R u a quarrelsome frend, daughter, leader, gf, wife or all of the above?!!!

Scripture Reference: James 3:1-12

Today's devotion is adopted from the Daily Bread "A Word from the Wise" Hmmm.. if your answer to the above the title is "All of the above." Its a wake up call to you! How many times as girls/ladies that we let our emotions/feelings come first before going through our thot processes. And usually, the ending is a sad one or pretty much guilt-ridden. James made 2 very strong statement in verse 1, "Not many of you should presume to be teachers..... cos' you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly" and in verse 10 "Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be"

As I was working on these verses, I was reminded of what one of my daughters who shared with me that she was afraid to share things for fear that she will be scolded by me (heh.. sounds familiar hor, del!), that actually caught me thinking have I been too harshed with my approach? Many times as leaders, we forget to put on a more humane, motherly approach to their issues that they are going through and immediately put on the "you-should-know-better-and-i-have-told-you-so" approach to our children which is why misgivings were surfaced. Today, will you ask the Lord to work in your heart to be "quick to listen" and "slow to speak" so as to edify and build one another up?

In addition, during the woman session, one of the 12 pts that Ps Nina shared abt the "noble woman" was "She is wise and she speaks graciously" - to the gfs, wives and wife-to-be! Have you been too harsh on your man? At the end of the day, it is not about who is right and who is wrong... because wat gd will it be if it is a win-lose situation. Proverbs 21:19 says "Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered woman." !!!!! Gosh.... Sahara desert anyone??? Today, will you ask the Lord a gentle spirit to fill you up?

Food for thot:

The Lord knows that we wear many hats daily... but will you take the extra mile to be genuinely nice to one another or to put your own agenda/desires before others? 'Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones" (Prov 16:24)