Hello again,

I have an app that displays what countries my readers are from. Twenty-five and growing. I thank you for joining me, and I hope that if you gain from my writings, you will tell others to join us.

The title of this one might sound strange (maybe not after Beans and Ham :), but when understood and put into action, it can change the direction of our lives. Apparently, the Lord is helping me recognize areas where I need obedience to stay in the right direction. Maybe this resonates with you, so I hope you will stick with me.

I thought of saying I need some “tongue” surgery, but then I was reminded that it is “heart” surgery that I need. Matthew 12:34: “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks”.

One of the many things that caught my attention to my words was a short podcast I heard recently. It was titled Words Aren’t Sounds, They Are Seeds. This brought cause for pause and examination of what kind of seeds I am planting.

As I go to God’s Word to see what He has to say about words and seeds, I realize the seriousness of the matter. I say the seriousness of the matter, because the Lord says life and death are in the power of the tongue. Is that not serious enough? As I search, this power is spoken of from Genesis through Revelation. God “spoke” life into the darkness. He used words for all creation. As we move through the scriptures, it becomes evident that the power of words is also given to us.

This blog could be the longest ever written if I tried to write all of the scriptures and examples that have already been given on this topic. Therefore, I will write about the main ones the Lord is using for my surgery. Lord, help me be as James 1:22 NJKV “But be doers of the word, not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

Staying in sync with my title, I will begin with Proverbs 18:20-21 NKJV: “A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; From the produce of his lips he shall be filled. V21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit”.

Yes, I shall eat the fruit and be filled by the very words that come out of my mouth! I wrote about this very thing in my first book, “Inspire Me”. The poem is titled Kind Words pgs.34-35. The poem is filled with what happens when our words are sweet or sour and where these words originate…

“God tells us it is the condition of the heart; the wellspring determines what flows from the start…

So take some time and give it some thought; prayerfully ask, what your words have brought,

If they were served on your plate and you daily had to eat them; would they be sweet, savory, and filled to the brim?

Or would they be bitter, sour, and look pretty grim?”

And if our words are seeds filled with life and death, let’s consider why we plant seeds. Isn’t it to grow fruit for the harvest to eat in our future? So I am realizing the seeds I plant today will determine the harvest I reap tomorrow.  What I will be doing in the future depends on the types of seeds I am sowing today, and what I am experiencing now is due to the kinds of seeds I have sown in the past.

Hmmm, would I knowingly and willfully sow rotten, bitter, or dead seeds? Let’s also consider this: every time we speak, we are prophesying our future; there’s the harvest (in our future). Robert Lewis Stevenson is quoted as saying, “ Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.”

 So, I ask myself, what do I want to plant for my future harvest? I do want my harvest to be… “ sweet, savory, and filled to the brim”; not only for myself, but also for those to whom my words reach. I want my words to be ones that bring hope to those around me. I want to bring people up who are constantly being pulled down. I want to bring hope to the hopeless and blessings where there have been curses. My words truly have the power to bless or the power to hurt.

With this understanding (knowledge), we might ask, “How do we put it into action?” Examination of what’s in our hearts is a great place to start. Any unforgiveness, bitterness, anger, fear, defeat, unbelief, gossip, lack, or weakness that are hiding in the dark chambers of your heart? Remember when He gave us new hearts, He gave us the ability (power) to be transformed by the renewing of our minds to His Word that brings new life, not the old, dead hearts of stone.

I ended my poem Kind Words with these verses that I will end this blog with…

“Feasting on His Word, and having peace of mind, that you can speak Love, and with Him daily dine.

By the power of the Spirit, to us, He will bind

Showing Grace, Love and Mercy, through His words that are kind!”

Let’s make His words our words. That’s how we put His words into action! Good seeds for the abundant harvest by the Holy Spirit who lives in us. He will guide us and direct us when we are willing to be doers of the word, not hearers only.

My  questions for you are two of the main questions I have asked myself…-

“What seeds are you planting?” And “Are you willing to let the Lord examine your heart and do some surgery?”

Remember, there is no condemnation in Christ. If you feel convicted, as I have,  it is for correction. You and everyone around you will benefit, and God will be glorified. In my correction, I am led to ask others for forgiveness. It is humbling, but God says He resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Thank You, Lord, for Your Forgiveness and Grace.

Feasting on His Word and with Him daily dine…

Until next time, I would like to speak this blessing over all of you.

“The Lord Bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”  Numbers 6:24-26.

To God be the glory,

Reba