Words That Matter

By Rose N. Dolinski

Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred. How forcible are right words! but what does your agruing reprove? (Job 6:2425).

This book is about everyday words that we use without fully realizing the true biblical meaning to them. I put this book together because the words we choose to say and write have great meaning and power.

The words that we use each and every day convey messages to others. Words can hurt us, lift us up, and destroy us. We can encourage one another with words, or we can crush the hope and dreams of those we love with them.

As you read through this book, you will find that each and every word in this book is in the Webster Dictionary, but the meanings that I want to convey to my readers are the same words, but with powerful biblical meanings. They are words that will guide you with their profound and biblical meaning. Doing research for this book took me to every channel of biblical knowledge in the internet, many long hours, and a closer relationship with Father/Jesus. It has forever become a beautiful, life-changing experience. Although this book started with the death of my husband, it became clearer to me that I wanted to get to know God more than ever in my life. More reasons included cultural literacy, learning firsthand what the Bible says, personal edification, and to help others like myself to gain a better understanding of Jesus and his mission, because the Bible is Gods Word.

Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; arise therefore, and build you the sancturary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the LORD (1 Chron. 22:19).

My ultimate goal is getting to know God better through his Word. I believe that we should make it a habit to set aside a regular time and place to spend time with our Father in heaven. I can assure you that this will also be a life-changing experience for you. Even though I make this a habit each and every day, I will continue and pursue in-depth my passion to grow spiritually until my death.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Apr 4, 2018
• ISBN: 9781973622260

Rose N. Dolinski

Rose N. Dolinski Born Brooklyn, New York - First Book Inspired by the death of my beloved husband Allan E. Dolinski who passed away nearly five years ago. I did not want to cry and mourn his death like most people mourn. So, I decided to turn to God for guidance. This has become the best journey taken in my lifetime. Not only did I find my way back to God through Jesus Christ, but also, a way to help others. When I started this book my intentions were to give each word a profound meaning that was short and to the point, little did I know that God would take me to a whole new direction in wisdom, biblical understanding, self-healing, and back to God. The best part of writing this book was the learning experience that would always lead me back to the Bible, the book and dictionary of life that holds all the secrets to living life the way God intended us all to live. I know this is hard for many of us because we live in a world that is mostly ruled by Satan. And yes, it is true that we will sin and make mistakes, and God will forgive us. We will also stumble and full through trials that can break us or teach us, but God will always be there to pick us up as we learn that there is no other way in life but the way of God through Jesus Christ. We must also never use Gods forgiveness as an excuse to rebel against Gods Word.

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Copyright © 2018 Rose N. Dolinski.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

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ISBN: 978-1-9736-2225-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-2227-7 (hc)

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WestBow Press rev. date: 03/20/2018

Dedication

To the Greatest God of all and the greatest Book of all time, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior I give my thanks.

To all the many biblical websites that I had to research for knowledge and truth making this book possible for me to write (way too many to name), I give my thanks. I will say this, if you want to learn about the things that are important in life; there is never an excuse not to be able to do so. This has been the best journey of my life, and it can also be applied to anyone who dares to have a close and personal relationship with God! This is truly my labor of love to God, and to all those who I hope to reach with this book.

To my great friends Debbie Frazier and Kenny Gonzales (who I call sister and brother) who my husband loved and adored, and knew my husband well, I say thank you for being there for me. Your friendship and loyalty will forever be with me. Thank you also for your love and support and positive feedback.

A special thanks to Pamela Bridge, sister in Christ for believing in me and making this book possible by your editing, and adding your special thoughts with love and kindness and funny notes (as only you can do so well). Thank you for the welcome that you and your family gave to me at Anchor Church with Pastor Jared Bridge.

To Rabbi Schneider, Discovering the Jewish Jesus, I thank you for being the first one immediately after my husband’s death that I had the pleasure of turning to in my time of need. Since then, I never miss watching Discovering the Jewish Jesus. Your knowledge and wisdom that you provide (Jews and Christians alike) has guided me into the arms of Father/Jesus!

And finally, to my beloved Allan, my husband my friend, my everything who made this book possible in death. You will forever be the one love that God gave to me that will forever me engraved in my heart! We will forever be in heaven together!

Contents

Ability

Abundant

Abuse

Advice

Afraid

Aloneness

Anger

Ashamed

Atheist

Awareness

Balance

Battle

Believe

Betrayed

Bitterness

Blind

Boundaries

Broken

Calling

Calm

Capable

Cause

Change

Character

Coincidence

Compassion

Confidence

Conscience

Criticism

Darkness

Deception

Decision

Depression

Desire

Devotion

Disappoint

Eager

Earn

Ease

Empty

Encourage

Endure

Enemy

Envious

Equal

Esteem

Eternal

Evil

Failure

Fast

Fear

Feeling

Fight

Firm

Forever

Forgive

Friendship

Gain

Gentleness

Good

Greed

Grief

Guard

Guilt

Hand

Happiness

Hardship

Hate

Healing

Heart

Heaven

History

Holocaust

Hunger

Identity

Idle

Ignorance

Illegal

Imagination

Increasing

Influence

Integrity

Jealous

Journey

Joy

Judgment

Justice

Keep

Kill

Kindness

Kingdom

Knock

Know

Knowledge

Labor

Lamp

Leader

Leap

Leave

Lie

Life

Light

Listening

Lord

Loyalty

Lust

Man

Martyr

Memorial

Mentor

Mercy

Mighty

Mind

Mockery

Motivated

Mourn

Mouth

Mystery

Negative

Neglect

Never

Nice

Night

Nourish

Now

Obedience

Obsess

Obstacles

Offense

Only

Open

Opinion

Optimism

Owe

Own

Pain

Panic

Passion

Patience

Penalty

Pets

Point

Prayer

Proud

Punishment

Quality

Quench

Question

Quick

Quit

Racism

Rape

Reason

Reflect

Regret

Reject

Relationship

Remember

Remorse

Respect

Revenge

Sacrifice

Seek

Shame

Silent

Sin

Sorrow

Stumble

Suicide

Survive

Sympathy

Teacher

Tear

Temptation

Terror

Tolerance

Tongue

Torment

Torture

Tragedy

Trouble

Trust

Truth

Ultimate

Unborn

Unconditional

Unfaithful

Ungrateful

Unhappy

Vain

Vengeance

Veterans

Violence

Vindictive

Vision

Voice

Vote

Vow

Vulnerable

Wake

War

Watch

Water

Weak

Wealth

Weary

Welcome

Wicked

Witness

Worship

Worth

Wounded

Yield

Yoke

Zeal

About the Author

Ability

As every man has received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God gives: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

—1 Peter 4:10–11

We have all been blessed with different talents and gifts as well as the ability to use these gifts wisely. We should honor God and bless, encourage, and strengthen others with our gifts and abilities with love. Without love, all our gifts are worthless.

The more we are blessed by God, the more God expects us to help others. Our relationship with God is a spiritual issue. Many people see the responsibility of giving as a burden. Sadly, we forget that God loves a cheerful giver.

When God blesses us with the ability to give to others, God establishes an agreement with us about stewardship. As we continually decide to give, we affirm how much we value our relationship to God as His children.

The Bible says, Give, and it shall be given to you, good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give to your bosom. For with the same measure that you mete withal it shall be measured to you again (Luke 6:38). This gracious promise alone should drive us to be cheerful generous givers, but Christ had more to say. In Acts 20:35, Luke attributes these words to Jesus: I have shown you all things, how that so laboring you ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

We have been blessed more than most in the world, and we have the responsibility, opportunity, and ability to bless others as God has blessed us.

Abundant

The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

—John 10:10

Jesus’ gift to His followers is abundant life, which is something that Christians can confidently claim. But what is abundant life?

Some say that abundant life is God’s provision. This may mean denying the things that we want for the sake of submitting to God’s better plan. It involves experiences, knowledge, relationships, health, and earthly possessions.

Some say that we take God’s gifts for granted because we do not really understand abundance. Others know that God provides stability when He gives us peace and hope during difficult circumstances.

The characteristics of abundant life include peace, confidence based on our identity in Christ, hope based on our knowledge of God’s sovereignty and love, and a sense of purpose based on our commitment to God’s will. To some, abundance is about surrendering to God. It is releasing control to the one who knows and loves us completely. This includes the joy that sets God’s followers apart from those striving after earthly things.

Then there is the quality of abundant life, which is not about having more but having better. It is not about a bigger house but about a house being a home. It is about having eyes to see God’s provisions and hearts that are grateful to receive them.

Sometimes life feels lonely. Some Christians talk about suffering for God and act as though God creates the difficulties in their lives. I refuse to believe this. Yes, our lives have difficulties, and God helps us to use them, but He does not create them. God is not the author of evil. But He does make what the enemy intended for evil into something beautiful.

God is the giver of all good gifts.

When you give God your everything and ask Him for His everything, He will deliver you from fear into freedom and abundance. But we have to seek God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength; this is our first commandment (Mark 12:30). Open up the temple of your heart, and let God in.

Ephesians says, Now to him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. To him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen (Ephesians 3:20–21).

Abundance is a display of God’s character. This life is a foretaste of what is yet to come, when we will know Him fully.

Abuse

The Lord tries the righteous: but the wicked and him that loves violence his soul hates.

—Psalm 11:5

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is God; and everyone that loves is born of God, and knows God. He that loves not knows not God; for God is love.

—1 John 4:7–8

Abuse can take a number of forms: physical, verbal, mental, emotional, sexual, and so on. Any form of abuse is the opposite of what the Bible teaches, which is unselfish love. Any abusive person does not know love and does not know God.

Mishandled anger can cause abuse. Everyone is guilty of abuse on some level, but God’s command is to love one another. God has no tolerance for physical, verbal, and emotional abuse. Only the love of Jesus in us can truly love others.

Another type of abuse is spiritual abuse, which occurs when church cult leaders misuse scripture to bolster their own authority and keep their members under a watchful eye. Our loyalty should be to Christ, the head of all churches—not in an organization or a leader. A sinful heart, rather than anger, is the root cause of abuse.

The Bible says, When you lie down, you shall not be afraid: yes, you shall lie down, and your sleep shall be sweet. Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes. For the Lord shall be your confidence, and shall keep your foot from being taken (Proverbs 3:24–26). We should be able to feel safe and sleep well rather than fear the people supposed to love us.

Advice

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkens to counsel is wise.

—Proverbs 12:15

All of us have had the opportunity to give or receive advice. While some advice is priceless, other advice is worthless. We should advise others in accordance to God’s will. I personally ask myself What Jesus would do? While there is strength in admitting our mistakes, learning the hard way, however difficult, actually does work.

When we are wrong but truly believe we are right, this is called the way of the fool, and since pride comes just before the fall, we fail to humble ourselves or listen to others. The Bible says, God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). When people will not humble themselves, God sometimes has to do it for them.

People who give advice should be responsible for their advice. They must ask themselves if the advice encourages, supports, and most importantly, accords to God’s word. It is better not to give advice to others than to give wrong advice.

Those who like giving advice must distinguish between what is right or wrong, which can only come from studying God’s word in order to become knowledgeable of God’s will. The Bible says, Study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).

Counsel can be wise and righteous, but it can also be ungodly. It is imperative that we check all counsel by the word of God. As the Bible says, Now to him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion, and power, both now and ever. Amen (Jude 1:24–25).

When we are faced with a big decision, our first instinct is often to seek others’ advice. Many of us call friends who know exactly what we want to hear, but the advice we need is not always the advice we want to hear. Jude is a letter to Jewish Christians who were being led astray from Jesus’ original teaching. Out of love for Jesus and His fellow believers, Jude wrote to remind them what it meant to follow Jesus.

Jude encouraged his fellow believers that Jesus, who saved them, was still there with them and ready to lead them. Godly advice always points us to a closer relationship with Jesus.

The advice that Jude gave his fellow believers was probably not what they wanted to hear, but when we are strong in faith, sometimes the most loving thing a friend can do is have the tough talk that directs us back to the Bible and Jesus.

Afraid

Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord your God, he it is that does go with you; he will not fail you, nor forsake you.

—Deuteronomy 31:6

When faced with a seemingly impossible decision, fear is our normal human reaction. To acknowledge our lack of courage is the first step to overcome it. We must not let fear paralyze us into inaction. We must realize that we cannot go it alone and that God is all powerful and has promised never to leave or forsake us. He will help us make all the right decisions in life with confidence, courage, and conviction that God is on our side.

It is written in the Bible so many times that God will not leave us. He wants us to know that He is in charge of every situation. I know it is not easy to believe God is still in control when there is so much destruction, death, and sickness and when we encounter trouble on every side. It may be hard for some to believe, but God does not leave us when we need Him the most. He is always there and promises to never forsake us.

Whether or not my life is tough, my comfort zone is in the Bible. As I read more and more, I find that life is better when I hang on to its promises and truth.

Aloneness

Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you.

—1 Peter 5:7

The fear of aloneness is not confined to any particular age, but it is more prevalent for those who are older. We have been led to believe that living alone is just awful as we grow older. I know from my own experience that there are joys and accomplishments to be had while living alone that most people living in the midst of others seldom get to experience. Though I am cut off from human beings, I am not alone. With God’s constant presence, my sense of being solitary disappears.

When you are a stranger to yourself, you become estranged from others. When you connect to your core, you connect to others. Aloneness may appear to be loneliness, but it really is not. The most productive people are those who spend more time alone. They learn to use their solitude wisely.

When God assured Moses that he was fit to lead the children of Israel out of bondage, Moses was alone in the desert. Jesus was also alone when He demonstrated the wisdom and strength to overcome what would be His destiny. He was wrapped in the sweet solitude of the wilderness.

God gave me twenty-six beautiful years with my beloved husband. Then he took him away. He was the best thing to enter my life. Today, the most important thing in my life is my awareness of God’s presence and love for me. I know that He will guide me to whatever is to come.

With Him I will never experience aloneness. He is forever with me, twenty-four hours a day, leading me toward my eternal resting place in His arms.

Anger

I will say to God my rock, Why have you forgotten me? Why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily to me, Where is your God? Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope you in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

—Psalm 42:9–11

People have long wrestled with being angry at God, especially when tragedy strikes. Why, God? is our natural response. What we are really asking is not Why, God? but rather Why me, God? This response creates and has some flaws.

First: We act as though life is supposed to be easy and that God should prevent every tragedy from happening to us, even though we live in a sinful world. We get angry when tragedies bring home the awful truth that we cannot control the outcomes of situations and that God is in control of His creation.

Second: When we do not understand the power of God, we lose confidence in His ability to control circumstances, other people, and the way they affect us. The Bible says, Jesus answered and said to them, you do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God (Matthew 22:29). When we get angry at a person, we are displeased with his or her choice or action. This anger implies strong disapproval. If you get angry with me, you think that I have done something that I should not have done. Being angry at God is never right. It is arrogant for finite, sinful creatures like us to disapprove of God for what He does and permits.

When we lose faith in God, it is because our frail human flesh is wrestling with our lack of control over events. When bad comes, we blame God, but when good things happen, we all too often attribute them to our own achievements and success.

So, is it wrong to be angry at God? Yes. God never makes mistakes. He understands why we are angry, frustrated, or disappointed in Him. After all, He knows our hearts and how painful life in this world can be. When we start disrespecting God, we wonder why He does not listen. Does this make it right to be angry at God? Absolutely not. We should pour our hearts out to God in prayer and trust that He is in control and that His plan is perfect.

Ashamed

For I am ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God to salvation to everyone that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

—Romans 1:16–17

We are ashamed of the gospel when we allow sin in our lives to go unnoticed, disobey the standards set by scripture, lack confidence in our own words, and stand with those who reject the word of God. Paul placed his confidence in the gospel of Christ, and so can we: For the scripture says, Whosoever believes in Him shall not be ashamed (Romans 10:11). What was true thousands of years ago is still true today.

To live unashamed of the gospel means proclaiming it, applying it to our lives, and showing that we believe in it. We know from the apostle Paul’s life and choices that he did not preach one thing and live another.

When we are not ashamed of the Bible, we, like Paul, allow it to dominate our lives to the extent that everyone with our sphere of influence can see that we have been with Jesus (Acts 4:13).

Atheist

The fool has said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that does good.

—Psalm 14:1

David looked at those who denied the existence of God and came to the conclusion that they were fools. The idea behind the ancient Hebrew word nabal, which is translated as fool, is more moral than intellectual. I believe that David had in mind those not smart enough to figure God out and those who simply rejected God. Many atheists are very intelligent, so it is not a lack of intelligence that leads them to reject God.

Atheism is nothing new. The atheist cannot prove that God exists, but believers proved throughout biblical times that God indeed exists. The sad truth regarding atheists is that their eternity without faith in God’s Son, Jesus Christ, will involve eternal separation from God, total damnation: For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness: Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God has showed it to them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse (Romans 1:18–20).

This teaches us that the wrath of God is upon those who turn from Him, because God has made plain through the resurrection of His only Son, Jesus, that there is no eternal life without believing in Him.

God does not have to prove anything to anyone, and appearing to those skeptics to convince them that He exists is not His desire. Even the most skeptical scholars recognize that the earliest disciples at least believed that God had raised Jesus from the dead. God’s desire is for people to believe in Him by faith. If people are not willing to accept God’s existence by faith, then they are definitely not ready to accept Jesus Christ as Savior by faith: For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:8–9). The existence of God cannot be proven; it must be accepted by faith. Trusting in Christ is more than a hope-so faith; it is a know-so faith.

I remember when I once met an atheist. At first I could not believe that there were actually people in the world who did not believe in God! We got talking, and he asked me if I could prove that God existed. I told him that my faith is proof that God exists. He responded with, You see! I told you that you couldn’t prove it! Even after confirming my proof of faith in God, he proceeded to mock me because I believed in God. I then realized that speaking to this person was no longer possible, so I ended the conversation by saying to him, While I can prove that God exists, you cannot prove that He doesn’t. I must say that the look on his face was priceless!

I strongly believe that the reason atheists reject God is a desire to live free of the moral obligations God requires and to escape the guilt that accompanies violating those obligations. Those who claim that there is no God are opposed to God’s plan for their lives. It is easier for them to ignore God because they do not want to answer to a higher power, so God is irrelevant to their lives. It is so much easier for them to trust in others than to trust in God. They do not seek God or allow Jesus to be Lord of their lives. The practical atheist has three apostles: are health, wealth, and power.

To truly claim that God does not exist is to claim knowing absolutely everything there is to know about everything in the world, including having been everywhere in the world and having witnessed everything in the world. But of course, the atheist would never make these claims.

How many times have we heard this: If there is a God, why so much evil in the world? I would then ask, Why is there so much evil in your non-God world? Since the atheist is convinced that there is no God but is still evil in the world, evil still exists. They are both faith-based beliefs with one big difference—Christians have historical and archeological evidence of God, among other things.

The Bible teaches that everyone in the world receives the knowledge that God exists. There should be no doubt, and God’s Bible word is unavoidable. Atheism’s claim cannot be proven, and God’s existence must be accepted by faith. Christians believe that God exists and admit that God’s existence is a matter of faith.

The Bible says, The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows his handiwork. Day to day utters speech, and night to night shows knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them has he set a tabernacle for the sun (Psalm 19:1–4).

It makes me sad when atheists miss the greatest truth of all for the greatest lie of all that there is no God. Nevertheless, truth is not validated by popular opinion. Even if all the atheists out there proclaimed that God does not exist, our very existence says otherwise. We have been given evidence of His word, His love, and His power, and we have been given the will to choose to reject or to follow Him with all our hearts.

As Christians, we must treat those who claim there is no God with love and respect. God loves everyone, and we must show God’s love to those who do not believe in Him. Share the message of Jesus Christ and pray for God to open their hearts to Him.

Awareness

Wherefore he said, Awake you that sleeps, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light. See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be you not unwise but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.

—Ephesians 5:14–18

I do not know where the expression a wake-up call originated from, but I know that it is used in hotels when people want the front desk to give them a wake-up call in the morning. It is also used when something happens or you witness something that sets off some needed internal awareness; we might call that a wake-up call. We may be sobered for a while, but after a few days the impact of the event diminishes and our old habits come back. We wake up and focus but get over it quickly.

We do not have to wait for events to wake us up and cause us to examine ourselves. Daily Bible reading will bring into our awareness many events and provocative statements that can wake us up, causing serious reexamination and commitment. Paul says, Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light. Once Christ wakes you out of sin and gives you that wake-up call, do not hit the snooze button. Pay attention to your conduct with full awareness of what is most important in your life. Be more understanding of what the will of God is and engage in it.

Many of us fall asleep after becoming Christians. We have not sought complete awareness and understanding of the will of God, which has led to our slumber. Absence or negligence leads to spiritual illness, and we cannot be wide-awake if we do not maintain good spiritual health and discipline. Let us use God’s wake-up call to maintain a good, high level of spiritual awareness. As the Bible says, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith. Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law (Galatians 5:22–23).

Balance

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven; A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

—Ecclesiastes 3:1–8

These words are for every person, in every place, in every circumstance. God has appointed