The Colorado Fires and Our Tongues

This morning I hopped over to my friend Sally Clarkson’s blog. As I did, I discovered that fires are in the Colordao Springs area where she lives. Here is a picture she posted:

As I hopped around the Internet, I saw many accounts of the damage being done and the lives interrupted. Some are being evacuated from their homes. Others, on their summer vacations, are being told they cannot whitewater raft or hike or camp.

There are many ministries close to my heart in Colorado Springs. I’ve been at both Focus on the Family and the Navigators Glen Eyrie Castle to speak. My first editor and dear friend Jeanette lives there. And my friend Jonni McCoy of Miserly Moms.

Will you pray for those being affected by the Colorado fires today?

As I spied the pictures, I was reminded of a portion of the book of James. This practical, fast-paced book has always been my favorite New Testament book and I set about to memorize it two years ago. This summer, my friend Mary and I are doing a study of it too. Hear this:

“All of us do many wrong things. But if you can control your tongue, you are mature and able to control your whole body.

By putting a bit into the mouth of a horse, we can turn the horse in different directions. It takes strong winds to move a large sailing ship, but the captain uses only a small rudder to make it go in any direction. Our tongues are small too, and yet they brag about big things.

It takes only a spark to start a forest fire!  The tongue is like a spark. It is an evil power that dirties the rest of the body and sets a person’s entire life on fire with flames that come from hell itself.  All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures can be tamed and have been tamed. But our tongues get out of control. They are restless and evil, and always spreading deadly poison.

My dear friends, with our tongues we speak both praises and curses. We praise our Lord and Father, and we curse people who were created to be like God, and this isn’t right.” James 3:2-10 (CEV)

“But our tongues get out of control”

Ever been there?

Were you there over the weekend?

You are frustrated with someone. You toss a back-handed comment their way. Then, you expound upon the comment. You let the anger in your heart well up, emitting sparks of cutting remarks from your mouth. Pretty soon?

The other person stands before you burnt to a crisp.

Oh may we ALL learn that sparks can scorch.

Bite your tongue if you must.

Better a bleeding tongue than a torched friend or relative.

I know. I’ve toasted more than just marshmallows in my days.

Biting my tongue even as I type. :-)

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