Clay
Before work Tuesday, I decided to read ch 3 of James, figuring it is next in line for your sermon series. A quick glance revealed that it was mostly about taming the tongue. My wife and I are in a good place now as well as the kids...work is fine...so I figured this scripture was not directly related to my present state. But I read it anyway. Check "read bible" off the list today and get on with the day unaffected.
Until I saw my younger son crying as he approached my truck after school..........
Apparently, one of his friends was playing his iPod after school, when another friend came by and slapped it out of that friend's hand. It crashed on the cement and shattered the screen. My son saved for over a year to buy that iPod. He was devastated. Inside me, the Bad Wolf broke the lock on the cage and was let loose. I strode into the school to find out what was going on...and looked for a hide to tack on the wall.
As it turned out, the kid most-likely-to-break-your-prized-possessions was in fact the guilty one. When I learned that, I spun my son around and said, "We are going to his Dad's office to settle this now!!"
I was 2 steps outside the school door when God tapped on my shoulder. "Watch it you fool. I knew what you needed this morning even before you did. The tongue is a dangerous weapon. Remember my scripture? The tongue can turn the entire course of your life into a blazing flame of destruction, for it is set on fire by hell itself." Wow. The hair on the back of my neck stood up and I felt a tad dizzy. OK, ok, I get it.... I'll calm down first, pray about the matter and see what YOU lead me to do.
Later, I called the Mom of the kid and we discussed a suitable resolution to the sad situation.
I shudder to think what would have happened if I had not taken 5 minutes that morning to read chapter 3.
