Keep Thy Tongue

Of all the gifts that God has bestowed upon men, none is more precious than the gift of speech. If sanctified by the Holy Spirit, it is a power for good. It is with the tongue that we convince and persuade; with it we offer prayer and praise to God; and with it we convey rich thoughts of the Redeemer’s love.—Testimonies for the Church 6:336.

All impurity of speech or of thought must be shunned by him who would have clear discernment of spiritual truth.—The Desire of Ages, 302.

Who does not love life, and desire good days? yet how few comply with the conditions, to refrain the tongue from evil, and the lips from speaking guile. Few are willing to follow the Saviour’s example of meekness and humility. Many ask the Lord to humble them, but are unwilling to submit to the needful discipline. When the test comes, when trials or even annoyances occur, the heart rebels, and the tongue utters words that are like poisoned arrows or blasting hail.

Evil-speaking is a two-fold curse, falling more heavily upon the speaker than upon the hearer. He who scatters the seeds of dissension and strife, reaps in his own soul the deadly fruits. How miserable is the tale-bearer, the surmiser of evil! He is a stranger to true happiness…. The sin of evil-speaking begins with the cherishing of evil thoughts…. Every unholy thought must be instantly repelled.

To your closet, followers of Christ. Pray in faith, and with all the heart. Satan is watching to ensnare your feet. You must have help from above if you would escape his devices.—Testimonies for the Church 5:176, 177.
With God at Dawn p. 106
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Prayer Requests
—-PLEASE PRAY FOR MY YOUNGEST SON JOHNNY TODAY. HE WILL BE GETTING UP ON A VERY STEEP SLICK METAL ROOF BY HIMSELF WITH NO SAFETY EQUIPMENT PROVIDED BY HIS COMPANY TO INSTALL SOLAR PANELS. PLEASE PRAY FOR PROTECTION FOR HIM. CONNIE J
—-Please have my sweet friends daughter Brooke in prayer. She suffers from a eating disorder and has been hospitalized. She went on her own desire and this is a positive thing but, this disease is dangerous and deadly. Connie T
—-My daughter Cherie is being admitted to the hospital with labored breathing and COVID. Prayers requested for healing. Janet
—-My 4 year old grandson, Corbin. is a happy, sweet little boy whose smile could light up the world. Unfortunately he was diagnosed with cancer last week and has begun chemotherapy. I am asking everyone to pray for him. Michael
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Dear Friends,

When I was a little girl, I went to church with my grandparents whenever my mother didn’t take me shopping or to the movies. One time our teacher told us about Jesus’ coming in the clouds of the sky. (1 Thes 4:16, 17) She explained that someday we would see a little cloud in the sky no bigger than a man’s hand, just as Elijah’s servant had seen when Elijah was praying for rain. That cloud would draw nearer and nearer to the earth getting bigger and bigger as it got closer and closer until finally it would fill the whole sky. She said that then we would look up and see Jesus and all the holy angels, and that He would take us to Heaven to live with Him forever.

In all my seven years of life, I had not heard such wonderful news! This was something so wonderful that I could hardly wait for it to happen. When we got home from church, I hurried over to my friend Janie’s house and told her all about it. She was as excited as I was. Immediately we sat on my back steps and scanned the sky. For weeks thereafter, we would watch the sky carefully. When we saw a cloud that we thought might be Jesus’ cloud, we would watch it with full expectation sure that it would be Jesus coming to take us to His Heavenly Kingdom. In my childish way, I was waiting and watching expectantly for Him to come. I was also sharing the good news with my friend. Janie.

It has been many years since I was seven, and Jesus’ coming is so much closer now. Prophecy, that I knew nothing about in 1952, is now being fulfilled before our very eyes. There are very few signs left that have not already been fulfilled. The truth of His coming is as sure today as it was in those long-ago days.

Oh the faith of a little child! Our Dear Saviour tells us, “Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.” Luke 18:17 A little child believes wholeheartedly without doubting and lives in the present what is looked forward to in the future. So should we. We can take the Scriptures just as they read. We can safely trust in them. We may believe every word just as completely as I believed my teacher when she told us that Jesus was coming in the clouds of the sky. Paul urges us to “study to show thyself approved unto God a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Tim 2:15 David sang, “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.” Ps 19:7-11

Yet how often we find within the church those who glory in “higher criticism,” and wrest the Scriptures to their own destruction. They feel that they can choose that which is inspired and that which is not, forgetting that “all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Tim 3:16,17 Soon these promoters of “pick and choose” fall into the devil’s snare of unbelief and drag others down with them. How must the Author of the Holy Scriptures be saddened as He sees the unbelieving hearts of those He died to save.

May we set aside doubting and take God’s Holy Word just as it reads that someday soon we will look up with rejoicing as we see Jesus coming in the clouds to deliver us from this sinful, old planet is my prayer.
Rose