Month: June 2011

Thought for the Day – Our Speech

On By KateIn DevotionalsLeave a comment

My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. 2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 3 Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. ~James 3:1-12

Our tongue is little in comparison to the rest of our body but it sure can be a sharp little tool if it is not trained! (James 3:10) One minute it can praise God and the next minute it can gossip about another!

So how can we train our tongue? (Psalm 39:1) Firstly, we must change the condition of the heart, amen? (Luke 6:45) Starting the day with the words from Psalm 19:14 is an excellent beginning :-) When my heart is right, the words coming from my lips will be also.

As I read today’s text, the Lord impressed upon my heart Colossians 4:6 – my speech should be seasoned with salt. Just what is the purpose of salt in our lives? Why would the Lord use this analogy? Meditating on the little word salt and comparing it to our everyday life opened this part of scripture so much more. I don’t know about you, but I really get more out my reading when analogies are used. The Lord sure knows His creation :-) He knows we learn better with real life applications. So what does salt actually do for us?

(1) It adds flavor to food – Again, Colossians 4:6 says my speech should be “seasoned” with salt. We all know what food tastes like when too much salt is added. It’s just not edible! But the right amount of salt makes food taste awesome! So does my speech add flavor to a conversation?   Do I contribute something from God’s Word when someone opens their heart to me? When someone comes to me discouraged, do I have the right words to encourage them? (Psalm 19:14) We should strive to share verses with everyone we talk to, saved or unsaved, and add flavor to our conversations. Remember, God promises that His Word will not go out void.

(2) To preserve food – Do your words preserve? There are lost souls everywhere and their souls need to be preserved, if you will. They need to hear the Gospel and they need to hear it with “flavor.” (John 6:68) We have the words of life and they are lost! Do you see a Christian friend heading toward distruction? That friend needs to be preserved – that friend needs you to love her and show her through the scriptures what she is doing wrong. I am close to two dear ladies and both are not hesitant in preserving me :-D They would rather see me living for the Lord than to stray and be chastised. That is a characteristic of a good friend!

(3) To heal open sores – We have all gargled with salt water at one time or another. It helps to heal mouth sores. Do your words bring comfort and healing?  (Proverbs 12:18) To the lost, your words should be the Gospel.  (John 6:68) To the saved, your words should be full of mercy rather than judgment. (Luke 6:36) We say that we love the sinner yet hate the sin – do we really ? We need to remember that we all are sinners. (Romans 7:24) Not one day goes by that we are not tempted and sin because of it. So who are we to consider ourselves better than the one who has fallen? We are told to love one another – only then will our words bring healing to those who are hurting!

Our goal should be to draw others to the scriptures. (Acts 8:31) Just as salt causes us to thirst and to heal, so should our speech be to others. God’s words will not return to us void – He promises us this! (Isaiah 55:11) Every time I look at a salt shaker, you can be sure I look at it differently! :-)

Thought for the Day – Today’s Honey

On By KateIn DevotionalsLeave a comment


We know that what is in our hearts will reflect by the words we speak, amen? (Matthew 12:34, Matthew 15:18, Luke 6:45) What can change a heart? Romans 10:10 tells us that with our heart we believe unto righteousness and with our mouths we profess our salvation. Once the sinful heart is made clean by the precious blood of the Lamb, we are a new creature (II Corinthians 5:17) and we now have the power to stay away from sin. So how can we do that?

It is the scriptures which cleanse us when we obey them. (Psalm 119:9) We are who we hang around with and who we spend more time with, amen? A woman who is a busy body will not be able to stay away from this awful sin if she continues the same path she’s been on. God’s word warns us about this sin so if she heeds His word, she will be able to be “cleansed” from that sin. It takes action on our part – heeding God’s word – taking control of our spiritual life and actively giving up that sin. It is doable because we possess the Holy Spirit of God who desires to help us during each and every temptation. (I Corinthians 10:13) This is a promise – if this verse does not work for you it is because you chose to continue in the sin rather than say no.

We have a new day, each and every day, to dedicate it to the Lord and consecrate it especially for His good pleasure. What is more beautiful than a woman beginning her day by dedicating her mouth to the Lord? What a beautiful verse to memorize for each and every one of us:

~Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

What is in our heart will come out of our mouth. Therefore, when we begin our day by dedicating the words from our mouth to the Lord, we are going to make a conscious effort to guard our words, amen? We must weigh our thoughts before speaking them.  I think of the wife of an unsaved husband. If she begins her day in this manner, her husband will receive kindness and understanding even if he does not deserve them. Since the woman was created for man (and not vice versa), it is our God-given duty to strive to be the godly helpmeet He wishes us to be. (I Peter 3:1-2)

Speaking only kindness takes practice. Holding your temper or sarcastic retorts takes work. It’s easy to speak our minds but it takes work to control the tongue. (James 1:26) Just think of the wonderful benefits you receive when you obey this verse: (1) you’re in God’s will in doing so, (2) you are being a godly testimony to those around you, and (3) the unsaved will see Christ in you and be won over!

When we speak kindness, we are showing our love to the Lord! God sees this and He is pleased. Aren’t you pleased when your children do something good? God is the ultimate parent! He is pleased when we obey His words and put them into action.

Haven for my Soul

On By KateIn PoetryLeave a comment

Oh how my soul longs to be with Him
Exhausted from the trials of the day
I look forward to sitting close by Him
And wait anxiously to what He will say

He watches, He beckons, Come join Me
I will quench your thirst and make you whole
Sweet solace I’ll give beyond measure
At this peaceful haven for your soul

This sanctuary I’ve made for you
To shelter you during times of storm
And prepare you for trials up ahead
While a work in you heart I perform

I go to my haven each morning
All my cares at His feet I do lay
I leave them with Him for He loves me
As I travel on life’s narrow way.

© Kate Plourde

Thought for the Day – God’s Word

On By KateIn DevotionalsLeave a comment

I hope you can see this photo clearly.  I took this of the beautiful California Redwoods.  Can you see the two vertical trees that have grown from the horizontal branches of this Redwood?  Isn’t that magnificent?  They are all part of the same tree!  I was simply amazed and in awe of the Lord’s handiwork.  In all of creation, there is an object lesson.  This particular picture brought today’s post to mind.

~1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

~Ephesians 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

~1 Thessalonians 1:6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:

~1 Thessalonians 2:14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:

Who does one follow when it comes to the things of God?  Does one follow church leaders?  Does one follow the Bible?  What if the Bible says one thing and the church leaders say another? What does one do?

Some churches say that their church’s traditions and church fathers’ writings are additions to the word of God and more recent. Therefore, they must follow these traditions. Some believe that God’s word is the foundation only and traditions and church fathers’ writings are building blocks which must be obeyed. Hmmmm! That ought to be a red flag! (Proverbs 30:6 and Revelation 22:18)

Paul wrote several times in today’s text that we should follow God – and if we follow a church leader, that church leader must be following God and what His word commands.  In other words, we should not be following after a leader who goes against the scriptures.  The scriptures are our measuring stick.  If our church leaders say one thing and the Bible says another, we are to follow the scriptures.  Paul had the opportunity here to tell us to follow leadership even when they are wrong or even when they make up doctrine that goes against Scriptures.  However, Paul emphatically stated that we are to follow after leaders who follow after God – and God reveals His will in His word! Many churches are extremely against following the scriptures only. (Jeremiah 23:32, Matthew 22:29, Hebrews 3:10)

Read these verses and ask yourself if the church you attend falls under these guidelines.  There are fundamental beliefs in Scriptures that cannot be compromised – salvation is one of them.  What does your church leader teach about salvation?  Read your Bible – compare the two.  If there is any difference, your church leaders are not heeding Paul’s exhortation.

Thought for the Day – Faucet Repair

On By KateIn DevotionalsLeave a comment


~Proverbs 21:9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.

~Proverbs 25:24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.

I’m sure you have found yourself at one time or another in the same room with someone with a bad temper. Your main thought is to get as far away from the contention as possible. A house cannot be big enough when it contains a woman who is ranting and raving her displeasure. Do we behave like this Proverb’s woman with our own husband?

We can try to justify our actions all we want. We can say that we are trying to make a point. We can say “He’s my husband, he needs to see how he makes me feel!” But does he really have to know exactly how you feel? If yes, does he have to hear it through screaming words?

There is nothing appealing or admirable about a woman who cannot control her anger. I once knew a woman who would throw her wedding ring at her husband during a fight and then she would storm out the door and go for a ride in the car. Is that Christ-like to you? You might say she got her point across, but did she? I doubt it. What she did get across to her husband was that she was childish and if she didn’t get her way, she would throw a fit. By the way, there are husbands who act this way as well but that’s a whole other devotional :-)

~Proverbs 21:19 It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.

This speaks for itself, doesn’t it? There are quite a few verses dealing with a woman being the contentious woman. It is probably because we women are emotional creatures. Therefore, we must learn to control those emotions in a godly manner.

~Proverbs 27:15 A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.

Ugh! A continual dropping? Oh my!! I use to have a bathroom faucet that dripped like that. I could hear it in the still of the night and could NOT fall asleep!  I can see why they called this Chinese torture as a joke! It’s funny to think of but it’s not funny when a husband is stuck with a wife whose anger and brawling is compared to this annoying scenario!

If an unsaved man has a Christian wife who is like this, do you think he will be quick to come to Christ? If he is saved but disobedient to the Word, do you think her testimony will be quick to draw him back? Do you think this type of emotional outburst will allow the Holy Spirit to woo him? There is nothing Christ-like in her behavior so why should he thirst for Christ?

So what kind of testimony are we to our husband? They are watching, believe me. Are you a contentious woman? Self examination is so important to the wife of an unsaved man. Being in Proverbs daily is a good start to self examination – there is no better book for spiritual discipline. The scriptures cleanse us and keep us on track.

Our day should start with sincere prayer like Psalm 51:10:

~Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

The Lord desires to help us be in control of our tongues, our attitudes, and our actions. He desires to help us be the helpmeets we need to be, despite our husband’s spiritual condition. No, it’s not easy being married to an unbeliever. However, that does not prevent us from having a right relationship with the Lord. In fact, we are only responsible for our own spiritual condition, not our husband’s. It’s the Holy Spirit’s job to work in his heart, not ours.

Someone is always watching – including our husbands. Challenge yourself today … ask the Holy Spirit to shed light on areas that are not pleasing to Him and that are hindering your husband’s salvation or hindering his return from backsliding. Ask Him to give you your husband’s eyes so you can see how he (your husband) views you.

After all, no one wants their husband to prefer living in the wilderness than to be around them  God bless you as you strive to be sanctified and meet for the master’s use!!

The Barber

On By KateIn VariousLeave a comment

Photobucket

This is one of the best explanations of why God allows pain and suffering that I have seen.

A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation.
They talked about so many things and various subjects. When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said:

‘I don’t believe that God exists.’

‘Why do you say that?’ asked the customer.

‘Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn’t exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can’t imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things.’

The customer thought for a moment, but didn’t respond because he didn’t want to start an argument. The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop. Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkempt. The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber:

‘You know what? Barbers do not exist.’

‘How can you say that?’ asked the surprised barber.

‘I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!’

‘No!’ the customer exclaimed. ‘Barbers don’t exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside.’

‘Ah, but barbers DO exist! That’s what happens when people do not come to me.’

‘Exactly!’ affirmed the customer. ‘That’s the point! God, too, DOES exist! That’s what happens when people do not go to Him and don’t look to Him for help. That’s why there’s so much pain and suffering in the world.’

Thought for the Day – Spiritual Garden

On By KateIn Devotionals, Thoughts and MeditationsLeave a comment

~John 12:24-26 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

Scientists have tried to create a seed in laboratories for years but have failed to do so. Yet, the Creator provided us with countless numbers and varieties. A seed cannot bring forth anything until it dies in the soil. That simply amazes me! Our Lord and Saviour used the seed as an example of our lives. If we could compare each kind of seed this world has to offer, we would most certainly find that each one is unique – different from the others.

Let’s just look at flowers for today’s example. I have irises in my back yard and roses in my front yard. The picture above was taken from a friend’s yard – her irises look different from mine. As well, when I inspected my roses, I discovered that each rose came from the same seed and each rose look different in appearance. Year after year, this seed produces more roses and each looks different from the ones before. Each is unique and special in its own way – in size, in variance of color, etc. To think that the seed had to die before it could produce such beauty is a wondrous thought on which to meditate.

How does my spiritual walk compare to this beautiful flower? Let’s use the iris as our analogy for today’s thoughts. Was the seed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ planted in good soil in my heart? Am I feeding my flower, my spiritual life, with the word of God and growing? Am I pollinating and “reproducing”? Is my spiritual walk beautiful or filled with bugs and sickness?

One can only produce a beautiful flower if the seed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been planted in the heart – in good soil. (Mark 4:20) The seed (the old man – Romans 6:6) has died and a new life (John 3:3, Romans 6:4) has been born. Our new life is then made public by being watered, both by baptism (Romans 6:3-6) and by the watering of the Scriptures. (Psalm 23:2) Now we have a flower that has grown from a seed and has sprouted from the ground. The beauty of this flower has not yet been revealed but with just the right amount of sun, water and good soil, this flower will grow into something beautiful.

But what about the snares in life? Flowers can lack nourishment from the soil; they can wilt from lack of water; they can die from bug infestation. I can glean so much from this analogy! It’s amazing how we can look at God’s creation and learn from Him!! I cannot grow spiritually if I do not work at it. You’ve never seen a beautiful Japanese garden that has gone untouched by human hands. It takes hours of gardening to make a garden that beautiful. It’s the same with our own spiritual walk. I cannot just absorb God’s word without opening its pages, reading them and applying what the Holy Spirit has revealed to me. (Hebrews 3:7-12) He convicts me of my sins and molds me into the image of Christ (Romans 8:29).

As I walk on my Christian path, I can myself from sin or I can succumb to temptation or I can resist it. Any good gardener will tell you that pests that are allowed into the garden will destroy the gardener’s hard work. He must use pesticides or natural predators to eliminate the problem. We can only resist temptation if we keep ourselves in God’s word. (1 Corinthians 10:13) I find that I am at my weakest spiritual state when I am not armed with the power of God to resist temptation. (Ephesians 6:10-17) It is not my power, but God’s power that helps us resist sin. My power, my flesh, is weak (Romans 7:18) and in it lies no good thing. Yielding myself to the Lord gives me His power to resist the bugs, the sins of life.

Although I may fall into sin, my Master Gardener (Psalm 30:5) can take my tears and renew my spirit come morning! With the morning dew comes a beautiful new day which produces a beautiful flower. But this flower will be of no use if it does not affect another’s life – whether it is sharing its beauty or “pollenating”! (Romans 1:16, Proverbs 11:30)

So, dear friend, what kind of flower are you? What stage of growth are you in? It’s never too late to work on your spiritual garden!