WORDS MATTER!

My children, when younger would argue with me that words were just words and didn't mean anything unless we let them. Words, however, are the true window to who you are inside. The way you use them can build up another person, or destroy them.
My husband, when very small heard his mother say that he had not been wanted, that he was there as an accident. I don't believe for one moment that she intended those words to be harmful, she was merely sharing a life story and didn't think about the little boy playing near by. That one solitary statement hurt him so badly that it has stayed with him all of his life.
The Bible tells us about the tongue in James 3:9-12(NIV) With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
Many times my Pastor has asked a congregation, "Who are you when no one else is around? Are you still the same person you are here this morning? Do you say, 'Praise the Lord', 'Hallelujah' and always ask the Lord's blessing on your food?"
Do you tell your children what a blessing they are to you, like you do Mrs. Jones that you don't even know at church. Do you say, "Well, bless your heart let's pray about it." when your spouse makes a blunder, like you did to the deacon that misjudged your intentions? Do you use the same four letter words on your family that you do on others, like love, or hugs, or kiss, or is it something else that comes forth like a gushing polluted river?
One misdirected word can change who you are to someone else forever. It can change the witness that we are called as Christians to be.
Words matter. Jesus was even called the Word of God. If God thinks of it as so important shouldn't we. Think on these words and take a close look through the window of your heart. What do you see, if it doesn't make you happy, lay it on the altar of sacrifice dear fellow Christian, (it's right there inside) and God will restore you through His Son Jesus the living Word of God.