Like a Razor

~Warren Weirsbe

Read Psalm 52:1-4

The tongue is one of the smallest parts of the body, yet it can do the most damage. In these verses David writes about an experience he had with Doeg, who had a wicked, boastful tongue. David cautions us about two kinds of damaging tongues.

First, beware of a boastful tongue. Doeg was a proud man. In his boastful pride, he told Saul about David, and it cost people's lives. We like to boast because it inflates our ego. But those who boast should boast in the Lord. If we boast in the Lord, we glorify Him.

Second, beware of a sharp tongue. David says of Doeg, "Your tongue devises destruction, like a sharp razor, working deceitfully" (v. 2). He had a lying, sharp tongue. "You love evil more than good, and lying rather than speaking righteousness. You love all devouring words, you deceitful
tongue" (w. 3,4). Have you ever been cut by someone's sharp tongue? Or worse, have you ever cut someone with your words? What really hurts is when we cut someone with lies. Lying is a terrible sin. Satan is a liar and a murderer. He wants to use our tongues to spread deceit, not
righteousness.

In verse 1 David magnifies the goodness of God: "The goodness of God endures continually." When we boast of the goodness of God, our tongues are medicine that heals, not sharp razors that cut. Our tongues are used to speak righteousness, not to spread lies. They will boast about the Lord, not about ourselves. Let's yield our hearts to God so that our tongues might be used for blessing.

We need to keep our tongues under control. They are capable of causing great damage. Beware of having a boastful or sharp tongue. Be careful that your tongue does not spread lies. And when others slander you, don't reciprocate with your own tongue. Instead, use your tongue to glorify God and to speak of His goodness.

Rainy Day Fun

For the young and old alike:

Bembo's Zoo

Poisson Rouge

And my personal favorite:

Orisinal

My Son's Brownies

We love my son's brownie recipe. All of the recipes he had tried before never turned out. One day, when he was nine, he was experimenting and hit upon these very brownies that his family think are just right. The last two batches he made he increased the cocoa amount, if you already have this recipe, you might note the change.

My Son's Brownie Recipe

1 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 cup butter
4 eggs
1 cup flour
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

Melt butter and cocoa in a saucepan. Stir in the four eggs, flour, sugar, and vanilla, and pour it into a 9x13 metal cake pan.

Prep oven 325. Baking time: 27 minutes.

A Prayer for Guidance

Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation.

Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.

My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

~Psalm 5:1-3

Hurricane Window Cleaner

This cleaner is said to have been used to remove tape marks off windows after the hurricanes in 1986. It's also great for removing soap film from shower doors. It's the best I've ever used. I've heard the heat from the sun causes streaking, but this cleaner doesn't leave streak marks when used in the sun, so if used on a cloudy day it's sure to be foolproof.

Hurricane Window Cleaner

1/2 cup ammonia
1 pint alcohol
1 teaspoon dish detergent
Water to make a gallon

Put ammonia, alcohol and detergent in a gallon jug. Fill up with water. Shake before each use.

Melancholy

Never suffer yourself to be subdued by melancholy; it is amongst the things that will most injure you. It is impossible to persevere in the path of holiness, if we give not ourselves to it with joy. The love of God should impart peace to the soul.

~MADAME DE GUYON (1648-1717)

Melancholy - a feeling of thoughtful sadness.

A gloomy state of mind, often a gloomy state that is of some continuance, or habitual.

Biscaya

My mother and father-in-law introduced me to James Last many years ago. They've taken dance lessons over the years & really enjoy his music. James Last is known as the Gentleman of Music. One of his CDs that I really like is Biscaya: it makes you want to get up and dance whether you know how or not. His music makes it easy. My mother-in-law also likes to listen to it while cleaning or working around the house...and I do too.


The following is from James Last - "My Autobiography"

It was a simple idea, but it made James Last, born Hans Last in Germany in 1929, hugely successful. He came up with the idea of arranging chart hits in an accessible, big band style and found a massive audience for what turned into an astonishing series of records down the years.

I couldn't find a music sampler for you to listen to but I did find this video with Biscaya playing -

The Journals of Jim Elliot

Jim Elliot was a missionary to Ecuador. In 1956, he and four other men were killed by the very ones he was witnessing to, the Auca Indians. He left behind a young wife and a little baby girl. Elisabeth Elliot, his wife, edited and published his journal some twenty years after his death. He started his journal, as a means of self-discipline during his Junior year at Wheaton College 1948. He begins by studying Genesis. What an inspiration for us as we read and see his faith, love and obedience to God.

January 21 Genesis 27

"Your speech betrays you." However cleverly I may cover my hands, do acts which make me seem someone I am not, and deceive by the gifts my hand might provide, the ultimate test for who I am is my voice. "The voice is Jacob's voice" - that could not be doubted. Out of a heart that is full of either sweet water or bitter springs, the fountain at my tongue and who or what I really am is at my heart. Clear out the source and fill it with Thy love that my speech may be sound and uncondemned - today!

~Jim Elliot (1927-1956)

Me and Mangoes

Way back in 10th grade art class I had my first experience with mangoes. I tried to paint a Mexican farmer's market that mainly consisted of people and mangoes. So I've known what they've looked like for some time but have always wondered what in the world to do with them.

Several years ago my husband & his business partner came back from New York and said, "Oh, the mango lassi!" So, I ventured out & got a few mangoes. Are they ripe? How do you tell? Have you ever tried to blend a not quite ripe mango? I threw it out and forgot about it.

Now, for some reason, mangoes are everywhere. Looks like mangoes are good for us.

One medium sized mango provides about:
107 Calories
0.84 g Protein
28 g Carbohydrate
0.45 g Total Fat
3 g Fiber
6425 IU Vitamin A
45.7mg Vitamin C
18 mg Magnesium
300 mg Potassium
20 g Calcium
0 g Cholesterol
0 g Saturated fat

I still needed to know a little more about how to choose one and how to dice one up. I found this very helpful video by Chef Allen Susser:



I've now been successfully using mangoes. Broiled salmon with mango salsa, mango and strawberry smoothies, or just plain eating them because it's so much fun to turn the mango inside out and make that cute little flower -like creation.

"I love mangoes and I know you will too ." ~ Chef Allen Susser (1956- )

Doe the Nexte Thynge

Elisabeth Elliot often uses the phrase, "Do the next thing." It's from a poem she found pasted on a page of her mother's prayer notebook. She said it was comforting to her during all kinds of circumstances, especially the ones that leaned toward self pity, times that often paralyze us.

From an old English parsonage down by the sea
There came in the twilight a message to me;
Its quaint Saxon legend, deeply engraven,
Hath, it seems to me, teaching from Heaven.
And on through the hours the quiet words ring
Like a low inspiration: "DOE THE NEXTE THYNGE."

Many a questioning, many a fear,
Many a doubt, hath its quieting here.
Moment by moment, let down from Heaven,
Time, opportunity, guidance, are given.
Fear not tomorrows, child of the King,
Trust them with Jesus, doe the nexte thynge.

Do it immediately, do it with prayer;
Do it reliantly, casting all care;
Do it with reverence, tracing His hand
Who placed it before thee with earnest command.
Stayed on Omnipotence, safe 'neath His wing,
Leave all resultings, doe the nexte thynge.

Looking to Jesus, ever serener,
Working or suffering, be the demeanor;
In His dear presence, the rest of His calm,
The light of His countenance be they psalm,
Strong in His faithfulness, praise and sing.
Then, as He beckons thee, doe the nexte thynge.

The Book Club

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee won the vote for our next book to read. Discussion will be Thursday, June 19th, 7:30 PM on the deck at Midnight Oil.

Just for fun: Bring your favorite word of all time & share why you like it.

Scripture

...Pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord. Lift your hands toward Him for the life of your young children...

~Lamentations 3:19 b,c

The Fear of God

"The fear of God will cause a man to flee, not from Him, but from himself; not from Him but to Him, the Father of himself, in terror lest he should do Him wrong or his neighbor wrong."

~George MacDonald (1824-1905) Unspoken Sermons

IPeter 1:17 If you say, "our Father" to the One who judges every man impartially on the record of his deeds, you must stand in awe of him while you live out your time on earth.

Hebrews 12:28-29 Let us serve God with thankfulness in the ways which please him, but always with reverence and holy fear. For it is perfectly true that our God is a burning fire.

Pray with Jesus

~ Elisabeth Elliot

Because I am "of the earth, earthy," I find that my prayers for the people I love are mostly bound by very earthy concerns -- Lord, help P. to find a good wife, show B. which college to attend, provide money for W.'s house and E.'s car, help T with his book, give X. a better job. It is meet and proper to pray for such things, but not to pray only for such things. There are prayers of far more lasting import which we must also learn to pray. We can find words for those in the prayer of Jesus for the people He loved:

that they may be one;
that they may find his joy completed in themselves;
that they may be kept from evil;
that they may be made holy by the truth;
that they may live in Christ;
that they may grow complete into one;
that they may be with him;
that the love which God has for Christ may be in their hearts.

If we learn to pray that kind of prayer, it will perhaps amend the "lesser" prayers.

Lord, teach me to pray. Open my eyes to see beyond the earthly to the heavenly. Let my primary concerns be heavenly ones, that your kingdom may come on earth, your will be done in me and in those I love. Teach me to pray with Jesus, for his sake. Amen.

A Lamp for my Feet - Elisabeth Elliot