For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks...

Matthew 12:34b. Y'all gonna get a lil dose of Pastor Heather today. Whether you want it or not! This verse has been on my mind since I got up this morning. I heard it loud and clear when I got in the shower this morning. And I've been hearing it loud and clear in my head all day. Which makes me wonder, "God???? You tryin' to tell me something?" Of all the powerful words in the scriptures, this one is one of those IN YOUR FACE verses that will BRING.YOU.TO.YOUR.KNEES. Can I get an amen?

I saw an episode of King of Queens last week (my favorite show) where Doug and Carrie were fighting and this new program on her computer was recording and making a transcript of every word they said. When they printed it out the next day and read it, they were in complete shock at the words they had spoken to one another. They even called in a neighbor who was a marriage counselor and he told them they were beyond help! At the end of the episode, Carrie's dad had gotten a hold of the transcript and turned it into an on stage play at the senior center and they all enjoyed watching "their fight" acted out on stage. Hillariously funny episode, but my gosh, if a computer recorded a transcript of every word I spoke thoughout the day, Lord help the computer! I don't even want to imagine what I would read back.

Have you ever known a negative person? One who says nothing but critical, judgemental, negative, hurtful word after word after word and you just want to say...SHUT UP! I find myself being that person every now and then. I think I've been that person lately. Not the one saying SHUT UP, but the one being negative and judgemental. Psalms 64:3 says "They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their words like deadly arrows." OUCH! "Out of the overflow of the heart"...what does that mean? It means, what's 'down there' comes out in form of words. If you're an angry, bitter person, who deals with resentment and hurt and unforgiveness, others will know by the words you speak. Your words will be bitter and angry and hurtful and critical and negative. On the other hand, if you have joy in your heart (notice I didn't say happiness...happiness is circumstantial and will go away...joy is internal and ONLY comes from loving and serving your creator!!!) that joy will spill over from your heart to your mouth and your words will be like a pleasing aroma. "Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." Proverbs 16:24 How true is that? I have surrounded myself with many friends who lift me up with their words. They speak encouragement. Whether I deserve it or not. And I usually don't. And those are the people I find myself wanting to be around. (Not sure they want to be around me...that's a whole other blog entry!)

What do my words say about my heart when my husband, God love him, comes home from the store without the ONE ITEM I sent him there to get? Or what about when my child's teeny tiny hands have failed her once again and she drops her juice all over my freshly mopped floor for the 10th time that day?

Today at lunch, we ate with a family from our church and the husband told me that our daughter, Lexi, has been growling at their son every time she sees him at church. He asked his son, "Why do you think she does this?" And his son responded, "Maybe she learned it from her mommy." I truly hope not! My hope is that she learned that from our dog and not from me. But as I put this truth to practice and teach her this verse, I hope that her growls will quickly turn to puppy love or at least something nicer than a growl! And I hope her growls are not a reflection of what's in her heart, but rather a phase of acting like a dog...a phase that has lasted WAY TOO LONG in my opinion. (It was cute when she was 2, but now she's 5!)

As we start out this week, in the season of Spring where all things are made new, let's focus on this thought of renewing our hearts with JOY so that what comes out of our mouth will be pleasant rather than deadly. And let's focus on surrounding ourselves with others who also have joy in their hearts as attitudes tend to be contagious.