Words to Heal

The tongue that heals is a tree of life, but a devious tongue breaks the spirit. – (Proverbs 15:4, HCSB)

Kind words are like a life-giving tree, but lying words will crush your spirit. – (Proverbs 15:4, ERV)

A word of encouragement heals the one who receives it, but a deceitful word breaks the spirit. – (Proverbs 15:4, VOICE)

There is something to be said about encouraging words. They truly give life in the midst of difficulty, especially when the one who extends encouragement is genuine. Conversely, devious or deceitful words can be devastating. As an educator, I am witness to both types of communication. Far too often, kids are speaking crushing words to one another. Intentionally, I choose to speak encouragement at every opportunity possible, as my hope is to combat the negative messages they are receiving. The thing is, words have the power to bring life or destruction to all of us. I imagine we all can recall the way words have impacted us. Even if I do not recall the specific things that those who have spoken life-giving words to me said when I needed it most, I do remember how their kindness made me feel. My hope is that I can extend the same to the people whom God places along my path. May we ever seek the Lord to show us how to offer encouragement to those around us that is life-giving. 

O Lord, help us speak,

Though I have no recollection of what he said, it is clear how his words made me feel. ❤

Encouraging words;

Words that offer life,

That love may be heard.

Please silence the thoughts,

That need not a voice;

Words that would bring harm,

Let love be our choice.

Lead us in Your love,

To speak as You would;

To lift, encourage,

Choose highlight the good.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that words have the power to encourage and build up. Thank You that as we seek You, You give us words to speak and eyes to see where it is needed most. Forgive us for the times that we have spoken words that have done harm. Show us how to silence the words that wield wounds, and to speak the healing words that You place on our hearts to encourage those around us. Lead us to love people as You do, and use our words to bring light and life and joy. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You to show us ways to offer encouragement and speak life into the lives of those around us. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you – they are full of the Spirit and life. – John 6:63 (Jesus was our ultimate example of life-giving words)

Hope Deferred and Dreams Fulfilled

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life. – (Proverbs 13:12, NLT)

Hope that is delayed makes you sad, but a wish that comes true fills you with joy. – (Proverbs 13:12, ERV)

Hope delayed makes the heart sick; longing fulfilled is a tree of life. – (Proverbs 13:12, CEB)

 

Hope is a powerful thing, as it reminds our hearts that things will turn out for the best. When something comes along and interrupts our hope, the heaviness that hangs in our hearts can make us feel sad to the point of sickness. However, just the opposite is true when we delight in a dream fulfilled. The joy that floods our hearts makes hope soar as we witness what we’ve longed for come to fruition. Presently, I am in a paradoxical position. One hope that I was holding was dolefully dashed yesterday, yet daily, I am in the midst of walking out a dream being fulfilled and am experiencing joy and blessings that my heart has not known before. God is good, even so, and we have to recognize that He can use both the hopes dashed and dreams fulfilled to bless and encourage those around us as we walk forward in faith, trusting in His goodness. May we rise up in assurance, holding fast to the One in whom all hope dwells, as He is the fulfiller of dreams and granter of joy.

 

When hope is deferred,

Photo by Dee Jones of Open Door Photography ❤

Heaviness does dwell;

For dreams that are dashed,

Make the heart unwell.

Yet, dreams that come true,

Bring life and great joy;

Our longings fulfilled,

New faith to employ.

Both dashed dreams and joy,

Are places for good;

For His love’s made known,

His peace understood.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are with us when hopes are dashed and when dreams are fulfilled. Thank You that Your grace and love remain with us through it all. Thank You that You can use both to bless and encourage those around us, as our story is an opportunity to demonstrate Your faithfulness. Forgive us for allowing the heaviness of our disappointment in a hope deferred to weigh us down too long. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would grieve our loss and seek comfort in You. Show us how to encourage those in a space of deferred hope, so that they may see fulfillment in You. May many come into a lasting relationship with You, as You are the One who truly fills our hearts with joy as the granter of new life. Be glorified O God, as we hold fast to our hope in You, no matter what comes and goes around us. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. – Proverbs 11:25

Wisdom is the Path to Peace

She (wisdom) will guide you down delightful paths; all her ways are satisfying. Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tightly. – (Proverbs 3:17-18, NLT)

Her ways are pleasant; all her paths are peaceful. She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who hold her tight are happy. – (Proverbs 3:17-18, CEB)

 

Solomon was speaking of the wisdom that comes from God. When we seek Him and ask for His wisdom and understanding, He provides insight and the path to peace. As we pursue His ways and hold fast to His leading, light and life are revealed to us according to His perfect plan, and the peace of God becomes known as we follow the way He has shown. True satisfaction is found in knowing that we are holding fast to that which we have been called to do, and walking in the way in which He is leading. May we seek the Lord’s wisdom all of our days, and hold tightly to the path which He provides.

 

When we seek the Lord,

He’s faithfully found;

He’ll answer requests,

Grant wisdom that’s sound.

Wisdom from the Lord,

Is life to all who;

Choose to embrace her,

Obey, follow through.

Happy are all those,

Who hold tight to these;

And follow His paths,

As they lead to peace.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that when we seek You and Your wisdom, You show us Your ways and grant us Your wisdom. Thank You that Your ways are pleasant and Your paths are peaceful. Thank You that Your wisdom is life to all who embrace that which You provide. Thank You that happiness is found in listening to the wisdom that You provide. Forgive us for not seeking Your wisdom to know which way we are meant to go, or for choosing to go our own way despite Your leading. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would listen and obey, regardless of what You say, as all Your ways are good and lead us on the path to Your perfect peace. Show us how to love those around us with Your wisdom, so that we share light and life in places that are dark and lacking. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek Your wisdom to lead us in all Your ways. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Father, I thank You that You have heard me. – John 11:41

Receive Life

Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. – (Revelation 22:14, NIV)

 

Great blessings belong to those who have washed their robes. They will have the right to eat the food from the tree of life. They can go through the gates into the city. – (Revelation 22:14, ERV)

 

Our “robes” are washed, when we receive what Christ freely offers. We are cleansed by the sacrifice He made for our sin, when He suffered and died in our place. If we embrace what He lovingly gives, and choose to follow Him all of our days, we will be granted entry into Christ’s eternal presence, and allowed to eat from that which people were previously not permitted. All that is good, right, lovely, holy and true, will be the eternal surroundings of those who have chosen to make Jesus the Lord of their lives. Imagine a day when God’s glory alone is what lights our surroundings so brilliantly, that there is no longer need for the sun, nor lamps, nor any other source of light. May we receive what Christ has to offer, and allow His healing hands to cleanse us from all of our unrighteousness.

 

Our garments worn,

surrounding our heart;

showing what dwells,

in the deepest part.

We all have stains,

wrinkles and some scars;

yet Christ calls us,

to come as we are.

The miracle,

of His great mercy;

and grace for us,

cleanses and makes clean.

Where blemishes,

were once dominant;

His love is seen,

light so radiant.

Not by our works,

but by His great grace;

we must receive,

as we seek His face.

Imagine when,

our days here are done;

the welcoming,

by Father and Son.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that when we seek You, we find You, if we seek You with our whole heart. Thank You that You forgive us and cleanse us, washing us clean, as if we had never sinned. Forgive us for either taking Your grace for granted, or for somehow thinking that Your grace is not enough to cover what we have done. Teach us to have a proper perspective of who You are, and what You have done for us. May we love others well, as You so lavishly love us, and may many come to know the glorious gift of Your forgiveness and grace as a result. Be glorified O God, as we receive what You offer, and walk in the fullness of Your grace. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

Father, I thank You that You have heard me. – John 11:41

Wearing White Robes

“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.” – Revelation 22:14

The washing of the robes is the symbolic cleansing of ourselves from sin.  It comes only through our asking and receiving that which Jesus has freely given by His great grace.  Going “through the gates into the city”, is our promised entry into eternity with Him, for all who believe and receive Him in our hearts.  I imagine “the tree of life”, though it was once the one thing not allowed in the garden with God, even that, will be ours to take part in, because of the perfect sacrifice given by our Savior, and by the defeat and destruction that will come to the deceiver.  Blessed indeed, will be every believer, on that great and glorious day when we are welcomed into our eternal home with Him!

As we arrive at this eve of yet another new year, it is good to both reflect upon what He has done, and anticipate what He will do.  I tend not to make resolutions, but rather resolve to continue to passionately pursue Christ to the best of my ability, daily, leaning not on my own understanding, but on His, and trust that He will continue to lead, guide and direct my every step in the direction He wants me to go.  A year and a half ago, I would have never have believed that I would willingly make what God places on my heart in writing, publicly available for so many to access.  Though it is still a bit intimidating, I never question His faithfulness to meet me each morning and whisper His words to my heart as I study His word.  He has held my hand and guarded my heart, as I have been grown and encouraged, challenged and loved well by both Him and the hearts of His people in this kind and loving community.

A very blessed 2013 to you all as we wait, wearing our freshly washed robes of white – for we are His, and He is preparing a place for us, far greater than our minds can conceive.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You sent Your Son to be the perfect sacrifice for all of our sin.  Please forgive us and help us to embrace the grace You give so that we may wrap ourselves in Your robes of white.  Thank You that we are blessed with the assurance of knowing the ultimate outcome, regardless of how things appear right now.  May this new year bring bountiful opportunities to be a blessing on Your behalf.  May many come to know You in this new year.  Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Small Seed to Spacious Shade

photo by idontbelieveingrammar

“It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground.  Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade.” – Mark 4:31-32

What this passage brought to mind this morning is the passage that speaks of faith the size of a mustard seed moving mountains.  Faith, like the seed, when planted in the heart by God, and watered in the word, grows exponentially and fuels the fight to remain in Him.  As faith grows, it encourages others and provides a place of safety and security, in total trust of our Savior.

Have you ever noticed how people flock to those whose faith is firm?  The confidence that is carried through the crucifixion of Christ on the cross, calls faith to rise up, as He is the founder and finisher of our faith.  When we fix our eyes securely on Him, He tends to the tree that is each of us, growing in His garden of grace; and provides a place of shelter in the storm, as our roots run deeper in Him.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that Your word and the small seeds of faith that find way to our hearts can be cultivated into something big,

photo by values.com

bold and beautiful in You.  May our faith be firmly founded in Your word, by Your Spirit, and may what it produces provide the path to peace and purpose in You.  Forgive us for fearing that our small seeds are not nearly enough, and help us to remember our Resource who can move mountains in but a moment.  Teach us to trust You to tend our tree.  Trim away all that hinders us, water us with Your wonderful word, and breathe abundant life into each of us by Your Spirit, so that we might bear good fruit.  May our faith be firm, and may friends, family and foe alike, seek salvation and security brought forth by the big branches that reach to restless hearts.  Lead us in love and grow our faith.  Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present