"What To Expect From a Twelve-Year-Old" and the First "Word of the Week"

After listening yesterday to the CD entitled "What to Expect from a Twelve-Year-Old" by S. M. Davis, I was challenged, as well as ashamed.  If you can expect this from a child, surely an adult of my age should be expected to possess these qualities!  This is an excellent CD to listen to, especially if you have children in the 8-11 year-old range.  I bought an extra copy, so that I can pass it on to others--it's wonderful.  Dr. Davis uses Jesus' example at age 12 as his model.  Here are just a few items on the list of what you should expect from a 12-year-old:  Will Have a Mature Sense of Responsibility, Purpose and Destiny; Will Have a Burning Desire to Understand Truth and Wisdom; Will Have an Unmistakable Godliness About His Life.  He shares example after stellar example of young men in history who have accomplished phenomenal achievements at a very young age.  Clearly, we are not setting the bar high enough!

Though the greatest challenge in this CD came to me spiritually, one of the easiest areas for me to grow in was in knowledge. I was challenged to expand my vocabulary.

In order to achieve this goal, I will begin posting a "Word of the Week."  My father was an example to me in this activity, while growing up, for though he possessed only an 8th-grade education, he had an impressive vocabulary, and worked with diligence to increase it.  Every week he would learn a new word, and use it in everyday conversation.  Some of the long and difficult words that were commonly heard in our home you just would not believe.  My goal will be to follow his example by using my new word in conversation, understand its meaning, know how to spell it, and know its synonyms.  I will also seek to know its Spanish equivalent.  Would you like to join me in this challenge?

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The 1st "Word of the Week" is:

emboldened

I have been emboldened by Dr. Davis' preaching to set higher goals for myself.

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Definition:  encouraged

Verb 1. Of Embolden.[Websters]
2. To be fortified. [Eve - graph theoretic]
3. To have cheered, comforted, heartened or enlivened. [Eve - graph theoretic]
4. To be manned. [Eve - graph theoretic]
5. To have encouraged, exhorted, invigorated or goaded. [Eve - graph theoretic]
6. To have supported, consoled, favoured or sustained. [Eve - graph theoretic]
7. To have incited, livened or exhilarated. [Eve - graph theoretic]
8. To have abetted, urged, reinforced or bolstered. [Eve - graph theoretic]
9. To have prompted or roused. [Eve - graph theoretic]
10. To have gingered or pepped.[Eve - graph theoretic]

Synonyms: 
cheered (supported, heartened, stimulated, comforted, abetted)


Spanish:
animado, animó

Though knowledge is good, wisdom is excellent. God exhorts us in His Word to seek wisdom above all else, for it is far above rubies, and more to be desired than fine gold.

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Proverbs 8:10-11, 17-21:
10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
18 Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
20 I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.