 Two snakes were crawling along when one snake asked the other, “Are we poisonous?” The other replied, “You bet we are!! We’re the most deadly!! We’re rattlesnakes. Why do you ask?” To which the first replied, “Because, I just bit my tongue.” That bit of humor has more truth in it than one might think. Yes it’s good for a laugh, but whether a snake can poison itself, I don’t know, but I do know we can poison ourselves with the bite of our own words.
It appears that many people don’t know their words produce consequences. But if we discuss this issue honestly we will have to admit that words can hurt, kill, disappoint, discourage, encourage, and even build up. Denote, the wrong words can damage a relationship or destroy a reputation and create all sorts of ill-will. And the flip side of the issue is the part we most often forget, which is, the damage that our own words do to ourselves. Deceitful and lying words can destroy our very own reputation. And when we are braggadocios we may well lose the respect of the people we are trying to impress. Also, if we make promises and do not fulfill them we cheapen ourselves. Our words will portray us as a self-centered person or as someone who is respectable and trustworthy. The words we speak can do far more damage to ourselves than to others, for we are known by our words. The truth will always prevail: “Oh generation of vipers (poisonous snakes), how can you being evil speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks!” (Matthew 12:34). Just as the bite of a rattlesnake can kill us, so can poisonous words take us down. Ironically, the unlikely person most at risk is quite often the very person speaking those venomous words. He kills himself in the process. This gives us a whole new meaning to the phrase, “Bite your tongue!” All I can say is that we should be very careful with what comes out of our mouth because we could be killing ourselves as well as someone else. Ask yourself, “If in this new year someone paid me ten dollars for every kind and edifying word I spoke while at the same time they also collected five dollars from me for every harsh or unkind word I spoke would I be rich or poor at the end of the year?” I’ll admit, some people are just too talkative. They are like the young man who supposedly went to the great Greek philosopher Socrates to learn oratory. On being introduced, he talked so incessantly that Socrates asked for double fees. “Why charge me double?” said the young man. “Because,” said the orator, “I must teach you two sciences: the one is how to hold your tongue and the other is how to speak.” A young father testified: “I said a very hurtful word the other day. It was truly a hurtful word I did not mean to say. But then it was not really lost, when from my lips it flew; My little child picked it up and now he says it too.” We have one mouth and two ears for a reason. For more info you can visit us at www.JoyChristianMinistries.com  What do thieves and cockroaches have in common? First, they both work in the dark. Secondly, they scatter when the light is turned on.
My first encounter with cockroaches came when I was 16. I had heard about them, but had never witnessed a real live phenomenon. One of my friends asked me to accompany her into her house because it was dark and she was scared. I was dropping her off from a Sunday night church service and as we walked into the kitchen she flipped the light switch. Instantly there was a massive movement from the center of the dining table where a butter cube was vulnerably perched on a dish. Little brown bugs were scurrying pronto in all directions leaping off the table like dive-bombers. All of them were frantically running under anything that could hide them from the light and the two big monsters. “What was that?” I asked. And nonchalantly, as though it were a very normal occurrence, she said the “C” word, initiating me into the new discovery of nasty brown bugs. Since that crude beginning I have learned a whole bundle about cockroaches and all of it has not been good. Also, I have discovered that some people can have a cockroach mentality. Yeah, that’s nasty, but to tell you the truth there are individuals who prefer darkness over light so they can prey on the innocent or can live a debauched lifestyle under cover. And they will scurry to hide under anything that can conceal their activity. One day, Jesus referring to this very subject said, “…Men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone that doeth evil hates the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God” (John 3:19-21). I have discovered that people with a cockroach mentality love darkness rather than light, because they don’t want anyone to see their mischief. One of the quickest ways to get rid of a thief is to turn on the light and like a cockroach he runs for cover. But an honest person has nothing to hide and is not ashamed. His life is an open book to be read by all men. He is not looking for something to hide under. An honest person does not worry that a knock will come pounding on the door, but he lives a stress free life. The absolute truth is that a cockroach can never change because he is what he is, but a person can change. Yes he can! He can change into a beautiful, loving, trustworthy individual. A cockroach can do nothing about his nasty character, but a person has the power of choice. We can choose to hate evil and to love good. We don’t have to be addicted to anything, because we have the power of choice. We can call upon God to help turn from our ugly past and to become a new person. “Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near.” Today is not too late! For more info you can visit us at www.JoyChristianMinistries.com  With the rising divorce rate and the trend to be untruthful these days, it is almost as though the marriage vows have been changed from “Till death do us part” to “Till I get tired of you and someone better comes along.” On October 11, 1994, Randall Curlee and Victoria Ingram were married in San Diego at the Sharp Memorial Hospital in hospital gowns. Now, who wants to get married in a hospital in hospital gowns? Well, here is the story.
Randall and Victoria were in a progressive dating relationship when doctors told Randall he needed a kidney. All of Randall’s relatives were checked for possible donor-ship, but none were found to be compatible. Finally, Victoria asked to be examined and discovered she and her finance’ were a perfect match in more ways than one. So, just prior to Randall’s kidney transplant the couple were married then were promptly put to sleep. If they were looking for a unique honeymoon, this was it. While very few marriages experience a biological connection like the Curlee’s did, many couples are missing the key component for an enduring and successful relationship. It’s called, spiritual oneness with God. He is our creator and He initiated the man and woman marriage. And He cautions His people to, “Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness and what communion hath light with darkness?” (II Corinthians 6:14) Yes, attraction, fun, intellect, sex are important to having a happy and long lasting marriage, but the adhesive to holding the relationship together is Jesus Christ. He is the lasting bond. It’s not ironic that Jesus performed His first miracle at a wedding. He was sending us a profound message which I believe to be: He will continue to perform miracles in every marital relationship when He is invited in. When a man and his wife are struggling with their relationship to the point of contemplating divorce, the Lord will bring healing and love to them when they welcome Him in. He is still working miracles in marriages today. Marriage is first of all a spiritual union, secondly emotional, and thirdly physical. Notice that I put the spiritual first. The reason being, it is the most important and most enduring aspect of a relationship. From my observation, most marriages break apart because couples put these three points backwards: the physical which is chameleonic, emotions which can change on a dime, and lastly the spiritual. Denote that a true vibrant enduring marriage is based upon a profound relationship with God. Too many are leaving out this most important connection in life. So, for your own knowledge you must understand that a marital relationship is the second most important decision people will ever make. What is the first? A strong relationship with God! He gives us favor, wisdom, and all that we need for our marriage. For more info you can visit us at www.JoyChristianMinistries.com |
Pastor J.C. Myers, III
Pastor J.C. founded Joy Christian Ministries in 1992. He was Sr. Pastor at Joy Christian Ministries in West Sacramento, California from 1992-2016. He was succeeded by his 2nd son, Pastor Brandon Myers who had been under his father's ministry and teaching for 39 years. Archives
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Joy Church is a Jesus loving, Spirit filled, Christian church in West Sacramento, California. We exist to 'Lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.' We are a church that honors the Holy Spirit, a church that wins souls, a church that makes no apologies and feels no guilt for believing the Bible, and a church that is a blessing to your family and to this nation.
Joy Church is a Jesus loving, Spirit filled, Christian church in West Sacramento, California. We exist to 'Lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.' We are a church that honors the Holy Spirit, a church that wins souls, a church that makes no apologies and feels no guilt for believing the Bible, and a church that is a blessing to your family and to this nation.
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825 Sunset Ave. West Sacramento, CA 95605
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