the power of words

     I don't swear. I've never said a "bad word" in my life, but I'm afraid that when I go get my wisdom teeth removed, while I'm on all kind of weird drugs, I'll lose control of myself and start cussing out the nurses or something. Anyway, the main reason I don't swear is because I'm a Christian and the Bible clearly speaks out against foul language: "But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth." Colossians 3:8 
     I choose not to swear. However many of my friends do, and that's their choice, which is fine. I don't mind that much. But I've made some observations about people when using bad language, and they are as follows:

• swearing is a tool for whiners and complainers
• swearing is insulting
• swearing shows a lack of self control
• swearing turns discussions into arguments
• swearing neglects more meaningful words

     Basically, 9 times out of 10, foul language comes hand in hand with a lousy attitude. Granted, this is not always true. Yes, sometimes people swear when they are super excited and glad about something, not only when they're complaining about something. And to be fair, there are certain situations where I think cussing would be appropriate. For instance, if I was an astronaut on the Challenger before it exploded in a fiery inferno, and I knew that was about to happen, I'd probably say, "Oh sh*t."
     However, since swearing has become more widely common and accepted in our culture, I believe the power of that "strong language" has been lessened. Now that foul words are so ingrained in the vocabulary of young people today, those words have lost their effectiveness and most of the shock value.
     Side thought: Cuss words aren't the only kind of "strong language" out there.  ALL words are a powerful tool. The things we say to people have the potential to make a pretty decent impact on them  good or bad. I've been cussed out a few times in my life, usually by someone on the freeway after I accidentally cut another driver off, and of course that doesn't bother me, because I don't know them. I've also had people say awful and rude things about me in an attempt to be funny and make a joke. I didn't laugh, but again the words didn't carry that much weight.
     The most hurtful things that have been said to me, were said by people who I used to think of as friends. By people that I loved. There was no swearing involved, but words were said that hurt me like a knife wound. (Sorry for being dramatic)
     Anyway...I don't really know what point I'm trying to make here...Just whatever your view on swearing is, and what words are and aren't acceptable in what contexts, I don't really care. It's kind of a personal thing, and we live in a country with the freedom of speech. But I do think that it's very, very important that we always choose our words carefully. Use them to encourage, and build people up, rather than tearing them down. Use them to inspire, not to hurt. Be respectful. Everything is just nicer that way.









      

wallflower

Always out of place
Taking up space
Just another forgettable face.

RR

what motivates you?

     This seems to be a pretty common question in job interviews. Understandably employers want people who are driven to work hard, but before you're able to show them your work ethic, you have to convince them to give you a shot by telling them how you motivate yourself.
     I feel like a pretty good worker. I'm always striving to do better at whatever it is I do. But when I was first asked the question, "what motivates you?" it was actually tough for me to answer...I didn't really know!  I've been thinking about that question a lot lately for some reason. What keeps me going?

     I think one reason is that I was raised with the mentality that if you want something you have to work for it. "You don't get nothin' that you don't earn." I don't want anything handed to me in life. I want to earn it.There's nothing like the feeling of seeing the fruits of your labor and watching all your effort pay off!

   However, there is one thing I will never be able to earn, no matter how hard I try. And that thing is my salvation. There is simply nothing I can do to repay God for what He did for me. The fact is, I am not enough. I will never be enough. I have fallen short of the glory of God and I'm not worthy to be His.

     I could try all my life but it's impossible for me to measure up. I've made too big of a mess of things to be able to clean it up by myself. And if there was something I could do to "make up" for my sin, the sacrifice Jesus made wouldn't have even been necessary in the first place.

     But by His death and resurrection, I am made new; made worthy. He paid my debt, and now, being debt free and free of the guilt of sin, I have incredible value. (pretty awesome) What it comes down to is that lovely old song that says:

"Jesus paid it all.
All to Him I owe."

     So what motivates me each and every day to do my best is the knowledge of what Christ did for me. He died so that I can live. He gave up his life for me, so the least I can do is live for Him!

★ ☽ ★

He had a lovely smile
But it never reached his eyes
Because in his soul there was a sadness
Impossible to hide

He was an imploding star
So beautiful and bright
Destroyed by the thoughts
That kept him up at night.

     I feel like I am so busy. I feel like I'm always doing something, yet never really accomplishing anything. I'm becoming more and more aware of the amount of time I waste. If I'm not working, I'm sleeping. If I'm not sleeping, I'm out with friends, but my introverted self gets tired of being around others after a while, so the rest of the time, I'm at home on my online scrolling through my endless Tumblr feed, liking funny Facebook posts, catching up with my favorite Youtubers, or sending goofy Snaps on Snapchats back and forth with friends. Its disgusting, really. I can't even count the hours frittered away when I could have been doing things oh so much more worthwhile.
     Well the regret ends here. It's well past time to slow down and unplug. I am a firm believer that you are always capable of making time for what matters most to you. I think the happiest people are the ones who aren't easily distracted; the ones who live in the moment and aren't always scurrying off to the next thing. So I should probably stop scurrying and getting distracted.
     It's time to look up, and live and enjoy the moment I'm in because it's happening now. And its time to make the most of my time! My days are a gift from the Lord and I doubt He's very pleased to see all the days I spent staring at a screen.
     Basically what it comes down to is I am a lazy social media addict who needs to go back outside and look up for change. Instead of yearning to travel to all the breathtaking scenery shots I see on Tumblr and Instagram, I need to just step outside my front door and go on a walk. I may not have a view from a mountain top in New Zealand, but I'll have fresh air filling my lungs, the incredible sky above my head, and God just that much closer.
    It's time to make time for what makes my heart happy. It may be easier to sit back in a chair after being on my feet all day at work and check up on my beloved Instagram, but I'm so much happier if I take time to go on a bike ride. Or read a good book. Or play a board game with my little brother. Or go on a drive and sing my heart out to the radio. Or explore a new area of town and do a tourist-y thing. Or go on a walk and take pictures of all the beautiful things I come across.
     It's time to get off my duff and do some stuff. Bye bye laziness, I want to live!

new years resolutions are dumb

     I never make New Year's resolutions not because I have anything against resolutions, but because I think it's silly to wait until a new year starts to make them. Don't say, "starting Janurary 1st I'm going to read that book," or "I'll get right with God," or "I'm going to eat better," or whatever that thing that you've been meaning to do, but keep putting off is.
     Why wait? There's no time like the present! If there's something in your life that you aren't happy with, do something about it now! I don't care if it's April or October, if you want to change something, just do it!
     We aren't promised a tomorrow. Maybe this is all we get. Maybe the zombie apocalypse will happen tomorrow, or maybe Jesus is going to come back. There's no way to know when the end is until it's here, so do your best today. Resolve every day to be the best that you can be. Who cares what year it is?

Beautiful Disaster

*Disclaimer* I am in no way a poet, or even good at writing in any capacity, but got a random impulse to try to write a poem a while back. I realize the poem in itself is a disaster, but please don't laugh. Thank you.

Beautiful Disaster

She was entirely scattered
Bits of her life floating all around
Ideas, thoughts and feelings
Unable to be bound.
She was a beautiful disaster -
One chaotic mess.
But when he came along,
Everything made sense.
Her head screamed, "stay away!"
While her heart whispered, "closer!"
For when she was with him,
Her pieces fell together.
He made everything seem clear
And beyond a shadow of a doubt
She knew she wanted to waste time
Figuring this handsome puzzle out.