Devotion
Sticks and stones may break my bones....but words can also hurt me!
David Jacobs
I remember my time in high school fondly: I was an active student with a bit of a wild side. Teachers often disagreed with my rebellious streak but put up with my behavior as long as I kept my grades up. One teacher, however, saw my rebellious side for what it truly was: a cry for help. She seemed to understand thoughts and anxieties that I had that I thought I concealed well considering nobody else seemed to notice them. I have her to thank for calming me down, because through conversations with her and her willingness to listen and offer me valid advice, I gained a mentor that I am today grateful for.
John the Baptist offered similar guidance to the masses. He had gained celebrity status, preaching to multitudes of people, crowds that were hungry for direction. He was more than willing to oblige, offering prophecies and advice that had scarcely been heard before. His preaching was viewed as a threat by those in power, eventually costing him his life (Matthew 14:1-12). It was not just the lowly and meek that sought his council and thirsted for his preaching; in these verses, government officials, tax collectors, and soldiers were among the multitudes clamoring to hear his voice. Like my teacher did to me, John was not afraid to speak harshly towards the masses, ridiculing them, calling them a "generation of vipers." This harshness is often what needs to be said but is hard to hear. Without John's preaching, the world would have not been fully prepared to hear and interpret the message of Christ shortly thereafter.
Prayer
Have you fell out of touch with someone because of criticisms that you or they said to each other? Think back about what was said: what was the reason behind it? Were you or they trying to truly help? Be the bigger person in these situations and try to truly listen to the criticism. You often end up improving as a result.
Devotion
The Important Things
Frances Taylor
What is important to you? This proverb tells us what is necessary if finding knowledge of God is what we are searching for. When this is compared to the search for silver or hidden treasures, we see how diligently the search should be. What we need to do first is to listen to God's word and to keep the commandments. If we look for wisdom with an understanding heart, we are on our way to finding God. But it seems as if not all roads will lead to this knowledge because we need discernment, we need to judge whether we are following the right path and with this comes understanding If we look carefully at this passage what we find is basically the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. The only things missing are fortitude or courage, and reverence or piety. We know today that these gifts are there for us if we choose to ask the Spirit for them. They are there for us from the moment of our baptism. These gifts are there for more than just the knowledge of God, ...
Morning Prayer
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Inspiration
Wickedness and anxiety can be crippling for any person, and fear is the primary cause of it: fear of meeting others, failure, not living up to expectations, saying the wrong thing, and death. God loves us. "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. " (2 Timothy 1:7) With God ever behind us, our anxieties can melt away. Our fear shall be changed to love. "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear. " (1 John 4:18) Believe in God, for all things are possible through him!
Prayer
Deliver me from evil my Lord! I will praise thy name! I aim to know thee and know that you will know my heart and thoughts. Lead me away from temptation merciful God, and lead me towards the path of the way everlasting. I submit myself to you, in any way that you see fit to use...
