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table of contents 1 CONTENTS BE A LIFEGIVER 04 Words! Of all the ills and problems in our society and in our world, one of the biggest is words. Maybe I should say that Hello the use of words is the problem. Beautiful Warren I Love you! 12 06 Two years of Well one of those times was when I was consistent, faithful working at a Christian School. I had one of edification into my life the worst young men that I ever had in the from this young man eight years that I worked there. had allowed the Holy Spirit an open door to work in me. And I STICKS & STONES let Him. 16 What if I told you every word you spoke about your kids would come true? You Can Do It Would that change the way you talk to your kids? 10 Death or Life Even though I have lost my way many times in the past the Holy Spirit has been there with open arms to bring me back to the 20 path of righteousness. Since the beginning of time, words have played an instrumental role in the development of children and people in our societies. Editor in Chief: Sales & Advertising: Dawn Bechtel 50 lines without permission. Anything more you Todd Goodwin must have written permission. Hello Beautiful, picture by Laura Quiroz. You can Entire contents © 2013 by RLM Media, Revibe Editors: contact her at lauraquirozphotography@gmail or Media & Resurrection Life Church unless Kat Dufrene & Nina Goodwin on facebook- Laura Quiroz Photography otherwise noted on specific articles. All rights reserved. Graphics, Layout and Design: LifeSigns is published quarterly. You may use Copyright © 2013 LifeSigns Magazine Todd and Kat. articles or portions of articles up to no more than 2 table of contents table of contents 3 BE A LIFEGIVER by Allen Hickman Words! Of all the ills and problems in our society and in our world, one of the biggest is words. Maybe I should say that the use of words is the problem. The Bible teaches that there is life and death in the power of the tongue. Wow! That is pretty powerful, Life and Death. When you really look at it, you find out that it is true. How many of you can quickly remember when someone said something to you that hurt you to your very core? Probably you are thinking of it right now and emotions are beginning to stir. Time and distance hav- en’t diminished the power of those words. Most of the time when words hurt like that they kill something, maybe a dream, a relationship, a hope; the things that make life good and joyful. Death by words! It’s been proven by science that you can tell a kid with normal brain function that he is stupid, dumb, and can’t learn, and he will underachieve for no other reason than the words spoken to him. Death by words! Wow! Every time I say these things I never get an argument. Everyone knows it’s true. Well, if that part of the verse is true, then the other part is also true. Words can bring LIFE! There have been times in my life that I was down and about to quit when someone spoke a word of en- couragement and life came back. Wow! I have watched people hear words from their father and other family members that brought healing to their soul. To hear the words that you are loved, they are proud of you, you can do it, I forgive you… Wow! It feels good even just writing these words. The scriptures say it like this, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.” What do we learn from this? God wants us to understand the power of our words and speak life! You don’t have to point out everything that is wrong. Speak life! Bring words of life into the people around you. Inspire them to greatness, bring hope, and give it out like it is candy in your pocket. Start with your family and be generous with your words. Let me take a little time to speak life over you. God the Father loves you. He knows your name and all your past and still chooses to love you. You’re worth as much as Jesus Christ because that’s what He was willing to pay for you. He has a plan for you that will fulfill you in every way. He is the Father who runs to His children. Be a life giver! 4 table of contents table of contents 5 (601) 749-1900 219 Telly Road Picayune, MS 39466 WARREN LEE THOMAS www.leethomas.net REAL ESTATE TEAM [email protected] I LOVE YOU!by Pam Seal are times in this life that I know the Lord would scratch His head and say what are they doing. THEREThere are times that I have thought what and why are you doing what you are doing. Lee Thomas Well one of those times was when I was working at the Christian REALTOR, Broker School. I had one of the worst young men that I ever had in the (601) 749-1901 eight years that I worked there. One day I finally had to walk out of the classroom. Our Priorities: [email protected] I told the Lord, “I just want you to know what I am about to go back in there and kill Warren.” I felt in my spirit to go back in and hug him and tell him I love him. Immediately I almost hollered, “You have got to be kidding.” I think that I wrestled with whether to go back for five or ten minutes. Finally, I went back in and, with his back to me, I put my arms God around him and hugged him and said, half-heartedly, “I love you, Warren.” He was shocked. The next day I heard the Lord say again, “Go hug Warren and tell him you love him.” Family Terri Thomas REALTOR “Really, God, You are kidding.” I said. (601) 749-1900 Then I heard, “Remember when you wanted so badly for Business [email protected] someone to hug you and tell you they loved you?” So everyday for three years I would hug Warren and tell him I loved him. (in that order) A while back I was in the hospital visiting someone, and a man stepped in front of me. I asked him, “Do I know you?” “Miss Pam, it’s me, Warren.” We talked about his wife and children and how well he was doing. I told him goodbye and walked away. He called out to me, “Miss Pam you forgot to hug me and Brooke Thomas tell me you loved me.” REALTOR Needless to say, I rushed over and hugged him and told him (601) 347-2184 I loved him. Wow, what a feeling to know that because of [email protected] obedience a young man would remember that one person always hugged him and told him “I love you.” Serving South Mississipi and Southeast Louisiana 6 table of contents (601) 749-1900 219 Telly Road Picayune, MS 39466 LEE THOMAS www.leethomas.net REAL ESTATE TEAM [email protected] Lee Thomas REALTOR, Broker (601) 749-1901 Our Priorities: [email protected] God Family Terri Thomas REALTOR (601) 749-1900 Business [email protected] (in that order) Brooke Thomas REALTOR (601) 347-2184 [email protected] Serving South Mississipi and Southeast Louisiana table of contents 7 MORE THAN JUST A FAIRYTALE ou might be in a marital situation condemnation that you can throw at by Diane McGuire where you feel that no one—and your spouse that will bring them to YI do mean no one—understands that change. You are not God. ONLY what you are going through. Your God can change your spouse, and spouse may not be of the faith, may the great thing is that He wants to. be harsh, cruel, mean, unfaithful, But, as long as you keep your or they may be a Christian and not hands on the situation, trust me, walking the way that you feel that there will be change, but no the they should. Maybe your spouse is change that you want. Let God be a good man but you just want him God and you be the spouse. Fifth, to love you more, to a deeper level. become the spouse that God wants Let me tell you from experience that you to be. Through your faith and I KNOW firsthand that God not only your example, your spouse will can heal any marital problems, but see the unconditional love. He wants to. One of God’s greatest Sixth, expect that change, desires is that we have a loving, visualize it in your mind. fulfilling, faithful, and faith-filled marriage. How is that possible? [Hebrews 11:1-3 ESV] 1 How can God heal and change the Now faith is the assurance spouse that is so harsh and cruel? of things hoped for, the The spouse that just doesn’t seem to conviction of things not be attentive to your needs? seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their Many times in my marriage I have commendation. 3 By faith had these same questions. Mine was we understand that the more like this: “Lord, I know universe was created that You can do all things, by the word of but as humans we all God, so have a choice; and if my that spouse chooses not to follow You, chooses not to change, then change won’t happen.” what is seen Well, let me tell you that change was not made out of can happen.