The Words We Write...

 

"When words are many, transgression is not lacking,

but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.

The tongue of the righteous is choice silver..."

Proverbs 10:19-20  

"Be quick to listen,

and slow to speak"

James 1:19

" ⁵ “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.”

 ⁶ Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. ⁷ With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”

 ⁸ Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

   And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” 

Isaiah 6

Its funny, I have somehow gained the impression, over the years

that it is important to be able to always have something to say. 

No awkward silences, but an ability to talk and converse. 

But perhaps I have been mistaken

perhaps I haven't valued enough the skill of being silent

even when you can say something.

The talent of thinking and having thoughtful words.

To be intentional with what I say,

as if each word were building up or breaking down

something beautiful,

something made for something more. 

Do I speak to build myself up? 

Do I speak just to be funny or to be noticed?

Do I speak in ways to shock people, just to get a reaction? 

Do I praise God on Sundays 

and complain about the life He's given me on Mondays? 

Do I bless His name in church

and ridicule those He has created after His image everywhere else?

Am I tearing down what God is trying to restore? 

 Or...

Do I consistently speak

as if the coal has touched my lips? 

 

May the words I write into your life,

with my voice as ink and lips as the pen,

 be building something good and right; 

 words carefully crafted and purposefully planned..

words like rain,

watering the grounds of heart and mind

to be a part of growing something 

beautiful,                                

to be a part of creating life.