How do the words taste, coming out of your mouth?

     

     You’ve heard it said, "Keep your words soft and sweet just in case you have to eat them.”   

     Words matter. 

     Our words reflect what is going on in our minds, a symptom of the disposition of our hearts. The mind is the place of understanding. The heart is our disposition or temperament towards life, people and God — from which comes our actions, behaviours and our words. 

     Why do we hear of so much anger in today’s world? We know the daily stress of life can cause us to become irritable with others, often blurting out harmful, unkind words without thinking. 

     I grieve when I hear of the strife that is tearing apart today’s families. 

     Thoughtless words of others can wound us deeply. Roadside anger, often resulting in accidents keeps happening regularly. 

     Our elected politicians have difficulty controlling their emotions during parliamentary debates, sometimes throwing angry slurs. 

     In some instances, the daily workplace has become a toxic environment. A day at work may not pass without someone being snubbed, ignored, put down or irritated in some way by our fellow worker. This, then, can cause a disrespectful response. 

     I’ve heard of companies that wisely offer anger management courses to their workers. 

     When God created us humans, anger was among the emotions we were given. It is one of the most destructive emotions. Some emotions need to be purified and controlled, anger being one. 

     And, no anger is to outlast a day. Ephesians 4:26 reminds us, “In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.” 

     In our family, that was one emotion Nels always made us give an account for at day’s end, if it had been a problem for any of us throughout the day. Uncontrolled anger is sinful. God warns of the potential evil waiting to be unleashed when we don’t master our anger. (Psalm 37:8). 

     The book of Proverbs teaches, “It is to one’s honour to avoid strife; but every fool is quick to quarrel.” 

     It is possible to feel anger without letting it boil over into rage. 

     Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could follow Jesus’ example? 

     "When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate, when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.” 

 — 1 Peter 2:23

     Some anger is not sinful. I like to call it “righteous” anger that I feel, when I hear of the terrible, inhumane atrocities carried out on humans, especially on innocent children. I believe Jesus showed righteous indignation when He cleansed the temple of marketplace activity, believing they were robbing the temple of its sanctity. (Mark 11:15-17). 

     If we are a Jesus-follower, we have access to the fruit of His Spirit within us, one of which is self-control. 

     We can allow His character traits to become ours. Perhaps we can then be a calming influence and the quiet example needed, whether in  the workplace, in our home, or in the public arena. 

     There’s none so blind as those who will not see. We need to stop and consider the other’s point-of-view. 

     As athletes, may we perform with integrity. I’m reminded of the saying of Grantland Rice, a gifted sports writer in the first half of the 20th century. 

     He believed in good sportsmanship and felt it could lift people, societies, even nations to improved moral and social action. 

     Rice is best remembered for the following short poem he wrote. “For when the one great scorer comes to write against your name, he marks not that you won or lost, but how you played the game.”   


     “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” 

— Proverbs 15:1   

     This week, on May 2, I celebrate again, my spiritual birthday. 

     

     In a very real sense, I was “born again” or “reborn spiritually” when I invited God’s Spirit into my heart. It was then His Spirit gave birth to my spirit, making me spiritually alive! 

     This is exactly what Jesus meant when He answered Nicodemus. 

     See story in the Bible, in John’s Gospel, Chapter 3. 

     It’s been a wonderful journey since May 2, 1946, and as the old hymn goes, I find Jesus becomes, “Sweeter as the years go by.”  

     Last Friday, the Glenmore Girls, (we’ve dubbed ourselves) met at my home for our weekly Bible Study. 

     We listened to a DVD, of speaker Beth Moore, and she challenged us with the following five statements as a reminder and pledge of our faith.  

• 1. God is who He says He is.  

• 2. God can do what He says He can. 

• 3. I am who God says I am. 

• 4. I can do all things through Christ. 

• 5. God’s Word is alive and active in me.  

— beulah