10-10-15 Bittersweet

Girl Sticking Out Tongue --- Image by © Royalty-Free/Corbis

8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

James 3:8-11 KJV

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It’s easier for man to tame a rock

Than teach his tongue to stop its reckless ways.

A stone can learn to sit and stay and balk,

But not the tongue; it runs for days and days.

How many times have words jumped from your mouth

That you regret the instant it is done?

A friendly conversation’s headed south

With just an unplanned phrase or bawdy pun.

If you can hesitate to choose your words,

The tongue might find some worse to say instead.

Best cut it out and feed it to the birds

Or keep a clean, blank slate within your head.

The mind of Christ is possible to gain:

It takes complete surrender to attain.

3-26-15 Greatest in the Kingdom

jesus-girl

The greatest in the kingdom is the least:

A little child without pretentious claim

Who waits until the guests have left the feast

To have the smallest portion all the same.

A little child is humble, kind and shy,

Who lives to hear her Father’s loving call

Then runs into His arms not asking why,

Expecting no reward or gift at all.

The child of God thinks nothing of herself,

Without the selfishness of evil’s sting,

And leaves her own needs high upon the shelf,

Reliant on her God for everything.

            Whoever’s humble as a little child

            Is greatest in the kingdom, meek and mild.

            ~~~~~~~~~~~

Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child,

the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:4 KJV