stanpavkovich

I ran across a very moving story that John Trent, the President of StrongFamilies.com and the Center for Strong Families shared in an article.

A true story that  illustrates in a very real way, the power of our words. The Bible says that the power of life and death are found in the tongue.

Mary had grown up knowing that she was different from the other kids, and she hated it. She was born with a cleft palate and had to bear the jokes and stares of cruel children who teased her non-stop about her misshaped lip, crooked nose, and garbled speech. With all the teasing, Mary grew up hating the fact that she was “different”. She was convinced that no one, outside her family, could ever love her … until she entered Mrs. Leonard’s class.

Mrs. Leonard had a warm smile, a round face, and shiny brown hair. While everyone in her class liked her, Mary came to love Mrs. Leonard. In the 1950′s, it was common for teachers to give their children an annual hearing test. However, in Mary’s case, in addition to her cleft palate, she was barely able to hear out of one ear. Determined not to let the other children have another “difference” to point out, she would cheat on the test each year. The “whisper test” was given by having a child walk to the classroom door, turn sideways, close one ear with a finger, and then repeat something, which the teacher whispered. Mary turned her bad ear towards her teacher and pretended to cover her good ear. She knew that teachers would often say things like, “The sky is blue,” or “What color are your shoes?” But not on that day. Surely, God put seven words in Mrs. Leonard’s mouth that changed Mary’s life forever. When the “Whisper test” came, Mary heard the words: “I wish you were my little girl.”

That was a God moment for Mary… It was the turning point in her life …to know she was loved and valued…  Those 7 words began to change her life.

God wants to change our life as well.

But many times because of sins we committed and poor choices we have made… often times we feel like we can’t have a relationship with God…

That God no longer loves us or He has given up on us. But nothing can be farther from the truth.

To those who are crippled by sin or enslaved to things you know are not pleasing to God…
He says, “I wish you were my son” or “I wish you were my daughter.”

Remember what the book of James tells us draw close to God and He will draw close to you.

Isaiah 43:4 “You are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you… ”

Be Blessed,
Stan

In 1995 the Discovery space shuttle was grounded.
It wasn’t grounded because of funding. It wasn’t grounded because of a major technology problem.

It was grounded because of a woodpecker.

A whole group of woodpeckers found out the exterior fuel tank had this foaming on them. And they loved to peck that foam away.

But that foam was to protect those tanks and if the foam is not there the tanks can over heat.

It becomes a fire hazard.

So the whole project is grounded by a woodpecker.

Here’s what I think when it comes to relationships…

That it isn’t just the big things that hurt our relationships, but the reality is that most of the time it is the little woodpeckers that hurt our relationship.

This week at COTC we will learn to be alert to things, even the little things that can come into our marriage and ground our marriage. It is a message that can be applied to all relationships regardless of marital status.

If you’re married you’ll receive some practical helps to protect your marriage…

If you’re single you might be married in the future or God may give you the opportunity to help someone, who is about to make a poor decision that will effect their marriage and their family.