Letters & Words

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z. 26 letters. With these letters we form words. How many words? According to Chat GPT, the latest edition of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has about 291,500 words. The Webster’s Third New International Dictionary (unabridged), a very large American English dictionary, has more than 476,000 entries. How many words does the average American know? Again, from Chat GPT, estimates vary a bit depending on how you define “know” (recognize vs. actively use), but here’s a good summary based on linguistic research:

• Average adult American: knows about 20,000–35,000 words in active vocabulary (words they can use correctly).
• Passive vocabulary (words they recognize but might not use): is larger — typically 40,000–60,000 words.
• Teenagers: around 10,000–20,000 words.
• Highly educated adults or avid readers: can exceed 70,000–100,000 words recognized.

Words are important. We express feelings with words. We convey ideas with words. We can entertain others with words. We can influence people with words. We can challenge with words. But, they can extinguish feelings. They can subvert ideas. They can discourage. They can cut down or destroy. 

The Bible says, Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen. (Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭29‬ BSB)

Or from a different translation… Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. (Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭29‬ ‭NLT‬)‬

Not unwholesome but pure or beneficial.

For building up not tearing down.

To bring grace not judgment or condemnation.

Not foul but pleasant or fair.

Not abusive but supportive or loving.

Let your words be good not bad.

Helpful not hurtful.

Let them encourage not dishearten.

For me, if I’m not thinking, my words can be bitter, rude, mean, or even offensive.  

Father God, please, help me to tame my tongue. Don’t let it be a weapon. May my words bring healing, peace, and compassion. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Psalms‬ ‭19‬:‭14‬ BSB) Amen. 

Four Words that Can Change How You See Your Life

This isn’t original, but it is good and it speaks to many, if not all, of us.

There are few words that transcend circumstances. There are fewer words that go beyond social, economic and marital status. There are very few words that hit all of us in the same way, at the same time and with the same potential for impact and change. The four words are spoken by God… “I am with you.”

God is with us. Not distant. Not removed, but close. Not uncaring, but empathetic. Not far off, but as near as a heartbeat. He is with us. HE IS WITH YOU!

To the single mom working 2 jobs and still coming up short every month: I AM with you.

To the one filled with anxiety and worry right now: I AM with you.

To the unemployed: I AM with you.

To the one that hates the way their body looks and how they feel when they look in the mirror: I AM with you.

To the person that has no idea what their purpose or passion in life is: I AM with you.

To failure and the mess up that can’t see how they could ever recover from their mistake: I AM with you.

To the person that finds their value and identity in their career success: I AM with you.

To the insecure and unsure walking through life desperate for acceptance: I AM with you.

To the fake and the phony that has everyone believing that their life is more together than it really is: I AM with you.

To the depressed and the downhearted; the person that feels there is no light at the end of the tunnel: I AM with you.

To the single person that has a huge desire to get married and often feels loneliness and pain: I AM with you.

To the married person that wonders how their marriage drifted to such a lonely and painful place: I AM with you.

To the angry and resentful that have been rocked by hardship and hurt: I AM with you.

To the abused and the broken that have wondered why no one stepped in to stop the abuse: I AM with you.

To the isolated and lonely; the ones that feel left out and on the fringe: I AM with you.

To the ones that appear that they have everything, yet feel like all they have means nothing: I AM with you.

I AM with you. It is a game changer for all of us today.

Copied from thomrainer.com blog.

I Need Grace

I need grace.

I need grace when I take control of my own life.

I need grace when my faith is simply going through the motions. 

I need grace when I'm moody.

I need grace for my rough edges. 

Grace when I'm ambitious and when I'm lazy.

Grace for the dark corners of my character that I hide from everyone but God.

Grace for the times when I give into temptation. 

I need grace when I feel forgiveness is beyond my reach. 

Grace when I say to myself I'm not good enough and never will be. 

I need grace moment by moment, second by second. 

I need grace when the world says I'm too broken to be used for any Godly purpose anymore. 

And no matter how much grace I use or how much grace I need, God is always ready to give more grace without question, shame, or regret to me. 

Turn the Page

Have you ever read a book and you got to a part where you were afraid or unsure about turning the page? You don't know what is coming next. Will it be good or bad for the characters or the plot?  I think we all have been there. It's even scarier when this analogy applies to our lives. 

The problem is we live under the illusion that we are the author of our biography. Our story is made up of the choices we make. Each choice may be a chapter or we may have several decisions in a single chapter. So, that part of our story we can control, sort of. But we aren't the writer of our personal tale. 

God is the author because He is the only one who is in control of our world. He's God. He's in control of all the world. Remember the song we sang as children? "He's got the whole world in His hands...He's got the little bitty babies in His hands...He's got you and me brother in His hands, He's got you and me sister in His hands...He's got the whole world in His hands."

That simple song is true. Now God gave each of us this thing called ‘free will' and because of that we aren't puppets on a string that God plays with to control our lives. He allows us to make choices. Right or wrong. He'd prefer we make right decisions. He's taught us how to make right decisions but we ultimately choose.

If I were God, I might do things differently. Maybe allow some choices but if I knew a choice would be detrimental to you, I’d make the right choice for you or make it where the only choice is right. But then it's really not a choice is it? 

God whispers to us in our times of doubt or confusion, frustration or anxiety, turn the page. You aren't at the end of your story. You can still make the right choices. As God pens our biography, He writes it as it is, mistakes, sins, anger, prejudices, love, compassion, hope. It's all there. He knows how your story ends but He doesn't always let us know. 

Sometimes I wish He'd write a rough draft then allow us to edit it to make it sound good, look good. No embarrassments. No sins. No tears. Only joy, happiness, laughter. It might be nice but then we'd miss out on things like forgiveness, grace, mercy, do-overs.

I don't know where you are in your story but let me encourage you...turn the page. Trust the author. He knows you best and loves you most. 

One Day

Not my will...

Betrayer’s kiss.

Trials.

I don't know this man. I do not know Him. I swear I don't!

The rooster crows.

Scourge.

GIVE US BARABBAS!!

CRUCIFY HIM!!

The Via Dolorosa.

Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.

Today you will be with me in Paradise.

Woman, behold your son.

My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?

I thirst. 

It is finished.

Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit.

The sky turned dark in the middle of the afternoon. 

The veil was torn in two from top to bottom. 

The earth trembled.

Truly this Man was the Son of God.

Joseph takes the body, wraps in clean linen, places in a new tomb.

The tomb is sealed and guarded.