The Bible speaks CLEARLY on the power of the tongue. It is also very clear how God would have us use it. The third chapter in the book of James is packed with info about the tongue that is not very flattering. "Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!", James 3:9 & 10. Psalm 34: 13 & 14 reads, "Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! Turn away from evil and do good. Search for PEACE, and WORK to maintain it." I love that!! People don't even know that the word "peace" exists any more! Bear with me, just two more Scriptures...Proverbs 13:3, "Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything." (baahaahaa! Isn't that the truth!!!) And then there's Proverbs 21:23, "Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, and you will stay out of trouble."
People make assessments of you by the words that you speak. It's true!! Don't you know a "Sassy-Susie"? or a "Maggie-Magpie"? How about "Stretch-the-truth Sally"?? Guess I could have said "Lying-Lizzy". We connect people with their words. It is a reflection of their heart....right? (Matthew 12:34) The words I say reflect what is in my heart. I'm proud to say that I also know MANY "Edifying-Ellys", "Kallie-Comforters" and "Edith-Encouragers" (is there any one named "Edith" any more? My mind went to Archie Bunker!!) There are Scriptures that tell us not to be grumblers or complainers (I pray for help in that area DAILY) and lots of Scripture that tells us to edify one another and use our words to bring peace.
I think I was born in a church...my Dad and Mom must have read me the Bible every night instead of nursery rhymes. Not really. I was born in Harris Hospital, Ft Worth, Texas and I know Mother Goose personally. My dad loved nursery rhymes. We still say them to each other. We are actually testing one another to see if our memories are still functioning....they say that's the first thing to go!! When you grow up knowing the Bible, your "knowledge" can dominate, even overtake, the one thing that Jesus felt was most important....LOVE. If I am not careful, my life will reflect a bunch of "head knowledge" but a lack of "heart knowledge". Father forgive me. I Corinthians 13 tells us that we could speak all the languages of the earth, have the gift of prophecy, possess great knowledge, have oodles of faith, give all we have to the poor.....but, without loving others, we have nothing but a couple of bragging rights. We have NOTHING.
"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.......Three things will last forever - faith, hope, and love- and the greatest of these is LOVE." (I Corinthians 13: 4-7, 13) .....speak LOVE.
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