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.

Have you ever tried to help a person speak when they had a difficult time trying to express themselves? Actually, it’s hard not to. It’s difficult to carry on a conversation with a person when words get stuck and ideas lost. That’s not the end of life for either party. But, “The tongue does have the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

Can you recall the story of Moses in Deuteronomy when he said, “This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now, choose life so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to His voice and hold fast to Him.” What a challenging sermon. Moses used his tongue to present his audience an opportunity to choose life or death. He gave the pros and cons and said, “The choice is up to you - but for your own good, choose life.”

Tongues have power that far exceeds their length. The original language of this proverb is rather blunt: “Death and life are in the hand of the tongue.” How very disturbing. Our tongues actually have the power to bring life or death to others. Our tongues have the power to be agents of good or evil, build others up or tear them down, bring encouragement and hope or annihilate a person’s grasp on life because they are weak, feel unloved and unwanted by the abuse of the tongues of others.

What we say to others may destroy them completely.

Prayer:  Lord, how much power You gave us with our tongues and voices. May we bless others with them. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

My brother-in-law, Wayne, had several unusual habits. He enjoyed talking and enjoyed being with and making people laugh. People also enjoyed being with him because he always brought smiles and encouragement wherever he went.

One of his most unusual habits was brushing his tongue repeatedly. In the midst of a conversation he would say, “Excuse me, please” and walk away. After a few moments he would return and begin the conversation precisely where it had ended. People were puzzled and did not feel comfortable asking where he went and what he did.

Finally, the suspense got the best of one of his friends and he asked, “Wayne, why do you walk off in the middle of a conversation? Where do you go and what do you do?”

“Oh,” he replied with a smile. “I go to the bathroom and brush my tongue. The tongue, you know, has more germs than our teeth, and if not brushed carefully and repeatedly, can cause a stink.”

“The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit,” wrote Solomon. I am rather certain that each of us have experienced both parts of that verse. We all need words of encouragement and healing from hearts that are caring and kind. But a deceitful tongue coupled with intent to harm others does indeed squeeze the life from a person - often when a person’s “spirit” is threatened. We need to be “healers.”

Prayer:  Help us, Lord, to speak words of hope, help and healing from hearts that are clean, kind and caring. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Proverbs 15:4 The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.

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!

The Bose® Corporation has developed an anti-noise headset that cancels loud noises. It’s needed, not only around big machinery, but big mouths!

Haven’t you wished for that headset around some modern-day music, both sacred and secular?

And around some modern-day messengers? It was Pope who said, “It’s with narrow-souled people as with narrow-necked bottles. The less they have in them, the more noise they make in pouring it out.”

Haven’t you wished for it around motor-mouths who spend their time criticizing and cursing?

The wise man said, “Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles.”

Prayer: Father, grant us all through today, complete control over our tongues, that we may speak no hurtful or hasty word. Grant that we may help everyone and harm no one: in Christ. Amen.