How Should We Speak?

"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." Ephesians 4:29

So, the difficult part in emulating Christ not just in how we walk but in how we talk! I find it so trying at times to edify and not tear down. Then I usually get quiet which isn't a very Godly way to act (and certainly not healthy according to Donna "The Therapist"). So back to square one:

Momism: If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.

Jesus: Minister grace (love) unto the hearers. 'Let your yeas be yeas and your nays be nays' 2 Peter..gotta find the exact scripture.

So, Mom had it partially right! We shouldn't speak evil things but we have a duty to speak the truth and to SPEAK; always lifting up, always building a person up in truth. I suppose we could use the adage: Find something lovely or nice to compliment or draw attention to another-even if the dress is ugly!!! Perhaps the shoes are nice :)

Post Script

I know, I know: she makes a really great salad!! You know I josh with you guys and believe it or not after 27 years I figured out how to fry chicken wings. Love you two and yes, I think you are lovely, wonderful, righteous and precious sisters that God gave me as a most special present. You have changed my life for the better and been such wonderful Aunties to my children. Forever grateful, Sissy

The Heart Controls the Tongue

What Defiles a Person? (Matthew 15:10-11)

"And He called the people to him and said the them, 'Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what come out of the mouth; this defiles a person."

One of my favorite "sisterisms" (and I can't remember who told it to me) is: let the devil push hard enough on your heal and what is truly in your heart will come out of your mouth! It is so true, how many times is it alright until we feel the pain of hurt, condemnation, accusation, shame or guilt?

One of my greatest prayers is: "Create in me a clean heart Lord, that I might not sin against you. Cast out all unclean spirits that be in my heart and fill my heart with Your Word and the Holy Spirit so the unclean spirits will not return to find my house empty but leave in fear at Your Holiness, Righteousness and Love that now dwells in my heart." Psalm 51:10, Luke 11:24-26

Taming Our Tongue

Check Your Heart! (Matthew 12:33-37)

"Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you that on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified and by your words you will be condemned."

This is speaking to those who would blaspheme and turn people against Christ through slander or misusing God's Word. It also speaks to the "justification" not in the sense of our salvation; but the outward evidence that we show people the evidence of our inner character!