Gossip Slug

Gossip is one of those words that we don't use much these days, because nobody thinks "they" actually gossip. But in reality, we all are guilty of it. This is what Webster's says the word "gossip" means: "Casual or unconstrained conversation or reports about other people, typically involving details that are not confirmed as being true."

We have all fallen to prey to that ugly word, gossip. The word itself is just ugly isn't it? So much so that I don't like to say it. And yet, we so carelessly allow words to fly out of our mouths that are "unconstrained."

We know gossip to be a bad thing, and we know when we are doing it. We know when something is coming out of our mouths that is not 100% fact as much as we know if we can swim or not. We know. But let's look at something just as dangerous that we can do with our tongue, other than gossip.

Colossians 4:6 got me thinking this morning; it say's, "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt."

What does salt do? Well, it does many things. It can clean a wound, bring out the flavor of food and, oh yes, it can kill a slug! Ew. Slugs are pretty gross. I mean, what purpose does a slug serve? Just the name slug is bad! Hey, since the word "gossip" does not comfortably roll off our tongue, and neither does the word "slug," let's call it "gossip slug!" Ok, ok. I realize I took that way too far. I digress.

That scripture is extremely powerful! Extremely. First off, let our words ALWAYS be with grace. It does not say that our words can be full of grace when we are happy in the situation, or when everyone agree's with us, or when we are in charge of the conversation, or when we feel we are being heard, no, it says "always." Hmm.

Always.

So, when someone does me wrong? When I'm inclined to "tell it like it is?" When I feel the need to get my opinion out so strongly that I can't listen to what the other person is saying because bless God my opinion is right? When I don't agree with them? When they are clearly and knowingly in the wrong?

Always.

Man! Let our speech always be with grace. Now please don't get me wrong here, of course we are not to sit back and let someone rake us over the coals, or abuse us, or be-little us, and of course we are entitled to our opinion and the time to share it, etc., etc., etc. But I like to think that there are ways to handle difficult situations in life with grace. In every situation we find ourselves in, there will be two ways we can handle it; either with grace, or I guess the opposite of that = disgrace. Now since I'm a huge fan of definitions, let Webster define "disgrace" for us. "Loss of reputation or respect, especially as the result of a dishonorable action."

Something we tell our girls often is that "Choices have consequences." It's so simple and yet so true. Every move we make has an end result to it. It either gets us closer to our God given destiny or it moves us further away from it. And so it is with words. The words we use in reaction to people or situations can never be taken back. Once they are off our tongue, that's it. So if we strive to live by the scripture that tells us to "let our speech always be full of grace," then we know that the consequence to our choice will always be a good one.

Grace dis-arms people. Grace sets people at ease. When you find yourself in a heated discussion or situation, the grace that pours out of your mouth will be like cool water on a hot surface. It begins to put the whole situation in a sweeter light.

I also love the second part of that verse - "seasoned with salt." Back to all the things that salt can do, well, minus the killing of the slug, I spent enough time on that, poor gossip slug.

May the words that flow from our mouths be so encouraging that they actually enhance the hearers life! If salt enhances flavor in food, how should our words be? They should be encouraging, edifying, uplifting. I understand that there are times we have to speak the truth, and sometimes that truth can be hard for the hearer to hear. However, when the truth is being told in a manner that is full of grace, that is seasoned with salt, then the truth will not fall on deaf ears, but will be received and given the opportunity to do the work with which it was sent forth to do!

Slug gossip is such a bummer. I vividly recall the moment I was so convicted of something that I said that it forever changed my view of gossip. It was many, many years ago - but I remember the feeling like it was yesterday. There was such an internal disgust that surrounded my choice of words that it's forever etched in my memory to the point that when I hear any form of gossip now it upsets me greatly. But God used that situation to show me how very powerful gossip can be.

I was reminded of the damage gossip does recently when someone asked me if what they "heard" was true about a person. Of course, it was not true at all, in fact, the rumor was straight from the devil himself. But the sad part is that the hearer, even months later, still had a tainted view of the situation even after knowing the truth, all over a hell breathed rumor.

As I type this, tears are flooding my eyes over the damage that our words have the potential to do. Please, I implore you, all two of you that read this, please be careful with the words that come out of your mouth. Are they full of truth? And if so, is it something you actually need to be sharing anyway or is it private. Keep it private. Are your words full of grace? Are they encouraging and uplifting? Let's find the good in people and brag about that. People should feel so awesome when they leave our presence, not because of us, but because of how we made them feel. People should know when they come to a conversation with you that it's a safe place to converse, that it's an encouraging place to converse, and most of all, that it's a graceful place to converse.

I'll leave you with this verse in James 3:17-18 that says, "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."

Isn't that so good? May we live out that verse today, and everyday to come. That we would judge the words of our mouth by that verse. May the hearer always leave our presence feeling like they can be the best they can be, that they are loved by a great and mighty God, and that no matter what the world tells them, they are indeed, super awesome!

I told someone awhile back that my goal was to be so encouraging that it was almost annoying! Almost. Would you join me in that? Let's pour salt on that filthy, old gossip slug. Besides, the trail the slug leaves is dirty enough...

He's gotta go

My little, nearly 8 year old Joei Kate is very observant; she is a people watcher to the fullest degree. So much so that she felt that the gal working at the Target Cafe yesterday was part of her family because she was watching her so much, (her words, not mine!) Then she told me the name of another Target employee that was smoking, but she was very pretty. She took all this in during the short amount of time it took to eat a little lunch. Observant.

Lately she is questioning the effects of drugs, alcohol & smoking. We have many a conversation about it, the topic intrigues her and she can't wrap her head around why anyone would be tempted by those things, things that have so much harming potential. I love her innocence and I pray so hard that she keeps that view about those things.

So yesterday in the car she asks me if I've ever broke the law. Awesome. I suppose I could have smoked (no pun intended) over the question but I feel like giving my kids as much truth as they can handle is beneficial. Of course I don't over do the details, but I walked the road I walked for a reason and hopefully they can learn from it. So I told her about the time I got caught stealing an obscene amount of make-up. I was 13, about to be 14 years old. Not my brightest moment in life, let me tell you. I shared some of the story and answered her questions then offered up my "excuse," so to speak. I said that I didn't know Jesus at the time so I didn't fully comprehend right or wrong. But as soon as that was out of my mouth I realized no, that's not exactly true Jen. I knew it was wrong to steal. I knew it was very, very wrong as I tried to walk out of the store with an overwhelming feeling of nervousness in the pit of my stomach for the wrong I was doing. I knew it was wrong. What I lacked was the desire to live for Jesus with every ounce of my being. The desire for serving Him that would overwhelm the desire for any temptation to do wrong that would come my way. So I had to amend my statement to my observant little girl. It is what it is.

I love 1 Peter 5:8-9 as it says, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world."

The devil has sought to devour me on many occasions; he started before I even came into this world and he has not stopped ever since. He does not want me to realize the full potential I have inside of me so he comes after me with thoughts that will derail me from the course that God has laid before me. He tries to invade my relationships, my thoughts, my actions & my heart. And he will do the same to you.

That's why Peter is telling us to stay on alert! It's not time to mess around in this life God has given us. There is no time to fall prey to the silly, pointless temptations that come into our paths. There is no time to say "only this once and never again" because we have no idea how tremendous the consequences of that choice may be. There is no time to allow an offense to sit in our heart, festering and growing into a bitterness that we no longer can control. There is no time to allow mean and cruel words to come out of our mouths because once they are spoken out they can only be forgiven, not taken back. THERE IS NO TIME!

That old devil knows our weak spots and he goes after them continuously. He can't read our mind, but he can read our actions. I love this from Smith Wigglesworth:

"We must resist in the hour when Satan's schemes may bewilder us, when we are almost swept off our feet, and when darkness is upon us to a degree that it seems as if some evil thing had overtaken us. 'Resist him, steadfast in the faith.'"

We can get to what feels like the lowest of lows in our life; we may feel like the pressure is so intense that we can't bare another minute before our top blows off. That's the very moment that our resistance will bring a breakthrough. Don't give in to his schemes or to his temptations. Resist him! James tell us to "Resist the devil and he will flee." So that tells me that our resistance, our standing up to that sucker and saying heck no am I going to bow to this pressure, no way am I going to let you run my mind any longer, no way am I going to receive the thoughts you are sending to my mind, no way am I going to allow that thing to fester in my heart, playing that hurtful conversation or scenario over in my head any longer, no way am I going to go out and give into that temptation you are driving me to, there is NO WAY I am doing that so look out devil because my Resistance is bringing my breakthrough!!

Romans 8:18 says, "For I consider that the sufferings on this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

It's not worthy. Whatever you are facing today, be it pressure, physical hardship, mental anguish, anxiety like you have never faced before, temptation so overwhelming you feel as though you cannot resist it, disappointment, doubt - whatever the case may be in your life today, remind yourself that it's not worthy.

It's not worthy when you put it up against glory. It's not worthy when you look at it from an outside lens, that we are simply passing through this life. It's not worthy when you read God's Word and see that He is preparing a place for you in Heaven. A place so great that He will wipe every tear from our eyes. We have tears now, we have hurts now, we have issues now, we have set-backs and temptations now...but there. Oh my goodness. It's not worthy. It's not worthy.

Be sober. Be vigilant. Be steadfast. Be strong. Be courageous. Be you. Because it's not worthy.