Words, words, words

My friend wants to become fluent in English. So last week I declared to her that I will only use English with her from now on. I am constantly running into crazy idioms and things I can't explain! What a language. Then last night these girls taught me: menjilat ludah sendiri. "Licking up your own spit???" I asked, ready to

vomit at the image. "It's one of our idioms," they said, and described something like going back on your word. Whew!

While listening to the Bible on audio this year, I have been struck by the power of words. On their death bed, fathers often spoke blessings over their children (Gen 27:27-29; 49:1-28), and what they said came to be! People pronounced both blessing (Rut 1:9, 1:12, 1:13, 3:10, 4:11, 14-15; 1 Sam 1:17, 1:18, 2:20, 25:33, 26:25) and curses (Gen 9:25; Num 24:20-24; 2 Sam 3:28-9; Ps 69) on others, and they came to be! Jabez asked God to bless him (1 Chr 4:10). And He did! Over and over again I hear "May you...." and in following up with whatever the story is, indeed it comes to pass. And may I not fail to mention that when God spoke, it definitely was so. I want to speak more blessings over people this year.

And so, passer-by, may you search for truth this year and find more than you could have ever imagined.

and, HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!!!

(by the way, anybody know the origin of "the cat got your tongue?")