Speaking of tongues

James 3: 1-12

1 Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

2 We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.

3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.

4 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.

5 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.

6 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.

7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man,

8 but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness.

10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.

11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?

12 My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

I can hear my grandmother out in the yard, "Oh Lard," she would say time and time again. Mind you, when she said "Oh Lard," she meant no disrespect but was in fact calling out to the Lord for help. This to me is the proper way to use a Southern tongue and of course, one that will stay in my mind forever. We all have role models and as children we think they can do no wrong. As adults we find out that they are just as flawed as we are, but still what they do and say tends to be a big influence on what and who we become.

This morning I again get cut to my very core with words from James. The man just doesn't know how to walk and talk softly. He tells it like it is, or rather how it is supposed to be and even uses earthly examples to help us better understand.

As I go about my day today I pray that I will be able to be mindful of my tongue and what a big influence, good and bad, it can have on others .... and me too. After all, I get crazy sometimes and talk to myself or Cocoa Puff. Talking to yourself only proves that what's on your mind comes out, so filling our minds with the right stuff is just as important as what we put in our stomachs. That's my wellness tip for today. :)








Peach Orchard just outside Woodbury, Georgia on Jones Mill Road.

Enjoy... this was yesterday coming back from Pine Mountain, Georgia. I loved finding a peach orchard with the mountains in the background. This would be a great spot to paint outside and I am sure the owners would give permission. Want to join me? I'm totally inspired! Thank you Lard!