Extracts from a Helpful Christian Book

I recently borrowed a good book from an acquaintance called:
'30 DAYS TO TAMING YOUR TONGUE' by Deborah Smith Pegues. Here's a summary of the lessons from this book.
(Published by HHP, 2005 - ISBN-13:978-0-7369-2210-4.)


Day 1: The Lying Tongue.

The Lord detests lying lips, but He delights in men who are truthful (Proverbs 12:22)

Today's Affirmation:

"My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness. All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse" (Proverbs 8:7-8).


Day 2: The Flattering Tongue.

Those people.....flatter others to get favours in return (Jude v16).

Today's Affirmation:

"I will show partially to no one, nor will I flatter any man; for if I were skilled in flattery, my Maker would soon take me away" (Job 32:21-22).


Day 3: The Manipulating Tongue.

Then Delilah pouted, "How can you say you love me when you don't confide in me? You've made fun of me three times now, and you still haven't told me what makes you so strong!" (Judges 16:15)

Today's Affirmation:

Because I am in right standing with God, He surrounds me with favour. Therefore, I have no need to manipulate anyone for personal gain or advantage.


Day 4: The Hasty Tongue.

Do you see a man hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him" (Proverbs 29:20).

Today's Affirmation:

I am swift to hear and slow to speak. The Lord has set a guard over my mouth and He keeps watch over the door of my lips.


Day 5: The Divisive Tongue.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God (Matthew 5;9).

Today's Affirmation:

I will make every effort to speak words that engender peace and to refrain from any communication that creates disunity.


Day 6: The Argumentative Tongue.

Avoiding a fight is a sign of honour; only fools insist on quarrelling (Proverbs 20:3).

Today's Affirmation:

I will resist becoming contentious by respecting everyone's right to have his own values and views.


Day 7: The boasting Tongue.

Let another praise you and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips (Proverbs 27:2).

Today's Affirmation:

'By the grace of God, I am what I am' (1 Cor 15:10).


Day 8: The Self-Deprecating Tongue.

Moses said to the Lord, "O LOrd, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue" (Exodus 4:10).

Today's Affirmation:

God is able to make all grace abound toward me; so that I always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.


Day 9: The Slandering Tongue.

To hide hatred is to be a liar; to slander is to be a fool (Proverbs 10:18).

Today's Affirmation:

I refuse to be a slanderer. I will use Phillians 4:8 as my conversation sifter. Therefore, whatever things are true, noble, just, pure, lovely and of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy about someone, I comment only on those things.


Day 10: The Gossiping Tongue.

The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts (Proverbs 18:8).

Today's Affirmation:

I am not a busybody in other people's matters. Therefore, I do not yield my tongue as an instrument of gossip.


Day 11: The Meddling Tongue.

Some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and wasting time meddling in other people's business (2 Thess 3:11).

Today's affirmation:

I am genuinely interested in others and only seek information from them that will allow me to serve, love and support them better.


Day 12: The Betraying Tongue.

A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret (Proverbs 11:13).

Today's Affirmation:

I am a trustworthy person and can be depended upon to keep a confidence.


Day 13: The Belittling Tongue.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen (Ephesians 4:29).

Today's Affirmation:

No unwholesome talk comes out of my mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.


Day 14: The Cynical Tongue.

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful (Psalm 1:1).

Today's affirmation:

I am blessed because I do not walk in the counsel of the ungodly nor stand in the way of sinners nor sit in the seat of the scornful.


Day 15: The Know-It-All Tongue.

A prudent man conceals knowledge (Proverbs 12:23).

Today's Affirmation:

I am prudent and therefore I do not flaunt my knowledge.


Day 16: The Harsh Tongue.

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger (Proverbs 15:1).

Today's Affirmation:

I open my mouth with wisdom. The law of kindness is on my tongue.


Day 17: The Tactless Tongue.

Let your conversation be gracious and effective so that you have the right answer for everyone (Colossians 4:6).

Today's Affirmation:

My words are seasoned with grace as I speak the truth in love.


Day 18: The intimidating Tongue.

The Philistine said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!" (1 Samuel 17:44).

Today's Affirmation:

Because God is in control of every aspect of my life and has set my destiny, I have no need to control the behaviour of others.


Day 19: The Rude Tongue.

There will be a highway called the Holy Road. No one rude or rebellious is permitted on this road. it's for God's people exclusively (Isaiah 35:8).

Today's Affirmation:

I will slow down and take the time to do to others as I would have them do to me.


Day 20: The Judgemental Tongue.

Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged (Matthew 7:1-2).

Today's Affirmation:

I do not judge others or I too will be judged. For in the same way that I judge, I will be judged.


Day 21: The Self-Absorbed Tongue.

Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others (Philippians 2:4).

Today's Affirmation:

I look not only to my own interests, but to the interests of others. Therefore, my issues are not the primary topic of my conversations.


Day 22: The Cursing Tongue.

Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so (James 3:10).

Today's Affirmation:

Cursing does not proceed out of my mouth. Today I give God full charge of my tongue. By His grace I will only speak words that will bring honour to His name.


Day 23: The Complaining Tongue.

I cry aloud with my voice to the Lord; I make supplication with my voice to the Lord. I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare my trouble before Him (Psalm 142:1-2).

Today's Affirmation:

Because God works all things together for my good, according to His purpose for my life, I will not complain.


Day 24: The Retaliating Tongue.

Don't repay evil for evil. Don't retaliate when people say unkind things about you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God wants you to do and He will bless you for it (1 Peter 3:9).

Today's Affirmation:

I will repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this I have been called so that I may inerit a blessing.


Day: 25: The Accusing Tongue.

The accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down (Revelation 12:10).

Today's Affirmation:

With God's help, today I will tune my ears to wisdom and concentrate on understanding. I will cry out for insight and understanding. I will search for them as I would for lost money or hidden treasure.


Day 26: The Discouraging Tongue.

When they were discouraged, I smiled at them. My look of approval was precious to them (Job 29:24).

Today's Affirmation:

Worry weighs a person down; but my encouraging words will cheer them up.


Day 27: The Doubting Tongue.

For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, "Be removed and be cast into the sea," and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

Today's Affirmation:

Anything is possible for me if I believe. Therefore, I will declare my faith rather than discuss my doubts.


Day 28: The Loquacious [motor-mouth] Tongue.

When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise (Proverbs 10:19).

Today's Affirmation:

When my words are many, sin is not absent, but when I hold my tongue, I am considered wise.


Day 29: The Indiscreet tongue.

Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you (Proverbs 2:11).

Today's Affirmation:

My discretion will protect me and understanding will guard me.


Day 30: The Silent Tongue.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.....a time to be silent and a time to speak (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 7).

Today's Affirmation:

I will not be silent when I should be speaking.

Gospel Gems for September 2010

Hello again and I hope you will be blessed as you think about, and act upon, these short bite-sized Gospel Gems (NKJV).




SEPTEMBER 2010

Wed, 1 - The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10)

Thu, 2 - Whatever things are pure.....meditate on these (Phil 4:8)

Fri, 3 - Love does no harm to a neighbour (Rom 13:10)

Sat, 4 - Love is the fulfillment of the law (Rom 13;10)

Sun, 5 - Hear the words of the lord your God (Josh 3:9)

Mon, 6 - Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us (1 Cor 5:7)

Tue, 7 - The Lord is my helper (Heb 13:6)

Wed, 8 - Jesus said, "I am the bread of life" (Jn 6:35)

Thu, 9 - "He who comes to Me shall never hunger" (Jn 6:35)

Fri, 10 - Repent.....and be converted (Acts 3:19)

Sat, 11 - The Lord your God.....Him only shall you serve (Matt 4:10)

Sun, 12 - The Lord preserves the faithful (Ps 31:23)

Mon, 13 - Wisdom is better than rubies (Prov 8:11)

Tue, 14 - To depart from evil is understanding (Job 28:28)

Wed, 15 - By your words you will be justified (Matt 12:37)

Thu, 16 - And by your words you will be condemned (Matt 12:37)

Fri, 17 - Let the peace of God rule in your hearts (Col 3:15)

Sat, 18 - Why are you fearful, O you of little faith? (Matt 8:26)

Sun, 19 - The God of Jacob is our refuge (Ps 46:11)

Mon, 20 - In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence (Prov 14:26)

Tue, 21 - Awake to righteousness and do not sin (1 Cor 15:34)

Wed, 22 - The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you (1 Cor 16:23)

Thu, 23 - God......comforts us in all our tribulation (2 Cor 1:4)

Fri, 24 - On Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God (2 Cor 5:20)

Sat, 25 - Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers (2 Cor 6:14)

Sun, 26 - God has power to help and to overthrow (2 Chron 25:8)

Mon, 27 - Be strong and courageous (2 Chron 32:7)

Tue, 28 - Marvellously helped till he became strong (2 Chron 26:15)

Wed, 29 - All his work is done in truth (Ps 33:4)

Thu, 30 - Christ Jesus.....gave Himself a ransom for all (1 Tim 2:5-6).





The autumn/'fall' holy days are almost here already. I believe that the annual Sabbaths God gave to the Israelites in the wilderness (Lev 23) are still binding upon God's people today. The TIME during these days is holy and God wants all those who are His to set these days apart for spiritual public worship and similar activities.

The Feast of Trumpets falls on Friday, 10th September (beginning the previous evening at sunset). For more information on this topic, check out this link:

http://www.midnightinamerica.net/docs/gcal/gf2010.htm


Read this valuable article, The Festivals of God, here:

http://www.midnightinamerica.net/docs/lit/a5l/a5l-fes.htm