Words. For most of my life, I have had a love affair with words. When I was small, I couldn't wait to learn what those mysterious symbols on the paper were; what they meant. Once I did learn, worlds were opened to me. Places that no longer existed; places that were totally from someone's imagination. As a small child just learning to read, it was "Harold and the Purple Crayon." Then I discovered children's mystery books. Trixie Belden Mysteries were always my favorites. At the ripe old age of 11, I discovered Agatha Christie Mysteries and I devoured every one I could get my hands on at our little Henderson Library.
During the time I was learning to read, I was also learning to write. This became another facet of my love affair. I started keeping a journal when I was about 7 years old. This has continued to this day and is now in the form of this blog. Yes, I was a sporadic diarist, as well.
Words have influenced my life and whether you love words or not, words influence your life as well. Interestingly enough, when I wrote the first installment of "Words", we were having a "Woman's Weekend" at my church with a guest speaker. There was a Friday night study, then the service at which Mrs. Connie Hall spoke, and then a Sabbath afternoon study. Her topic for the weekend? The Power of Words. I had no idea until I got to church that morning that words were the topic. I shared what I had written with Connie during our meal and before our afternoon study. The sermon was about speaking life and not speaking death, because that is what our words are: Life or Death.
Since then, I have given a lot of thought to this "Part II". In our afternoon session, part of our "homework" assignment was to find a verse that would become our mission statement. The one I chose for myself is Proverbs 31:26.
I've also done some reading and there is a very small book in the New Testament called James. The 3rd chapter of James is dedicated to the tongue. It likens the tongue to the rudder of a great ship and to the spark that can cause a great forest fire. Think about it. Whether a ship has sails or an engine, you steer with the rudder. One little spark in dry grass can set a whole forest to burn. That is power. That power is in your mouth.
James goes on to say that with the tongue we give praise to God and curse our fellow men. Unfortunately, I've seen a lot of that lately. I've been guilty of it myself. According to James, this should not be. Fresh water and salt water cannot flow from the same spring and yet from my mouth I praise God for His love and goodness and then turn around and yell obscenities at the driver who cut me off. I hang my head in shame.
I pray each day for God to help me live up to my mission statement; the one I chose for my homework assignment. I want to speak life, not death. I want to speak hope, not doom. I want to speak love, not hate. I want to speak courage, not fear. I want to speak peace, not strife. Each morning, when God's mercies are new, I pray for the Spirit to control my tongue and use me to speak life, hope, love, courage, and peace. Each day, I fail; yet each day I gain ground. By God's amazing grace, I gain ground. I'm not there yet, but I'm moving forward and that's what matters.
By the way, Proverbs 31:26 reads: She opens her mouth in skillful and godly Wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness [giving counsel and instruction].
I have described myself as a Jesus Freak and a Potterhead (one is not mutually exclusive of the other) and so, I would like to quote Professor Dumbledore and his thoughts on words: Words are our most inexhaustible source of magic, capable of both inflicting injury and remedying it.
How very true. Do your words cause a great fire? Or do your words quench a thirsty soul?
Oh, be careful little mouth what you say
Oh, be careful little mouth what you say
For the Father up above
Is looking down in love
Oh, be careful little mouth what you say
Saturday, July 25, 2015
Saturday, June 13, 2015
Words, Part 1
Good morning and Happy Sabbath, friends and neighbors. It's been quite a while since I wrote anything here. I've been neglectful and I hope to remedy that. Any who, I've got a few words to share with you.
Yesterday, I had my morning tea and devotion outside on our little postage stamp patio. It was nice and cool with a humid undertone. As I was chatting with my Heavenly Daddy, I began thinking about words. The words we speak. The words we write. Even the words we think. All of these words influence us and have a profound affect on ourselves and others.
The thought that came into my mind was just this: What do I want my last words, this side of eternity, to be?
I began thinking about that. Now, I have a tendency to yell at stupid drivers. You know, someone who is in the far inside left lane and then crosses the middle lane to get to the far right lane to turn. They do it at the last possible moment, usually cutting off people whilst doing it. Or the guy who just has to pull out from the side road right in front of you and then just putts along, causing you to hit your brakes to avoid hitting him. I know that I have yelled some not very nice things at people like that.
What if? What if, after having yelled, "Holy moly, mother of Chow Mein! Who did you sleep with to get your license?" What if I got creamed by someone else? What if those words were the last to leave my mind and exit through my mouth? True, there would be no one in the vehicle with me to bare witness to my outburst. Except, there would be. There always is. Holy Spirit. I ask Holy Spirit to be with me each day. Holy Spirit would be witness to my outburst.
Then another thought occurred to me. The last words that Jesus spoke before dying. He asked His Father to forgive those that had crucified Him. "And Jesus prayed, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do..." I don't think He was just referring to those who had physically crucified Him, either. I think He was referring to all of us. I think He was about to pay the price that we should pay and with His dying breath, He pleaded with His Father to forgive all of us. How powerful are the words He spoke that day? Powerful enough to echo through the ages, before and after the cross.
I leave you with this thought. Words are powerful. Especially when it's a parting "shot". So...what will your parting shot be? Blessing or curse? It's up to you.
Yesterday, I had my morning tea and devotion outside on our little postage stamp patio. It was nice and cool with a humid undertone. As I was chatting with my Heavenly Daddy, I began thinking about words. The words we speak. The words we write. Even the words we think. All of these words influence us and have a profound affect on ourselves and others.
The thought that came into my mind was just this: What do I want my last words, this side of eternity, to be?
I began thinking about that. Now, I have a tendency to yell at stupid drivers. You know, someone who is in the far inside left lane and then crosses the middle lane to get to the far right lane to turn. They do it at the last possible moment, usually cutting off people whilst doing it. Or the guy who just has to pull out from the side road right in front of you and then just putts along, causing you to hit your brakes to avoid hitting him. I know that I have yelled some not very nice things at people like that.
What if? What if, after having yelled, "Holy moly, mother of Chow Mein! Who did you sleep with to get your license?" What if I got creamed by someone else? What if those words were the last to leave my mind and exit through my mouth? True, there would be no one in the vehicle with me to bare witness to my outburst. Except, there would be. There always is. Holy Spirit. I ask Holy Spirit to be with me each day. Holy Spirit would be witness to my outburst.
Then another thought occurred to me. The last words that Jesus spoke before dying. He asked His Father to forgive those that had crucified Him. "And Jesus prayed, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do..." I don't think He was just referring to those who had physically crucified Him, either. I think He was referring to all of us. I think He was about to pay the price that we should pay and with His dying breath, He pleaded with His Father to forgive all of us. How powerful are the words He spoke that day? Powerful enough to echo through the ages, before and after the cross.
I leave you with this thought. Words are powerful. Especially when it's a parting "shot". So...what will your parting shot be? Blessing or curse? It's up to you.
Friday, January 2, 2015
Divine Lunacy Writes a Letter...
A friend on Facebook posted a challenge from author Bonnie Gray, to write a letter to God. I had actually been thinking of doing just that. It's one of the ideas that I have been toying with. So now, without further ado, challenge accepted.
Dear Abba-God:
Here we are at the beginning of a new year. We both know that 2013 was a sucky year for my family. It saw the decline of my Dad and, eventually, his passing. Along came 2014 and I figured it had to be better than 2013. And it was. For the most part. There were ups and downs (but isn't that the way of this life?). On the whole, it was much better than 2013. Now here we are at 2015 (so soon) and I'm a-tingle in anticipation of this year's journey. I can't wait to see what adventures You have planned for me.
First, however, I would like to share with You some of the things I would like to accomplish this year. Ok. Here goes:
1. Lose the rest of this weight. I seem to be stuck. I fluctuate up and down. Never more than just a couple of pounds, but I'm stuck, nonetheless. To that end, I will be using the recumbent stationary bike starting Monday. I'm hoping that will help get me off this plateau once and for all.
2. I want to finish my first novel and get it published. I've been working on it off and on (mostly off this last year) for the last two years. I know Mom wants me to at least finish it so that she can find out what happens. I need to finish it, if only for that reason.
3. I want to go on the reunion cruise with my former classmates. Hence the accomplishing of #1 is very important. I would like to look my best for this occasion.
4. Ok. This is unrealistic, I know, but somebody has to win. Why not me? I want to win the Power Ball Lotto. I just keep thinking of all the things I could do with the money. I could retire, for one thing. I could set up a building trust fund for my church so that we could build our earthly home all at once and not in phases. I could set up a building/student trust for the Holbrook Indian School in Holbrook, Arizona. I could send regular donations to Rio Lindo Adventist Academy and to Las Vegas Junior Academy. Better yet, I could find some land and build a new Las Vegas Junior Academy with all the bells and whistles. I could retire and write full time. And travel.
These are the things I want to accomplish this year. I don't really need anything, because true to Your word, You have provided for all my needs. It's just these few things that I want.
Ok. Now the hard part. I'm giving all of these wants over to You. I'll give them to You and wait to see what You will give back to me. I know that what You have to offer is always so much more, so much better than anything I can imagine. So here it is. I surrender these wants to You, knowing that in Your great love for me, what I get back will blow my mind.
I also know that You have a want list for me. That You want to improve and refine me; to test me and replenish me; to water and grow me until I become the person You always dreamed I would be. I'm good with that. I'm excited to see who that is. I know I'm on my way because You promised to make me complete. It is in Philippians 1:6 (AMP). And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.
Thank You, Father. I'll talk with You later.
I love You!
Gerri
Dear Abba-God:
Here we are at the beginning of a new year. We both know that 2013 was a sucky year for my family. It saw the decline of my Dad and, eventually, his passing. Along came 2014 and I figured it had to be better than 2013. And it was. For the most part. There were ups and downs (but isn't that the way of this life?). On the whole, it was much better than 2013. Now here we are at 2015 (so soon) and I'm a-tingle in anticipation of this year's journey. I can't wait to see what adventures You have planned for me.
First, however, I would like to share with You some of the things I would like to accomplish this year. Ok. Here goes:
1. Lose the rest of this weight. I seem to be stuck. I fluctuate up and down. Never more than just a couple of pounds, but I'm stuck, nonetheless. To that end, I will be using the recumbent stationary bike starting Monday. I'm hoping that will help get me off this plateau once and for all.
2. I want to finish my first novel and get it published. I've been working on it off and on (mostly off this last year) for the last two years. I know Mom wants me to at least finish it so that she can find out what happens. I need to finish it, if only for that reason.
3. I want to go on the reunion cruise with my former classmates. Hence the accomplishing of #1 is very important. I would like to look my best for this occasion.
4. Ok. This is unrealistic, I know, but somebody has to win. Why not me? I want to win the Power Ball Lotto. I just keep thinking of all the things I could do with the money. I could retire, for one thing. I could set up a building trust fund for my church so that we could build our earthly home all at once and not in phases. I could set up a building/student trust for the Holbrook Indian School in Holbrook, Arizona. I could send regular donations to Rio Lindo Adventist Academy and to Las Vegas Junior Academy. Better yet, I could find some land and build a new Las Vegas Junior Academy with all the bells and whistles. I could retire and write full time. And travel.
These are the things I want to accomplish this year. I don't really need anything, because true to Your word, You have provided for all my needs. It's just these few things that I want.
Ok. Now the hard part. I'm giving all of these wants over to You. I'll give them to You and wait to see what You will give back to me. I know that what You have to offer is always so much more, so much better than anything I can imagine. So here it is. I surrender these wants to You, knowing that in Your great love for me, what I get back will blow my mind.
I also know that You have a want list for me. That You want to improve and refine me; to test me and replenish me; to water and grow me until I become the person You always dreamed I would be. I'm good with that. I'm excited to see who that is. I know I'm on my way because You promised to make me complete. It is in Philippians 1:6 (AMP). And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.
Thank You, Father. I'll talk with You later.
I love You!
Gerri
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