use your words for good

This week is full of great things for me personally. My dad’s 80th birthday is tomorrow. Our oldest daughter’s birthday is Wednesday. And Thursday is the National Day of prayer. Each of those is important to me in several ways.

Yesterday I continued sharing a series of messages at The Community from the book of James, and we began chapter 3. It talked about how we use our words and communicating in the best possible ways.

The passage talks about those who bless and curse almost at the same time, and the Scripture says that shouldn’t be. I challenge you, as I have been challenged, to use my words and all communication should be used to build people up and spread kindness. That is why I share the following verses with us today:

1 Peter 3:10 NIV

For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.

Choose life and speak greatness.

Matthew 15:11 NIV

What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”

Matthew 15:18 NASB

But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man.

Our words come from deep inside of our hearts. That is what shows we are either good or bad, building people up or tearing them a part.

Proverbs 15:4 NIV

The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.

Be soothing and not crushing.

Ephesians 4:29 NIV

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Choose your words wisely. Benefit yourself and others by using your communication the best possible way.

Colossians 4:6 NIV

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

I like seasoning. Do you? Our words season situations and people. Let’s make sure we season them with good and not bad, lift them up rather than push them down.

Honor God by using your words and communication in the best ways we possibly can.

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her. Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you ...

wash feet, sharing hope

John 13:4-5,14 NLT So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him… 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. Jesus set the example we follow. He served. He valued and gave value to others. That is why we choose to serve. For 18 years our church has shared an outreach called back2school, and for 16 of those years we have chosen to give students brand new shoes and socks as well as washing their feet. It is one of the most important parts of this event. Washing feet is a humbling experience where both the give and the receiver learn how to share some moments that might change their lives. Jesus said we should do this. See the verse above. Follow His example, do what He did, and give far more than you will ever know....

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

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