May 20, 2025

The Power of Words–Blessings and Curses

I had read it before, the Bible story about Moses and the 12 tribes on the mount of blessings and curses. It finally sunk in this time. The story in the Bible in Deuteronomy 27-28 of how Moses commanded the 12 tribes of Israel to go stand on two mountains that were side by side.

“That day Moses charged the people, saying ‘When you have crossed over the Jordan, these shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. And these shall stand on Mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.'” –Deuteronomy 27:11-14.

The curses are spelled out in the remainder of Deuteronomy 27. Then the beautiful blessings are detailed in Deuteronomy 28. I had even heard some of those blessings in a marriage ceremony for one of my friends years ago.

It wasn’t until I went to Israel and actually saw Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal side by side in Schechm that the magnitude of the 2400-year-old blessings and curses sank in. Although the mountains are side by side, the difference in the terrain and topography are stark. Mount Gerizim, the mountain of blessings, is lush and green, full of bushes, trees and plants. Mount Ebal, the mountain of curses right beside it, is arid, lifeless, no vegetation of plants thriving and growing.

Mt. Gerizim thrives and Mt. Ebal is desolate

The message immediately hit me of the power of our words. The generations later of speaking blessings, sincere compliments and building up others shows the effects with growth and a thriving environment. The generations later of speaking curses and tearing down people shows the effects with death and desert.

Following this passage is the powerful declaration in Deutoronomy 30 to choose life. “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.” –Deuteronomy 30:19-20 ESV. 

Reflect:

How has the power of words impacted you? Which mountain are you on because of them?

How does this message impact how you speak and the power of your words?

Lord, forgive me for the times I have spoken any curses or negativity in my words.  Lord, as Deuteronomy 30:19 says, may I always choose life in all that I do and say. I pray for your favor in fertilizing the power of my words, so that each word produces growth and multiplies in a green, lush environment for generations to come. In Jesus’ name, by the Power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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May 13, 2025

Confessions of Trying to Live Healthy– 7 Supplements/Vitamins for Increasing Your Faith

The older I get, the more I am focused on eating healthy, exercising and trying to take better care of my body, mind, soul and spirit. For so much of my life I had not focused on healthy eating.

Reading a chapter or two in my Bible each day has also been another way to strengthen my body, mind, soul and spirit.

Recently I read through 2 Peter, and I could tell they were unread pages in my Bible.  I was blown away by what I read in 2 Peter 1. It says it all. I’m quoting straight from the Bible.

The passage in my Bible is entitled “Confirm Your Calling and Election.”

 His divine power has granted to us ALL things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with

  1. Virtue, and virtue with
  2. Knowledge,  and knowledge with
  3. Self-control, and self-control with
  4. Steadfastness, and steadfastness with
  5. Godliness, and godliness with
  6. Brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with
  7. Love.  (I added the numbers for emphasis of 7 supplements). 

For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 

Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.–2 Peter 1:3-8 ESV. 

Isn’t that amazing? How straightforward can it get? Just like I consume daily multi-vitamins and supplements to boost my immune system and health, the Lord provides seven supplements for us to increase our faith.

1.Virtue, like integrity;

2. Knowledge to keep learning, reading, listening to podcasts;

3. Self-control, like discipline (which is also a Fruit of the Holy Spirit);

4. Steadfastness to persevere;

5. Godliness in an effort to try to sin less and be more like Jesus;

6. Brotherly affection, being kind to everyone; and

7. LOVE. God is love. The Great Commandment is to Love God and Love each other.

May we live out every day with our seven supplements of faith. You Shine! Love you.

Reflect:

How are you living out these supplements of faith today? Too hard? Easy?

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May 6, 2025

Ode to Moms

With just five days before Mother’s Day, let’s ponder our moms for a bit.  What are you planning to do honor your Mom?

This Mother’s Day, let’s try something different. Let’s try to write at least 30 memories or characteristics you’re grateful for with your Mom. Then write or type them, cut them into slips of paper, and give to her for Mother’s Day in a little box. She can enjoy reading a month of encouragement over and over, one for each day. This is what I have done for my Mom, and she LOVED it. She still has the box in her bedroom.

This blog or box simply cannot contain my gratitude. The following are the first 11 Mom gratitude memories:

1) Thank you for praying for me for years before I was even conceived. Since my only brother Jamie is 12 years older than me, you said you suffered miscarriages and complications as you and Dad tried for more children after Jamie. You were about to give up when you found out you were pregnant with me.  Thanks be to God for His plan and His timing. Thank you for being my Mom.

2) Thank you for serving as a room mother in elementary school and chaperoning our field trips.

3) Thank you for dancing and for teaching me to dance. I always loved watching you and your brothers, your family shag dancing to beach music at my grandmother’s home growing up. I remember after Thanksgiving meals that the men would push aside the dinner table to create a large dance floor, perfect for dancing and making a “Soul Train”  line. We had so much fun. Watching you dance is a joy.

4) Thank you for displaying the Fruit of the Spirit each day and showing me Jesus’ unconditional love through you. “But the fruit of the Spirit IS (that means all one fruit) love, joy, peace, patience kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and  self-control. Against such things there is no law.” –Galatians 5:22-23 NIV

5) Thank you for showing me your encouraging, Barnabas personality. You are the Peacemaker in our extended family and Dad’s family and have such a magnetic personality with your friends. Youa re well respected and well loved.

6) Thank you for attending all my home and away basketball and volleyball games in high school.  Sometimes you and Dad were two of a few parents.

7) Thank you for the example of your well-read, well-worn Bible that shows to me and to anyone how “Thy Word is a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path.” Psalm 119:105.  If we may be the only Bible someone may ever read, you radiate the Word. “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” John 1:14a NIV

8) Thank you for making me have a curfew, even though I didn’t appreciate it at the time. I so respect the healthy rules and boundaries you set for me growing up. You set them with love.

9) Thank you for teaching me the love of flowers and God’s majesty. I appreciate that you asked me growing up to “dead-head” our 100+ roses each day after school in our garden. I will always remember the wonderful fragrance of roses in every room of our home growing up–what a gift.

10) Thank you for letting me go away to college out of state to Appalachian State University. I know it was a sacrifice for our family to pay the higher tuition. I appreciate the investment and pray you know in my heart it was worth every penny.

11) Thank you for giving me the grace and freedom and wide open space to fail and succeed, knowing you would love me unconditionally.  You are the best cheerleader and encourager I know.

Do you struggle with this upcoming holiday?  Some have beloved Moms who are in heaven. Some struggle with their relationship with their Mom. If either is the case, my hearts hurts as yours does. I encourage you to seek out an older lady in your life who can or currently serves as a mentor to you. Please consider honoring her for Mother’s Day. Some Moms are blood-related. Others are related by the blood of Jesus.

Reflect:

–How do you plan to honor your Mom for Mother’s Day? Please comment.

Renew:

–“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” –Exodus 20:12 NIV

–“Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopus), and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw His mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, ‘Dear woman, here is your son.’ And he said to this disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ And from then on this disciple took her into his home.” –John 19-25-27 NLT

Recharge:

–Which mentor lady in your life will you show appreciation for?

—“All I am I owe to my Mother.” –Abraham Lincoln

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