What are you saying?

Last night John and I went out to dinner with our son Joshua. We were making conversation on the way and he told us something interesting he'd learned. He blurted out from the back seat, "Did you know that it is not illegal to listen to someone elses cell phone conversations and the police do not need a wiretap to do it?" My interest was peaked so I asked how you would listen to a conversation...and found out that a scanner or cb can pick up the radio waves of a cell or cordless phone. It got me thinking. After dinner someone called me and got going on a conversation as I held our cordless home phone. The Bible is filled with words which tell us that we can do great damage with the small member of our body called the tongue. The phone conversation went a direction where I had a choice....say a few choice words about someone else...or becareful and watchful of what I said. Fresh from my conversaton with Joshua the Holy Spirit was even more able to speak to my heart in an area that I've been working on for a long time. Whether or not someone happens to be listening on a scanner or cb we know God hears every word. Ask yourself this...if the person you are talking about had a scanner and they happened to "pick-up" your words about them would you be pleased with what they are hearing from your mouth? Here are some things that may help us in the battle of being careful with our words. Let's ask ourselves how we can best use our words. Remember the wireless phones are no place to start.

• Do you want your words scattered? Words scatter in more ways than one. Though you may repent you cannot completly catch where your words go. Your feelings of anger and dismay may have long subsided, but expressing your "feelings" to the wrong person may leave scars that you didn't anticipate upon reputations.

• The need to talk to someone about feelings and issues. Sometimes we do indeed need someone to bounce off our feelings and ideas. However, we cannot deny that Biblically our speech is important and gossip and backbiting are not things a Christian should be engaged in at all. Talk first to the Lord about the issue. The Holy Spirit knows all things and is able to give us a right perspective. He is even able to calm our emotion and set us on the right path. If you do choose to talk to another person (and sometimes we do need that contact) examine why you are talking and who you are talking to.

• Can the person you are talking to help you. Many times when we are hurt and angry we run straight for people who will take our side and be upset right along with us. Though this may temporarily make us feel better it is not always healthy. Sometimes when ministering to a hurt person at first it is wise to listen and let them know you care. Later however, bringing into perspective both sides of the issue and reminding the person of the love walk of Scripture is essential. While it may feel good to commiserate with someone who will not require you to examine yourself and the issue, doing so puts you in a position of taking on unforgiveness and bitterness. Also is sure to scatter words that you may later regret. How much better to talk to someone who cares enough about you to help you take a look at the entire situation and who will encourage you to walk in love as Jesus taught. Talk to someone who can talk. That right person is never a gossip, and that person is one who is willing to is not afraid to help us look into the mirror of the Word.

Betya are going to think twice about phone conversations. Go a step farther and think about every conversation.