By Paula Williamson, guest writer If I asked everyone in the world who has been hurt by words, I don’t think anyone would hesitate to raise their hand. Words can be extremely cruel, like weapons of mass destruction. That should not be. God created the world with His words. It Is Written PROVERBS 12:18 The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. PROVERBS 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. MATTHEW 12:36 -37 But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. Words Are Powerful Spoken words are powerful. Their fruit is either death or life. We are in charge of what comes out of our mouths, and we will give an account of them one day. They should be carefully chosen. Psalm 103:20 says that angels listen to, harken to, and carry out the spoken word of God. When our mouths align with God’s word, angels are released to carry it out. Prayer Lord, help me use my mouth as a powerful weapon that speaks life, encouragement, blessing, hope, peace, love, and empowerment, bringing You glory. Help me never use my mouth as a weapon of mass destruction that discourages, tears down, wounds, maims, and hurts me and others. Help me remember that I will one day give account for careless words. Takeaway Words are powerful.

By Paula Williamson, guest writer When I was growing up, children were expected to be seen and not heard. In my family, we were taught to obey rather than think for ourselves. Only one opinion mattered, and it wasn't ours. This type of parenting led me to look for voices outside my own head to tell me what to do. Empowering children to think is important. It Is Written MATTHEW 19:14 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” MATTHEW 25:40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Love and Empowerment I had the privilege of teaching preschool children for 43 years. They were precious to me, and as I interacted with them, I treated them as if I were interacting with the Lord. Children were important to Jesus; they should be important to us. They should be seen, heard, and valued. They are our legacy, the world beyond us. Each generation should be devoted to mentoring the next. What are you passing on? Prayer Lord, sometimes our view narrows to ourselves. Forgive us. Help us be good stewards, beginning with our own family, our own kin, our own neighbors, schools, churches, and government. Help us be diligent and committed to what we pass on to the next generation. Open our eyes and ears to You and Your plans, Your heart, and Your love for us and those around us. Help us live in a way that makes a difference. Takeaway What we pass on today will help shape the world of tomorrow.

By Paula Williamson, guest writer When I think of the differences in my family over the last four generations, I marvel at both the good and the bad. My great-grandmother was alive when slavery was legal. My grandmother was not allowed to vote because she was a woman. My mother was born during the Holocaust, when six million people were murdered because they were Jews. I was born at a time when there were signs on restaurant doors and water fountains prohibiting Black people from using them or entering. I can hardly fathom what happened in those four generations. History reveals many wrong views. It Is Written PSALM 136:1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. For his mercy endures forever Life Goes On The world and life are constantly changing. You can fill in the blanks with all the changes that have taken place in the world since then and with how far we seem to drift from God and His Word. We are here today because of His mercy. Those of us who have met Him are changed by His mercy. If the world can change for the better, it will be because of His mercy extended to us and others. No doubt some of what we believe today will seem appalling in the future. I am grateful for His mercy. Prayer Lord, we can learn from the mistakes of past generations as recorded in history books. We are sorry for the sins of past generations and for our own. We have made our own rules and doctrines and followed our own ways. We ask for forgiveness and do not want to take advantage of Your mercy. Lead us back to You and Your ways. Takeaway His mercy endures forever.

By Paula Williamson, guest writer When Jesus came, He did not come the way the religious leaders, the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Jewish citizens, expected. He did not fit the box they had for Him. Mary Magdalene, a former prostitute, traveled with His 12 disciples. Jesus went out of His way to reveal to the Samaritan woman at the well that He was the Messiah. He commended the Syrophoenician woman for her great faith. Although the religious leaders frowned upon it, Jesus included women. It Is Written JOEL 2:28 “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. ACTS 2:17 “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. GALATIANS 3:23 There is [now no distinction in regard to salvation] neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you [who believe] are all one in Christ Jesus [no one can claim a spiritual superiority]. What Changed? Deborah was a prophet and a judge who led Israel and directed military strategies. Miriam was a prophet and co-leader alongside Moses and Aaron. Esther risked her life to save her people. Phoebe was a deacon. Priscilla was a church leader, teacher, and church planter. Junia was outstanding among the apostles. According to Scripture, no person is superior to another, and women were not inferior in the kingdom of God. Jesus came to level the ground at the foot of the cross Prayer Lord, may we adopt the attitude of the Savior. May we lay down superiority and inferiority and treat others with the same respect Jesus our Messiah showed. Remove inequity from Your Kingdom and the world. Remove any ways we have distorted Your gospel, and forgive us. Takeaway At the foot of the cross, all are equal.

By Paula Williamson, guest writer God forgive those who, through intimidation, words, and actions, have made many feel inferior, stifling their God-given gifts. We were created in God’s image, and each person has unique gifts and abilities to offer. There is only one you, unique and valuable. It Is Written 1 TIMOTHY 4:12 Let no one look down on [you because of] your youth, but be an example and set a pattern for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in [moral] purity. ROMANS 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Respect We can disagree respectfully, forgive, and refuse to believe what others say or do that is untrue. Some people have a problem with their mouths and vomit on those nearby. No one can make us feel inferior without our permission. We do not have to remain in such a person’s presence. We certainly do not have to believe demeaning words or take them to heart. We do not have to choose to be victims. Scripture says we are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ. Prayer Lord, help us realize that we have a choice when we are in the presence of mouth vomit, demeaning words, false accusations, gossip, slander, verbal abuse, and similar things. Help us to respectfully disagree, walk away, and leave those words behind. Help us to keep them from hurting our hearts and self-worth. Help us to set healthy boundaries. Give us wisdom to know what is about others and to walk away uninjured. Takeaway You are more than a conqueror through Christ who loves you.

By Paula Williamson, guest writer We often go through life without examining our motives. Even when we sense the direction we should take, we rationalize, and our mouths say yes to what our gut says no to. Wisdom pauses before it speaks. Ask yourself: “Is what I am about to say in the best interest of others, or is it just making me feel and look good?” It Is Written: PSALM 141:3 Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips. Boundaries We can say yes or no to every decision we make. We set the boundaries, not others. No one can take advantage of us without our permission. If we say yes when we should or want to say no, we are responsible for the consequences of our choice, not others. Prayer Lord, help us exercise wisdom before we open our mouths. Help us pause to ask whether what we are about to say is in others' best interests. Help us have the courage to say no when our inner compass gives us that check. Help our motives be pure, not self-serving. Takeaway Wisdom pauses before answering.

By Paula Williamson, guest writer The word submission causes most women to bristle. Misconceptions about wives submitting to their husbands conjure images of men as superior and of women wearing a muzzle over their mouths, forced to keep their opinions to themselves because only his matters. In Scripture, the word for submitting comes from a Greek word meaning to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Paul emphasizes that the role is not about dominance but about a relationship through the lens of Christ’s sacrificial, dying love for the church. It is mutually respectful, not about dominance, as if either the male or the female opinion were the only one that mattered. It Is Written EPHESIANS 5:22-23 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. 1 CORINTHIANS 13: 4 -5 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Mutual Love and Respect We should commit to living with mutually honorable behavior. This is not only a commitment to others but also to ourselves. God does not value one sex over another. In Christ, there is no male or female, Jew or Greek, slave or free. The ground is level, and we are not to control or be controlled by dehumanizing, degrading, or humiliating behavior. Those who engage in such behavior are not practicing Christ’s sacrificial love. Prayer Lord, it is easy to misunderstand some things written in the Scripture. When the Pharisees asked You what the greatest commandment was, Jesus declared, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. MATTHEW 22:37-40 As we submit to one another as unto You, help us to do all things through the lens of love. Takeaway We submit to Christ because of His love for us.

By Paula Williamson, guest writer Depending on where you get your knowledge, the lines can get blurry. Those of us who are uncomfortable with an imperfect world can easily find ourselves under a mountain of false burdens and responsibilities. Here is a lens of clarity. We should not be doing what others can and should do for themselves. It Is Written GALATIANS 6:2, 5 Bear one another's burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ". 5 For each one should carry their own load. Clarity Are there times when others need help? Absolutely! We have all been there, and we will be many times in life. We should express empathy. We should be sorry for their hardship and understand that it will be hard for them to overcome it. We should pray for them and encourage them, but not enable them to remain victims in need of rescuing. We should do what the Lord leads us to do. We can walk alongside them, connect them with healthy resources, and empower them to do what they should be doing for themselves. Prayer Lord, help us maintain healthy boundaries between ourselves and others' problems. Help us remember that the world is imperfect, full of imperfect people, including us. Help us empower others to find the courage to walk on their own. Help us extend mercy and compassion measured by You, and give others the wings to fly. Takeaway Don't do what others can and should do for themselves.

By Paula Williamson, guest writer The human paradigm is an endless staircase and a hamster wheel. The worldview pushes us to achieve and accomplish. I once held thirteen jobs in a church. That’s crazy! The truth is, people who don't know how to say “no” get used and taken advantage of. When we view the Bible as an endless set of rules to follow rather than the Holy Spirit’s leading, life becomes hard and often fruitless. It Is Written MATTHEW 11:30 “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Rest Even Jesus did not heal everyone at the Pool of Bethesda. He did only what the Father told Him. He also withdrew to be alone with His Father. Laying down one’s life for others means being willing to encourage, sharpen, and pray with others, but not to make them dependent on us. There is one Savior. His name is Jesus. We are not Him. Prayer Lord, give us wisdom and discernment to follow Your still, small voice within and the nudging and prompting of the Holy Spirit. Help us be obedient when we feel a restraint or a check in our Spirits before we say yes to every request. Help us follow You. Takeaway Following the Holy Spirit means stepping off the hamster wheel and following one voice.

By Paula Williamson, guest writer Taking care of oneself is not selfish. When flying, the stewardess tells passengers to put on their oxygen masks first in case of emergency. You cannot take care of others without good self-care. You cannot give others what you do not have. A wise counselor once told me, “You can’t pour from an empty pitcher.” It Is Written MARK 12:30-31 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ “There is no commandment greater than these.” Unselfish Love If we do not love and care for ourselves, how can we love others? Unselfish love treats others as well as oneself. Balanced self-care ensures our basic needs are met so we can do the same for others. Just as a stewardess instructs us to put our oxygen mask on first so we can help others. Here is a simple reminder of how to refuel. Keep a list of one-minute, ten-minute, or thirty-minute treats as a reminder to refuel and take care of you. Prayer Lord, help me retreat when I have done too much, haven't gotten enough rest, or have overextended myself to the point of resentment. Help me remember that I need to take care of my basic needs so I can take care of others. Takeaway Balanced self-love is a good thing.

Paula Williamson, guest writer Abuse is rampant in our world today. Hollywood, video games, and social media have played a major role in desensitizing us to say and do things we would never say or do to a real human being standing in front of us. Growing up in a dysfunctional home normalizes verbal, emotional, and physical abuse, making behavior that is not okay seem acceptable. Even Christians misinterpret scripture to tolerate abuse. It Is Written MATTHEW 5:39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. Truth Jesus did not condone abuse. In the days this scripture was written, turning the other cheek meant redirecting, choosing a different course of action, not responding in kind, retaliating, or returning evil for evil. Not sinking to their behavior. We should not accept any abuse toward ourselves or our children, nor should we respond the same way, or teach our children to do so. If you or someone you love is caught in the vicious cycle of abuse, help is available. Breaking cycles of dysfunction is my passion. Many free books are available at www.coadwordbooks.com Prayer Lord, when You saw injustice, You addressed it. You endured the things done to You by mankind as the Messiah, Savior of the world, which we are not. You never condone abuse or expect us to remain in abusive situations or expose our children to them. Help those trapped in this horrible cycle find the courage to break it. Takeaway Jesus did not condone abuse. National Domestic Violence Hotline https://www.thehotline.org Free. Confidential. 24/7. We're Here to Help ; Call. 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) ; Chat. Chat live now ; Text. Text “START” to 88788. Visit our page for Privacy Policy.

By Paula Williamson, guest writer I have seen too many lives destroyed by alcohol. It is a deceiver and a life-destroyer, a god in a bottle that controls one’s life like a cruel puppeteer. It not only destroys the life of the one held hostage by its influence but also devastates the onlookers who love the person under its cruel control. It causes beautiful women to slobber, slur their speech, and behave in unbecoming ways. It drives people to say and do things they would never do without its influence, all for what? A temporary numbness and a lifetime of regrets? The only people who think it’s fun are also under the cruel puppeteer's influence. It Is Written EPHESIANS 5:18 Do not get drunk with wine, for that is wickedness (corruption, stupidity), but be filled with the [Holy] Spirit and constantly guided by Him. Lasting Happiness My heart was desperately hungry, longing, sad, and unfulfilled until the day I met Jesus. Mary Magdalene’s face and actions in the series “The Chosen” mirrored my heart perfectly. I entertained taking my life, as she did, until someone called me by name. I sat on a porch, one minute, overflowing with love and hope, washed clean, whole, and filled with purpose the next. What happened in between was Him. Prayer Lord, if there are those whom alcohol has rendered powerless, I pray for divine intervention in their lives. I pray You would send people into their lives who will speak the truth and guide them to the living hope and freedom found in You. I pray that, right now, that chain would break and Your tangible love would flow down upon them, rescuing them from this cruel puppet master. You came to set the captives free and give them abundant life. I ask for all the help of heaven to assist them on their journey out of its grasp toward You. Takeaway There is freedom in Christ.