TAMING THE TONGUE
Today’s Reading: Psalms 38-39
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
Here is an “arrow loop” in the wall of Jerusalem’s Zion Gate. These were slots in the walls through which defenders would shoot arrows in ancient times. We may not shoot literal arrows, but Jeremiah 9:8a says, “Their tongue is as an arrow shot out.” Zion Gate is located in the southern part of the Old City. This gate was used by the Israel Defense Forces in 1967 to enter and capture the Old City. The stones surrounding the gate are still pockmarked by weapons fire. This entrance leads to the Jewish and Armenian quarters (wider photo below)..
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Psalm 39:1
I said, “I will guard my ways,
Lest I sin with my tongue;
I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle,
While the wicked are before me.”
There’s a very big word here which has only one letter, the letter “i”. In these two Psalms, “i”, or actually the capital “I”, appears 19 times. Could it be that we focus on ourselves too much and not enough on God? Our tongues provide the most obvious indication of what’s going on inside the “I”. David, Solomon, Paul and James all wrote about the problem we have with our tongues. James even wrote that our tongues can start a forest fire (read James 3:1-10). Dangerous or what? David writes that he can stop sinning with his tongue by guarding his ways and restraining his mouth with a muzzle. We muzzle dangerous dogs, but is this the best way to keep us, as humans made in God’s image, from backbiting and attacking one another? Self (the big “I”) control is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:23). The Spirit produces this fruit of self-control in our lives, not the big “I”. The Apostle Paul follows his description of the fruit of the Spirit with these words, “Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh (the “I”) with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:24). Therefore, controlling our tongues is possible by yielding daily to the Spirit of God. It will take time for good fruit to grow and ripen, so that if someone takes a bite out of us, they will taste the goodness of Jesus, who dwells in every believer.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, Your servant David, twice in today’s reading, compares our lives to “vapor.” Like the morning mist, my life seems to evaporate. I ask, “Where has time gone?” Therefore, Lord, I pray all the more fervently that You will make every moment and every word I speak or write count for good. Fill me up to overflowing, I pray, so that from the overflow of Your Spirit I will bless others with the words my tongue speaks. Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
For some reason the sitcom which featured Archie and Edith Bunker comes to mind. I remember that when Edith would be making her point rather emotionally, Archie would say, “Stifle yourself!” I’m laughing as I imagine the scene, but in reality it was no laughing matter to be a part of such a dysfunctional family. Perhaps the essence of comedy is the difference between what I am as a person and what I know I should be. It’s much easier and more fun to laugh than to cry. Archie’s instructions to his wife, “Stifle yourself,” never worked. Edith’s tongue kept right on upsetting Archie in every episode.
By God’s Spirit, Who, according to the Scriptures, lives in me, I can have a tongue which follows the instruction given by Solomon, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver” (Proverbs 25:11).
Yours for words “fitly spoken” to people around us and in prayer to God!
David
A wider view of the Zion Gate described in the photo above.
A Message from Ron Mainse…
It was on this day in 2017 that my father, David Mainse, went home to be with the Lord. He desired that this “100 Words” two-year journey through the Bible be continued after his passing. I am privileged to help out in fulfilling his wishes by reposting his daily blogs!
If you’d like to learn more about David Mainse, his memorial website can be found HERE. Also, below is our family’s original announcement of his passing…
Rev. David Mainse
1936-2017
Mainse Family Announcement of the Passing of David Mainse:
It is with great sadness yet divine peace that Norma-Jean and the entire Mainse family share the news of the passing of their beloved David. He went into the presence of his precious Saviour on the morning of September 25th, 2017, surrounded by his family, ending a 5-year battle with MDS leukemia. The Lord graciously extended his life 3 years beyond what the doctors initially predicted, allowing his family and friends to enjoy for a little longer his deep wisdom, caring heart and passionate encouragement.
David was a beloved husband to Norma-Jean for 59 years (as of September 19th) and also leaves behind four children, daughter Elaine and her husband Bruce Stacey, daughter Ellen and her husband Nizar Shaheen, son Reynold and his wife Kathy, and son Ron and his wife Ann, as well as 16 grandchildren with many spouses, and 13 great-grandchildren…all of whom have been amazingly blessed and forever influenced by his genuine love and Godly example.
David’s passion for Jesus spilled out into every area of his life and fueled him as an enthusiastic evangelist, visionary leader, and beloved mentor to so many. Having been in TV ministry since 1962, David was greatly loved by countless people with whom he connected daily, sharing the love of Jesus and wearing his heart on his sleeve. He was a man of impeccable integrity whose public and personal life were in clear alignment, enabling him to powerfully impact the masses and the individual…especially his family. Through his words and actions, David lived out his oft-quoted words, “One soul is worth more than the whole world.” His life-long desire was to see precious lives transformed for all eternity through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ…a desire he satisfied with great success.
Although he will be greatly missed, David’s influence will live on through his family, the ministry he founded (Crossroads), and the many lives he touched and inspired in his beloved Canada and around the world during his 60+ years of ministry.
Thank you, Ron, for continuing to post your father’s devotionals! They are so rich in wisdom, encouragement, and insight! I enjoy the historical context, the biblical commentary, prayers, personal experiences and the photos (thanks to uour brother for those!). This may be my third or fourth time through, but I never tire of it.
Thank you!
I agree with all you have written Eleanor C. It is so nice to see your comments today, I have been wondering about you.
Blessings to all Eleanor M.
Well-said. I, too am thankful.
Amen!!
Thank you, Ron, for continuing posting these messages from our beloved David Mainse. He has been a stalwart minister of the Word to so many of us throughout the years. Sending love and prayers to you and the family as we remember his passing. When I see his picture, I imagine how delighted he is to be in Heaven with the Lord, enjoying sweet fellowship and joy.
Your words touch my heart and I am one of the ‘many’ who have followed this ministry since late Aug,early Sept,2013 every day.I share your thoughts,Mary Lou.Thank you.Blessings
Agree, with these thoughts/words. Thoughts of David, in our Lord’s Presence, brings pictures of Joy and Love: smiles, sunshine, light, and living water
I feel the same way;a gratitude of acknowledging David as a great teacher and mentor.Thank you to his family and especially Ron.May God give you the comfort that ‘surpasses all human understanding’.God bless
The attached notes explain this poem:
This poem ‘intruded’ as I was commenting
in the 100 Words blog
All The Way.
You have been a light to many,
You sought to make them free,
And through the years of plenty
You served Me so faithfully.
I know how you wanted to stay,
I need you more now than they,
So I brought you home that day,
Now you’re with Me all the way.
Your light shone so bright and so far
When you heard me and obeyed,
Now your torch is their bright star,
From one who never delayed.
Faith will keep your light shinning bright
And love will feed the flame,
So the world can see His light,
The One Who took all the blame.
GW (Bill) Marshall/30Jan/2018
4 David Mainse
Thank you Ron for fulfilling your Fathers wishes by continuing to post his daily blog. I have been following for many year and the devotions continue to bless me. May the Lord bless and keep you and your family in his loving embrace.
Thank you Ron for continuing to update and post the 100 Words website each day on behalf of your father, David. With loving memory of his union into heaven, four years ago. Such a wonderful legacy he left the world for Jesus. Thanks also to Paulette Kinmond at Crossroads for sending the morning 100 Words emails out to everyone. Meaningful psalms, this morning. His blessings upon you, fellow saints in the Lord.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Cor 12:9-10 ESV
It is well with my soul (lyrics) Chris Rice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFbp2FIMp5I
Yes I agree with above comments. Thank you, Ron for continuing on with the blog. I feel I learn more every time I read them. I have been reading the blog since it was started. I enjoy this blog every morning.
Praying for those who need prayers. I don’t always post but I say a prayer for those who ask.
God bless all bloggers today. Amen.
Oh yes — I never miss a day from David’s teachings. The 2 year reading through the Bible makes it easy to digest. So thankful for it. Praying that Beverlee’s challenges are improving, & also, praying for Rob, that he will have God’s direction, provision, and, help. Blessings on all today in Jesus Name. Amen
Thank you Doreen. Still fighting the infection; antibiotics finish tomorrow night; continuing to rest all week-end. ❤️
Thank You Lord for the safe return of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor to Canada, today. Praying for their glorious reunion with their families and that their health will be well taken care of. They must have been so grateful to be back home.
Amen!!
A very special thank you to the Mainse family for the continuation of this blog…….especially Ron, Anne. And Reynold an d blessings on bloggers. May God bless all.
Hi friends. Just letting you know that I am still traveling with you with 100 words… So great to have the reminder of this day – marking David Maine’s passing. Death is a huge loss of the presence of our love ones but celebrated “The Blessed Hope”. In The Salvation Army we call the death of a believer as being “Promoted to Glory”… not because this “Promotion” is the result of something we have done but because of what Jesus has done for us through his life, death and resurrection. God has used David and Norma-Jean in a 59 year partnership in such an amazing ministry that continues to expand and bless. I do thank God for David’s life and pray for God’s sustaining grace for Norma-Jean and David’s family. May God continue to bless the world through this blog and Crossroads Ministry.
Also, today, is my spiritual birthday reaching back to September 25, 1960, when God touched my life and was forever changed by the grace of God… the same
grace that sustains me today through all the twists and turns of life knowing that “His grace is sufficient for me”.
Finally, we rejoice in the release and the return to Canada of the two “Michaels”..
Truly a reminder of the turbulence in a needy world that needs a mighty demonstration of God’s intervention. Blessings to all!
Amen Pastor Samuel! So nice to hear you are still with us here. Wonderful to hear from you. God bless you. ❤️
Hi friends. Just letting you know that I am still traveling with you with 100 words… So great to have the reminder of this day – marking David Maine’s passing. Death is a huge loss of the presence of our love ones but celebrated “The Blessed Hope”. In The Salvation Army we call the death of a believer as being “Promoted to Glory”… not because this “Promotion” is the result of something we have done but because of what Jesus has done for us through his life, death and resurrection. God has used David and Norma-Jean in a 59 year partnership in such an amazing ministry that continues to expand and bless. I do thank God for David’s life and pray for God’s sustaining grace for Norma-Jean and David’s family. May God continue to bless the world through this blog and Crossroads Ministry.
Also, today, is my spiritual birthday reaching back to September 25, 1960, when God touched my life and was forever changed by the grace of God… the same
grace that sustains me today through all the twists and turns of life knowing that “His grace is sufficient for me”.
Finally, we rejoice in the release and the return to Canada of the two “Michaels”..
Truly a reminder of the turbulence in a needy world that needs a mighty demonstration of God’s intervention. Blessings to all!
sorry this message seem to go through twice. Maybe those who manage the sight can delete one of them.
Sam
Would you good folk please pray for my daughter, Lori, who just had intricate surgery on her hand. She is suffering from the after affects with chills, fever, and pain. It has been a few days postoperative but she has not completely recovered yet. Thank you so much.
Praying for Lori to be protected after her surgery and that she quiet herself and rest this week-end Lord. Pray there is no infection and that Your Hand will be upon her with a full recovery. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
To the Mainse’ family – thank you for honouring your/our beloved David in this way. I am one of the many who benefit enormously from the daily blog, which I’ve been following since its inception. It’s so beautifully laid out, complete with gorgeous photos relevant to the teaching. Thank you, Reynold! I’ve shared this site with many of whom some are still following. May God continue to bless you all with His comfort and provision and may God bless Crossroads Communication. Thank you, Ron!
Dear David still seems alive through the blog. An especially good entry today
Thank you Mainse family for the Blog I just started last year.
I come to the Lord through you prayer line many years ago.
I keep you all bloggers in my prayers everyday.
Love you all.