I had an interesting thing happen to me on Wednesday night.  It was church council night and my council president had devotions.  He started out by talking about Psalm 118:8 which is the center of the Bible (Check it out…it is a great verse and very appropriately placed).  After Dave finished his thing about Psalm 118 he led us in prayer.  He told us that he stole this prayer from someplace so it was not his.  We bowed our heads and prayed with Dave as he read the prayer.  As I was listening to the prayer I was thinking to myself that the prayer was alright.  I liked it, there didn’t seem to be anything wrong with it.  I didn’t notice any glaring theological inconsistencies (that is one thing about being a pastor; it is hard to listen to a sermon or a prayer without critiquing it).  After Dave was done he held up the piece of paper with the prayer on it and said he got it from a website called "The Heart of a Pastor"…<pause for affect>…that’s right, that was a prayer I wrote.  As I sat their with a stunned look on my face someone asked me if I knew that it was mine. I said no…I had no clue.  Everyone laughed along with me.  I am sure glad I gave myself a passing grade otherwise I might have to shut this website down and crawl into a cave.

I went home that night still thinking about my experience.  "Someone actually quoted me".  That does not happen everyday…or does it?  I think we all might be surprised at how many times we have been quoted during a day.  It makes me more aware of what I say.  I makes me more aware of what I want people to remember and repeat.  I don’t want people repeating things I say that are gossip, but rather words that give glory to God.  I want people remembering that I was kind and compassionate.  I want people repeating to their friends that God loves them.

"Be joyful always; pray without ceasing; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

This seems like a daunting task but it really is not.  When we live like we are saved from this depraved world and from Satan’s control, we live a life that praises God without ceasing.  When we praise God without ceasing we act according to God’s will.  God wants people to see his love in this world through all we do and say.  When we say and do things that do not glorify God, people do not see God’s kingdom.  Don’t get me wrong here.  I am not praising myself.  I often times say and do stupid things. 

What I am saying is this:  As you speak to people keep in mind that they are listening and filing away what you say.  Are your words giving glory to God or are they tearing someone down?  How do you want people to remember you?  What do you want people to repeat to others?  How are you going to glorify God today?  Are you in constant communion  with God; thinking about how much God loves you.  When you do that, how can you not smile.

Being quoted is kind of fun, but it is even more exciting when it praises God.  Rejoice in all you do.  Remember God and give thanks for the promise of everlasting life.  Now that is something worth repeating.

Thank you, God for using my words last night.  I did nothing, but rather you did everything.  Help us see your love everyday so we may in turn show that love to the world around us.  Through your Son, Jesus Christ I pray.  Amen! 

Praise be to God…ALWAYS!!! -EDH-