document.open(); document.writeln(""); document.writeln("The Source of Our Words
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With the"); document.writeln("tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who"); document.writeln("have been made in God\'€™s likeness.  Out of the same mouth"); document.writeln("come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both"); document.writeln("fresh water and saltwater flow from the same spring?  My"); document.writeln("brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs?"); document.writeln("Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.1

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Have you ever"); document.writeln("said something and then immediately wish that you could take it back? This has"); document.writeln("happened to me, more than once I am afraid to say. I do not intend to be"); document.writeln("hurtful, but I allow my opinion to take the lead instead of allowing the Holy"); document.writeln("Spirit to speak through me. One benefit of making mistakes is the opportunity"); document.writeln("to learn from it. I have learned to analyze my thoughts before speaking and am"); document.writeln("learning to discern when it is of God and when it is just me getting in the"); document.writeln("way. Our words are so powerful and have the potential to be a blessing to those"); document.writeln("around us but can also do great damage.

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The passage above reminds us of the importance of being consistent in our talk. The same way we"); document.writeln("use our tongue to sing praises to God on Sunday is the same way we should be"); document.writeln("using our tongue to encourage and speak love to one another daily. I love the"); document.writeln("following quote from John Piper:

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When the heart"); document.writeln("full of God\'€™s love can draw on the mind full of God\'€™s word, timely blessings"); document.writeln("flow from the mouth.  

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We are human"); document.writeln("and will on occasion react to situations negatively or unwisely. We are works"); document.writeln("in progress and, thankfully, God continues molding us into who he wants us to"); document.writeln("be. But even on our bad days, it is possible to continue speaking love to those"); document.writeln("around us. How? By consistently being in the Word and allowing God to live"); document.writeln("and speak through us. The more we know God and spend time with him, the more"); document.writeln("our words will reflect him to those around us.

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Suggested"); document.writeln("prayer: Dear God, please be the source of my words and actions at all times."); document.writeln("May I continually reflect you to those I encounter. Give me wisdom and guard my"); document.writeln("tongue from anything that is not from you. Allow me to know you more so that my"); document.writeln("life will be guided by your Word and love. Let others see and hear you in me. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

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1.          "); document.writeln("James"); document.writeln("3:8-12.

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The Encounter"); document.writeln("for today was written by: Crystal B.

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This and other devotionals by Richard (Dick) Innes can be read online.

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ACTS International

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