman |
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The truth is, words are never accidental. To be sure, there are times we utter careless words, but even then those words are first formed in our minds, filtered to our hearts, and then given permission to come out of our lips. So in our quest to use our words in ways that are good and honor God, we must first consider the heart and mind from which they come.
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Karen Ehman |
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Lord, I give my mouth to you today. May what comes forth be sweet and not bitter. May the journey each word takes from my mind to my heart to my lips be guided by your hand. May what comes out be life-giving rather than causing death. May my words make you proud and bring you glory. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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Karen Ehman |
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Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one's life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell" (James 3:5 - 6)."
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Karen Ehman |
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Our words are powerful, and they have consequences. Whether it is a string of words screamed out in anger during the height of a marital spat, or a politician who chooses to lie in order to win votes, or even just a middle schooler trying to impress a group of boys. Our words are powerful, and our words have consequences.
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Karen Ehman |
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823854f
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In the afternoon we can't forget what God told us in the morning.
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Karen Ehman |