What power words have ! Part 1

What can empower a person feel to like royalty, or can be destructive enough to cripple a person? The answer.... Words. Those simple little phrases that spew from the lips. Those few syllables that can be a heavenly blessing, or a cursing from hell...Words.

Some people fight with their fists, kick with their feet, scratch with their nails. And we all know that this is abuse. Someone forcing their will upon a person by using physical violence. But today, I want to talk about another form of hurt. Another form of pain. Another form of violence. One that is not visible. One that leaves no physical evidence. But one that scars the memory and is as real twenty years later as it was the day it happened. Words...

Words are powerful enough to drill deep into a persons strongest emotions. A beautiful word can make a person cry in joy. A hateful word can break a persons spirit. As people, we are responsible for not only controlling our physical actions, but also our verbal actions. It made me think of the bible study that we are doing at our church in Sunday School. The Book of James talks a lot about the tongue – but what comes from the tongue....words. Here is part of the passage:

James 3:2-10 For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect (mature) and could also control ourselves in every other way. We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself. People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!

How powerful is that little muscle in our mouth. Blessings vs. Cursing, Encouragement vs Discouragement, Praise vs Criticism, Love vs. Hate, Motivation vs Degradation, Inspiration vs Deflation, Truth vs Lies.....Words..we need to choose them properly. Today I choose to be an encourager. Today, I want to help lift you up. :)Today, I want to share some of the most encouraging words that I know. Some of the most powerful, wonderful, promising words I've found are from the Bible.I encourage you to read these out loud. They will lift you up :)

Psalm 27:1
The LORD is my light and my salvation;Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life;Of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 36:5
Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.

Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

Romans 8:28
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. 

Have an amazing day friends :) 

Don't despise your small beginnings !

The first month of 2011 is almost over How has it been for you? Some of us have gone through extreme trials, others have gone through extreme joy...2011 is just beginning :) Can I give you a little encouragement tonight? In my reading, I came upon the biography of a fairly famous man....Here is his story.

1816 - His family was forced out of their home. He had to work to support them.
1818 - His mother died.
1831 - Failed in business.
1832 - Ran for state legislature - lost.
1832 - Also lost his job - wanted to go to law school but couldn't get in.
1833 - Borrowed some money from a friend to begin a business and by the end of the year he was bankrupt. He spent the next 17 years of his life paying off this debt.
1834 - Ran for state legislature again - won.
1835 - Was engaged to be married, sweetheart died and his heart was broken.
1836 - Had a total nervous breakdown and was in bed for six months.
1838 - Sought to become speaker of the state legislature - defeated.
1840 - Sought to become elector - defeated.
1843 - Ran for Congress - lost.
1846 - Ran for Congress again - this time he won - went to Washington and did a good job.
1848 - Ran for re-election to Congress - lost.
1849 - Sought the job of land officer in his home state - rejected.
1854 - Ran for Senate of the United States - lost.
1856 - Sought the Vice-Presidential nomination at his party's national convention – to get less than 100 votes.
1858 - Ran for U.S. Senate again - again he lost.
1860 - Elected president of the United States.

Did you guess who this was....Abraham Lincoln. Here is somebody who didn't know the meaning of quit. He was born into poverty, and faced defeat throughout his life. He lost eight elections, twice failed in business and suffered a nervous breakdown. He could have quit many times - but he didn't and because he didn't quit, he became one of the greatest presidents in the history of the United States of America..

Now let me ask you...what are you facing today? Are the odds against you? Do you feel like dropping out of the race? Don't. Hang in there. Push through it. Lift your head high, put your shoulders back and hang on. Do not despise the days of small beginnings! Keep focused on where your help truly comes from – The Lord !

Have a great evening friends !

Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin – Zechariah 4:10a

A little encouragement to start your day :)

Sunrise on Owen Sound Harbour

If you know me, you know that I am the type of person that doesn't think the glass is half full, or that the glass is half empty...but the glass is too big for the amount of liquid. That being said, when problems happen, and problems will happen I try to be an encourager. An encourager with a little bit of a reality check to the encouragement. Here are some of my favourite encouragement quotes that I have gathered and wanted to share with you. :)

“Many of life’s failures are people who had not realized how close they were to success when they gave up.”
~ Thomas A Edison

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

~ Isaiah 40:31

“You must be the change you want to see in the world.”

~ Mahatma Gandhi

We have no right to ask when sorrow comes, "Why did this happen to me?" unless we ask the same question for every moment of happiness that comes our way.

~ Author Unknown

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

~ Romans 8:28

Ask not for a lighter burden, but for broader shoulders.

~ Jewish Proverb

We turn to God for help when our foundations are shaking, only to learn that it is God who is shaking them.

~ Charles C. West

Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.

~ African Proverb

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

~ James 1:2-4

The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism.

~ Norman Vincent Peale

Never doubt in the dark what God has shown you in the light.

~ Edith Edman

Victory is not the absence of problems, it is the presence of power.

~ Joyce Meyer

Do what you can, with what you have and do it now.

~ George Washington Carver

And last but not least.....

Fear Forces, Love Leads, Faith Follows !

~ Keith Moore

Have a great day friends !!!