Words. Words. Everywhere...

 ^"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."  Hebrews 4:12


       Dale Carnegie once said "Seek first to understand then to be understood".  Words.  They are everywhere.   And many words have several meanings.   The English language is especially difficult to master.  The bible has been translated into so many different languages that even scholars fight over what certain passages of scripture really mean...
      We need to choose our words very carefully.   Words can be used to build up, or edify but they can just as easily be used to attack or tear down.  Sometimes the same sentence or group of words can have several different meanings, depending on the situation.   If I told you to "go pack sand" would it necessarily be a bad thing?   Maybe.... but what if we were trying to stop a river from flooding and we had sand that we needed to pack into sandbags.  Then telling you to "go pack sand" would be akin to giving you direction or guidance.  
        We own the impressions that we leave with others.  If I say something to you.  And you are offended by it.  Then I am responsible for that.  I must pick my words carefully, and not speak before thinking.  And it is not limited to just words.  Looks, and actions work the same way.   And it's not just when we are with others.
        Have you ever been in your car, driving down the road when someone in the car ahead of you does something that you consider to be like the dumbest move a driver could do... is he driving like 10 miles an hour in a 25 mile an hour speed zone?   Is he waiting until the opposite traffic is in the next county before making a left turn?   Is he talking on a cell phone to make it worse?  Doesn't that just boil your blood?  Doesn't it make you want to shake your fist at him, and shout some unmentionables at him?   But then doesn't that small voice inside your head say "hey, what are you doing?"  And isn't it then that you realize that even if no one is around to get offended by what you are thinking, saying and doing... God still hears it, sees it and knows it?  And doesn't that make you feel like a real buffoon?  Yep.  Been there, done that, got the T-shirt to prove it! (only kidding about the T-shirt - but if there was one you can bet I would have it)  It's got to make you wonder...
     Dear Lord, please help my friends and I to pick our words carefully.  To guard our minds, so that You may be foremost in our thoughts and on our tongues.  And please help us to be more patient where we would naturally tend toward impatience.  And let us use our words wisely so that we might shine your light rather than our own.  And thanks ahead of time...