Scripture Reference: Acts 2:42-47; 4:32 – ^2:42And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. ^2:43And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. ^2:44And all that believed were together, and had all things common;^2:45And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.^2:46And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, ^2:47Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. ^4:32And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

I once heard a female preacher say, “God doesn’t share.”

At first blush, I was like, “That’s not true,” but when she explained it, it finally rung in my spirit.

She went on to say that God gives us each a measure and then expects us to share.

Think about it.

God could do away with poverty. He can do away with hunger and suffering. He can also do away with disease and despair.

If He did all these things for us, however, what would be left for us to do? What would be our purpose on this earth?

I am my brother’s keeper, and since God doesn’t share it’s my reasonable service to do that which God has left for me to do on His behalf.

Thanks to Pastor Belin for helping me with the scripture references.

We say we’ll pray for people and/or their loved ones, but we don’t usually ask for what we should pray.

You may be praying for healing while the family is praying for release and rest.

Don’t pray without direction.

Find out on what you’re touching and agreeing to. Make sure your prayers line up with the prayers of the family.

The Word says, “the effectual, fervent prayer” of the righteous avails much. Make sure your prayer is effectual.

That’s important.

Copyright© 2010, Faydra D. Fields, All rights reserved.

A helping “hand up” could eventually make you self-sufficient.

A helping “hand out” could eventually make you other-dependent.

Either one could go the opposite way.

Be careful for what you ask.

You may not realize or be prepared for what’s attached to the response.

Copyright 2010, Faydra D. Fields. All Rights Reserved.

If a person rejects you without getting to know you, then that person is not actually rejecting you.

He/she’s rejecting the idea of you he/she has in his/her own mind.

That’s no reflection on/of you.

That’s a reflection on/of his/her short-sightedness.

Don’t take it personally. He/she hasn’t taken the time to get personal.

Move on to someone who will take the time to know you and not rely on his/her idea of who he/she imagines you should be.

Copyright© 2010, Faydra D. Fields. All rights reserved.

Scripture Reference: Matthew 12:34 – ³⁴ “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” (KJV) See this scripture in other translations.

From sixth grade to my second year in college, I played the flute. In our band class, the “flutes” sat in the front row and pretty close to the band director. I’m telling you that for a reason.

One day in band class, the band director was giving us instructions about something, I don’t remember what.

I was only half paying attention, and my flute slipped off my lap and headed towards the floor. I tried to catch it before impact, but I had no such luck. When it hit the floor, I loudly exclaimed, “Dammit!”

The entire room got quiet.

When I dared to look up, the band director was staring right at me with bugged eyes and red cheeks. He pointed toward the door, and I knew that meant, “Go to the principal’s office.”

In a sort of trance, I moved mechanically toward the door. I was stunned that I’d allowed myself to get caught using profanity by a teacher.

I won’t lie. By age 12, I was cussing like it was going out of style. I was beyond fluent in profanity. I could cuss you out so thoroughly good, you would be more impressed with my combination of vulgarities than you would be offended that I’d directed them towards you.

I was always careful not to let my tongue slip around any adult. Well, I was careful every other day but that one.

When I finally got in to see the principal, he asked me why I was there. I had to recount the entire story, and I finished with an “I didn’t mean to say it” for good measure.

The principal just looked at me for a long time. I looked back.

After what seemed forever, he looked down at his desk, picked up a pen and wrote something on a piece of paper. My heart started racing, because I just knew it was a note to my parents.

When he was done writing, he looked up at me and said, and I’m paraphrasing, “You didn’t mean it, huh?”

“No, I didn’t,” I said.

“Uh-huh. Read it,” he said and extended the paper toward me across his desk.

I looked at the paper, and it said, “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” It didn’t ring a bell for me, so I looked up at him with a furrowed brow.

“I want you to write that 200 times and bring the pages to me tomorrow,” he said.

“Are you going to call my parents,” I asked.

“No.” He motioned for me to leave.

I wrote the sentences and turned them in the next day. At 12, I had no idea what the sentence meant, but I never forgot it.

Years later, when I gave my life to Christ, I came across that sentence again in the Bible, and it resonated so deeply in my spirit I remember shivering.

I think I shivered because I realized how long ago the seed had been planted for me to one day understand that scripture.

The principal knew that profanity was deeply rooted in me when I cursed in front of the band director. He knew that was the only way I would unthinkingly blurt out that word. What’s more, I knew it when I went into the principal’s office and lied and said I didn’t mean to say it.

I don’t use profanity anymore, but I’ll tell you it was hard to break the habit. It took almost eight months to totally sever those ties. That’s because it was deeply rooted in my heart. It was how I expressed myself.

I thank God that I have a different heart now. I like this new heart. It suits me.

I could wrap this up with a succinct little moral and tell you what to take away from this, but I won’t.

I will, however, leave you with these two scriptures:

• Philippians 4:8 – Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (KJV)
• Proverbs 18:20-21 - ²⁰A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. ²¹Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. (KJV)

I ask you: What’s on your heart?

If you are telling someone you love him/her just to hear it back, you’re saying it for all the wrong reasons.

How you feel and what you feel shouldn’t be predicated on how someone else does or does not feel.

When we give love, it’s nice to get it in return. However, genuine love shouldn’t be a tit-for-tat transaction.

Copyright© 2010, Faydra D. Fields. All rights reserved.

It’s easier to give up, because fighting is much harder than just lying down. You can’t get anywhere worth going on your back.

Copyright© 2010, Faydra D. Fields. All rights reserved.

There’s a difference between a smart chance and a stupid risk. Get wisdom to discern one from the other.

Copyright© 2010, Faydra D. Fields. All rights reserved.

Ignorance is not bliss. Ignorance is just a hole you’re afraid/unwilling to fill.

Copyright© 2010, Faydra D. Fields. All rights reserved.

Don’t ask me to be less, so you can be more.

That just makes us both mediocre.

Copyright© 2010, Faydra D. Fields. All rights reserved.