Power of Words

There seems to be a resounding 'theme' over the last week in my life which is- the power of words-the importance of them, the affect they have on others, the ability to build up or tear down, to encourage or to break one's spirit. Hearing wise words spoken from the pulpit, reading devotionals, preparing for a lesson I am teaching, watching the mess on the news about the recent celebrities' outbursts. Our tongue is indeed quite powerful:

James 3: When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water

Not sure why the power of words has been so 'in my face' this week but I am definitely paying a bit more attention to what is coming out of my mouth and how it is being said. Ok, well maybe I do know........cause I need it to be 'in my face'. God-I hear ya :-)