Right Rumination

  Audio:   https://youtu.be/-24BfU3HgCk?si=jA_EaUavZKX8cAyC In less than three weeks, I was able to record 54 podcast episodes. Each one came from my personal devotions, truths I needed for myself, and areas in my life that needed change. I shared them because they helped me, and I pray that they might help others too. I also wanted my children to have something to look back on when I’m no longer here. As I reviewed my recent posts, it became clear that I’ve started drifting from the purpose I had when I first began writing. For the past two years, I have been praying for revival. Through that prayer, the Lord led me to meditate on His Word. It was during that time He showed me that I had long struggled with unhealthy patterns of rumination without even knowing it. Meditating on Scripture became the only thing that brought real change. As I spent more time in prayer and God’s Word, I began to experience a kind of abundant life I had never known before. It was not just somethin...

 Audio:  https://youtube.com/shorts/o09ZDxCEtKE?si=oJezdBCjUV4AvSy6 “ Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another: Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away. ”   Proverbs 25:9–10 If you have a disagreement with someone, speak to them privately. Social media, however, tempts us to do the opposite. We take our concerns to a public platform, and in the process, we expose more than the issue.  We expose our pride, our impatience, and sometimes even someone else’s reputation. What could have been handled quietly turns into a spectacle. Instead of resolving conflict, it invites more voices, more heat, and often, more shame. Proverbs warns that when we uncover secrets or argue publicly, we may end up with a reputation we can’t shake off. Not everything needs to be posted. Not every debate needs an audience. God’s way is quiet, respectful, and private.

Audio:  https://youtube.com/shorts/ZpzXzpPpCOU?si=-QI8nhbD8Y0RltYf We live in a world where entertainment never stops and it’s in the palm of our hand. Funny videos, chilling stories, dramas, true crime.  There’s always something to watch. It promises relaxation, but often it leaves us numb, distracted, or even disturbed. Before we know it, hours are gone. And the Word of God? Untouched. Proverbs 4:25–27 says, “ Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil. ” God calls us to walk with purpose. When we give too much time and attention to entertainment, we often turn aside from what matters. We stop pondering the path of our feet. The time that should be spent in the Word, in prayer, or doing God’s business, is stolen by stories that don’t feed the soul. Hebrews 12:1 warns us to “ lay aside every weight, and...

Audio:  https://youtube.com/shorts/hVob4n8jBuU?si=5uIl5iQrjhn56mHj As believers, we are not called to speak on every controversial matter, especially when doing so stirs up strife or causes division. The Bible teaches that silence can be a sign of wisdom, and that not every opinion must be shared. Proverbs 17:27–28 “He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.” When we constantly voice our opinions, especially on controversial issues, we risk feeding the flesh instead of building up the body of Christ. Many arguments arise not from a love of truth, but from a desire to be heard or to prove a point. This is not the spirit of Christ. Trusting God to Handle It: There is wisdom in trusting that  God is sovereign . He does not need us to argue His truth into others. We are to speak when He l...

Audio:   https://youtube.com/shorts/nXpves2Litk?si=B-1p5q_slqZLX6nG In a world where social media gives everyone a platform, many, including Christians, are drawn into public debates. Some argue over doctrine, politics, social, or cultural issues, often with harsh words. But we must ask: Is this edifying? 2 Timothy 2:23–24: “ But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient.” As followers of Christ, we are called to reflect His character. Arguing online may gain attention, but it rarely brings peace or promotes the gospel. Instead, it often stirs up division and pride. Ephesians 4:29: “ Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers .” Whether spoken aloud or typed on a screen, our words reveal what’s in our hearts. We should ask ourselves: Does this comment m...

Audio:   https://youtube.com/shorts/7wzODBo_tLE?si=PDgRbQdk7v4mWTXk The Bible warns us about being a busybody, someone who meddles in matters that are not their own. In today’s digital world, that can look like scrolling through Facebook or Instagram, sharing disturbing news, or getting too involved in what others post. 1 Thessalonians 4:11 says, “ And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you .” Social media makes it easy to look into the lives of others. We see their updates and start to compare, criticize, covet, or even feel things we can’t explain. Maybe their post feeds something in our flesh. Maybe we feel bothered but can’t quite put our finger on why. Whatever it is, the Word reminds us to be quiet and mind our own business. That doesn’t mean we stop caring. It means we stay focused on our walk with the Lord and don’t allow ourselves to drift into distraction or judgment. If you find yourself scrolling and ...

Audio:  https://youtube.com/shorts/NFGTFA7dR20?si=oIc95Cm2PNIX-6c3 Veiled Gossip or Genuine Concern? “ But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.”   1 Peter 4:15 If you are a woman, chances are you have done it too. You have brought someone up in conversation, asking, “How is she doing?” or “Have you heard from so-and-so lately?” On the surface, it sounds like concern. But if we are honest, truly honest, it was veiled gossip. We were not asking so we could pray. We were not seeking how to serve. We were simply curious. And the Bible has a word for that: busybody. It is sobering that in 1 Peter 4:15, the busybody is mentioned alongside the murderer, the thief, and the evildoer. That should make us pause. What we often brush off as small talk or just wondering is, in God’s eyes, meddling in matters that are not ours. It reveals a heart more interested in information than in intercession.  Love thinket...

 Audio:   https://youtube.com/shorts/jy1p0aWjsvU?si=N1xFvSmpYOsJUsk7 “And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord…”  (Numbers 11:1) Murmuring doesn’t always sound like loud grumbling. Sometimes it’s just a quiet sigh.   A thought you rehearse over and over again.   A whispered complaint to someone you trust.   But God hears it all. In Numbers 11, the people of Israel murmured against God, not with shouting, but with dissatisfaction. They didn’t trust His timing, His provision, or His ways. And it displeased Him. We may not say,  “God, You’re not doing enough.” But when we murmur in our hearts about our job, our family, our lack, our circumstances, we are saying exactly that. Murmuring is subtle, but it’s serious.   It reveals a heart that is not at rest in God.   A heart that questions His goodness, even if we don’t mean to.   And the scary part?   We can be murmuring even when our mouths are closed. Let’s take murmuring ...

Audio:   https://youtube.com/shorts/QEQlibgXTs8?si=WlH8YzrKxP-Y9OlP Rom 12:3   For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.   We don’t always recognize it when it happens. A comment slips out, about how someone spends her money, raises her children, dresses for church, or lives her life.   It sounds harmless, maybe even reasonable.   But underneath it, if we’re honest, is pride. Paul calls it what it is in Romans 12:3. It’s thinking of ourselves  more highly  than we ought.   It’s believing, even subtly, that our way is better. Our standards are higher. Our decisions are wiser. But God calls us to  sobriety of mind : a clear, honest, and humble view of ourselves. Not inflated. Not self-righteous. The truth is: we don’t know the full story of someone else’s journey...

Audio:   https://youtu.be/-tmS8ooEy58?si=2V9ApsIaa-aMudBR There’s a line that many well-meaning Christians sometimes cross: offering advice or correction where it simply isn’t their place. In a world full of strong opinions and quick words, we must be careful not to step outside of our  jurisdiction :  the God-given boundaries of our responsibility and influence. Here are some examples: ~It is not our place to tell someone how to parent their child when we’ve not been asked, nor walked in their shoes.  ~It is not wise to attend another church and begin critiquing their ministry or doctrine as though we were sent there to reform them.  ~ I would not presume to go to a wife and tell her that her husband is wrong.    That is not my role, and it’s not my place.   ~We don’t give unsolicited advice to our parents in their old age, unless there’s a serious decline like dementia where care and safety are involved. The Bible says, “Honour thy father a...

Audio:   https://youtu.be/a_WPdqeX-dY?si=BbDw_Gx6PoU9Lukw A Word of Caution: We are not called to constantly look for opportunities to correct or advise others. In fact, more often than not, unsolicited advice does more harm than good. Unless someone invites your input or the situation is truly urgent and life-impacting, it’s usually wiser to remain silent. But what if, after much prayer, you still feel that God is prompting you to speak? What do you do? Before you say a word, Scripture gives us a wise and loving path to follow. It’s a path that begins not with speaking, but with praying. Not with pointing out faults, but with looking inward. It helps us speak in a way that reflects Christ: full of truth, and full of love. Here’s how we can prepare our hearts when we feel led to speak: 1. Pray First “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) Before any conversation, especially a hard one, take it to God. Ask Him for wisdom, for the right spirit, and for His timing. Prayer align...

Audio:  https://youtube.com/shorts/4D8n2EMOPFA?si=R9jl67roqiPChqpT “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 When someone has fallen, spiritually, emotionally, or morally. They are often already crushed under the weight of guilt. They don’t need a spotlight on their failure. They need a hand to help them rise. As believers, our words carry power. We can speak life or we can deepen wounds. And in those vulnerable moments after someone falls,  what we say or don’t say matters deeply . Encouraging Words Help People Move Forward A few simple phrases can be a lifeline: • “God’s mercy is bigger than this.” • “You’re not alone in this.” • “This isn’t the end of your story.” • “Let’s pray together and ask God to lead you.” • “You can walk forward in grace.    He’s still with you.” These kinds of words don’t ignore sin. They point toward hope, healing, and restoration. Discouraging Words Keep People Stuc...