What's That You Say?

Take control of what I say, O Lord,
    and guard my lips.

Psalm 141:3 

Words.  Write them on a page and a story can be told.  Words can generate vivid visions in our imaginations.  Words can bring a smile.  Words can express how we feel, what we are thinking, what we want.  Words can guide.  Words can instill fear.  Words can be hurtful.  Words, if properly used, will encourage and lift up others. Words can destroy a reputation with a lie or restore a reputation with truth.

We are all guilty of using words to hurt others whether intentionally or unintentionally. I once had a supervisor that I dreaded every time I heard anything from them because there was so much negativity and condemnation in their words.  Even reaching the point where I would ask, in my mind, "What have I messed up THIS time?" whenever I would receive any communication from them.  That ought not be!

There was a time when I actually prided myself on the sharpness of my sarcasm.  I would use my words like a rapier.  And then I realized just how hurtful my words had become, and that should not be.  Since, I have prayed daily for God to put a guard on my tongue so that the words of my mouth would be pleasing to Him.  Am I always successful?  No, I'm not.  And to those who have been hurt by my words, please accept my apology.  I may not always be successful, but I am still learning.

Most of the time, it's better to be silent and not respond to the negativity rather than to engage it and create more injuries.  Let us join together in using our words to lift up and encourage!  To bless each other! To show kindness to each other!  Use words for their true intention!

Make the MOST of Today

Use your heads as you live and work among outsiders. Don’t miss a trick. Make the most of every opportunity. Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out.

Colossians 4:5-6

When you think of "making the most of every day," what comes to mind?  Do you think about how YOU can get ahead or do you consider how you can help others?  Make the most of every moment of every day!  That might sound like a lot of work because our natural instinct it to look out only for #1.  Have you notice that the message of the Bible is often in direct conflict with how we naturally think and act?

When you have conversations, bring out the best in others!  That takes focused effort.  Is it worth the effort?  Absolutely!  You see, when we are able to bring out the best in others, not only does that reflect on us, but it is much appreciated by others AND those who hear the conversation will see you in a more positive light.  It's truly a win-win prospect.

Now...on the other side of that coin, when we put someone down or just leave them out of the conversation altogether (even when they are standing right there), that also reflects back on us and those who hear the conversation will see you in a different light.  A light we may not appreciate.

If you notice, I spend quite a bit of time talking about encouraging others and building them up and reaching out to help them.  Why?  Because the influences of our society hammer us with the opposite message day after day!  Take a moment, right now, and lift someone up that you normally might not.    

"Remember The Days In The Old Schoolyard"

Therefore let us pursue the things which produce peace and the things that build up one another. 

Romans 14:19

 

I like music.  When I was much younger, one of the songs that caught my attention was called "Remember The Days In The Old Schoolyard" by Cat Stevens.  It talked about children at play in the schoolyard and how that memory made him miss those carefree days.

 

To be honest, I remember getting to play at recess in grade school.  We would play kickball, tag, basketball and we had so much fun.  We didn't argue (much) we simply wanted to enjoy the time and have fun.  Where have those days gone?  When have we become so self seeking that we have lost the ability to build each other up?

 

Take this one thought with you today: We are here together.  Let's be together.  Let's work toward building each other up and appreciating each other.  Everyone has something positive to offer, encourage that.  THANK YOU for sharing yourself!

Are You A Lifter?

Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs him down,
but an encouraging word brings him joy.

Proverbs 12:25 

 

I'm still a student, believe it or not, because there's always something to learn.  I may have mentioned before, I thrive on encouragement.  No, not the "cheerleading" kind, but the "let me in the muck with you and we will get out together" kind.  

 

I'll admit it, I haven't been to the gym in quite some time for a multitude of reasons.  Mainly, when I am focusing my mind on something, everything else gets pushed aside.  And the other reason is rather mundane, I just don't like going.  There is truly nothing about the gym that interests me.  But when I was going, it was because it wasn't just me...there was a group of us that went.  We did our exercise routines and encouraged each other because we did it together.

 

Now....today's devotional is not about going to the gym, it's about encouraging each other.  It's very easy to be a "cheer leader" who merely shouts "you can do it" or "you are awesome."  However, true encouragement is ACTION!  It is a verb!  Encouragement is what you actually DO!

 

True, there are those who will always want someone else to do FOR them, but will not do for themselves.  And, to be honest, I will help up until (and sometimes beyond) the point where I really have nothing left to offer.  

 

Remember the story of the Adulterous Woman the Scribes and Pharisees brought to Jesus?  Jesus encouraged her by standing up for her to the Scribes and Pharisees who wanted to kill her.  However, if you remember, Jesus also made it clear that SHE had to actually DO something....stop committing adultery.  

 

The best counsel on encouragement I ever got was from an old homeless man who lived in the parking garage where I used to work.  He said, "If you need encouragement, help someone else, because then you will see that you have if better than others."

 

Encouragement is a VERB!