"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear." The Bible, Ephesians, Chapter 4, Verse 29

Remember those 90 degree days we had lost somewhere. Well, we have found them and they are scheduled to be very visible over the next few days but that's what one would expect in these parts. It is Wednesday, June 4, 2014, and I do welcome you to our time together for today. I was thinking the other day about the power of words for good and for bad. James, most likely the half brother of Jesus, son of Mary and Joseph, wrote the first letter or epistle in the New Testament, maybe as early as the mid 40's. Some people say he wrote like someone who has one foot in the Old and one in the New. Duh? Bingo! He was right smack dab in the middle of the transition as the Church became the focal point for the gathering of God's people. He had quite a lot to say about the tongue, its power, and how that it can wreak havoc faster than one can imagine. In Chapter 3, verse 8, he was inspired to write these words: "But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison." Most likely we have all experienced this truth both as a perpetrator as well as a recipient. Knowing the powerful potential from the very get go can help us to be aware of our need to control our thoughts and the words that can follow.

I was thinking about some of the idioms that we so often use in our conversations that reflect upon this subject. Bite one's tongue - to try hard not to say something that you would like to say (often used when you want to criticize someone). ~ Cat gets one`s tongue - one is not able to talk because of shyness. ~ Cause tongues to wag - to give people something to gossip or talk about. ~ Find one's tongue - to be able to talk after not being able to talk for a short time. Give (someone) a tongue-lashing - to give someone a severe scolding. ~ Guard one's tongue - to be careful of what one says. ~ Hold one`s tongue- to be silent, to not talk. ~ Keep a civil tongue- to speak decently and politely. ~ Loosen (someone's) tongue - to make someone relax and say something that they normally would not say. ~ On the tip of one`s tongue - to be almost able to remember something that you have forgotten. ~ Set tongues wagging - to cause people to start gossiping. ~ A sharp tongue - a way of talking or speaking to others that is unkind or bad or critical. ~ A slip of the tongue - something that is said at the wrong time and is not what you want to say. ~ Speak with a forked tongue - to tell lies, to try to deceive someone. ~ Tongue in cheek - jokingly, insincerely, mockingly, not really meaning something. ~ Watch one's tongue - to not say something, to not be rude.

I suppose it's very obvious that this one little thing can become a destructive force, in a heartbeat. It also can calm and soothe, bringing hope, healing, and restoration. Brother James goes on to say in that same passage that a person who has mastered control over the words coming from the tongue is one who reflects full maturity in the Lord. (James Chapter 3, Verse 2) I can't think of any other area of life that can lead to more regret than words a person wishes they could retract and erase. The children's song is 100% on target for those of us who desire to manage our words carefully. "Oh be careful little tongue what you say, For the Father up above Is looking down in love So be careful little tongue what you say." We are not just talking about spoken words. Notes, letters, emails, texts, and other forms of messaging, literally both verbal and non verbal, contain powerful ingredients that can build up or tear down. Since I am quite involved in the use of words in a variety of mediums, perhaps today's episode is primarily a reminder to me. However, since the truths from God's Word are universal, you too can be helped. We all can. And, I feel confident in this area we all need to be helped. Amen? Yes, Amen!         ....More later.