REMEMBERED IN HISTORY

ROYAL PAIN 

Today's blog comes from an inspiration from my Women In Christian History Devotional of Queen Anne.  She was a woman who suffered many things in her childhood to adulthood.  

"She was pregnant seventeen times, but bore only five living children, with one surviving infancy."

Other challenges faced by Queen Anne were:

She was considered fat

She suffered an eye condition when she was a child

She had a painful public falling-out with her best friend

She contracted small pox as a young woman

She was lamed by gout in latter years

Have you watched others come to power while you struggle to own what's rightfully yours?

Queen Annie, though a princess, saw others who were close to her came to power.  This could have easily discouraged her and cause her to slip into depression or other emotional distress.  

If you wishing to be a queen, or dream to be in power-"Be careful what you wish for!" Queen Anne had it all but with much pain and suffering-Royal Pain!"

 

Learn from Queen Anne-while it seem that she was a royal pain subject, but through all her suffering she was remembered differently in history. She redeemed herself and her past!

TODAY'S FOCUS:  MAKING HISTORY MAY COST YOU PAIN 

As we reflect on Queen Anne's story, it appears that her mark in history cost her much suffering and pain.  There were physical, emotional and even spiritual struggles.  However, that did not stop her from making a positive difference to be remembered in history.  

History remembers Queen Anne for an annual allocation called, "Queen Annie's Bounty."  This was an amazing thing that she did early in her reign as queen.  She decided that the "first fruits and tithes" received from the churches, which was like a tax, be given back to the churches.   

There's always someone who will be facing worse situations than you-How will you be remembered by them or others in history in the future? 

Are you imposing burdens or releasing favor? 

Are you inflicting pain or extending grace?

Are you hating/hurting/wounding or are you showing love and compassion?

Are you criticizing/condemning/judging or encouraging and inspiring others? 

Watch your actions, for they will bring good or bad results.  What you do will be remembered and be marked down in history. Be careful as you may eat the harvest of what you have planted or may hand it down to your children/grandchildren.   

Everyone will have their fair share of struggles/challenges and accomplishments/successes!

Life will deal you both good and bad, but you must choose in spite of the challenges to do something that will positively impact the lives of someone, your church and or community.  

Remember, you will be remembered in history for what you endured as well as the legacy you lived-good or bad.  Know that there are others who are enduring and facing tougher battles than you.  Share a kind word, a gift, your time, an opportunity or a word of hope.  This can be your "bounty" and redeem your past struggles and make a memorable history! 

God bless you and Keep the faith! 

Virtuous Jewel

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

THE HISSING WORD 

There is a word going around that is hissing.  Like a snake it is a deadly dangerous and poisonous word.  It has ruined many marriages, separated many friends, broken many hearts and even caused many to be in jail and or in their graves. 

The word that hisses is considered just casual talk, but it's actually....

General observations simply spoken impolitely  = G O S S I P

By definition the dictionary states that gossip is:

casual or unconstrained conversation or reports about other people, typically involving details that are not confirmed as being true.

Other words used for gossip are: rumors tittle-tattle, whispers... 

A person who likes talking about other people's private lives is also called a gossip...

and is considered as a gossiper, scandalmonger, gossipmonger or tattler 

The scripture calls a gossiper a busy body, and is despised by God: 

1 Peter 4:15 (KJV)
But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters

How are you known? Are you known to be a gossip? 

What about a flibbertigibbet? ( "a frivolous, flighty, or excessively talkative person")

Are you the subject of gossip? Let see what happens at the scuttlebutt!

TODAY'S FOCUS: THE SCUTTLEBUTT 

The scuttlebutt was known...

"early 19th century (denoting a water butt on the deck of a ship, providing drinking water): from scuttled butt . Sailors would traditionally exchange gossip when they gathered at the scuttlebutt for a drink of water."

One of the meanings for butt is: "the square end of a plank or plate meeting the end or side of another, as in the side of a ship."  Where is your scuttlebutt?

What scuttlebutt are you currently using to make general observations simply spoken impolitely? 

Perhaps at work the "scuttlebutt" would be the lunchroom.... 

Church- Water fountain, hallway, bathroom, parking lot or even right in church

What other scuttlebutt are out there? 

Telephone/Cell - Calls, texts or pictures

??.......

What does the "scuttlebutt" say about your boss, friend, sister/brother, mother/father, husband/wife, minister or pastor?  Has it been verified?  If it is, is it edifying, virtuous, of good report or of praise?  If not, DO NOT ENGAGE IN IT! 

How can you tell you are at a scuttlebutt or someone is about to gossip?

Did you hear that so and so....

Rumor has it that.... 

School children say...

Don't tell anybody i say, but....

Sentences that start with a chuckle saying.... Gurrrl/Boyyy/Maaaan I just heard that...

You can identify a "gossip" and know when you are at a scuttlebutt when the beginning of the sentence opens up with the words listed above or when a person starts asking you, remember whens-about something that happened to a person that was not pleasant.  They appear to be generally concerned but are either going to gossip or try to get you to engage in gossip.  

Watch who you speak to-Usually, one who brings gossip, carries gossip or is looking for information! 

In most instances the message brought is usually not the original, It can be a modified, diluted or a revised version to get your input. Additionally, the information can be from a "hear say" source or a person who is trying to get information about something they heard.

Whisperers will not make it into God's kingdom:
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (TLB)
Don’t you know that those doing such things have no share in the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who live immoral lives, who are idol worshipers, adulterers or homosexuals—will have no share in his Kingdom. Neither will thieves or greedy people, drunkards, slanderers, or robbers.

Don't fool yourself or say that you made an observation when you are actually gossiping. If something is not polite, it should not be said even if it's true. Whenever you are tempted to engage in gossip, put yourself in the person's shoes that you are talking about. Hopefully, it will make you stop!

Remember, gossip can be general observations that can be misunderstood or misinterpreted. God does not take lightly to gossipers at any scuttlebutt. They are listed with other criminal offences and will not inherit the kingdom of God. Defuse gossip by not engaging, informing or fueling the "gossip!"  Read Proverbs 26:20-28 - Learn to pray and praise about and for others!

God Bless and Keep the Faith!

Virtuous Jewel