Scripture for Today:  I Peter 4:7 “But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore of sound mind and be sober unto prayer.”

Films in France have the same last image but saying, “La Fin.”  The music swells, the lights come up and everyone moves toward the exit.  There is no confusion.  We all recognize the visual prompt on the screen.  It is over.  Some are glad it is over and can not wait to leave.  Others wish the story would go on and on as they enjoyed it so much.

Our verse for today talks about the end of all things.  We are told it will be soon.  And because it will be soon, we are to be clear thinking, self restrained and alert for the purpose of prayer.

It is much easier to live like there is no ending.  I can be lulled into thinking that everything will continue as it always has done.  II Peter 3:4 predicts that there will be scoffers in the last days with exactly this attitude.  I do not scoff at God’s Word saying there will be an end.  But sometimes it is more comfortable not to think about it.

Knowing there is an end to all things should motivate me to consider what is really important.  I love to have fun and distractions in my life.  But there is a time for being serious and reflective.  I do not want to miss the signs that the end is approaching.  Just like the theater has visual cues that the film is over, so Scripture is full of prophetic signs that herald the end of time.

I want to be ready for that ending.  It will usher in a new beginning with my Savior!  And that will have no end!

Scripture for Today:  Psalms 141:3  “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.”

My dummy, Renée, and I have had lots of adventures together.  She says things that I would not dare to say!  And she gets away with it.  Renée is allowed to speak English at our summer outreach English camps.  Otherwise, she speaks French.  I do not quite understand why she speaks it with such a funny accent!

There is one routine we do together where the reaction of the children is always the same.  Renée starts to get sassy and says she does not need me to be able to speak.  I put her down, walk a distance from her, and wait for her to talk on her own.  Invariably, the children all look at Renée in breathless anticipation!  Somehow, they start to believe that she controls her own mouth!

Renée has no choice of who controls her mouth, but I sure do!  When I control my mouth, it is sometimes “out of control.”  So much of what displease my Lord comes from my mouth, whether it be gossip, lying, arguments, criticism, swearing….the list goes on.  Like James 3 says, so little a member of my body does such huge damage.

Inside of Renee is a large controlling stick with a small lever on the side that opens and closes her mouth.  For me, that small lever represents the “guard” or “door” that the Lord wants to use with my mouth.  He offers to control my mouth, as my control only causes problems.

Humility is required to admit being a “dummy” in need of Someone at the controls.  The Lord invites me to echo the prayer of our verse.  May He control what comes out of my mouth today!

Scripture for Today:  James 1:19-20  “…But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.”

There are all kinds of pressure gauges connected to our heating system.  Our house is over a hundred years old and uses an older method of heating.  Each room has radiators.  The water for the system is heated in our basement and pressurized.  The water pump pushes the water where it needs to go.

Those pressure gauges are important to keep at the correct readings.  Too much pressure can be dangerous and blow the entire system.  The whole idea makes me nervous.  I do not touch any of it.  It is something I happily leave to my husband and landlord to regulate.

My anger can be like that pressure gauge.  Unchecked, it can increase to dangerous levels.  If I do not take care of it, I can explode and do damage to those I love most.  My anger can even be justified at times, at least in my own thinking.  But justified or not, it will surely produce negative consequences.

Our verse for today warns that man’s anger does not achieve the righteousness of God.  Blowing up does not improve or make right a situation.  More often, anger only clouds the issue.  Anger hurts others and hurts one’s own reputation.  It feels good to let it fly, but I will be the one who looks the fool (Eccl. 7:9)

Listening and keeping my mouth shut can go a long way toward slowing down my anger.  If it does not build too quickly, there is more of a chance to diffuse it.  It is a choice to allow that needle to enter the danger zone.

Lord, help me give my anger to You.

Scripture for Today:  Ephesians 4:1-2  “Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love.”

France is home to the TGV, the “Train Grande Vitesse.”  This high speed train has an average speed of 173.6 miles per hour!  It costs more to travel this way but easily cuts travel time in half.

The need for speed is something many cultures share.  Regardless of what country, there will always be drivers on the road who are in a huge hurry.  The left lane on major roads in France is not to be used except for passing.  When one violates this rule of the road, there are immediate consequences.  Someone is sure to be on your bumper breathing down your neck!

Our verse for today speaks of showing patience with others.  When I think about applying this to my attitude on the road, I see how far I have to go!  Impatience can show itself in so many ways: tailgating, cutting someone off, leaning on the horn or swearing.  My body can feel impatient with higher blood pressure, tensed muscles, or my personal favorite, biting the lip!

All of my impatient behavior, on the road or elsewhere, is not worthy behavior for the one who belongs to Him.  It does not show humility or gentleness, tolerance or love.  Somehow, in a church setting, I can hold it together for an hour.  But behind that wheel is my true test!

Showing patience for others is always a challenge on my own.  Thankfully, patience is a part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit in Galatians 5:22.  The Holy Spirit has plenty to spare, even after showing ME patience!

Scripture for Today:  Hebrews 3:13  “But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called ‘Today’ so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”

We are having a terrible time with ice in our area.  It is making driving hazardous up the incline to our house.  The other day we got stuck, spinning our wheels in it.  Our neighbor very kindly helped us push the car.  Even walking is difficult.  We feel like we are ice skating!  Walking under the icicles can be lethal!

The snow is beautiful but the ice can be a killer.  The temperatures start to warm up and the surface begins to melt.  Then the temperatures drop and everything becomes hard and slippery.  Many meetings and events have been cancelled because of it.

Our verse for today is a warning.  The deceitfulness of sin can harden a heart.  The longer one denies wrong doing, the more difficult it is to hear His still small voice of conviction.  The more one indulges in a sinful behavior, the more likely it is that the heart becomes hardened and deceived.

When I listen to Him my heart is soft and open, like fresh powdery snow.  When I ignore His conviction, what was soft and melted becomes hard and defensive.  When I rationalize what I am doing, I deceive myself.  Sometimes I am not even aware of what I am doing, until the hardness of my heart makes me slip and fall!

There is an urgency in this verse.  Hardened hearts do not improve with time.  They only become harder.  Today is the day I need encouragement to obey.  Today is the day I need to encourage others to obey.  Lord, do not let me ever be hardened towards You.