Word of the Week
/Our world runs on words.
Our relationships are built on communication. Our actions flow from our plans, which are framed with words.
Simply stated, words are impactful and spiritual. That’s why since September, every week I’ve selected a word to ponder and power my focus. I’ve also written up a short piece about the word I’ve chosen and then I collected some applicable Biblical passages and shared all of this to my personal Facebook wall.
And so as this year winds down I would like to re-share my first 14 words with you here.
Happy New Year,
Pastor Justin
P.S. If you’d like, feel free to follow along on Facebook.
Week 1 — September 30th
peace
This morning I'm beginning a new work week.
PEACE is the topic I'm going to focus on this week in my studies, my conversations, and my prayers. I think it's becoming more and more evident to more and more people that our country needs peace. I need peace and you do too.
If you want to ponder, inquire about, or discuss peace this week, I hope you'll consider sending me a message or giving me a call. I'd love to connect with others who desire to have and make peace.
Romans 10:15 + Hebrews 12:14 + Philippians 4:6-7 + Matthew 5:9
Week 2 — October 7th
restoration
It's time for me to begin another work week.
RESTORATION is my focus this week. For some reason when I'm near water (for me it's especially flowing water, like a river) I think of restoration, and particularly the internal soul restoration that King David mentions in Psalm 23:3.
I think everyone would benefit from restoration within and without, don't you? We need to be refreshed and renewed by good and right words in order to think, work, and relate to others in a healthy, uplifting manner.
If the idea of restoration strikes a chord with you today, I hope you'll consider sending me a message or giving me a call. I'd love to connect with others who are also seeking the soul restoration that we all need!
Psalm 23:3 + Acts 3:19-21 + Psalm 80 + Joel 2:23-27
Week 3 — October 14th
yielding
I'm back in the office this morning, refreshed and ready to work!
Being willing to YIELD is my focus this week. It's easy for many of us (like me) to be inflexible, opinionated, and stubborn, but humility is required to allow someone to entreat you. There is a real beauty in being pliable to the good requests that others make of us.
To be clear, I am not advocating that you or I ever yield when it comes to loving those around us, doing what is good and right, or speaking what is True.
In my thinking, grass is a good image of yielding. Instead of being inflexible or resolute it bends and bows when even the slightest breeze touches it. But let's not be fooled, though grass is fluid and can be crushed, it is also very strong, and is not easily broken!
And remember, Jesus wisely chose to yield. He bent to God's good—but excruciating—plan for His life.
So, who wants to be like Christ today? Who desires to "be willing to yield" in order to plant, preserve, and/or nurture peace this week?
James 3:17-18 + Luke 22:39-42 + Romans 12:18 + Isaiah 42:1-3
Week 4 — October 21st
trust
This morning I’m beginning a new work week and the word I’m planning to focus on is TRUST.
I invite you to ponder trust with me. What objects, tools, or institutions, do you trust? But more importantly, who do you trust?
Now in light of the photo I’ve chosen, you may be wondering, ‘How does singing relate to trust?’ The answer is found in Isaiah 12:2 — “Behold, God [the Root of Jesse] is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’ ”
Note the duality in this passage. Strength and song…power and music. Strength is a natural foundation of trust, while music is a result of trust. Said another way, it would be unnatural to sing while in a state of distrust or terror. Singing tends to indicate security, similar to how laughter tends to indicate wellness. Genuine laughter indicates “Everything is OK” just as a heartfelt song indicates “My trust is well founded. There is nothing—and no one—to fear.”
So, if you and are secure this week, if our trust is rooted in a most reliable source, then let us sing!
Isaiah 12:2 + Psalm 5:11
Week 5 — October 28th
gratitude
This morning it's time for me to get back to work, studying, reading, praying, preparing, and pondering.
My word for this week is GRATITUDE. The Thanksgiving holiday is still weeks away, but why should we wait to begin reflecting on (and expressing) what we are grateful for?!
I confess that I haven't always been a grateful person. I've done more than my share of complaining, but I want to be transformed into a deeply thankful person and I want to teach my children to be full of gratitude, even during the tough times.
Here's a short list of what I'm thankful for this morning:
Oxygen to breathe (I've been breathing it every minute of every day for well over 4 decades)
Sound sleep
Solid ground beneath my feet
Deep, meaningful relationships
Seeds
Sunlight and blue skies
Hope for a living future
Notice that everything on the list above is FREE and unearned...just like Jesus Christ's love for you and I.
What are you thankful for?
And who else wants to get Thanksgiving started early this year...and celebrate it with me every day?
Psalm 26:6b-27 + 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 + Colossians 3:15-17 + Psalm 100:4-5
Week 6 — November 4th
silence
I'm back in my office and my word for this week is SILENCE.
Specifically I am thinking about the phrase "he held his peace" which means someone stays quiet in order to foster peace (notice it's peace, not piece). Doesn't it seem like the farther we push into the internet age, the more noise, more opinions, and babble there is?
But there are so many other good facets to silence too! Silence helps us listen. Silence helps us think and even meditate deeply. A still, patient silence tends to lead to better decisions, better responses, and better relationships.
And so, now I'll stop sharing...what are your thoughts on silence?
Isaiah 42:14 + Isaiah 30:15 + Proverbs 15:1 + Isaiah 32:16-18
Week 7 — November 11th
encourage
After a day of rest, I'm back at work and I will be focusing on the word ENCOURAGE this week.
I'm a word nerd, and so I confess that I enjoy breaking words down into their pieces and parts. ENCOURAGE simply means to add in courage. A sister word is EXHORT which means to invite out — of course inviting others out towards what is good and right.
Due to division, hatred, and war there have been sad, disappointing and scary times for many this year. So I hope this week you'll encourage a friend, neighbor, or family member to: Stand strong, keep going, keep growing, do what's right, tell the truth, be kind, or smile.
If you need or want some encouragement today, please reach out to me. And I commit to being ready to do what I can to encourage and hearten you.
Acts 11:22-24 (Barnabas was called the "son of encouragement") + Hebrews 3:12-13 + Romans 1:11-13
Week 8 — November 19th
kind
The word I’m focusing on this week is KIND.
Recently Rachel and I were recipients of an act of thoughtful kindness. It’s amazing how one kind interaction can be so encouraging and heartening! I remain inspired by this kindness.
Kindness may not be trendy, but a caring attentiveness is so needed in an increasingly isolated and hyper-personalized world.
Yesterday I was checking in on a friend who I hadn’t heard from for awhile. The gist of his message was ‘I checked out for the weekend…the world is such a cruel place.’ That's true. But kindness is an antidote to the poison of cruelty. Kindness opposes selfishness, arrogance, indifference, and busy-ness.
Let’s seek and celebrate kindness this week.
Colossians 3:12-14 + Romans 12:9-13 + 1 Peter 3:8-9 + Galatians 5:19-23
Week 9 — November 25th
balm
I'm grateful to be starting a new work week. My word of the week is a unique one — the word is BALM.
Balm is an aromatic, medicinal salve (think lip balm). In The Bible balm is listed with other pleasant items, like honey, spices, fruit, myrrh, and olive oil. Balm is specifically connected to a region named Gilead, which is located in modern day country of Jordan.
Today we can easily purchase aids for physical irritation — chapstick for dry lips, lotion for cracked hands, bandages for cuts or abrasions, and splints for broken bones.
But what balm exists for our spiritual and emotional wounds? How is an afflicted soul relieved? What is the cure for the mourning of death?
A traditional spiritual hymn answers this question with "the Holy Spirit revives my soul again" and "there is a balm in Gilead
to make the wounded whole" These lyrics point to The Soul Healer, Jesus Christ.
We're entering a time of year when the wounds of our heart can to be especially tender. There are reminders of loved ones we have lost to death, there are empty seats at the table because of broken family relationships, there is loneliness, and more.
And so I just want to give you a gentle reminder that Jesus came to earth to heal those who confess their need. He came to aid those who crave His help. He came to heal broken humans. Like me. And you.
There is a balm for our wounded hearts.
Genesis 43:11 + Jeremiah 8:21-22 + Luke 4:16-20 + Hosea 13:14
Week 10 — December 2nd
pure
Good afternoon! Honestly I went back and forth on my word of the week, but with the fresh blanket of snow this morning I ended up settled on PURE.
Wholeness is a significant concept that accompanies purity — think unmixed or undiluted, meaning complete and pure. The reality is that the idea of multi-tasking has been foisted upon our culture. There is strength in pure action, pure thought, pure relationships, and pure words of Truth!
I’m going to ponder and pursue purity throughout my week. Who’s with me?!
Isaiah 1:18 + Psalm 18:26 + Ephesians 4:1-6 + Psalm 12:6
Week 11 — December 9th
risk
Good afternoon! My word for the week is RISK.
Risk is an important concept connected to investments and business, but how does the idea of risk relate to the Christian faith?
Plain and simple, no one knows what the future holds. We can conjecture, we can hypothesize, we can make educated guesses but the reality is that right now we don’t know tomorrow's weather.
The unknown tends to be scary and produce anxiety in us. This is where faith enters the picture. Time after time in The Bible the results were astonishing when someone choose to “take a risk” in faith.
Examples include: The Red Sea Crossing, Gideon’s seemingly insignificant army, David vanquishing Goliath, friends lowering their paralyzed companion down through the roof, and Peter stepping out of the boat to walk to Jesus.
To my fellow Christian out there…are you taking “risks” for Christ and His church, or are you attempting to live a safe Christian life? Let’s actively choose to live by faith this week!
Hebrews 11:1, + Matthew 14:22-33 + Acts 14:19-20 + 1 Kings 18:30-39
Week 12 — December 16th
cleave
My new work week is well underway and I plan to focus on the archaic word CLEAVE.
I must confess, I am intrigued that cleave is a contronym! https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contronym
For the next 7 days I am going to meditate on the definition of cleaving as ‘a sticky loyalty’ rather than the opposite meaning ‘to divide or split’.
I’m sure that part of the reason why is this word is on my mind is because Rachel and I just celebrated our 22nd wedding anniversary. That being said, I am also intent on cleaving to truth, love, and beauty. I’m committed to cleaving to gentleness NOT violence, and good NOT evil.
What people or relationships do you cleave to? And are there any roles, places or objects that you cleave to?
Genesis 2:24 (esp. KJV) + Amos 5:15 + Philippians 4:8 + Proverbs 20:6
Week 13 — December 23rd
reconcile
My word for this week is RECONCILE. And a supporting word is FORBEARANCE, meaning a willingness to be tolerant with others — self restrained.
It’s extremely sad how many families have broken relationships and estrangement. These hurts and rifts tend to surface around the holidays and Christmas. Many times this pain is not public.
This week especially, let’s commit to praying for reconciliation where it’s needed and let us also genuinely desire reconciliation if we are part of a broken relationship. And when someone sins against us, or offends us, or is just plain irritating, may we desire to forbear with them.
And may we never forget God’s forbearance for us and His desire is for us to be reconciled to Him.
Why stand alone, angry, and bitter, if you have the opportunity to stand together in harmony?!
Luke 11:17 + Romans 5:6-11 + Colossians 1:19-23 + 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 + Matthews 5:23-24 + Romans 3:23-26
Week 14 — December 30th
rest
My final word for this year is REST.
I am working a bit this week, but my focus is more on reflecting, resting, and enjoying some refreshment as 2025 comes to a close and 2026 begins.
If you're able to, I hope you too will take some time to rest this week.
And I'm convinced our world would be a better place if more people would work 6 days and rest precisely 1 day. Work 6, rest 1. That is pattern that has been gifted to us.
Exodus 20:8-11 + Matthew 2:23-28 + Isaiah 30:15