Watch Your Mouth

All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

OUCH! This scripture found in James 3, is a testament to the trouble our tongues can get us into. Have you ever let something slip from your lips that should have been thought about first? I know I have. And, wow. The problems that can come about when I forget to filter!

I'm notorious for "open-mouth-insert-foot" syndrome. I often let my emotions rule me allowing words to burst forth that I didn't think about or--in most cases--mean.

I knew I had a problem...and I gave it to God. Are you in a situation where your words get in the way? Are you negative, argumentative, or simply not feeling you are the person God created you to be? Today, let's pray together that our words will be of God and not of the enemy and that Jesus may assist us in controlling this slithery serpent full of poison.

Heavenly Father, please today enter into my soul and take hold of my tongue. Give me discernment before I speak and may all my words be Your words. To lift up and encourage your children. To edify them, not to crush them. Please allow me to see all lives and situations as you do. And fulfill in me what it is to be a Christ Follower.

In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN!

Wash us clean, Lord! Wash us clean! May we be more like You.

Hallelujah!

October 2008 - Words

Hello, fellow Barnabi (Is that Barnabas pluraled?)

This month, God has layed on my heart to focus on the power of our words, how simple they are, and how easily they can come crashing down around us.

In Ephesians, Paul writes:

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. - Ephesians 4:29

Let no unwholesome talk come out of our mouths. What constitutes unwholesome talk?

Let's see...foul language? I would say yes. Sarcasm? Definitely. Gossip? Oh, yeah.

Am I guilty of any of this? Of course! We all are! And, as much as I hate to admit it in public, I've been known to fire off a curse word as fast as lightening when I get heated up about something. I hate that I do it. I hate that is it still second nature to me. But, I pray about it and with the help of the Holy Spirit, a listening heart, and a husband who is my accountability partner, I now hear "stop cussing" usually before it erupts from my mouth. and, when I say erupt, I mean erupt.

You may be wondering why I am telling you this.

Because, I am not special. I am not perfect. Yet I am still a child of God.

And He loves me in spite of how "human" I can be. In spite of my past. In spite of how I used to live and breathe. But, now, as a Christ follower, I follow Jesus. And, you can, too.

This month, I'll write about our words, our goofs and how wonderful our Father in Heaven truly is. And, I'll be honest about it. I didn't find Jesus at age three. I found him 25 years later after a lot of junk. Plain ol' junk. But, I know how it is without Him. And, I'll never go back.

God is faithful and true and HE LOVES US. Believe that. He loves us no matter how we act or what we've done. Invite Him into your heart and allow Him to do His work inside you. I am so blessed that I did. I'll share my stories with you soon.

Have a blessed and joy-filled week. Until I write again...

Dawn
God's Cheerleader

Gimme a G!

Gimme an O! Gimme a D! What's that spell?

Okay, I will admit, I get really excited about being God's Cheerleader as I wave my pom-poms high in the air wishing I could do basket tosses without seriously injuring myself. But, seriously, can you really be overly enthusiastic for God?

I think not!

That is why today at Be a Barnabas, we will focus on the good, the bad and the ugly of being an encourager for God. Being a Cheerleader isn't always back flips and cheers. Sometimes, you are trudging through mud getting your cute little skirt and matching tennis shoes all yucky. That's right, I said yucky.

Sometimes in life we say things we don't mean. We either phrase it incorrectly, use the wrong word alltogether, or let our words bypass our filter and send the sludge out for all to hear.

I recently had a friend make a comment about a turning point in my writing career. This short yet innocent remark did its best to send me plummeting in a tailspin diving under my covers to hide my head in writing shame. Did she mean it as such? No.

But one thing's for sure, it made me wonder how many times an innocent remark escaped my lips instead of staying on my tongue where it should have died in the first place.

OUCH! Makes me want to hide behind my pom-poms. I know I've done it, and I'm sorry for it and humbly repent.

Our words are power. They create life…or bring death. I choose life. And, through this, I am eternally grateful to my friend for helping me realize it so I may guard my tongue as Christ commanded. Remember when James said that both fresh water and salt water cannot flow from the same spring? (See below)

The wise Solomon once said, "The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit." (Proverbs 15:4 NIV)

This week, I will consider all my words before they escape into the air with crushing potential. Once it's out there, it's out there never to be taken back, and now with e-mail, it can be forwarded. Scary thought isn't it? ;o)

Until next week, keep praising, keep encouraging, and keep those pom-poms flying high.

In His Service~

Dawn Michelle Michals
God's Cheerleader

James 3:9-12 (NIV)

9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Are you a Barnabas?

It's simple really. A few words of encouragement can lift up a friend and change the future while words of disapproval, cynicism and disbelief can easily send a person and their dreams plummeting into the pit we all know so well.

Barnabas first appears in scripture in Acts 9:27 when the disciple known as the Son of Encouragement introduces us and his fellow believers to Saul, a murderous Jewish leader who'd met Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus. While the other disciples refused to speak with Saul out of fear, Barnabas gave a troubled new Christian a second chance. Without Barnabas, would the world know two thirds of the Bible? Would we have Paul, the greatest evangelist who ever walked this earth?

Probably not.

Barnabas' words of encouragement to Paul and the new members of the church paved the way for Christianity as we know it. Simple words of encouragement were all it took to spread the love of Jesus Christ to a sad and discouraged world.

When the time arises, and God asks you to step up to the plate and spread His words of love and encouragement, are you a Barnabas?

I know it's hard. In our society today, we tend to lean more to "down to earth," to "reality" and to "keeping your head out of the clouds." But, why? The word encouragement is written 59 times in the New International Version of our Bible. In every case, it was to spread God's word and keep the church and its members going through persecution and hardship. God mentions constantly for us to encourage one another. He knew we all needed it. That time is now.

Be a Barnabas is a place for love and encouragement in day-to-day life. Originally, this site was geared toward single parents and their children, which is still a key force for BaB and will be a focus for our content. But, don't we all need encouragement? Parents. Children. Teens. Tweens. Pastors. Leaders. Politicians. Writers. We all need encouragement, especially encouragement with God. So, stay with me, visit me often and sign up for my blog alerts for weekly words of God's encouragement straight from the pages of the greatest book ever written.

Be encouraged. Be strong and strive for your dreams in God's service. And remember: It doesn't matter where you've been. It matters where you're going.

In His Service,

Dawn Michelle Michals and Be a Barnabas ™

I saw this today on one of my dear friend's blogs. It brightened my day and gave me a pep in my step.

Joshua 24:15 (NIV)
But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

My house will serve the LORD. When times are tough and nothing seems to work, I will lift my voice in praise to my heavenly Father. He will come through. He always does.

Lift up your hands and voices today, not to ask God for anything, but to rejoice in the work He has already performed in our lives. He is so good and faithful. He is the perfect Dad.

May God bless you richly this week and always!

Be a Barnabas

Special Event Benefitting Single Moms - Houston, Texas

For those of you who live in or near the Houston, Texas, area, just a quick reminder of our first annual Meet the Christian Author Night tomorrow (Friday, August 1) from 6 to 9 p.m. at Woodsedge Church, 3333 South Panther Creek Drive, The Woodlands, Texas.


As if the opportunity to get up close and personal with the authors of your favorite books were not enough, monies raised from the sales of books, food, and auctions will go to support single mothers in our community. Under the guidance of Lynda Phinney, the nonprofit group has, among other things, provided women with much needed car care, home repairs, and back to school expenses.


"We've even allowed their children to "shop" for them at Christmas time," says Phinney, who also expressed her desire to do much more for single mothers and their children.

If you live in the area, please be sure to check out this event. Many of my close friends will be among the authors donating their time for this much needed cause. Let Be a Barnabas know if you attend! Post your comments below.

In His Grace~

Dawn and Be a Barnabas

It's a New Day at Be a Barnabas

It's been a long time coming, but the site is now re-activated and new blog postings will now be coming each Wednesday.

Be a Barnabas is a safe haven for single mothers and their children. We will encourage you, support you and be there in the tough times and in those "fireworks" times when life is great and miracles are happening. In either case, I want to hear from you. This site is about you and for you. Your input is a necessity.

As a single mother, you may feel abandoned, hopeless or even out of God's will. But, please know, you and only you are the one God chose to raise His children on earth. He knew exactly who to choose. No worries. God is with you every step of the way. Know that He is there guiding you in the darkness. His beacon of light is all you need. He is the father to the fatherless and a defender of the widows (Psalm 68:5). Your children have the greatest father that you could ever imagine.

In the coming weeks, we will focus on God's encouragement for His saints. Be ready and have your bibles close by.

In Him is everything,

Dawn and Be a Barnabas