God's Object Lessons

Hello Tuesday - Can it be 11:00 AM, so soon?  the clock on the bookshelf is ticking the seconds away as I sit here at the keyboard tapping the keys of my "trusty" laptop.

I remember my first typing class taken the summer after graduation.  My skills have not improved much since those first days.

Thank you Lord for the invention of word-processors and then computers that have enabled "challenged" typists to correct myriads of mistakes over the decades.  Before they appeared on the scene we had correction tape, special ink erasers, whiteout and the wastebasket.   I'll never forget the joy I first experienced when using the backspace bar and watching the mistakes disappear.  What an invention...who knew what else would be in store for this "aspiring word maven". Editting, cutting & pasting...the click click of the keys creating a picture to be read in words.

The mistakes we each make in our lives aren't so easily handled are they?  We have no tape, nor eraser, and certainly no electronic button to push to illiminate our errors.

Take words for instance.  When written, words can be erased before printed or published.  When spoken, words cannot be taken back. God's Word has much to say about what we say.

Let's listen in.

 "There are 6 things which the Lord hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:  Haughty eyes, a lying tongue and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans,  feet that run rapidly to evil, a false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers."
Proverbs 6:16-19

"A gentle answers turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.  The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable, but the mouth of fools spouts folly...A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but perversion in it crushes the spirit." Proverbs 5:1, 2, 4 

"But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.  With it we bless our Lord and Father; and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God;  from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing, My brethren, things ought not to be this way.
James 3:8-10  

"The wise in heart will be called discerning, and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness....The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, and adds persuasiveness to his lips.  Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." Proverbs 16:21, 23, 24

Oh, Father...put a guard on my mouth...that my words would honor you and encourage others.  Help me to speak words of love to build up and not to tear down.

I'm reaching up with open hands and heart to receive your wise words Father..

For such a time as this.