power of touch Archives - Tony Funderburk

Posted on November 9, 2024 by TonyNovember 12, 2024

Comfort each other, every sister and brother

It’s up to YOU to comfort each other. Fortunately there are some of us who need less of it than others. And that means the responsibility is more ours than those who might be, let’s say, a little weaker.

My dog made me think of how we should comfort each other.

I wrote about this seven years ago, around this time of year, when he was still alive. His name was Zazzo. And he started to do this thing he did when something was bothering him. He didn’t actually whimper. But he sort of made a breathy sound like he was going to whimper. And he could be a mighty persistent dude. But I was working. So, naturally I couldn’t be bothered. And I snapped my fingers and pointed at him. That usually got him to stop.

But that time, instead of stopping the whimper-less breath sounds, he got up (which was very difficult for him because of his stiff, almost 15 year old bones) and started his way over to me.

Well, I sat the laptop on the coffee table in front me and waited for him to get to me. When he did, he leaned his head against my knee. How could I resist? I stroked his head and neck, which he always enjoyed. And, after a couple of minutes, he turned around and went back to his bed. Then, he lay down with no anxious breathing.

Never underestimate the power of touch.

Your hand on someone’s shoulder. Or lips to someone’s cheek. A simple touch, with care, can be a gift from God. Use your power of touch whenever you can. I’m not talking about that nonsense you see from televangelists where they “heal” people on a large stage by smacking them on the forehead. Definitely NOT that junk food.

Get the living-water-enriched meat of God’s word into your soul and spirit. That’s where strength and wisdom are. And it’s the owner’s manual with instructions on how to comfort each another. Yeah, that’s where true love is.

Dive into those 13 letters Paul wrote, and you’ll see how God’s love is the force behind it all.

A friend of mine wrote about the effects of that love on her. And I converted her words into this song.

I Give You All

You gave my heart
A way to touch you, Lord.
You gave my eyes
A gift to see and recall.
You gave me stars…
To guide me through my lonely fear.
I give you all…I give you all.

You gave me words,
And they can reach the sky.
You gave my soul
Salvation out of the fall.
You gave me dawn,
To savor all you gave me, Lord.
I give you all..

I give you all…my worries and my fear.
Yes,I give you all.
And I can feel you near.
I give you all.
You dry up every tear.
I give you all.
Yes, I give you all.

You gave me nights…
That shine your silver stars.
You gave me time,
To change my ways and stand tall…
You gave me hope,
That in my weakness I am strong.
I give you all.

Join the growing body of believers who signed up for the Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional. And receive daily flashes of light from the power of God’s love.

Stay tuned…

Posted on November 22, 2017 by TonyNovember 12, 2024

Comfort one another - and happy thanksgiving from Tony and the The Power of God's Love Podcast

Do you comfort one another?
Or leave it to someone else?

I’m not a language scholar, and I don’t play one on TV. But I love language. I love words. How they’re formed. Why they mean what they mean. Where they originated. Take the word “comfort” for example. There’s a place in the Bible where Paul tells believers to comfort one another and to edify one another. And when he said that, he was talking about some of the most important things to ever happen in all of history. So, imagine applying his message to your regular, ordinary days.

What does it mean to comfort one another?

You might see someone who seems sad and think, “Hmm…maybe I should cheer them up?” So, you give them a greeting card, or a flower, or a box of chocolates. But to truly comfort someone else means you’ll do what you can to strengthen them as much as you can. Ultimately it’s up to them to actually take the comfort, or strengthening, and face their day with courage. But it’s up to YOU to give that comfort. But how? Where do you start?

By coincidence, as I began to write this section, my old dog, Zazzo, began to do this thing he does when something’s bothering him. He doesn’t actually whimper, but he sort of makes the breath sound like he’s going to whimper. And he’s nothing if not persistent. Of course, I’m writing this important message about how to comfort one another, so naturally I can’t be bothered right now. So, I snap my fingers at him and point…which sometimes gets him to stop.

But this time, instead of stopping the whimper-less breath sounds and lying down, he got up (which is quite difficult for him at his age of almost 15) and came over to me. I sat the laptop on the coffee table in front me and waited for him to get to me. When he did, he leaned his head against my knee. How could I resist? I pet his head and stroked his neck, which he likes, and after a few seconds, he turned around and went back to his bed. Now, he’s lying down with no anxious breathing.

Sometimes a caring touch is all the comfort someone needs.

Never underestimate the power of touch. Your hand on someone’s shoulder. Or lips to someone’s cheek. The emotional healing power of simply touching someone with care is a gift from God. Use it whenever you can. I’m not talking about that nonsense you see from televangelists where they “heal” people on a large stage by smacking them on the forehead. Don’t buy that junk food.

Get the living-water-enriched meat of God’s word into your soul and spirit. That’s where strength and wisdom are. And that’s where you’ll discover how to comfort one another. Because that’s where true love is. Dive into those 13 letters Paul wrote, and you’ll see how God’s word and grace truly are sufficient.

Will you be able to comfort someone else today? Or will you be too busy? I encourage you (another word I love) to set your laptop or mobile device aside and use your power of touch…combined with God’s word. You can’t lose.

Here are the lyrics to the song included in this week’s episode of the The Power of God’s Love Podcast

I Give You All

You gave my heart
A way to touch you, Lord.
You gave my eyes
A gift to see and recall.
You gave me stars…
To guide me through my lonely fear.
I give you all…I give you all.

You gave me words,
And they can reach the sky.
You gave my soul
Salvation out of the fall.
You gave me dawn,
To savor all you gave me, Lord.
I give you all…I give you all.

I give you all…my worries and my fear.
I give you all.
And I can feel you near.
I give you all.
You dry up every tear.
I give you all.
Yes, I give you all.

You gave me nights…
That shine your silver stars.
You gave me time,
To change my ways and stand tall…
You gave me hope,
That in my weakness I am strong.
I give you all.

Join the growing body of believers who signed up for the Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional. And receive daily flashes of light from the power of God’s love.

Stay tuned…

Tony Funderburk

Your Life Has Rhyme And Reason Because God Made You

Tag Archives: power of touch

My dog made me think of how we should comfort each other.

Never underestimate the power of touch.

I Give You All

Do you comfort one another?
Or leave it to someone else?

What does it mean to comfort one another?

Sometimes a caring touch is all the comfort someone needs.

I Give You All

My dog made me think of how we should comfort each other.

Never underestimate the power of touch.

I Give You All

Do you comfort one another? Or leave it to someone else?

What does it mean to comfort one another?

Sometimes a caring touch is all the comfort someone needs.

I Give You All

Do you comfort one another?
Or leave it to someone else?