When Justin was called into full time ministry, I apologized to him. I told him that I was sorry right from the beginning because if he ever lost his job it would be because I had put my foot in my mouth! (It’s ok to laugh – it is suppose to be  joke!) But unfortunately, there is some truth to this…not that Justin has lost his job because of my mouth – but that I have opened wide and near about swallowed said foot. And if I were brutally honest with myself, there have been times when I have been a detriment to his ministry…to my ministry through both words and deeds.

Proverbs tells us that the power of the tongue can bring about both life and death (18:21). Since the beginning of time the tongue has brought about life and death. In Genesis alone, we see where God himself spoke life into existence and then where the serpent spoke death into Eve bringing about the fall of man and separation from the perfect relationship with God.

When you cross reference this verse in Proverbs, you will find yourself in James. James does not bring forth much better news about the tongue stating that man cannot tame the tongue. He then references one of the greatest problems of today, blessings and cursing coming forth from the same tongue! (James 3:9-12) Ouch! So what is a girl to do?

Luke tells us this “The mouth speaks what the heart is full of” (6:45). This past week while in Ohio with Justin learning about the mission trip the youth will take this summer, the church planters were telling us that there are people in the Cleveland area who just stare at you with a blank stare when you begin to talk about Jesus. Often stopping them to ask “Who is Jesus?”

And then we come home to the Bible belt where the name of Jesus is about as common as meat and potatoes. Where when you talk about Jesus people look at you and say “I go to church.” or they say “I don’t do church –  there are too many hypocrites there.”

THE MOUTH SPEAKS WHAT THE HEART IS FULL OF.

So as we begin this study of “Keep it Shut” by Karen Ehman, I want to issue a challenge not only to you but to me as well. Let’s stop pretending that our hearts are in the right place..and instead let’s work to get them there. Let’s strive each and everyday to fill our hearts up with Jesus…not just that “ole’ time religion” but with that real Jesus. Let’s try to fix our tongues, by wholeheartedly loving Jesus and allowing Him to be more than just a name that we know. Let’s give ’em something to talk about!

~Donna