The Power of Spoken Words

There are many amazing statements that are made in the Bible. One is found in Proverbs 18:21. Here is what it says: "Death and life are in the power of the tongue." Most of us could give examples of the negative ways words can be used to damage the lives of others. It isn't difficult to see how criticism, false accusations, gossip, slander and conspiracy theories can literally destroy a person's reputation and bring great damage to one's life. As teachers of the Word, we have the responsibility to communicate in a way that brings life to others. Below we find five ways we can use our spoken words to strengthen our communication skills and bring life to our hearers.

1. Use your words to bless others. In the Old Testament we see many times when a father passes on a family blessing. The priests were even given instructions on specific words to use in order to pronounce a blessing upon the congregation. When Jesus walked the earth, parents brought their children to Him so that He might speak a blessing over them. According to 1 Peter 2, we are now called a royal priesthood. Surely, we have an opportunity to intercede for others through prayer, but it also seems appropriate that we can speak words of blessing over others in this New-Testament role God has given us.

2. Use your words to encourage others. People are starving for encouragement today. There are two key Bible words here. The word for encourage is the same word used to describe the Holy Spirit's role in our lives. It means to "come along side." The idea is walking by someone to offer comfort and even counsel. The other word is translated "edification" in the Bible. It means "to build up." Encouraging words build up other people while offering reassurance and support.

3. Use your words to thank others. Very often, appreciation is in our hearts for those we serve along side, but they can never know that unless we express it in words. Marriages, friendships and even ministries are restored and revitalized when we express our gratitude in cards, emails and spoken words. One teacher built up a strong fellowship in her Junior High Girls class, just by sending out thank you cards to the girls on a regular basis.

4. Use your words to praise others. Gratefulness focuses on what a person has done to bless your life. Praise focuses on character qualities you see in a person's life. If you think about it, you can find some quality in another person's life that you can legitimately praise. Maybe she has a joyful spirit. Perhaps he is very punctual. We can think of people who are diligent and others who are flexible. The list can go on and on.

5. Use your words to share the Gospel. Especially here do we see how that "death and life are in the power of the tongue." The greatest thing that can ever happen to a person is for him or her to receive the Lord Jesus Christ. The ramifications are eternal! The greatest thing anyone has ever done for you is to tell you how to receive the eternal life Christ offers. The greatest thing we can do for others is to tell them of the forgiveness that God has made available in Christ.

Resource: lifeway.com

From Pain To Destiny

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" (James 1:2-5).

God often allows pain to ignite destiny in our lives. Without motivation, many of us would never fulfill the purposes for which God created us. Oftentimes a measured assault invades our life and creates a depth of pain that all we know to do is press into God with all our being.

At first, our motivation is to alleviate the pain. After a season of extreme emotional and sometimes physical pain, a second phase begins. This phase moves us to discover a new and deeper relationship with God. We begin to discover things about ourselves and about God that we never would have discovered without this motivation. Gradually, our heart changes our motivation from pain to loving obedience because there is a transition of the heart that takes place. No longer do we seek God for deliverance from the pain; we seek God because He is God. We seek His face and not His hand.

When we move to the second phase we often find ourselves moving into a new destiny and calling for our lives because God often separates us from the old life in this process. No doubt Joseph and Peter felt the pain of their individual crises. However, later they could realize God's purposes in their crisis. Like Joseph, we are able to say, "You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good."

Today, let God move you from the place of pain to the place of destiny. Let God show you the secret things He has reserved for you as a result of the crisis you may find yourself in.

Source: Prime Time with God

Your Mission Is Not About You

Jesus said, "You are the salt of the earth." But salt does not exist for itself. When is the last time you went to someone's home for a meal and said, "Man, this is great salt. Honey, how come we don't have salt like this at home? We gotta switch brands."

Salt's calling is to lose itself in something much bigger and more glorious; and then it fulfills its destiny. We were made to count. We were made to be salt. But the quest for significance is a delicate dance. If I do it by myself for myself, it's death. If I do it with God for others, it's life.

A devotional from Zondervan.

Our Friendship

Too often, friendship is the best thing has ever come to us. With them we can share our stories, our joys, our pains, grievs, and our lives.
I am thankful for having such friends like all friends of mine. I don't have many friends. Only few, but they are such a great friends. They light up my life, they make my world better, and even though there were times they could become so sock, they are still my best friends, whom I can share my happiness with!!!

Here are some picts of our precious moment ...

best friends
(Della, Riezka, me, Deena & Joshua)

we are one!

picnic

aren't they amazing?

isn't this pict lovely?

CHANGE

I used to live the way I want to. I forgot to live the way I should. I had no purpose. I didn’t live an intentionally living. I walked nowhere. Here and there, to and fro, but didn’t move anywhere actually. Oh, how could I live that way?

As time went by, I realized that I was created for a certain purpose. My life is precious. My life is valuable and I have to adding value into it. I have to move and do something for my sake. I can’t just be still and wait for something big, cause there’s nothing will happen then. I eventually realized that no miracles would happen if I just sit down and have no purpose in my life.

I was really sorry cause nobody has ever told me, prevent me not to doing such a valuable things to add value to my life. I might not doing something harmful or dangerous, things that distracted from God’s word, but neither I had done nothing. I wasted sooo many times I passed through. Life was too easy for me when I was a teen. Everything was available for me. But now, when adversity comes, when the hardship comes, when I have to struggle and fight, when I face a temptation, oh, I definitely can do nothing. Where this journey supposed to head to?

I thank God who has always been there for me. Whether I realized it or not, He’s always there. He comes through for me no matter how hard the circumstance I face. He loves me no matter how many times I failed Him. He accepts me just the way I am. He doesn’t demand any hard things from me but doing His Words and loving Him with all my heart. He has provided something bigger than what I can ever think. Even, He has a bigger purpose in me, much bigger than my life. I know if He can use anything (speaking donkey, water became wine, rod became snake, sent darkness, 5 breads and 2 fishes to feed 5000 people. What things He couldn’t use?), He can use me, too. As long as I’ve willingness to give Him my life, I know He’ll use me to become something, much more than what I can think. But, probably He supposed to proccess me first. Many temptations may come to me, many hardship, many fire may come to purify my faith. But I’ve intended to unfail. I should win my battle, cause with Him I can beat anything. He’s my captain and I follow close to Him.

When I changed my paradigm, I realized my world is changing with me too. Maybe this is just a simple thing, but change is a big breakthrough for me. By changing my way of thinking, I thought I've changed my attitude, by changing my attitude, I supposed I've changed my world. And as my world changes, I thought I've changed the world!

Let's make this world a better place ..

BYBS - This Is Such A Wonderful Life!

Being rich, famous and powerful too often has become a big dream for some people. They pursuit that dream through any kind of ways. Sometime in good ways, sometime in bad ones.

In Mr. Deeds, Adam Sandlers –as Mr. Deeds- says that he doesn’t want to be rich, famous or powerful. He just wants to be a man to whom anyone in trouble can come over to seek helps.

I like to watch movies, especially movies which are inspiring. Honestly, I’ve been seeking for a pattern in my life. Thank to either anyone or anything that has brought me good affections. This is such a cold, cold world. I need a guide, I need a direction but rarely find it from my surrounding. But I thank God for the technology: internet, movies, books, any kind of modern technology could ever taught me about good things.

From certain personal blogs I learn about difficulties in life and how they handle it. Yeah, it’s undeniable that from movies or books we can find inspiration to do something good in our lives. But, I think it’s a little bit diminish our role in socializing with other people. Yeah, I admitt that it’s easier to blame other people than to raise up and make a change. We like to wait. Wait for changes other people do. Wait for a deed other people do. Wait and wait and wait for other people without wanting to take a move for ourselves. Ough, is this a life we want to live in?

From some inspiring movies, certain personal blogs, great books I learn to make a change in my life. Maybe it’s not a big change, but I believe if I do that little by little, step by step, I’ll arrive at the place I want to be. I don’t want to wait for anybody’s move anymore. I just believe if God wants to, He can make me rich, powerful and famous someday. But, it’s just a thing. It’s not a big deal. Just want to seek first The Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto me.

I’ll do the best and God’ll do the rest.

Thank God for this wonderful life...

PS: I was attending Christian Blogger Festival last week, so had no enough time to post this. Please forgive me... :).

Don't forget to blog your blessing, everyone!

BYBS - I postpone it, so sorry..

For all of you who are the member of BYBS who use to post your BYB on Sunday, I apologize because I may post that post tomorrow..
Thank you..

Your Mission Starts Where You Are

Sometimes we're tempted to think that our current position / job / situation is a barrier to our mission, but, in fact, it is where it starts. Paul said, "Each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him." This doesn't mean that we should never change jobs or move, of course. It does mean that if my mission cannot start here, where I am, it cannot start at all.

This is a devotional I've just received from Zondervan. It has encouraged me so much. In some ways I often feel like what was written above. I hope that something better should happen before I can 'do my part' in life. But now I know that nothing good will happen. The good will only come if I have willingness to change my paradigm and keep strong to go that way.
Yeah, I agree with this quote: If my mission cannot start here, where I am, it cannot start at all.

How about you?