Can I Get an Armored Guard?

I may have to prop my eyelids open with toothpicks, but I am determined to get down on...okay, not paper--the computer--what's been rolling around in my brain today. Kevin and I decided yesterday that I should not try to do school this week and instead focus on all the things that were threatening to overwhelm me.

I quietly sang the Hallelujah chorus to myself in the shower this morning.

Packing, Christmas baking, preparing crafts for our co-op party, last-minute shopping...you know how it goes this time of year. The day was productive and fun, and we enjoyed a wonderful time tonight with old friends who we haven't seen in too long. What a blessing to have friendships that go deep because of the common bond we have in Christ.

I've been thinking about the power of words a lot lately. I like to talk...a bit too much...and over the years I have said so many things I wish I could take back. Insensitive, rude, gossipy, critical, and off-color words have come out of my mouth, and I cringe when I think about some of the things I've said. The kids and I have been working on memorizing the book of James together, and I love all the pictures he paints about the power of the tongue.

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. James 3:3-8

Strong words, no? Here are some more: James 1:26, Matthew 12:34, Ephesians 4:29. And these only scratch the surface of all that God has to say about speech. For me, especially, this time of year is a challenge. I tend to be a little too comfortable with my extended family and get lax about what I say and what I listen to. Here's what I am going to meditate on:

Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips. Psalm 141:3

We'll be heading out of town later this week, so things will be quiet here on the blog for a while. I wish you all a wonderful, Christ-centered Christmas with your loved ones!