Weapons of Mass Construction

A few moons ago, I noticed a particular post where someone was venting on Facebook … Complaining and venting publicly about someone.  They were using their weapons (their mouths and words) as a weapon to make the person hurt (backbiting, or gossiping, and/or slander).

Take note: We have weapons in our mouths.

We can choose to allow them to serve as

weapons of mass destruction

OR

weapons of mass construction.

http://blog.modspace.com/2013/09/23/worker-injuries-rise-construction-rebounds/

As we prepare for work, we put on work boots. They can be used to protect your feet. They can also be used to crush the dreams of a co-worker.

We also have a hard hat. It’s typically used to protect our heads from things that may fall from above. It could also be used to throw at someone, or to knock over their lunch or their drink.

When you arrive at work, you have a few machines that you have been trusted to operate.

Image Source: http://www.continental-corporation.com/www/pressportal_com_en/themes/press_releases/3_automotive_group/cvam/press_releases/pr_2013_06_25_construction_en.htmlhttp://www.continental-corporation.com/www/pressportal_com_en/themes/press_releases/3_automotive_group/cvam/press_releases/pr_2013_06_25_construction_en.html

 

Each of the machines are used to perform certain functions to build on your job site. They are heavy duty machines and can be used to do the daily work of a single human in just a few seconds.  It can also be used to destroy a work site as well.

If your mouth were one of these machines, would you be flooding people with guilt and reminders of their past, or would you heap coals of fire upon their heads?

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof  (Proverbs 18:21). I beseech you to purposely choose to say good things. Sort through your mind and find something good to say. Be constructive. Be kind. Be loving. Choose to treat others the way you want Christ to treat you.

Get in the pattern of thinking before you speak.

… what should I say? What could I say that would build them up?

If this were me, what would I need someone to tell me?

Get into the pattern of reflecting on what you said to someone, through the mind of Christ.

… what did I say? What could I have said that would build them up?

If that were me, what would I have needed someone to tell me?

Did I edify them? Did I encourage them? Did I do what Jesus would have done?

 

Choose life.

Choose weapons of mass construction.

#Life

#WeaponsOfMassConstruction

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Throw Away The Negatives

When I  was preparing to move from the midwest to the south, I was looking through a massive amount of stuff.  LOL, the saying, ‘You never know how much you have, until you start to move’ comes to mind.

I have so many shoes, hand bags, coats, jackets, galore … pots, pans, kitchen accessories, and photographs. On this particular evening, I was having a conversation with my mom. I asked my mom about what I could throw away.  I asked her about what she thought was important.

I told her that one of my faculty mentors instructed my to keep my dissertation and major papers for one year!!! Argh!!!

I told her that I had boxes and boxes of books …

A few boxes of academic documents…

Boxes among the of articles and whitepapers…

Another box of approximately 300 photographs …

When we were sharing, I complained of the usefulness of thousands of 35mm pics and corrresponding negatives that I have accumulated over the years. She and I talked briefly about those memories on those pictures.  I told her about my desire to scan thee images and get rid of this weight, but my lack of time to do so before my move.

While we were speaking, I started looking through the pictures.

I remembered experiences of work in Marianna, Tallahassee, Portland, Huntsville, San Francisco, San Diego, Terre Haute …

I remembered experiences in high school- prom, Home Economics, my high school pals.

I wanted to scan them in, not throw them away.

She agreed and at the end of the conversation, she quickly said, “Just throw away the negatives.”

After I hung up, I went through the big pile on my office floor, I grabbed all of the pictures, stored them, but threw away those negatives.

I remembered what my mom said and I recited that many times,

‘Throw away the negatives’.

‘Throw away the negatives’.

‘Throw away the negatives’.

For a moment, I thought of all of the sin, weights, distractions, and negative thoughts that I’ve let into my life.  I threw away those negatives too!

The Lord sent His word unto me:

-For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end (Jeremiah 29:11).

-And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
(Ephesians 4:29).

-Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
(I Corinthians 14:1).

-Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice (Philippians 4:4).

-Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full (John 16:24).

-And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full (1 John 1:4).

-Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full (2 John 1:12).

-Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (I Thessalonians 5:16-18).

#ThanksMom

#ThrowAwayTheNegatives