Speech Archives - My Manna

Seasoned With Salt!

My Manna — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 17:00:00 +0000

Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one” (Colossians 4:6).

Learn an interesting lesson from snails.
They are made with teeth on their tongues.

A well-known scientist examined a snail’s tongue under a microscope and counted 30,000 teeth.
Usually the snail keeps his tongue rolled up like a ribbon. But when needed, it sticks it out and the teeth do their damage.

Sometimes people have teeth on their tongues, too-
– that can snap, bite, and inflict damage.

The Bible tells us to let our speech always be with grace.
Not sometimes!
But always, according to this verse.
And we shouldn’t be boring.

The phrase “seasoned with salt” specifically refers to salt’s power-
– not as a preservative, but as a seasoning.

Salt keeps food from tasting bland or insipid.
It makes a dish flavourful and enjoyable.

That’s the way our talk should be.
Don’t be biting or boring in your conversations today.

Be edifying and interesting, knowing how to answer each one.
May God take control of our tongues.

Guard your lips from telling lies.
Speak the truth in love!

(PR)

The post Seasoned With Salt! appeared first on My Manna.

Gossip

MyManna — Sun, 05 Nov 2017 22:00:49 +0000

“The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.”James 3:6.

Gossip isn’t a popular subject-
– but it certainly is a popular activity.
Many people spend a great deal of time participating in idle talk about someone else-
– usually with the intention of injuring the individual in some way.
Unfortunately, believers are oftentimes just as guilty of gossiping as unbelievers.
But our Father wants us to see the practice for what it truly is.
The Bible includes gossip in a couple of odious categories.
Paul lists it amidst interrelated sins like deceit, malice, slander, and arrogance. Rom. 1:29-30.
Gossip is deceptive and defamatory-
– and it is accompanied by both cruelty and pride.
These are all characteristics of “haters of God,” according to the apostle.
In another passage describing ungodly practices-
Paul places gossip in the middle.
And of course, everyone recognizes the Ten Commandments, whose last decree is-
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.” Ex. 20:16.
Gossip does not fit who we are as God’s children.
Just as you can’t have poison and pure water pouring from the same stream-
– you cannot have both God-honoring talk and gossip coming from a believer.
When evil words pass our lips, they are indicative of what we harbour in our heart.
However-
God is in the heart-cleaning business.
If we falter-
– allowing gossip and its cohorts, malice and deceit, into our lives
– we should pray as David did:
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.” Ps. 19:14.
(PA)

The post Gossip appeared first on My Manna.

Throat problem!

MyManna — Wed, 27 Apr 2016 21:00:53 +0000

“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Colossians 4:6).
There was a woman once who developed a very serious throat problem!
And as a result-
– her doctor prescribed medication and no talking for six months!
She thought this would be almost impossible with a husband and six children.
But she obeyed the doctor’s orders.
For the next six months, when she needed the attention of her children, she blew a whistle…her instructions became written memos…and questions and answers were written down on pads of paper she had placed around the house.
After six months, the doctor finally allowed her to talk again.
Interestingly enough-
– her first comments were very revealing.
She said her children had become calmer and quieter, and as a result she said, “I don’t think I’ll ever shout again like I used to.”
When asked about the notes, she replied, “You’d be surprised how many hastily written notes I crumpled up and threw in the trash before I gave them to anyone to read. Seeing my own harsh words that I would’ve spoken had an effect on me that I don’t think I’ll ever forget.”
Many things come out of our mouths before we realize it-
– gossip, praise, slander, lying, and so on.
The Scripture says:
“No man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness…My brothers this should not be” (James 3:8-10).
Make a conscious effort to think about what you say.
Determine-
– to listen before speaking,
– to evaluate the words you use,
– and ensure your speech doesn’t hurt others (Titus 2:6-8).
Pray that God will help you think about what you say today-
– so that only good things come out of your mouth.

The post Throat problem! appeared first on My Manna.

You'll feel better about yourself!

MyManna — Sat, 12 Dec 2015 16:00:54 +0000

Sunday, 13 December 2015

“No rotten talk should come from your mouth, but only what is good for the building up of someone” (Ephesians 4:29).
Rotten talk is like vomit!
It spews out of the depths of your being and makes a nasty mess wherever it lands.
Sometimes it makes you feel better temporarily-
– but it’s an unpleasant experience for whoever happens to be in the way!
Unwholesome language-
– in all its nasty forms, like gossip, criticism, sarcasm, lying, bragging, and crude humour is impure, ugly, and evil.
Someone always gets hurt by it.
In fact, the words that come out of your mouth have more power to do damage than you may realize.
Yet they also have potential for immeasurable good:
Your words of encouragement can lift a heavy heart.
Your words of kindness can boost someone’s damaged self-worth.
Your words of wisdom can help others make smart choices.
Your words of truth can bring others closer to God.
Over the next few days, listen closely to the kind of talk that comes from your mouth.
If you don’t like what you hear, ask God’s forgiveness-
– then look for ways to build others up instead of tearing them down by what you say.
If your friends are in the habit of causing damage with their words-
– set an example for them by the way you talk.
You’ll feel better about yourself!
Those who listen to you will, too.
(PR)

The post You'll feel better about yourself! appeared first on My Manna.

Seasoned With Salt!

MyManna — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 16:00:07 +0000

Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one” (Colossians 4:6).
Learn an interesting lesson from snails.
They are made with teeth on their tongues.
A well-known scientist examined a snail’s tongue under a microscope and counted 30,000 teeth.
Usually the snail keeps his tongue rolled up like a ribbon.
But when needed, it sticks it out and the teeth do their damage.
Sometimes people have teeth on their tongues, too-
– that can snap, bite, and inflict damage.
The Bible tells us to let our speech always be with grace.
Not sometimes!
But always, according to this verse.
And we shouldn’t be boring.
The phrase “seasoned with salt” specifically refers to salt’s power-
– not as a preservative, but as a seasoning.
Salt keeps food from tasting bland or insipid.
It makes a dish flavourful and enjoyable.
That’s the way our talk should be.
Don’t be biting or boring in your conversations today.
Be edifying and interesting, knowing how to answer each one.
May God take control of our tongues.
Guard your lips from telling lies.
Speak the truth in love!
(PR)

The post Seasoned With Salt! appeared first on My Manna.