What are words?

What are words, but to share what is in our hearts. There have been many many times in my past that my words got stuck in my throat. Then, there are many other times when I wish they would have gotten stuck in my throat because they came out all wrong.

Have you ever wished you could take back your words?

I have. It’s a very bad feeling when the wrong words come out. Especially if they’ve hurt someone. It’s a bad feeling to be misunderstood. Wishing that the right words would have been spoken rather than the ones that just slipped out without you knowing how it happened.

Starting a blog was an intentional way for me to choose the words I would say and then say them. Maybe subconsciously, it’s been a way for me to rewrite some of those words that I spoke early on in my life that I wish were left unspoken.

Writing is a way to say the good. 

To encourage. 

To give hope and love to a world where it can seem pretty sparse sometimes.

I can choose what I put on here. And, that feels pretty good. It feels good to choose the good to share.

Today, I want to share with you just three simple truths. These truths are life changing if you will let them sink deep down in your soul. 

Ready?

You are loved.

You are worthy.

You are enough.

Think on those good words today, friend, and find hope and encouragement in a world where it seems pretty sparse sometimes.

Thanks so much for stopping by today, friend! I'm so very happy you did!

Linking up today with others at Kate's place for Five Minute Friday for five minutes of free writing without all the fuss over editing and punctuation. Won't you stop by and join in? Today's prompt is "share".

Sending good words

I am probably one of the most well-intentioned card senders you’ll ever meet. For the past two years I didn’t send out Christmas cards. I let myself off the hook, but it was hard because I really had it in my heart to send out well-wishes to my loved ones.

I’ve been meaning to send a thank you to someone in my life for over a year. My intentions are very, very good. But, intentions don’t have a pen and paper, do they? Intentions don’t drive the letter to the mailbox and get it sent after the stamp is in place, do they?

What about if we’re not even talking about the written word that we send? What about our thoughts? My thoughts?

What kinds of thoughts am I sending to myself and others every day?

Are they thoughts of kindness, loyalty and love? Or are my thoughts ones of harsh judgement and criticism?

I catch myself often going through the Rolodex of my mind and stopping on a judgmental thought. Thank heavens, I’m starting to see when I stop on one of those damaging thoughts, and going back. 

I go back and re-say the thing that I had said wrong in my mind. I say something like, 

“I send loving thoughts toward _____________. 

They are worthy of love.”

Just this last week, I took an ugly fall in a mall store. I was there to return some pajamas and buy some new ones. As I turned away from the cashier, I slipped on an invisible wet spot from melting snow and went down very hard. Hard enough to stun and hurt me.

What were my words to myself that day, and the following week?

I tried very carefully to make them compassionate words and not words that would leave not only my body feeling very sore, but my spirit, too.

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Thanks so much for stopping by today friend!

~Anne

LInking up today with other writers at Kate Motaung's place for Five Minute Friday. Stop by her place to see the description for this awesome free-writing community! Today's prompt is "send".

Also linking up with the lovelies at Coffee for Your Heart and #TellHisStory.

What really matters

I'm linking up today over at Holley Gerth's place for Coffee for Your Heart. Today, her prompt is "Who inspires you?" I'm also linking up at Three Word Wednesday.

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I want to whisper in your ear, you inspire me.

You've been through some tough battles. You've fought long and hard and deep for goodness sake, and sometimes you wonder if anyone else notices.

Never mind that you already know God notices.

But, it would sure be nice if he would send someone with skin on to remind you that you matter and what you say and do really does matter.

And I'm here to tell you that it matters.

I see the way you position yourself outside the limelight, but with just enough light on your voice so that it's heard.

That is beautiful.

I see the way you ask meaningful questions out of genuine curiosity, even though many times they aren't reciprocated. At least not now.

Life can sometimes feel one-sided.

Can I tell you a secret?

Your words are making a difference. Your presence is making a difference. 

What you said there, in that brief exchange, was a seed.

Once you planted that seed, God the Master Gardener, will water and bring it to maturity.

Your positive words and encouragement mean more than you will ever know.

I promise, you will be rewarded someday for your selfless giving.

You inspire me.

Thanks for stopping by, friend!

eyes wide open: sing yourself happy {day 6}

Joyce Meyer talks about how we can increase our own joy by how we talk to ourselves. I have been a believer in the power of life giving words for several years. Putting it into practice for myself has been another thing entirely. 

Choosing positive thoughts and words is a constant battle, especially if I am in pain. Emotionally or physically. 

I've had a history of getting tension and migraine headaches. In fact, just in the past couple of days, I had the computer chair set wrong and had to make another trip to the chiropractor for my neck. Right now, I have to be so careful.

Last night I took my mom to a Phillips, Craig and Dean concert. All afternoon, I had a tension headache, and I was fighting anxious thoughts as well, thinking that I would not feel good to take mom to the concert and really enjoy it. For me, having the pain is one thing, but then my fearful thoughts can easily compound the problem and make it worse. 

On the way to the concert I wore an ice pack around my neck. I had put Icy Hot on. And I prayed. 

I said, "God, you are going to have to help me with my thoughts. I know the joy of the Lord is my strength. I choose joy. I really need your help, though. And, I ask you to take this pain away, Lord. I know you are my Healer." Then, all of a sudden a song from my childhood popped into my head that I hadn't thought of in years. It went like this.

I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy

down in my heart, 

down in my heart,

down in my heart.

I've got the joy, joy, joy joy

down in my heart

down in my heart to stay!

Now, I don't believe it just popped into my head. I believe the Holy Spirit put it there. So, you know what I did? On the way to the concert, I sang out loud in my van. Yes, out loud. And, by the time I got there, the pain had lessened and I was actually joyful, and not fearful anymore. 

Joyce is right. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit in us if we know Christ. But, we have to choose to let God release that joy to make it real. Our positive, joy filled, truthful words can help us do that. They helped me do that!

I am learning to see my thoughts and words in a new light. That they have power!  If I have to eat them, I want them to be sweet.

see day 1 for all 31 posts

You inspire me.

You inspire me.

You don't even know my name,

or that I even exist.

Yet your words beckon me to come out of my shell.

They call me to speak what is truly me.

They motion me to live in living color...

to let my thoughts dance on the page.

You inspire me.

I only hope that somehow I can do the same.

Simply, words.

They have always been important to me. I read a book a long time ago called Words That Hurt, Words That Heal. That about sums it up. We can either hurt someone, or help to bring healing. It is our choice. It is my choice. I don't always choose well. Words are rarely neutral. However, simple words, spoken with kindness usually have the most impact.


One of my top love languages is Words of Affirmation. (from the book, The Five Love Languages) When someone compliments or affirms me, it goes straight to my heart. I feel loved. However, the reverse is also true. When I am criticized or put down, those words really hurt my heart. I don't want to hurt others with my words.


I find that even the simplest of words can make me feel (at the very least) noticed. Like a simple "How are you?".  And, when someone goes the extra mile to ask follow up questions? I feel important. 


What if we all asked, "How are you?" and then really listened for the answer? What if we asked follow up questions to that first one, to probe deeper? We could ask about job or family. (simple, right?) Or, "How was your day?"


If we know someone who is going through the same struggle that we had in the past, we could say, "I know just how you feel." People are craving to be understood.


We could try to look beneath rough exteriors to what might be brewing right under the surface. They may have just heard bad news. Instead of judgement, we could say to ourselves, "I wonder what is going on?" (and genuinely care). 

The Bible has much to say about words, so they must be important to God. He spoke the world and universe into existence by His Word! Matthew 12:37b says, "Words are powerful; take them seriously. Words can be your salvation. Words can also be your damnation."

Those are strong words, but they are truth. When we use our words to uplift and heal, we are sowing good seed into our lives, and we are like Christ. Our words can either help or hurt, and they are rarely neutral. How will you use your words? Remember...simple words spoken with kindness mean the most.