Loose lips sink ships

 

Even though it has been 20+ years, I still remember a time at my Mom's house like it was yesterday.   It was 5:30am and I was reading in James, chapter 3.  

I jumped out of my seat and went running down the hallways to my mother's room.  Mom was clearly asleep and my one-sided, enthusiastic conversation went something like this:

"MOM?!!  Are you up?!!.....I was just reading in James 3.  Loose lips sink ships!  LOOSE LIPS SINK SHIPS!!"

What are we speaking to one another, and in the hearing of others?  We either speak life or death - that's the power of the tongue.   

We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.

When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.  Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.  Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.  James 3:2-5 NIV

I had certainly heard this phrase before, but now I saw it in the Word.  Loose lips sink ships.  I found out that this phrase was coined as a slogan during WWII as part of the US Office of War Information's attempt to limit the possibility of people inadvertently giving useful information to enemy spies.

Do you realize that there is an enemy in this world who is looking for the opportunity to get us to agree with his side?  One tactic is through our tongue, as the tongue gets us into trouble because we forget to monitor what it is we are saying.

Loose lips can cost us to lose part of life and the life of our hearers.  Do you want to be a life-giver or a life-taker, by your words? 

is carrot cake.....

....so incredibly yummy that it is not of this world to you?  

Maybe you would consider a certain relationship you have as not of this world? 


I wonder if this is because we think a particular thing or person is almost too good for this world as we know it?  Could it be that out of this world is something that is extra-ordinary? 

I find it fascinating that Jesus spoke of something that was truly out of this world.  It might surprise you to know that He considered US to be not of this world! 
 
This is what I command you:  that you love one another.  If the world hates you, know that it hated Me before it hated you.

If you belonged to the world, the world would treat you with affection and would love you as its own. But because you are not of the world [no longer one with it], but I have chosen (selected) you out of the world, the world hates (detests) you.  John 15:17-19 AMP

It sure seems like a bit much for the natural mind to conceive, right?  But Jesus said that those who believed in Him and received Him become of another world - not the world that we only see with natural eyesight.  What world?  A world that is from above, a spiritual seeing and knowing, not natural but super natural. 

You can hear the sound of the wind, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.  John 3:8

This is just what He meant when speaking of those who are born again.  To receive a new life in Him, not from the natural birth of a mother, but a new birth by His Spirit.  

Are YOU of this world?

Do you have what it takes?

Are you a person of endurance?  What does it take to endure? 

Endurance brings an image to mind of winning and shining!  I think of the exhilarating feeling, a high sense of finishing a race & the heightened feeling of accomplishment.   

Side note to what I'm talking about here.  Can I tell you that I am smiling over the fact that my husband told me that he is memorizing 1 Corinthians 13 (known as the love chapter).  It is quite endearing to me to sit with the Bible on my lap, listening to my husband recite the scrippys to me, that is never-changing about love.  As I listen to him speak, I cannot seem to get past this scrippy: 

Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.  1 Corinthians 13:6 NLT

The word endure has been jumping out at me for the last week.  

Endurance, to me, is that of the triathlete - someone who has given up many hours to train, given up sleep & relationships (temporarily) to accomplish the goal - to finish the race they have committed to do. We applaud those who have so disciplined/conditioned themselves to accomplish such a goal. 

While thinking on the training of the triathlete, I got an eye-opening thought of a far greater illustration of endurance.

For the joy that was set before Him (Jesus) endured the cross.           Hebrews 12:2 NKJV

This is the ultimate show of endurance.  Because of His great love for us, He endured the suffering of the cross.  It was all for us so that we could regain our rightful relationship with Him.  Talk about endurance!    

While I am slightly jealous (for lack of my own self-disciple) of the endurance of the triathlete,  I will say, I am far more intrigued and wowed by the self-sacrifice of Jesus, for the sake of others.   ENDURANCE perfected. 

At your wits end?

Psalm 107 could seem quite gloomy with such phrases likes 'they wandered in the wilderness,' 'they sat in darkness,' 'they reeled to and fro,' but don't be disheartened, there is something more wonderful here!

They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end. Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses.  He calms the storm, so that its waves are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet; so He guides them to their desired haven.  Psalm 107:27-30 NKJV

I love when I find phrases in the Bible I've heard others say, but didn't know where they originated.  Do you wonder where people get these phrases too?  

I was quite excited to stumble across the phrase 'at their wits end.'   Not sure if you know this, but nothing is new under the sun, and this truth is right there for the grabbings, to understand what to do in this particular situation. God never left us to work it out alone.  He provided the guide, His word, for us.  

Today, are you at your wits end?  Are you frustrated and uncertain as to what the next step is for your life?  A person in this condition (at their wits end) should not be surprised that they are in a position that almost renders them useless to progress forward. 

Do you see what the psalm says?  They are at the end of the line, they have had enough and have nowhere else to go.  THEN....almost like it dawned on them and they thought, "I can't do this on my own!  Help God!"  He never moves from His position to be with us, but we are the ones who move away because of our own self-sufficiency.  They (you) cry for help, determined, and He is there in that very moment.  He calms the storm you are experiencing.  He speaks, "quite, and says, "peace!"  And the turmoil comes under His control, not your control, and He brings you to a place of calmness, a place where you can think clear thoughts.

Seek the help of the One who made you and let Him calm the storm of your life.  He wants you to realize you cannot do it alone.

What face do you have on?

Those who look to Him are radiant, their faces are never covered with shame.  Psalm 34:5 NIV

Radiant caught my eye in this scrippy.  A big smile came across my face when I looked further into the original meaning of radiant.  It means to SPARKLE!   The immediate thought of my girl friend (sparkle girl, you know who you are) inspired me to jot a quick thought. 

When we bring an image of our friend to mind, we don't have to second guess who we know them to be.  The true person of the heart, the inward person, shows on their face and is known by us as well as others.  Are they cheery, words full of life, or perhaps a downward smile with negative, life-taking words?

Just as water mirrors your face, so your face mirrors your heart.  Proverbs 27:19 MSG

 * It is understood, however, that we all go through trials of life when our hearts are heavy.