Romans 2:4

DECEITFUL WORDS, NURTURING WORDS

(February 23, 2023) Mama Lava shares draws our attention to…

Hi again! How are you all?

Last month I shared on the importance of everyone exercising kindness.

I highlighted what we all know so well – that the world needs Jesus! And that Paul wrote strongly about God’s kindness leading to salvation that comes through accepting Jesus as our Saviour:  ‘… do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and restraint and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?’(Romans 2:4).

Kindness is defined by Merriam-Webster.com as the quality or state of being kind, treating people with kindness and respect.

In focussing on the need for kindness to be activated by Christians to the world, I draw our attention to linking words, one which hinders while the other enhances… deceit and nurture.

Deceitfulness
Lies, dishonesty, falsehood, fibs, misinformation… there are many ways to label an untruth. Did you know there is a marked difference between deceptive words and deceitful words? They are similar, but the difference is in the intent. Deceptive words are likely misleading, but deceitful words are deliberately so (wikidiff.com). This is what Merriam-Webster.com has to say:

  • Deceitful (adj): marked by, based on, or done by dishonest methods to acquire something of value…
  • Words related to deceitful: fraudulent, misleading, shady, sneaky, sly, tricky…
  • Nearest opposite words of deceitful: candid, open, trustworthy, legitimate, valid…

My deceitful words are motivated by a desire to gain something of value. What might fall into this category? How about…

(more…)

KINDNESS – HOW THE WORLD NEEDS TO SEE IT!

(January 11, 2023) Mama Lava sharing about something that is greatly needed around the world…

Hi! How are you all?

How have you spent your first couple of weeks of 2023?

Personally, I’ve been digging into my Handle Verse. The big idea is kindness… I’m asking God what His kindness is, and how the world needs to see it.

The world needs Jesus. Paul wrote:  ‘Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and restraint and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?’(Romans 2:4).

My aim is to demonstrate God’s kindness in a way that draws people to Him. And I’ve been asking Him to show me what this kindness looks like practically, and how to disperse it.

God has impressed on me that it will overflow from a heart yielded to Him. And He’s given me some specifics. For example…

  • God’s kindness is not joining in gossip.
  • Nor covering up for someone dishonestly.
  • Nor constituting participation in sin, no matter how supportive or helpful it might make me feel!

Guideline for kindness
God has impressed on me to be personally steadfast. He gave me Psalm 15 as a guideline. It contains many real-world examples of Christian kindness –

(more…)