Bible Lesson Visuals for Power Point

A friend recently recommended Eikon Bible Art  to me.  This site has some wonderful Bible lesson visuals on power point  for children.  The visuals are sharp and look like real people.  I use them when teaching children at Bible clubs and camp.  I have found that using power point is easier for me than holding up the large picture flashcards.  With power point, I can concentrate more on the message that I'm sharing rather than whether or not all of the children are able to see the picture I'm holding.  I also tend to gesture quite a bit, or act out the story that I'm telling, so it's nice for me to have my hands free.  

If you're interested, their website is:  www.eikonbibleart.com
You can receive one free lesson for checking them out.  You will need to register, but they only send occasional emails.  You can, of course, unsubscribe.

The Proof is in the Pudding

A man who desires to be used of God as a spiritual leader in the local church "must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity  (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?)" - 1 Timothy 3:14-15

Your home is not just your training ground- it is your proving ground.  God says that the way a man manages his family establishes a pattern of how he will lead in the local assembly.  We know some young couples who are interested in going into full-time ministry for the Lord.  Our counsel to them has been to focus on their home first.  Their family is the little flock that God has given them to shepherd now, and the place to practice all of the things we’ve been talking about.  God is looking for faithfulness in the small things before He will entrust you with bigger things.  The principle in Luke 16:10 is very true- “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.”  As a wife, you need to work alongside your husband in your home to raise your children in accordance with Biblical principles. 

As we think back over all of the qualifications that God has laid out for a man who would serve as a shepherd, let’s ask the Lord to equip us to be a faithful partner and helper to our husbands in each one of these areas: to be blameless, morally pure, temperate, sober-minded,  hospitable, able to teach, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous, managing his own household well.  

Partnership in Parenting

Another quality of the man that God calls to spiritual leadership in the local church is "...one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence."  (1 Timothy 3:4)

You are part of this “house”.  Are you supporting your husband as the leader in your home?  If you want your children to respect and submit to authority, then you must respect and submit to your husband’s authority in the home.  Your attitudes and example as a wife have immeasurable impact on your children.  They are always watching you- and they don’t miss a thing! 

The word “rule” in this verse means to stand before, to lead, and indicates that this is done with care and diligence.  God commands us as parents in Ephesians 6:4 to bring up our children “in the training and admonition of the Lord”.  This is very much a partnership between you and your husband.  You must be in agreement in the raising of your children and it must be done purposefully.  Do your children see the reality of your personal relationship with the Lord?  Do you have a plan to systematically teach them the Word of God?  Do you pray for them and with them regularly?  Are you balanced and consistent in your discipline- not being harsh or threatening, and at the same time, not being permissive or making excuses for sin? 

Parenting is an area in which I have been completely cast upon the Lord.  I’ve had to remind myself that I am to be training my children for their good and not my glory; for spiritual reality in their lives and not for appearances.  Unfortunately, sometimes when my children have been involved in sin, my first reaction has been embarrassment because of how their actions reflected on me.  That was simply pride on my part.  The children of elders, deacons, and full-time workers are not perfect.  They are sinners and they are going to sin.  The important thing is what you, as the parent, do when that happens.  We need to respond in a way that honors the Lord and follow Biblical principles in dealing with the situation.  And when my children do make a choice to obey the Lord in a certain area, I need to humbly thank God for working in their lives and for them responding to Him, rather than giving myself credit. 

So, if your children are small, I would encourage you to ask the Lord to help you lay aside any selfishness or laziness on your part and be diligent to pick up a paddle and use it according to the directives in God’s Word.  Believe His Word and trust Him to work in your child’s heart.  As your children get older, don’t think that your job is done.  A teenager needs you just as much as a toddler, if not more.  Again, ask the Lord to help you be willing to set aside your own plans in order to be available for them when they need you.  And never, never, never stop praying for them.

God's Word: Learn It, Love It, Live It, Teach It

1 Timothy 3:2- An overseer then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach.

An elder must also be able to teach God's Word clearly and accurately.  How can you as a wife help your husband in this area of his ministry?

In order to teach the Word of God, you must know the Word.  In order to know the Word, you must spend time in the Word.  So, again, you’ll need to allow your husband the time to do this.  God has given him the responsibility of “rightly dividing the Word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15) so that he can feed the flock, give direction to those who need spiritual counsel, and be able to refute those who would teach false doctrine.  This does not mean that he needs to be a gifted public speaker, but that he does need to understand and be able to clearly articulate truths found in the Scriptures. 

Your husband also needs your encouragement to hold fast to the Word of truth.  There are some issues where emotions can run high: the woman’s role, divorce and remarriage, church discipline.  Your husband will face pressure not only from the world, but from Christendom in general- as well as people in your own local church- to compromise on God’s Word.  They will pressure him not to take such a firm stand if that stand affects what they want to do.   

I talked with three young men in our local church who all have a heart to honor the Lord.  I asked them why they had made the choice to be there.  All three told me it was because the Person of the Lord Jesus was honored and the Word of God was upheld as the authority- that it wasn’t just given lip service, but put into practice.  These are the kind of people you want in your local church.  So, let your husband study, listen to him as he talks through what he’s learning, and most of all, pray for him- that he would understand the truth from God’s Word, hold fast to it, and clearly share it with others.  

"For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it,

 and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel."

(Ezra 7:10)

True Servanthood

                                           

Do you consider yourself a servant?

Then consider the words of Richard Foster:  "We must see the difference between the choosing to serve and choosing to be a servant.  When we choose to serve we are still in charge.  But when we choose to be a servant we give up the right to be in charge."  

A servant does whatever the master asks of them, regardless of how they personally feel about it.

Two of my children are working as counselors at a secular day camp this summer.  They have younger counselors-in-training assigned to work with them.  The CITs' job is to do whatever the counselor asks of them to help the day run more smoothly.  There is one CIT who would continually ask my daughter, "What can I do to help?"  When my daughter told the girl what needed to be done, the girl would then make the decision as to whether or not that task was to her liking.  If it wasn't, she would not do it, but would again ask my daughter, "What can I do to help?"  I'm sure this girl feels like she is being a servant because she is continually offering her service- but is she a servant?  

My daughter also teaches a Sunday school class at our local church.  Right before Sunday school, the children are to gather in a larger room for a time of singing before they are all dismissed to their various classrooms.   This gives the teachers time to set out their materials and make sure they are ready before the children arrive.  There is one girl who comes to my daughter's room instead of going to singing and says, "I'm here to help you.  What can I do?"  Then she proceeds to look through the teaching materials, write on the board, etc.  My daughter tells the girl that everything is under control and reminds her that she needs to go sing with the rest of the children.  "No," the girl replies, "I'm here to help you."  This little girl is there to serve- or is she?

Unfortunately, this attitude is not found only in children and the unsaved.  Even as believers in the Lord Jesus, our hearts are still very deceitful.  We can fool ourselves into believing that we have a servant's heart, when in reality, our "service" is doing what we want to do in the way we want to do it.  

Our attitude towards service needs to be that which the Lord Jesus exemplified.  He very clearly states His motivation in John 6:38- "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My will, but the will of Him who sent Me." 

 Being a servant basically boils down to one thing- obedience.  

And yet, serving the Lord does not have to be drudgery.  For those who serve with a right heart attitude, the Lord has great reward- "Enter into the joy of your lord." (Matthew 25:21)  What a blessing, since in His presence is FULLNESS of joy!

"So likewise you, when you have done all those things 

which you are commanded, say, 

'We are unprofitable servants.  We have done what was our duty to do.'"

(Luke 17:10)

Reaching Children with the Gospel

Do you have a heart to reach children in your area with the gospel?  
Then you need to go to where they are.

This past school year, I was blessed to work with one of my sisters-in-law teaching a Bible club that meets in a public elementary school.  We do it under the auspices of Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF).  CEF is a Bible-centered ministry that reaches out to share the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ with children throughout the world.  The goal is to see children brought to faith in Christ, and then discipled and established in a Bible-believing local church.  

Did you say public school?  Is that legal?  
Yes, I did, and yes, it is!

In 2001 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Good News Clubs v. Milford Central School that Good News Clubs can meet in public schools in the United States after school hours on the same terms as other community groups. Children attend Good News Club only with their parents' permission.  (Excerpt taken from Child Evangelism Fellowship website) 

Good News Club is the name of the after-school Bible clubs affiliated with CEF which meet after school hours once a week in the public schools.  To help in a Good News Club, some training is required, but I found it to be extremely beneficial and personally encouraging.  

During the club time, the children sing songs which teach doctrinal truths, are taught and work on memorizing a Bible verse, have a Bible lesson (using CEF materials, which I have found to be very well-written), and then play a review game to reinforce what they have learned.  

Working with these children can be physically and emotionally draining.  It can be heart-breaking as they share with you some of the situations they deal with in their homes on a daily basis.  But it is an opportunity for you to share the love of Christ with them and to let them see, through His Word and through your own life, the reality of who He is.  

If you have any questions as to how you can start, or be part of, a Good News Club in your area, check out the CEF website for more information at www.cefonline.com.

"Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; 

for of such is the kingdom of God."

(Mark 10:14b)

I have a question about Hell…

Kids think about eternity.  They ask serious questions.  Here are just a few of the questions that were posed after our Bible club lesson on Hell.

Let’s go to God's Word and see how to answer them.

What happens if I die and go to hell, but then I want to go to Heaven?

Hebrews 9:27 is very clear.  “It is appointed for men to die once, and after this comes judgment.”  When your body dies, the real you that lives inside your body (your soul and spirit) will step into eternity.  Where you spend eternity is based on the choice you make in this life.  In Luke 16:26, the rich man in Hell was told that there is “a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.”  You cannot change your mind about your eternal destiny after you die. 

Do people who go to Hell have to work for Satan?

Contrary to what many people think, Satan is NOT the boss of Hell. 

Hell was created as the place of eternal punishment for the angel Lucifer (who then became known as Satan/the Devil) when he rebelled against God.  It is a place of “everlasting destruction away from the presence of the Lord” (2 Thessalonians 1:9) 

Revelation 20:10 says that “the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone… and will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”

Satan has no authority in Hell.

I know I’m not good enough to get into Heaven, but I don’t think that I’m bad enough to go to Hell.

The question is not how good or bad you are.  The fact is you have sinned.  We all have.  And your sin separates you from God.  If you die without having your sin problem taken care of, you will spend eternity separated from God.  God wants you to spend eternity with Him in Heaven, but He knows that you are not good enough to get there on your own.  That is why He made a made a way that you can have your sins forgiven.  He sent His own Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to die in your place.  “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.” (1 Peter 3:18)  Because Jesus died and rose again for you, you can receive a living Saviour who will forgive your sins and give you the gift of eternal life.  

So the real question is:  What have you done with the Saviour?  God’s Word is very clear- “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” (John 3:36)

There are only two options for you when it comes to a relationship with the Lord Jesus- receive Him or reject Him.  And there are only two options when it comes to eternity- Heaven or Hell.  

Before you speak....

I saw this poster hanging in my niece's home when I was watching her children.  I thought it was a great reminder for us all.

          Before you speak...
                                                  THINK!

Is it True?

Is it Helpful?

Is it Inspiring?

Is it Necessary?

Is it Kind?

Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, 

but only such a word as is good for edification 

according to the need of the moment, 

that it may give grace to those who hear.

(Ephesians 4:29)

I Was Wondering About Heaven...

Kids are thinkers.  They have questions.  When I taught the lesson about Heaven at our after-school Bible Club, they asked a lot of good ones.  Here are just a few.

Let’s see what answers the Bible has for them.

What will we wear in Heaven?

I think this one stemmed from the fact that Adam and Eve did not wear clothing when God first placed them in the Garden of Eden, and that it was okay. 

Isaiah 61:10 says, “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness…”  Revelation 19:8 also tells us that the Bride of the Lamb will “be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” Even though we don’t know exactly what that means in terms of what our clothing will be like, we can be sure that God always does what is appropriate and that we will never feel ashamed or embarrassed in Heaven. 

Will we be born there as babies?

Heaven is eternal, timeless, and in the spiritual realm- so age, as we know it in the physical realm in which we live, does not exist.  One thing we do know is that in Heaven we will finally be what God intended us to be- conformed to the image of His beloved Son.  1 John 3:2 gives us this wonderful promise- “…it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He (the Lord Jesus) is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”  1 Corinthians 15 talks about the fact that we will receive a new body- one that is immortal and incorruptible (so it will never grow old and die); one that will be fit for Heaven.   

How will we get to Heaven if we’re dead?

This is one that we really don’t have to worry about.  2 Corinthians 5:8 assures the believer that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.  The Lord Jesus has taken the responsibility upon Himself to “present you faultless before the presence of His glory…” (Jude 1:24).  Just as you trusted the Lord Jesus to forgive your sins and give you eternal life, you can trust Him to take you safely home to Heaven. 

This is a story that I like to tell the kids:

When our two oldest children were small, we had some friends who lived just down the block from us.  We spent many enjoyable evenings in their home.  We would take our kids’ pajamas along with us, and after supper we would have the kids change into their pjs.  As it got later, we would lay the kids down on one of the beds and they would fall asleep there.  When we were ready to leave, my husband and I would pick up our sleeping children and carry them home.  We would tuck them safely into their own beds.  When they awoke, they found themselves home.  When they closed their eyes at our friends’ house, they had no worries about how they were going to get home.  They knew they could trust their parents to work out all the details on that end. 
It is much the same with our Heavenly Father.  As believers, when we close our eyes for the last time on this earth, we can know that when we open them, we will be safely home in Heaven.  Exactly how our Father gets us home is not really important.  We can rest in the fact that He will, according to the promises He has given us in His Word.  

"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man 

the things which God has prepared for those who love Him."

(1 Corinthians 2:9)

Let’s talk about E T E R N I T Y

When sin came into this world, it brought with it death.  Since that time, death has become something that touches each of our lives.  It also touches our children’s lives. Children have questions about death and eternity.  Let’s give them answers from God’s Word.

What is Heaven like?  Here is some simple Biblical teaching for kids.

Heaven is HOME!

Heaven is God’s home. It is a perfect home because God is perfect.  And God wants YOU to be able to come and live there with Him someday. 

The word HOME can help them remember these 4 things about Heaven.

Heaven is H- happy! 

Heaven is a happy place because of the things that will NOT be there. 

Revelation 21:4 says, “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.  There shall be no more pain…”

And the best thing of all is that there will be no more sin.  Revelation 21:27 tells us that nothing that defiles will be allowed into God’s perfect Heaven- no pride, jealousy, bitterness, or unkindness.  Praise God!

Heaven is O- only for believers.

Who will get to live with God in His heavenly home?  Revelation 21:27 says that Heaven is for “only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”  The moment you receive the Lord Jesus as your own Saviour from sin, you can know for sure that your name is written in God’s very special book, never to be erased, and that you have a place in Heaven reserved just for you.   

Heaven is M- magnificent!

Heaven is a beautiful and wonderful place.  Revelation 21 says that the capital city of Heaven, the New Jerusalem, is made of exquisite building materials- pure gold, pearls, and precious gems.  Revelation 22 tells us that God’s throne is there, in all of its beauty and majesty.  A pure river of the water of life flows from that throne, and the Tree of Life is there.  The glory of God Himself fills Heaven with light.  But the most wonderful thing about Heaven is a Person- the Lord Jesus Christ, the One who gave Himself for us- laying down His life so that we might live forever.  We will see Him face to face.  And we will bow down before Him in worship and thanksgiving. 

Finally, Heaven is E- eternal.

Heaven is a home that is there for you forever.  God is eternal, His love for you is eternal, and so is the place He has prepared for you.

Jesus said:

"Let not your heart be troubled... I go to prepare a place for you."

(Thank you to Craig & Nancy Rolinger for this excellent teaching acrostic.)

Memorizing Scripture with your Child- WARNING!

As you work on memorizing God's Word, there is something very dangerous you need to be aware of.

Beware of pride (both parent and child)!  

1 Corinthians 8:1 is very clear: "Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies." 

God wants us to use His Word to build one another up in the Lord.  It is not to be used for us to show off how much we know, or to cut someone else down and "put them in their place".  These things are done to promote self.  Make sure that your child understands that God sees this as sin.  Knowing a lot of Bible verses does not make someone spiritual- Satan is able to quote Scripture too.

One reason we memorize God's Word is to be able to share it with others. Colossians 3:16 says, "Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another..."  When the Lord Jesus spoke, His words of truth were always tempered by grace. And that's how we should speak His words to others as well- lovingly, graciously, and prayerfully.  We must teach our children to do the same.  They will follow the example we set.

Our children should understand what a privilege it is to have God’s Word and the ability to memorize it.  It is a most precious gift that God has given us because He loves us and wants us to know Him.  Encourage your child to be thankful for the Word and to let God use it to do His work in their heart.  

Do remember as you work with your child to help them learn God's Word that you are making an eternal investment in their lives.  Help them heap up the treasure of God's Word in their heart.  It will be of great benefit and blessing to them in this life, as well as for eternity.  

"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

-Matthew 6:21

The Continuing Tales of a Troublesome Tongue

One of the ways my tongue gets me in trouble is by complaining. I moan and groan about things that I should view as a blessing. I have to make supper, and I'm not sure what to make. Poor sad me. My laundry doesn't do itself, and everyone just has a terrible habit of changing their clothes daily. Boo-hoo. And so it goes, until I've convinced myself that I must have one of the most pitiable existences in the history of existences.

The reality is I am incredibly blessed. I am enviable to most of the world's population. I have an incredible heavenly future laid out for me. Many people of the world would be thankful just to have a meal to make, food to cook it with. And laundry isn't a problem with only one thing to wear at all times. And even if I had no meal to eat and clothing to wear, I could at least be thankful for the future eternity that I will be spending clothed in a robe of heavenly white, in a mansion prepared by the Lord.

If I wasn't so earthly minded, I think I would complain less. Paul says in Romans 8:18.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 

Memorizing Scripture with your Child- part 5

In order for your child to really tuck God’s Word away in their heart, they will need to regularly practice the verses they are learning.  It is most helpful if they have a consistent time each day set aside to work on their memory verses. 

Children have different learning styles. The main learning styles I was introduced to when I took education classes in college were: Visual (learning by seeing), Auditory (learning by hearing), and Kinesthetic (learning by movement).  If you understand the way that your child learns best, you can work with them on practicing their memory verse using that particular learning style.  Most children learn using a mixture of these styles. 

The added bonus: as you help your child learn Bible verses, you are learning them too!

For the visual learner:

• They can write out the verse on an index card and read it aloud several times.  This lets them see a picture of the words in their mind. 
• You can have your child draw a picture or series of pictures that illustrate the verse. 

Here is an example of Proverbs 6:16-19 that my kids illustrated on flashcards several years ago.  I would hold up the flashcards as they said the verses.  The words are written on the back of the index cards so that I could make sure they were saying it word perfect.

Proverbs 6:16-19:

"These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue (this tongue is saying "I didn't do it" but in my mind, "I did."), hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies.  And one who sows discord among brethren."

For the auditory learner:

•   You say a section of the verse.  Have your child listen, and then repeat it after you.  Go through the verse section by section.  Then increase the length of what you say and have them repeat until they can say the entire verse on their own.
• Put the words of the verse to music.  Then sing it throughout the day.  If you do this, be sure to include the reference in the song as well.

     If you don't know a song that goes with the verse, just put the words to a tune you already know.     

     For example:  Sing Ephesians 2:8-9 to "If You're Happy and You Know it, Clap Your Hands".  

     For by grace you have been saved through faith, (Clap, Clap)

     And that not of yourselves; (Clap, Clap)

     It is the gift of God, not of works,

     Lest anyone should boast. (Clap, Clap)

     (Then add on the end:) Ephesians 2:8 and 9 (Clap, Clap)

     For the kinesthetic learner:

•            Say the verse using appropriate hand motions- ones that give you a clue about the word each motion goes with.  Again, at the end, put your hands together and then open them up like a little book while saying the verse’s reference.
•      Do different forms of exercise while saying the verse to the rhythm of the exercise.  Do jumping jacks, march in place, touch your toes, jump rope.

These are just a few simple ideas.  I would love to hear what other things you have done that your children have benefitted from.  

"Your Word I have hidden in my heart..."

-Psalm 119:11a

Memorizing Scripture with your Child- part 4

We have looked at the why, when, and where of memorizing verses.  Now let’s talk about the HOW. 

When working with your child on a new verse, the first thing I recommend is to have them get their Bible and look it up.  They need to understand that what they’re learning is God’s Word.  Read the verse together right from the Bible.

 

Next, explain what the verse means.  Define any words that your child may not understand, and then talk about the meaning of the verse as a whole.

Also, discuss how this verse applies to them personally. 

You can use the following questions to help with application.  I’ve included some sample verses that would fall into each category.

• ·         Does this verse teach something about God’s character? (Genesis 1:1- God is the creator of all things.)
• ·         Does this verse teach something about how God views me? (Romans 3:23- I have sinned.)                                                                                     
• ·         Is this a promise that I can make my own? (John 3:15- I do believe in the Lord Jesus as my Saviour- God says that I have eternal life.)
• ·         Is this a command I need to obey? (Ephesians 6:1- God says that I should obey my parents.)
• ·         Is this a warning of something I should avoid? (Proverbs 28:13- God says if I try to cover up my sin, things will not go well for me.)
• ·         Is this an example for me to follow? (John 9:38- This man believed on the Lord Jesus and worshipped Him.)
• ·         Is this a prayer/request that I can make my own? (Psalm 19:14- Lord, please help me to have thoughts and words that are pleasing to You.)

The goal is not to turn your child into a verse-saying

parrot, repeating a string of words that have no meaning; it is for your child to understand and be able to apply God’s Word to their life situations.

These are the mechanics of actually teaching the verse.  Next time, we'll look at some ideas for ways you can practice the verse with your child to help them remember what it says.

So Philip ran to him…and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

And he said, “How can I unless someone guides me?”

-Acts 8:30-31

Oh! My Troublesome Tongue!

I struggle with my troublesome tongue. Apparently the writer of James did too, because he talks about the tongue in chapter three. Listen to what he has to say.

 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 

Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.  Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.

See how great a forest a little fire kindles!  And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.  For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 

James 3:2-9

Wow, look at some of those phrases- deadly poison, unruly evil, fire, a world of  iniquity. I don't know about you, but if I saw that list applied to anyone, I wouldn't want to be spending much time with them. I certainly wouldn't want them to be around my children. But, this is indeed, describing my tongue without the power of the Holy Spirit. 

In verse 2, it says someone who controls his tongue, is a perfect man. I'm not perfect by any means, and no one else is either this side of heaven, so I'm not alone in my trouble. 

I don't have any wonderful answers to this problem, but I know that the Lord can help me to be mindful of the words that I speak. The Psalmist prayed:

Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
Keep watch over the door of my lips.

Psalm 141:3

I'm making this my prayer and I hope you will join with me in it.