Have you ever eavesdropped into conversations while drinking a cup of coffee? Many people go to Starbucks to study but I cannot do that. I hear and get caught up in every conversation going on around me. I know far too many details about the lives of strangers!
It makes me think about my conversations and who is listening! When I meet a friend for coffee, do we gossip about the church or criticize our friends? Would strangers sitting near by lean a little closer to hopefully hear the name of the church? Would they be attracted to us or repulsed by us?
The world is watching us and listening to us. Even when we are unaware, they are eavesdropping. We are ambassadors for Christ and our every conversation should be seasoned with grace to bring glory to God.
Are my words like my coffee, strong and black? Are they filled with fake sugar? Or are they naturally sweetened and softened by wholesome milk? Those who eavesdrop into our lives should see hear humility, gentleness, love and encouragement.
Colossians 4:6b says, “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt.”
So glad to be "connected". I am looking forward to perusing your blog some more. =) This is a great post and such a needed reminder for all of us. Thanks for sharing it!
ReplyDeleteAs they say, we are the only sermon that some people will ever see!
ReplyDelete'Those who eavesdrop into our lives should see hear humility, gentleness, love and encouragement...' Amen!
ReplyDeleteI always tell myself, "if there isn't praise rolling off this tongue then I need to shut it!"
ReplyDeleteA great post!
ReplyDeleteI once heard someone say about gossip, "No you don't gossip, you just share prayer requests." I have had to pray many times, "set a guard over my mouth, oh Lord."
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Joan
Oh we should be more conscious of wjhat we talk about certainly. We have to remember we are God's ambassadors! :^) patsy
ReplyDeleteA great need in our churches today -- teaching on the effect of our words. My mother was a great example of this. She never said anything negative about anyone and if we did, she had something positive to say. I asked her once if she had anything to say about the devil and she said not much but he was a hard worker. Ha!
ReplyDeleteIn everything we do, we should be realistically positive rather than unrealistically negative; if we have nothing nice to say, we should say nothing or 'keep your gob shut' as we say in Liverpool! Seriously, the Christian experience is a holistic one, which means that we are Christians 24/7 on a daily and ongoing basis, whether we are around other Christians or not. We should always try to live out our calling in every way! Thanks for the post.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great reminder! My husband and I notice that miraculously, whatever we whisper to each other behind a closed door, the children seem to be able to hear from the other end of the house.
ReplyDeleteHow much more does God hear every word. Thanks
This is such a great reminder. We fall prey to gossip so easily as women. We don't mean harm by it, but it can do such gossip. It is something I know I have to work on consistently. Thank you for the great reminder. Blessings, Tirzah (stopping by from Bless a Blogger Friday!)
ReplyDeleteI love your analogy of speech with coffee and sweeteners. This is a great post...short and sweet! Thanks for sharing it and thanks for linking up with Bless a Blogger. I'm praying for your excellent blog and your writing ministry this week, Shanda. I feel blessed that someone with your blog influence would link up with my new blog hop. Thanks! Gail
ReplyDeleteShanda, I'll be sure to remember this when I go out. I know exactly what you mean about Starbucks--or anywhere for that matter. I'm a people-watcher, for sure.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Daphne
I'm hopping over from Bless a Blogger...what a GREAT analogy! And such a convicting post! Thank you for reminding me to watch the words I speak, and let them be filled with God's grace and love. I hope you have a blessed weekend, Shanda! Blessings from Zagreb!
ReplyDeleteExactly - people can make a judgement about you just by over hearing you. sandie
ReplyDeleteHave you noticed the new verification? It's hard!
Many years ago, there was a group of 10 that I hung out with and we enjoyed our time for at least 2-3 years, but many have moved on or out since that time, and now when I do get together with any of them who are still her, they talk about the same old things and complain about their schools and who they work with, etc. I get so sick of hearing it which is why I don't want to hang out with them anymore and then they wonder why. It gets very, very old rehashing the same stuff over and over and over again. And I absolutely hate being out with a couple who don't know how to hold their voice down. I much prefer quiet, personal contact with a good friend or two than a large group. Wishing you a wonderful weekend. Tammy
ReplyDeleteThis is so encouraging and helpful. I've glad I "eavesdropped" on *this* conversation. You honor God well with your words. You're doing a really good thing here, you know?
ReplyDeleteLove it!
ReplyDeleteSound advice! It reminds me of what my kids youth pastor said to them on a trip one time. We were on the way to a retreat and stopped in at a fast-food restaurant for a snack. Before we went inside, the pastor reminded our kids to be aware of their actions and of what they were saying. He said, "You may be the only Jesus these people have ever seen." We need to be sure that our actions don't contradict what Jesus teaches us. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of the occasion many years ago when we first moved here and started working with the Lincoln Heights Christian Church. My hubby and I were sitting in a booth next to one where a preacher from another church in town was talking about things going on in his church and criticizing it a bit. We really need to be careful about our conversations in restaurants. We never know who might be listening. Of course God hears all these conversations and that is an even better reason to be careful what we talk about.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Charlotte