Mama Strout, we're definitely singin the same tune!!

GrammyB - it IS better to be around those who are positive, encouraging, pleasant....i.e. GODLY people!

Mike, you won't get anything else but an amen from me. The verse at the bottom of every blog just below the space where you type a comment is 1 Thessalonians 5:11. In the Amplified Bible that reads:

"Therefore encourage (admonish, exhort) one another and edify (strengthen and build up) one another, just as you are doing." 

Chapter 5 is that chapter that talks about the Lord's return as being like a thief in the night...and how we need to be walking in the light and not in the dark. That we are sons and daughters of the day. We are to be dressed up in faith, love and the hope of salvation.
"Whether we are awake with the living or asleep with the dead, we are  ALIVE with HIM! Therefore.....and that verse above is written.
 

No...you can never speak too many pleasant words. :)
Great post Mike.

Val, fantabulous comment!! (I wish BOLD text was workin', I would bold that fer sher!) When we stop speaking & writing pleasant, gracious words, intended to uplift, encourage, admonish, exhort, strengthen, etc., we start approaching that boundary between light/dark, I believe. Truth in love? The words should be sweet. We should be cut by truth itself, not by someone's choice of words, right? Again, great comment, and thank you for taking the time, Val. I know you're a busy lady!

Cheryl (from GA).... amen to your amen! (those smilies are somewhat distracting, lol)

Remember...  it takes two to tango.    Kindness and goodness begins with EACH of us.

Brace yourself Todd, I got ten years worth comin at ya!

Ima...true, that's me! Well, the folks who need it most might also be the ones least likely to hear it when it's given.

Joey, I'd just add that none of us should wait for the other before doing what we know is right. (aw, but you know that!)

Thanks Angela.....words are so powerful!

Bren, you often bless me (and others) with your Spirit-filled heart. Thanks sister!

Words can either hurt or heal.  There are so many scriptures that remind us how we should speak.  These are a few of my favorites that I'd like to share, if you don't mind -

Gen. 50:21 - He spoke very kindly to them, reassuring them.

Eph. 4:29 - Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

Proverbs 15:4 - Gentle words bring life and health.

Proverbs 25:15 - Patience can persuade a prince, and soft speech can crush strong opposition.

1 Peter 3:9 - Don't repay evil for evil.  Don't retaliate when people say unkind things about you.  Instead, pay them back with a blessing.  That is what God wants you to do, and he will bless you for it.

Zechariah 8:16 - This is what you must do: Tell the truth to each other.  Render verdicts in your courts that are just and that lead to peace.

Thanks, Mike, for this good reminder of how powerful our words can be.  Blessings,  ~Linda

I'm sure the pleasant words found here on mychurch have saved lives.  In a harsh and cold world that seems to be run by the enemy, any overflowing source of the Holy Spirit is necessary and nowhere close to too much!

We only have one time to get it right here and in getting it right we have to help others do the same or at least that is how I feel about it.  There is no better feeling than to have one of those awful days and have someone come along and just pick you up with a kind word or smile.  I know then that my Father is telling me "it's OK".  I love people in general and it is so much easier to be kind than it is to be a person who is so self centered and selfish that they only exist.  I have heard and seen people be so cruel that it actually hurt my spirit.

I thank my Father for the love he has given me and the love to share with others.  It cost nothing and you can't beat what you get in return.

Bless you Mike

Mary, your spirit has uplifted many. And you have uplifted mine many times, too! Thanks for all the pleasant words you've uttered (written).... I look forward to giving you a great big hug some day sister, perhaps in glory!

Thank you RSDaniels, I agree! It's needed!

God's word is GOOD NEWS Margie, isn't it? Yes it is right all by itself, and it uplifts all by itself. I can't tell you how many times I've glumly picked up my bible and moments later been stunned and slapped back into joy by the words I read. Amen sister!(oh why won't BOLD lettering work!!!)

Bhek, love hearing from you brother, October is nearly here! Yes this place is a haven. It ain't perfect, but it's certainly a haven. Thx bro!

Misty, you are a born encourager!

Terry my neighbor, I hope we never forget the importance of pleasant words!!!

rebekah, knowing the difficult place you're at in life right now, I know you could use A LOT of pleasant words. I pray you find them in abundance, not only here, but ESPECIALLY at church on Sat./Sun.

Doyle, all I ever see from you is pleasant words.....I must have been thinking about you when I wrote this blog! :-)

Dan, that's definitely a shared hope, my friend.

Amen, Dave. Our pleasant words shouldn't be restricted to the church, but as you said, folks who live near us, and those we work with, and everyone else in our sphere of influence. 

Long I ago I heard something that relates to this that really stuck with me over the years. I believe it was from the book, The Blessing (Smalley and Trent). The Jewish father was always careful to send off his son with words of blessing whenever he would leave the home. We should lavish blessing on people whenever we can. There is so much cursing be it profanity or just negative expectations on the lives of those around us. Why is it so hard to believe GOD has provided a future and a hope for each and every one of us? If we believe it (Jeremiah 29:11) then our words should confess it not only for ourselves, but those God has placed in our lives!

Thank you for your pleasant comment, Joyful Servant! I pray it is so.

Hi Mike!

Me being me...I'm always thinking about the big picture, the full context, and the real fallen world we live in.  Iron sharpens iron and faithful are the wounds of a friend (friend being a covenant relationship of course).  So receiving words that are spoken in the wisdom from above are easy...but what are we to do with the harsh and critical words that come from a wounded heart?

So the flip side is that we want to be able to walk by the Spirit in those situations also.  I have learned that there is no person on earth that can give me offense (learned the hard way, by the way! LOL!); I have to "take" it.  I have learned that the first response to critical, judgemental, or cruel words is always from my own flesh. I've learned [the hard way] to glory in that feeling of weakness and to allow the Holy Spirit to put that evil deed that is being prompted by my own flesh, to dead...I choose to be the first one to die...and I wait for Him who is love [agape] to respond in love...then I get to experience His life rather than my own.

Sorry, don't want to get off topic...the flip side is perhaps the subject of another blog.  :-)  Now please be sweet if you need to rebuke me.  :-)

Yours in Him,
Craig

Neil....have you any idea how much you've just encouraged me? This is what I love about MyChurch....mutual encouragement!!

I find that we [believers] NEED encouragement, it helps us persevere. The harsh words of criticism and well-intentioned but often misguided correction are not so much needed, I'm afraid. And yet, we so often see it, under the guise of "tough love". It seems to me that many people's idea of the tough love they give is rather a mixture of love and pride. Real revelation comes from the Spirit of God, and when the eyes are truly opened, I believe the heart is too!

God bless you Neil, you're a gift to me, brother!

Craig....why did I never respond to your comment (back in Nov.)? Sorry bro. You know, I see no need to rebuke, only to thank you for some really awesome insight. Thanks for taking the time to post it here!

stumbled here....and so glad i did...i really really really really feel good things about people and get blessed by them....not saying it is always so...but i can find it...think i told you...i prayed for sadaam hussein before he was hanged, i had to imagine him as a 3 year old and loved by his mom and then his soul became important to me. God knew him before his birth in his mom's womb so imagine how much He loved sadaam even in his uglyness. 

kind words are gifts

ly juanita mae