It’s Week 14 of my Learning to Live a Beautiful Life series.
Week 14!
This was a bugger of a week for me.
I have been struggling with a few health issues.
It’s hard enough when one has personal “stuff” going on, but
it appears as if the world has gone crazy.
This past week a young man made threats to blow up a college
campus. This happened to be the college my niece attends. Thankfully, local
authorities acted and the young man was found and taken into custody. There was
an explosive device found. My heart aches for this boy. What drives a kid to
such desperate acts?
It’s hard to watch the news nowadays.
There seems to be angst, tragedy and mayhem at every corner.
We have to understand that there has always been evil in the
world. But it sure is hard seeing it in action.
I think we often get confused about what Living a Beautiful
Life means.
It doesn’t mean living a life free from conflict or
difficulties.
It means living a beautiful life despite those conflicts or
difficulties.
It means that you aren’t consumed with circumstances or
expectations.
You learn to take each moment as it comes and develop a beautiful
attitude in midst of the “whatevers.”
Let’s look at this moment in time. What is in your heart
right now?
Chances are there is some sort of anxiety. Maybe some doubt
or disappointment.
I want to talk about words just for a minute or two.
When Josiah was a baby he babbled constantly. His babble was
also very specific.
“Ducky, ducky, ducky, ducky…”
That is all we heard.
“Ducky, ducky, ducky, ducky…”
There eventually was a “momma and dada,” but you can imagine
our surprise when, at just over a year old, he came toddling in to tell me the
phone was ringing while I was vacuuming.
And it wasn’t just any old conversation.
“Mom! AT&T is calling!”
Apparently, he associated the phone ringing with AT&T
(who says there is no power in television commercials) and he spoke in such
this little man voice.
Life was never the same again.
When I taught little bitty kids I would often have to admonish them to "use your words" instead of the grunts, facial experiences and squeals that are associated with toddler speech.
Think about what kind of words come out of your mouth
throughout the course of the day? What kinds of words do we allow to penetrate
our souls?
For myself, I find the Word of God to be a much needed balm
in times of trouble. I also find comfort
in reading about other folks who have overcome great challenges.
This week I want to challenge you to fill your life with
beautiful words.
First, ask yourself this.
Are you just babbling?
Are beautiful words coming out of your mouth? Are your
conversations encouraging? Are you proclaiming God’s goodness?
Consider measuring every word that comes out of your mouth.
Let’s talk about what kinds of word we are filling our
hearts and minds with.
Do you have a favorite scripture? A favorite song?
Write them on note cards and post them around your house.
Above our TV I have one of those vinyl Scripture murals. It
is found in Isaiah.
The extended version goes like this.
Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:28-31 (NKJV)
I can tell you that my family has needed that constant
reminder of God’s promises in our lives.
You can catch up with my Learning to Live a Beautiful Life series by clicking on the banner below.
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