[TeenMinistry] HomeWord - The Deadly Poison of Putdowns

I have been meaning to promote this resource (below) for parents (and grandparents).  Jim Burns is a nationally known youth and family worker who has a ministry called HomeWord.  He deals with a wide variety of issues that have to do with marriage and parenting.  You can sign up to get his daily e-mail devotional or listen to the program via the web at any time or by podcast.  If you don’t have an Ipod, you can still subscribe to the podcast by using Itunes as the player (it’s free).  His radio shows are archived as well so you can go back and see if he has covered something you are dealing with right now.  I hope to have this and many other resources up and going on our webpage in the near future.

 

Some of the topics he has recently discussed include:

• Growing a Healthy Marriage – Even if Yours Isn’t
• Equipping Your Daughter for Sexual Purity
• Seperation & Divorce: Healing the Hurt
• Dealing with Difficult People
• Keys to Financial Freedom
• Breaking Free from the “Thin Cage”
• How to Balance Work and Family
• Defeating Disrespectful Behavior in Kids
• Why You and Your Kids Should Read the Bible

 

He often brings in experts to share their personal experience and make the topic more relevant.  I encourage parents with kids of all ages to equip yourselves with this and other practical resources.

 

 

Because of the Cross,

Mike

 

 

 

Mike Brown

Youth & Family Minister

Lafayette Church of Christ

115 New Ballwin Rd.

Ballwin, MO  63021

636.391.6697 - office

636-394.2338 - fax

mike.brown@lafayettechurch.org

 

 

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From: HomeWord Devotionals [mailto:emailservices@homeword.com]
Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2007 6:06 AM
To: Mike Brown
Subject: Today's HomeWord for 02/07/07 - The Deadly Poison of Putdowns

 

Having trouble seeing Today's HomeWord? Click here for the Web version.                                       

The Deadly Poison of Putdowns This devotional was written by Leslie Snyder 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.  Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. —Ephesians 4:29–32 “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never harm me.”   Those words sung on every child’s playground are all too familiar to adults today.  They provided protection, safety, and resistance against the hurtful words of the playground bully. Putdowns like, “You’re stupid!”  and, “I can’t believe you wore that!” are examples of the way kids hurt each other with their words.  Even worse is what is spoken in hushed tones in the victim’s presence.  There are even a growing number of chat rooms with the sole purpose of destroying particular students, a rise in what is now being termed, “internet bullying.”  But, as hurtful as these words are when they are spoken from child to child, they inflict the most damage when they are spoken from parent to child.  “Hey chubby…how ‘bout another donut?” “Why can’t you be like your sister/brother?”  “I can’t stand you…in fact, I can’t believe you’re my son!”  Words like this sink into the soul of a child like a deadly poison resulting in a slow death of the beautiful spirit within them.  In his letter to the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul commands that our words build others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow says, “A torn jacket is soon mended, but hard words bruise the heart of a child.” When others hear you speak to your family, specifically to your children, what do they hear?  Do they hear words of encouragement, acceptance and praise, or do they hear careless words of bitterness, anger, condemnation or even worse, contempt?  Paul admonishes us to replace anger and bitterness with kindness, compassion and forgiveness.  In fact, he states that as a forgiven people we too need to be a forgiving people.  Unkind words, an unforgiving spirit, and an argumentative attitude are uncharacteristic of a follower of Christ.  The truth is, words spoken in anger, haste, and carelessness often inflict the deepest, most lasting scars.  However, it is never too late to change.  Words like, “I’m sorry, please forgive me” can begin the healing process.  Why not start today?  To comment on today's devotional, click here. GOING DEEPER: 1. Is my speech and action consistent with one who follows the leading of the Holy Spirit or instead am I grieving the Holy Spirit in my words and actions? 2. What relationship in my life needs the most change in how I speak to the other person? Consider one specific way that you can “build up” that person today. FURTHER READING: James 1: 19-20, 26; Ephesians 5: 19 – 21, 6:4; Proverbs 15:1 To change your email address, click here. 32232 Paseo Adelanto, Suite A San Juan Capistrano, CA - 92675 800-397-9725

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