Day#26-Friday-the tongue!

¹ My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. ² For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. ³ Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. ⁴ Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. ⁵ Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! ⁶ And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. ⁷ For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: ⁸ But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹ Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. ¹¹ Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? ¹² Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. ¹³ Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. ¹⁴ But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. ¹⁵ This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. ¹⁶ For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. ¹⁷ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. ¹⁸ And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.  James 3-all of it!

Do you know that the tongue is made up of many different muscles? We use our tongue for chewing and tasting food, swallowing food, talking, singing, and sometimes sticking it out at people we do not like!
       

The top of the tongue is covered with papillae (they are the tiny bumps) and they contain the taste buds.  The job of these papillae are to move the food around as you chew it and to taste the food.  We have about 10,000 taste buds that will tell you the difference between sweet, sour, bitter, and salty things-but by the time your an older person (aged as I have) you may loose about half of those taste buds.  That means you will not taste things as well.  Ever notice that an older person uses more salt than you?  Or if they cook a meal, they may season it to their taste and if you-being younger, taste it you may think-who salty!  Or Too sweet!  This is why!


There are also reflex areas on the tongue.  



But of even more interest to me is the scriptures that GOD has about the tongue...

 In proverbs this week we read that a soft answer turns away wrath but a harsh word stirs up anger...

 (Proverbs 15:1)

and as we read on: 

The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness-Proverbs 15:2

And in V 28 it says the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.

Not very good things about the tongue in my opinion.  Sounds like over all the tongue is a wicked thing if it is not controlled well!

God had given us a tongue-as said above it is used for many things...but it is also used to curse GOD and others, and then bless them too!

So what does this word mean?    defileth

Well this word -defileth occurs 9 times in 8 different verses and the word defile occurs 4 times .  (listed in order of the books)  (and if I have missed some verses let me know!) The word defiled occurs in the verses 2 kings 23:8 .  I am sure I might have missed some verses...

1.  Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth [any ]work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people  Ex 31:14

2.  Whosoever toucheth the dead body of any man that is dead, and purifieth not himself, defileth the tabernacle of the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from Israel: because the water of separation was not sprinkled upon him, he shall be unclean; his uncleanness [is ]yet upon him. Numbers 19:13

3.  So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye [are:] for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it. Numbers 35:33

4. & 5.   Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.  Mathew 15:11 

6. & 7. & 8.  Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?  But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:  These are [the things ] which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man  Matthew 15:17-20

9.& 10. & 11. And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;  Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.  For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,  Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man. 

Mark 7:18-23

 12.  And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell  James 3:6

13.  And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Revelation 21:27

Interesting, the word defileth in Italian, Portuguese, spanish, Galician translates to contamina-and the word does not even look good in 

ينجس

 arabic

or chinese 

污秽

I find that interesting.

Defile means to pollute, to make unclean, to corrupt, desecrate, 

  

so when I think about this word, I think about how the word is sort of a gross word... pollutes things-and the word pollute means to make morrally and pyhsically unclean.  If you think of pollution, it makes everything unclean that it effects.  

So that means our tongue, pollutes things. our tongue makes everything unclean that it effects.  not good.  I know I have to be more careful -how about you? 

LORD help us all...help us to bridle our tongues...

blog #2 for today...Day #19

Listening:  Do you know how to listen?

Listening is a important part of doing the job I do...but it is also an important part of life.  We should all be good listeners.

Here is a few question's for you:  

1.   Do you interrupt people when they are talking?

2.  Do you think about the answer or response your going to give before the           person is done speaking and telling you what they have to say?

3.  Do you find yourself talking more than others?

4.  Do people ever just try to walk away or get away from you when your talking?

5. Do you but in and interrupt and finish the sentence for people?

If you have answered yes to any of these questions, then you are NOT a good listener.  Communication is a two way street and your on a one way street...you are prideful and making it all about you!  Now before you get mad, read on!

 Think about this:  You have been given two ears and one mouth.  What does that tell you?  Listen twice as much as you talk.  I think GOD wants us to be good listeners and slow to speak...

People who interrupt and finish the sentence for people are rude, disrespectful and full of pride.  Does what you have to say ---is that really more important than what the person talking has to say?  Is that the way you are to respond as a believer?  Is that loving?

 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. Ecclesiastes 5:2

The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness Proverbs !5:2

 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. Proverbs 17:28

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.  But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. James 1:19-22

So we are to be slow to speak...and swift to hear.  What does that tell you about a conversation? 

 Do you talk and talk and go on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on (get the hint?)   

Listening requires that you REALLY listen, really pay attention, and really hear the person.  

So what does it mean to listen? 

How do you listen?  

  It means you are not thinking of something else while the other person is talking, you are not thinking of what your response will be while they are talking, but you are really focused on what that person is saying.  

Once they are done talking-there will be a time of silence and this is when you  are to think about what your response will be.  

The american white culture is afraid of silence.  Most people are very uncomfortable with a time of quiet-

In cultures where they have fewer words, and really listen to each other as they speak-there are often huge amounts of time -of silence.

Are you uncomfortable with silence?  

Do you feel you need to fill the void --when no one is speaking?  If there is a time of silence do you find yourself either chattering or changing the subject just to 'talk and say something?"  

In the Lakota culture there are few words, and they do not chatter.  They have for the most part been very good listeners.  I see this with the people I take out there to serve: they often can not deal with that part of their culture.  The quiet.  The times of silence.  Often the people I take out there to serve  are very uncomfortable with this silence.  They will take it personally, like the person does not like them or something. But the Lakota do not talk as much as whites do, and they will take the time to really listen and think about a response.  That leaves most people in an uncomfortable-silence.

Listening skills are important for a marriage.  If you are not listening to each other-you will find that problems arise that other wise might not even be an issue.  The wife will be saying, well I told you this and that...and the husband will be saying no you did not...sound familiar?

Try this with your spouse (or if your not married try this with a friend)

Tell a story and talk for 2 minutes.  Then have the person repeat the story back to you-see how much of it they get right. Then you do it for them. Most people will not be able to repeat the whole story back.

If you do not work on your listening skills it could help destroy your marriage, your friend ships, your work relationships, and even have adverse effects on your children.

So take the time today to really listen to your wife, your husband or your children...

pay attention...and improve a relationship...!

Blessings

Ireena