Silver Boxes

When you talk, do not say harmful things, but say what people need-words that will help others become stronger. Then what you say will do good to those who listen to you.

Ephesians 4:29(NCV)

...Say only what helps, each word a gift. (The Message)

Today we heard an excellent sermon on this scripture! I was reminded of a speaker I heard years ago, Florence Littauer. She wrote the book Silver Boxes that is based off of this scripture. She teaches that giving words of encouragement to someone is like giving them a gift wrapped in beautiful silver paper and a pretty bow on top.

As I was listening to the sermon I was also remembering the eight weeks I had my Sunday School class practice Ephesians 4:29. Each Sunday we had to show up to class sharing what specific thing we did that week where we applied Ephesians 4:29. I found that I could hardly wait to hear the stories my class would be sharing. That was 12 years ago and I still look back to that as a very special time.

I was thinking about families doing that very same thing! Just imagine if you specify one day a week when you gather to share your Ephesians 4:29 story...and then thank God for that wonderful opportunity!

That would be a glorious time!!!!

When I came home from the retreat where I heard Florence Littauer, I brought back a "silver box". It was on my dresser, or my mantle. People would ask about that silver box that never got opened. I used it to remind me to practice Ephesians 4:29.

After several years, it finally looked bad enough I threw it out!

But...

I think I need to go out and buy some beautiful silver paper....and a beautiful bow....

and wrap up a box and put it somewhere to remind me of the importance of

Ephesians 4:29

The Word

The Word
I tend to like going to different versions of the Bible. It seems to make the Word come alive for me. This probably comes from the fact that as a child we came to family devotion time with different versions, including Spanish! We would then compare how it was translated and talk about which translation seemed clearer on that particular section. Today I read in Ephesians in The Message. I loved the way it reads in the first chapter....just had to post it!!!!!! Ephesians 1:3-23

Date September 6, 2007
How blessed is God! And what a blessing He is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in Him. Long before He laid down earth's foundations, He had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of His Love, to be made whole and holy by His love. Long, long ago He decided to adopt us into His family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure He took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of His lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.
Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, His blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people-free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans He took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in Him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth. It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, He had His eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose He is working out in everything and everyone.
It's in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free-signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This signet from God is the first installment on what's coming, a reminder that we'll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life.
That's why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the Christians, I couldn't stop thanking God for you-every time I prayed, I'd think of you and give thanks. But I do more than thank. I ask-ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory-to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing Him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is He is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life He has for Christians, oh, the utter extravagance of His work in us who trust Him-endless energy, boundless strength!
All this energy issues from Christ: God raised Him from death and set Him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from His rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ's body, in which He speaks and acts, by which He fills everything with His presence