The Plumbline

To give an appropriate answer is a joy; how good is a word at the right time! ( Proverbs 15:23   CEB ) Do you ever find yourself just standing there speechless at times because what you just heard, saw, or were asked just absolutely floored you? There are entire shows on TV these days in which individuals try to leave those around them "shocked" by some behavior they exhibit. The idea is to see if anyone will say something, or react in a way that reminds us these behaviors are really not all that acceptable. It amazes me to see how many times others will take offense, as evidenced by their body language, but will absolutely say nothing! Then comes along someone with the "moxie" to stand up to the guy trying to elicit some response and how the words fly! What others only thought, this individual is putting into quite a diatribe of words! God doesn't expect us to be speechless - but he also asks us to be very deliberate in the choice of words we speak. They ...

I raise my eyes toward the mountains.   Where will my help come from? 2  My help comes from the  Lord ,   the maker of heaven and earth. 3  God won’t let your foot slip.   Your protector won’t fall asleep on the job. 4  No! Israel’s protector   never sleeps or rests! 5  The  Lord  is your protector;   the  Lord  is your shade right beside you. 6  The sun won’t strike you during the day;   neither will the moon at night. 7  The  Lord  will protect you from all evil;   God will protect your very life. 8  The  Lord  will protect you on your journeys— whether going or coming—      from now until forever from now.  (Psalm 121 CEB) I once read something by a poet about closing one's eyes at night and all seems to become "dead" with the enclosure of darkness, but also of the tremendous miracle of opening one's eyes the next day to ...