Roots From the Garden\u2026.<\/p>\n

I am prone to wonderings and ponderings. Perhaps it\u2019s lake life. It\u2019s so easy to rest my eyes on the waters of Lake Wilson and just think thoughts. Thoughts lead to questions which lead to prayer which leads me to God. I ask God questions\u2026.He sends me answers in many ways\u2026.<\/p>\n

Sometimes He sends me a dream in the night. I think that\u2019s because it\u2019s one of the rare times when I am quiet!J<\/span><\/p>\n

Sometimes it\u2019s subtle, like a tiny nudge.<\/p>\n

Sometimes a thought pops up in my mind that \u201cWows\u201d me and I know that had to come from God.<\/p>\n

Sometimes God speaks to me through my Tom, or my girlfriends, my sister, my niece, a sermon, a song, the beautiful scenery, nature, billboards, bumper stickers, a penny on the sidewalk reminds me\u2026\u201dIn God We Trust\u201d<\/p>\n

There are so many ways God gets to me! I love the ways He gets to me!<\/p>\n

He gets me.<\/p>\n

One thing is for sure. He always<\/i> confirms what I feel Him speaking to me through His word! Always.<\/p>\n

If it doesn\u2019t line up with a Biblical \u201cit is written\u201d, I toss it!<\/p>\n

I found myself thinking about gossip\u2026. I remember an early message about a lady who became convicted over her \u201clong tongue\u201d. She went to a minister for help. She wanted to make it right.<\/p>\n

He gave her an assignment.<\/p>\n

\u201cFill a sack with feathers\u201d.<\/p>\n

She did. \u201cNow what\u201d?<\/p>\n

\u201cGo to the road and throw them to the wind as you walk\u201d.<\/p>\n

She did. \u201cNow what\u201d?<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, go pick up every feather\u201d\u2026.Though she tried, she could not\u2026so it is with gossip. Words fly like feathers on the wind.<\/p>\n

Precious reader, I will tell you I have been on every side of this! Okay, so I wasn\u2019t that<\/i> woman but I could have been. I wanted to lay my own long tongue on the alter! If I could find one big enough! I have also felt the walls built by invisible bricks made of words spoken in whispers, and the heart piercing arrows of poisonous words hurled through the spirit realm.<\/i><\/p>\n

We must be very careful about our words, both spoken and heard!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There\u2019s lots of ways to gossip\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

Some people dress it up in the form of a prayer request, or a concern.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Gossip is defined as:<\/p>\n

1. conversation about personal matters: conversation about the personal details of other people’s lives, whether rumor or fact, especially when malicious<\/p>\n

2. casual conversation: informal conversation or writing about recent and often personal events<\/p>\n

3. habitual talker: somebody who habitually discusses the personal details of others’ lives<\/p>\n

talk about other people: to spread rumors or tell people the personal details of others’ lives, especially maliciously<\/p>\n

Encarta \u00ae World English Dictionary \u00a9 & (P) 1998-2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n

In Genesis 3:1 The serpent begins with a question.<\/p>\n

\u2026.\u201dDid God really say, \u201cYou must not eat from any tree in the garden\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n

(NIV)<\/p>\n

Oh, if only Eve answered something like\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cHold that question, God will be here in a little while to walk in the cool of the day. We can ask Him then\u201c\u2026.<\/i><\/p>\n

Like Eve, many of us really do not know how dangerous it is to have these kinds of conversations! She and Adam were the lead couple of mankind! Satan knew exactly what He was doing\u2026.bringing death. His mission? To steal, kill, and destroy. He is still using the same methods.<\/i><\/p>\n

Watch out for people who want to tell you what someone else has said! Especially if that person is not present! Like the Serpent and Eve\u2019s conversation, words tend to get added and twisted and before you know it you will be dealing with heartburn from fruit you weren\u2019t meant to ingest!<\/i><\/p>\n

I was reading through Proverbs 29 when this leaped off the page\u2026<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen a leader listens to malicious gossip,<\/i><\/p>\n

all the workers get infected with evil.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

Proverbs 29:12 The Message<\/i><\/p>\n

Wow! I was floored to read this! As a Registered Nurse, I\u2019ve learned that there are many ways to become infected. A person can get exposed by touch, through inhaling, through body fluids, through many portals of contact.<\/i><\/p>\n

Wow! Listen! The ear bent to gossip is a portal of evil infection!<\/i><\/p>\n

We see it in political circles, we see it in the workplace, and sadly, we see it in the church. Evil destroys trust, which destroys relationships.<\/i><\/p>\n

God flows through relationship\u2026He flows through unity\u2026.<\/i><\/p>\n

So\u2026.there is the strategy. Again. It happened in the gorgeous Garden of Eden, it still happens today. The enemy of our souls has not come up with a new tactic\u2026we still fall for the old one!<\/i><\/p>\n

The stakes were high back then, they are still high today.<\/i><\/p>\n

I have said many times that Satan couldn\u2019t defeat the church so, he joined it.<\/i><\/p>\n

I hate to say it, but he uses us to infect each other\u2026By gossip!<\/i><\/p>\n

Speaking\u2026.Listening\u2026.it\u2019s got to stop.<\/i><\/p>\n

How? I believe the only way to kill the evil infection that gossip looses is through humility, forgiveness and repenting.<\/i><\/p>\n

Perhaps you\u2019ve been \u201csickened\u201d by gossip. Have you been the target of gossip, or you have been exposed to hearing gossip, or perhaps you are a gossip? YES! Been there\u2026. done that\u2026 been that!<\/i><\/p>\n

I am \u201csick\u201d of it. If you agree, join me, if you will, in this prayer:<\/i><\/p>\n

Lord, I humble myself before You and ask You to search my heart and see if there are any wicked ways in me. Please, shine your light on every hidden part. Forgive me for every word spoken and heard that did not bring life. Deliver me from any evil that I have been infected with. Please heal every wound that gossip has brought to me and through me. I forgive those that have gossiped about me and those who listened. I forgive myself for speaking and for listening. Purify my heart, let Your words become mine, and keep me from evil that I will not cause pain to myself or others. Help me walk in grace, mercy and love. You alone are my redeemer, my salvation, my hope and my life. Thank You for no weapon formed against me shall prosper, You deal with every tongue. Please, Bless me indeed, let Your hand be on me, and enlarge my territory to Your Glory- Double for my Trouble! In Jesus Name, Amen<\/i><\/p>\n

Life and death are in the power of the tongue.<\/p>\n