The gift of words.

I Thessalonians 4:18 Therefore comfort one another with these words, let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Yesterday was a day of gifts. I received two of them in one day. The first came from my husband. It wasn't flowers, candy, or even a surprise date night. Those are all nice, but my gift was nicer. It was in a simple phone call. "I just called to see how your day was going...and to tell you I was praying for you." Oh...be still my heart! Yeh...he's quite the romantic guy. (blush) Sigh... My heart melted as the words came across the phone line. My second gift came a little later in my day. This gift came from my BFF. We were chatting for a few moments when she said to me... "When I pour my coffee in the mornings, I'm going to pray for you." Again, my heart melted. I even teared up. Yeh...she's a sweetheart. (She's mine and you can't have her.) Words. Simple. Meaningful. I read a book a few years ago titled, The Five Love languages by Dr. Gary Chapman. I learned within the pages of this book that my love language is "words of affirmation". It's like syrup on a hot buscuit. Warm and sweet! I have always been a lover of words. I love words! My need of kind words came from a place somewhere in my childhood. My mother didn't always say the things my heart needed to hear. She spoke many words to me, some good...mostly not so good. Some causing years of damage, anger and confusion. She didn't receive many kind words as a child, so the cycle continued within her own children. I am glad to be able to say, that my Father has mended those broken pieces within me. And I believe that God has healed, and brought to a close, a generational curse that was on my family for many generations. I believe in the power of words, and the life that can come forth from speaking positive words into the hearts of our children. I choose to speak life into the lives of my children, and I believe that with God's grace their lives will have a powerful impact on this world. Do I always say the right thing to them? Nope. I must admit my guilt. I have been known to "fart at the mouth" towards them leaving destruction in the midst. And I know, that the words I have spoken causing them hurt, can not be taken back. But, I earnestly work hard at bringing forth new words of life, love and restoration into them. I do my best to make that concious choice to speak words of encouragement and support. Words of affirmation! affirmation- act of affirming, an assertion of support or agreement, a positive statement or declaration of the truth Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double edged sword, it pierces dividing soul and spirit; joints and marrow; it judges thoughts and attitude of the heart. All this month at church we are learning about "Taming the Tongue". This message has brought great revelation, and conviction in me. We have learned that we have a concious decision to make before we open our mouths. Yes...we have a choice. How many times have I said to my children..."Think before you speak!" (Again..guilty) We can choose to bring forth love or hurt. The words that come out of us can either be uplifting or destructive. The two people mentioned above are perfect examples of an uplifting word. I can't tell you how much it meant to me to hear those few simple words they both spoke to me. "I'm praying for you." That's it. I believe that when one spouse prays for the other, God's power is unleashed in a massive force. And when a friend invites a prayer for you into her "coffee time with God"...there is power in that as well. The power and impact came when they spoke those words out loud to me. The power within those positive words was unleashed. God wants us to lift one another up! He wants us to pray for one another. He wants our lips to bring forth construction, instead of destruction. There is power in a kind word and our prayers for one another. I believe that we all thrive on words of affirmation. We all need the gift of positive words. Proverbs 18:21 The tongue has the power of life and death and those who love it will eat it's fruit.

Give the gift of words today. Pray for a friend today. Speak life into someone! James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to eachother and pray for eachother so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Proverbs 13:3 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life; but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

Matthew 12:35-37 A good man out of the good treasures of his heart bringeth forth good things, but an evil man out of the evil treasure bring forth evil things. But I say unto you, that every idle word that man shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgement. For by thy words thy shall be justified, and by thy words thou shall be condemned.