Whoever said "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me" clearly didn't understand the power of words. Whether you have said words you wish you could have taken back or been on the receiving end of words that you wish you could forget. We know this: WORDS MATTER. We see from the very beginning of the Book of Ruth that words matter to God and how we use our words matter to our lives and the lives of others.
Just because you’re bitter doesn't mean you’re broken. Just because it’s dim doesn't mean the light is gone Even though you’ve taken a 1,000 steps in the wrong direction, 1 step in the right direction can start your journey home. Behind every powerful message is a relatable mess. Lament and grief can be the pathway from heartbreak to hope. Every single one of us has a redemption story to tell.
We rarely get to where we are supposed to go when we cut corners. It's true when following a recipe and using subbed out ingredients. It's true when driving somewhere and deciding to take your own way. It's true when it comes to living a life that seeks to KNOW GOD. It's tough to end up where God wants you to be when you accept substitutions. What are some ways we can recognize our tendencies to cut corners and how can we stay on track to honor God?