Worthless Words

“Do not let worthless words ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good for building up others, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear you speak” (Ephesians 4:29).

Greetings,

The human mouth is capable of a lot.  It eats, chews gum, yawns, spits, kisses, and blows bubbles.  But by far and away, the most powerful thing it does is speak.  

This month my little granddaughter’s Sunday school is teaching all the precious toddlers that God made them just the way they are, and that each of them is beautiful!  You would think or hope this lesson is unnecessary, but a mother shared that growing up she was mercilessly bullied for being too thin by ADULTS.  “Eat some more. You’re a waif!”  “Put rocks in your pockets before you blow away.”  

What saved her was her own mother relentlessly affirming her that she was perfectly perfect created by a loving God to look exactly the way she did.  That’s what I call putting your mouth to wise use.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, we want to be the kind of people who bless others with the words we speak.  Forgive us for all the worthless words we’ve spoken.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN.

God's Phone Number~

TGIF greetings~

When I was a little whippersnapper living in Georgia, a white school bus with green lettering that said, “Forest Hills Baptist Church” picked me up every weekend to take me to Sunday School.  Those were carefree, joyous times, and I fondly recall all the songs we would sing on the way to church.  (Click here for a YouTube link of my all-time favorite childhood song! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69-d5N01Wrg&index=15&list=PL287271DF290056DC )

I treasure all those years being picked up by that little bus not only because of the memories of so many sweet songs, but also because of the important lessons I learned about God.  One lesson in particular is still with me nearly 40 years later. It is called “God’s telephone number.”

“Children, God has a telephone number and you can call Him right up.  His line is never ever busy, and His answers will bless you from the tops of your precious little heads to the bottoms of your little precious feet.”

Those words made such an impression on me. 

“His number is Jeremiah 33:3. And you can use it anytime anywhere. But you don’t have to even dial.  Just call on Him out loud!”

Jeremiah 33:3 “Call to Me and I will answer you. I’ll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.”

That verse was appealing to me back then and continues to be because I like knowing stuff.  I am not nosy, as some in my circles might say.  But rather, I am curious and I like knowing why.  It is awesome to think that the Maker of heaven and earth is willing to share marvelous and wondrous info that we would otherwise never be able to figure out.

This verse doesn’t say He will tell us everything, but He will speak into our lives and into our messes and into our problems and bless us in the process.

For example, look at this encouraging note I wrote to myself a while back.  I needed some powerful reminders of Whose I am.  So I called out, and this is what He showed me.  It is a prayer for all of us to share today.

Thank You, Lord, that I am your beloved child, and You are my Dad.  Nothing and no one can stop, hinder, or alter Your plan for my life.  I have purpose, and I have promise.  I am important, and I am loved.  I am more than a conqueror through Christ, and I can do all things through Him Who strengthens me.  I am beautiful – inside and out – and no weapon formed against me will prosper.  I am shrouded in peace and joy, and no harm can come near my dwelling.  If necessary, You will help me hammer a tent peg in the temple of my enemy (See Judges 4:21), and You have given me the authority to command any mountain in my life to go jump in the lake.  Because You are for me, nothing can come against me.  You are also above me, beneath me, beside me, and around me.  I am completely and totally covered by Your goodness, and I am happy! In Jesus’ name, AMEN~