What Comes out of my mouth.

Janelle:
Well, many years ago, almost six, my mother said, "We can bring life or death into our relationships by what we say."
This mornings opening was about keeping our tongues under control. About not speaking when you aren't supposed too, and learning how to have the Lord bridal your tongue.
I was actually thinking about not being  a gossip, and not talking about people. It's so easy to fall into just "chatting" about others and really not caring what we are saying, if it's hurtful or if it's tearing down. I hate it after I do it, but the thing about what you say, is you can't take it back. Once something is said, it's there. And the consequences of those things that we say can be much more long term than what we want.
It's like the scripture in James 3v1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. 2For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 3Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 4Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. 5Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 7For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. 10Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.11Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

I want the words of my mouth to be a praise to God and not a shame. 

Dan:
Words

Our worlds have more power than we care to think about on any given day. Proverbs 18:21 says "life and death are in the power of the tongue".

How we think and speak to each other has a great effect on our relationships and how our lives our formed. We can encourage or belittle those that we come in contact with, both in and outside of our immediate circle of friends/family. While this interaction can directly effect us in both the long and short term, of more importance perhaps is the immediate affect our words have on ourselves. What you say is an expression of what you think and how you feel, in short your view of the world around you. Negative words and projections create a negative atmosphere and perspective that can if unchecked lead to destructive behavioral and thinking patterns. 

The flip side is also true, we all love funny people. Why? Because they make us happy. When a positive and reinforcing environment is projected it also begets positive actions.

In short how we think and what we say shapes our lives. Not only what others see and think about us but how we perceive our very selves.