Posts Tagged ‘comfort’

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Words Mean Something

January 28, 2009

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O, LORD, my rock and my Redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).

Words: an utterance, a remark; to give voice, formulate, articulate

There is much power in a word(s), both positive and negative. Here are just a few: thank you, loser, well done, ugly,  great improvement, incompetent.

The negative words I chose came from Pete Wilson and Amy Sondova‘s blogs. Pete’s the senior pastor of Cross Point Community Church. Amy’s a clinical counselor turned writer.

Read about Pete’s experiences with vulnerability from a platform, here and here. Like so many, Pete became wounded by words.

Amy courageously shares her experiences of growing up fat. I was reminded of how as children, words come so easily, so honestly, with little regard to the pain they can inflict upon others.

We often pass off hurtful words from children as immature. But adults?  Those words leave gashes… wounds unable to heal.

So today, consider words as more than semantics. How do your words enourage, uplift, or comfort others?

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Little Things Count

January 26, 2009

Yesterday our pastor continued the series “Facing the Giants.” The topic he covered was fear. Here are a few illustrations of fear I found in the New Encyclopedia of Christian Quotations:

Fear knocked at the door. Faith answered and no one was there.  (Author Unknown)

F.E.A.R.  False Evidence Appearing Real (Author Unknown)

Fear is never a good counselor and victory over fear is the first spiritual duty of man.  (Nikolai Berdyaev)

Be strong; do not fear. (Isaiah 35:4)

Take courage! (Matthew 14:27)

Someone in our Sunday School class said  “it’s the little things that count.”  The point being made is that we too often overwhelmed by the large picture (Goliath) and then fear takes over.  David did not look at Goliath as any more than an enemy of God that needed to be destroyed.  He took up five small stones.  One small stone did the job!

So, why not look at the little things in life that bring peace and joy and comfort? Things like:

  • the first crocus of spring…bursting forth from a cold unforgiving ground
  • a hug from a child…reminding you that you are loved
  • a cup of coffee with a friend…to remind you there is someone who cares
  • the first leaves on the tree…spring is just around the corner
  • a picture of a trip you were on….bringing warm memories
  • a note from a friend….saying you were missed at a special meeting; or…welcoming you to a class

These little things do count reminding us that there is joy, peace, hope in this tumultuous world.  It’s where we focus our eyes…on the giants of life…or…on the little things that bring comfort and warmth.

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