My sister, “Sis,” was an outstanding piano player and could imitate many pianists with her skills and talents. She also authored many hymns and gospel courses and was well-known for her talents and love for the Lord. She was part of evangelist teams that were popular years ago. Everyone loved “Sis” for her sense of humor and keen insights.
Whenever she became bored with someone who talked too much she would ask politely, “What would you say if you could not talk?”
Her question would usually end the “talkers” talking and bring the conversation to an abrupt end. It would force the “talker” to realize what was being said and the conversation would soon end.
“Without wood a fire goes out, without gossip a quarrel dies down,” said Solomon. All too often quarrels go on endlessly because those involved in the dispute are not listening to what the other person is saying.
Beyond that, often they are not listening to what they are saying, either. Neither has any idea of what they are saying to the other. So, the best way to stop a quarrel is to stop the gossip.
James offers some great advice: “The tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person…”
Without gossip, quarrels end and sanity can return.
Prayer: Help us, Lord, to control our tongues by filling our hearts with Your love and wisdom, grace and peace. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Scripture for Today: Proverbs 26:20 Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down.
Showing posts with label gossip. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gossip. Show all posts
Monday, April 6, 2015
Saturday, February 14, 2015
Cover It Up!
Asking for forgiveness is often more difficult than it seems. To have offended someone and not be troubled by the pain it produced is indeed the sign of a calloused heart and an indifferent attitude: both are abominations to God!
But to acknowledge that we have wronged another person is a difficult thing. For whatever insane reason, although we do not admit it, we all seem to think we live a life that is as close to perfect as possible. Our opinions are absolute and our values are without question the ones that every person ought to hold.
That, however, defies Scripture and reason. Most of us have a difficult time getting through one day without some conflict about some issue with another person. And if our opinion or position on the issue does not agree with the other persons, conflict erupts.
Now, conflict is not all bad. Often, creativity comes out of conflict and that’s good. If, however, we become hardened in our position and refuse to accept the ideas of the other person and use words to hurt and harm the other, that is indeed wrong and displeasing to God.
We are all equal in God’s eyes - even when our ideas or positions disagree with another. If we are thoughtless in expressing our differences to the point that we use abusive language to destroy and defeat one of God's children – that’s definitely wrong. End of discussion.
“He who covers over an offense promotes love.” Here we are advised to plead for forgiveness and “cover it up.” Another way of saying it is to “forgive and forget.”
Prayer: Give us tender and respecting hearts, Lord. May we spend today making amends for harming others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Scripture for Today: Proverbs 17:9 Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.
But to acknowledge that we have wronged another person is a difficult thing. For whatever insane reason, although we do not admit it, we all seem to think we live a life that is as close to perfect as possible. Our opinions are absolute and our values are without question the ones that every person ought to hold.
That, however, defies Scripture and reason. Most of us have a difficult time getting through one day without some conflict about some issue with another person. And if our opinion or position on the issue does not agree with the other persons, conflict erupts.
Now, conflict is not all bad. Often, creativity comes out of conflict and that’s good. If, however, we become hardened in our position and refuse to accept the ideas of the other person and use words to hurt and harm the other, that is indeed wrong and displeasing to God.
We are all equal in God’s eyes - even when our ideas or positions disagree with another. If we are thoughtless in expressing our differences to the point that we use abusive language to destroy and defeat one of God's children – that’s definitely wrong. End of discussion.
“He who covers over an offense promotes love.” Here we are advised to plead for forgiveness and “cover it up.” Another way of saying it is to “forgive and forget.”
Prayer: Give us tender and respecting hearts, Lord. May we spend today making amends for harming others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Scripture for Today: Proverbs 17:9 Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Guarded by God
There was a large stag - a red-coated deer - that roamed through the hills of Rome. No one ever came near it or tried to capture or kill it. It was protected by Caesar and all were forbidden to disturb it. On its sides were the words, “Touch me not! I belong to Caesar.” It was a sign of ownership and no one dared to harm or hurt that animal.
There is a far more important statement about ownership in Psalm 105. It is a statement about those who belong to God: “Do not touch My anointed ones.”
Sometimes the words of God are overlooked by the children of God. This verse is a good example of an “overlooked” rule from the Lord. Few of us will admit to having never spoken evil of a fellow Christian. But...
We often listen carefully while one “saint” criticizes or condemns another “saint.” We carefully listen to every detail when a fellow church member ridicules or runs down the person who sits next to us during the worship service. We do not see “for whom Christ died” on the forehead of someone whose marriage is falling apart - so we anxiously listen to the sordid details of an unfaithful spouse. We blame others for “bad parenting skills” when their children become addicts rather than grieve with them over their loss. We carelessly pass on rumors about the honesty of someone who has more than we do. The tongue can easily become a weapon of wickedness and ultimately destroy “the Lord’s anointed ones.”
We must use our tongues to help not harm!
Prayer: Father, may we turn deaf ears to words that harm others and speak kind words about Your anointed ones. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Scripture for Today: Psalm 105:15a “Do not touch my anointed ones;
There is a far more important statement about ownership in Psalm 105. It is a statement about those who belong to God: “Do not touch My anointed ones.”
Sometimes the words of God are overlooked by the children of God. This verse is a good example of an “overlooked” rule from the Lord. Few of us will admit to having never spoken evil of a fellow Christian. But...
We often listen carefully while one “saint” criticizes or condemns another “saint.” We carefully listen to every detail when a fellow church member ridicules or runs down the person who sits next to us during the worship service. We do not see “for whom Christ died” on the forehead of someone whose marriage is falling apart - so we anxiously listen to the sordid details of an unfaithful spouse. We blame others for “bad parenting skills” when their children become addicts rather than grieve with them over their loss. We carelessly pass on rumors about the honesty of someone who has more than we do. The tongue can easily become a weapon of wickedness and ultimately destroy “the Lord’s anointed ones.”
We must use our tongues to help not harm!
Prayer: Father, may we turn deaf ears to words that harm others and speak kind words about Your anointed ones. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Scripture for Today: Psalm 105:15a “Do not touch my anointed ones;
Thursday, May 30, 2013
The Triumphant Tongue
A Greek philosopher asked his attendant to prepare a dinner for his closest friends. He advised him to “prepare your best meal for my distinguished guests.”
On the day before the banquet he asked, “What are you going to serve my friends?”
“Tongue,” he replied.
With curiosity he asked, “Why tongue?”
“Well, my lord, tongue is my best meal. With it we may bring happiness, dispel sorrow, remove despair and inspire others,” he said quietly.
A few days later the philosopher went again to his attendant and said, “I want you to prepare your worst meal for my guests next week.”
On the day before the banquet, he asked the same question, “What are you going to serve my guests?”
“Tongue,” was the reply.
“Tongue?” he asked in amazement. “You said that tongue was your best meal. Now it’s your worst.”
“Yes,” said the attendant. “With the tongue we break hearts, destroy reputations, promote discord and begin wars.”
David said, “The righteous will ‘use their tongues’ to rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in Him. All the upright in heart will glory in Him.”
James said, “No human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”
The tongue: It can be a blessing or a curse.
Prayer: What a power we have in our tongues, Lord. Help us to use them wisely to speak Your love to others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Scripture for Today: Psalm 64:10 The righteous will rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him; all the upright in heart will glory in him!
On the day before the banquet he asked, “What are you going to serve my friends?”
“Tongue,” he replied.
With curiosity he asked, “Why tongue?”
“Well, my lord, tongue is my best meal. With it we may bring happiness, dispel sorrow, remove despair and inspire others,” he said quietly.
A few days later the philosopher went again to his attendant and said, “I want you to prepare your worst meal for my guests next week.”
On the day before the banquet, he asked the same question, “What are you going to serve my guests?”
“Tongue,” was the reply.
“Tongue?” he asked in amazement. “You said that tongue was your best meal. Now it’s your worst.”
“Yes,” said the attendant. “With the tongue we break hearts, destroy reputations, promote discord and begin wars.”
David said, “The righteous will ‘use their tongues’ to rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in Him. All the upright in heart will glory in Him.”
James said, “No human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”
The tongue: It can be a blessing or a curse.
Prayer: What a power we have in our tongues, Lord. Help us to use them wisely to speak Your love to others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Scripture for Today: Psalm 64:10 The righteous will rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him; all the upright in heart will glory in him!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
In A Slippery Place
Read Psalm 141:3
The children in church sang, “Be careful little tongue what you say,” and the preacher asked, “Why is it hard to control the tongue?”
“Because,” answered a boy, “it’s in a wet place.”
Yes, being in a wet place, the tongue is prone to slip. Even though it weighs practically nothing, it’s surprising how few can hold it.
Your tongue can bless, but if it slips it can curse. Your tongue can heal, but if it slips it can hurt. Your tongue can speak the fairest things, but if it slips it can speak the foulest.
Once a word is spoken, you can’t get it back. But you must answer for it.
So remember the children’s song, “Be careful little tongue what you say.”
Prayer: Father, control my tongue so that I may speak no untrue word, no unholy word, and no ungracious word. Control my actions so that I may always honor Thee: through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
“Because,” answered a boy, “it’s in a wet place.”
Yes, being in a wet place, the tongue is prone to slip. Even though it weighs practically nothing, it’s surprising how few can hold it.
Your tongue can bless, but if it slips it can curse. Your tongue can heal, but if it slips it can hurt. Your tongue can speak the fairest things, but if it slips it can speak the foulest.
Once a word is spoken, you can’t get it back. But you must answer for it.
So remember the children’s song, “Be careful little tongue what you say.”
Prayer: Father, control my tongue so that I may speak no untrue word, no unholy word, and no ungracious word. Control my actions so that I may always honor Thee: through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Today's video seed: "Turn Right"
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Pick 'Em Up
Read James 4:11 TLB
Jealous of the mayor, a young lady spread malicious lies about him. The lies ruined him and the mayor had to resign.
Overcome with remorse, she apologized, asking, “How can I make amends?”
“Take the feathers of a goose,” he said, “go to the square, and throw them into the air.” In doing so, they were whisked away in all directions by the wind.
Returning, she asked, “What next?”
“Gather them up again,” he replied, “if you can.”
Gossip! No innocence is impeccable enough to intimidate it. No purity is pure enough to prevent it.
It has no regard for God or man.
The Bible says, “Don’t speak evil about each other. If you do, you will be fighting against God’s law of loving one another.”
Prayer: Heavenly Father, set a watch before my mouth and keep the door of my lips. Grant that my thoughts may be pleasing to Thee and my words may be profitable to others: through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Overcome with remorse, she apologized, asking, “How can I make amends?”
“Take the feathers of a goose,” he said, “go to the square, and throw them into the air.” In doing so, they were whisked away in all directions by the wind.
Returning, she asked, “What next?”
“Gather them up again,” he replied, “if you can.”
Gossip! No innocence is impeccable enough to intimidate it. No purity is pure enough to prevent it.
It has no regard for God or man.
The Bible says, “Don’t speak evil about each other. If you do, you will be fighting against God’s law of loving one another.”
Prayer: Heavenly Father, set a watch before my mouth and keep the door of my lips. Grant that my thoughts may be pleasing to Thee and my words may be profitable to others: through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
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