Tag Archives: Computer

Stinkin’ Thinkin’

3 Oct

“. . . for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” Matthew 12:34 (KJV)

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God puts people in our lives to strengthen us, encourage us, challenge us and . . . correct us. That’s a tough one – correction. An action word that requires an action (I am corrected, therefore I must correct).

In our home we have a Swear Jar. If for some reason you feel a conversation isn’t complete without colorful expletives – you will visit the Swear Jar. Each transgression will reduce your pocket change by 25 cents. We buy water with the change from the Swear Jar and rarely have to add to the “oophs!” change within.

Most people honor the code, some language behaviors have been changed, some folks pre-pay (no, that doesn’t make it cheaper), and some outright refuse to participate. Over the years we’ve seen kids monitor their friends and fines are paid even when no adults are around.

One day I was working away at my computer and it started to give me trouble. No matter what I did I couldn’t get it to cooperate. “This stinkin’ computer,” I yelled.

Up pops a little voice from behind me, “Oh, Mom, you owe the jar a quarter.”

“What for,” I quipped back. “Stinkin’ isn’t a bad word.”

“It is when you say it in that tone of voice,” replied my 8 year old.

Busted! My heart broke and I was immediately filled with humility. I had broken my own rule. I had allowed the frustration of a day, an hour, a moment, to steal my joy and toss me into wrong standing.

How often do we use “safe” words when we’re angry or frustrated, only fooling ourselves? It isn’t the word we use, it’s the intent of the heart. It isn’t always “vulgarity” that gets us into trouble, but the emotion behind a common thought we feel we have a right to express.

But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. James 3:8 (KJV)

Lord, help me every day not only to tender the words I speak, but to tender the heart and emotions with which I speak them. Help me to be more like you.

✝

Written by Linda J. Humes

9-29-2009

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COMMUNICATION

13 Oct

Words, Actions, Prayers

 

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.   Psalms 19:14 (KJV)

Probably the most difficult challenge as human beings is communication. It would be simple if we could rely on verbal language to express everything we need to communicate, but words come with multiple meanings, sarcasm aside, and can only be truly understood with tone of voice and emotional body language.

As wonderful as email, texting and IMing is, it can be easily misunderstood. I’ve been told people don’t know if I’m angry or teasing in my emails, because they can’t hear my voice inflection; they can’t see the twinkle in the eye or the suppressed smile.

God gave us so much more to communicate with than mere words. God gave us emotions; explosive and tender. God gave us body movements to emphasize our words – but even more, God gave us touch. God gave us a tender caress, a gentle pat, a moment of understanding through direct eye contact that communicates far more than reams of paper could ever express. He gave us the ability to hold and comfort the broken, then jump and rejoice with the excited. He gave us the “parent face” to correct our children, and the “I love you” face that can be seen across crowds.

God also gave us the ability to communicate by our chosen actions. How much clearer can you communicate love than by handing a hungry child a plate of warm food? How clearer can you say you care than by putting a warm jacket or blanket around the shoulders of the homeless? How much clearer can you speak love and friendship than to sit quietly with one who grieves?

Greater yet is the communication that not only says “I care,” but says “My Father in Heaven cares and He is with you always.” Prayer is the ultimate communication because it opens the loves, desires, visions, joys, sadness, pains, illnesses, and brokenness to the one true God who can make a change. Prayer takes the situation directly to the throne room of God. We can pray alone and intercede. We can pray with the person individually. We can pray in a team or for the person in a circle. We can pray in corporate prayer, bombarding Heaving until the hand of God moves.

Communication is using the whole person (body, soul, spirit) to touch a whole person or community. It is not sterile words on a page. It is not long distance ministry – it can’t be. Communication is you and me and God intimately touching the world.

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Written 8-1-2010

 

** NOTE:  Since this was written we have been given the world of emojis and gifs!  That does help in texting and messaging, but there is still the issue with the email having a bit of confusion.

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