Tag Archives: words

Zip It!

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So, I am currently in a Women’s Bible study group. We are reading through Keep It Shut by Karen Ehman. The book is good, in the sense that it causes me to think, consider, and well…..learn to keep my mouth shut. There is a time and place for everything, and quite frankly just because I am thinking something, doesn’t mean I need to say it. Is what I am saying truly beneficial? Is it helpful to others? Am I speaking truth? Or are my motives more about being right, and having the last word? Yes, admit it. We have all been there! The truth is, I might legitimately be right and my words valid, but that doesn’t mean I need to use my words like a sledge hammer.

Let’s make no mistake about it. Words have power. They can build another up or destroy. Words can decimate, far greater than a sword. We have all probably had experiences where someone said something that hurt us, and we carry the scars of how those words made us feel, even years later. I remember words a friend’s older brother said about me, when I was just ten years old. The teenage boy’s thoughtless words probably meant nothing to him, but cut me deeply.

I do not want to be that person. The one whose words sting.

I can be wise when I choose what words to say……or not say.

Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs. Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning.  Proverbs 10:12-13a NIV

 

 

You Are Not Too Old

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The other week, on my blog, I posted about dusting off a dream. I’ve been excited about making an official leap into having my own business. I have been an intervention specialist (sped. instructor) for the majority of my adult life. Even before I worked in special education professionally, I worked in it with my heart. Decades later, with much experience, many stories, and multitudes of people that I have helped in some way, I wanted to start my own consulting business. I have been consulting and doing advocacy work with parents and their children informally for several years. Recently, I have felt led to do more, say more, help more, and try harder. My husband continues to be a wonderful support for me, always having faith in my abilities and seeing my heart, even when my vision sometimes became blurred.

A couple of days ago, I was feeling a bit overwhelmed. I was wondering if I had what it takes to do this big thing? Would I be able to follow through? Was I too old to take more graduate level classes? Would parents care about this? What if the whole thing just blew up in my face? Sometimes negative self talk is more dangerous than anything else we may come across.

So, this morning, I arose early as I normally do. I straightened the house, started the coffee, and fixed breakfast. I slipped into my boots, grabbed the feed pail, and started over to the barn. The morning was quiet and the clouds were low on the horizon. Peaceful. Just then, God stepped into time and space. My time. My space. Although His voice was not audible, He spoke to my heart. Now, I am just as sane as you are, but something happened there in the yard, on the way to the barn. God spoke. He said, in a whisper only my spirit could discern, “You are not too old.” Just like that. I nearly dropped the chicken feed. Tears streamed down my cheeks. I stood rooted to the place. I looked out over the back field, tinged with the early pinks and purples of the morning. “You are not too old.”

I began to think about all the people that I’ve read about in the Bible, from the time that I was small. Many times, God had His children wait. Years would pass. Life went on. They wondered. They wandered. They grew older.  Until God told them, “go”.

“You are not too old.”

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isa. 55:9

Words Can Change Things

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Cards and notes from my grandmother, sent to me while away at college. Old love letters from a boyfriend, bringing back memories of first love. Letters and cards of encouragement from my mom, always making me feel better. A bible verse written in my late husband’s handwriting, reminding me of what is truly important. Those that speak words of encouragement, those that teach and preach, and whose words can stir the soul. Letters and sounds that have great meaning. Simple, yet uniquely powerful.

Words, whether spoken or written, have the ability to transform.

Words can change things. They are able to build up or break down. Or change a life forever.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1 

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we have see His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father full of grace and truth. John 1:14 

It Is Frustrating To Say The Least

I didn’t post yesterday, and today I just can’t seem to pull two thoughts together.

I have all these interesting ideas swirling around inside my head, but nothing that I seem to be able to type into words.

I want to write out the ideas, tell the stories, but they are jammed up. I sit down to blog, and the screen glows white, empty. Blank.

It is frustrating to say the least.

Sometimes the best I can do, is to make it through the day.

File my thoughts, mull them over, and try again tomorrow.

Can anyone else relate?

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I Didn’t Know Her

I didn’t know her.

I had never spoken to her before yesterday afternoon.IMG_1347

As a matter of fact, I hadn’t even known she existed.

But, in that moment…the internet brought us together.

Her words cried out to me from the computer screen.

As a child she had been taught more about fearing God than following Him.

She was told that she would probably go to Hell.

Her young heart was wounded by words that cut deep.

As an adult she has questions.

Is this true? Should I only fear God?

Or…is it possible that He loves me?

And my heart broke wide open.

Broken for all those that have lived lives wondering…because of careless, callous words that ripped through their childhoods.

Although, I was only able to speak to this woman through words typed on a screen, I pray she heard my heart.

More than that, I pray that she allows God to see her heart.

For her to know that Jesus loves her. He loves her so much that He took her place, filled the gap between her and God.

Jesus found her worthy. Worthy enough to die for.

That He wants her to know Him. Lovingly, intimately, fearlessly…

I don’t even know where she lives…..but, God does……and He wants her to finally come home.

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A Woman Of Words

Over at Lisa-Jo’s, this week’s prompt is “WRITER.”

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As a child she sat on the front porch steps with the autumn leaves falling softly to the ground all around her… Daydreaming, the pictures in her mind as crisp as those newly fallen leaves. She wrote in her journal about stories and doodles and life.

As a teen she wrote of first love, and hurt feelings and giggles and growing up.

Later it was cards and encouragements, baby book entries, and snippets of poetry.

Writing was her thing, and she loved it. Words that allowed happy memories to flourish, and words that understood brokenness.

Powerful, they were…… those words.

Typed or penned or blogged. Private or public. Funny or sad.

Looking back she sees her life. She relives parts of the journey through the words that she wrote over the years.

She smiles, she cries….she remembers.

They are part of her.

A teller of stories. A woman of words. A developer of dreams.

She is, and always will be, a writer.

 

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Finding My Voice

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Today the topic is:  Finding My Voice. Bonnie, at Faith Barista, always seems to ask the tough questions.

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Growing up I was always the quiet one.

The people pleaser.

The one who always did what needed to be done.

I didn’t want teachers calling on me, not because I didn’t know the answers, but because…

I was uncomfortable with my own voice.

What if what I said sounded stupid? What if what I said didn’t make sense? What if what I said wasn’t useful?

“What if” is a killer and fear is its accomplice.

Suffocating.

Silent.

But, deadly nonetheless.

It took me a long time to realize that what I had to say was just as important as the next person’s words.

And just as valid.

The older I get the more I realize that words are important.

That they need to be said.

That they should be said.

That voices are meant to be used.

That words can cause change.

Build courage. Right wrongs. Show compassion. Be encouragement. Find friends. Make people laugh.

Ease pain. Speak truth. Give assistance. Show passion. Be powerful. Be gentle. Allow worship and song.

Give courage. Show emotion.

Words are real…whether spoken or written.

I am no longer uncomfortable with my words.

My voice is a part of me…

And I choose to let it be heard.

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
   be pleasing in your sight,
   LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.  Psalm 19:14  NIV

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Sweet To The Soul

A hug.

A pat on the back.

A high five.

“Good job”

“You did it!”

“Awesome”

You rock!

“That is the best, ever!”

“Just keep going!”

“One more time!”

We all need encouragement….

Encouragement from others can make  the difference between us:

Holding strong or giving in.

Making it work…or giving up.

Earning a diploma…or calling it quits.

Running the race…or sitting on the curb.

Getting up in the morning…or pulling the curtains shut.

Trying again…or not.

A little encouragement can mean so much to the one who needs to hear it.

Gracious words are a honeycomb,
   sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.  Proverbs 16:24  NIV

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Who can you encourage today? How can your words be “sweet to the soul” of another?

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For The Love Of Words

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I admit it.

There is no doubt about it.

I can’t help it.

There’s no changing it.

I am a lover of words

and a confirmed bibliophile.

I so enjoy the written word. It is a part of me. I intently listen to the spoken word. It challenges me. Choosing just the right word to say...it is important to me. Words have power.

Today I woke up to gray skies and rain. The perfect day for reading, after I finish the days chores, of course. There is nothing better, than to settle into my favorite chair, with a blanket a warm drink and a good book.

I look around my house now and I see shelved books, stacked books, books on the night stand, books on the floor, cookbooks near my stove in the kitchen, antique books on display in the dining room. Sigh.

Jan Karon‘s Mitford Beside Companion (If I could live in any imaginary town…it would be Mitford, N.C)

The Inspirational Writings of C.S. Lewis (Great writer of apologetics)

That’s My Teenage Son–How Moms Can Influence Their Boys To Become Good Men by Rick Johnson (My greatest desire is to raise godly children)

The Vintage Remedies Guide to Real Food by Jessie Hawkins (Learning to live healthier)

Rereading Ann Voskamp’s One Thousand Gifts (A book that has changed my perspective and taught me what eucharisteo truly means)

My Bible. The book most important. The book that feeds me. The words from THE WORD. Life giving. Life altering. The pages are worn, filled with pen marks and colors of various highlighters. I’ve underlined, circled, taken notes, and added exclamation points. The words themselves that never change, but do change me.


***In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (NIV)  John 1:1 ***

 

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