Monday, December 26, 2016

Speak Life

By Gayle Bragg Johnson

Did you know you are a prophet? The words you speak will come true. The good, the bad, the ugly. It WILL come to pass.

Satan is a liar. Period. He comes for no other reason but to kill, steal and destroy. (John 10:10). He will attack your mind every chance he gets. He will tell you that you are worthless, not lovable, you can't do it. He is a liar. God says, through His word, that He loved us SO MUCH that He GAVE His only son to die for OUR SINS (John 3:16). We are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). He also says that we can do ALL things through Christ who gives us strength. (Philippians 4:13).

I have 5 wonderful grandchildren. In the last month I have had to speak to 3 of them because they are listening to the lies. Lies they hear in their heads that they are not lovable and must change who they are to fit in. One is being made fun of because she is so smart, another one because he is not as good in school as others in his class. One thinks she is unlovable because her father abandoned her. My heart breaks because I see their worth, and I know God sees their worth. These kids are raised in a good, loving family. Can you imagine the kids who don't have this support????

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never harm me.' This is a lie. Words can do MORE damage than sticks or stones.



“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭18:21‬ ‭NIV‬‬. You will eat, digest and live the words you speak. They will go into your innermost being and become a part of you. This is true not only about the words you speak to other people, but what you speak to yourself.

In James 3, he speaks of a bit in the mouth of a horse used to guide a horse where it will go, and a small rudder used to steer a large ship. So also the tongue guides our life. It steers us where we will go. He also states that the same mouth we use to praise God, we use to curse people who are made in the image of God! Think of the old adage that people say to someone using a lot of foul language. "Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?"

You want to see a young girl bloom in front of your eyes? Call her beautiful every time you see her. Want your husband to be more helpful around the house? Praise him every time he does. (Everybody likes to be appreciated). Want to see a young man become more compassionate? Tell him you are proud of him when he is giving.

This coming year, speak life. Always. To others and yourself. And watch their lives, and yours, change. "Mountains crumble with every syllable. Hope can live or die. So speak life. Speak life., to the deadest, darkest night, when the sun won't shine and you don't know why. Look into the eyes of the broken hearted, watch em come alive as soon as you speak hope, you speak love you speak...you speak life!" (from 'Speak Life' by Toby Mac.




Monday, December 19, 2016

Do You See What I See?


By Gayle Bragg Johnson

I love Christmas. I mean everything about Christmas. From picking out the perfect gift for that someone special, to the lights, making the cookies and getting the tree. But one of my favorites is the songs. 

I remember caroling when I was younger. We would pile in our cars and go caroling to the shut-ins from church. (Caroling in the country is waaaaay different than caroling in the city!)  During the long drive between houses, we would see the Christmas lights. All in all, good memories from my childhood. 

As I grew up, Christmas became more of a stress factor. The drive for the perfect Christmas took over and I didn't enjoy Christmas as much.  The older I've gotten, the more I realize that, as the Grinch said, "Maybe Christmas, the Grinch thought, doesn't come from a store.  Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more."

So, I'm thinking this year, I'm going to enjoy Christmas again. Totally. I'm going focus on the REAL meaning of Christmas. And I'm gonna pay more attention to the songs. 

"Let every heart prepare Him room."  "Oh come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord".  And one of my favorites;  "And in despair I bowed my  head; 'There is no peace on earth' I said, 'For hate is strong, and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men'.

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep, 'God is not dead, nor doth He sleep. The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with peace on earth, good will to men'"

A baby. That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown. Regardless of what the world says or does, it is a day set aside to celebrate the birth of the God-man, the Lamb of God, who came to take away our sins. The One who payed the ransom with His blood so we could have a relationship with the Almighty again. He didn't have to do it. He did it because He loves you. He did it because he loves ME. It's personal. 

So I will enjoy Christmas again. And I will celebrate the birth of a baby and remember that "Unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a savior, which is Christ the Lord". Luke 2:11



Do you see what I see?