Have you ever been eating something really sweet then one bite seems to bite back with bitterness – or some other unexpected flavor? Like a juicy watermelon slice with a small piece of rind on it you don’t see – yet you taste it – too late? Whether bitter or bland, it’s so close to the sweetness – yet it’s simply bad.
Then a conversation turns from sweet to bitter, like a bite of the watermelon rind…
That bite was bitter,
Oh so was the biter.
And now I’m bitten
Please don’t let me be rotten.
Bitter
Backbiter
Biased
Blasphemer
Boasting of my godliness
Coasting in my Christianity
Lord, lead me to the Cross
Of conviction
Not condemnation
That’s bitter
And not of You.
Help me be better than that
Blessed by You
Led by You
On Your path
Paved by pain
Washed in Your Blood
Evil is slain.
Have you ever been working on something that was good, crafting something beautiful, believing it to be blessed yet one day someone sweet to you bites, bringing bitterness in? Like a snake, bitterness slithers in, rears its ugly head and strikes. Fangs barred, full of poison, it pierces your heart, depositing venom into that place of goodness that was once virtuous and victorious?
Oh, my Lord, how can I bear this bitter burden? My heart is punctured, pierced, and poisoned. It’s putrid residue resides – unwanted – spawning sinful snakes rearing up uninvited, biting…at my heart, my soul, my mind, my worthiness, myself…and worse yet, at others.
Lord, please purify the putrid places. I cannot do this without Your love, Your mercy, Your grace and Your forgiveness, washing me clean, banishing the slithering sinful snakes – not to the basement – but to the abyss.
Forgiveness…
Is good
Comes from God
Let God
Do good
Forgiveness…
Receive it
With grace
Give it
With gratitude
Live it
Gracefully
Gratefully
Not grating on anyone with gregarious tales of how grateful I am, for that’s a SHAM. And shamans in the Bible were banned, barred, unbelievers – testifying falsely. Claiming to know You. Using Your name.
True and False Disciples
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ Matthew 7:21-23 (NIV)
For out of our heart, we act, believe, care for others, or criticize them, behaving badly, abusing trust. How cruel. Jesus called them evildoers.
Lord, may my words be
Sweet as honey
And good for the bones
Reviving the spirit
And setting the tone
For your goodness to glow and grow.
Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. Proverbs 16:24 (NIV)
Oh, that reminds my of this song:
This little light of mine, let it shine…
Pure
Not putrid
Pleasant
Not poison
Properly positioned
Not punctured, pierced or pushed around
Pierced?
Thank You, Father!
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 (NIV)
Forever. And Your light might shine…
Through the punctures.
Praise God!
Was this the purpose, God? For me to see You and learn from this lesson? To find calm in the chaos of bitter backbiting because You are here, revealing Yourself through Your Word, making me better, healing my heart, holding my hand, giving me hope?
IF…and only IF…I come to You for Your grace and forgiveness, willing to forgive because You forgave me first?
Thank You, Lord God Almighty.
This little light of mine
Let it shine.
Join me here each day in October as we delve deep into His Holy Word, finding calm. Every day.