Image from livingwatercorona.com
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell. For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, but no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water? Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh. (James 3:1-12)
Happy and Blessed Tuesday, Friend! May this time spent in prayer and thought and scripture bless you in a wonderful way is my prayer for you and yours. I want us to pray for some important matters on this day. First, a prayer of remembrance for the many people who died on this day on 9/11. Ask God's comfort be on the loved ones who still remember and ache the loss of these precious lives. Pray that God would change the hearts of those seeking to harm others, especially in the name of religion! Also, I got word yesterday that an 11 year old girl hanged herself in Mason, Texas. Our daughter who works in a high school said there is a game where hanging is a part of that game. Dear ones, please keep your ears open to the little ones around you! If you hear anything that tells of a deep hurt or desire to do something to themselves, please show some care and affection for them. I also learned yesterday that a 7 year old in another country, organized a march with other kids asking that "parents please put your phones down and pay attention to us!" I don't think I need to say more about that...
Through the years I have been fascinated and drawn to shows where animals show off. By that I mean, someone took time to train animals you would never dream could be trained, to do some amazing things. For years, the State Fair of Texas had a bird show that was world-class. Every chance we had to visit the fair, we made sure to sit for that awesome show. The Texas State Aquarium has shows with dolphins and penguins, and mice; all showing they can be tamed. And who doesn't wait for a baby's first words? Moms want baby to say, Mama; and Dads, well, we want baby to say DaDa. And we laugh as baby shapes sentences together and we love them. My favorite is, "I want to go to there." We use that when we see an ad for a cruise or Disney. Many are in shock when baby says something they shouldn't especially because they learned it from someone near to them. Who can forget the scene in Christmas Story where Ralph says a super bad word; he blames his friend, Ralphie's mom calls the mom of the friend, and the line where did he learn that? "Probably from his father!"
Word can give life as easily as they can take life away. I have caught myself wanting to with a wave of my hands to retract words back into my mouth, but it was too late. You probably carry the memory of a loved one saying something to you that you never wanted to hear, knowing that that word would never be erased. James addresses that in today's passage. I had so many images that I wanted to use for the top image; a man shouting at a shamed woman, whose head was bowed. The sheep from agnusday.org talking about this passage and the wise one asking, "You keeping your mouth shut?" And the silly one saying, "Yup." A man holding a bullhorn and out of it fire is spewing out. You get the point. Tame your tongue. Let it be the star of a show titled, "Ladies and Gentlemen, the amazing tamed tongue of (put your name here)! Hear what awesome, affirming, life-giving words can come out of this person's mouth!" Think of the life we can give when we star in that show!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, fill my heart and mouth with love. Let my words bring forth life and joy of life. We pray for those still affected by the loss of loved ones on this day on 9/11; comfort them and bring them peace. Bring peace to our nation. We pray for those mourning little ones who have chosen to end their lives. Open our eyes and ears to the needs around us. And I pray that I would not place more attention to my phone than the little ones around me. They cannot be replaced. Those posts can be read later. In Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Pay attention. Pay a compliment or two with your precious tongue. Give life.
Eradio Valverde
