She Speaks

By Kandice Adams

Lately I have been thinking a lot about how I speak to my children.

I am not usually a checklist person, but sometimes I find myself checking items off my imaginary spiritual list.

My tongue is pretty guarded in their presence… I don’t use harsh language. Check.

I read my bible. Check.

I go to church. Check.

You are probably wondering what speaking has to do with reading and attending church, but I am referring to how my life really speaks.  Let’s face it, as moms, we have all learned that our actions speak louder than our words.

While I have definitely formed some great habits, lately I feel the Spirit prompting me to look beyond my imaginary checklist and glance in the face of truth in regards to the ripple effect of my life.

And I have to admit that I am having a few of those moments when I am tossing the pebble into the pond, and it is sinking to the bottom. I must stop and question, if not for the ripple, what’s the point of my faith.

Our faith should lead to faith-filled living, which cannot be captured by a spiritual checklist of good “Christian” behaviors.

When I read the message translation it becomes quite clear, “isn’t it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?” James 2:17

It is imperative that the overflow of our faith seeps from every crevice in our lives, or what’s the point of our faith?

In essence, if my children reviewed my bank account, would the details speak of the generosity from the overflow of grace, or would it reveal me living the worldly life to the fullest?

If they looked in my closet, would it speak of the modesty of my life in Christ, or would they find an array of questionable attire?

If they overheard my conversations, would I be building people up or tearing them down… would they hear the love of Christ?

One of my favorite quotes is from Francis of Assisi who stated, “Preach the gospel, and if necessary, use words.”

Ladies are we living our lives as a series of law based behaviors or are we living from the overflow of perpetual grace, which emanates from Jesus?  Are we wearing grace as a pretty perfume that we have splashed on top of our stale law-abiding flesh, or are we putting on the person of Grace every day?

Is our pebble sinking to the bottom, or is it creating a ripple effect before our children, before our Lord?

Today, let’s encourage one another to live out our faith, as moms, as friends, as sisters, as strangers, as wives.  Let’s create waves from the toss of our pebbles.  Let’s preach the gospel with our lives, and if necessary, then let’s use words.

Word of the Day:
“Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?  I can already hear one of you agreeing by saying, "Sounds good. You take care of the faith department, I'll handle the works department." Not so fast.  You can no more show me your works apart from your faith than I can show you my faith apart from my works.  Faith and works, works and faith, fit together hand in glove” James 2:17-18 (MSG).

Prayer:
Father, I come before you thanking you for your Spirit who leads me into all truth and who redirects me and points me to Christ. Today, Lord, please place in me a deep desire to create waves from the toss of my pebbles. Give me a deep desire to preach the Gospel through my actions, because it is only then that our words will be heard, in Jesus’ name, amen.

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