At that moment Heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on Him. And a voice from Heaven said, "This is My Son, Whom I love; with Him I am well pleased." Matthew 3:16b-17

When God spoke at Jesus's baptism, it was words of love and affirmation. It must have been an incredible experience to be one of the people who, at the water's edge, heard the Voice of God audibly. I think that my words ought to at least reflect my relationship with God, but sometimes, maybe too often, I find this is not so. Just recently, my landlord's 16-year old daughter was out at the ranch and was in a very heated discussion with her mother on a cellphone as I approached. Her mother hung up on her mid-conversation, and she was left with her anger. As she vented her teenage frustration at the pitfalls of being under her parent's authority, I commiserated with her. I encouraged her that most people talk to their friends about their moms. I used her own mom as an example; did she talk to HER friends about HER mom? I felt like a real friend. I felt helpful and wise. It was only later that the Spirit pointed out that my mouth had sinned; sure, it is true that girls talk about their mothers with their friends. What I had thought at the time to be a healthy way to blow off steam was in fact, putting a seal of approval on gossip. Even if it was her mom. What I realized, too late, is that I could have encouraged her to speak to God about her concerns and frustrations. (She is a Christian, as is her entire family.) Only God is in the position to actually DO something about what she perceives to be inequities. Instead of stopping to think about what GOD would want me to say, I spoke my own human wisdom. Did my words reflect the joy and affirmation that God Spoke at Jesus' baptism? Hardly. But it was a reminder to watch my words more carefully. My words will never be the Words of God, but they can be words of encouragment reflected off the waters of the Lord's Presence.

To be thinking, concious, caring, people taking every thought into the captivity of Christ

impossible without the Holy Spirit's help and our particiapation


ummm, Blyth your signiture, put the code back in
[ IMG ]address[ /IMG ] no spaces with the brackets and the IMG must be in caps

Actually, I found out that to have it show is you use <img src= > no space at the end.

I am not sure what you mean, blu. where does the <img src=> go? at the beginning or the end? How does it look? Thanks