So Much to Say

So Much to Say

Acts 20: ⁷ On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. ⁸ There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. ⁹ Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. ¹⁰ Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!” ¹¹ Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. ¹² The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.

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After returning from the day at the amusement park, I was elated. This was my first time visiting the wonderful, fun-filled location. The next day I went over a friend’s house. I had so much to say. Somehow I spoke on the subject for hours because we shared our varied experiences.

• There have been times when I was so excited about something, that I could speak for hours.
• There have been times when I sat with a group of people who were just as excited about the thing I was excited about.
• There have been times when I talked for hours on a subject simply because I was amazed.

Paul was about to leave so a group of people ate with him while he spoke. By now, Paul had been rescued by GOD on many occasions, so he had a lot to say. Eutychus, may have been excited, but was extremely tired.

While tragedy happened when he fell out the window and died, Paul proved the power of GOD by raising him from the dead. The humorous part of the story is Paul now had even more to say.

• GOD wants me to have an abundant life.
• GOD wants me to speak about past experiences I’ve had with HIM.
• GOD wants me to seek new experiences with HIM, telling people about JESUS along the way.

Believing in JESUS is a wonderful start to an abundant life. I mean, it is the belief that changed my life into a person who seeks GOD daily. The rotten situations that I go through turn into testimonies of GOD’s power. I have nothing to brag about, only praise for JESUS who gave me purpose.

• Do you have an abundant life with GOD?
• What experiences have you had that people need to hear about?
• Will you tell people about the situations GOD has brought you through so they can do the same with others?

Words of Encouragement

Daniel 10: ¹⁸ Again the one who looked like a man touched me and gave me strength. ¹⁹ “Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed,” he said. “Peace! Be strong now; be strong.”

When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength.”

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Worried that a patch would fall off I shrunk in embarrassment. Moments later a gentleman from another country approached me. I could not help but think of the shoddy sewing job I had done placing the patches randomly on my garment. “I like your sash, you must be very important!” the man said to me. “Did you hear what he said?” I exclaimed. My countenance changed to bright and cheery and I could no longer see the dangling patches.

• Sometimes I worry about the little things.
• Sometimes I think someone is looking at me the wrong way.
• Sometimes I wondered if yet another person was talking about me.

“Sticks and stones can break my bones but words will never hurt me” was a saying someone tried to teach me, but words do hurt if said in a poisonous way. Words can also heal in an amazing way.  Strangers have walked up to me with encouraging words that absolutely made my day turn from grey and gloomy to bright and sunny.

• GOD wants me to encourage people.
• GOD wants me to tell people they “can” do it instead of listing all the reasons they can’t.
• GOD wants me to enable “Peace” and “Strength” with encouraging words.

When the angel spoke to Daniel he only said a few words, but they were words of encouragement. Immediately Daniel received the words and felt at “Peace” while getting “Stronger” and “Stronger” each second. People can zap my energy with their words of worry and doubt while others can fill me up with encouragement to reach new heights.

I choose to encourage people through their most difficult times, knowing that GOD can do anything HE desires. I put my trust in the LORD.

• Are you down?
• Do you feel bad about yourself?
• Can you hear these important words that you are “Wonderfully” made by GOD and no one can do what HE has you doing?
• Will you place your trust in GOD so HE can fulfill HIS mighty purpose through you today?

Death or Life

Isaiah 38: ⁴ Then the word of the Lord came to Isaiah: ⁵ “Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life. ⁶ And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city.

⁷ “‘This is the Lord’s sign to you that the Lord will do what he has promised: ⁸ I will make the shadow cast by the sun go back the ten steps it has gone down on the stairway of Ahaz.’” So the sunlight went back the ten steps it had gone down.

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“What would you do if you only had two weeks to live?” were the words of the speaker at a conference I attended. Would you have “that” argument? Would you work as hard as you are working? Would you worry about what you are worrying about? All of these poignant questions got to me.

• Sometimes I get caught up in the speed of life.
• Sometimes I think I will live on this earth forever.
• Sometimes I think I have plenty of time so I can do “it” later.

After that conference I had to ponder, am I living my life with purpose? I mean work certainly got the bulk of my time. Was I providing poison or fruit to people? Hezekiah was going to die, BUT GOD told him he had fifteen more years to live. What would I do in this situation?

• GOD wants me to live an abundant life.
• GOD wants me to focus on HIM as much as I can during the time I am living.
• GOD wants me to speak of life not death.

Why waste time speaking about negative things? There is only so much time in a given day and I have a choice. I can speak of death or I can speak of life. Death could equal bragging about money and clothes that rot, rust or moths eat. Life equals speaking about how GOD chose me in the middle of my sins, died because of my sins and has forgiven me of all my sins.

I can speak about “that” person in a poisonous way or I can pray they receive life and that GOD forgives me for thinking they need prayer.

• What would you do if you only had two weeks to live?
• Would you have “that” argument?
• Would your words be poison or fruit?
• Why not change your life and live as if you only had two weeks to live?
• Can you speak more about GOD and less about your problems?