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{Heart4Teens.com}   *Words That Help & Heal*  10/14/02

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Words That Help and Heal

"Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks" (Matthew 12:34)

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." Some people may still say it, but very few think it's true. Not anymore.

Psychology professor Marla Brassard of Teachers College at Columbia University has done extensive research on aggression in schools. "When I started in this field," she says, "people really believed the old saying about sticks and stones breaking bones but words never harming. But today there is a growing body of research that shows that the core element of abuse is psychological. Getting picked on at school can be the most damaging."

After a 14-year-old girl hanged herself in a high school restroom, friends said she had suffered continual verbal abuse from classmates. Tragically, similar suicides have been on the rise in recent years.

When we look at the harm being done by words to people around us, we have to ask ourselves if we're part of the problem. The Bible gives us this command: "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption" (Ephesians 4:29-30).

What if we decided to live by those words? Instead of bad-mouthing others and putting them down, our daily conversations could make people feel valued and encouraged. The place to begin is not with our lips but with our hearts. "For out of the overflow of the heart," Jesus said, "the mouth speaks" (Matthew 12:34).

Every day we speak thousands of words and none of them are neutral. They either build up or tear down the people who hear them. One of the most radical choices we can make in life is to determine that from a heart yielded to the Lord, we will speak words that help and heal.
(Dave McCasland)

Here are some questions to ask yourself:
~ What is the state of my heart toward God and other people today?
~ When am I most likely to say harmful things to others?
~ Is there someone I can ask to pray with me about learning to speak words that help and heal?

Let your words build up, not tear down.

From Campus Journal, copyright 2001 RBC Ministries Grand Rapids, Michigan. Used with permission. To receive CJ via e-mail, read it online, or get a copy delivered to your home, go to:
http://www.getcj.com

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LET'S GO SURFING DUDE!

~ They Made Me Feel So Dumb
Here's a real-life reflection from a self-described "average" high school junior on how words, particularly the bragging of others, can affect a person's self esteem.
http://www.ChristianityToday.com/cl/2002/005/14.16.html

~ Molecular Expressions: Power of Ten
This way-cool tour of the physical universe begins with a view of the Milky Way 10 million light years from the Earth. The next shot is from a point ten times closer to earth, followed by a shot ten times closer than that. The tour continues it until reaches a tall oak tree Tallahassee, Florida. From there, the focus shifts to a leaf on the tree and the tour continues into a microscopic world that reveals leaf cell walls, the cell nucleus, chromatin, DNA, and finally, into the subatomic universe of electrons and protons.
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/scienceopticsu/powersof10

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FORGETTABLE FACT

You burn more calories sleeping than you do watching television.

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THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

"Encouragement is oxygen for the soul." --Unknown

"Let no feeling of discouragement prey upon you
and you are sure to succeed." --Abraham Lincoln

Verse for the Day:

"The Lord Himself goes before you and will be
with you; He will never leave you nor forsake
you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
--Deuteronomy 31:8

Coach's Thought For The Day

"We first make our habits, then our habits make us."

Deep Thought For The Day:

"Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have
to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically,
it's made up of two separate words -- "mank"
and "ind". What do these words mean? It's
a mystery, and that's why so is mankind."

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PARTING HUMOR

A vampire bat came flapping in from the night covered in
fresh blood and parked himself on the roof of the cave to
get some sleep.

Pretty soon all the other bats smelled the blood and began
hassling him about where he got it.  He told them to go away
and let him get some sleep.  However, the bats persisted
until finally he gave in.

"OK, follow me," he said and flew out of the cave with
hundreds of bats behind him.  Down through a valley they
went, across a river and into a forest full of trees.
Finally he slowed down and all the other bats excitedly
milled around him.

"Now, do you see that tree over there?" he asked.

"Yes, yes, yes!" the bats all screamed in a hungry frenzy.

"Good," said the first bat tiredly,  "Because I didn't!"

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Author Michael T. Powers
Contributing Author to Chicken Soup for the Teen's Soul
and 14 other inspirational books.
Check out his book: Straight From the Heart by visiting:
http://www.HeartTouchers.com

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  _
/_/\/\    MICHAEL T. POWERS
\_\  /    www.Heart4Teens.com  
/_/  \    "I have been crucified with Christ and I no
\_\/\ \   longer live, but Christ lives in me.  The life I
   \_\/   live in the body I live by faith in the Son of
           God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
           Galatians 2:20
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