Pastor Bell's Words To Live By

An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up (Proverbs 12:25 NIV).

Anxiety is a state of mind where you are nervous and panicky about the future. This has the effect of bring a state of depression and introversion on the individual. The theme running through our sage’s advice today is to listen, speak the truth, seek understanding before making a judgement, ponder things in your heart before revealing them and above all ensure that all your ways are righteous.

This is a daunting list but one that can be achieved in our lifetime through reflection and action. We are further told in the epistles that we should be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving make our request known to God who will give his peace which will cause the anxiety to abate.

Once anxiety is under control you can then laugh. Not a pretentious laughing by a raucous, heartfelt boisterous laughter.  Too often we get bogged down with the cares of life and fail to take time out to laugh.

laughter

Today listen to our sage, anxiety will weight you down, but kind, funny words will cheer you up.

Footnote: The Baptist Dog.

A Baptist preacher and his wife decided to get a new dog. Ever mindful of the congregation, they knew the dog must also be a Baptist. They visited kennel after kennel and explained their needs. Finally, they found a kennel whose owner assured them he had just the dog they wanted. The owner brought the dog to meet the pastor and his wife.

“Fetch the Bible”, he commanded. The dog bounded to the bookshelf, scrutinized the books, located the Bible, and brought it to the owner.

“Now, find Psalm 23″, he commanded. The dog dropped the Bible to the floor, and showing marvelous dexterity with his paws, leafed through and finding the correct passage, pointed to it with his paw. The pastor and his wife were very impressed and purchased the dog.

That evening, a group of church members came to visit. The pastor and his wife began to show off the dog, having him locate several Bible verses. The visitors were very impressed. One man asked, “Can he do regular dog tricks, too?”

“I haven’t tried yet,” the pastor replied. He pointed his finger at the dog. “HEEL!,” the pastor commanded. The dog immediately jumped on a chair, placed one paw on the pastor’s forehead and began to howl. The pastor looked at his wife in shock and said, “Good Lord! He’s Pentecostal!”

 Read Proverbs 12