GOSSIP....

Now that I have your attention....keep reading:

Not too much going on....just hanging, doing stuff around the house. Waiting for it to rain...etc.

Make sure you read/watch the PCC blog from Brian Hughes.

I'm going to visit another small group tonight so I have to read up on my John 9 and 10. Which I have. PCC defiantly follows this message of addressing sin in the church. Not in a negative way, but a "positive" way...

John 9,10:

"Sins such as pride, jealousy, and slander are still in the church, and when a leader makes a habit of encouraging sin and discouraging right actions, he must be stopped. If no one speaks up, great harm can come to the church. We must confront sin in the church; if we avoid it, it will continue to grow."

Now PCC isn't on a "high horse" with pointing out sinners. And I hope the Leaders of our church read this and remember that...But the leaders of our church are really good at bringing them to our attention. Sometimes the "sin" is so much of a ritual in our life that we don't even recognize it as being a sin. Like GOSSIP!

Gossip is a big one. I've done, heck we all have at some point in our lives. It can be a little as "look at what she/he is wearing" or "did you hear about ______". That's gossip. I can honestly say, I am really watching myself on this one and trying to NOT gossip. I'm not perfect, but I have gotten better. Now, don't get me wrong, I wasn't a big gossiper anyway, but I have spoken about others in a not so nice way.

Now, when I hear certain rumors and I do not know the truth from both parties mouths, I say things like "WOW, that must be hard for both of them" or "I hope that person who supposedly did that bad action gets help". And usually that stops the other party from continuing a conversation I do not wish to have...in a polite manner. I pray for them to find help, etc.

So I challenge you to the challenge of myself: Next time you get together with your friends or family and you start talking and the gossip starts rolling. STOP. Think about the point of your conversation and maybe be the bigger person and change the conversation. If you have nothing else to talk about you need to get a life (oops, am I judging). You should have much to talk about in your life like what's going on in it....hopefully there is somethings going on that are not "gossip". Know the difference in gossip- does it hurt someones character to spread that rumor? Is it something that person really doesn't want others to know about? OR It may not be gossip. It may be a positive thing about someone that should be shared. In that case, spread the good news!

So that others may learn from their good deed!!!

So stop and think....that is my challenge to you and myself.

One more thing: It is great that our God is a forgiving God and we can repent and start over. Now, that being said, I address the re-sinning...the same sin over and over. Yes, we are going to mess up, especially if the sin is a big part of our lives, like its a part of our person because we do it so much......but don't keep doing it when you know God and Jesus don't like it. Don't say to yourself, "Oh Lord, I got to ask for forgiveness again for that one"....you have to make a conscious effort to change. and change can be hard...leave sticky notes up to remind you! OR even a bigger one...SLOW DOWN IN LIFE so you are actually thinking before you say or do the sin. When you slow down and put Christ first, it makes a big difference to your behavior. And makes it a little if not a lot easier to change what we don't like about ourselves.

That's what I have changed in my life and I see the difference and my friends see the difference and I love the person I am becoming....all because I let Jesus and his teachings in!

So yes, i am sinning here and being PROUD of myself for a positive change, so maybe its not a bad pride? I don't think so...I think God is proud of me for it! I really don't want to sound like a BIG HEAD here....Im just commenting on the Bible read of the day for me!

OK, so there is your Rev. Dr. Phil for the day!!!

Much Love