ThinMint

There is stunning revelation in these verses. Even if we just embraced this one: long-suffering that endures provocation and kindness that proactively blesses - we would live a life free from unforgiveness. Father God, help us to repent and turn away from our sin if we've disobeyed You in "putting away from us these things," and grant us more grace to receive Your Word with meekness and willingness of heart to do all it says and to walk in the ensuing freedom that obedience to Your Word brings, in Jesus' name, amen.🙏❤️ *Definitions taken online from Bible Hub, Blue Letter Bible, and Search Assist (for bitterness feelings). - Fitly Spoken

The Word Uncovered I was recently given a Word study to do on the verses below. I don't know what I was expecting, but it really arrested me. It arrested me in the best possible way. We can read scripture and take it quite lightly. We can pass by it without finding out what the scripture is compelling us to do. The Word of God is amazing. It has step-by-step instruction of how to live for God free and unencumbered  - if we only we will obey it's commands. Let's take a look... Ephesians 4:31-32 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32, are “how-to” forgive verses. The first part: “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice,” must be done in order to fulfill the second part:  “be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” Any one of these things: bitterness, wrath, anger, evil speaking, etc.. can cause us to be in a state of unforgiveness. Yet removing these things from our lives with repentance, will free us to forgive. Let's break down what these “stand in the way of forgiveness” things are, and what we must put off in order to forgive: Bitterness: gall of bitterness. (RememberJesus was given gall on the cross. He tasted bitterness for us, so that we could have freedom from bitterness. He went through the most bitter of situations for us). Bitterness is bitter root producing bitter fruit. Bitterness comes from resentment at being treated unfairly, from anger, and from disapointment that has been given time to fester. Bitter things can taste bad and bitterness inside of oneself will make other things become tainted and “taste bad.” It's hard to enjoy good things when you are bitter, because bitterness infiltrates everything in your life. Bitterness is poison. Wrath: Violent passion, agitation of soul, violent emotion. Anger: to teem, swell up, something the beholder considers wrong, internal motion, like a fruit swelling with juice. Clamor: crying, outcry, screaming (shrieking), extremely boisterous, like a wounded person emitting "unearthly" (non-human) types of sounds. Evil speaking: defamation, evil report, slander, detraction, petty criticism, speech injurious to another's good name, reproachful speech injurious to divine majesty. Malice: ill will, desire to injure, wickedness that is not ashamed to break laws. An evil, vicious disposition and a malicious disposition (character) that fosters and fondles evil habits.("malignity") Inevitably showing itself in acts of deceit (treachery). Characteristic of " 'evil-mindedness' that puts the worst construction on everything." Phew! Now let's look at what we must put on in order to forgive and live free: (Be) Kind: to show oneself useful. Expresses active goodness that meets real need with gentle grace. It is more than a pleasant disposition; it is benevolence that takes concrete form. Helpfulness in civic life, kindness to steadfast love. “Love is patient, love is kind.” A complementary pair—long-suffering that endures provocation and kindness that proactively blesses. Kindness listens before speaking, offering counsel seasoned with grace. (See Colossians 4:6). “Unusual kindness” opens doors for the gospel; (See Acts 28:2). compassionate deeds authenticate proclamation. Proverbs 25:15 notes that gentle patience breaks resistance. Pair it with kindness. James 1:27 calls for visiting orphans and widows; kindness moves beyond sympathy to tangible service. Tenderhearted: Well compassioned,  sympathetic. Gut-level sympathy. Forgiving: freedom, deliverance, liberty. Dismissal, release, pardon. Something sent away. Releasing someone from obligation or debt.  - Fitly Spoken

Change of plans, friends, because we roll with the Holy Spirit! And He has been showing us so many incredible things we want to share with you as well. So with the LORD's inspiration, Paula and I will post as prompted. We are asking you to join us on the 15th and 30th of the month as specific times for praising our Creator. What this looks like for you will vary, of course. Join us as we offer gratitude to the One we love most. ❤️

Did you all know God instituted rock bands? Yeah, that’s right! Psalm 150 proves it. Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!

-7- When we praise the Lord, you are acknowledging the mighty works the Lord has done, and is doing. You recognize that the Lord God can do what you cannot do in your own strength. It also tends to be public, you want to tell everybody what God has done. This is why testimonies are so important. Praise has a way of keeping self pride at bay. We know only God can do the impossible. When one has walked with God for any length of time, you have to admit, you’ll be able to recall many times when God did something so unbelievable you just had to shout a praise to Him and share with others. When we live in surrender and reverence to God, praise naturally flows, and worship becomes the foundation that allows us to lead lives that reflect and honor God. Prayer of Praise: Lord Jesus, I praise You that You are my light and my salvation. I praise You that when I feel afraid, You invite me to bring all my fear to your feet. Thank You that the darkness of my circumstances cannot overwhelm the light of Your glorious presence. I worship You as the Light that shines in the darkness. I praise You, that You are also my stronghold and safe place and that I can continually run to You. Even now, in this fearful time, Your presence surrounds me. I praise You for the confidence and courage that rises within me as I faithfully worship You. Lord God, You alone are worthy of all my praise. “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together.” Psalm 34:1-3

-6- How do we worship Him? Colossians 3:15-17 tells us. “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” It’s easy to praise God when only blessings show up at your door. But what about the times when things in life are not ideal, or when disappointments come knocking? It’s like being a fair-weather Christian. How does that build your faith in God if everything goes perfectly your way? It doesn’t. You end up weak in your faith and knocked over each time a little storm comes through. Compared to worship, which can be harder only because when we are in the midst of hardship and disappoints we begin to question God’s goodness, and start to believe He has forgotten us. It takes a humbled and surrendered heart to worship God even when things look like they are going in the opposite direction. Worship is often tied to covenant faithfulness, obedience, sacrifice, and honoring God as holy. We give up our self and acknowledge who God is despite the setbacks, and disappointments. We posture our surrendered hearts to Him alone during the most difficult times in our life. Most of all we are acknowledging God and His will for us, even when we are suffering. We see examples of this in the Book of Job, and in Psalms when David was hiding from his enemies.

-5- When we come together praising God, we’re reminded that our collective identity is rooted in what God has done, not in our own achievements. Worship allows us to be vulnerable and united, showing that we are not alone in this journey. This is why you cannot be a Christian and walk alone in life without other fellow believers. We need each other, because God specifically designed it this way. He is about relationships. It is a reflection of His creation communing with Him. “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:24-25

-4- Given everything He’s done for us, worship is our way of acknowledging His goodness and expressing our gratitude. Worship isn’t just about singing hymns or following rituals. It’s about a heart posture that acknowledges God’s sovereignty and a response of humble surrender. We worship God not only with our voices but with our actions, decisions, and obedience as we offer ourselves to Him. We worship not because of what God has done but because of who God is. Whether through sacrifice, song, prayer, or physical expression, biblical worship always places God at the center. Look at this example in Psalm 95: Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. … Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. … Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7 Why do we worship? Because He alone is worthy. Revelation 4:11 tells us why. ““You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”” Revelation 4:11 Our worship and praise is a response to His love and the countless ways He has blessed us. As Psalm 40:9-10 reminds us: I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, Lord, as you know. I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help. I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness from the great assembly. David’s words underscore that worship is not just a personal experience but a communal one. It is a time for God’s people to come together and openly declare His righteousness, faithfulness, and love. We gather to share these truths because they are too big to keep to ourselves. I just love that!

-3- But there is something more….check this out! It carries power. It causes breakthroughs. It brings peace in our souls. It encourages us. It strengthens us. It displaces fear. It builds our faith. It is a weapon of warfare. It bears our hearts open towards God. It releases burdens, and cause to surrender to the will of God. It acknowledges His goodness. It expresses gratitude. It demonstrates our adoration to God. It moves heaven. It transforms you. It reflects our obedience to the Lord. It is a willful response to who God is and what He has done. It is a response to His deep love for us. It declares His righteousness, faithfulness, and goodness. It honors God. No one can argue that praise and worship isn’t transformative. The true definition of worship in the English dictionary: the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity. Hebrew worship means: worship, bend, prostrate oneself, adore. Worship is at the heart of God’s desire for us—to come together and celebrate all He has done. The Bible is filled with commands to gather and give thanks for His blessings.

-2- What exactly is praise and worship? We may tend to think of praise and worship as synonyms … it’s hard to praise the Lord without worship and vice versa. They are both connected as an expression of honor and glory towards God. You praised the Lord, and sang songs in church, and gave thanks. It is something we Christians do because we believe God alone is worthy of both. And it feels good to praise and worship the Lord. I never really gave much thought about what it really means to praise and worship our Lord. The power it holds to change the atmosphere is beyond comprehension. It boils down to the connection we have with God. Why do we do it? What is the difference between the two? These are two simple questions that we will cover today and also the meaning of praise and worshipping the Lord and why. Praise: Is given for what God has done. It is a joyful recounting of what He has done and is doing for us in our lives and others. Worship: Is given for who He is. It comes from deep within our spirit. It is reserved for God alone. And, yes the two can overlap with thanksgiving and gratitude. It all goes hand in hand.

The Harp and The Horn Discovering the Power of Praise and Worship When you think of worshipping the Lord what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Hands raised singing loud praises to the Lord? On your knees giving thanks to the Lord? Crying out to the Lord in reverence and humility? Shouting and jumping uninhibited unto the Lord in joy? Praying and supplication to the Lord? Sacrificing your time in the community before the Lord? Lamenting or calling out before the Lord? Praising God amidst suffering? A weapon used to combat the enemies assaults? Obedience to the Lord’s commands? Yielding and submitting to God’s will? Surrendering your heart to God? What if I told you all of the above are forms of worship and praise to the Lord. Worship isn’t just Sunday morning church band and the congregation singing praise songs. It is so much more. You will never look at worship the same way again.

Hey friends! Most of you probably have seen Kris’ announcement on her channel @ThinMint on March 8th. We indeed are starting a new series, today! We’re excited for you to join us in this topic of Praise and Worship. We are calling it, The Harp and The Horn. A symbolic representation of the power of Praise and Worship. Thanks for being here with us! Oh, and before I forget, this series will continue on March 30th over @ThinMint, and I will repost it here as well. You don’t want to miss it. May you be blessed. —Paula @CallToBattle Telegram

Happy Birthday, to the love of my life 💚🤍🩵🩷

We ought to be aware of the titles we give ourselves, too.

Hello sweet friends! This came up elsewhere but I don't know that we ever concluded a firm idea. What are your thoughts?