Start Here

And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye. Luke 6:41-42 KJV

It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman. Proverbs 21:19 KJV

A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike. Proverbs 27:15 KJV

I have always hated these sayings: “If Mama ain't happy, nobody is happy” and “Happy wife, happy life.” Personally I am not a toddler that needs to be pacified, but an adult who should know how to communicate and deal with her feelings. There is some truth to the statement, though. We, as women, created the atmosphere. 

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The saying, The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world, is very true. God and my husband co-captain our family ship but I am the rudder. The captain gives the direction. The rudder moves the course of the ship. When communication between the captain and rudder are broken the ship goes off course and the ship is thrown into chaos. So many times we are upset with the atmosphere around us. It may feel like we are in chaos. We pray, wanting God to fix them, but what if the rudder has steered the ship into this storm. Before we pray for others, we must pray that He starts “here” first.

Some of the angriest prayers happen if we are praying while holding on to hurt and anger. Most things in life are out of our control, but the one thing I can control is me and my reaction. 

Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: [so doth] a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom [and] honour. A wise man's heart [is] at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left. Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth [him], and he saith to every one [that] he [is] a fool. Ecc 10:1-3 KJV

I love my slow cooker and electric pressure cooker. They both get used regularly. My husband loves chili and it turns out so well whether it simmers all day in the slow cooker or is put under pressure in the electric pressure cooker. The problem happens when one of the ingredients has gone bad. If the ground beef was rancid, cooking it won’t help. It just makes the chili bad and will actually gets worse the longer it cooks. It is the same with bad attitudes or thought process. If we let it simmer it festers and the rancid aroma bleeds over to others. The same happens when we are put under pressure. If we don’t have a “right” spirit, it will be known when we are put in a stressful situation. Just like a tea bag, our true self comes out when put in hot water. 

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. Psa 19:14 KJV

If I want things around me to change, I have to let God start with me. I may not be the cause of the stress and frustration, but what in me is causing my reaction. A good leader never asks someone else to do something they are not willing to do. How can I ask God to “fix” others, when I wasn’t first willing to let Him fix me. That is why we have to pray, "Start Here."

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