Oh, Brother!

~ * ~

Sticks and stones may break my bones.
But, words come back to haunt me.

When we're not right with ourselves,
We’re not right with the world,
And we're not right with our God.

It happens to the best of us,
Brings out the worst in us,
And effects the rest of us.

When we tend to our soul,
The tongue takes care of itself.

~ * ~

A perfect world is a world without sin.
A perfect church is the one you're not in.

A mirror is only as beautiful as its' reflection.

God so loved us that we could love each other.

Changing your world begins in your heart.

~ * ~

God isn't too proud to rummage through garbage dumps,
As some of His best handiwork is made out of junk.

God didn't call us to be someone else.

If we take two steps forward and one step back,
We’re still going forward.

It makes no difference how one is qualified,
As faithful is He who calls you, who also will do it.
For, it is God who builds HIS church.

God makes all things beautiful, in His time.
Isn't it about time we let Him?

If you want to know what Jesus would do,
Just ask yourself, "Is it Love?"

~ * ~

It would help us all to consider that (anytime we are not listening for the Spirit,
Walking in the Spirit, following the Spirit) we are sitting on God's throne.

When God decides a matter,
The first place He will start is not upon the circumstance.
He looks upon the heart.

Know what you believe because you heard it from God.

"Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart."
Except God gives us the ability to see man's heart, we're way out of our league.
"Judge not, that ye be not judged," is a pretty specific warning for us all.

Not forgetting we're also human,
Why not give others a break and love them anyway?

God takes it very personal how we treat His children.

Those who receive people in meekness have learned a very special lesson.
In the right place, at the right time, under the right circumstance -
There is no sin we couldn't be tempted with.
Only by the grace of God that it isn't me.

~ * ~

Brother against brother is a testimony lost people notice.

Without unconditional acceptance, there is no unconditional love.

Only when we become one with God can we become one with each other;
One in heart, soul, purpose, body, mind, and strength.

Some build for today. Others build for eternity.

Peace begins once we realize we're all in the same boat
And God gave us gifts to help each other find our way.

Plant God's Seed and He'll grow the Crop.

~ * ~

Today's Difficulties are Tomorrow's Testimonies.

Your life will always be filled with challenges.
It's best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway.

The sun is just beyond the clouds.

~ * ~

Were we to ask God to open our eyes, to see ourselves as He sees us;
To examine our heart, actions, attitudes, and motives...
God would be faithful to show us how we are hurting His cause.

Once we’ve found our sin and corrected it,
We can ask God to show us another and then another.

One step at a time, we’ll be weeding out the flesh and Satan’s power over us
While winning the world to Christ.

We can make a difference once we decide to be the difference,
Then do it all for the glory of God. It begins within "OUR" heart.

Excerpts from the Writings of Joyce C. Lock
© 2002 by Joyce C. Lock
http://my.homewithgod.com/blessingsandlessons/
This writing may be used in its entirety, with credits in tact,
for non-profit ministering purposes.