Do you know the power in your voice?

Do you know the influence in your voice?

My father has been dead since 1983, but if it were that he could call me and speak…I would know and recognize the sound of his voice.

I have an Uncle whose voice is close to being identical to that of my Fathers…..

I recognize the similarity because I knew 

and stilll know 

my Father’s Voice.

Would you not recognize your Mothers voice….no matter the time since you have heard it?

It most likely was the first voice spoken to you and most familiar voice you heard in your first years.

Your children know your voice.
They recognize it when you speak.
They can tell your attitude by the inflection or tone.

The volume of your voice carries meaning as well.
“Raising” ones voice carries meaning and attitude.

Your Spouse can tell many things from the tone, inflection and volume of your voice.

And you know their change in tone, as well.

My father used to tell me that the problem was not necessarily WHAT I said….but the WAY I said it.

Know that your voice, in your house…and in the lives of those in your family….carries great weight.

Therefore, use it properly.

For several weeks, I have started reading aloud the Scripture to my wife when we get into bed at night.

I want her hearing my voice….
the voice of her husband,
reading God’s Word to her as she ends her day.

My desire is that the Assurance and Authority in God’s Word, and the Familiarity and Comfort of her husband’s voice… bless her as she passes into the rest granted her at the closing of the day.

I would believe your wife would benefit from the same thing.

Even if she does not admit initially,
your voice carries great meaning in her heart and in her spirit.

She needs to hear your voice.

It breeds confidence and assurance in her.

Your children need your voice in their ears. For through hearing your voice they gain the centerpiece of authority and assurance in their existence.

Though your audible voice, they will begin to hear and understand God’s usually inaudible voice as He speaks through His Word.

With the Power and Authority in our voice….we need to always be aware of the words we speak.

Our voice, carrying condemning words can cause massive damage.

Our voice, conveying correction,
can instruct and guide with proper authority.

Our voice, with words of blessing,
can cultivate and generate great balance and encouragement in those who hear our words.

The sound of your voice can bring
Peace, Destruction, Assurance or
Encouragement.

It can relieve, it can burden.

It can harm and hurt…..it can uplift and heal.

Understand the power in the sound of your voice.
Know that it has great effect on those closest to you.

Allow it to be governed properly.

Exercise the usage of it properly.

Just as Mary’s head and heart and hopes were lifted when she heard Christ say her name after His Resurrection… outside the tomb…..

your voice,
speaking to those who love you
can lift, love and lead their lives.

Put the power of your voice to good use.

Proactive.
Purposed Instruction.
Intentional Intervention.

Yesterday, I mentioned Mentors in my life and the respect I possess for them.

The active and kinetic movement of a Mentor is what they do to affect change. 

To Mentor is to teach. To Mentor is to coach.

To Mentor is to exhibit the traits taught earlier.
To Mentor is to “lifestyle” the things spoken.
To Mentor is to walk out and example behaviors conducive to success in a given field or activity.

Being a Mentor is not a passive act.

The neophyte needs active and interventionist behavior.

The first Mentor in life is a parent.
If a parent is passive then they have abdicated their role as leader and Mentor.

Bring a Parent/Mentor is the most difficult role because for the 18-25 years you teach and instruct them the one being instructed lives with you.

Therefore, consistency in your message and method is essential.

Preaching a message is a good thing.

Practicing the preached message is where the “rubber meets the road”.

That is a secret for all Mentors…

to consistently model the lessons
being taught.

It says you really believe it.

If you take your pre-school child to
bible school and they learn about Jesus…and you teach them that as well…
and you do not behave as if that message is important… 

the words spoken and the mentoring will be eventually seen as false.

You would be MENTORING a message
without MODELING  the needed behavior.

Mentoring is active ….kenetiic…
always watching the student…
and always being watched by the student.

It’s an everyday thing.

It’s an everyday active verb when it’s being exercised….
only becoming a noun when it’s accomplished.

Who is your “spiritual mentor”?

Not a preacher or a Bible character.

Is there a man or woman who was a spiritual role model to or for you?

Did you try to live like them?
Have you walked by them, learned their ways and grown to reflect them??

They may have taught you in a Class, they may have preached sermons which you heard, or they may have simply lived and modeled a life or lifestyle which showed you how to be more like Christ.

Think of the spiritual models in your life.

Mine are, initially, my Father. 

Then my paternal Grandfather and my Mother.

John J Buell
Harry Piland
Terri Taylor
AT Scott
George Green
Wallace Henley
Bill Venz

At different times and in varying ways, and two of them for just a short time, these people influenced me and modeled for me a spiritual behavior or trait that has greatly influenced or moved me toward What and Who Our Father desires for me to be.

I celebrate those people.

Not one of them is in my life today. 

However, their life and influence, cast and exerted when they walked in and spoke into my  life remains a living and fully functional existence which breathes in me and speaks through me to those I have the opportunity to touch today.

I am thankful for each of them.
Who are yours???

Think of them and celebrate them, express gratitude for them and to them.

Tomorrow……MENTOR, the Verb.