Do words really matter? Does the true meaning of words really matter? Does it matter how we use words, when we say them, and to whom we attribute them?

The Holy Spirit of God inspired King David to write:

Our Savior Jesus Christ, when He was here, said:

It is apparent that according to God, words are very important; how we use them, what we mean by them, when we say them and to whom we attribute them. After all, it is also written in Scripture through the Apostle John that:

Jesus Himself is the Word of God. God chose to reveal Himself to us through His Word; through His spoken and written word. Through God's word (the holy Scriptures), the Holy Spirit leads us into understanding the deep mysteries of God that the world cannot understand or fathom.

So why then as Christians are we not more careful about our words? Why are we not more considerate about how we use them, when we say them, what we actually mean by them and to whom we attribute them? I believe it is for various reasons we are all familiar with - yours truly included. Most of which, is that we're just not really paying close attention to our words or the attitude of our hearts when we speak.

We'll only take a look at two (2) most commonly misused words in the English language amongst Christians and unbelievers alike:

AWESOME

Personally, I know I have misused words often because I'm excited, or want to express that excitement to others. For example, prior to about 6 years ago, I used to use the word "AWESOME" all the time. I would use this word to describe my elation or simple enjoyment from something or someone. If I liked a person and really enjoyed my time with them, I would say, "Oh, you're so AWESOME!". If I liked something they did or said, or wanted to share a particular experience I had that I truly enjoyed, I'd say, "Wow, that was AWESOME!".

I stopped using this word, except to attribute it to God, or the things of God, the day a precious sister kindly rebuked me when I told her I thought her teaching was "AWESOME!". She gently said to me, "Sunny, I thank you for your encouragement. But I assure you that neither my teaching nor anything about me is AWESOME." I argued with her and tried to share with her why I was right. She patiently listened, then said, "Sunny, do you really understand what "awesome" means?" I told her, "Not really. I hadn't ever really thought about it." But I took a stab at it anyway and said, "Does it mean exceptional or really wonderful?" She lovingly said, "No. The word awesome means, 'to inspire awe'. So then we have to look at the definition of the word "awe". Awe means, 'an overwhelming feeling of reverence, admiration, fear, etc., produced by that which is grand, sublime, extremely powerful, or the like'. So, Sunny, let me ask you another question. Do you agree with me that by the true definition of this word, only God and His magnificent works is truly worthy of being called awesome? I mean, is there anything or anyone in this world that you have every truly felt was so grand, so wonderful, so magnificent that you were in awe of them or what they had done? Because if that's the case, then we have another problem to discuss." I had to concede, she was right and I was wrong.

God alone is awesome. God alone causes me to stand in awe, breathless, and totally overwhelmed by His grandeur.

I shared this wonderful truth with my family, and since that day, none of us ever apply or attribute the word "AWESOME" to anything or anyone except God and His wondrous works.

All throughout Scripture, the only time God applies the word "awesome", He uses it only as an attribute of Himself or to describe His magnificent works. Therefore, as His children, why should we carelessly use this word to describe anyone or anything else except God?

GOOD

I've often used this word to mean "nice". But the LORD our God has been so gracious to reveal to me that the words "nice" and "GOOD" do not mean the same thing.

nice adj. - pleasing; agreeable; delightful

good adj. - morally excellent or perfect; virtuous; righteous; pious

With understanding the true definitions of the words "good" and "nice" I realized I could no longer use them interchangeably and, I perceived better why my Lord Jesus said,

It always perplexed me that Jesus said that; being that He IS God, why did He question the man who called Him "good"? I never understood fully, until I accurately understood what "good" meant.

When I finally grasped the true meaning of this overly misused word, I finally understood why Jesus thought it very important to first clarify this man's definition of the word "good" before He continued to speak with him. Jesus wanted to make sure that the man who called Him "good" was attributing this word to Him only because this man recognized Jesus to be God, and not merely a "nice" man or for the sake of flattery.

Anytime God stops the flow of a conversation (or even a listing of genealogy to clarify something, i.e., Genesis 5:22) it is always "good" to pray, ask and listen to the Holy Spirit as He leads you into all truth (John 14:26); so that we might understand and know Him more, in order to love Him better.

From this wonderful teaching of the Holy Spirit, I began to only use the word "good' when speaking of God or the things of God. Therefore, I've taught my sons:

"Anything absent of God, is absent of good; since God alone is good.

Till this day, I still ask my sons, "Did you have a 'good' day or 'nice' day?" And they know exactly what I mean. :-)

Things to consider:

...we found a little something...a parasitic infection, caused by the Giardia parasite.

I was put on an antibiotic to clear up the infection. It is finished. :-)

Now, I want to write only a short note on my current physical state, only to share with those who have been faithfully praying and have asked for an update. I left the Mayo Clinic a couple of weeks ago, not knowing much more about my declining health, why I was in the hospital this past June and why I have Vitamin B12 and Vitamin D deficiencies. We did find out however, that I will need to continue with testings to discover the underlying causes of all these conditions, but it would take some time...by the process of elimination. :-)

My doctors here will be working with my doctors at the Mayo Clinic since I can do most of the testing here and just have it mailed to the Mayo Clinic. Being able to be with my family is wonderful! And I'm so grateful to God for allowing all (or most...for now) testing to be done here! Our God is so good!

On Wednesday, we discovered that after a 4-week regimen of B12 shots, my B12 level is still low, which is abnormal. Normally, a 4-week regimen brings a person to a normal level and then monthly B12 shots are administered for life. But this did not happen with me. The 4-week regimen only boosted my B12 level by 47 points rather than hundreds, or more hopefully, a thousand. So my doctors are looking at other tests that may need to be performed to figure out why my body will not hold B12. Therefore, I am still feeling sick, weak, tired and still have my abdominal pains, memory & concentration problems, etc. But at the end of the day...I STILL HAVE JESUS! So all is well! ♥

"Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God."
~ 1 Peter 4:1-2

In the passage above, the Apostle Peter is talking about suffering physically for the name of Christ. Whether this physical suffering comes by the hand of evil and wicked people who beat those who trust in the name of Jesus, or whether by Satan who tempts us to curse the name of God (like our enemy did with Job) because of our physical suffering. The Lord has kindly and mercifully allowed me to experience both.

For 13 years of my life, the Lord our God allowed me to suffer violent physical abuse with a 2' x 4', anything out of the tool box, had my head put through walls & bashed repeatedly against doors, whipped with anything in sight, thrown down stairs, punched, kicked, etc. and afterward, thrown outside for hours; in rain, heat, snow or any weather, in order to shame me and display me before the public, half naked, beaten and bleeding, in the hopes that I would obey the commands of man rather than the commands of God. All my beatings lasted for hours; until my abuser no longer had strength to beat me. Why? Mostly, but not entirely, because I was the only Christian in my household and refused to bow down to idols (that is, dead ancestors), lie, deny Christ as my Savior and God as my God. I was the youngest of three and rejected by all.

Through it all, God was so gracious to part the "red sea" before me daily. Although it seemed that I was trapped by my enemy who relentlessly pursued me and the great "sea" of childhood that limited me from providing my own escape from my enemy's wrath; God daily made a way, where there was no way. God constantly provided me protection, both physically (as no bone was ever broken) and spiritually (as He saved my wretched soul when I was four) and mentally (as I have no desire and never had to beat my own children). If God had not intervened, I should now, either be dead in my transgressions and suffering eternally in Hell, or I should be crippled somehow - but I am not; in any way, shape or form. Hallelujah! Glory be to the Lamb!

In God's righteous love, His justice and His mercy prevailed in my life then, still does now, and will forevermore. Because of God's immeasurable kindness and compassion towards me, He has reconciled me to most of my abusers and has sown peace where it was impossible for man...but nothing is impossible for God.

And now, our enemy Satan continues to scheme against me so that I might deny the name of my Savior. Our enemy continues to tempt me to curse the name of our good and great God by once again, attacking my body with various diseases for the past six (6) years. And once again, God does not restrain His mercy from me, instead, He causes His steadfast love and faithfulness to ever preserve me! [Psalm 40:11]

And here is what my all my physical afflictions have accomplished: the strengthening of my faith, trust and dependence of God alone; it has caused me to cling even more tightly to my Savior, ignite my heart to worship Him continually and desire His will, His way and His presence greater than anything in this world. Our enemy, Satan has desired to cause me such physical grief so that I might be overcome with worry, despair and endless study of my body, medicine, etc. so that I might seek out some kind of deliverance for myself. But NO! I still see myself as that poor and needy child. Frail and alone, looking only to the Great One, the Holy One of Israel, the LORD God Almighty to save me and deliver me from all my troubles. For as a child, I am incapable of delivering myself from anything. But my God, my Heavenly Father, who has adopted me into His royal priesthood is able to do all things good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. And my God has promised that He has already delivered me [Psalm 40:1-2]; therefore, I choose to live in that deliverance and not in my present and temporary circumstances. The promises of God are eternal and what I can presently see and feel are only temporal [2 Corinthians 4:16-18].

May the God of glory bring you His eternal peace and His eternal comfort as you seek Him with a pure heart, so that you might be directed in His love, and in the steadfastness of our Lord Jesus Christ.

To God be the glory alone, forever and ever! Amen and Amen.

When we don't get everything we want here on earth; whether it be physical healing or physical, emotional, mental and even spiritual comforts, we must always remember that no man, nor anything in all creation can thwart God's perfect plans.

Therefore, when we find ourselves in situations where God seemingly has not answered, or has provided us with an answer we did not desire, we must maintain in what we DO know with confidence, rather than give into the fears of speculation and appointing blame on one another. Instead, we, as children of the Most High God know for CERTAIN that God is good and His timing is impeccably perfect and we can never fully understand all of His awesome and lofty ways. With this knowledge, we can move out of our fears of temporary discomforts and move forward into what we were made for: to worship and give honor, praise and glory to the King of kings and the Lord of lords!

When we are saddened by God's answers, we mustn't give into the blame game; instead, as God's children, holy and dearly loved, we must say to our souls, "What lesson is here for me to learn Lord? I am your child, and I am listening."

No matter what may come our way, may we always rejoice that God is God and we are not! ♥

Join me today in this praise of our awesome Heavenly Father and God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, by the power of His Holy Spirit.