Breeding Grounds

When you give an encouraging hug, a shoulder to lean on, a word that makes someone's day, an encouraging Word from the Scriptures.....this becomes a positive breeding ground. When you help the poor, the needy, respect your leaders, your parents, teach your children the way to go, spread the gospel, lay hands on people, pray & intercede...also a positive breeding ground. When you love someone 'anyway' no matter where they come from, where they are, who they are, what they did to you in the past, what they are doing to you now, what they wear, where they work, where they live, what they say, how they eat, what they eat....this is a positive breeding ground....nothing but good can come out of building each other up, encouraging each other, loving each other, doing the work of the Lord......so what is the opposite of that?

When you don't love, when you cause arguments, you speak gossip, you tear someone down, you sit back & do nothing, you find faults in your leaders {cuz they are supposed to be perfect.}, you look at an outward appearance & judge, you argue, bicker, cause division.....this is a breeding ground for negativity AND a doorway for satan.....the power of the tongue, "Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell." {James 3:5-6}

Or how about---"With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth comes praise and cursing.My brothers this should not be." {James 3:9-10}

So why do people do this? Here we are saved, Jesus died for us......He gave His life. And His bride is hurting each other, causing strife, bitterness and you know what happens when we allow a brother or sister to gossip to us? tear down someone? do you know what happens....well, the breeding ground starts---and before you know it--you are doing the same thing..............

We need to be an example of Christ.....I remember hearing one my elders say: "If your attitude is bad, if you walk around miserable all the time, if you treat others badly, or snap at them or swear or anything in the matter............how do you bring others to Jesus? How do you do it?"

I think that if we are negative and are not standing out, not the salt of the earth......not loving and kind.............why would they want Jesus? If we are miserable with attitudes....if we are no different then what they already deal with---geez, I could hear myself saying "If that is what happens when you accept Jesus---well, why would I want Him?"

Think about it............if someone is doing something and you see it is hurting others and that person says "hey you should do this, it's the only way you live." hm....well, would you want it?

Meditate on the things that are good, that's what Paul said....think and speak on the things that are pure, right, Godly and just.

Think before you speak AND before you act..............................