"The pen is mightier than the sword." (Edward Bulwer-Lytton, Richelieu) Words are powerful. I believe an honest look at history reveals this. Wars and revolutions are begun before a weapon is ever brought to play. Words, written or spoken, have the power to provoke wars and inspire revolutions. Words have the power to change history, to change lives. They can cut someone to the quick, dashing all hope, or they can empower dreams and renew hope.
During lunch with some friends one day, I was asked, "Can you pass the ketchup?" I teasingly replied, "I can do anything." One good friend then commented that she thought I was the one person she knew who that was probably true of. The comment was made in passing, but her words have stayed with me. She reminded me that God has given me the gift of perserverance. I might not enjoy everything I could do, but God has given me the strength, ability and intelligence to pull off pretty much anything I could desire to try. That thought leaves me with a huge feeling of responsibility that I often try not to live under. The point is, her words made an impact.
The most powerful words are those of Jesus. They give life. During Jesus' ministry there came a point when many of His followers decided they couldn't hack it and they left Him. He asked His best friends if they, too, were going to leave him. "Simon Peter answered Him, 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life.'" John 6:68 (NASB) Jesus sent me as His follower on a mission with the words of eternal life.
My big question, what impact do my words make? I find that people encourage me all the time. I hear people encouraging others around me quite frequently. I too often say things I shouldn't, but God has reminded me frequently of late that I don't say what I should often enough. I have opportunity to influence at least one person with the words of Jesus every week. I think lots of positive things about the people I am privileged to work and serve with, but I rarely voice them. Maybe I think they don't need it. Maybe I am afraid of sounding fake - I'm not an effusive person by nature.
Words have power and I am going to perservere until I use that power well. I am determined to become an effective encourager - to those who are along for the journey of faith and for those who have yet to leave the darkness and join the fight to overcome it.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
A Leap of Faith
After a month of marriage, and a little prompting from my friend, Michael, I am ready to update the story. Married for a month. Wow! It doesn't seem like it has been that long already. Time really does fly when you're having fun! The honeymoon, planned entirely by my husband, was fantastic - a carefree week in beautiful Jackson Hole, Wyoming driving a red covertible mustang.
On the one hand, marriage is normal - pretty much everybody does it. It's also a sure thing when you do it God's way. On the other hand, it is a leap of faith. Lots of marriages fail - even among Christ followers divorce is shockingly common. Couples who everyone thinks have the "perfect marriage" go under all too regularly. One person or the other just decides to give up. Sometimes circumstances feel overwhelming and it's just too hard to be responsible for taking care of another person. Whatever the reason, everyone has a choice. Martina McBride's song Anyway talks about this. "You can love someone with all your heart, for all the right reasons, and in a moment they can choose to walk away. Love them anyway." That's powerful. Marriage is the ultimate vulnerability.
This past month, which has been crazy - trying to settle in at home, getting the hay in on the farms and still spending quality time together - has only increased my love for this wonderful man God has given me. He is truly a prince among men - a rare find. I know myself all too well and I know that I don't deserve how God has blessed me, but I do believe that He has honored my waiting. There are a lot of things that I have not done well in life, but in this one thing I have been very intentional and patient and have pursued God's best by actively waiting on His plan.
In this month of marital bliss, I have discovered the princess in me in new ways. A wise woman once told me that a godly husband would work to bring out the femininity that God put in my heart, and I have found this to be true. I also have found something that my warrior heart can fight for passionately - my husband. What does the battle look like? Sometimes it's washing his work shirts or fixing his lunch, sometimes it's listening to his frustration over the hay crop that wasn't as good as he wanted it be and sometimes it's just telling him that I love him.
So, this leap of faith called marriage - it's a good one! With the vulnerability also comes security - the knowledge that we won't be one of the shocking stories of failure. He knows all my dirt and he loves me. He's a lot like God. Actually, he is a daily reminder of how God loves me - unconditionally. Wow!
On the one hand, marriage is normal - pretty much everybody does it. It's also a sure thing when you do it God's way. On the other hand, it is a leap of faith. Lots of marriages fail - even among Christ followers divorce is shockingly common. Couples who everyone thinks have the "perfect marriage" go under all too regularly. One person or the other just decides to give up. Sometimes circumstances feel overwhelming and it's just too hard to be responsible for taking care of another person. Whatever the reason, everyone has a choice. Martina McBride's song Anyway talks about this. "You can love someone with all your heart, for all the right reasons, and in a moment they can choose to walk away. Love them anyway." That's powerful. Marriage is the ultimate vulnerability.
This past month, which has been crazy - trying to settle in at home, getting the hay in on the farms and still spending quality time together - has only increased my love for this wonderful man God has given me. He is truly a prince among men - a rare find. I know myself all too well and I know that I don't deserve how God has blessed me, but I do believe that He has honored my waiting. There are a lot of things that I have not done well in life, but in this one thing I have been very intentional and patient and have pursued God's best by actively waiting on His plan.
In this month of marital bliss, I have discovered the princess in me in new ways. A wise woman once told me that a godly husband would work to bring out the femininity that God put in my heart, and I have found this to be true. I also have found something that my warrior heart can fight for passionately - my husband. What does the battle look like? Sometimes it's washing his work shirts or fixing his lunch, sometimes it's listening to his frustration over the hay crop that wasn't as good as he wanted it be and sometimes it's just telling him that I love him.
So, this leap of faith called marriage - it's a good one! With the vulnerability also comes security - the knowledge that we won't be one of the shocking stories of failure. He knows all my dirt and he loves me. He's a lot like God. Actually, he is a daily reminder of how God loves me - unconditionally. Wow!
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