Graffiti of the Heart: Verbal Abuse

"The Tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit." Proverbs 15:4
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Is there anyone who hasn't felt the sting of hateful, mean-spirited words spewing out all over their formerly placid mind? The shock of those bitter words flows through you like no other feeling you can recall. We've all been there and know that feeling--the paralyzing quality of their meaning. And all of us ask the same questions: How could they say that? What are they thinking? What have I done?!!! Sometimes we can answer those questions, and sometimes we can't. We usually respond with anger and outrage...but should we?

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In Chapter 3 of F. LaGard Smith's Meeting God in Quiet Places, he addresses this kind of desecration written on our mental walls. How do we cope with this kind of attack? Can we find a similar situation in the Bible? David's anguish at being attacked with slander by friends can be compared to our own. And who has suffered the most pain from slander and betrayal by friends? Jesus, our Saviour.
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I have often referred to the Psalms because within them lies all of the elements we experience in our own lives. This connection is made when David's poems tell of his enemies speaking evil of him. Not great armies coming against him, but hateful words. David prays for protection from the words of his enemies, many who hate him simply because he is "a man after God's own heart." Like our own enemies, David's were just waiting for him to fail, so they could heap scorn on him. Our enemies are waiting for us to fail, waiting for us to show our struggling faith, so they can express words of derision and hurt.
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But when you think about it, it isn't surprising that our enemies throw hateful words at us. Having no regard for anything spiritual, and by pointing out our faults, they justify their own sinful ways. That is the way it works in the world.
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However, it is when the one who has abused you is a loved one that you are most deeply hurt. This also happened to David, and we can only guess who he was talking about in one of his psalms: Was it King Saul, who loved him like a son, then tried to kill him? Or maybe his beloved son Absalom, who brought a rebellion against him? Two people close to David--people he loved--betrayed him!
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Can you imagine how David felt, because you have also had this experience? Has a close friend or relative betrayed you? Your first reaction is to give back in kind. Like David, you feel totally validated in asking God to help you get back at them. David said of his enemy: "May his days be few. May another take his place of leadership. May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow. May his children be wandering beggars. May a creditor seize all he has. May strangers plunder the fruits of his labor. May no one extend kindness to him or take pity on his fatherless children."

OUCH! Can this be the same David who wrote the 23rd Psalm?
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You cheer David on because you too have felt the hurt--maybe not of hatred, but of spite, or selfishness, or even an important difference of opinion. You want to feel better, and lashing back at your "enemy" will put salve on your wounds. Unfortunately, it doesn't heal them completely. But you CAN cover over the ugly words of grafitti with paint, and ugly abusive words with love. In fact, you may remember that the apostle Peter tells us to "Love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins."

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Covers...yes, but what about forgetting those hateful words? It's because David wrote the 23rd Psalm that we know that he didn't allow vindictiveness to consume him. Writing the 23rd Psalm showed that no matter who came against him, he depended on God: "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.... Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Depending on God really works!

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And, of course, your best example of forgiving your enemies, your friends, or your relatives is Jesus. Betrayed by friends and hung on a cross by enemies, Jesus also looked to God and turned all His grief and pain over to Him, saying: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." Forgive them?!!! Can you really learn to be that compassionate and forgiving?
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Certainly, you can be strengthened by realizing that God knows how much you have been hurt. Bearing the greatest slander, the greatest scorn, the greatest hatred the world has ever seen, Jesus said to God: "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit."

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That is what you should do when you're faced with verbal grafitti--FORGIVE. To be like Christ, you must forgive and turn it over to your heavenly Father as He did. Sometimes you treat your family like the enemy, and your acquaintances like family. That is a false way of moving through the world. You must realize that you haven't been perfect either, and someone has undoubtedly covered your wrongs with their love.
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Have a wonderful Sunday with the family. Remember that God will help you.
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Blessings...Mimi

10 Things You May Not Know About Poetry & Psalms

What is Mortality
But the things relating to the Body,
Which dies?
What is Immortality
But the things relating to the Spirit,
Which Lives Eternally?

William Blake 1757-1827

This poem is from a book by John Diamond, M.D., titled The Healing Power of Blake: A Distillation. Dr. Diamond has taken Blake's very long poems and made them readable in this book. He uses poetry to heal his patients, and he believes that Blake was one of the best at writing poetry that heals, especially when it is sung. Diamond suggests to his patients that they write poetry, and also read the poetry of the masters out loud and to sing the poems.

This suggestion reminds me again of David, who was a master of poetry writing, and who used his songs to heal King Saul's malady. Here are 10 things you may not know about poetry and psalms:

1) David gave us one of the most glorious collections of poetry ever written. We call it the Book of Psalms, and the Jews call it the Book of Praises. It is often called the Psalms of David.

2) David had a great talent for playing, singing, and writing poetry.

3) David's true character is revealed in his songs: his love of God, his care for people, his anguish at his own failings, and his trust and faith in God's forgiveness and deliverance.

4) David's poems serve as a journal of his life experiences and a history of his people.

5) David's love of God spills over in beautiful expressions of not only God's love and mercy, but His presence with him, His holiness, His power, and His faithfulness.

6) All of God's attributes can be found in the songs of David.

7) In the Psalms, we learn the value of knowing God, what it means to be righteous, as well as the vanity found in the way of the ungodly, and what their end will be.

8) David wrote 150 poems, which were written to be sung by a large choir accompanied by thousands of musicians.

9) David organized all the music for worship in Jerusalem.

10) The Psalms are read, chanted and sung every day of the year. No other book of hymns has been used for such a long period of time by so many people.

No wonder David is called "the sweet Psalmist of Israel." The Psalms have come down to us as a blessing--their healing power and influence is impossible to calculate. But even a cursory look at their depth and meaning would convince you that they are worth contemplating. Once again, we realize that we have been given great gifts from God. What will we do with them?

I hope all of you have a great weekend, including time when you remember God. I know some of you are having time with the family, and that's always a good idea.

Blessings...Mimi

Happy Birthday to Kelly with a Psalm & a Recipe

Today my oldest granddaughter is 32 years old! So HAPPY BIRTHDAY to KELLY!!! The last time she visited me, we had a nice, soft rain one evening that came down for a long time. We sat outside the French doors of my bedroom and Kelly read Psalms out loud for 30 minutes or so to me and Donna. So it was about a year ago when Donna was here at the same time as Kelly. And a good time was had by all!

The beautiful 23rd Psalm has been a favorite of so many people for generations of time. Not only is it beautiful lyrically, but the meaning has lifted many of us in difficult times. So I'm going to repeat it here for Kelly's sake and for all of us who might need inspiration toward a brighter day.

23rd PSALM

The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green
pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths ofrighteousness
For His name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort
me.You prepare a table before me in the
presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall
follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the
Lord

Forever.

What more can a shepherd do for his sheep? He gives them everything they need, just as God gives us our every need. He provides for us. And He comforts us with His protection and direction. We are anointed daily with blessings. And we are given hope with the promise of dwelling in His house and having fellowship with Him forever! I wish all of these spiritual blessings for Kelly and for all of you.

Now I want to give you a recipe for Olio Nuovo and Lemon Cookies. The recipe is from the McEvoy Ranch Cookbook. The Olio Nuovo is one of their limited edition olive oils, but you can use the olive oil of your choice. They also grow lemons and this is a recipe using fresh lemons. They may also be flavored with orange. Simply substitute navel orange zest, orange oil, and orange juice where appropriate. These cookies are reminiscent of Mexican wedding cookies or Russian tea cakes. If you don't want to bake all the cookies at one time, freeze the balls of dough on a cookie sheet and transfer to a plastic bag. They'll keep for about 3 months. The frozen cookies will go straight into the oven, but may need a few more minutes of cooking time.

Olio Nuovo and Lemon Cookies

2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup olio nuovo (or your favorite olive oil)
1/8 teaspoon pure lemon oil (Boyajian brand recommended)
4 teaspoons grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

1) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 large baking
sheets with baking parchment or silicone baking sheets.
2) Sift together the flour, sugar, and baking soda into a
medium-sized bowl. In a small bowl, stir together the
olive oil, lemon oil, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Add
the wet ingredients, then stir until the mixture comes
together into a uniform mass. Using your hands, roll
the dough into balls 3/4 to 1 inch in diameter, and
place them on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them
2 inches apart.
3) Bake the cookies 1 sheet at a time until cooked through
and very lightly browned, about 15 minutes. Transfer to
a wire rack and let cool completely. Store in an airtight
container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

I hope you'll try this lovely recipe and enjoy some taste you've probably never had before in a cookie. Let me know how you like them. And one more time:

Happy Birthday to Kelly! I love you very much!

Blessings...Mimi