Blessing and Cursing

Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. 

My brothers and sisters, this should not be. ~James 3:10

I have been spending some time with my grandmother this week while my parents are out of town. I am thankful for this opportunity.  

For several years, my personal world was spinning out of control in a sea of depression and despair, all the while trying to function in my everyday 9-5 life.  Coupled with being married to the ministry and home life, it was all I could do to keep my self pulled together in public, but I am sure I did not do so well.  

I was going through a season of testing, which all Christ Followers will experience at least once in their faith journey, if not many times at different degrees of difficulty. During this season, I was unable to visit my grandparents, and now just my grandmother, very much.  

So I am very thankful for the season of renewal that the Lord is allowing me to experience and the joy of knowing, yet again, that HE IS FAITHFUL!  It is not a perfect season, but it is one that is refreshing all the same.

Back to my stay with my grandmother...

We have enjoyed the late afternoons together on the front porch watching the cows in the pasture across the road. They are a peaceful looking group of nine cows and bulls with a couple of calves in the mix.  Black and White, Brown and White... grazing and interacting with each other.  

There are 9 cows. NINE.  We have counted them often this week. 

We have also listened to the birdsong and wondered what they were singing, calling out to each other.  Commenting on the beauty of the clouds and the colors of the sunrise each morning...this has been a restful week for me and I hope one that has been good for her as well.  I know my parents needed to get away. The Lord is good.

Each morning, I have observed my grandmother over her Bible and Guidepost Daily Reading.  What day is it? Am I sure? Her searching for the scripture in her Large Print Bible. What day? Where is the verse? Oh, yes.  That's right.  

"God sure had been good.  It is amazing all that He has done 

and is doing." she says.

And THAT is the TRUTH!

However, I am remembering times growing up that praising the Lord was not the fruit of her lips.  Oh, she went to church, served faithfully, and was a blessing to many.  But I also remember how the S word was part of her everyday vocabulary.  No. The word is not Saint! haha!  

I love my grandmother.  I love hearing her hum and sing the words 

"Count your blessings name them one by one

Count your blessings see what God has done"

Now, I am not intending to disrespect my grandmother.  I am simply noting a contrast; one that is true of us all.


The third chapter of James begins by stating that "We all stumble in many ways" and that is my intention here.  

We all stumble. We all sin, hurt others with our words, say things that are not nice, encouraging and uplifting, we curse.  AND THEN, we Praise the Lord for His Blessings and Goodness.  

Everyone that I have ever met in the "CHURCH" does this.  
Myself included. 

We COMPLAIN, CRITIQUE, CURSE, then we BLESS, ENCOURAGE & PRAISE.

What the Lord is asking me today:

"Which one do you do more? Which one will you seek after? 

Blessing or Cursing?"

The Word. Worship. Prayer.

These are my Roots.