byLauraMcFall: 2016

Sunday, November 20, 2016

Gratitude is all about Attitude, 11-20-2016

Philippians 4:4-9 New Living Translation (NLT)

⁴Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! ⁵Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord [is near]. ⁶Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ⁷Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

⁸And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.⁹Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I wanted to speak a bit about giving thanks, about gratitude. In preparation for this message, I read some commentaries that really pick apart these verses from Philippians. Everything I read can be summed up in one phrase, “Gratitude is a matter of Attitude”. When I read this text in preparation, I realized that I have heard each of the verses before, but not necessarily all together. We hear them as platitudes, stand-alone tidbits of advice and comfort. But putting them all together really makes for a bigger, deeper message.

We say “rejoice always, in all things.” But sometimes that’s really hard to do – what if we are sad, what if something awful has just happened? How do we rejoice in tragedy? But yet that is what we are called to do. But I don’t think that it means we are to laugh and joke in the face of misfortune or heartbreak. When we rejoice, we remember that the Lord is with us, in all things. The Greek word for rejoice is Kaírō (from the root Kar-, "leaning towards" and Káris, "grace") – literally, to experience God's grace, to be conscious of His grace. Lean into God, trust Emmanuel to be present at all times.

We can also trust, and rejoice with our fellow believers, our friends and neighbors. We are all in this together and we should be always ready to help each other. Verse 5 says Let your gentleness be known to everyone, or Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Gentleness and consideration are forms of moderation. When we are joyful in the Lord, we are raised above strictness towards others and we are prudent in our own affairs. When we are harsh or strict towards others, we are prematurely judging them, and that privilege belongs solely to the Lord. When we wallow in sadness and let ourselves be pulled down into negativity, we are harsh towards others and restless or troubled in our spirits. Maintaining Joy in God is of great benefit to Christian living and we often need to be reminded to do so. It is easy to be dragged down into the muck, but we need perseverance to rise above, to show compassion, kindness and grace to others around us – even those who test our patience. By doing so, we show the love of Christ and God’s peace. People around us can see that we are steady in our daily lives, even when we experience loss and hardship we have the assurance of God’s peace and mercy.

The next familiar verse is “Do not worry about anything…” The King James version uses the word “Careful” for “worry” and the NIV says “do not be anxious”. There are two kinds of cares – those that are due diligence, our responsibilities and obligations – and those that are anxieties or worries – fear and distrust, sin and folly, things that perplex and distract the mind. By praying about everything (in all things, at all times), we keep our mind in a state of grace, of joyfulness. Worries and Joy cannot occupy the same space – “Care and Prayer are as mutually opposed as Fire and Water.” Say that again….

“In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Supplication means to ask earnestly for something. We should make our requests with confidence, with familiarity. We know we don’t need to or shouldn’t hold anything back – God already knows our hearts. We have been promised that even a groan will do when we have no words. But we must begin – we must GO to the Lord in prayer. We must reveal our hearts to him. God is our protector, our confidante – our greatest ally. We can trust his love and mercy, patience, grace and love beyond all of our understanding. When we pray with Thanksgiving, we are putting our prayers into effect. Thanksgiving proves results, recognizing outcomes to our prayers. When we live with a spirit of gratefulness, with joy and thanksgiving, by giving praise in all things, we acknowledge and immerse ourselves in the Peace of God – the sense of being reconciled to God and having a part in his favor. The hope of the “heavenly blessedness”, a greater good, can be fully expressed. “The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Jesus Christ.” This peace stands guard over our hearts and minds, it will keep us from sinking under troubles and keep us calm with inward contentment.

“⁸Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ⁹What you have learned^[^b^] and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

In the last two verses, I believe Paul is telling us to Do as Jesus says and also to Do as Jesus did. All our privileges and salvation arise in the free Mercy of God; yet the enjoyment of them depends on our sincere and holy conduct. In everything, when we perform daily tasks in our everyday lives, when we offer our prayers and concerns to God, when we work to benefit his Kingdom by serving others, we can be faithful in the knowledge that surrounding our own efforts is the ongoing workings of God. God is with us – Emmanuel!

As we enter this week of Thanksgiving which ends with the beginning of Advent, the season where we prepare for the coming of the Messiah, our Savior, Lord Jesus Christ… as we undergo preparations for a meal, or travelling, welcoming family and friends… May we always remember to Rejoice in the Lord Always, All Ways.

Let us Pray, “Father in Heaven, Creator of all things, we humbly lay our cares at your feet, knowing that you will bear them for us, that you guard our hearts from all troubles and that you Bless us in all circumstances with your presence and Peace. We believe that you are with us, that you will not forsake us, and that you sent your only son to be our Redeemer and Savior. As we prepare our hearts with gladness to receive your gracious gifts, show us the way to reveal your presence to those around us. By the Spirit and your son Jesus, Amen”

Philippians 4:4-9 (NIV New International Version)

⁴Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:4-9King James Version (KJV)

⁴Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

⁵Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

⁶Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

⁷And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

⁸Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

⁹Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Gratitude is all about Attitude, 11-20-2016

Philippians 4:4-9 New Living Translation (NLT)

Philippians 4:4-9 (NIV New International Version)

Philippians 4:4-9King James Version (KJV)

⁴Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

⁵Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

⁶Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

⁷And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

⁹Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Love is all there is....

(Re-posting from a Facebook note so I can keep it for eternity.)

November 16, 2010 at 8:30am

My friend posted this:

Via the Dalai Lama: "According to my own experience, the highest level of inner calm comes from the development of love and compassion. The more concerned we are with the happiness of others, the more we increase our own well-being. Friendliness and warmth towards others allow us to relax and help us to dispel any sense of fear or insecurity so we can overcome whatever obstacles we face."

I readily admit that I don't know much of anything about the Dalai Lama, I am a Christian. It is always very interesting to me when I come across other belief systems that mimic the message of Christ: that we are to love God above all else and love our neighbors as ourselves. If you do not like to be bullied, do not bully others. If you don't like to be frowned at, wear a smile. If you want to be trusted, then trust. I esp like the part about relaxing - instead of spending all that time worrying and plotting and stressing over what someone else might be doing, why not spend it doing something sweet and loving and kind for them? Instead of saying harsh words, why not say loving and supportive words?

Another of my favorite sayings is "Actions speak louder than words." You can walk right past your friend or lover, or you can pause and reach out to them - a pat on the shoulder or a quick kiss on the cheek. There's a theory about the Love Bank - everytime you do something sweet and nice and loving, you make deposits. Inevitably you will do something unkind, it's human nature. Those are withdrawals. But if you have 5000 in the bank, losing 5 or 10 is not very painful. If you only have 5 or 10 in the bank, you must be very, very frugal! So the idea is to make as many deposits as possible! I went to exercise class yesterday morning with sink of dirty baking dishes waiting for me... When I got home, the dirty side was empty and the clean shiny dishes were all stacked up on the drying side! That's like triple bonus points! ;)

And because something nice was done for me, getting the ironing done is moved up higher on the list - not 'cause I feel the need to iron :P, but because I know how much the ironing is appreciated. A few years ago I was guilty of leaving every pair of shoes I wore around the house exactly where I took them off. If I wore different shoes each day, there would be 6-7 pairs around the living room. Now - I am still not perfect at putting my shoes away, but because I know that having shoes all over caused tensions, I learned to put them away much more often! I was able to change my own behavior for the man that I love so much. Love can do these things.

I am rambling along about love because I believe that it must be the most important thing in any relationship. You've heard - Love Conquers All - and some do not believe that. But I do, if BOTH sides are willing to surrender to the all consuming power of love and live a life of self-sacrifice, kindness and reciprocity, then Love can conquer all!

Spoil the ones you love with kindness and good deeds! They will love you even more! :) ...and spoil strangers, too, it won't hurt anything and it will make you feel better!

Monday, October 17, 2016

Take the High Road

Oh my Goodness – is it October already? And the third Sunday, nonetheless. I love October – it’s a time of changing seasons, changing colors, pumpkins, cooler weather, clearer skies. Isn’t it beautiful how the plants and trees know when it’s time to change colors? They don’t have to make any decisions, they simply obey the rules of nature and when the weather is just as it should be, the leaves change color, then wither and fall off the trees. The leaves surrender to the laws of nature.

Surrender – what a beautiful word… At first when we hear it we think of someone waving a white flag and giving up in battle, perhaps being captured and taken prisoner. But if we look at the true definition – “to cease resistance, to give control to someone else”; or in a religious sense - “To give up our own will and subject our thoughts, ideas, deeds, and will to the teachings of God”? What does that mean? What does it look like to Surrender to Jesus Christ?

Today’s Scripture is from Matthew 16:24-25: “24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

Wow – there’s a lot to contemplate in those two verses! Jesus is telling his prospects that if they want to be his students, his disciples, they must put down everything they know and go “all in”. We’ve heard this notion a few times before in the old testament, way back in Genesis. God tells Abram to leave his family and the place he is familiar with and go to a new place. If he obeys, he is promised great reward. A little later, Rebekah (the chosen wife of Isaac) also followed without hesitation. And there’s also Moses, Aaron, the Israelites, later Daniel and many others who were “approached” by God and they were obedient and followed.

Jesus says for anyone to follow him, they must “take up [their] cross”. Jesus was not sugar-coating what he was asking of them… In the first century, the cross meant certain and agonizing death. Jesus was clearly asking his followers to ‘die’ to everything they knew in order to follow him. Just as a seed on a plant essentially dies in order to sprout and grow, we must leave what we think we know behind and begin on a new journey, trusting that Jesus has paved the way. When we take up the cross of following Jesus – we accept that the road will not be easy, that there will be sacrifices to make. Jesus knows what’s coming and he wants to make sure that his disciples know it will be
downright difficult.

In v25, He says: “For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” This sounds like a great conundrum or riddle – how confusing are these words, seemingly speaking in circles? What if we think of this challenge as a fork in the road, a choice between the “low road” and the “high road”? Let’s say the first part, “for whoever would save his life” is the low road and “whoever loses his life” is the high road. The high road is the way of Christ and the low road is not. If we choose the high road, we choose Christ-love. If we choose the low road we choose Self-love. If we choose the high road, we are choosing to Follow Jesus and his teachings, to Obey God and his laws and commands. And if we choose the high road, we are choosing the more difficult way – there will be rocks and tree roots to stumble over. We will lose our sense of self, we will get pruned and molded and shaped into the very image of Christ himself. If we choose the low road, it might be easy, it might be difficult, but there are definitely no lasting rewards. There may be some instant gratification, but no sense of everlasting peace and salvation. There is no Hope on the low road.

Some might say that it is selfish to choose the high road – to devote one’s life to the service of God and others and live in the great reward of the Kingdom of heaven. But this is promised to us in 2nd Chronicles 31:21 – “In everything that [Hezekiah] undertook in the service of God’s temple and in Obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked Whole Heartedly. And so he prospered.” When Jesus says, “whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”, he is saying that if we devote ourselves to Jesus’ cause, to His purpose and benefit, we will be made new in the Spirit. When we choose Jesus, we choose Hope!

It is absolutely our choice whether to obey or not. We have been given Free Will to choose the High Road. However, we must take that first step, we must make a decision, choose a path. Jesus’ own willingness to lay down his very life shows us that he believed that self-sacrifice is the true way to serve God and further his kingdom. Christ made the choice joyously. He knew what was coming and he chose the high road. He also had additional information; he knew the “rest of the story”. God has shared that insight with us through Scripture. As believers, we have the knowledge to make a well informed decision. We LIVE when we make the choice for His sake.

So – what are some ways we can choose the high road in our day to day existence? We can be witness to the Glory of God. Like Hezekiah, in everything we do, we can Honor God and be obedient to his Word. By acts of service with and for others, we are proclaiming the Good news of Jesus Christ! First Corinthians 12 teaches us that we are all parts of one body, the body of Christ. We were all baptized into the same Spirit. God has created us, as parts of the same body, all having honor and all being equal. No one part is better than another. In Ephesians 4, Paul tells us that we are also called into one Hope and one Baptism, one God and Father of All. Each of us is given our own portion of Grace. We can explore our Spiritual gifts and lean into the promise of the calling. We have been sent teachers, pastors and prophets to teach us the way, to equip us for works of service. We are to build up the body of Christ, to become united in Faith and grow into the full measure of Christ.

We have heard it said that Christians are to be the “hands and feet of Christ”. Those exact words aren’t in Scripture. It is believed to be a paraphrase of 1 Cor 12:12 and also from a poem by St. Teresa of Avila. There are also different interpretations of the phrase. The apparent understanding is that we are to BE the body of Christ, to do His work and carry on his Teachings and Ministry amongst the people of the world. But in the world, we find that the values of Christianity are more and more at odds with the values of an increasingly secular society. This metaphor is not just about doing ‘things’ but it is also about how we suffer as Christians. The greatest work that the hands and feet of Christ did was to be pierced for our transgressions, that by suffering we might be made children of God. Being the hands and feet of Christ means we are to be like Christ in the sense that all that we do must be done with a heart poured out for others. We must remember that we are not part of this world, but that we belong to Christ and suffer with him so that we may be glorified with him.

Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.
— St. Teresa of Avila (1515–1582)

Today is “Be The Church” day at Gruene UMC. We have had various groups of people out doing Acts of Service in the community.

We have official “be the church” days a few times a year. In addition to that, we have many ongoing missions and projects that serve others on a daily basis. We have Steve’s Pantry – primarily an emergency food resource, we have expanded services to include clothing for adults and children, laundry and shower facilities. There’s also the backpack ministry – a resource that provides food for children who might be latch-key or low income and do not get proper nutrition other than the meals provided at school. It’s called “backpack” because we literally fill backpacks with food so the children can take it home and not be labelled as poor or needy – no one but the families and the counselors know.

There are many ways we can “be” the Body of Christ, not just hands and feet. Literally, getting outside and shoveling some dirt in the garden at the children’s home, climbing the ladder and painting at the senior care center, walking or running a 5k to raise funds for a favorite cause, making clean up buckets or health kits for UMCOR, loading water and supplies to go to disaster areas – all of these use our physical bodies and can be tiring and laborious. But there are other ways, too. We can write words of encouragement and love into note cards and share them with others. We can be generous with smiles and “Please” and “Thank You” to those we interact with every day. We can sit with our friends and share their celebrations and worries in conversation and prayer. We can meditate in silent prayer for others and the world around us. We can form small groups and share the Scriptures and study the word of God. We can come to worship and sing and praise our Lord with our hymns and songs. We can bring communion to those who are not able to attend regular church. Perhaps we like to knit or crochet, or stitch and sew – we can make gifts for those we love; prayer shawls or fidget blankets for strangers; quilts for families that are finally purchasing their own home through Habitat for Humanity; and stuffed animals for children in scary situations. We can give our time to write letters or cards to strangers, to bake cookies or treats for the children who will come to a church festival. We can simply sit and play piano in a place where music reaches deep down to rekindle fond memories of days long past.

We actively express our loyalty and obedience to the Body of Christ through our service to others. We know that we are saved by Grace, not by our actions. But it is because we are saved, because we have been shown Grace, in spite of our “Self”, that we seek to witness to the world, to share the love of God and Christ Jesus, to share the Gospel of Redemption and Resurrection – the GOOD NEWS – with everyone we encounter.

Let us Pray,
Heavenly Father, Please help us as we seek to put off our old self, to disavow the low road, to take up our cross and choose the high road and be transformed in the image of Jesus, in true righteousness and holiness. Thanks be to God!
Amen

Friday, September 23, 2016

Of Gardens, 9-18-2016

Last month we talked about the power of words and how powerful our words can be. I sincerely hope that y’all were able to find good words to write in a card and share them with others. We may never know how sweet words of encouragement may build someone up. In many ways, our words might be a little seed or a little water on someone else’s seed.

Today, I’d like to go for a walk in the Garden. Frances Bacon begins his essay titled “Of Gardens” with this quote, “God Almighty first planted a garden. And indeed, it is the purest form of human pleasures.”

We have started the Disciple One Bible Study at Gruene and our readings last week centered on Genesis and the creation stories. In additional study, I read about Gardens and Eden and seeds, scattering, nurturing and growth. The people of Genesis lived in the dessert – it was dry and harsh and only green and lush around sources of water, an area called an oasis. The Garden of Eden was like an oasis in the dessert. It was a beautiful place where Adam and Eve could walk and talk with God.

This is probably why “prayer gardens” are popular – we desire to create a safe place where we can go to commune or chat with God, surrounded by His miraculous, beautiful handiwork. I have a “prayer garden” that is too often neglected. I can see it out the windows. This year the zinnias are tall and wild and Oh! so pretty! A cardinal family had their nest in the Bougainvillea this spring and the bees just love the Roses and Esperanza. I know I need to go out there more, but God also created Mosquitoes. I am pretty sure that I am their favorite snack! And even though I don’t spend time IN the garden, I can look out the window and pretend to be out there, working and talking with God.

I also believe that we can find Spirituality in the Garden. The physical labor of digging In the dirt, planting seeds, dragging the hose or watering can from plant to plant can help us feel closer to God. We think about what we need to do to nourish the soil, to add fertilizer and mulch; how we plant the seeds, or turn bulbs the proper way. Isn’t it miraculous how we can plant a seed “upside down” and it knows to grow roots down and stem up, leaves stretching towards the sun? The little seedlings have to be watered and then weeded and sometimes thinned out. We have to watch for mildew or disease or unfriendly bugs. A garden needs continual care and offers a great opportunity for praise and worship and prayer. I often listen to spiritual or Christian books or music while I putter around outside. And then, when it starts to get too sunny or hot, I’ll find a spot in the shade to sit and sip cold water and just Be. To sit quietly and rest, to watch the bees and butterflies and listen to the birds. That is the best time – after a time of hard work - to sit and Be Still.

Another grand aspect of Gardens is the fact that they grow things. Many places in the Bible remind us of the miracle of growth. In First Corinthians, Chapter 3, Verses 6 and 7, Paul writes:

⁶I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. ⁷So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.

Spreading the Good News of God’s love and mercy can be described as scattering seeds: by Serving others; Offering encouragement or comfort; Listening with compassion; Praying for those who suffer; Inviting others to worship; Inspiring children in Arts or Sciences or Music; Small gifts, individual prayers, acknowledgement of a kindness or service. Even the smallest of actions can be seeds that will someday grow into trees of Faith and Service.

Remember, too, that some seeds lie dormant, they may seem to be dead – but they are not. Bluebonnet seeds are very tough, they have a hard shell and it takes the wet of the rains to soften the outer layer so the plant can begin to germinate. They take a very long time to sprout and grow. In some years, the seeds don’t get enough moisture and they fail to sprout at all, but they come up robust and strong the next year. Bluebonnets are a beautiful reminder of the changing seasons, endurance and nature’s adaptability. Whether it’s wildflowers or vegetables or other garden plants, we know that what ultimately appears, beautiful or ugly, depends upon the seed. Our hearts, like the earth, can only cultivate that which we have received from God. Growth cannot be forced by any human influence and the silent process of the Divine plan must be trusted. We must scatter Good, Wholesome seeds and Pray with expectation that those seeds will grow.

Lastly, in addition to scattering seeds and working in our Gardens, we must also acknowledge the seeds that have been sown within ourselves. What do we possess that needs watered or fertilized? We each have the responsibility to cultivate what we have been given. So, as we enter this Autumn season of fall planting, let us remember that our words and actions can be fruitful seeds; the Gardens of our life need continual care and nurturing; and we have and abundance of love and joy and grace – the Good News – that still needs to be scattered and shared with everyone we meet.

Let us Pray:

Heavenly Father, we submit ourselves to your will, that you may cultivate and grow within us the seeds that you have planted. The seeds of Love, Mercy, Faith and Joy. We pray that these seeds may germinate and grow and flower – bursting forth from our beings like the bluebonnet seeds pop out of their pods. May the words we speak and our actions with others scatter on good soil and grow the Garden of your Promises, nourished with Living water.

Amen
#MinistryMessage

Sunday, August 21, 2016

Words… [Sticks and Stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me… or can they?]

Words can be so very powerful – they have the capacity to wound and the potential to heal. Sometimes, we never really know the effect our words may have on someone. We may say something unkind or insensitive and leave a scar that is carried for years. I’m sure if we spent much time thinking on it, we could all recall a time in our lives – likely when we were young – that someone said something that hurt us deeply. We may not even recall the exact words or phrases spoken, but we remember the hurt and the pain of those words today, years later.

I was one of the weird kids in Junior high school in the late 70s. I still wore knee socks with my homemade dresses and carried a Woody the Woodpecker tin lunchbox. No one else in Middle School wore knee socks, homemade dresses or carried lunchboxes - the other kids let me know, too. They said mean things, hurtful things about me and my parents, our income (or lack of it) etc. They had no idea what they were talking about – they made gross assumptions and spoke cruel, wounding words out of ignorance. It stung, too. And it was confusing to me – it didn’t make any sense. My dad had a strong business in a great part of town, we had a nice home and a couple of modest weekend places at both the lake and the coast. My Mom made my clothes because she loves to sew and I loved for her to sew for me. I was ashamed that these mean kids made me feel embarrassed because I wore homemade clothes – like that was a bad thing. I didn’t understand, and I was miserable throughout most of Junior High. Now I know that they were thoughtless, ignorant kids. Yes – those are harsh words also, but the best ones I can think of to describe how they behaved. I do not know how any of these kids turned out – I haven’t ever seen or spoken to any of them since graduating high school. Luckily, I found other kids who were weird like me and made friends. I learned to insulate myself from the mean kids. I can only hope and pray that they learned the harsh, tactless and inappropriate ways they used their words and eventually became loving and considerate adults.

This time was so confusing for me (and when is Jr Hi NOT confusing?) because my Mom taught me, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” I couldn’t understand why everybody didn’t know that. A few years ago, I came across 1^st Peter 3:10 For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech." which is a restatement of Psalm 34:13, “keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.”

There are many places in Scripture that caution us about our words. I looked up “The Power of Words” on the internet and found a site that lists 100 different verses. Here are a few of the top choices, in the ESV – English Standard Version text translation.

Ephesians 4:29 ESV - Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Matthew 12:36 ESV - I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,

Proverbs 16:24 ESV - Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

Matthew 12:37 ESV - For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Proverbs 15:1 ESV - A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 27:2 ESV - Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.

Proverbs 12:25 ESV - Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.

We don’t always know the impact our words can have on others. I doubt those mean kids at school realized the deep hurt they caused in my life. But our words can also have a positive, empowering influence on our thoughts and actions. Our attitude and manner can be encouraging, inspiring and nurturing. We can say something in passing and have NO idea the full implication of those words. But sometimes, we do realize – we find out what we said and when we said it and how it all turned out.

A few weeks ago, our local quilting guild had our big bi-annual quilt show in downtown New Braunfels. Leading up to the show, we had a quilt made and brought it around to various locations and other guilds to sell Donation Raffle Tickets and to promote and publicize the show. In March, I brought the quilt up to Georgetown and had the opportunity to visit with the ladies of that guild and tell them about our show. I met one lady in particular from Austin who was very nice and was interested in perhaps having a vendor booth at the show. She also was thinking about making a quilt and entering it. I said she should go for it – it was a few months until the entry deadline, and the work didn’t need to be completely finished until mid-July. Well, come to find out, she did enter & finish the quilt, and it won Best Entry in the Theme category. Yesterday at our Guild meeting and winners review, she commented about a “young” lady who came to Georgetown and was so enthusiastic that she decided she could and should get it done. After her presentation, I thanked her for considering me to be “young”. I barely remember the conversation – I always get fired up and enthusiastic talking about our show. But for her to remember me – that my words inspired her to enter, and then she WON one of the bigger awards – that was extremely humbling. And encouraging. and humbling. And after I read the verse before from Proverbs 27:2 ESV - Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips. – I considered not even including this story in this message.

We all have the gift of language. We all have the power to build up or tear down with our words. If we were to read through all of the 100 scriptures about the Power of Words, we would find both encouragement to speak in love and chastising to consider what we say out of anger, jealousy, wickedness and even mischief. We use words in times of Prayer, Appreciation, Greetings, in times of Anxiety, Sorrow, Worry or Fear. We use our words to rile up or torment or to calm and soothe. And when we don’t have the words ourselves, we can always turn to scripture – the Word of our Lord! I have printed off a page of the verses that I found when I looked up “What does the Bible say about _____?” There are many, many more, I promise. I also found a couple of passages that sum up what I’m trying to say so much better than I ever could:

Colossians 3:12-17 - Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

I want to close with a passage from First Peter, but first - I have an assignment for you: Find a blank notecard or a piece of writing paper, a pen and the list of Bible Verses found below. Later today or tomorrow, as you reflect on these words, I’d like for you to think of something you’ve always wanted to say to someone – anyone you have encountered in your life – past or present. It might even be a note to your past, present or future Self. Take some time to write a note, choosing your words carefully. It can be anything you want to write - a Thank you, Thinking about you, Miss you, Reconciliation, Forgiveness, Encouragement, Prayers, Psalms, Proverbs. Or confront someone of how they hurt you and how you have forgiven them, or how you want to, but are not sure how. Write from your heart – be open, honest and considerate. When you are finished, close the note and let it rest. Leave it be for some time and then come back to it and read through it and then pray over it. While you’re praying, ask God what should you do next? Should you file it away, never to been seen/read again? Should you send it to the person? Should you rip it into tiny shreds? That’s between you and God. And as you encounter people in the coming days and weeks – remember this passage from First Peter chapter Four, beginning in verse 8:

1 Peter 4:8-11 NIV - ⁸Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.⁹Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. ¹⁰Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. ¹¹If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 3:8-10 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. "

Power of Words:

Ephesians 4:29 ESV - Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Matthew 12:36 NIV - But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.

Proverbs 16:24 ESV - Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

Matthew 12:37 ESV - For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Proverbs 15:1 ESV - A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 27:2 ESV - Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.

Proverbs 12:25 ESV - Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.

Encouragement:

Psalm 34:4 ESV - I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

Mark 11:24 ESV - Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Psalm 28:7 ESV - The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.

Philippians 4:13 ESV - I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 - Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Ephesians 6:4 ESV - Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Encouraging:

Ephesians 4:29 ESV - Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV - And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Hospitality:

Hebrews 13:2 ESV - Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

3 John 1:5-8 ESV - Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore, we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.

Words:

Colossians 3:17 ESV - And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

More: 1 Peter 4:8-11 NIV and Colossians 3: 12-17 NIV