Words matter. All knowledge and wisdom is contained in words. With our words we either build up or tear down. Relationships are strengthened or torn apart by our words. A parent’s words teach children who they are and how to relate to the world. Loving words increase joy and hateful words increase discouragement. Words matter and as a believer who chooses to share my faith through the words I write, I know God holds me accountable for my words. Every word I write has a life of its own and I am mindful of the forces that my words unleash into the world. I desire that all of my words result in good and not evil. However, they have their own destiny and no matter how carefully I choose my words, I can’t govern the intent applied to them by the reader. Whatever I reveal of my God and myself by my words is coupled with the emotional climate of the reader and altered by their pre-existing mindset. I can’t change what another already knows but only add to or subtract from what they embrace as truth. Though I am accountable for my words, I am not always accountable for how they are received. Though I strive to write with joyful, loving words of encouragement, my words are destined to twisting in the minds of some and I will be misunderstood. The joy through faith in Jesus that I wish to impart is sometimes, distorted in the minds of others and the purpose I intended for my words is frustrated. As a writer who promotes faith in Jesus, I can’t measure my words according to how they are received but according to the perfect words of life found in the Holy Scriptures. I measure my words according to the character of Jesus Christ.
Word Mirrors
Truthful words written down in truth!
Then picked up and held as mirrors,
Reflecting images in another’s mind;
Minds searching for irrefutable proof!
Peer intent into words held as mirrors,
Hoping for kindly reflected Self to find;
Turn angry! March-stomp away aloof!
Seeing ugly Self- image in word mirrors,
Now my truthful words begin to grind!
Seeing you in me, this distorting spoof!
Words now cut-slice as broken mirrors!
Relating is shattered when intent is blind,
Twisting words reflects a distorted truth!
Truthful words reflecting hearts as mirrors,
Reveals what lies hiding in another’s mind.
There are also, among us those talented wordsmiths with another agenda. Their wizardry with words is precise and they have an uncanny ability to see the vulnerability of others and use their words as a salve to sooth their need. Using words as mirrors to bend light and distort even the Holy Words of Scripture to serve the evil intent in their heart. A false prophet may use sound teaching but what is true becomes false when tainted with his desire for control and power. Adept at twisting truth into lies and embellishing them with beautiful words that hurting people want to hear, they endear themselves to their prey. By their eloquence they deceive trusting souls and by speaking hope into their victims’ weaknesses, they exploit them. They are the womanizers, the grifters, the con-men, who seeing God as a useful tool in gaining power over others become preachers, teachers, and rise to great heights in the religious hierarchy. Others create Para-church ministries that evolve into cults. They are the” wolves in sheep’s clothing” that woo the church and then devour her to satisfy their appetite. They can’t be exposed for who they are by their skillfully crafted words but by their actions. Though they bleat as sheep the love of God isn’t in them and when their deceitful purposes are frustrated they will emit a truth-leaking growl. Though by their words they create a Holy House of Mirrors by distortions of joy, they are not characterized by the spiritual fruits that come only by true faith in Jesus.
Remember, words are mirrors and while they have the power to reveal inner truth, words also, have the power to distort. The mirror that reveals each of us as we truly are is the Word of God and in measuring every word written and spoken by human beings by those Holy Words is the safety of ultimate, divine truth.
joyindestructible 
Reblogged this on Epiphanus – A Call In the Desert and commented:
The problem with Pam Witzemann’s lovely post is that I am not sufficiently eloquent to even write a recommendation. Instead, you are invited to read for yourself. A very touching essay, indeed.
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Thank you, Epiphanus.:0)
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Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
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Thank you, Vincent. God bless.
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You’re very welcome Pam and God bless you too!
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The subject of the power of words is close to my heart. You exhibited an amazing display of that truth here. Thank you!
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You’re welcome g.w. There is something about pain that reveals greater truth. I like the revealed truth but I can’t say I enjoy the pain it comes by…but I am blessed when the truth I learn out of the painful things in life blesses other.:0) All things to the good…
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It’s such a truth to watch for—the words of deceit. I was thinking of advertising when I read this.
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Yeah, there’s lots of false advertising going on in all areas of life.:0(
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We can only discern and avoid what we can. It’s so different now—just one generation ago, and things have changed so much.
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In the last ten years…I don’t want to sound like an old curmudgeon but technology has put us on a huge downward trajectory…it has outstripped our ability to adjust to it and define moral boundaries for it. That among other things…
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Reminded me of Romans 16:17, 18. “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.”
2 Timothy 4:2-4. “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and
teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”
I post articles on medium.com as well but nobody reads them. It appears that the majority of those who are on that medium (sic) are worldly in nature. I confronted a young group with scriptural answers. I was told to avoid this approach since “nobody cares about the Bible”. They accused me of having a “holier-than-thou” attitude even though I had not expressed anything of my own. The world is increasingly becoming a vicious place.
I was responding to a gay person who had posted an article on why he had left the church after 10 years and returned to Buddhism and was seeking a feedback on his decision! When feedback was given, he and others of his kind, became offensive. I had not mentioned anything about his decision or lifestyle. I had only placed Scriptural answers against his expressions. They were not responding to me; they were mocking God and His word. I decided not to respond to such posts in future.
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It’s discouraging when truth and what we’ve grown up accepting as basic good sense is met with such hostility. There is no reasoning with it. It’s beyond words. There is such a viciousness out there these days. I know I’m getting old but I just don’t get it. I’m sorry you went through that and I think you are wise not to subject yourself to it further. It serves no good purpose. It’s hard not to feel sad and discouraged about it but we have to look up because Jesus is returning soon.
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Yes. “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.” Philippians 3:20, 21; 4:1.
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I was reading another’s blog the other day whom I just happened to stumble upon. The words were eloquent and at first I thought were God based. However, as I read further, an uneasiness fell over me. The words sounded right but the Holy Spirit was warning me that the intent was wrong. Towards the end I discovered the source of my uneasiness. The person was mixing the message of God’s love with the message of middle eastern spirituality.
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There’s that kind of deception too. It could also, be because a person new to the faith came from that kind of background and was twisting scripture to their previous understanding. It takes time for the Bible to replace our previous view of the world. That makes it difficult also, to know if your words of truth are being defined the way you intend them or not, also. The ones that scare me the most are the once who do understand the Bible and are capable of using it to meet their own desires for worldly things. We live in deceptive days. I know I need to be more wary of guarding my heart.
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This is so true Pam. Because I have been so hurt by words from my past I do have a tendency to take people’s words the wrong way- it’s a tough pattern to break. And remembering how important what we say is too- thank you for this my beautiful love. You are so special 💓
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And hurting a lot over this too…I feel like I’m being buried in a landslide of poorly chosen and misinterpreted words…but this too shall pass, right?
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Oh honey. I am so sorry. I am not sure how anyone could feel hurt by your words- you are such a gentle and precious soul. Yes it will pass but while it’s hurting please remember that you are not alone. Jesus is holding you- you will not become buried. I am here too-it will be ok sweetie.
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Thank you…some things have resolved and I’m doing better. God is good. Thank you for being such a sweetheart.
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That’s great to hear Pam. Yes He is so good! :))
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Brilliant I agree whole heartily congrats on a great post. Verbal abuse did a number on me for so many years. Words and how we use them is so important. They can damage you for the rest of your life.
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Me too and it is so easy to say the wrong thing and trigger someone else. I’ve learned to face into my triggers instead of turning away from them and I come back to earth quicker. I wish I could teach others how but each has to find their own way there it seems.
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I can do that now coming 5yrs since my divorce and a battle of verbal abuse. I too come back quick and amazed myself when I do. I so could not do that before. But with Gods help I have got stronger.
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I participated in a meditation-concentration exercise for 20 years.The main goal is to be aware of the present moment, ourselves, our thoughts, our egotistic responses, our surroundings, etc. It teaches us the principle of not being affected by anything. That is a tough exercise. Some of the things we had to learn were: Letting criticism roll off (in the sense of not affecting us) “like water off a duck’s back”. A duck apparently doesn’t get wet in water! The response of non-response. I was impressed by this bit, “Just see their mouths opening and closing and the words coming out – doesn’t mean anything to you. Just stay centered in the moment without responding in any way.” Even though I don’t do the exercise any more (for the last 8 years), the principles have stayed with me. I have realized that words reflect a person’s mind and the intents of the heart. Like, words can be used for hurting as well as healing. We have to be aware of the person’s intents and motives in the choice of words they employ. We can weigh up a person by our accumulated knowledge of words that have been used over a period of time. Just ponder on the words God has used to express Himself to get an idea of His intents / purposes / motivation towards us. We will be drawn to Him by words like: “I Am Your God” “I have loved you with an everlasting love” etc. However, in spite of His words, I fail to understand why people keep rejecting Him.
I’ll share more, if you should be interested.
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I’m always interested, Thomas. I am blessed when you write from your heart. I have learned to let a lot roll off too when I understand that what people express has much more to do with themselves than me. Of course, it’s different when it is someone close to me.—I think people look into the Word of God, compare themselves to Him, find themselves lacking and turn away. It’s easier for people to lie to themselves about who they really are than to strive to change and improve. Thank you for you comment.
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Words matter really and they mirror. You are part of the witch train where words are concerned. Cheers!
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?????
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Quite a study, Pam. I will reblog this.
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Reblogged this on andnowmiguel and commented:
This is a excellent study on the effect not only of what is said the ear which takes it in. Toss in their the wizardry of using words to manipulate souls.
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Thank you, Miguel. I’m honored. This one always hurts when I read it though. It’s a lifetime of study through hard knocks. God bless.
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It’s terrible Pam, the stuff done in religious institutions in the name of worship. Some times I feel that the power exerted there, though not eternal, ostentatiously by the evil components, usurps much of the attention. Distracting. Blemishing.
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Yes…it’s worse if it is in your family. The other bad experience I had was an online, parachurch ministry which became a cult. Abusive controllers are always, just abusive controllers but a mantle of God allows them to gain trust easier. Some of them are living in a state of self-deception too and trying desperately to believe they are the persons they project themselves as. Revealing them as otherwise, can have serious consequences.
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Obviously, you are a perceptive person. I can tell by the different avenues you pursue in descriptiveness. Sorry to hear you have gone through these experiences, yet these are the running waters whose frictions shape the stones to the required efficiencies which will fell the Goliath in due time. Future usage.
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Always. What we develop in order to survive and overcome becomes a gift. God bless you always, Miguel. I’d better go tend to some of the more mundane issues of life. Nice discussion.
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Bless you as well my Sister
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