Blessing or Cursing

In the last few years, I have been realizing more and more that my words are either a blessing or a curse. Words are powerful. They can be destructive weapons or they can be a strong breeze of encouragement and refreshment. They give life or they squelch life. I can curse the person who just cut me off on the highway or I can bless that person. I can get up in the morning after a long night with a child who has had nightmares and bless the rest of my day by asking the Father to renew me and give me His supernatural energy and perspective or I can curse the day by saying "What a horrible night! This day is already ruined." Now, I am not saying we deny that the night or situation was hard, but I can choose to bless the day and ask the Father to redeem that lost sleep and turn things around for us.

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. James 3:9-12

For the past 24 hours, I have been saddened and surprised by all of the negative comments regarding Christina Aguilera's national anthem mistakes, especially the rude and condemning comments by my fellow Christians. I understand that she is a *superstar* and that there are sky-high expectations of celebrities, but she is still human and still capable of making mistakes. If she was not a talented singer, she would never have been considered for the honour of singing at the Superbowl. According to what I read, she had nailed the song twice at the NBA finals. After the word mix-ups, she was to have said that she just got lost in the moment. It happens. Is it necessary or right for us to criticize her for her mistakes?

Bless-ing noun
1: a : the act or words of one that blesses
b : approval, encouragement
2: a thing conducive to happiness or welfare

Curse noun
1: a prayer or invocation for harm or injury to come upon one : imprecation
2: something that is cursed or accursed
3: evil or misfortune that comes as if in response to imprecation or as retribution
4: a cause of great harm or misfortune : torment

Blessing in Greek is the word Eulogia and means blessing, bounty, praise, laudation, an invocation of blessing or benediction, consecration, benefit.

Curse in the Greek is the word Katara and means an execration, imprecation, curse.

In thinking about and trying to create a Kingdom culture in my life and the life of my family and those around me, I want to have the thoughts of the Father and act and speak according to how He acts and speaks. It says in Romans 12, "bless and do not curse." I believe the change comes when we as believers repent of our critical attitudes and begin using our words as the gifts of life that God intends them to be. I was delivered from a critical spirit four years ago. I pray that my words now bring life and love and joy to people and that my speech honours my Father.

So Christina, I have been praying blessings over you for the past 24 hours. I truly hope that you experience the blessings of Jesus in your life and even more success in your singing career. You are talented and beautiful and I honour you today!

Blessings!