I hear on the news this morning that 1000 demonstrations, protests, rallies, gatherings–whatever monikers are given–will occur today. These are planned examples of what their leaders call exercises in free speech. I, for one, love the freedoms this country espouses, but am amazed at the organized chaos likely to occur. Television cameras will show enraged ,misguided, (perhaps paid for compensations from those who want to oppose duly elected officials for proposing change, ) people with nothing better to do than tear down rather than build up. Imagine if all that energy were put into cleaning up playground, painting decrepit buildings, providing shelter for homeless people, or visiting lonely people in nursing homes. Imagine the good deeds these protesters could accomplish today.
We need to watch our rhetoric. Our words can sting or heal. they can curse or bless. They can spew hate or love. Even family squabbles can cause lasting damage, perhaps not manifested until eruptions or hateful attitudes years later. We count on family
-unconditional love until underlying misconceptions come out of nowhere after years of festering attitudinal slights. We need to watch our words.
MY PSALM 323 RHETORIC
O Lord of the Universe,
I come with humble heart before Your throne,
Knowing that in Your mercy, You hear my pleas,
Prepare my paths, provide for my every need.
You created the heavens and the earth
And pronounced them good
And I echo that,
Admiring the light that shines by night
And the sun that warms the day.
I thank you for Jesus, the Light of the World
And the Light of eternity,
For without You in my life,
I would know darkness and despair.
Precious Holy Spirit,
I ask You to be part of every conversation in this day,
To guide me in pathways of Your choosing,
To provide a barrier
Against sin of thought, of motive, of speech, of action,
Keeping my mind, body, soul, and spirit pure in Your sight.
Almighty God, Three in One,
Through the mercy of Christ’s sacrifice,
Thank you for Your provision and protection for me
And for my loved ones, the hedge that surrounds us all.
Be present at every conversation.
Be alive in every Word of Scripture
In every lyric of music today
To strengthen my faith.
Be ahead of my every pathway,
Leading me to those You want me to touch
With Your hands of mercy,
Influence through my words,
Bring to Your Throne in prayer,
And love through my actions.
Protect those who need You in a special way today,
The poor, the insensitive, the sick in body, mind, and soul,
And help me to be a beacon of light in dark places,
Soften my rhetoric,
Call to my mind songs of praise and thanksgiving
And passages from Your Word
For You are the source of my strength,
And in You I have my being, my purpose, my mission.
In Jesus’ Name. Amen
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