My friend Felix inspired this blog.
Proverbs 18:21 (The Message): Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit-you choose.
Ephesians 4:29: 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.
Matthew 12:37 (The Message): …There will be a time of Reckoning. Words are powerful; take them seriously. Words can be your salvation. Words can also be your damnation.
Whoa.
When I first heard we were coming to an orphanage in Nicaragua my thoughts automatically thought about all of the little babies I would meet and how excited I was to love on them and get to know them. What I didn't think about was all of the 'big kids" I would meet…because in my mind "big kids" don't live at orphanages.
My heart was automatically drawn to Felix.
I remember seeing Felix walk around with his headphones in, very stoic-like. His face was always serious, but gentle. He spoke very little, usually only when spoken too…and he just seemed interesting, there was more to him…I could tell & I just wanted to know him. I wanted to see a smile.
I didn't have to wait long to see that smile either. We arrived to Cicrin on a Thursday & on Sunday morning I walked into church & recognized the face behind the drums-it was Felix! During the first couple of songs there really wasn't any emotion shown. I just kept watching, praying for something.
Then it happened: maybe it was the song, maybe something funny happened or MAYBE it was Jesus but suddenly a huge smile spread across his face-ear to ear & all I could see was the joy of The Lord coming down all around him.
I could see the joy of The Lord all around him which is why, over the last couple of weeks, I had been so confused as to why words were being spoken about him & the other older boys as if they didn't know Jesus…as if they didn't care about Him or anyone else.
One day I felt really sad because the previous night at dinner Felix was being silly & I, kind of but not really, jokingly said "Felix hates me" and someone agreed and said "It's okay, Felix hates everyone."
My spirit was feeling really down, sad, and just weary at that comment so I sat down and asked The Lord why I was feeling this way & this is what He revealed to me:
Words are powerful. My words hold life and death. Even in "joking" terms, Satan is given a foothold by the words that we speak & say about others. Ephesians says to only speak words that BUILD UP.
This comment that I made was not true, not even a little bit. Felix loves, he is FULL of joy from The Lord-look at that smile-I know it makes you smile too! Over the last couple of weeks I've made it a point to communicate with Felix as much as I can. We can't really understand each other but it doesn't even matter because we always just end up laughing. His favorite thing to say to me is "Mañana" & make funny faces at me…well I think they're funny. He loves music, is passionate about playing the drums, & is a beast with a machete. My team may think I'm a little crazy at this point but Felix really does just brighten up my life & I know that's exactly what God thinks about him too. People, I am blessed to know this kid.
By changing our words we are able to change our reality, our destiny, our world. Our words have power & presence. Speak blessing, speak life. Only use words that build people up. Think before you speak & don't allow Satan to have a foothold in any way.
Felix's future is bright, just like his smile. I learned a very important lesson through him and am forever grateful.
Psalms 141:3: Set a guard, O lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.
This is my prayer.
