WORDS

Life and death is in the hands of God.

But they are also in spoken word. The spoken language is as natural to man as anything, unlike the written word, which must be learned. But when people are deprived of the spoken word, of the love that comes out through speech, their lives spin down an irreversible spiral of blackness leading to death.

You may say that isn't true. Words don't matter.

You'd be lying.

They do. Oh, they do.

It has been seen numerous times. We see it best in severely neglected children, such as Danielle , a girl so neglected that she could only communicate in grunts. Her eyes were distant and vacant. No one had spoken to her; she could not speak at all, despite having a mother and two adult brothers. Or the baby primates who, despite the fact that they were starving, crawled into the comforting arms rather than taking food from mechanical arms.

We see it in the babies in Romania, who died or were irrevisibly damaged from being left in rooms or in cribs and subjected to only the basic necessities - but received no love or affection or words of affirmation.

Words are everything. A negative word, a positive word. Both can uplift or depress. The way they are spoken - I love you said harshly means something different than I love you said lovingly and gently - also matters.

I made a vow today that I would speak more positive, uplifting words, as much as possible, words that give life instead of death. It will be a hard change, but one that will be worth it a thousand times over.

If I do not do what I know is right, if I am not a light in my little world, who will be? If not me, then who? If not now, then when? If not here, then where?

All people have are their words.

Who else will make such a vow, and keep it?

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

When God speaks, you listen

http://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Sephar.html#.Tq1cjTuyMZM

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=genesis%2010:30&version=ASV - Genesis 10:30 - in honor of the fact that in America, the day is October30, 2011.

Genesis 10:30

American Standard Version (ASV)

30 And their dwelling was from Mesha, as thou goest toward Sephar, the mountain of the east.

I've heard people say not to randomly open the Bible and expect God to speak, a person needs to have a plan. Well, I know that isn't true. While everyone should read the Bible everyday, making it fun or a puzzle enhances it.

Well, I did just that. Since today was 10/30, I am looking up references in the Bible that have a tenth chapter and a thirtieth verse. I began in Genesis 10:30. That's the above verse.

Here Mesha and Sephar defined:

Sephar

The name Sephar comes from the verb Sephar (sapar) meaning count, or any general mathematical activity. Some derivatives: Sephar (seper), meaning writing, book, sipra (sipra), meaning book, Sephar (soper), scribe, Sephar (separ), census, sipra (seporah), number, mispar (sapar), number.

The derivative Sephar (separ), census, is identical to the name Sephar and occurs only in 2 Chronicles 2:17. There Solomon numbers the foreigners who help built the Temple, following the census satan had made David take (1 Chronicles 21:1). After this census, and after the penalty, the location of the Temple was designated and foreigners were set to hew out the stones for the Temple (1 Chronicles 22:2).

The name Sephar means Counting or Calculating. NOBS Study Bible Name List and Jones' Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names both read Numbering.

(http://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Sephar.html#.Tq1cjTuyMZM)

Mesha:

Mesha I (Mesha - indeed pronounced as Mesha).

This version of the name Mesha is ascribed twice in the Bible. It's the name of a port city on the Red Sea, and mentioned first as a border of the territory of the sons of Joktan (Genesis 10:30). Mesha is also the name of a Benjaminite, a son of Shaharaim and Hodesh (1 Chronicles 8:9).

This version of the name Mesha comes from the verb mush (mush) meaning depart, remove. The verb occurs 20 times in the OT, denoting how God will not depart from Israel (Exodus 13:22), or the removal of sin from Israel (Zech 3:9). The form mush (mush) also means to feel, as in touch and recognize (Genesis 27:21; Psalm 115:7; Judges 16:26). Note the similarities with the names Mash and Moses.

For a meaning of this name Mesha, both NOBS Study Bible Name List and Jones' Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names both read Retreat.

(http://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Mesha.html#.Tq1d4TuyMZM)

Here's the verse re-written:

"The territory they occupied extended from Mesha [retreat [from sin], remove sin, God will not be removed] all the way to Sephar [counting, calculating, writing, book, scribe [education]] in the eastern mountains."

WOW! That is a punch in the stomach (in a good way). That's where I'm trying to be, retreating from sin and knowing that God will never leave me. "If God is for me, who can be against me?"


Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

Facebook/Internet Addiction

Life is hectic, but I need to exercise more. Today I got more exercise, but my back still really hurts. I am so glad I do not have a fifth class to deal with, although if it was a Wednesday night class I would be all right.

I am now attending more to what I eat, and to my spiritual discipline and life. I have been successfully waking up to study the Bible and pray this week. It's a daily struggle, but one I am striving to accomplish. If I am not in control of my spiritual life, than what am I really in control of? Nothing.

I can see the obvious influences of my spiritual discipline; I am more attentive in my classes, more alert to spiritual things, and closer to God. I have more courage and less fear, although anxiety has a firm grip in my heart. I must rid myself of this A-type personality. And I am beginning to see the emptiness in my life, the part of my heart that I have kept from God and focused elsewhere. I have always known that I am highly addicted to Facebook and the Internet in general, and less to my computer. Since I access Facebook and the Internet through my laptop, I am addicted to it. I can tell I am feeding it because when I try to focus on God I long for the Internet.

I am also finding myself to be a more honest person, and less tempted towards deceit. I am trying to be more transparent. As always, it is a struggle against our nature and darkness.

But waking up and setting a time to read my Bible and to pray (for myself, my future husband, and my companions) is great, and is developing my character. I have also began the slow, constant, and painful battle of bringing my own distorted images, fears, and obsessions to God, for I no longer desire to be unclean and impure. I now use Facebook, the Internet, and watch two TV shows. I cannot go cold turkey, for my soul will soon go through withdrawals, and I need my computer to do work with. I just don't know what to do. God, show me.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel