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| The Words We Speak |
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Several years ago I attended Lee University. Since this was a Christian university it was customary that every student attend midweek chapel. This experience afforded me the opportunity to hear such speakers as Tony Campolo, Mark Rutland, and Loran Livingston. I have many fond memories of what God did in my heart during those times.
Yet, what may have made the greatest impact on me was not necessarily the speakers, though anointed and brilliant. What may have made the greatest impact was the Scripture that we had to recite at the end of every chapel. The Scripture that I am referring to is found in Psalms 19:4. The psalmist states, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” This provided for me a constant reminder of the importance of the words that I used.
To be sure, as Luke 6:45 clearly points out, “For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” This is the verse that crossed my mind while listening to Chip Ingram reciting some statistics regarding communication. After doing his research he made the following discoveries.
(1) The average American has 30 conversations per day. (2) You will spend one fifth of your life talking (3) The average man speaks 20,000 words a day (4) The average woman speaks 30,000 a day
However, the statistic that caught my ear the most was that in the span of one year, the average person, if one would dictate every word that is said, would fill 66 books of 800 pages each. I then asked myself the question, “If I read this book, what would it look like?” Would I be proud of what I read? Would there be enough evidence that I am a Christian? This provided for me a sobering reminder of the importance of the words that I speak. It is precisely these same words that reveal our heart. |
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| very good blog. Really made Juan think |
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| PT, any blog that makes Juan really think is a very good one ! |
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Kathy |
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February 24, 2008 at 8:12pm |
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| Interesting blog, Pastor Tim! We have indeed become such a society of words, spoken and written, that words have largely lost their meaning. I would hate to have to read my 66x46 books! |
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| on a more serious note, Amen, words are so powerful ! |
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Sue |
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February 24, 2008 at 8:14pm |
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| Really made Sue think too :) I think the key word was "average." So us non-average people could probably write many more books. All the more scary... |
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Joey |
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February 24, 2008 at 8:20pm |
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wow. I was silent for about 7 hours once |
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| And the truth comes forth from a man of great wisdom again! What I regret, as I enter the final chapter of my life, is how many books that I "have dictated" and know that I have surely wasted a lot of words. It is amazing as end of life starts to crest the hill in the distance, how we start to REALLY consider what needs to be done in the coming months and years. The past is water under the dam so I don't dwell on it; the future is yet to be written and I am being more careful with my every word that leaves my mouth. And I still come up short. But I am trying. And I know that God knows my heart. Thank you Pastor Tim. Dave |
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Juan, como estes mi compadre
Doyle, thanks bro!
Paul, I agree Paul. If my blog makes Juan think, I know I did my job :-)
Kathy, I bet if I read your book it would be filled with good things!
Sue, you and I have something in common. We like to talk!
Joey, You are too funny. Was that a long seven hours? lol |
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Dave,
Since you are one of the MyChurch family that I know personally, I know that those last chapters will be a best selling book ;-)
PT |
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| Awsome post! great and powerful, useful information. |
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| "Would there be enough evidence that I am a Christian?" I reflect on that a lot. Thanks for the next memory Scripture, and breath prayer. Psalms 19:4. The psalmist states, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” |
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| I reflect on that some too Dave. Psalms 19:4 is a great verse to commit to memory! |
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Cheryl |
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February 25, 2008 at 10:39am |
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| ...uh..so what are you saying?? LOL!!~~ great blog |
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Deb |
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February 25, 2008 at 11:39am |
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| Even more importantly, would God be proud of what He is reading in our books? |
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| We will give an account for every idle word. The Lord has already given me the Scripture of letting my words minister grace to the hearers...unfortunately, I still have a long ways to go. |
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Glenn |
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February 25, 2008 at 12:26pm |
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WOW those are some amazing numbers. I'm with Kathy, I certainly don't want to read my books. I will however stop and think about the words that escape my mouth. Thanks PT
peace |
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Great food for thought... Do we really stop and think about what we say before we say it.... Words can deliver, inspire and encourage, They can also depress, enrage and hurt....
Great Blog |
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| Oops I meant to say Psalm 19:14. I had to look it up on Bible Gateway. |
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