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The Scary part about words

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.  

More ignorant words have never been spoken.  

If you were to walk past my desk within the last couple of weeks, odds are, you would probably think that I am a sick, twisted individual.  Though that might be true, it is not why there are strange pictures hanging in my creative space.  I am preparing for one of the biggest events of the year at our church, "Freakshow"!  It is a production that puts sin on display and exposes it for how it takes people captive and doesn't let go.  It's a pretty scary ordeal.  It's amazing in that it shows people that they don't have to be a prisoner any longer.

Yet, the Lord spoke to me last week about something that is far more frightening than anything Freakshow has to offer.  I had something crazy happen to me that completely threw me off.  I realized that I was wrong.  Me?  Wrong?  Those two words simply shouldn't go together.  However, as hard as that might be to accept, it's the truth.  It had to do with something that I said.  

That night, I had a dream.  If you know me, that statement alone should make you think to yourself, "Oh Lord, here we go again."  The dream consisted of me holding a small snake in my hands (Yeah, like that would ever happen) and the snake was repeatedly biting me on the lips.  However, I wasn't feeling pain or even noticing that this was happening.  I finally had someone tell me what was happening.  I immediately put the snake down and ran to look at my face in the mirror.  I quickly realized that my entire mouth was bleeding and I had deep teeth marks dented into my lip.  Then it began to hurt...

I felt like God was trying to speak to me through this dream but couldn't understand in the moment.  I'm a bit into dream interpretation, so I knew that snake bites mean a warning or wake up call about something.  I took it to mean that even though the words we say in the moment and think that they are not hurting someone, in the long run, if we continue to carelessly use our words, they will certainly make a lasting impact.  

And it will begin to hurt...

I recently read about a highly recognized figure in the church world that just said something completely crazy!  Long story short, this man and tons of his staff might lose their job, a large number of the congregation is leaving, and people who really looked up to this person have lost all respect for this individual.  All of this is due to something this person said.  I mean, in their head, they must have assumed that nothing could go wrong with simply saying what was on their heart.  But, the scary part about words, is that they hurt.  More than that, I'm going to cry for twenty minutes because you told me you didn't like my shirt hurt, but genuinely hurt.  Their life, their salvation could be resting on what you say.  

There are people in your life, that are counting on you.  They are watching everything you do, every move you make, and everything you say.  

Knowing that words have this much of an effect in a negative way, what would happen if we were to focus on making our words meaningful?  How could we change our lives, someone else's, or even the world?  Words should be used to communicate...Well, duh!  

Scripture tells us that everything that has breath, praise the Lord.  You know what else you need breath to do?  Talk!  God wants us to glorify Him in all that we do.  So, why do we make talk so cheap?  Words have far more weight about them than what we give them credit for.  

Listen to yourself.  Your words are so much more than you realize.  

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      *Rock of ages, Cleft for me. Let me hide myself in thee.*

  There's something that I struggled with as a child that has continued on into adulthood that I think many could relate with.

I overthink things.   

As frustrated by that as we all are, it's easy for anyone to do it.  As a child, I would hear thunder and automatically assume it was the world ending.  When the sun would begin to go down, I thought something bad was going to happen because it was dark outside.  While I might have been a wee bit dramatic, that's what I did then.  

It's what I do now. 

At least, until God changed my perspective.  I thought about a time when I was a small child, and there was a trailer on TV that scared me.  Without thinking twice, I would bury my face into my dad's shirt, because I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt, he would protect me.  

You already see where I'm going with this.  Why is this any different in our lives?  When we are afraid, we shouldn't even question if God will protect us.  

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31

When you are scared, stressed, frustrated, annoyed, overwhelmed or any other emotion.  Hide yourself in the Father.  He's been waiting.

There is nothing too big for him.  

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Goodness. Can I get a rewind button? #goodtimes #friends

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It doesn't look like it's gonna be a white Christmas this year. #lovethem #beauty

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Started from the bottom now we're here! @meikoseymour is spending his final week at Chapelhill before he faces his next adventure. I cannot express to you how many ups and downs I have been through with this guy. There have been so many tears shed but the laughter far outweighed those things. It still hasn't hit me that he's leaving yet..but I am so thankful for the three years spent learning from him! It's funny that no matter how many times I changed my major, you were always my leader! Thank you for all of the lives that you have impacted and I know God is going to allow you to continue to do so. Love you so much!

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He's going in, you guys! I like learning from @danielgray #youngpreacher

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It finally happened. I met #kittywalker. Thanks @meikoseymour, after 3 years 😊...#kittyvskitty

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Y'all ain't ready. 2 TREEZ was in the building tonight! This is probably a good indication as to why I'm single. :) #thuglyfe #snowroom #fun #youthmin

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The age old question: how many colors has your hair been? A lot. All of these and many variations in between. #hair #colors #goodweave #nevergoingbald

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Happy big 17 to my dear Anna Marie. Together, we are the most awkward pair, yet somehow it's hilarious. I'm so thankful you've given me the opportunity to speak into your life. Guys, I love doing life with this beautiful, funny, talented and inspiring woman of God! Love you! #throwback #terriblecamppic

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I Found @meikoseymour 's twin everybody!

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Loved getting to do ministry alongside of my girls yesterday. They are anointed, gifted and called by God. I love them so. #proudmentor #wog

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#buckaroos

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So thankful for the presence of God tonight. I love these people and I love what I do. #legacygirls

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Tonight. It's going down! #roar #legacygirls

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I so enjoyed the Made For More girls conference this weekend. Also enjoyed the company and support of @mandapanda2515 @annamatio.

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This awkward picture marks the spot at Camp Timberlake when I was called into ministry almost 5 years ago. #youthmin