words

  • I Am Doughty, Not Dowdy!

    God did not give us a Spirit of fear
but of power and love and 
self-control.
~2 Timothy 1:7 NET Bible

    Years ago, someone accused me of essentially being a sesquipedalian.

    It was meant as a negative, but I couldn’t help feeling it was a compliment in a way.  In reality, I’m not a sesquipedalian but a logophile.

    Ha!  Have I confused you yet?  If not, you’re probably a writer or serious book lover.

    Sesquipedalian is a word that has changed in meaning to not just mean someone who uses big words, but it’s now used as a negative term to describe someone who uses too many long, confusing words.

    Logophile is a term to describe people who love words… and that I’m completely guilty of. Growing up my mother made it her mission to ensure drag racing was not the only cultural influence in our family.  Spelling tests were a high priority and she often corrected our grammar. Mom was preparing me for my future career and didn’t even know it!

    {Geek Alert}

    grammerlyAs a teen I had my own subscription to Reader’s Digest because I loved the Word Power Column.

    As a writer I’ve been shocked at my usage of words.  I had no clue until I joined Grammarly.  It gives you a weekly writing report and I’m most often in the 95-99% of Grammarly users… or so they say 🙂

    Ok, now that you get my obsession with words, I can tell you what happened to me last month and I think you’ll understand why it so profoundly affected my life.

    My Word Obsession Affects My Life!

    Dr Caroline Leaf 21 Brain DetoxI’m in the middle of Dr. Caroline Leaf’s Brain Detox program and it’s completely changing my life {Links Below}. Basically, she helps you become aware of your negative self-talk, see the results of how that thought affects what you feel, say and do. Next, she guides you to replace that toxic thought with a healthy thought and experience the results in your life.

    Oh The Difference A Word Can Make

    During the Detox, I recognized what a grip fear had on my life in a certain area and how it was blocking me from moving forward in my life. I felt the urge to Google search “Antonym of Fear”.  As I looked at the lists of words contrary to fear, one stood out; as if it jumped off of my computer screen.

    The word was doughty.

    First of all, I didn’t even know how to say it properly. “Dought” is pronounced “ot” like sought, bought or fought, so it sounds like the name of my Texan friend Dottie. I had mistaken it with the word dowdy; which describes a messy, old-fashioned, frumpy, out-of-style.1  Since one Google search usually ends up with at least ten more, I began researching this new word and was blown away with what I felt the Father speaking to my soul.

    I Am Doughty, Not Dowdy!

    DOUGHTY… marked by fearless resolution…valiant… Brave… willing to take risks… brave… bold… heroic… Determined and ambitious… persistent… undaunted… unwilling ever to stop trying to achieve something… strong-willed… adamant… resolute… willful… will not take no for an answer… lionhearted, stalwart, stout-hearted… courageous… not easily frightened… an iron fist in a velvet glove…2  To use it in a sentence you could say, She was a doughty defender of the hurting.

    All these definitions helped encourage me but the AHA moment came when I read about the origins of the word. The root of Doughty is in the Old English word, dohte, meaning “had worth”.2 When I read this, light bulbs illuminated over my head and bells were ringing as I wrote in my notes:

    I am doughty; fearless because I know my worth!

    I pray that sent chills up your spine like it did mine. You are doughty!  Be fearless because you are worth so much.  So much that God the Father gave up His son to die on a cross so you could have a better life—free of fear… and then He sent Holy Spirit to live inside of you.  You’re worth a lot!  You are doughty; fearless because of your worth!

    Prayer

    Father… I thank You for making clear the truth that you did NOT give me a spirit of fear. Holy Spirit, you’re living inside of me and there is no fear inside of You. Increase the space you fill inside of me, increase to push out all fear. Let this truth be evidenced in my words so that I begin to feel brave and live courageously because I know who I am and I am Doughty!  In Jesus Name…Amen

    Here’s your #musicpic for the week

    Dr Caroline Leaf 21 Brain DetoxIf I’ve piqued your interest in going through your own brain detox, I HIGHLY encourage it.  If you do the work for 63 days , you will be changed. 21 times 3-the first 21 take more time, but the last twho phases of 21 don’t take as much time but totally necessary

    It will be the best $38 US you’ve spent! If you take the course, email me (devotions@sherrystahl.com) and let me know by putting BRAIN DETOX SHEETS.  I created some sheets to go along with her stuff that I can send you and I think they’ll help you get even more out of the course.
    Here is a link to the course: https://21daybraindetox.com/
    Here’s a link to Dr. Leaf’s site and info on her Switch On Your Brain 5-Step Learning Process https://drleaf.com/

    Soul H2OIf you liked the refreshing in this #SoulH2O devotion, you’ll love my latest Soul H2O Devotional book: 40 Thirst Quenching Devotions for Women.

    Drawing From The Well

    1. 2 Timothy 1:7
    2. John 14:27
    3. Romans 8:15
    4. Isaiah 11:2

    If you want to see what a logophile you are, here’s a link to the Reader’s Digest site and a wordy survey:
    https://www.rd.com/culture/word-power-art/25/

    WHERE YOU CAN OFTEN FIND ME LINKING UP MY BLOG WITH OR PLACES WHERE MY WRITING HAS BEEN FEATURED

    ENDNOTES

    1. Numerous Websites Accessed: 2019-01-17
      https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dowdy
      https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dowdy
      https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/dowdy
    2. Numerous Websites Accessed: 2019-01-17
      https://www.thesaurus.com/browse/fear
      https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fear
      https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/doughty
      https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/doughty
      https://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/doughty
    3. Website Accessed: 2019-01-17 https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/doughty

    #Dare2
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  • Build, Not Bite

    “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
                                                  1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV

    There’s nothing more pleasing to a parent than to watch your kids enjoying each other’s company. It doesn’t matter if they’re 2, 22 or 52. A parent wants to see their children being good to each other and helping each other out. This year my daughter stepped “out of the boat” in so many ways and with every step her brother has been cheering her on!   Shelby has always admired her big brother, so his encouragement is powerful to build her up.

    Screen Shot 2016-01-25 at 1.10.32 AM

    God loves it when His kids are enjoying each other’s company, encouraging each other and using their words to build one another up, not tear each other down. Words can build or words can bite. Nothing is more powerful than words. Paul warns the Galatian believers that using their words to tear down will destroy each other.

    “…“Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.” (Galatians 5:14-15)

    How our heavenly Father is grieved when His kids don’t get along, and the enemy loves nothing more than when God’s children bite at each other, we make his job easy. [tweetthis]The devil doesn’t need to attack when we’re devouring each other. #buildNOTbite #SoulH2O [/tweetthis]

     

    So, let’s be kind on the playground of life and continue to build, not bite!

    Prayer

    Father…Help me to choose my words wisely today. Let everything I say encourage and build others up. May I see the purposes you’ve created people for and seek to embolden them to be all You’ve destined them to be! Help me to get along with all my “siblings” and let my words build, not bite! In Jesus Name…Amen  

    #Dare2Share

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  • Choose Your Words Wisely

    “You have wearied the LORD with your words…”
                    Malachi 2:17 NIV

    CHOOSE YOUR WORDS WISELY

    “…How have we wearied him?” you ask…” (Malachi 2:17 NIV) Speaking negatively when God has declared goodness wears our Father out! God is making me keenly aware that sometimes my words wear Him out! Do your words?

    REPORTING RIGHT

    Let’s take a look at a great example in the Bible of the effects words can have. After the Red Sea crossing, God directed Moses to send out 12 leaders to check out how good the land really was that He was bringing them into. 10 spies came back and gave reports full of fear; two gave reports full of faith. All ten who gave a bad report died in the desert. The two who spoke positively; Joshua and Caleb lived and were blessed in the Promised Land. It took a long time, but their words bore good, juicy fruit.

    So ask yourself today. What are your words doing? Are they making God tired or are they giving Him the root to bear good fruit in your life?

    Prayer

    Father…help me to guard what comes out of my mouth. I give you permission to “Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.” (Ps 141:3 NIV) May my words be followed by fruit. In Jesus Name…Amen

    [tweetthis]What are your words doing? Are they making God tired or are they giving Him the root to bear good fruit in your life?[/tweetthis]

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  • WORD POWER

    words have power“And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.”
                               2 Chronicles 32:8 NIV
    “Great Job! I’m so proud of you!”
    “You’re an idiot. Don’t you know anything!”
    Words are POWERFUL! No matter what you say, there is an effect attached to your words for good or bad. Proverbs 18:21 says, “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” The truth of that verse is hard to believe. We can understand that God’s words are powerful since it only took Him speaking to create our universe and everything in it. To believe that human words are powerful you only need to speak to a counselor to understand the devastating or inspiring affect of words. Do you understand the effects of your WORD POWER?
    Hezekiah was king of Judah in a dangerous time. The nation was being taken captive by a super-power named Sennacherib, king of Assyria. Daily he spoke threats to the people; demeaning them, elevating his strength and leaving them in fear. Hezekiah knew that God was with them as a nation and wasn’t willing to let Sennacherib have the last say. King Hezekiah assembled the troops and gave them a most powerful rally speech. He “encouraged them with these words: Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.” (2 Chronicles 32:6-8 NIV) This confidence brought VICTORY!
    Recognize your WORD POWER today! Choose to bring; life, not death; faith not fear; confidence not discouragement. You are that powerful!
    Prayer
    Father, I thank-you for the power of Your Word. May my speech be seasoned with Your words and Your encouragement, so that power of my words would bring people to confidence in You and who you’ve made them! In Jesus name…Amen.

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