13 LETTER WORDS!

AI showed me the most commonly used 13 letter words in English. 

Who cares?.....you probably ask. 

I, being fixated as I am on words, counted the list to find that 1/4 of said words included ended in s. Plurals no less. In my opinion that's a cop-out. Superfluous and needless.

The 13 letter word I'm obsessing on this morning was on my Word-A-Day calendar. Unputdownable.

Engrossing or riveting, usually in reference to a book

My focus then began with Bible in hand opened to the book of Ezra. Ezra means help, helper and strength. (Hebrew 'azar--aid protect, support) Azaryahu = Yahweh Helps. I need help to put down things not needed, aka fear, worry & self-protection. Self anything.

Bible in one hand and chocolate in the other.

Which one should be unputdownable?

May the LORD stir up my spirit to put down chocolate things of the world but not my Bible.

God's Word is unputdownable!

CHOOSE THIS DAY....FOOD FOR THOUGHT FRIDAY!

How great it would be if all decisions made today would be as easy as choosing my morning cuppa!

All my tea options are good ones to me. I don't even have to choose caffeine free if it's only 7am. 

Other choices throughout the day are more difficult because of the ramifications. Such choices can be important or complex, nothing like deciding on loose leaf or tea bag for my morning cuppa.

How would my choice affect someone else. Physically?  Emotionally? Monetarily? Spiritually? (Romans 12:10)

• To encourage. (Ephesians 4:29) 
• To build up. (Romans 15:2) 
• To motivate to love and good works. (Hebrews 10:24)
• An encouraging word cheers a person up. (Proverbs 12:25)

Each day our choices count! 

That's real food for thought this Friday and everyday.

WORDSMITH WEDNESDAY

Lexicography of symbols.
Many folks think a picture says more than a thousand words but these days of computerese, one needs to be careful.  LOL! I rarely even use an emoji for that very reason. I don't have a clue what many of them "mean"--- semantically ambiguous comes to mind."

Catching up on this week's "funnies" aka as "the comics, I came across a word I never recall seeing in print or hearing for that matter. "BRIFFIT."

BRIFFIT. Can you see it in Sarge's word balloon? 

It's speed indicative as if someone left so fast 

they left behind a cloud of smoke. (lower right)

Obviously there's a lexicon for cartoonists. In fact, Mort Walker, Beetle Bailey's original creator, wrote a book about it, The Lexicon of Comicana. It's a brief book on the language of symbols.

I just didn't know cartoonists used so many illustrations instead of words. Spacewise that's smart. Word balloons I'm familiar with, as I can know which character is speaking reading the balloon above his head. Hearts bubbling out of character's head is an emanta and indicates emotion of love is emanating from him.  I've see lines of motion which clearly indicate speed and often direction. Now I know they are labeled hites. Drops of sweat that spray from a character indicate distress are called plewds. The more upset, the greater number of plewds.

Profanity is left out and grawlixes are used instead. For that, I am grateful! (Ephesians 4:29)

At our house, the grands would think Sarge was using an "S" word when screaming at Beetle because "Stupid" is our "S" word and it's not allowed----neither is shutup,  another Liles "S" word.
I guess even individual households can have their own jargon.

at-TEA-boy! At-TEA girl!

Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. (Ephesians 4:29, NLT)

As all teachers know, it takes at least 10 "attaboys" or "attagirls" to temper one "now-now" negative. 

Kids need encouragement.....but then, so do adults. Heart to Heart Bible study teacher, Crickett reiterated that last night as she shared a great model for a "Ministry of Encouragement" from 2 Timothy 1:1-7.

5 Ways to Encourage Others

(as Paul encouraged Timothy)

1. Love them- (v. 2 & 4) & show that love.
2. Pray for them- (v. 3) & keep on praying.
3. Affirm them- (v. 5) in their faith walk.
4. Exhort them- (v. 6) to be all that God has called them to be.
5. Remind them- (v. 7) of all the Lord's resources that are available to them.

What a great reminder that spiritual at-TEA-boys are good for spiritual health as well as emotional health. 

Each at-TEA-girl fills someone's cuppa with much needed positivi-TEA. Thanks to Crickett for filling our cuppa week after week!

LIQUID GOLD

10/15/12 --Retrieving my postal package of "My Cup of Tea" samples, I felt like I had just opened liquid gold. I sensed the renewal and replenishment my weary body would receive from a "cuppa" of any one of these shiny, delightful gifts. A cuppa that went along with my Bible study meditation verse---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. (Ephesians 4:29) ....Say only what helps, each word a gift. (MSG)

While sipping and savoring, my mind went back to childhood days and Mother. Mother, who served us all hot tea. Mother who kept a "spic and span" house. Mother who used a particular brand of furniture polish----Liquid Gold. It's claim was to restore, enhance and replenish. She liked it for the shine it left on her the wood furniture and bannisters.

Mother and Christine, our across the street neighbor, who shared housekeeping tips through lots of years. Christine, who gave me a book called Apples of Gold. What a fitting book that was for me, at age 14, as I entered high school and needed guidance on relationships during that transition period. What I could give others, that would refresh their lives or replenish their drained emotions, as they too, walked those scary halls as freshman, came from that little gold covered book. Words. Fitting Words. Apples of Gold. Words that can leave a shine, not a scar.

 

Memories that had me thinking----are my words to others gifts? A Liquid Gold of encouragment?

An apt word to give a lift? What gift of words can I give that would bring a shine to someone else? 

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. (Proverbs 25:11)

A "cuppa" with a proverb to match---a double dose of liquid gold.