Purity 374: Encouragement for the Path of Christian Discipleship

Purity 374 03/24/2021 Purity 374 Podcast

Good morning.

Today’s photo of a pink, yellow, and blue painted January sky presumably comes from a friend (or maybe it was me?) in upstate New York, (or somewhere else) as the details of its origin have been lost in the confines of my mind.  Regardless of who captured this moment, I’m glad they did.  The details of where are unclear but I get the feeling that they caught it in the middle of their travels as this pic was taken on the road.

Instead of being consumed with the details of where they were going or what they were going to do when they got there, they were present enough to realize that God was giving them something to behold for a brief moment in their day.  

God gives us opportunities and moments that can feed our souls, but we have to be available to see them and to seek them out when we are in need.  

Of course, I’m not just talking about looking for scenic beauty to confirm that God is in our lives. We can find awe and wonder in the handiwork of God’s creation to be sure, but as we go further along in life and draw ever closer to breaching the mystery of life and death we can also get to encounter God by personally seeking His truth and presence for ourselves. 

When we seek God’s wisdom, love, and presence, we will find it.  

So even though we are in the middle of another work week and the local forecast calls for showers, keep your eyes open for God’s beauty in creation and seek to know Him more.  

(An Audio version of this message is available at https://mt4christ247.podbean.com, you can also find it on Apple podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mt4christ247s-podcast/id1551615154) and Google podcasts (https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL210NGNocmlzdDI0Ny9mZWVkLnhtbA%3D%3D).) There is more content at the restricted blog. Follow me on Twitter or MeWe for easy access.  Blog M T 4 Christ dot org – This is where the Facebook post ends.)

This morning’s meditation verse is:

Proverbs 15:1 (NKJV)
¹ A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.

Today’s verse comes from one of the seven books of the Old Testament that are referred to as wisdom literature: the book of Proverbs. Proverbs is full of pithy couplets of biblical guidance for life.  Today’s verse gives very straightforward advice to take care in how we speak to one another especially in times of conflict.  

Proverbs 15:1 paints a picture of being approached by someone who is angry. Their anger may be justified, or it may not be. We could be in the wrong or they could be way off base. 

This bit of biblical wisdom doesn’t even take that those possibilities into consideration.  Whether we are in the right or in the wrong, the Bible prescribes a soft answer.  The inherent wisdom of a soft answer leaves the doors of communication open.  

If we are right and are being wrongfully accused of the charges brought against us, a soft answer allows us to discuss the wrathful charge and makes room for the truth to become known.  

If we are in the wrong, a soft answer allows you to fully feel the consequences of your actions and to ask for forgiveness and to discuss making things right.    

Overall a soft answer can possibly de-escalate the situation, whereas delivering a harsh word will shut down communications as the wrathful party will feel justified in their complaint and seek to exact revenge, and we have reacted instead of responded and have gone into “fight” mode.  

Christ suggested that we are to be as wise as serpents and innocent as doves. When we are reacting emotionally without knowledge, we fail to do that.  Jesus also suggested that we are to be peacemakers. When we are delivering harsh words in response to criticism, we are not seeking peace.  

As Christians, we have the full assurance of life everlasting, and knowledge of things others just don’t understand. In order to share the love of God and the hope that we possess in Christ, we must seek opportunities to communicate that can all but be destroyed by one thoughtless harsh word.  

The bottom line in the Christian life is to demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit in our walk. So when we are challenged by others in this journey called life, let’s take a minute to listen and get the facts straight by answering them softly.  

I invite all to mt4chritst.org where I always share insights from prominent Christian counselors to assist my brothers and sisters in Christ with their walk. 

 

Today we will share from Dr. June Hunt’s Biblical Counseling Keys on “Alcohol & Drug Abuse: Breaking Free & Staying Free.

As always, I share this information for educational purposes and encourage all to purchase Dr. Hunt’s books for your own private study and to support her work:

E. What Clues Are Characteristic of Children with an Addicted Parent?

Josh's daughter, Sierra, is only a few days old ... and her daddy is drunk and high. This should be the happiest of homecomings for the newborn, leaving the hospital and going to her very own home where a soft crib, stuffed animals, and toys await. Sierra's mother, Katie, whom Josh married during a brief period of sobriety in 2004, sends him on an errand to pick up prescription medicine. But what should have taken only about 10 minutes stretches into an eternity.

Katie calls a local bar — Josh is there. "That's when I knew we had the battle of our lives on our hands," Katie recalls.

Fortunately, Sierra is too young to bear the clues characteristic of children with an addicted parent. But Katie knows if Josh doesn't change, little Sierra will truly suffer. The Bible says ...

"Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord."
(Ephesians 6:4)

Does the child struggle with...

• Guilt

Feeling responsible for a parent's chemical dependency?

 

• Anxiety

Worrying about the home situation?

 

• Embarrassment

Feeling ashamed to invite friends home or too embarrassed to ask for help?

 

• Lack of Trust

Having difficulty trusting others because of having an untrustworthy parent?

 

• Confusion

Feeling insecure because of parents' inconsistent behaviors and unpredictable moods?

 

• Anger

Feeling angry at the addicted parent and the nonaddicted parent for enabling?

 

• Depression

Feeling lonely, fearful, and helpless to change the situation?

 

• Hypervigilance

Experiencing extreme sensitivity to the moods of others?

 

• Excessive responsibility

Assuming immediate, inordinate responsibility for others?

 

• People pleasing

Avoiding conflict by trying to please others, no matter the cost?

 

In order to "be loyal" and "take care" of their addicted parents, many children will lie, manipulate, and do simply anything — no matter how wrong — in order to keep the peace at home. Jesus spoke about a person who causes a child to sin. ...

"It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble."
(Luke 17:2)

Biblical Counseling Keys - Biblical Counseling Keys – Biblical Counseling Keys: Alcohol & Drug Abuse: Breaking Free & Staying Free.

----------------------------more tomorrow-------------------------

 

God bless you all!

 

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