A person who works with words to create a writing has taken on a new “career,” one of wordsmithery.  In a simple search of the word “smith,” we will find that the world contains a variety of “smiths,” those individuals who work with a variety of textures, surfaces, and objects.  We may encounter:

• A black—SMITH
• A leather—SMITH
• A word—SMITH
• A gold—SMITH

For a few moments, let’s focus on the “wordsmith,” a person who eloquently places words upon paper, who is a storyteller, and one who is skilled with words.

During the past few days, my students have been working with words, sentences, paragraphs, and thoughts to compose their first academic essay.  So, when considering this “career,” of wordsmithery, I find myself questioning:

1. Will any of my students employ this skill?  & If so,
2. Will these same students continue on their journey through the university to pursue a degree that allows them to use their skill in their daily career?  & finally
3. Will some or all of my students become SKILLED-ENOUGH writers so that they are able to write ALL the essays & complete ALL the assignments necessary to receive their university degree.

“ALL” is a word used for emphasis, as in “from ALL the people I met, . . .”

“ALL” can be used when keeping score, as in “after a significant amount of play, the score was two ALL.”

“ALL” indicates a person’s whole interest or entire being or the totality of a person, as in “She’s giving her ALL in what she believes, without exception.”

So, as I read through my students first-ever essay written for academia, I wonder, have they given their ALL to their composition, to this first writing?

• ALL the words.
• ALL the syntax needed.
• ALL the thoughts leading to ALL the required lines within this essay.
• ALL their efforts.
• ALL their focus.
• ALL their energy.
• ALL.

Clearly—ALL things—begin and end—with Almighty God!

Consider as we further expound upon the word—ALL—really consider this particular word:

“ALL” can refer to the completeness of a person, of a thing, or of a situation, as in “He was ALL smiles as his bride walked down the aisle.”

“ALL” most definitely means the end-ALL as in the most essential, without substitution, without any other choice, as in “She loved with ALL her heart.”

“ALL But” is quite nearly the ways to express the “nearly” or even “almost.”

Consider a person who heard the Gospel message; who listened; “He ALL But” gave his heart to Jesus,  or he “almost” believed in Jesus Christ as his Savior—meaning the person chose to not believe!

“And we know that God causes all things . . .”

“to work together for good to those who love God, . . .”

• Our worries.
• Our struggles.
• Our lives.
• Our day-to-day.
• Even our sicknesses.
• Our thoughts about those we love.
• Our wayward children.
• Our careers.
• Our free time.
• Our worship.
• Our testimony & witness.
• Our waywardness, backslidden ways.
• Our prayers.
• Our Bible study.
• Our conversations.
• Yes, even as we struggle with our addictions.
• Our families.
• Our friendships.
• Our hopes and dreams.
• Our wishes and our desires.
• Our busyness & our long, relaxing afternoons.

Our everything—whether pleasant to our lives or whether uncomfortable.

May we lay our ALL.

May we offer our ALL.

May ALL we do, say, or are demonstrate the love of Jesus in this world.