This blog is moving!

Hi friends!

I am going to merge this blog with my main blog http://www.multitaskingmama.com this weekend. Please go and follow me through Google Friend Connect over there or subscribe via email or a reader. I will be deleting this blog on Saturday evening.

Just trying to streamline and have less things to keep track of...

Thanks!

Crucifying with our words

Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. But they kept shouting, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"...but with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified and their shouts prevailed. Luke 23:20, 23

Most of us are familiar with the story and so you may be wondering what does the crucifixion have to do with the topic of gossip?

Have you ever been told something about someone else that didn't quite ring true? The weight of the accusation stayed on your heart yet your mind begins to rationalize:

but Rev. So and So believes it, so it must be true?

Or Sister Susie wouldn't make something like that up!

Have you ever watched someone's reputation evaporate because someone else decided to play telephone with a rumor?

In Proverbs 6:16-19 we learn of the six things the Lord hates, seven which are detestable to Him:

haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

I'm fairly certain it is no coincidence that three out of the seven are directly related to the tongue. Do you think God takes gossip seriously?

And yet, we continue to perpetuate this sin. Gossip makes hypocrites out of believers everyday, ruining our witness to the world.

Here is the truth, my friends...unless we have firsthand knowledge of something, talking about it is GOSSIP. Plain and simple.

We may feel that we need to insert ourselves in an argument (that has nothing to do with us) because we "know" the truth. We may disguise our gossip as a prayer request or a need to confide in someone about an issue. It is still gossip.

I want to break down the definition of gossip for us (according to dictionary.com)

–verb (used without object)
6. to talk idly, esp. about the affairs of others; go about tattling.

Synonyms:
1. small talk, hearsay, palaver, chitchat. Gossip, scandal apply to idle talk and newsmongering about the affairs of others. Gossip is light chat or talk: to trade gossip about the neighbors. Scandal is rumor or general talk that is damaging to reputation; it is usually more or less malicious: The town never lived down the election scandal. 3. chatterer, talker, gabbler, rumormonger. 6. chatter, prattle, prate, palaver.

I know that gossip can seem harmless but look at how quickly rumormongers were able to stir up hatred and murderous rage against a man, guilty of nothing but healing, setting captives free and miracles.

Image via Wikipedia

A motorist driving down the freeway, carelessly tossing out the cigarette butt, doesn't intend for that small spark to be the catalyst of a forest fire, with hundreds of thousands of acres the victim. Yet, they still started that fire. Carelessly, perhaps never even knowing the destruction they caused.

We may not think we are yelling "crucify him" when we engage in reckless, idle gossip but what if our words prevail?



A dear friend of mine has a tried and true way to avoid gossip: she will cover her ears and (half) jokingly say "oooh, that sounds like gossip". I have never witnessed a conversation survive that. What a clever way to extinguish the enemy's spark before it becomes a forest fire.

God has laid the condition of my heart as revealed by my mouth as a place for me to submit to Him in the upcoming year. Please join me in praying that my words (spoken and typed) will be nothing but pleasing to Him in 2010.

Grieving God with our Words

Image by prayingmother via Flickr

Have you ever said something and immediately wished you could take it back?

I have, too many times to count. And, that hurts God's heart.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:29-30

Unwholesome....what does that mean to you?

We will one day give account for EVERY word we speak. To me, that deems unwholesome worthy of a definition.

Unwholesome:
according to dictionary.com this word means not wholesome; unhealthful; deleterious to health or physical or moral well-being

Now, let's also look at scripture's definition of unwholesome in order to get a complete picture.

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked. Proverbs 10:11

The lips of the righteous know what is fitting, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse. Proverbs 10:32

Reckless words pierce like a sword but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 12:18

The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. Proverbs 15:4

I could go on but notice the words in bold. To me, these things define "unwholesome".

So, how can we avoid grieving God with our words? We will speak specifically about this in the days to come but here are a few highlights.

*Think (and pray) before you speak.
*Speak with integrity.
*Love others with your words.
*Give your words to God daily.
*Apologize when you mess up (because we all do)

Sticks and Stones

It has been on my heart for a while to write about the impact of our words, gossip and what God expects from us when it comes to what comes out of our mouths (or computers). I am posting it here on this blog because it has turned into a series of posts and my multitasking mama blog's schedule is too full to accommodate a week's worth of posts about one topic.

The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45

In a nutshell, our words are indicative of the condition of our heart. I don't know about you, but that is very convicting to me.

When I think of the impatient words I speak to my boys when they are getting ready for school in the morning or the harsh words I speak to my husband when he is running late (hmmm, time seems to be an issue for me) I realize that my heart is not reflecting the Spirit of God.

Do my words to the grocery store clerk who has made an error in my purchase reflect the fruit of the Spirit? or do my words display arrogance and impatience?

Do my words to a friend about an mutual acquaintance reflect a desire to avoid discord and strife? or do my words too quickly become gossip and fodder for arguments?

Do my words reflect an attitude of gratitude, regardless of circumstance? or do my words count my trials rather than blessings?

Do my words reflect a heart of encouragement? or do my words paint a picture of negativity and hopelessness?

Do my words reflect a sense of integrity, are they words of truth? or do my words stretch the truth or embellish to avoid conflict or make myself look better?

Let's be real, my friends. If our words indicate the condition of our hearts than we have some real work to do, at least I know I do.

This week I want to delve into this topic further and welcome your questions, comments and thoughts about the impact of our words.

My Story, God's Glory

Image by h.koppdelaney via Flickr

As many people know, getting pregnant at 16 is a pivotal part of my testimony. I recently wrote a guest post for a blogging friend of mine about my story.



I have been praying for a long time, asking God how He would use this part of my life in service to others in similar situations. I had considered starting a Teen MOPS group in our church but with my health issues, it would be difficult for me to lead a ministry like that.

Then we had the woman's conference at our church in October. One of the speaker's was a sweet gal (we have become great friends) from Young Lives. She is starting a teen mom group here in our area and needed help.

I prayed a lot before meeting with her about how I could help but wasn't sure until we met. She was talking about the positions on the committee that needed filled and one was public relations/marketing. In addition to being a blogger I used to work in the local area in health care marketing, so I already have the connections with the local community leaders that need to know that such a group exists, can provide girls with referrals, etc.

I am so excited that I will be able to use skills I haven't needed in a while for a cause so dear to my heart.

Will you join me in praying that we are able to impact the lives of teen mom's for the Kingdom through this new ministry?

Thank you!