The mouth is the window of the heart

February is going to be a good month. A month to apply something to my life... or make it even more so. This morning Mike Gunderson (the pastor at my church-- Oak Park Christian Church) preached on Colossians 3:15-17:

(from Bible Gateways):

Colossians 3:15-17 (English Standard Version)

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Mike talked about how if the eyes are the window of the soul, then the mouth can be seen as the window to the heart. Because as he reminded us.... the abundance of the heart... the mouth speaks. Putting aside crude humor, gossip, bitter talking, slander-- but we are to edify, encourage, and love one another. And to have peace with one another. The more God is prominent in our lives.... His peace will be in us.

I know I was reminded that when I speak I want it to be loving, necessary, and edifying. I want to continue to encourage others-- show them Jesus... and live peacefully. The closer I get to God, the more this can and will come to fruition.

Such a great reminder of what God has called us to. We are called to have a lifestyle that shows we are becoming more like Christ with our heart, our compassion towards others, the way we serve others.... I want people to be ministered to. Yes, I want to be known as a nice person and someone who is caring, but it be known that I can't genuinely be any of those things without Christ in my life. He changes when we allow. Earlier in Colossians it talks about putting off.... putting off malice, bitterness, gossip, and everything else that is of the flesh! In James we are also reminded that the tongue is an uncontrollable fire... and it is... if we rely on our own strength.

There are many reasons we can see to choose to not rejoice or have peace. A bad economy, finances, work, relationships going south, and yet He offers so much more. A love that will never go away and does not depend on what I do. Because there is nothing that I will ever do to deserve the grace, mercy, and love of God. But He gives it to me anyway, and that is the same love I want to give to others and the same peace I want in me.

Just thought I would share what God is doing and what He desires, as I was reminded of this morning. It was a good self-check up of where I am at.