WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY?

I've written several times about words.  Words....powerful in every way.  Either the words we say, the words we hear or even those we don't say or hear - the lack of.

This week, we've seen on TV the power of words once again.  Leslie Jones, the SNL comedian has been attacked again.  And for what reason?  Did she spew hate?  Did she mistakenly hurt another by words or actions?  Did she spread gossip?  Did she ignore another human being?  No, she did nothing.  Yet through social media, words have been written.  Hateful, awful words. Words used to spread unkindness and prejudice.  

I'm studying the Gospel of John this year and the first words in this gospel is about the Word.  Right off the bat the gospel tells of the power of the Word.  "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.  Through him (the Word) all things were made, without him nothing was made that has been made."

Yes, the power of God's Word did and does many things.  With just His Word, God created everything, everything that was made.  With His Word, God changed water into wine (help in need).  With His Word, God raised a man from the dead (saved).  With His Word, God healed a woman with a blood disease (healed), made a lame man walk, fed 5000 with just a few loaves of bread and fish (met someones need), showed righteous anger, taught, rebuked, guided, called, so on and so on.  But one thing His Word never does, is tear down his beloved, his creation.

Yet we, as a society, often use our words so differently than our creator.  Being from the south, there is a phrase southern women use often.  "Bless her heart".  Sounds innocent enough.  Yet used in some ways can be destructive.  Example:  "Her mother died?  Oh bless her heart" (sympathy);  "Bless her heart...she is sooooo sweet! (admiration)"; "Bless her heart, her child is a challenge! (pitty)";  "Look at THAT outfit...bless her heart! (hateful)".  See, the same words, expressed in different ways can mean many things.  They can comfort, build up, console, destroy and have even started wars.

Then, there are the unspoken words.  Silence toward another can hurt or even kill relationships, hurt another's reputation, abuse and destroy.  Silence can bless when using self control, comfort when listening to someone who just needs to vent.  Silence can point another to the one who can really meet their needs.  Christ was silent before his accusers.  No words necessary, no words wasted.  His silence convicted those abusers.

Scripture tells us that our words are an overflow of what is in our hearts.  An old prayer I pray often says, "May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to you, oh Lord."  

Words can hurt, destroy, cause others to rise to an occasion or fall to an occasion.  Words can build up, console, sympathize, guide, teach, rebuke, show love, forgive and so on.  Christ's words were always to save and never to destroy.

So, what do my words or silence convey?  I am grateful for The Word's example in all He spoke when speaking, and when silent.  

So...what do you have to say?

WHIP LASH

For a couple of months now, I've not felt well.  I went to the doctor about some very intense neck and shoulder aches.  The doctor told me I was very tense and it was muscle spasms in my neck.  He gave me a prescription for some muscle relaxers and said to take when needed.  I don't like taking these types of meds because they make me sleepy.  Therefore, I would take 1/2 of one at night in order to help me sleep.  Even laying my head on a pillow was painful at night.  I thought it might be my pillow or even too much reading on my iPad (neck tilted down).  Nothing helped.  I began going to my deep tissue massage therapist, again to no avail.  Therefore, I decided to do my best and live with it in hopes it would go away.  I hate having to constantly go to a doctor for something that hurts.  I just want things to go away.

This past week, Jimmy and I took the grand kids to Port A for a few days.  We decided to go to Schlitterbaum in Corpus.  I love roller coasters and water slides but I was a little hesitant since my neck was hurting.  I was also a little hesitant because I had begun to feel a little nauseated and knew Huston (11 years old) was depending on me riding the huge water slides with him.  I didn't want to let him down so I agreed to ride, much to my fear.

The first two times were good.  We then road the lazy river and did other activities.  He asked to go again on this large water slide that flew us through the air and around in a long dark tube.  I agreed to one more ride wishing inside I had another option.  As we took off down the slide and became airborne, we landed with a jolt and as we did, I heard loud cracks in my neck.  I wasn't sure what I did, but feared something really bad.

When we got down to the bottom and I exited the ride, I noticed the movement in my neck was much looser than before.  The pain was gone and I had much greater range when turning my head.  Conclusion....the pop/whip lash, realigned my neck.  That evening, there was no nausea and no pain when I laid down.  All I could think was, "Thank you Lord"!

As I lay awake  thinking of what could have been and what did happen, I asked God what He wanted me to learn  from this.

Yep....always a lesson.  As I go through life, there is sin in my life that causes pain and misery.  I sometimes think I'm sick of myself, like nausea.  I try to fix my sin myself.  I even seek others for help and understanding.  But in reality, my "self help" methods always fail.  What I need is a good "whip lash" from God to realign me and make me better.  You see, only He can cure me.  Only He can make me "right" with Him again.  Only He can take a brokenness and heal it.  

Why do I try to my methods?  Who knows....guess it's just another sin of "self" confidence instead of "God" confidence.  Another sin of rejecting Him and wanting to do things my way.

I am grateful for His healing, both physical, spiritual and even emotional.  I am grateful to the Master for touching this depraved soul and making me new.

Do you need a "whip lash" to make you whole again?  I know where you can get one!