Our mouths are very powerful tools. We have teeth that bite, lips the kiss, a tongue that tastes, and a voice that exits through this very mouth on our face.

How often do you speak words you have wanted to take back? How often have you wanted to speak words but none could be found? How often do we think about the distance to which our words spread?

It crosses my mind on occasion who will be at my funeral. Mind you, it will not really matter to me at that point. I will be in Heaven with all those I know who have gone before me, waiting for the rest of you. The thought still flits through. What have people thought of me, say about me, share with others? Is it good, bad, or nothing at all? I know with the places we have lived and the people we have known there is plenty to say about me. What will be said?

It struck my heart today that if I stand with a friend or two and talk about another, the fact may be that somewhere some one is or has talked about me. That thought made me stop! (obviously because I am writing.) When it comes down to it, will what is said be positive, does it reveal Christ, my faith, my beliefs, my convictions, joy, peace, confidence??? Whoa!!! I don’t think I can say yes to those. On any given day, maybe, consistently, nope.

How in a world where it is easy to take sides, back bite, gossip, lie. How is this world of sin are we to overcome the trap. Speaking about another person this morning, kinda joking, but also serious. You know those jokes that are really true but you don’t want to be mean? There is one standard, one truth, one way to avoid the trap…His Word.

The bible, Gods word is full of direction Proverbs, Romans, and 2 Corinthians are just a few. We as believers are to be like Christ. Our words, our actions, our attitude. Yes, it is difficult, yes we will stumble, yes there is forgiveness in Christ. Be in His word, hide it in your heart, He will bring it to mind when you need to be reminded. He reminded me this morning. And there is always the phrase passed down from generation to generation…

“If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.”

What would the world be like? Change can start right here. May your words be true, may God guide them to encourage, support, love and strengthen at all times.

Amen