You remember how a significant part of our relationships are based on words?
Amy Seed sheds
more light on the power of encouraging words:
…It
got me thinking about other times in my life when encouraging words served a
great purpose. When I graduated from college and was unemployed for what felt
like forever, I found encouragement looking at appreciative notes I received
from editors and staff members over the years… be a blessing to someone this week by taking the time
to write him or her an encouraging note. Send a letter to a friend you haven't
talked to in a long time just to let them know you are thinking of them and
wishing them well. You never know what kind of difference it will make not only
in their day, but in their life.
In
other news, it turns out that fairly polite people in real life can turn
extremely rude online. An interesting post on Christian fellowship and words
would be this that
talks about taming the online
tongue. Have you ever taken time to read comments on posts and stories
online? You would be horrified, amused and just shocked to read what people say
to one another these days. Commenting on posts and articles has gone from just
dropping your thoughts and opinions to being the most brazen, rude and hateful
human being possible. It is worse on yahoo but sometimes, it isn’t much
different on Christian sites. I just go, “wao!”
Here
are clips from Denise Morris:
…at
other times, it was a mess of a place where people were getting into arguments
with strangers, using harsh language and expressing opinions in an unkind,
unproductive way. This was the online world — free of faces, body language
and social cues. People said what they wanted in whatever way they wanted to.
As
I've continued to read blogs, online news articles and Facebook feeds, I often
feel exasperated, disgusted or downright embarrassed. And what is most
disheartening is that my emotions often come from reading what my fellow
Christians have written.
I've
seen threads like this over and over in the social media world. And I think
they're pretty pointless. For one thing, I see a lot of poor theology and
cherry-picking of Bible verses. (Like, a lot.) I've also never
known anyone who has changed his opinion because of an argument he was in on
Facebook. Article threads can get hundreds of comments, but they're all just
people arguing back and forth, thinking of how to phrase their next post. Maybe
I'm wrong — perhaps opinions are changed all the time, but I've never seen
it.
Most
importantly: Christians. Brothers and sisters. People who are meant to proclaim
the Gospel of Jesus — the death, resurrection and redemption of Christ
— come on. If I were a non-Christian who happened to glance at some
of these Facebook threads where people are accusing, fighting and belittling, I
would run far away. Perhaps you disagree, but in my view, it makes us look
foolish. I see none of the fruit of the Spirit in these conversations. Peace
and patience are far off. Kindness and self-control — unheard of...
You
may read the rest here.
Mike
Time shares why people are less inhibited in their speech: -
“Blame the anonymity of the Internet. How many people other than on FB
actually use their real name? Almost no one. Why? Because
even if it's unlikely anyone would "track us down" and stalk, harass
us or send us hate mail we still feel there is a vulnerability to us that
doesn't occur behind the mask of just being a handle.”
Next, just incase I overemphasised the
place of complements, this will help you (especially the guys)
tone it down a little bit-so you don’t get into flattery:
And
to the single men, I'd ask you to consider whether you're actually interested
before you drown a woman in compliments. I understand that a woman is
ultimately responsible for guarding her heart, but you could help out a lot by
guarding your mouth.
…flattery
is not a type of communication Christians should be employing any more than
gossip, slander or coarse joking. Speaking of those who flatter, Paul says:
"For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites,
and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive"
(Romans 16:18).
I
think it comes back to motives. If one is delivering a compliment to serve his
(or her) "own appetites" …then the compliment is flattery and
fundamentally wrong. However,
speaking from my own experience, God often used a well-timed word of praise or
compliment from a single man to encourage me and build me up during my single
years. Obviously too many
compliments can create romantic confusion, but I don't think singles need to
fear compliments.
To
drive home that point, consider another good word from Ephesians 4:29: “Do not let
any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building
others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” That's the litmus test: Do your
compliments build others up according to their needs and benefit them? If the
answer is no, refrain from what is most likely flattery. But I see no need
to ban the compliment.
Well
said. Enough said.
Finally,
I’m reading something interesting and very insightful about the Qu'ran through
the eyes of a Christian. Its been good so far. We are better equipped to
witness when we understand people’s point of view. Please check it out here if
you are interested.
Enjoy the rest of your week.
Miss
August.
Just so you know, I am not in any way affiliated to
‘focus on the family’ or ‘boundless’ or any other site I have referred to. They
only happen to have stuff that is in line with my current thoughts.
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