vintage james3 7.21.13

What do the words of my mouthreflect about the state of my heart?

QUESTION OF THE DAY

1986…Problem with a small “O-ring” in the fuel system…

SPACESHUTTLECHALLENGER

2003…Problem with a small piece of foamon the left wing…

SPACESHUTTLECOLUMBIA

Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that

we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is

never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.

JAMES 3:1-12

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 & are driven by strong winds, they are steered by

a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.

JAMES 3:1-12

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 body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire,

& is itself set on fire by hell.

JAMES 3:1-12

All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles & sea creatures are being tamed

& have been tamed by mankind,  

but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

JAMES 3:1-12

With the tongue we praise our Lord & Father, & with it we curse human beings, who have

been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth

come praise & cursing. My brothers & sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water & salt water flow from the same spring?

My brothers & sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs?

Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

JAMES 3:1-12

EPHESIANS 5:3-4But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

LUKE 6:43-45No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thorn bushes, or grapes from briers. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, & an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

Practice being ABSOLUTELY SILENT

(i.e. no talking, no listening to the radio, no television, no iPod, etc.)

for FIVE MINUTES each day.Listen for God’s voice & write down

whatever you hear, then pray into that…

SOUL TRAINING EXERCISE #1

Read PSALM 19 every day this week

& pray this prayer along with David:

“May the words of my mouth& the meditation of my heart

be pleasing in Your sight,O Lord, my Rock & my Redeemer.”

SOUL TRAINING EXERCISE #2

The bit helps set thedirection we wantthe horse to go in…

HORSES

The rudder helps set thedirection we wantthe boat to go in…

SHIPS