Nip it in the bud!

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If you are a fan of the iconic Andy Griffith show you have heard the infamous one-bullet-Barney Fife bellow out this phrase, “Nip it in the bud!” One of my favorite episodes is when he goes into detail about it. Take a look…

To nip something in the bud means to stop it before it gets worse or becomes bigger than it is or before it spreads, etc. It’s a horticultural process where growers pinch or snip off new buds on plants and trees to stop them from growing in certain areas and to make the plant flourish in others.

Many times it is to force the plant to put its energies to more productive uses. The bonsai tree is a good example of this as is the herb, basil. You would never have to buy basil at the store again if you continually nip off the flowering buds, replant and repeat. If you let the basil flower, it will lose its taste. This interesting phrase actually dates back to the 1600’s!

Nip it in the bud

As silly as it may sound, the concept can apply to so many areas of our lives. Let’s look at a few!

  • Gossip. What if we nipped it in the bud and didn’t let it even take up residence? Or, when someone decides to share, we stop them before they get started? It would save us the burden of hearing possible lies or distortions about someone else and it would keep us from being tempted to share it again. “A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.” Proverbs 16:28. Nip it!
  • Negativity. Continually allowing negative thoughts in our minds and hearts will weigh us down like few other things. “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord…” Ephesians 5:19. What if we turned those negative thoughts around, told the devil to take a hike and spoke words of life to others and to ourselves? Nip it!
  • Griping. This is one you don’t see in a list very often but most of us are guilty. “Hi, my name is Nannette and I gripe too much.” Every little thing that bugs you? Gripe, nag, find fault and let the person who is upsetting you know it right then and there. Nagging is annoying but so many of us are guilty. We might not even realize we are doing it or understand the negative effect it has on those around us who must listen and take the blows. But it builds up over time until we wear the label permanently. “But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.” James 3:8-10. Nip it!

The Bible instructs us clearly in how we should behave at all times, even how we should think! “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8 ESV.

When these undesirable attitudes try to enter our hearts and minds we must stop them before they begin. Just as we would with our children by not letting them get away with certain attitudes or actions, we must allow the Holy Spirit to speak to us and correct us as well. Jesus left us His Word and His spirit as guides and He WILL chastise us in love to make us more like Him if we are willing.

For the Kingdom

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Because sometimes God has skin

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The Church The bodyToday we begin a short series on The Body, The Church. We will learn what it means to be a part of the Body of Christ, its benefits and responsibilities. Join us!

Most have probably heard the story of the little girl who was afraid to sleep in her own room and kept running to Mom and Dad, begging to sleep with them. They would assure her all was well and back to her bed she would go only to return in a few minutes. Finally, her parents tried to comfort her by saying that God was with her and watching over her. That wasn’t quite what the child wanted to hear for, as she put it, “Sometimes I need God with skin on!”

Sometimes God sends someone with skin on. The Body of Christ wasn’t meant to sit on a church pew and soak up endless teaching and blessings, hoarding them to ourselves.

Never.

The Body of Christ, The Church, that’s you and me, were meant to BE the hands and feet of Jesus.

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We are to GO and DO and BE Jesus in this world. We are His skin, so to speak.

because sometimes God has skin

I saw a video clip this week of a young man who was having what he thought was a bad day. So much to do, so little time to do it and he admitted he was simply in a bad mood. He walks out of a store to see a lady in her car, maybe early 60’s, bald and obviously waiting on someone. To pass the time she was reading a book.

The young man gets in his car and is immediately struck with the impression to go back in the store and get the woman a bouquet of flowers. What?! “I’m busy, I’m aggravated and I just don’t want to, Lord.” But, being obedient, he goes back in and brings the flowers to her car window where he stumbles over his words and says something like, “I know we don’t know each other but I felt impressed to give you these flowers and hopefully encourage you to smile.”

Naturally, the lady burst into tears…the man quietly walks back to his car, broken, humbled and all of his troubles put into perspective in an instant. He will never know what she was going through or what the flowers represented to her but, rest assured, she needed to hear from the Lord that day.

God comes to us in so many different ways; His Word, a thought, prayer, worship and music, creation and nature and other believers. He even spoke through a donkey in the Old Testament to make a point!

Jesus, God manifested in the flesh, came with skin and walked among His own. He loved, He shared, He pointed the way. He WAS the WAY.

HE IS THE WAY!

Even though we may not see the physical Jesus in the flesh, sitting on a throne here on Earth, we see The scripture says,  “For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in…” Matthew 5:25. He expects us to treat those around us as we would treat Him. So how do we do that? How do we become Jesus with skin?

  • Be sensitive. That comes through prayer and the Word.
  • Be engaging. When you are sensitive and the Lord leads you to someone, don’t just stand around wondering if He means YOU. He does! So step in and go in faith.
  • Be real. Don’t hide your testimony and don’t pretend like you have it all together. Let others know you NEED Jesus every. single. day. You aren’t above mistakes and you still mess up but you serve a God that not only forgives but supplies you with what you need for each new day.
  • Be faithful. If you say you are going to do something, do it. If something needs to be done, don’t ask if you can help, just help! Be a friend, be a mentor, be a confidante and do them all well. Don’t gossip about your friend or their problem, pray to the One who can actually do something about it.

Jesus with skin? That’s you, me, the Body. We were put here for a purpose and that is to share the love of God in order to help others come to know Him. And when they do? They will then do the same!

For the kingdom
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When you stand up to the bully…

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Another of My Three Sons is the guest writer on the blog today! Korey Elkins is the youngest, this year they will turn 25, 30 and 35! Where does the time go? So proud of Korey and what he is doing for the kingdom. He was with us in Latvia for a while as the worship leader, singing on the streets of Riga to win souls, as you see in this first picture

and then he was in Scotland and Ireland for several weeks helping missionaries there

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and finally, just this past December, he went with us to Haiti and was greatly impacted by the work there.

But every Sunday, you will find him singing and playing his guitar at his home church in Fishers. Enjoy and be encouraged by this post.

“Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

There are so many adjectives used to describe God:

  • Creator
  • Healer
  • King of Kings
  • Son
  • Messiah
  • Protector
  • Alpha
  • Omega
  • Savior
  • Lord of Lords

The list is longer than we can ever imagine. One of the words I love to describe Him as is Father. The thought that the One who created the universe, sustains life and holds the stars in place is also the one who cares about my day to day life, is astounding to me.

And the fact that He calls me His son is mind-blowing.

The verse from Isaiah 41:10 is a verse that has stuck with me ever since I heard it on the Christian radio show, Adventures In Odyssey. There’s a boy who is being bullied on his way home from school everyday and is eventually too terrified to leave school because of it. Whit, the city’s sage, Christian counselor, gives him some advice and tells him to repeat this verse as he walks home. He does this and as he confronts the bully, the verse gives him confidence to stand up to her and keep walking.

When you stand up to the bully

I love this simple message from God because it’s such an accurate depiction of how a Father encourages His children.

  • Why would we fear when God is always with us?
  • Why would we let anxiety control our lives when He is our God?
  • Why do we let ourselves be weakened and destroyed by lusts, addictions and doubts when He is our strength, our help and our righteousness?

Our God is for us! “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31.

One of the most important parts of Isaiah 41:10 is His mentioning of His “righteous right hand”. The idea of the right hand is mentioned many times in the Bible. The right hand is significant because it indicates someone who has the highest rank, just under the King. It’s someone who stands next to the King and matters the most to him. Most scriptures reference Jesus as now being seated at the right hand of God. “…Jesus Christ, who is at the right hand of God…” 1 Peter 3: 21-22.

For me, I think this could also be saying just how important we are, as His sons and daughters. By holding us up with that right hand of righteousness, we are exalted to that higher level. We matter the most to Him. And that’s why we are pursued so relentlessly by God.

Keep this verse with you when times get dark and heavy.

How small are your fears, anxieties, weaknesses and failures compared to your worth in Christ!

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Let yourself be restored by His righteous right hand. Don’t fear. He is with you.

Korey Elkins is the Worship Director at Life Connections Church in Fishers, Indiana. His love of music of all genres is evident in his everyday life but his love for worship trumps them all. Korey began playing guitar at the age of 14 and leading worship with it hanging around his neck at the age of 16. He is a student of graphic design and loves, or lives, to cook for others. If you are blessed to sit down at his table you will leave happy and full.