WORDS~

Words. "Sticks and stone may break my bones, but words can never hurt me." I heard this as a child. It is a lie. Yes, stick and stones may break bones yet words do hurt at times. We all know it. Words sting. Words bruise. Words wound. Words can even kill. Many a person still remembers childhood words spoken to them that still sting. Truth be told, I was not only the recipient of ugly words, I am sure I gave out my share. To someones else s hurt, words that I am not even aware of that hurt. Not only as a child but as an adult also. You see, I am a sinner, and I know it. There is no good I can do apart from Jesus.

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit." Proverbs 18:21

Words are powerful. In John we read "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." John 1:1-5

The LIGHT has come and that LIGHT is Jesus. He is THE WORD! He is the LIGHT and he gives us light to really 'see'. He has shown me his grace and forgiveness. He took my selfishness and gave me his righteousness. He died on the cross for me. He took my ugly words and did not count them against me. He not only forgives me by his grace, he puts HIS good words in me.

"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise re prover to a listening ear." Proverbs 25:11 & 12 I love these words because it gives me hope. I want my words to count for HIM. I cannot count the times I have 'missed' the opportunity to 'speak' a word fitly spoken. I didn't speak up. I let the moment pass. I was pre-occupied. I was blind to the conversations around me. I was selfish. I held back. Yet Jesus tells me to run to him....to not give up. To fight the good fight.

So today I ask HIM to put gracious words in my mouth; actually in my heart, for out of the abundance of my heart, my mouth speaks. My difficulty isn't my words actually. It is my heart. Out of the heart flows the issues of life. Out of my mouth flows what is in my heart. Unkind words, unkind heart. Gracious words, grace living in me.

You see death and life are both in the power of the tongue. I can use words for death. I can use words for life. I am the recipient of many gracious 'grace giving' words during my lifetime. God has used others to 'give grace' to me. I want to BE that way. Yet it isn't me, it is HIM!

What words will you speak today? Let's be 'grace givers' today and tomorrow~ only by HIS grace we can!

Signing off for now, hugs, Lynette