Be thankful

Cultivate the habit of thankfulness.  Thanksgiving has great curative power.  The heart that is constantly overflowing with gratitude will be safe from those attacks of resentfulness and gloom that bother so many religious persons.  A thankful heart cannot be cynical. - A.W. Tozer

Big lies start small

"Once a liar, always a liar" is a proverbial parental admonishment.  A national study in the United States claims there is truth to the adage; People who cheated on exams in high school are considerably more likely to be dishonest later in life, according to a report released recently by the Josephson Institute of Ethics.

Solomon offers a prayer that would be suitable for Christians in bondage to such appetites : "Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom." Song of Solomon 2:15

Unimportant though they may seem, these little, fox-like demons may spoil the tender fruits of the Spirit that God looks for in our lives.  One form of spiritual fruit that inevitably suffers from the little foxes is the fruit of self control.

God's power can be more easily seen and experienced in our lives when we get rid of sin's build-up every day.  First John 1:9 reminds us : "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."  But unless we do that often, we'll be running on diminished power.  That's because the power for living comes from God and not us. [2 Corinthians 4:7]

So we must always be sensitive to sin and deal with it immediately.  The strategy for dealing with sin - includes confession and accountability. Likewise our focus should always be on God's holiness and purity.

James 4:8, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you."

What we may consider "little" or "harmless" sins can be our downfall.  Stretching the truth", for example, is actually lying.  And gossip is nothing less than character assassination.  The trouble is that those little sins will inevitably grow larger.

The most deadly sins do not leap upon us, they creep up on us. 

A little sin can be the first step in turning away from God.  It is not the sin we don't know about but the sins we excuse that cause us the greatest trouble.  We must never let away sin go unchallenged.  In our life, an unchallenged sin spread like a deadly cancer?  Don't excuse it.  Confess and ask God for strength to resist temptation.

The Bible urges us not to under estimate the destructive potential of what we say.  We must let the wisdom of God check our thoughts before they leave our tongues.  "The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy" James 3:17

WORDS CAN'T BREAK BONES, BUT THEY CAN BREAK HEARTS.

The capacity for love

The capacity for love gives depth to human relationships, brings people closer to each other physically and emotionally, and makes people think expansively about themselves and the world.  In his triangular theory of love, psychologist Robert Sternberg theorizes that love is a mix of three components: some (1) passion, or physical attraction; (2) intimacy, or feelings of closeness; and (3) commitment, involving the decision to initiate and sustain a relationship.  The presence of all three components characterizes consummate love, the most durable type of love.  In addition, the presence of intimacy and passion in marital relationships predicts marital satisfaction.  Also, commitment is the best predictor of relationship satisfaction, especially in long-term relationships.  Positive consequences of being in love include increased self-esteem and self-efficacy.[4]

The Bible records why Christians should love one another :-

1) God has commanded us to love (1 John 2:7-11)

2) We have been born of God and God's love lives in us (1 John 3:10-24)

3) God first revealed His love to us (1 John 4:7-21)

"We love ... because He first loved us."

What happens to a believer who does not love the brethren? 

1) he lives in darkness, though he thinks he is living in the light (1 John 2:9).  He thinks he sees, but he is actually blinded by the darkness of hatred.

2) he becomes a cause of stumbling (cf. 1 John 2:10).

an unloving brother stumbles himself, and in addition he causes others to stumble.  The best way to help other Christians not to stumble is to love them. Love makes us stepping-stones; hatred (or any of its "cousins," such as envy or malice) makes us stumbling blocks.

3) it retards a believer's spiritual progress (1 John 2:11).