Words are powerful. Why, just the mere mention of a certain word can set off a fire storm of ideas, thoughts, or emotions. There is a kind of control words have over us.
Some words will conger up an immediate association with them. When we hear the words “Ho, Ho, Ho,” we think of Santa Claus. The words “Christmas lights” makes us think: Jeff hates to put them up. Oh, perhaps that is just at our house.
Proverbs 18:21 tells us, “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” I told you words have power. Words said to us, whether good or bad, have helped form who we are as individuals. And words we say to others, not only reveal our true heart, but they affect others. They are lasting.
Deadly words can cause great pain. Whoever came up with, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me,” is a liar. I don’t know anybody who hasn’t said something they shouldn’t have, and I don’t know anybody who hasn’t been hurt by words. Wars can be started with only a few…words.
But thank goodness, words can bring forth life. They can offer encouragement, love, joy, peace, and everything wonderful. We are better people when we see ourselves through positive words. We can go about our days being a blessing to others. We can truly make a difference in this world with…words.
Wow! What responsibility we have with what we say. It makes me not want to say anything. (Okay, I know you’re thinking, “She couldn’t go very long like that.” And you’re right.) So, how do we live with this incredible responsibility of the tongue? We turn our words over to The One who has the ultimate power over our words. For Jesus is The Word, and He is so much more than mere words can describe. Christmas shows us that.
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” ~John 1:14
Jesus, The Word, became flesh and dwelled among us so He could heal the lame, make the blind see, and the deaf hear. He came so that He can transform us through salvation; and then, our words will be transformed—words we speak and words that have been spoken over us. Through Jesus, captivity becomes freedom; instead of ashes, we get a crown of beauty; for mourning, we get gladness; instead of despair, we have praise; instead of disgrace, we receive an inheritance. If we turn all our words over to Jesus, everlasting joy will be ours. (Isaiah 61)
This New Year rejoice in the fact that The Word came to this earth so that our words can become more than mere words.
Have a Blessed 2011, Anna
Monday, January 3, 2011
Where have I been?
Where have I been?
That is a question some of my sweet friends have asked. The answer is I have been helping my dad move from his ranch to a garden home in Amarillo. With that comes cleaning out almost 40 years of stuff. My parents never threw anything away. From the garage to the basement and every closet in between was full of stuff. We literally took over 3900 lbs of trash to the dump, and another load that big to the Salvation Army. The grandchildren came and got what they wanted, and us kids got what we wanted, and Dad still had plenty to fill his new home. Wow!
It was hard for Dad to let things go in the trash, but some stuff had to be thrown away. We had plenty of discussions on what needed to be thrown away, and many debates on how his generation hoards stuff and my generation is frivolous. He grew up doing with out, and I never had to do without. Different perspectives.
It can be emotional moving like that. It affects everyone differently. Definitely, a chapter of all my family's lives was coming to an end.
Dad would get weepy over the littlest things. He wanted to move. It was his idea, but still hard.
One of my brothers got real emotional over the last round-up. We had always worked cattle together. Why, I remember having to come home from college and earn my keep. Those days are over now.
Through all of this, all I knew to do was plow through it all. No time to dwell on this or that, I had a task to complete, and I would just get it done. I really didn't feel anything. I didn't have time to. We had a deadline.
I got plenty of things from the house. Everyday I worked out there, I would come home with something...something I really didn't need. But how can you let the relish tray go that Mom used for every Christmas and Thanksgiving you can remember.
The shop still has to be cleaned out, but it will be much easier. Not a lot of emotional attachement to tools, heavy metal and more junk.
Reflecting back on the home I had for most of my childhood, I know it seems odd, but what I miss most is the phone number. Call me crazy, but that phone number has seen me through a lot in my life. Growing up, it was the link to hours of chats with my friends. When I left home, it was that number that kept me in touch with my roots. I called that number with words of fear over new challenges, cries of heartache, announcements of victories, and joyous occasions. And it never failed, when I dialed those numbers my mom would pick up and say, "Whatcha know good." And with that, I had someone to listen on the other end.
So I say goodbye to my childhood home and 806-267-2550.
That is a question some of my sweet friends have asked. The answer is I have been helping my dad move from his ranch to a garden home in Amarillo. With that comes cleaning out almost 40 years of stuff. My parents never threw anything away. From the garage to the basement and every closet in between was full of stuff. We literally took over 3900 lbs of trash to the dump, and another load that big to the Salvation Army. The grandchildren came and got what they wanted, and us kids got what we wanted, and Dad still had plenty to fill his new home. Wow!
It was hard for Dad to let things go in the trash, but some stuff had to be thrown away. We had plenty of discussions on what needed to be thrown away, and many debates on how his generation hoards stuff and my generation is frivolous. He grew up doing with out, and I never had to do without. Different perspectives.
It can be emotional moving like that. It affects everyone differently. Definitely, a chapter of all my family's lives was coming to an end.
Dad would get weepy over the littlest things. He wanted to move. It was his idea, but still hard.
One of my brothers got real emotional over the last round-up. We had always worked cattle together. Why, I remember having to come home from college and earn my keep. Those days are over now.
Through all of this, all I knew to do was plow through it all. No time to dwell on this or that, I had a task to complete, and I would just get it done. I really didn't feel anything. I didn't have time to. We had a deadline.
I got plenty of things from the house. Everyday I worked out there, I would come home with something...something I really didn't need. But how can you let the relish tray go that Mom used for every Christmas and Thanksgiving you can remember.
The shop still has to be cleaned out, but it will be much easier. Not a lot of emotional attachement to tools, heavy metal and more junk.
Reflecting back on the home I had for most of my childhood, I know it seems odd, but what I miss most is the phone number. Call me crazy, but that phone number has seen me through a lot in my life. Growing up, it was the link to hours of chats with my friends. When I left home, it was that number that kept me in touch with my roots. I called that number with words of fear over new challenges, cries of heartache, announcements of victories, and joyous occasions. And it never failed, when I dialed those numbers my mom would pick up and say, "Whatcha know good." And with that, I had someone to listen on the other end.
So I say goodbye to my childhood home and 806-267-2550.
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