The Power of Words

Words have the potential to be so powerful.  They can lift you up or tear you down. An example that came to my mind a while ago is...You take individual letters, things that when standing alone are like an arrow. String some of those letters together and they can form words that are like an arrow when it’s poised in a bow, honing its power and precision.  The direction and impact of that arrow—or those words—is crucial.  They can either shoot an apple of your head, lifting off burdens—the weight of “disappointment”, “failure”, “loss” so you can walk lighter with assurance of the encouragement you received or they can pierce you right where it hurts—casting those same feelings onto you and placing more apples on your head, weighing you down. How are we using our words? To lift up or weigh down?

This is something that I have wrote that I've been meaning to finish for a while.  It's something that came to mind when I was contemplating just how impactful words can be and how this is talked about through out the Bible. One verse that is pertinent is Proverbs 12:18 "There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing."

The power of words.

Have you ever had your body physically react to words?

It’s crazy isn't it?

Feeling your heart react--

with each consequence beat of your heart pumping either healing or damage.

Words are versatile:

They have the power to impale your heart like rocks, bashing against skin

and the capacity to soothe your soul like warm honey in a cup of hot tea.

Harsh words, 

Feeling the pain sink in – self esteem, self worth, and dignity shrinking with each word that is spit.

There is no discrimination in dissemination—in the size or amount. 

Even the tiniest word can do heart tearing damage.

How do you stand?

How do you defend?

By constant blows to the heart—bleeding out; a brawl you don’t want to contend in.

Bend in, perceptions bent—twisted like rope 

Each word pulling tighter, a knot around your throat.

Grasping for air, reaching for meaning.

Feeling the words trap you as you start to recede in…

Believe in, the lies—like concrete—slowly poured in your heart

Makes you heavy, weighs you down

To where the perception of yourself is far from who you are

Hurtful words block your vision, keeping you from moving forward

So you sit back, it sinks in, as lies continue to eat at the scar.

It’s like tying a stone around your heart—filled with concrete lies and torment and tossing you into the ocean.

It sinks.

You drown.

Hearing muffled voices above with the harsh words reverberating in your mind all around

That one moment of “humor”, “anger”, or “blame” can lead to someone’s lifetime of pain

Like a pebble lodged right under your foot—painfully reminding you with each step you take

Words can squeeze your heart like a stress ball and toss it around the same

Leaving you hunched over trying to pick up the pieces while holding onto the remains

Proverbs 18:21 says, "death and life are in the power of the tongue"

So I'm begging, let's bring life in our words that are sung

One kind word can be the string of hope someone holds onto

Lifting them out of the burden they were dug in

Holding so tight to words of true meaning:

Their meaning, their worth, their place in this world

Words have the power to break chains of bondage:

of doubt, of fear, of self-pity, of addiction, of shame

Letting them know they are not the one to blame.

At the end of the day what it comes down to is that we all need love

To build each other up through our choice of words,

to put simply--healing.

Words can speak life to our souls, 

shaking off cobwebs, chains, bringing light to this world.

Loving words can have your heart feel lighter then air

Offering encouragement, compliments, hope and care
The filth and shame from words of hurt can be gently washed away in the softness of kindness
This world wants to destroy, let us rise up to build up.
Guiding with kindness a path to the true cup
Speaking truth from His word,
watching years of turmoil melt away in the eyes of someone who is listening
Who is craving to hear they are something
Aren't we all?
Aren't we all craving? Aren't we all something?
But are we all listening?
James 1:19 commands us to be quick to listen and slow to speak
Only when we truly listen will we have the proper words to reap
a harvest, watering the soul of someone who needs it
Washing, cleaning, and binding up wounds
Healing and restoring to how He intends
as the body of Christ that is what we are called to do
So let us speak to each other in a way that renews.

Joy Comes in the Morning

Psalm 30:5 "For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime, weeping may last through the night but joy comes with the morning"

I thought the first thing I was going to write here was how this scripture was one of the first I was able to remember and memorize.  It was easy to remember for me because of its simple yet profoundly written meaning with the promise of hope through the storm, allowing me to file it away in my heart and have it peak through like sun through the clouds on a rainy day.  All of that is true, but one thing...I did not have it memorized.  I only knew the last part "....weeping may last through the night but joy comes in the morning", which is beautiful but the first part I am now sitting blown away with the powerful statement: "For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime!" that line is like the clearing of any clouds of that storm, accompanied by the gentlest breeze which perfectly compliments the sun warming your face and energizing your body.

My blog posts here are usually brought out from messages I feel the Lord is laying on my heart and prompts me to write about.  The other night I woke up out of my falling asleep daze to scribble this down in my journal: "Joy comes in the mourning."

God's word holds the promise of joy coming in the morning, meaning there is a hope for tomorrow; to keep persevering despite what may be going on around you, despite the trouble or hardship you are facing.  The double meaning laid before me was the joy also comes in the mourning. During the rough and sleepless nights, streams of tears and heartache, God is there.  He has the compassion and love to use those moments as an opportunity to shine joy through your clouds of mourning.

2 Corinthians 1:3-7 says,

 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.  If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort"

Joy coming in the morning, or mourning, is like comfort to distress.  It takes off the pressure and draining nature of mourning or weeping and allows us a break, shows us a little piece of how His favor really does last a lifetime.  It washes over our tired bodies sending relief throughout our soul--we may not know which step to take next, but He does, and that's enough.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

It was my sweet, wonderful mother's birthday the other day on March 4 and I wanted to write her a little something to let her know how special she is.  Happy Birthday Mommy!

[MOM]

Calling for her in the middle of the night

In retrospect, the reasoning was way more than a scare, a bump in the night.

Comfort surrounded her like a cloud and drew me in,

any concern on my mind dissipated in her soothing voice and patient grin.

I loved to be around her, letting her love and kindness sink in.

Walking on this road of life, I was never cold and never hungry

gentle hugs and endless advice is what filled me and warmed me.

My backbone, my advisor, my coach and my friend.

Loving me past all my faults, right to the end.

Humbling herself to provide for the needs of 5 kids

pushing her past her patience but she still chooses to stay calm through all things.

Juggling schedules, making dinners, wiping tears

loving us each individually and uniquely all these years.

As I have grown, I value her more and more

cherishing her a best friend, laughing until we are sore.

I am thankful to converse with her throughout the week

Guiding me still, as the next step in life I seek

I pray she feels loved from me as much as I do from her

Although nothing I do could ever truly repay her

for offering security, warmth, guidance, discipline and friendship

My longest friend standing: 22 years and through trials of hardship

I love you so much, Mommy and am blessed to call you that

I pray to be as patient and loving with my children and take on the role of "white hat"

I hope you feel loved on this day and all others

I am thankful to the Lord for making you my mother.

People Pleasing

Last week on the plane ride back home from Notre Dame with my team I was resting and all of a sudden the first few lines of this popped in my head.  I quickly got out my journal and wrote them down and just today finished it up.

The topic of this is something I have struggled with and continue to seek the Lord about to find discernment, comfort and satisfaction.  Discernment for situations in where I am living to please others over God so much so that I am ignoring the prompting of the Holy Spirit.  Comfort in the times when I perhaps have to let someone down and rest in the fact that the Lord loves me enough--enough to discipline me if I did wrong, and enough to sustain me through if it causes tension or the ending of a relationship.  Satisfaction for seeking, searching, desiring and living out the life He has already set before me.

Not being who I am, but who others want me to be.

Blind to the prison that was surrounding me.

Ignoring my own opinions and thoughts,

buying into the one's from people who are also lost.

I was a chameleon, blending with others to fit in,

tossing away the privilege of being comfortable in my skin.

Whoever people thought I was or how I came off

was a cover and disguise until I realized the power of the cross.

Never confident in me, self-esteem at zero

I was idolizing others, placing them as hero-

as ruler of my heart, my body, my mind.

You'd be hard pressed to find any part of me as mine.

It was a battle I fought, one I am coming to still realize

Not seeing myself through the world, but through His compassionate eyes.

It is not a one time deal, it's a stretched out journey.

Praise God for that, pushing me to seek Him

and with discipline and love He will guide me.

Now Hillsong's lyrics pierce my heart with grace

"Crucified to set me free, 

now I live to bring Him praise"

No longer bound by the opinions of others

just answering: "what does He think of me?"

It's humbling to realize when I gave myself up; there I was found

picked up, dusted off and placed on solid ground

My feet were steadied as I walked along

Joyfully singing--praise in a new song [Ps.40]

Passion 2013

This is something I wrote after my time spent at Passion over Christmas break.  It goes through how the Lord revealed Himself to me in that time and also about the issue of modern day slavery in today's world.  27 million slaves are currently in the world, more than any other time in history.  To help promote and end slavery you can go to enditmovement.com and sign the pledge to end slavery! 

Lord God

Open my eyes to all that You are.

I tend to limit You, confined to a jar.

But You are limitless; both vast and intricate.

Displayed in the grandest of ways

But also oh so delicate.

In the quiet of my time spent with You in the morning

My whole body is relaxed, filled with the chills of your calming.

In a dome maxed out with Your sons and daughters

My whole body pulses, unable to contain the steady stream of living water.

When I pray for clarity “all of a sudden” there You are

With me shamefully realizing I never had to look far:

Reunions with friends from all life’s stages.

The miracles I experienced with them, I could write on tons of pages

A friend’s comfort at just the right time

Your light bursts through her and continues to shine

A man’s uninhibited worship and praise

I could sense Your love; constant for him through all days

The warm smile from an unknown face

Displayed for the world, no matter the color or race

Spontaneous worship with “strangers” passing through

Realizing they are not strangers, but Your children too

Uncontrollable laughter; uncontrollable tears

Each telling a story of many years.

The experience of the presence of angels and then prompted to worship

“The God of angel armies is always by my side” is what was first said

There is no such thing as coincidence; only God’s divine plan

I’ve been struggling trusting financially, but praying I can

You show up in two extra breakfast passes and paying for the parking of our van

You are in a friends sweet tears of guilt as they confess

You are there as those tears turn to relief; freed by forgiveness

You are there in the healing of a precious friend

“laughter is the best medicine” right to the end

You are there smiling down when conversing with someone new

Each sharing of the marvelous things that You do.

You are there in the moments of realization of sharing the same Spirit

How else could we explain all the moments of agreement?

You are there in each of the speakers, the light shining in their eyes

As they proclaim God’s truths and cover up Satan’s lies

You are in each innocent face, journey, and story

Captured in slavery but freed through Your glory

You are in each person present, captivated in disgust

27 million slaves? We must do something, rise up.

Enditmovement.com – sign the pledge, promote the change

It’s necessary for freedom, give these beautiful people some range

To share their voice in the light when their lost in the dark

Wear red “X’s” on April 9^th, display the mark

To promote awareness on this overlooked issue

God wants slavery to end, let’s help Him re-issue

Freedom, life and joy to these sweet individuals

It may seem small, but awareness and prayers are critical

Ultimately trusting in our Savior and Lord

To bring this dream to reality, doing immeasurably more.

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." - Galatians 5:1