PREFIXES

Choose your prefixes carefully. 

For example, ""un" means "not."

Think. What happens when lawful is replaced by unlawful? 

A life-changing decision.  A prison sentence maybe. Followed by regret.

Just 2 simple letters added. Some by choice. Others not.

Healthy. Unhealthy.

Disciplined. Undisciplined. Apple or caramel? 

Hmmm....maybe a caramel apple. Is that a "worthy" compromise? Maybe occasionally.

Our choices matter this side of heaven. 

Forgiving is always the right choice!

An unforgiving spirit brings bondage. It can act like a poison to your soul.

Forgiveness gives life.

Cancel the debt; write a blank check of forgiveness.

Transform your unforgiving spirit to forgiving. Throw out the "un"--it's not needed. 

Turn that anger and hurt into healing and peace.

Jesus did. With Him, there is always forgiveness for His beloved----no prefix ever needed.

TEMPERING OUR TASTE BUDS

Taste buds number 4 if you just count sweet, sour, salty and bitter. Nowadays, others add a 5th tastebud--umami. Umami, discovered by a Japanese soup lover, it has a characteristic savory flavor of soy, mushrooms, parmesan cheese and Marmite.

My first experience with that Brit loving spread, convinced me I'll never  use Marmite to explore the 5th taste bud.

Researchers say there are 10,000 hairs on our tongue which make up our tastebuds. A hairy mouth seems a YUKY thought, even if they are microscopic. TMI, right?

All this to say, sweet and salty are my fave buds. Just like in my spiritual life, I'm one who prefers the sweetness of God's word as well as wanting to be salt and light in the world. Sour moments in life and the bitterness of hope deferred (Proverbs 13:12) can make me "sick" at my stomach.

On this "pondering my palate day" I realize that bitterness is distasteful and sometimes I try to "stuff it" or just leave it simmering on a back burner. But bitterness can spill over and ruin the taste of everything if one doesn't deal with it. (Hebrews 12:15) A good reminder for those seeking to deal with bitterness---"taste your words before you spit them out!"

Disappointment or discouragement from pity, unfulfilled expectations and self-imposed comparisons with others can lead to bitterness. Bitterness that alters the sweet taste of today's relationships and fellowship. All bitterness...... must be put away from you. (Ephesians 4:31)


Even the literary world from the Bible to O'Connor and Shakespeare are aware of this.

My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him. (Psalm 62:5)

To expect too much is to have a sentimental view of life and this is a softness that ends in bitterness. (Flannery O'Connor)

But O' how bitter a thing it is to look into happiness through another man's eyes. (Shakespeare, William. Much Ado About Nothing Act 5 scene 2) 

Chew on these literary quotes. May the understanding they give be your "Pepto" today for overeating those thoughts and words bitter to your taste.
Worry. Comparison. Why Me?
Even Marmite tastes better than those!

Got junk?

4/24/12 More specifically, got a junk drawer? According to organizing guru, Maryanne MacDonald, no drawer should be a junk drawer, ie a catchall. Each drawer should have a specific purpose. I assume she meant that junk wasn’t a worthy purpose. Our junk drawer evolved into a purpose on its own---a place for hubby and me to put things when we didn’t know where else to put them. “Tidy”ing said “junk” drawer wasn’t on my day’s “to do” list but it came about anyway when I was looking for a sturdy rubberband. I was too lazy to go upstairs and get one out of the “Rubberband” labeled drawer in my old card catalog. Excess “junk” had the drawer jammed----thus the tidying up began.

As I culled and organized, I mused how akin to my brain this drawer was. Crammed. Filled to overflowing. Some information was useless clutter (trivia comes to mind) making retrieval for important info virtually impossible at times.

Sadly, one’s mind can be too spiritually similar to a junk drawer. Truth is, some thoughts don’t need to take up permanent residence there. Those thoughts can build resentment and bitterness and can “jam” pure thoughts or spew over and affect other unrelated aspects of your life. Bitterness is known in the Bible as spiritual poison and a means by which many are defiled (Hebrews 12:15)

 

Some thoughts never need to be allowed access in the first place. Take every thought captive… (2 Corinthians 10:5)

If mind ”junk” continues to be a problem, “….be transformed by the renewing of your mind” through scripture. (Romans 12:2)

Of course, I tidied up my drawer and wrote it on my “to do” list, (after the fact) so I could ✔ it off and feel a sense of accomplishment. Just yesterday, Debbie P. told me she often does the same thing. Since she’s a pastor’s wife, that info made me feel much better.

✔Drawer accomplished. Beginning to work on my brain now because in one’s thought life..…..organized junk is still junk.