Kindness is not an action. It’s a disposition.

Is kindness “who” you are? I’m not sure that kindness is ‘who’ I am … but here’s to trying to be just that! I figure, every day is a new day … what a gift! I’ll be sure to take what gifts I can get!

During the session Beth pulled out some Greek words, given my small bit of education in Greek – I was all pumped! So, this might not tickle your fancy in the same way it did for me. But here goes: the Greek word for ‘kind’ is ‘chrestos’. And kindness is ‘chrestotes’. In the NT Lexical Aids we see that ‘chrestotes’ described as: “It is the grace which prevades the whole nature … The word is descriptive of one’s disposition.”

Today, I shall try to be full of kindness … I shall be ‘strong’.

One other thing from Beth Moore:
“You can fake nice but you can’t fake kindness.”

Kindness is not weakness …

“Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid.
Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.
You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.” (Luke 6:35-36 NLT)

To be kind does not mean that one is weak! What great news. It’s not hard to see, while diving into scripture that we are all called to be kind to one-another.

I enjoyed how Beth did her ‘thing’ and demonstrated that “kindness is not nice”. If needed, kindness is capable of speaking a strong word. I think often we get the two mixed up. At least, I do! You might find it interesting, as I did, that “nice” comes from the Latin: “nescius” … “ignorant”.

So … show your strength today – be kind to those around you!

One other thing from Beth Moore:
“Nice is fine, but kindness is divine.”

to publish … or not to publish …

It’s been a while since you’ve seen me here, but I’ve been having a few ‘revelations’ lately – and my Saturday seemed to be full of ‘em. I don’t know if I’ll ever share all that I was able to gather, but I figure even if you’re able to get a little something that’s at least better than nothing! I apologize, up front, for how scattered my thoughts may seem.

I spent the ‘good’ part of my Saturday with a sampling of some wonderful women, we gathered to listen to, speaker and Bible-teacher, Beth Moore. She wasn’t physically standing in the same auditorium that we were sitting in, but we listened via a live simulcast … and for me, if I wasn’t careful, at times I forgot that she wasn’t ‘right there’ with us! Anyway, I think I’ve found yet another friend of God who has an amazing love for His Word!

So, on with what I really came on here to write about. Beth Moore (think I might just call her “Beth” from now on … she just seems to suit that more … such a REAL person!) used Proverbs 31:26 (NKJV) as her text. I’d love to make you go find a bible and look it up for yourself, but I just read a book that tried to make me do such an activity and I was NOT in the mood. So, here goes:

 “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness.”

Before I get going on the Eight Tastes of Biblical Kindness On Our Tongue, I want to just speak of a challenge that was brought forth – and actually kind of fitting since I’m actually in the process of updating this blog! Throughout our sessions, the phrase: “she openeth her mouth” came up. I guess, as women it was good to be reminded that that is one thing we are known for and seem to do a lot of. I was good to be challenged to really think of what comes out of that opened mouth of ours (mine)! To be reminded that such things are not limited to verbal communication. Without getting into too much detail, it was interesting to be informed (and you may all think I’m slow and should’ve known this – please cut me some slack!) that we’re all published authors. NO, I haven’t written a book, had it edited, printed, placed on shelves and purchased by strangers. But just as that process would need a good editor … anything we put our minds to ‘publishing’ definitely needs an editor. Beth was clever to point out that we ‘publish’ when we ‘tweet’, ‘blog’, ‘facebook’, text, etc. So, how do we possibly find someone to come and sit alongside to ‘check’ what we hit ‘send’ on? Well, it’s right under our nose, friends! We all [can] have access to the Holy Spirit … what a treasure and great gift!

I intend to throw splashes of the “Eight Tastes of Biblical Kindness On Our Tongue” over the next few days here on my blog. So, if this ‘published blurb’ has caught your attention – then feel free to check back – even as early as tomorrow for the reminders and insights that I was blessed with on Saturday.

Before I go, I guess I want to pass along one of the challenges that I received. It’s back to the thoughts on us living lives as ‘publishers’. The question that Beth asked, and I pass it along to you to do (or not do) with it as you are led … “Are we publishing noise or lifting up the Spirit?”

I pray that the noise that runs through my heart and mind, in the days ahead, will be filtered … and be nothing but a sweet, sweet sound in His ears. I know it’s a big job for me … but as Beth said, “We are teachers, often by our spiritual gifts, but always by example”.

Here’s a small taste and challenge from God’s Word. Perhaps as you read this you can take it as a challenge for your own life (even just for ‘today’ would be a good start!).

“You don't get wormy apples off a healthy tree, nor good apples off a diseased tree.
The health of the apple tells the health of the tree.
You must begin with your own life-giving lives.
It's who you are, not what you say and do, that counts.
Your true being brims over into true words and deeds.”
(Luke 6:43-45 MSG)

Here’s to a new day! Use me Lord, for Your Glory!

sdg
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