Week 1: Friday

Whew....We Made It!  Friday!

What a great week.  I hope it was filled with learning and God's Grace.  Speaking of grace,  in chapter 2 of Keep It Shut (pp. 38-39), Karen explains the concept of grace and gracious speech as taught in the Bible.  Does the clever way her husband was taught to remember just was grace is (G.R.A.C.E.= God's Riches At Christ's Expense) help your understanding?  Or does it equip you to better explain it to someone else?  How?  Share in the comment box below.

As we close out our week one study, Look up the following Bible passages.  Contemplate how it speaks to the concept of having gracious speech.

• Proverbs 145:8
• Proverbs 15:26
• Proverbs 16:21
• Proverbs 16:24
• Ecclesiastes 10:12
• Colossians 4:6

Have a great weekend everyone!  Next week's overview will come out on Sunday!

Week 1: Thursday

Here we go!  Chapter 2.

In chapter 2 of Keep It Shut, we encounter an example of someone who used his words---and sometimes his silence---wisely and strategically; the Old Testament character, Joseph.  Glance back over this portion in the book (pp. 26-37) and then answer the following questions:

What stands out to you most about the way Joseph behaved when it comes to the words he uttered or even the times he remained silent?  Did you learn anything new that you hadn't discovered about him before?

Karen listed several cues we can take from Joseph's life.  Which most resonated with you?  Reflect on what is happening in your life currently that made that particular cue/statement speak to you.

1. Beware of bragging--and the impact of your good news might have on others
2. Say what honors God, not what other people want to hear
3. Realize that lies are the minuscule snowflakes in a monumental snowball
4. Give God credit where credit is due
5. Watch your words in the workplace
6. Just because you have a reason to retaliate does not mean you're justified in doing so
7. Don't be God
8. Do be nice

Now go back and consider which one of these statements you most want to work on this next week.  Share it with us below in the comment section.  Then for added effect, write the statement on a stick note and post it somewhere you will be sure to see it.  Or set a calendar reminder on your phone for a few days from now with the particular phrase that you chose.  When it pops up, do a quick self evaluation to see how you are doing with regards to that principle from the life of Joseph.

Tomorrow is Friday!

Ellen

Week 1: Wednesday

Here we are in the middle of week 1:  We are also going to wrap up Chapter 1.

A survey through the Bible reveals that God places great importance on the way we use our speech.  In fact, the words tongue, talk, speak, words, mouth, and silence are used over 3,500 times in the Bible.  The pages of Scripture are full of people just like you and me.  Some of them serve as a great example of how we should use our words to build up, encourage, and speak for truth.  How ever, there are others who seem to be the poster children for just how not to use our mouths.

Keep It Shut pp. 15-16

Now...Enjoy this midweek musical break by Toby Mac!

Week 1: Tuesday

Welcome Back,

So hopefully you have already started your reading assignment for the week.  Tonight let's consider chapter 1:

In this Chapter Karen writes this about James 3:6:

The passage in James also talks about how the tongue can corrupt our whole body.  I myself know very well from the times I have wished I could take back my words; often my whole body is affected.  My mind races with regret.  My heart pounds.  My stomach churns and becomes tied up in knots as I fret and stress over what now might happen.  My fingers fidget, and I can't seem to concentrate.  Sometimes my feet pace as I ponder what I possibly can do now to get myself out of the royal mess I now find myself in.  p.14

Have you ever felt this way?

Let's Chat.... (use the comment box below to discuss any or all of your responses to these questions)

• How does the concept of our whole body being affected when we misuse our tongue tie into what James says in chapter 3, the last part of verse 2? 

• The ESV and NIV versions of the Bible use the word perfect in James 3:2.  The HCSB translation uses the word mature.  The original Greek word used here is teleios. It is an adjective that means full-grown, complete, having reached maturity, especially as it relates to character.  Does knowing the background of this word shed any new light on what you think this verse means?

Have a great day!

Ellen

Week 1: Monday

Alright Everyone!  Happy Monday and Let's get this party started!

Please watch the video for week one below.

As you watch , use the following notes as an outline to help you record your thoughts.

• Words are powerful and they have consequences
• What starts as a little spark can become a booming blaze, as in the Colorado Black Forest Fire of 2013.
• James 3:2-12 Tells us this about the tongue:  It can corrupt our whole body, It cannot be tamed & It cannot pour out both what is bitter and what is sweet.
• Luke 6:45 states that the mouth speaks what the heart is already full of.  We need to learn to "mind our spillage"
• In our homes, often the problem isn't how we talk about our family members but rather how we talk to them.
• Our tongues are fire.  From where will they be lit: above or below?  Are our words a sword or a salve?
• Let's learn to pause before we pounce: to not say something permanently painful just because you are temporarily ticked off.
• Perhaps we need a "force quit" feature for our mouths.

Having trouble viewing the video in your email?  Click here to visit the blog.

Thought provoking, huh?  Now consider...Is it time to flip your thinking?  Instead of just "unloading" the next time you might be angry or frustrated,  give yourself a little pep talk while you pause and ponder.  Use the comment box below to list some things that you might say to yourself to avoid saying something permanently painful just because you are temporarily ticked off.

Have a great Monday!

Ellen

Week 1: Trial & Error

Well....

I am learning new things about blogging everyday.  It seems that there is some confusion between when the blog post is scheduled to go out and when feedburner emails all of you subscribers.

Hopefully, I have fixed that for future posts but it seems that today's entry went out without an email.

Please click the link below to go to the blog and see an overview of this week's book study.

Keep It Shut Blog

Have a great Sunday,

Ellen

Week 1 Sparks, Squabbles, Spats, and Such: Our Words Matter

Welcome Everyone!

I am so glad that you decided to join us.  Each Sunday, I will post your reading assignment, memory verse, and overview of the week's activities.  Then each night of the work week (M-F)  I will make a daily post pertaining to that week's topic.

You can choose to follow along each night,  or if you get behind, you can go back and complete several activities in one sitting.  It is entirely up to you.

Remember,  this study is about what you make it.

This week's reading assignment is chapters 1 & 2 of your Keep It Shut book.  If you have not ordered or downloaded your book,  you can do that by clicking on the amazon link in the sidebar.  (If you have an electronic device,  you can have your book in seconds)

This week's memory verse is  Proverbs 10: 12-13a

Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.  Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning.

This week's overview

• Monday: Watch the Session 1 Video  and comment with your response to the question on the blog post.
• Tuesday: Read the blog post and comment with any or all of your responses to the Let's chat questions
• Wednesday: Read the blog post wrapping up chapter one and then enjoy a musical message from Toby Mac about using your words to Speak Life!
• Thursday: We will dive into chapter 2 and learn to take some cues from Joseph.  Read the blog post and comment with your responses to the Let's chat questions.
• Friday: G.R.A.C.E.  & Sharing some Bible passages for you to read and reflect on over the weekend.

Looking forward to an exciting week!

Ellen