In lieu of a devotional today, I am offering up a challenge.
In the last 9 days I have attended two memorial services. In both cases the death was unexpected and surrounded by tragic circumstances. In both cases the person that left us to be with Jesus was a loving person who regularly demonstrated that love to others and therefore was greatly loved.
I know it is a bit cliché, but I am again reminded of our mortality and the unexpectedness of this life. It also reminded me that God has given us a very powerful gift. Our tongue. With it we have great power. The power to praise God. The power to demolish strongholds. The power to tear ourselves or another down. And the power to build up and strengthen, validate and encourage another person. The power to let them know that they are valuable to you; that your life is better for them being in it; that you appreciate something about them. This power can be directed toward a neighbor, a friend, a sibling, a parent, a spouse, a child, someone who lives in your house or around the world. This is an awesome power, let's not waste it!
The Challenge: Pick someone you like, someone you love, someone you appreciate and tell them so today! Tell them why. If you are a really inspired tell two people. If each person who receives our newsletter tells one person, that is 90 people for whom the day just got better.
If you choose to take this challenge, like this page below to let others reading this blog know you did.
Proverbs 16:24 (NKJV)
Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.
Proverbs 18:21 (NIV)
The tongue has the power of life and death,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Proverbs 25:11 (NKJV)
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold
In settings of silver.