WATCH YO MOUTH!

I can remember the first time (or at least what I recall as the first time) that I cursed or some form of it in front of my mother. That didn’t turn out so well for me and rightfully so. I can still hear my mother and eventually my father, (and grandmother when she found out) saying WATCH YOUR MOUTH BOY!!! (Note that it sounded more like WATCH YO MOUTH!)

Now some may agree that using harsh language can be offensive but there are other ways to use words to damage people. In fact many people who are good at doing this simply say they have “strong personalities” or that they just “speak their mind”. While this may be true (along with other reasoning’s) what is also true is how destructive words can be to someone. Just because you spoke your mind, if it wasn’t received well or if it wasn’t encouraging then you have just done harm.

Now I used to get in trouble at school ALL the time for talking to much. However I have learned that sometime just because I am speaking doesn’t mean I am saying something.

Proverbs 15:1-4
A soft answer turns away wrath,
harsh word stirs up anger.
The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
the mouths of fools pour out folly.
The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
keeping watch on the evil and the good.
A gentle tongue is a tree of life,
perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

What we say matters a lot. It impacts people on a variety of levels whether we realize it or not. However what if we intentionally decided to speak in such a way (even when we disagree/ or need to correct someone) that we would say things so the person would be better than before. That the person we are talking to, would have the chance to feel loved from our words no matter what we say. That would be mean being mindful of when to speak and how to say things. It would also include knowing that God is always a witness to what we say and the motives behind it.

So I am learning not to just let words fall out of my mouth has rain fall from the sky (in seemingly large quantities) , or as a drops slip out from an overfilled cup (randomly over the sides, and sometimes unnoticed where it lands) but rather intentionally like a facet. Adjusting the amount when necessary and using it only when needed (preferably without the leeks )

Just remember the words of my mother…  WATCH YO MOUTH!!

Do you ever look up?

It is quite common today to hear someone say that they have a love one looking down on them from heaven. In fact whether or not you know any specific facts about heaven you may have an opinion on what is going on there. However my question is have you ever looked up? What I mean is, has heaven ever influenced your decisions?

When you look up especially on a clear night you can see the beauty that our universe has to offer. But do you ever look up and think is God looking back? If you did — would this influence your decisions for that moment?

Paul in 2 Corinthians 5  mentions how he is knows that heaven is his true home, and that this is motivation to please God. Paul was able to look up and have heaven impact what he did on earth. In fact this truth was so important Paul just had to share it with others so that they could be just has confident in heaven being their home like he was.

Imagine knowing that you have a better destination ahead. If you have ever been on vacation the closer you get the more it’s all you can think about. In fact you begin saving more money and making other decisions on the reality that one day you will be there.

Paul says  ” So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord… and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. (v 6, 8). If Paul had the opportunity to pick, he would certainly choose heaven, but he understood that one day he would be there and therefore would make every moment count while on Earth.

Do you ever look up? How does heaven impact you decisions? Do you know if your going to heaven? If you think you are how do you know? Paul was confident… Shouldn’t you be?

 

Romans 5:6-11
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Today only last for …Today

What impact are you having on your world today?

You have 24 hours.

You have 1440 minutes.

You have the opportunity to impact those around you in a powerful way. Are you using it?

The truth is you are whether you realize it or not. You either have a negative impact or a positive one. You either are making steps toward your goal or away from it.

With only so much time in a day are you using it wisely?

Who would have thunk it?

This isn’t going to be a deep blog or a long one.

I was just encouraged by someone I didn’t know.

A YouTube video I made over a year ago was watched and he said it blessed him, and that I should keep it up.

WOW. I didn’t think anyone watched. I didn’t think anyone cared… But surprisingly it God used it. I guess it’s not a surprise but sure was to me. It encouraged me to maybe start again. I enjoyed doing them. I really did…

SO bottom line.. You never know who will be encouraged by you or when, so live to impact people and you will without a doubt!

Stay Blessed!