life and death

“I have a dream…” “One small step…” “We the people…” “In the beginning…” “Here’s Johnny!”

Words. They are so powerful. They can build up, inspire, offer hope, and make us laugh, or they can tear down, destroy, and invoke fear. It all depends on what words and in what order they are spoken. We use our tongues to form the words that give us speech. The Bible says the tongue has the power to wield life or death.

Words kill, words give life;
they’re either poison or fruit—you choose. Prov. 18:21 (MSG)

Say the wrong words to a child, and you can destroy their self-esteem. Or the wrong words spoken in a relationship, and it can come to an end. But the right words can do wonderful things.

The right word at the right time
is like a custom-made piece of jewelry, Prov. 25:11 (MSG)

There may be times, when you are having a conversation with a friend and realize they are about to make a mistake or a wrong decision in their life. It can be difficult to speak up, but I have learned that if you ask for an invitation to speak into their life first, then they can’t get upset if they do not like what you say to them. Hopefully, they will recognize that you are speaking to them words of life because you care for them.

And a wise friend’s timely reprimand
is like a gold ring slipped on your finger. Prov. 25:12 (MSG)

We all should be mindful of the power of words at all times and in all situations. Being slow to speak is a great discipline.

Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. God’s righteousness doesn’t grow from human anger. So throw all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage. In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life. James 1:19-21 (MSG)

What makes people decide to accept God?

The airplane is about to crash!
They’re afraid of hell.
A life changing moment.
They are so moved by the love of God.

For me, it was the second one. I was only 7 and we attended a church that was pastored by a “hell fire and brimstone” preacher. Meaning, he held nothing back when it came to sharing what sin, wrong doing in your life, truly cost. At that age, I was a convicted cookie thief! I disobeyed my mother and then would lie about it. I was afraid if I died without God’s forgiveness I would go to hell. As I got older I learned being saved from your sins was actually about having a relationship with a loving God through Jesus.

But for others what is it? What has to happen in their life to get them to realize how loving God is? Do they need to be face to face with death before they will finally make a decision? What if they don’t have a conscience mind when they are crossing the threshold between life and death? By not making a decision is making a decision.

⁵⁸Then they pounced on him and threw him outside the city walls to stone him. His accusers, one by one, placed their outer garments at the feet of a young man named Saul of Tarsus. ⁵⁹As they hurled stone after stone at him, Stephen prayed, “Our Lord Jesus, accept my spirit into your presence.” ⁶⁰He crumpled to his knees and shouted in a loud voice, “Our Lord, don’t hold this sin against them.” And then he died.
Acts 7:58-60 (TPT)

I am convinced this really messed with Saul. So because the Holy Spirit had been drawing him to God, when he saw Jesus appear he was ready to believe. You see, God had been pursuing Saul.

³So he obtained the authorization and left for Damascus. Just outside the city, a brilliant light flashing from heaven suddenly exploded all around him. ⁴Falling to the ground, he heard a booming voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” ^5–7The men accompanying Saul were stunned and speechless, for they heard a heavenly voice but could see no one. Saul replied, “Who are you, Lord?” “I am Jesus, the Victorious, the one you are persecuting Acts 9:3-7 (TPT)

Talk about a life changing moment! Wow.

God is pursuing you too! If you pay attention to moments in life you will see God. You bump into him more than you realize. It’s like the car mirror, “Objects in mirror are closer than they appear”. God is closer than you think.

“The only way people come to me is by the Father who sent me—he pulls on their hearts to embrace me. And those who are drawn to me, I will certainly raise them up in the last day.” John6:44 (TPT)

brady, mark a.

Words to inspire you

Words

Words kill, words give life;
they’re either poison or fruit—you choose. Prov. 18:21 (MSG)

The right word at the right time
is like a custom-made piece of jewelry, Prov. 25:11 (MSG)

And a wise friend’s timely reprimand
is like a gold ring slipped on your finger. Prov. 25:12 (MSG)

Look in the Mirror

“The only way people come to me is by the Father who sent me—he pulls on their hearts to embrace me. And those who are drawn to me, I will certainly raise them up in the last day.” John6:44 (TPT)

Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose. Prov. 18:21 (MSG)

The right word at the right time is like a custom-made piece of jewelry, Prov. 25:11 (MSG)

And a wise friend’s timely reprimand is like a gold ring slipped on your finger. Prov. 25:12 (MSG)

“The only way people come to me is by the Father who sent me—he pulls on their hearts to embrace me. And those who are drawn to me, I will certainly raise them up in the last day.” John6:44 (TPT)

Words kill, words give life;
they’re either poison or fruit—you choose. Prov. 18:21 (MSG)

The right word at the right time
is like a custom-made piece of jewelry, Prov. 25:11 (MSG)

And a wise friend’s timely reprimand
is like a gold ring slipped on your finger. Prov. 25:12 (MSG)