Bible Verses About Strength- 25 Encouraging Scripture Quotes

Bible Verses about  strength must start and end with God. It is the power and strength that comes  from God that carries us on. As Christians we need to surrender to the strength  that God provides and His strength is made perfect in our weakness. As you read  through these scripture quotes about strength be encouraged in that it  is  not your strength that is needed but the strength that God willingly supplies.  Feel free to use this study for a devotional, topical  Bible study or Sunday School lesson.

All Strength Comes From  God

It is so refreshing to know that we can rest in  the strength and comfort that God will provide when facing troubles of many  kinds. Let Him have the glory and show himself strong. Listen to this Bible  verse: 2Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro  throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose  heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on  you shall have wars.” God wants to show Himself strong on your behalf.  Surrender to Him today and let the peace that He gives you take over. We cannot  fully serve  God without full surrender to his Strength.

Strength Comes From God Bible  Verses

Isaiah 40:28-31  Have  you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting  God,   the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or  grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the  faint,   and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even  youths shall faint and be weary,and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who  wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;   they shall mount  up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be  weary;   they shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 41:10  fear  not, for I am with you;  be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will  strengthen you, I will help you,  I will uphold you with my righteous  right hand.

1 Chronicles  16:11 Seek the LORD and his strength;  seek his  presence continually!

Exodus 15:2 The LORD  is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and  I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

Philippians 4:13  I  can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Psalm 18:32-34  the  God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless. He made my  feet like the feet of a deer  and set me secure on the heights. He trains  my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

1 Corinthians 10:13  No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God  is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with  the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to  endure it.

Psalm  119:23 Even though princes sit plotting against me,  your servant will meditate on your statutes.

Examples of Showing Strength in the  Bible

The following Bible verses on being strong show  us biblical examples of strength and the faith it takes to trust  in God so completely that He is your strength. Imagine how much faith it took  for Abraham to be willing to sacrifice his long awaited son Isaac.

• David

1 Samuel 30:6  And  David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all  the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David  strengthened himself in the LORD his God.

• Paul

2 Timothy 4:17  But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me  the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I  was rescued from the lion’s mouth.

• Peter

1 Peter 4:11  whoever  speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by  the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified  through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever.  Amen.

• Joshua

Joshua 1:9-11  Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be  frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever  you go.”And Joshua commanded the officers of the people, “Pass through the midst  of the camp and command the people, ‘Prepare your provisions, for within three  days you are to pass over this Jordan to go in to take possession of the land  that the LORD your God is giving you to possess.’”

• Abraham

Genesis 22:1-3  After  these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here  am I.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to  the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the  mountains of which I shall tell you.” So Abraham rose early in the morning,  saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac.  And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of  which God had told him.

Bible Verses Showing Strength Comes From  Faith Not From Fear

Are you struggling through a situation today and  are grasping for answers? How should you respond? Respond with faith and not fear, knowing the promises  of God and His mighty hand will hold you through any situation!

Psalm  27:1  The LORD is my light and my  salvation;    whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my  life;  of whom shall I be afraid?

Matthew 17:20  He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I  say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this  mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be  impossible for you.”

Mark 10:52  And Jesus  said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he  recovered his sight and followed him on the way.

Matthew 21:21   And Jesus answered them,  “Truly, I say to you, if  you have faith anddo not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the  fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the  sea,’ it will happen.

Bible Scripture Quotes About Strength as  Related to Courage

Jesus has truly overcome the world the day he  gave His life for all on the cross. Take peace  and be encouraged knowing it is Him who is mighty to save. He will not leave you  or forsake you.

Deuteronomy  31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in  dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave  you or forsake you.”

John 16:33  I have  said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will  have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Psalm  23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the  shadow of death,   I will fear no evil, for you are with  me;   your rod and your staff,    they  comfort me.

Strength Bible Verses- Because of the  Hope and Love we have In Jesus Christ

Do not lose heart or become discouraged as we  have the Hope of Jesus Christ and eternal life to carry us through. Stay in the  Bible and pray continually seeking the face of God and He will be with you. I  pray these Bible verses fill your heart with hope from the truth of  God’s mighty word.

Zephaniah  3:17    The LORD your God is in your  midst,   a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you  with gladness;   he will quiet you by his love;  he will  exult over you with loud singing.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18  So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our  inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is  preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,  as we  look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the  things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are  eternal.

2 Timothy 1:7  for God  gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Job 13:15  Though he  slay me, I will hope in him;   yet I will argue my ways to his  face.

Romans 5:5 and hope  does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts  through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Christian Quote About  Strength

“Those who serve God must serve Him in His  own way, and in His strength, or He will never accept their service. That which  man doth, unaided by divine strength, God can never own. The mere fruits of the  earth He casteth away; He will only reap that corn, the seed of which was sown  from heaven, watered by grace, and ripened by the sun of divine love. God will  empty out all that thou hast before He will put His own into thee; He will first  clean out thy granaries before He will fill them with the finest of the wheat.  The river of God is full of water; but not one drop of it flows from earthly  springs. God will have no strength used in His battles but the strength which He  Himself imparts. Are you mourning over your own weakness? Take courage, for  there must be a consciousness of weakness before the Lord will give thee  victory. Your emptiness is but the preparation for your being filled, and your  casting down is but the making ready for your lifting up.” – Charles  Spurgeon

D.L. Moody once said that “If you partner  with God, Make your plans big!” I encourage you today to make God your  partner. Whatever your burden is that caused you to search for strength, give it  up to him now. Do not let another minute go by without completely surrendering  your burdens to Him. God wants to be your strength. Surrender to Him in your  weakness and let Him show Himself strong.

Read more: http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/bible-verses-about-strength-25-encouraging-scripture-quotes/#ixzz1km8tBOMy

Now, I know we Canadians are a hearty bunch when it comes to our winters.  That limerick by Ogden Nash comes to mind whenever the wind howls and the snow blows here in Canada:

There once was a man from Quebec

Who was buried in snow to his neck.

When asked, “Are you friz?”

He said, “Yes, I is,

But we don’t call this cold in Quebec!”

Of course we Albertans believe that we still hold the title for far harsher and colder temperatures than our Francophone brothers in Quebec, although we must bow to our hearty neighbours in the province of Manitoba for wind chills that even have brass monkeys booking tickets to Florida.

But this week Alberta has experienced what our weatherman likes to call a “Polar Plunge”.  Many schools (notice I did not say ‘all schools’) were closed on Wednesday when the ambient temperature outside dipped to – 30 (that’s -22 F for my American friends).  Yes, despite the temperature many children still trudged off to school wearing only their hoodies and flip flops.  But I did notice that when we factored in the windchill and the mercury dipped to a balmy -40 (that’s -40 F), some kids elected to wear long pants to school rather than their shorts.  Can we all say “Brrrrrrrrrrr!” together?

Luckily, Alberta is looking forward to another “snow eating” Chinook coming our way in the next twenty-four hours and our temperatures will soar to +2 C.  To all of you who have never experienced what that kind of radical barometric change does to a body just ask my friend Emilie, or my son Brett and all those others who suffer from migraines when the Chinook winds start to blow.  If asked, they might even say they like the cold better than the Chinooks.

But for now we’re headache free and still freezing our buns off here in sunny Alberta and so here’s to all of my Canadian friends making the best of a cold situation right now.

50°F – New Yorkers try to turn on the heat. Canadians plant gardens.
40°F – Californians shiver uncontrollably. Canadians sunbathe.
35°F – Italian cars won’t start. Canadians drive with the windows down.
32°F – Distilled water freezes. Canadian water gets thicker.
20°F – Floridians wear coats, gloves & wool hats. Canadians throw on a t-shirt.
15°F – Californians begin to evacuate the state. Canadians go swimming.
0°F – New York landlords finally turn up the heat. Canadians have the last cook-out before it gets cold.
-10°F – People in Miami cease to exist. Canadians lick flag poles to see if their tongue will stick.
-20°F – Californians fly away to Mexico. Canadians throw on a light jacket.
-40°F – Hollywood disintegrates. Canadians rent some videos.
-60°F – Mt. St. Helens freezes. Canadian Girl Guides begin selling cookies door to door.
-80°F – Polar bears begin to evacuate Antarctica. Canadian Boy Scouts postpone “Winter Survival” classes until it gets cold enough.
-100°F – Santa Claus abandons the North Pole. Canadians pull down their ear flaps.
-173°F – Ethyl alcohol freezes. Canadians get frustrated when they can’t thaw the keg.
-297°F – Microbial life survives on dairy products. Canadian cows complain of farmers with cold hands.
-460°F – ALL atomic motion stops. Canadians start saying “Cold ’nuff for ya?”
-500°F – Hell freezes over. The Toronto Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup.

My review of Courageous Living: Dare to Take a Stand – Michael Catt

“In the new film COURAGEOUS (from the makers of Fireproof), four police officers are confident and focused when it comes tofacing danger on the job. But leading their families at home in a God-honoring way? That takes courage.

Because it is important to take a faithful, fearless stand in so many areas of life, pastor and COURAGEOUS executive producer Michael Catt offers Courageous Living as a closer look at biblical themes and characters that inspired the greatly anticipated movie. Catt brings fresh insight to “stories of people in the Bible who displayed great courage when it would have been easier to play it safe… (who) challenge me to keep moving forward. They demand that I examine my priorities and deal with anything that brings fear to my heart.”

Readers will catch a new wind of bravery in the bold accounts of Abraham (“The Courage to Get Going”), Nehemiah (“The Courage to Face Criticism”), and Ruth (“The Courage to Face an Uncertain Future”). There are also growth opportunities in the stirring stories of Moses, Elijah, Joshua, Daniel, Gideon, Nehemiah, Stephen, and Paul and Timothy.”

I read this book in just a couple of hours. Fast paced and a fast read with a message that hits the reader right between the eyes with its impacting message for today’s parent. Although possibly aimed more towards men (which makes sense since it follows on the heals of the widely popular “Courageous” movie), this book is equally important for women to read.

Although I appreciated the examples Catt used from the Bible and stories about historical figures; great men and women who displayed Godly courage sometimes in the face of great adversity, I also enjoyed the analogy of the “eagle, chicken and ostrich” parenting styles that Catt describes in detail in the book.

It is definitely a book with wise counsel and practical application for all parents and I highly recommend reading it.

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My review of The Resolution for Men – Stephen Kendrick

“A man cannot be passive about what Scripture tells him to do for his family and expect to be found faithful to God in the end. Hemust see with spiritual eyes and realize that future generations are directly impacted by his daily decisions.” –The Resolution for Men

The Resolution for Men is the inspiring book born out of Courageous, a new film by the makers of Fireproof coming to theaters nationwide in fall 2011. The movie, which presents a powerful story of strong male leadership, is an emotionally charged wake-up call to fathers whose influence upon their children and society is immeasurable. The Resolution for Men follows to challenge men of all ages to become as bold and intentional about embracing their responsibilities as leaders of their homes, marriages, and children.

Written by Stephen and Alex Kendrick, screenwriters of Courageous and authors of New York Times No. 1 best seller The Love Dare (five million copies sold), The Resolution for Men strategically inspires men to reconcile with their past, re-engage in the present by taking full responsibility for their wives and children, and then move forward with a bold and clear resolution for the future. Written in partnership with the movie and Priscilla Shirer’s new book, The Resolution for Women, it is designed to inspire a revolution.”

After seeing the widely popular “Courageous” movie, I was determined to follow up by reading the book by Randy Alcorn as well as the “Resolution” books for men and for women.

An important point that is stressed in all of the books is the fact that there is an ongoing attack on the men’s role in the family and in the church. Men are relinquishing their spiritual role in the home and within the church while pursuing career and lifestyle. This is not a new idea. The erosion of the family has been an ongoing attack of the enemy (Satan) since the dawn of man. The result however in a world where divorce is rampant, alternative lifestyles are accepted as normal and children are raised more and more by a single parent, women are fast becoming the spiritual leaders in the home, and while that may not seem bad, (especially in a single parent home) it is not biblical.

The book is meant to inspire, challenge and encourage men pointing them to accept their God-given responsibility to lead by example and be courageous even in the face of great opposition and adversity.

I highly recommend reading this book and the other “Courageous” books. As several of the reviewers have stated, these books are not meant to be read and then shelved. They need to be read, discussed, pondered upon so that the message is ingrained and applied daily.

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My review of The Resolution for Women – Priscilla Evans Shirer

“Written in partnership with Sherwood Pictures’ upcoming film, COURAGEOUS, in The Resolution for Women, popular speaker andauthor Priscilla Shirer challenges all women to be intentional about embracing and thriving in God’s beautiful and eternal calling on their lives.

Like the men in the movie who resolve to fully accept their responsibilities before God, Shirer explains how today’s women can and should live out their own resolution. It is “a defining banner that hangs over your life, written in the ink of your own choices.” A woman’s banner should be an accurate reflection of who she desires to be-someone completely Christ-centered who blesses and changes things in her world for the better.

The Resolution for Women inspires women with intentional, spirit-filled living from three unique angles. Section one, entitled, “This Is Who I Am,” helps a woman define herself as “authentically me, purposefully feminine, surprisingly satisfied, and faithfully His.” Section two, “This Is What I Have,” invites her to value “my best, my blessing, my honor, and my heart.” And Section three, “This Is What Matters To Me,” focuses on joyfully honoring God as a wife, mother, and family member while resolving to live with the grace that leaves a godly legacy. The Resolution for Women is designed to inspire a revolution.”

This book written specifically for women defines the biblical role of the woman in the home by giving practical suggestions on how to support the role of her husband as the spiritual leader and then by being content in her role as wife, mother and follower of Christ.

In a postfeminist culture, this book challenges a woman to be champions for God’s model for womanhood. The message asks women to embrace their femininity, draw on God’s strength and wisdom in raising children and supporting men in their God-given responsibility as spiritual leaders in the home.

Like in the book, The Resolution for Men, where there is a “resolution” (a list) that men are encouraged to print off and sign, there is a similar “resolution” for women that I intend to print off and frame for myself.

A great book for working mothers, stay-at-home moms, newly marrieds and grandmothers. It bridges all age groups giving relevance to women in every “season” of their life.

Like the Resolution for Men, this book is not meant to be read and then shelved. It needs to be read, shared with other women, discussed, and pondered upon so that the message is ingrained and applied in daily living.

“Books were provided courtesy of David C Cook and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from B&H Publishing Group”.

Chocolate paradise and every spiritual blessing

- Kathy Howard-

Chocolate surrounded me. Left, right, ahead, and behind. Everywhere I turned, chocolate lay in great mounds. Every shape and size, wrapped and unwrapped, with nuts and without, cream-filled and nougat, round and rectangle. I have dreamed of a chocolate paradise such as this many times, but this wasn’t a dream.

This time I stood in an actual chocolate paradise. This was not some average, American chocolate shop. I had the joy of salivating in a European chocolate establishment. (And yes, Hershey, they do it better.) The chocolate aroma overwhelmed me and I had to squash the thought of Eve eyeing the forbidden fruit.

Everything I could have hoped for was here – plus many I could have never imagined. The tantalizing smorgasbord of tastes and textures excited me. Chocolate with coconut for my husband? Three choices! Sugar-free chocolate for my diabetic father-in-law? Oh yes, more than he could ever eat! The experience far surpassed my greatest chocolate fantasy. I left with gifts in one hand and my own personal stash in the other.

This morning I fondly thought about this chocolate shop visit when I read through the Bible book of Ephesians. Here’s a couple of passages that thrilled me:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Ephesians 1:3, NIV

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. Ephesians 3:20, NIV

I know my chocolate experience is a weak analogy for these glorious promises, but no physical comparison can measure up to the spiritual blessing God desires to pour into our lives. (So everything considered, being set loose with an unlimited chocolate selection was a good choice.)

Are you experiencing “every spiritual blessing in Christ?” Have you witnessed God do “immeasurable more than all you can ask or imagine?” I honestly can’t say I have, but I’m growing that direction. Want to come along?

You’re invited to join me in a study of the book of Ephesians. “Growing Up Together – a study of Ephesians,” begins Wednesday, January 18^th on my blogsite. You can visit my blog now for a bit more information.

Do you long to experience God’s blessing in your life? In what areas do you feel your faith needs to grow?

Kathy Howard calls herself a “confused southerner.” Raised in Louisiana, she and her husband have lived all over North America. She doesn’t know whether to say “coke” and “ya’ll” or “pop” and “you guys.” But this Southern girl loves to encourage women through teaching and writing about God’s Word. Find out more about Kathy’s Bible studies and speaking ministry and get lots of free resources at www.kathyhoward.org

Certainly all of us have a certain number of regrets in our life.  I have a long list, some I won’t share here for obvious reasons, but God is helping me deal with all of them.  As a parent, there were times when I have said the wrong thing, or did the wrong thing (sometimes with the best of intentions).  Now, when my kids are young adults, they have no problem reminding me about the times I really messed up when they were younger.  Luckily, most of my mistakes can be laughed off by my kids and I have become the brunt of some of their more good-natured teasing throughout the years.  So we mostly laugh off some of my more comical and less-than-stellar parenting skills and my kids seem to have turned out to be fairly well-adjusted human beings all things considered.

I know that my latest parenting faux pas will likely be remembered for years to come and will no doubt go down in my son’s memory record as the “worst Christmas present Mom ever got for me”.  I had no idea that putting a picture of my son on a t-shirt would elicit such a backlash of criticism.  Apparently, according to my family, one does not put pictures of oneself on ones t-shirt and then actually wear said t-shirt…ever!

I thought it was a great idea at the time.  I found a funny picture of my son, had it printed on a t-shirt thinking he would think it funny and unique.  He was more than a little mortified.  “When would I ever wear this, Mom?” he demanded.

“I don’t know, maybe to work?”

Yeah, it got the same reaction from my son…”Are you serious, Mom?  I can’t wear a picture of “me” to work!”

All my other suggestions like wearing it to church, or around friends, or even use the t-shirt as a rag to polish his car, were met with the same “are you kidding me?” looks.  Lesson learned.  Do not put pictures of your children on t-shirts and expect them to wear the t-shirt…I wonder if that goes for grandchildren too?

Thanks to all those who entered!  All of you will be receiving an e-gift by email and I will be sending the plaque out today.  (Contest winner has asked that I do not post her name).

#10  “The Parable of the Teacup“                                                                

#9   “Thanksgiving“

#8   “Resurrection Eggs“

#7    “Graduation“

#6   “O Canada“

#5   “Stumbles“

#4  “Baby Feet“

#3  “Christmas Has Its Cradle, Easter Has Its Cross“

#2  “A Duct Tape Lesson“

In the #1 spot, and viewed by thousands of readers since it was first posted is the very timely and heartfelt plea from me to you, “Help Stop Bullying“

Help Stop Bullying

#10  “The Parable of the Teacup“

#9   “Thanksgiving“

#8   “Resurrection Eggs“

#7    “Graduation“

#6   “O Canada“

#5   “Stumbles“

#4  “Baby Feet“

#3  “Christmas Has Its Cradle, Easter Has Its Cross“

In the #2 spot is “A Duct Tape Lesson“! (Note: I broke all the blogging “rules” with this one!  It was one of the first devotional blogs I wrote, and it is quite lengthy (especially for a blog posting) and it was actually based on a lecture (talk) I gave to high school students.   Still, despite it being an anomaly when it comes to blog posts, it still ranks as one of the most read posts daily!)

A Duct Tape Lesson

This morning I had the privilege of being the guest speaker at BCS (A Christian school in Calgary).  I was told that I had 20 to 25 min. to speak but as it turned out I only had fifteen minutes and that meant I didn’t say everything I wanted to say before they had to cut me off.  I’m not saying it’s a bad thing, I’m sure speakers get “cut off” a lot for time…that’s why I like to write…I can say everything on paper and it’s up to the reader to read every word or just “skim” through it.  No pressure on me or the reader!  But I digress…don’t skim through this!

This morning I used a “duct tape illustration” to explain what is meant by my book title, Shoot the Wounded.  I had a boy volunteer come up and then I had two girls have the pleasure (at least that’s what it looked to me), in duct taping the young man’s hands and feet together so he could not move.  In the middle of their enthusiastic “wrapping”, the boy couldn’t stand on his feet any longer which of course made him even more vulnerable.  Then I had two of his buddies come and tickle him while he was on the ground and couldn’t move.  After a brief struggle, I asked his friends to help him to his feet and help him remove the duct tape from his body.

The following is what I told the students this morning:

“As many of you are well aware, I have recently written a book called, Shoot the Wounded.  It is a contemporary Christian novel written about youth for youth.  It addresses how lies and gossip destroy a person’s spirit, and it speaks to the heart of relevant themes such as bullying, teen pregnancy and family violence all the while pointing the characters and ultimately the reader to hope in Jesus Christ.

Let’s go back to the duct tape illustration.  Many people have asked me where I came up with the title of my book and what is it’s significance.  Actually “shoot the wounded” is a military expression.  It was an order given to an army to kill off their enemy entirely (even if it meant “shooting the wounded”) to prevent enemy soldiers from fighting against them in future battles.  Ever hear the expression, “Take no prisoners!”?, well that means “shooting the wounded”.  Interestingly enough, according to modern day rules of war, if there is such a thing, it is actually illegal  to shoot the wounded on the battlefield.  It is considered inhumanitarian!

I actually came up with the title of my book after I read an interview with a Christian recording artist who was going through a divorce.  As she was being interviewed, she shared that going through the divorce was bad enough but because of all the media hype and gossiping about her situation, she felt like they were “shooting the wounded”.  Another way to say it is: kick you when you’re down, rub salt in the wound, add insult to injury…etc.

In the duct tape illustration, the duct tape wrapped tightly around the boy’s arms and legs represents the wounds that we may carry around with us in life.  Wounds don’t necessarily show on the outside; you don’t have to be bleeding profusely or have broken bones to be wounded.  In fact, some of the most painful wounds cannot be seen at all.  They are hidden and sometimes we even try to cover them up so they can’t be seen.  Some of the most wounded people in the world wear such convincing “feel good” masks, we have no idea they are hurting at all.  Some of them may be members of your family, your church, your community or sitting right next to you at school.

They might be carrying around things like, guilt, shame, unconfessed sin.  Sometimes we are wounded by others, and sometimes we bring wounds on ourselves.  We can be wounded or victimized by abuse, family violence, rape, substance abuse and a host of other serious things that we should never ever have to deal with on our own.  If you are victimized by any of those kinds of things, you need to talk to a trusted adult, teacher or counsellor.

But there are other ways you can be wounded or victimized that is more subtle but can be just as devastating to the person who is going through it.  Things like loneliness, depression, a feeling of being abandoned by friends, having no friends, having friends talk behind your back, being bullied, having others tell lies about you, being gossiped about…

Let me read a definition for you: “Bullying is any hurtful or aggressive act toward an individual or group that is intentional and repeated”.

According to this definition, “bullying” is ANY hurtful OR aggressive act toward an individual or group that is intentional and repeated.  Bullying does not necessarily have to be an aggressive act, it just has to be ANY hurtful act that is intentional and repeated.

In 1999, high school students Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold went on a shooting rampage at Columbine High School killing 13 and wounding 21 people before killing themselves.  In video taped messages and letters they wrote before the shooting, both boys had been bullied themselves.  The boys were not only physically bullied by being pushed around or knocked down, they were made fun of.  They were laughed at and laughed about.  Classmates avoided them, refused to befriend them.  Classmates ridiculed them and gossiped about them.  Granted Eric and Dylan may have had some very serious emotional problems but finally it was the bullying that pushed them both over the edge.

More recently, some schools went into lock-down mode after someone created a group on Facebook that encouraged everyone to beat up on red-headed kids for a day.  It was meant to be a joke, but some took it way too far and a few kids actually ended up in hospital after being beaten by fellow students.  Agressive bullying, cyber bullying,…they are serious enough but there is another insidious form of bullying…Gossip.

In my book, Shoot the Wounded the three main characters in the book are going through some very serious life situations, while at the same time trying to deal with all the gossip and lies that is circulating about them.

Humans of any age like to feel they are well thought of and when other people tell untruths about them or gossip and say terrible things about them eventually it will destroy their spirit.  In school, students may have an increasingly difficult time over-hearing the gossip and then having to face their peers every day.  This may cause some students to become depressed and withdrawn.  A few may become so lonely and withdrawn that they feel no one cares for them, or they might feel that they will never fit in and they may start to have thoughts of suicide.

I have heard of stories of students who have taken their own lives because they could no longer live with what their friends were saying about them in school.  They just couldn’t handle the gossip anymore.

Ephesians 4:29 says: “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”.

Now some of you may be saying, “Whoa, Mrs. Dove…chill!  You make it sound like gossiping is the worst thing in the world.  It’s really no big deal!”  ….Well, to those of you that say that gossiping is no big deal, think again.

If you’ve ever played the game, “Telephone” you have a clear indication of what happens when you gossip.  A simple phrase told to the first person is repeated over and over around the circle and by the time it gets back to the original person, the phrase is completely distorted and almost unrecognizable.  That is exactly the same way with gossip.  It starts with an element of truth, but it distorts with each new telling until it has become almost recognizable from the original statement in meaning and intent.

Have you also noticed that gossip tends to follow a situation immediately after something bad has happened to someone?  When you gossip, you really are kicking someone when they are down, you really are “shooting the wounded”.  Gossip can destroy reputations, it can destroy families and affect a person for years to come.  Sometimes the lies and gossip told are even worse to deal with than the situation the person is dealing with in the first place.  A good example of that right now is Tiger Woods.  Much that has been said about him over the past few months has, for the most part, been sensationalized gossip and not based on much truth.  It has been meant to exploit, discredit and hurt him.

One particular story I came across recently centered around a family who had recently moved from Mexico to West Michigan.  In April 2009 their seven year old daughter became violently ill.  The parents frantically called 911 and watched as medics rushed into their home and carried their daughter’s limp body from their home to an ambulance waiting outside.  When they arrived at the hospital, the parents, were told that their daughter had died.  Three weeks after the sudden and mysterious death of their little girl, the parents found themselves the target of endless community speculation about what caused their daughter’s death.  Although her death was initially ruled as caused by pneumonia and not tied to any infectious diseases, the rumours intensified.  Neighbours became more cruel and even physically confrontational as news that a new deadly strain of influenza, the swine flu virus (H1N1), believed to have originated in Mexico had spread to the U.S.  According to autopsy results, their daughter had died from an inflamed heart but when rumours began to circulate that she may have had H1N1, health officials reexamined the girl’s initial autopsy tests and verified that there was no evidence of the girl contracting any infectious disease.  Even with medical assurances that it wasn’t H1N1 that caused the little girl’s death the gossiping continued.  The parents were accused in their church, at the grocery store, the laundromat and at work.  Strangers even visited the grieving parents in their home and accused them of bringing the swine flu virus to West Michigan.  The mother reacted by telling a local reporter: “I just want people to stop spreading all these rumors and let my daughter rest in peace.”  This clearly indicates what it means to “shoot the wounded”.

I could relate story after story about how lies and gossip have destroyed the lives of people.  So then why do we gossip?  If we know that gossip wounds and destroys, why do we gossip?

An easy Bible-based answer is that we live in a “fallen” world and people tend to do things that go against God’s natural plan for them.  The sad thing is that even if we love God and want to live for Him, we still do things that go against Him.  Why?  Well, when it comes to gossip, this is what I think:

Gossip is an addiction.  It is not something that is consumed, ingested, or injected, but it is actively pursued and sought after much like a drug might be.  For those who have a gossip “addiction” they can’t seem to get enough of it…the juicier the gossip, the better!  It may make them feel good about themselves for a short while, as they tear down another person either for spite or for amusement, but just like a drug that gives a false sense of security, a high if you will, it eventually poisons the body and damages the spirit.

Here’s another example:  In World War 1, chlorine gas was used on enemy forces.  It was a lethal substance which killed men, not instantly, but slowly and agonizingly as their lungs were seared and burned and they eventually choked to death.  In other words, chlorine gas killed only after it had induced terrible suffering and panic.  There always remained one huge problem with the deployment of chlorine gas: unforeseen changes in wind direction.  A change in wind direction brought the gas back upon those who had only recently released it.  At this point the gas did not merely take down the enemy, but it took down everyone.  Gossip is exactly like that.

When you gossip you not only hurt the person you’re gossiping about, you hurt yourself.

Proverbs 6:16,19 says: “There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to Him…vs. 19…a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.”  Consider how strong the scriptural truth conveyed here is: the words, “hate” and “abomination” are not warm-fuzzy words!  Look at the passage again, it does not say that God hates the lies the false witness tells or the results of the one who brings discord; God hates the false witness…the person who causes dissension is an abomination to God.

Some of you might be saying but wait, God is love!  God doesn’t hate people!  Scripture tells us that anger, wrath and hate are expressions of His love!  Because God loves us so strongly, He is passionately opposed to whatever threatens what and who He loves.  Because God is Truth, He hates anything and/or anyone who opposes Him (because He IS Truth).  Because God is a God of peace, He hates anything and/or anyone who disrupts His peace.  (1 John 4:8; Nah. 1:2; Rom. 1:18; Rom. 2:6-8)

When you speak things about others that you would be ashamed to say in their presence, you are not only disobeying God’s Word (Lev. 19:16), you are distroying that person’s reputation in the mind of your listener.  Gossip is sharing private information with those who are not part of the problem or part of the solution!

Even to participate in the act of gossip as a listener is a sin.  “A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much.” (Prov. 20:19).  By wilfully listening to the one who gossips, you sanction the destruction of the other person’s reputation.

So what should you do if you have become addicted to gossip?  First, know that gossip has its roots in jealousy, hate and self- pride.  Gossip is cowardly.  Gossip is a form of bullying.

When you find yourself gossiping or wanting to gossip, STOP.  Gossip only happens if there is an audience.  Walk away from people who are gossiping.  Don’t involve yourself in the gossip.  In order to overcome gossiping yourself, seek the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  As you acquire these virtues, you will not want to challenge or envy others, but instead you will find yourself able to think of others as worthy of your love and respect.

Back to our duct tape illustration: Did you notice that we did not leave the boy bound up and unable to move because of the duct tape illustrating the “wounds” he may have in his life?  No…we did not leave him vulnerable, hurting, or embarrassed.  His friends helped him to his feet and helped him remove all the duct tape around his body.  That’s what we should be doing for someone who is hurting; someone who is wounded.  It’s up to us to encourage one another, not tear each other down.  Look for opportunities to help and be a friend to someone who is hurting.  Be careful that you don’t say something as a joke or in teasing that is hurtful.  Teasing and joking may have their place, but watch out that you don’t cross a line that causes another person to feel like you are “shooting the wounded”.”

#10  “The Parable of the Teacup“

#9   “Thanksgiving“

#8   “Resurrection Eggs“

#7    “Graduation“

#6   “O Canada“

#5   “Stumbles“

#4  “Baby Feet“

Coming in at #3 is the seasonal favourite, “Christmas Has Its Cradle, Easter Has Its Cross“

Christmas Has Its Cradle, Easter Has Its Cross

#10  “The Parable of the Teacup“

#9   “Thanksgiving“

#8   “Resurrection Eggs“

#7    “Graduation“

#6   “O Canada“

#5   “Stumbles“

At #4 is “Baby Feet“.  This one is for all you Grandparents out there!

Baby Feet