Scripture Time

James 3:1-12

1Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.
3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5Likewise 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. 6The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11Can both fresh water and salt[a] water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

I love these verses, but in the same breath I really don't like these verses. My tongue gets me in trouble far too often. It is so hard for me to not lash out @ my kids (or anyone else who gets in my way) when they make me mad. I know it's the worst thing I can do because all I'm teaching them is that it's OK to get angry. I have a lot to work on w/ my little tongue. I know thru reading the bible and praying and working at it I can learn to watch what my tongue does. I want to have a tongue that praises the Lord in all things.

Father~ Thank you for this day. Help me to watch my tongue. When I slip up help me to repent and make it right. Help me to keep trying to serve you in all I do. In your name Amen.