Matthew 12:34-35

For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Matthew 12:34-35

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45

Have you ever opened your mouth and been shocked at what comes pouring out of it? I have. I’ve discovered that even though I had not allowed my mind to think certain ways, there was still a remnant of pain that was expressed in my words and feelings that I didn’t know was lying dormant in my heart. It is often those moments of surprise at your own words that can clue you in to a need for healing or repentance.

As we enter into our Thanksgiving and Christmas season, let’s remember to be thankful and praise our King. We need to pay attention to the words coming out of our mouths and, when necessary, be prepared to repent of wrong thinking or seek out prayer for healing. During this season it’s easy to focus on our economy or the state of our personal finances. Sometimes the brokenness of our families dominates our thoughts or a striving to do and be more for our own children than our parents were for us can overtake who God has made us to be.

Let’s choose not to fear and remember that we have God and the abundance of salvation. How can we have a bad Christmas when we are God’s and all He has is ours? Let’s choose to believe God’s Word and His promises and remember to let praises be in our mouths and thankfulness in our hearts. Let’s speak out the greatness of our God and the assurance of our salvation.

1 Timothy 2:1-5

1 Timothy 2:1-5
Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

We have a new president! And we know that our nation is looking at change as a result. That’s always the case when a new president comes into office and it leaves us with a phenomenal responsibility as Christians. It’s our job to pray for our leaders. It seems that when we know our president is a Christian who retains Godly morals, we forget to pray for him or just don’t feel as pressed to pray. And when our president is not a Christian, then we sure pour out the prayers! But we’re wrong when that’s the case. It is always our responsibility to pray for our leaders! It’s always our responsibility to continue to ask that Godliness will flourish within the structure and people of our country.

As our new president comes up to speed and takes office let’s pray for him. Let’s ask God to direct the path of our country and pray that President Obama’s heart would be softened to hear the voice of the Lord. Proverbs 21:1 says that “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord; He directs it like a watercourse wherever He pleases.” Let’s rejoice in the Lord and His sovereignty. Let’s not despair and become fatalistic about life in America. Let’s remember that our hope is in God and He has already said that He is the one who directs the king’s (or, in our case, the president’s) heart. Let’s remember to be thankful always for the fact that God is where our hope lies. Let’s take our nation back in a storm of prayer and intercession and watch the hand of the Lord at work on our behalf!

1 Corinthians 12:12-26

The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “ I am not part of the body because I am not and eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.” In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. I Corinthians 12:12-26

We as believers, Christians and followers of Jesus Christ are His body. We did not choose who belongs to the body, Christ has. Therefore we are connected together as one in Christ. Ever come across other believers that bother you, frustrate or even anger you? It is then that we need to pray that the love of God abounds in us and through us for each other. We are in desperate need of each other. We are connected to each other, let us rejoice and care for one another as we would care for our own body. If we are sick, we rest or see a doctor, if a bone is broken we have it set and cast, if there are other physical concerns, we make sure to take care of them. How much the more should we care for each other as members of Christ? So let us remember we are connected. Let us remember to love each other and grow in our hearts until we are truly one. Let us take time and be united together in Christ, not preferring ourselves, but showing more honor and preference to others for Christ’s Sake.