Happy Tuesday! I hope that you are having a great week so far. Thank you for stopping by to check out my blog this week. 

One of my favorite sayings growing up as a young girl was, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” I can remember saying this to the kids who called me names at the playground. 

It wasn’t until I grew older that I realized that these words were not true. Friends, words hurt. 

Here are a few Scriptures that relate to our words. 

           Psalm 141:3 Set a guard, O Lord, before my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips.

           Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. 

Our words have the power to hurt or hear, to build up or destroy. 

·     Speak good thinks about your future. 

·     Say good things about other people.

·     Use your words to build others up. 

Have a great week! Continue to speak good things about yourself and others!

Happy Monday! I hope that you had a great weekend. 

           This week, God placed a word on my heart. Value! Do you feel valued at home, work, church, etc.? I recently began studying the book of Ephesians.

           Ephesians 1:4-5 states, “That is in Christ, He chose us before the world was made so that we would be His holy people-people without blame before Him. Because of His love, God had already decided to make us His own children through Jesus Christ. That was what He wanted and what please Him.” 

           Three words that stood out to me in this Scripture, “He chose us.” God loved us before the world was even made. We don’t even have to earn that love. God gives it to us freely.

           Have you ever been rejected? The rejection leaves us with a wounded soul. However, the love of God will heal your wounded soul. I know because I have been rejected. God has picked me up and touched my heart far more than I can count.

           Friends, I want you to know that you are valued. You are chosen! I am chosen!

I hope that everyone had a great Easter weekend. We were blessed to spend time with the family and see our oldest son baptize our youngest son. It was truly a blessing!

Last week I traveled to Austin to attend a conference and I was asked to speak on leadership. On my drive home, I was so tired and not feeling well. I turned on my praise music, prayed, and listened to God.

I believe that we fail to understand how important praise is in our lives even when we don’t feel like it. We often look at a sunset in awe but fail to recognize the one who created the sunset. We spend time worrying and fretting about our problems but forget to praise the One who can help us in our time of need.

Psalms 150:6 states, “Let everything that breathes sing praise to the Lord!” 

Psalms 100:2 states, “Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” 

Praise turns our attention off ourselves and our problems and to the character of God Himself. Praise gives glory to God and opens a deeper relationship with Him.

Do you have a favorite praise song? Lately, I have been listening to “Raise A Hallelujah.” I included some of the lyrics to the song below and the link to the powerful testimony behind the song. Be blessed!

Lyrics

I raise a hallelujah, in the presence of my enemies

I raise a hallelujah, louder than the unbelief

I raise a hallelujah, my weapon is a melody

I raise a hallelujah; heaven comes to fight for me. 

I’m gonna sing, in the middle of the storm

Louder and louder, you’re gonna hear my praises roar

Up from the ashes, hope will arise

Death is defeated, the King is alive!