Words
Sometimes i have been tempted to think that as long as you have communicated what you wanted to communicate it doesn't matter how you do it - or what words you use.
In fact, even in my band we sometimes communicate with each other in ways that would make no sense to any one else, either using our own words, or just "nothing" words. Like "can you put the thingys in the thingy please before you go" which makes sense in context (Can you put the plates in the dishwasher before you go), but could acutally mean a lot of things.. like can you put the cars in the garge please... or can you put the flames in the fire before you go... or can you put the bullets in the gun... etc.
And while that is fine in that context we mustn't forget that the words we use are so important.
I was at our music workshop night on wednesday and one of the young people called Katie (one of the helpers) a "chief" - now when people swear or use inappropriate language at the club we say stuff like "bryan, language!" ... which in this case I did. He looked so confused, and asked why i had told him off - well to me if you called some one a chief its an insult - but it seems to most other people its a compliment.
Even in my band to some of us its a compliment, and to others its an insult... so i can insult one of my band members while they think they are being complimented... genuis!
But it raises and interesting (and obvious point) that it is important to know what words to use in different places :-)
But so much more than know local meanings etc, it is important to be careful not to (ever) speak the wrong words over people.
Words are so powerful - any one who has been bullied know its.
When i was growing up the word "just" was so painful - i was "just" jeff - "oh look some ones coming, oh its just jeff" etc - and for ages that word hurt me. being "just" jeff made me feel i didn't matter.
Again at school i was called lots of hurtful things - and the problem is, if you tell people enough that they are something, you begin to believe it. And thats not good.
Over the last week or so Jesus has been talking to be about the use of words,
Jeremiah 15:19
Therefore this is what the LORD says: "If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman.
thats awesome.
Proverbs 18:21
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
and it also says:-
Luke 6:45
The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.
- thats scary.
Have you ever found yourself saying things that you'd rather not say? Ever thought about where they come from?
I think words can come from a number of different places
1) Jesus - when we get those amazing thoughts in our heads/hearts with just the right words to say to bring life and hope
2) Devil - when some words/thoughts pop in your head which are off the wall and not you at all and are wrong
and
3) Your heart - words which come from how you're feeling, and up out of all the things you listen to, and habits and patterns you've got in to.
If you play a computer game with a lot of swearing in it - its more likely you will use those words normally, or when something bad happens. If you are around people who use certain insults or phrases its likely you will pick those up as well.
In fact i've found that a lot here in my band - because we live, work and socalise together we all pick up each others phrases.... its funny... some thing will happen- and now random members of my band will say "you know what that means... it means that Jesus loves you" - which is one of my phrases... but also, if someone says something like "you look silly" then most will reply "your Mum" - because thats one phrase another member of my band uses all the time.
We need to guard our hearts - in fact it says in the bible -
Proverbs 4:23
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
and make sure that we don't get in to habits of speak that tear people down - but get in to habits of building people up - and of praising Jesus.
Another thing happened this week that made me think about words. Some one said to one of my friends that she just likes to think of herself as an artist.
That made me mad. She is an artist - as much as I am a drummer. or a band leader.
but it reminded me of how times i have spoken with people that someone has said something like that to them.
Things like "thats a dead dream" - about someones major passion and dream, which they are gifted in.
or
"you? a musician? you're not serious" - about a guy who is one of the best musicians i know.
In all those circumstances those people have felt totally hurt and rejected, and confused about what they are doing.
They have felt like, am I an artist? Is it a dead dream? Can i be a musician?
Which is exactly what the devil wants people to think - to doubt the gifts that God has given them, to doubt who they are, and to doubt the God who has made them.
The power of these words need to be broken. If i hear stuff like that i will often say this prayer out loud at the moment. "i break the power of those words in the name of Jesus" or something like that. But if you have had stuff spoken over you like that - get prayer.
The habits and the reasons for saying those words also needs to be dwelt with.
IF you have often found yourself saying stuff you don't like, or using certain words you don't think Jesus would like, then stop and think.
where are these words coming from? Do i need to get my heart sorted? And some unhelpful habits broken?
To many of us don't think enough about what we say and whether its right or wrong. And how it effects other people.
In fact, even in my band we sometimes communicate with each other in ways that would make no sense to any one else, either using our own words, or just "nothing" words. Like "can you put the thingys in the thingy please before you go" which makes sense in context (Can you put the plates in the dishwasher before you go), but could acutally mean a lot of things.. like can you put the cars in the garge please... or can you put the flames in the fire before you go... or can you put the bullets in the gun... etc.
And while that is fine in that context we mustn't forget that the words we use are so important.
I was at our music workshop night on wednesday and one of the young people called Katie (one of the helpers) a "chief" - now when people swear or use inappropriate language at the club we say stuff like "bryan, language!" ... which in this case I did. He looked so confused, and asked why i had told him off - well to me if you called some one a chief its an insult - but it seems to most other people its a compliment.
Even in my band to some of us its a compliment, and to others its an insult... so i can insult one of my band members while they think they are being complimented... genuis!
But it raises and interesting (and obvious point) that it is important to know what words to use in different places :-)
But so much more than know local meanings etc, it is important to be careful not to (ever) speak the wrong words over people.
Words are so powerful - any one who has been bullied know its.
When i was growing up the word "just" was so painful - i was "just" jeff - "oh look some ones coming, oh its just jeff" etc - and for ages that word hurt me. being "just" jeff made me feel i didn't matter.
Again at school i was called lots of hurtful things - and the problem is, if you tell people enough that they are something, you begin to believe it. And thats not good.
Over the last week or so Jesus has been talking to be about the use of words,
Jeremiah 15:19
Therefore this is what the LORD says: "If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman.
thats awesome.
Proverbs 18:21
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
and it also says:-
Luke 6:45
The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.
- thats scary.
Have you ever found yourself saying things that you'd rather not say? Ever thought about where they come from?
I think words can come from a number of different places
1) Jesus - when we get those amazing thoughts in our heads/hearts with just the right words to say to bring life and hope
2) Devil - when some words/thoughts pop in your head which are off the wall and not you at all and are wrong
and
3) Your heart - words which come from how you're feeling, and up out of all the things you listen to, and habits and patterns you've got in to.
If you play a computer game with a lot of swearing in it - its more likely you will use those words normally, or when something bad happens. If you are around people who use certain insults or phrases its likely you will pick those up as well.
In fact i've found that a lot here in my band - because we live, work and socalise together we all pick up each others phrases.... its funny... some thing will happen- and now random members of my band will say "you know what that means... it means that Jesus loves you" - which is one of my phrases... but also, if someone says something like "you look silly" then most will reply "your Mum" - because thats one phrase another member of my band uses all the time.
We need to guard our hearts - in fact it says in the bible -
Proverbs 4:23
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
and make sure that we don't get in to habits of speak that tear people down - but get in to habits of building people up - and of praising Jesus.
Another thing happened this week that made me think about words. Some one said to one of my friends that she just likes to think of herself as an artist.
That made me mad. She is an artist - as much as I am a drummer. or a band leader.
but it reminded me of how times i have spoken with people that someone has said something like that to them.
Things like "thats a dead dream" - about someones major passion and dream, which they are gifted in.
or
"you? a musician? you're not serious" - about a guy who is one of the best musicians i know.
In all those circumstances those people have felt totally hurt and rejected, and confused about what they are doing.
They have felt like, am I an artist? Is it a dead dream? Can i be a musician?
Which is exactly what the devil wants people to think - to doubt the gifts that God has given them, to doubt who they are, and to doubt the God who has made them.
The power of these words need to be broken. If i hear stuff like that i will often say this prayer out loud at the moment. "i break the power of those words in the name of Jesus" or something like that. But if you have had stuff spoken over you like that - get prayer.
The habits and the reasons for saying those words also needs to be dwelt with.
IF you have often found yourself saying stuff you don't like, or using certain words you don't think Jesus would like, then stop and think.
where are these words coming from? Do i need to get my heart sorted? And some unhelpful habits broken?
To many of us don't think enough about what we say and whether its right or wrong. And how it effects other people.
Jeremiah 15:19
Therefore this is what the LORD says: "If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman.
Therefore this is what the LORD says: "If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman.
posted by jeff at 10:40 AM
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