The Power of Words
Monday, June 10, 2019
Words
can bring joy and words can bring pain.
Words have so many meanings, so many different powerful meanings. But some
people are careless enough to where they don’t worry how their words will
affect other people. They don’t think
before they speak. And not only do they
not care how it could affect the people around them but as Christians, it seems
we’ve lost interest in representing Christ very well with our words.
Whether
it be cursing, gossiping, making inappropriate jokes, talking behind
someone’s back, lying, or not following through with what we say, our words
have power. And once spoken, they can’t
be taken back. I think it’s safe to say
that every single one of us have been culpable of doing everything I just
listed, at some point in our lives. And
maybe it wasn’t even intentional, but we’ve all done it. And that’s why it is so important to think
before we speak. Ask yourself, would I be representing Christ very well if I
said that?
There
are plenty of verses in the Bible that talk about watching what we say. Take Ephesians 4:29 for example, “Let no
unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for
edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to
those who hear.” The positive is being emphasized over the negative. Being like Christ means we don’t use foul,
dirty language. For some reason, many people in our society think it is “cool”
or liberating, if you will, to use vulgar humor, dirty jokes, or cursing, but there’s
no dignity in that and this kind of talk has no place in the life of a
Christian.
“But I
tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an
accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be
justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:36-37). Words are so important, that we’re going to
have to give an account of what we say when we stand before the Lord Jesus
Christ on the day of judgment.
Matthew
15:18 states, “but the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the
heart, and those defile the man.” Jesus
reminds us that the words we speak actually come from our heart. When someone becomes a Christian, there is an
expectancy that a change of speech follows because living for Christ makes a
difference in our choice of words. Our
words also depict a lot about our character.
So be mindful of what you say, and how it will shape your
integrity.
What
we speak, reflects what is in our hearts.
Your choice of words says a lot about you. Are your words filled with complaining or
cursing? Or is it characterized by
worship for the Lord and sound wisdom?
This shows what is kept in your heart, and if it is negative, or
displeasing to God, maybe you should reevaluate what you’ve been focusing
on. When we set our hearts on the Lord,
good, helpful speech will easily progress from each of us.
What
if we say something but don’t follow through with it? Really think about the weight of what you are
saying before you speak it. Because
people take words seriously, and if you just go around spitting out words for
the sake of spitting out words then later on, no one will be able to take you
seriously because half of what you say doesn’t line up with what you do. If you say something, make sure you really
mean it. Otherwise it will get you into trouble
later on, and then that is when trust starts to diminish. I know that from experience. Words can make you or break you.
What
you say is what you get. Don’t expect to
get away with saying stupid stuff, and then be treated respectfully and be held
to a high standard. That’s not how it
works. You pick the standard you want
for yourself and live up to it. Speak
with dignity and use words that are filled with kindness and respect. You’ll go far with that.
What Home is to Me
Tuesday, March 26, 2019
Here lately, I’ve been thinking about the concept of home. Home is known as a house, or the place you live, or where you grew up. Maybe it’s your country, or state, or something that is tangible. But home can’t always be explained as your street number. Sometimes it’s a face or a voice, or a laugh that is more honest and raw and familiar than any truth you have ever known. We are shown that home is this place you live and grow. But to me, home is all that, and more. Home is the place sweet nostalgic stories were made, where subsequent laughter rings in my ears. Where familiar voices and all of the goofy jokes arise. I love where I’m from, my house, my town, my community; the road on the way to my house, the local library, the familiar shops and restaurants, the different parks, and my church. But I don’t think I ever did more living growing up, than when I had certain people by my side. With those people, I’ll always feel at home. They’ve been there with me through lots of laughter and lots of tears. The thick and thin and everything in between. Home always keeps me sentimental and nostalgic and I love all the memories that come to mind.
~~~
I know this was short, but it was just one of those spontaneous/spur of the moment kind of things. Enjoy. :)
The Truth About Truth
Monday, February 11, 2019
In today’s society, truth is no longer
absolute, but what you make it to be. It
is relative. Some people
believe that there is no such thing as absolute absolutes. But how can they be absolutely
sure? To make such a statement as that is in itself of claim of an absolute truth, and therefore, contradictory. Without truth, how
can we be said to have any rights at all? The truth is staring us right in the
face yet people will deny what they know just to fit in, or to be accepted.
Dishonesty is acceptable in our society today, and in our culture it has become
a common habit. The truth about truth is
that it can’t be avoided, it will always be truth regardless of whether you
want it to be or not.
First off, let's talk about the meaning of truth. Truth may be defined as the way things really are.
Whatever reality is, that is the truth.
But not many people are willing to accept reality,
or the truth. There’s a quote by Winston
Churchill, and he says, “the truth is incontrovertible; Malice may attack it,
ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is.” The truth cannot be changed, no matter
how hard we try, or how much we wish it could be changed. It’s always going to be there, as
solid as a rock, hitting us in the face whether we like it or not. Truth is truth and it can’t be
avoided. Either something
is right or something is wrong.
In our society, there are people who claim to have their “own”
truth. But there is no such thing as “your
truth” or “my truth.” There is only the truth. It is not possible to live in a world where
your truth and my truth have genuineness.
The problem with their
truth is that it is in conflict, in direct opposition of the truth. There are so many
people who believe that multiple religions can be right. Take
a look at the Muslim faith and the Christian faith. The Muslims believe that Jesus was a great
prophet. But they don’t believe that He was God’s son or God
Himself. But Jesus claimed to be God, if Jesus isn’t who He says He is
then wouldn’t that make Him a false prophet? Those are two so-called truths that
contradict each other and they cannot both be right. They cannot both be truth.
I believe a big reason so many people are
opposed to the absolute truth is because they’re so used to being fed
lies. They’re prone to falsehood. It’s a sad realization of how many people
don’t want to acknowledge or accept the truth if it doesn’t match what they
want to believe. But here’s the catch- “Truth will always be true, even
if no one believes it; and falsehood will always be false, even if everyone believes
it” (Os Guinnes – A Time For Truth). Truth is exactly what it is named, and it
will always be that. Regardless of whether or not it hurts you or sets you
free. It’s the truth.
Now the question is asked, where does truth come from? Let’s look at scripture. John 14:6 says, “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the
way, the truth, and the life…’” Again in John 8, “…’if you continue in My word,
then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and truth will
set you free.’” For some people, this is a hard pill to swallow because for
generations so much of mankind has wanted to earn salvation or find their own
way to God. But, if we conclude that the
Bible is true, we have got to make decisions based on all of it- not just the
parts we like. Christ, as God, is the
personification of truth. He embodies
truth. Truth in the Bible is revealed as
the character of Christ, His teachings and His promises. Anything that does not agree with the Bible
is false. Take the
use of relativism for example. It is the
idea that truth, knowledge or morality only exist in relation to culture and
are not absolute. But that doesn’t line
up with the truth in the Bible.
Truth is a weapon. In Ephesians Paul describes truth as part of
the armor we are to put on as we live simultaneously in the physical and spiritual universe. Having the
belt of truth buckled around our waist helps us to hold everything
together. It gives us a system for
thinking about things and filtering them through biblical understanding. When you do that, it’ll be harder for the
enemy to blindside you.
There will be times when truth requires us to do
things we don’t always want to do. For
example, in the book of Daniel, we see the story about Shadrach, Meshach and
Abed-nego. They were faithful to the
Lord and did everything in their power to serve and bring glory to Him. But they were commanded by the king
Nebuchadnezzar to worship him and his gods.
The three brothers knew the consequences of disobeying the king, to be thrown
into a fiery furnace. But they knew the
truth- that God is the One True King and He is the only one worthy of their
praise. They stood by that truth, and
did not bow down to the king or his idols.
As a result, the king sent them into the fiery furnace as their
punishment. But, for standing up for the
truth, and living to serve only God, the Lord rewarded them and saved them from
the fire. They weren’t afraid to speak
the truth, even if it meant dealing with the horrifying consequences. All that mattered to them in that moment was
the truth. That being said, we won’t
always be rewarded for speaking up for the truth. As a matter of fact, in a world where
acceptance- or tolerance, is the highest ideal, standing up for the truth in
public could more than likely get you slammed. You'll most likely be made fun of
or ridiculed. But as long as you are
speaking the truth in love, then you’re doing the right thing. Truth isn’t always easy, but that doesn’t
make it any less true.
There are instances when Christians
have compromised on the truth. For
instance, our society has determined that homosexuality is perfectly
acceptable. As Christians we don’t need
to go very far into scripture to realize that it is not acceptable in the sight
of the Lord. It doesn’t line up with the
truth in the Bible. But there are
Christians who will compromise on this truth.
By not speaking up against it when it is brought up, and just keeping
hush about it, they don’t cause any trouble, and just go with the flow. But as Christians, we cannot afford to just
go with the flow, if the flow is directing us away from God and His truth.
Knowing the truth is truly a wonderful
thing. But it is not enough. We must act
on the truth. More important than
knowing the truth is to live out the
truth. Walk in truth. Wisdom, knowledge, understanding and truth
are all attributes of Christ and we should strive to seek after it. After Him. Ask yourself, what do I define truth as? Is the truth I claim to be true, really
true? Or am I bending the truth, molding
it into what I want to fit under the description of truth?
Don’t shy away from the truth. It will not change, and you will not be able
to avoid it. Even if it means being
ridiculed or not well liked, in the end, the truth will set you free.
That is the truth about truth.
In a Winter Daze
Wednesday, January 30, 2019
I
stepped outside onto the front porch, seeping in a breath of the crisp cool
air. A fresh coat of powdered snow
covered the ground. I slipped my sock
covered feet into my sister’s old boots and buttoned up my thick wool coat,
ready to take the trek up to town.
I
walked the old dirt road, the brisk wind flushing my cheeks. The sky was beautiful this time of day. A variety of pinks and blues interceding to
create a masterpiece of pastel perfection; the gentle moon its ideal
centerpiece.
I
walked into the town. Three young boys
were having a snowball fight in the middle of the road, and as cars came by
they hurriedly stepped to the side. Then
back at it they went. I walked into the
coffee shop and waved to the man who sat at the same table against the window
every single morning. His gray hair
neatly combed back, his spectacles resting on the edge of his nose, and the
daily newspaper grasped between his two firm hands, worn with age.
I took
a seat at the bar and ordered a cinnamon latte, a specialty this time of year. Outside the frosted window, I spotted little
Tommy walking his hound dog across the street, dodging the other boy’s
snowballs.
January
is a serene month. Its brisk winds and
harsh snows a cruelty to mankind, yet its invigoratingly fresh start makes you
flit with joy. It brings its challenges,
but more so it brings its vigor. Looking
around, bittersweet nostalgia floods my mind. But there’s also the sensational
feeling of what to expect in the future.
What might this year hold?
There’s so much familiarity as I recognize the regular sights that
refresh me daily, as I ease back into my winter daze.
When the Oceans Roar
Friday, October 5, 2018
She loved the serene
brutality of the ocean
The feeling of the
electrifying power
That surged through
her veins
When the frigid waters
enveloped her
The smell of the fresh
salty air revivified her
The cool wind breeze
enticed her
The seagulls in the
dark blue sky
Glide across the
water, flapping their wings in unison to one another
Escaping the water’s
forceful crest
The wind carries the
foamy white waves into the rocks
Creating a formidable
splash
Her feet penetrate
deeper and deeper into the sand
As she stands there
Listening intently to
the sound of the ocean’s roar
The water is her
refuge
And God is her
stronghold
When oceans roar
That is her calling
God calls her to deep
waters
Wave after wave His
love crashes over her
He gives her courage
He makes her brave
God is like an ocean
We cannot know Him by
His surface
Our relationship with
the Lord is not limited
To just one thing
To truly know Him
We must know
everything about Him
Just like the ocean is
much more than an exquisite painting
God is much more than
a being that we simply acknowledge exists
He has the power to
calm stormy seas
He has the
righteousness to establish inner peace
He has the grace to
drown our pain
He has the steadfast
love to wash over us
He has the genuine
compassion to keep us above the waves
When oceans roar
That is her calling
God calls her to the
unknown seas
As wave after wave
crashes over her
She is reminded of His
unwavering love
When her feet begin to
sink deeper and deeper she does not fear
For she knows her God
is holding her
She is made courageous
She is molded in
bravery
Dauntlessness is
interlaced with perseverance
In her fiery soul
When oceans roar
She hears God’s voice
She feels His presence
She embraces it
The water soaks her skin
and its coolness sends shivers up her spine
She is filled with
peace and her heart is no longer weary of longing
She’s found her
calling
She’s found her
foundation
Her God is what holds
her
His love is what
sustains her
All her worries are
washed away
She has found her
purpose
And though she has
fears
Her foundation is
established in the One True King
Who will conquer all
of her worry and despair
Courage is within her
And this is made known
to her
Time and time again
When the oceans
roar
Influencer? Or Being Influenced?
Friday, September 28, 2018
Have
you ever been to a party with a group of kids your age that don’t really share
the same values as you, or have you ever found yourself in a spot with some
people that might not appreciate your beliefs?
Have their
actions ever rubbed off on you? In a
good way or a bad way? Or have your
actions ever rubbed off on them? In a
good way or a bad way? I want to talk
about how our actions can affect other people, or how we can be affected by
other people’s actions- but not always in a good way. We need to be watching out for this.
In the
Bible, there are a numerous amount of verses that discuss having relationships
with unbelievers or being influenced not in good ways, or even being an
influencer. As Christians we need to ask ourselves, am I being a good
influence? Or am I allowing myself to be
influenced in a bad way?
First,
let’s examine ourselves. How do we know
if we’re being influenced or not? It says in Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, oh
God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there
be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.” When we can’t understand ourselves or
comprehend our feelings or our motives, God lets us take our internal struggles
to Him and look to Him for guidance and wisdom.
He understands what we do not and knows what to do when we don’t. We need to examine ourselves in light of the
truth that’s being revealed to us from God’s word and allow it to guide us in
the right direction.
1 Corinthians
6:14 states, “do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership
have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with
darkness?” God tells us not to “be
bound” to unbelievers because of their influence on our lives. Did He say that we shouldn’t love the lost? No.
Did He tell us that we should treat them with unkindness or completely
ignore them? No, He didn’t. Instead, He says we must be mindful of how we
live. If the enemy grasps a hold in our
lives by tempting us to put in jeopardy our faith and demonstration of God’s
love and forgiveness, he will make significant progress toward sabotaging our
relationship with the Lord and our devotion to Him.
“How blessed
is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the
path of sinners. Nor sit in the seat of
scoffers! But his delight is in the law
of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by the
streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not
whither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.
The wicked are not so, but they are like chaff which the wind drives
away” (Psalm 1:1-4). The Lord cautions
us to not “walk in the counsel of the wicked,” because the devil is out there
to tempt us and get us on his side, and by interacting with unbelievers we
could be tempted to follow their ways, resulting in weakening our relationship
with Christ. Instead, He encourages us
to delight in Him and His laws, that way we will be like a tree firmly planted,
yielding good fruits. By staying true to
Him, He will bless us.
“Do
not be deceived: ‘Bad company corrupts good morals’” (1 Corinthians 15:33).
When we stay connected
with or enjoy hanging out with people who have worldly morals, we risk
imitating their attitude, their language, and their habits. Before long we are
no longer of Christ, but of the world with its refusal of absolute authority,
its exclusion of the Bible, and belief system of relative truth and morality.
This can easily apply to young teens who are generally easily influenced by
their peers. Young people are often desperate for the approval of others.
They’re so motivated by the need for acceptance in our culture that Godly
wisdom in decision-making gets shoved to the side when faced with peer
pressure. That’s why it is so crucial that we are on the look out against the
influence of bad company.
How should we address
this? Let’s look at 1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be
steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that
your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”
As Christians striving to seek the Lord, we can stand firm against
ungodly influences that may endanger our walk with Christ. In all things we do, we are “self-controlled
and alert, [because our] enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion
looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
We’re all still vulnerable to being influenced by ungodly attitudes and
actions, even if it’s small. But that
doesn’t mean we can’t keep ourselves accountable and do our best to avoid bad
influences. By staying alert and recognizing
the negativity or evil that enters our lives, we can do our best to obey the
Lord and continue to seek wisdom and guidance from Him, and ask Him to lead us
in the right direction.
As we continue with our
lives, let us stand strong in our faith, so that our light might be known among
our peers and the people around us, and that we would not be influenced by the
world, but strive to be Godly influences to the world by being obedient to
Christ and following in His footsteps.
Think about what kind of impact you want to make. Think about how you want to be impacted. How will it affect your character? How will it affect your relationship with
God?
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