Don’t ever ask the Lord to show you what needs to change about your character if you don’t want to know! We had “7 days of prayer” for the second time this year at our church and I approached the Lord very cautiously with this request. Many of you might face the Lord more boldly with this prayer than I did, but I know me and I know there is a lot of work that needs to be done.
I am the type of person who gets down to the nitty gritty. I don’t have time for a lot of fluff, so conversations with me are usually direct. Some may call this blunt – I like to call it candid. There is a good reason for this character flaw! I am the youngest of four girls and was always the runt growing up – IF I got a word in edgewise, it better be good! I remember one incident that might put this into perspective. I was out playing with my sisters and some kids from the neighborhood on my first day of high school in nineteen seventy… uh, none of your business. While running across the yard, I stepped into a ditch and hurt my foot. I mean it hurt! A friend carried me home to tell Momma. She was on the phone with my aunt and told me to just go sit down. My foot was throbbing and had begun to change colors so I called Momma once again to come look. She continued to talk on the phone. I was getting scared so I again called out, “Momma, I think I broke my foot!” (I was being candid or blunt or whatever you want to call it!) Getting aggravated, she hung up the phone, came and looked, and told me to just put an ice pack on it. By the next morning, the inside of my foot was hanging in a very unusual position and was the color of old bread! Daddy took me to the doctor to find I had broken my foot in three places. You guessed it – I had to have it set and a cast put on it! That messed up playing basketball for a while!
Being honest and straightforward when we deal with people is a good quality, but it doesn’t have to be rude. Our character is tempered by our walk with the Lord. So should our speech. Finishing up a Beth Moore Bible study entitled “Living Beyond Yourself” – today’s lesson was on this very subject – self control concerning the tongue. (Imagine that!) A study on the fruit of the spirit contained the following scripture on self-control. James 3:1-12 tells of how difficult it is to bridle the tongue. A small bit is put in a horse’s mouth to control him; a small rudder is used to turn a large ship. Verse 8 says the tongue cannot be tamed. It is compared to a fire out of control. Our lesson had us compare a fire and the tongue. I first wrote the obvious: out of control (like a forest fire), dangerous (can do harm) but then I thought… is there a way for this to be good? Fire, in the right setting, can be a good thing. I recall sitting by the fireplace at Tim’s mom and dad’s house during our trips home for Christmas that sent a warm glow throughout the living room. I thought of my old gas stove in our trailer in Biloxi, Mississippi when we were stationed at Keesler Air Force Base that cooked those first meals I fixed for Tim. (That stove also warmed the house went the heat went out.) Fire, under control, can be good. The tongue – under control – can be good. I thought of the wonderful concerts I have been to – the songs that have been sung… the voice of the late Glenn Payne singing “I Won’t Have to Cross Jordan Alone” over the phone at NQC our first year there; Elaine Wilburn on her signature song, “Hand of the Lord”; Bro. Johnny Minick of the Happy Goodman’s featured on “The Reason,” and so many more come to mind. You may have a memory you would like to share of a song being a blessing as well.
My goal is to be a blessing – especially in what I say… and sometimes in what I don’t say.
till next time…
Sally
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Author: SGN
| Author's Website: http://sogospelnews.com/
Written: 04/30/2005
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Category: ArtistsThe Quicks
Comments: 7
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Sally,
Well said. You do not have to be rude when you are blunt. I believe you are honest. Thanks for the great lesson in honesty.
Dwight
Great Article as always. Just wanted to also say we love the new CD, however, "Behold the Land" is still my favorite. You are like a Heavenly Angel when you sing it, and it speaks right to my heart EVERYTIME. All of you are SO special to our family and have been such an inspiration to us. We think that "The Quicks" are the BEST in gospel music. Keep the music coming!!! The Humphries Gang
Sally, again a great thought provoking article. You songwriters are an honest bunch, aren't you? You have to be pretty much direct with yourself, so that you can get the clear thoughts, before you can put them on paper and then (hopefully) get them to rhyme and flow.
I appreciate you, Tim, and the girls, and pray for your ministry every day.
What Christy, Rita, and I love, and comment about you most, is your direct conversation. I am the same way. if you don't want to know, you'd better not ask! I don't always give an opinion, but if asked (and assuming I have an opinion on the subject)I will tell it like it is. I expect the same from the people I talk with too.
Too often, we try to spare feelings SO much that we gloss over the real issues, and we don't help the person that really needed to hear the truth! YES, YOUR HAIR LOOKS FUNNY!!!!!! YES, YOU DO NEED TO TUCK IN THAT SHIRT AND QUIT LOOKING LIKE A SLOB!!! (see Nick's article)
What is wrong with the truth? What is wrong with telling your opinion, especially when you are asked?
Nothing.
Love you guys. John
John,
A conversation between Christy and myself is what sparked the idea for this article. I have always assumed that since I want to know the truth when I ask someone's opinion - that everyone else does, too. Christy educated me that not everyone wants the truth when they ask - many just want an answer that will make them feel good. Josh often says to me, "Now Sally, tell me what you REALLY think!" I guess my motto is If You Don't Want My Opinion, Don't Ask Me...
Amen to that!
Some people carry it too far, by hiding behind "telling the truth" when all they really want is to be rude or inconsiderate. There are people that are members of church choirs that seem to be ready to say "This song is stupid!" or "I am not singing this!" and trying to circumvent the authority of the leader. The leader has studied and searched for good music to learn, maybe for weeks before the choir members ever see it, and then get effectively "shot down" before the choir has an opportunity to see how good it will turn out! (they do it to pastors and elders too) I am sure that God is not pleased with that.
They justify it by saying, "Well, I'm only being honest!"
It's not the same thing, is it?
That would probably fall under the "honor the office" protocol. If the things we say are from a clean heart and a right spirit...
Speaking of hiding behind something, It has been said that I can hide behind a microphone stand!, That is why I wear BRIGHT COLORS so I can be seen, not to show myself off or attract attention but to show I'm there. When I wear my red suit, I get comments like, What's the Temperature, or so forth, that is what us skinny people get now and then. But, you see, It is easy to hide behind something, however every now and then you
are gonna turn one way or the other and you'll be seen, so even the TRUTH cannot hide you for long! I don't worry about snobs I just pray for them. A snob is Someone Not obviously Brilliant, or they would realize the fumes they are giving off are not very pleasing to those around them. Sally I think you wrote another great article, keep it up, we love ya'll. Brother Ken
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