Taming the Tongue

It’s amazing how a small thing can become a big thing.

A small spark can cause a huge fire. An invisible virus can make thousands sick. A slight turn of the rudder can take a ship off course. A dash of the wrong spice can ruin a recipe. And the tongue, though small, can destroy with just a word.

That’s what James teaches in James 3, “And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell” (vs. 6).

The Power of the Tongue

The tongue can be a sharp weapon. It can weaken, wound, and break a relationship. Unlike a real weapon, it lies hidden and strikes just when the victim least expects it. After repeated jabs over the course of time, a person is left defenseless and broken.

Much of the book of Proverbs talks about the power of the tongue (over a hundred times!). “There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing” (Proverbs 12:18). “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1). “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits” (Proverbs 18:21)...to read the rest of this post, visit For the Family. 

Pass it On: A Book Review

In Deuteronomy, Israel was charged to teach God's word to their children, "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise" (6:7). Perhaps Solomon thought of this passage when wrote to his son in the book of Proverbs, “My son, if you…call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding; if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God” (Proverbs 2:1,3-5).

Much of the book of Proverbs was written from the King to his son, imploring him to seek the way of wisdom. Like all of God's word, Proverbs points us to Christ, wisdom incarnate, the One who became wisdom for us, fulfilling all the requirements of the law because we could not. His Spirit lives within us, teaching and guiding us in the way of wisdom so that we reflect and image Christ. Proverbs is a highly practical book, covering all areas of life, and helps us apply God's wisdom to our life.

Champ Thornton’s new book, Pass It On: A Proverbs Journal for the Next Generation, is both a study guide for the book of Proverbs and a gift to give away. Not only does it aid us in gaining wisdom from God's word in the book of Proverbs, but it is also a great way to pass on the word of God to the next generation. How is that? First, you use Pass it On yourself, studying Proverbs and making notes on what you learn along the way. When you finish your study, you pass on the book to a child, grandchild, or another loved one to benefit from and share in what you’ve learned.

The beginning of Pass it On explains the book of Proverbs, outlining its structure, patterns, and common themes and explains how the study is laid out. It then moves into the study itself which is divided into thirty-one chapters.

The author encourages the reader to study one chapter a week. For each chapter, the author gives an overview of the main points of that chapter, titled "Guided Tour." The "At a Glance" section provides the passage written out to read. A "Reflections" section allows the reader to write down the things that stand out in the chapter. In the "Going Deeper" section, the author asks probing questions to help the reader think through what was read and apply the passage to the reader's life. There's a "Connecting the Gospel" section which helps the reader study the passage through the lens of what Christ has done. One of my favorite sections is titled "Personalizing a Prayer" and encourages the reader to write out a prayer based on what was learned from the chapter. This prayer is intended both for the reader and the person who will later receive the book. Lastly is the "Sharing Your Story" section where the reader personally shares applications learned from Proverbs to the person who will eventually receive Pass it On. 

Pass it On is Christ-centered, showing how Christ is wisdom for us. "...true wisdom came to full bloom in the person of Christ. And because of his life and death, he stands as our ultimate Example and Source of wisdom. Jesus modeled perfect wisdom, rightly relating to God and everything else. And now he has graciously passed on to his people, that same wisdom. Thus, as the believing men and women of one generation have generously received the wisdom from God, so they must preserve this treasure for the next generation—and pass it on" (page 28).

This book is a great way to disciple and share with someone else the blessing of God's word and his wisdom for our lives. It's a practical way to live out the call in Deuteronomy 6 to pass on God's word to the next generation. And with the Christmas season around the corner,  Pass it On would make a wonderful gift.  

Are you interested in studying Proverbs? Is there someone in your life you'd like to pass on the gift of God's word and wisdom? Consider Champ Thornton's new book. Pass It On: A Proverbs Journal for the Next Generation is a gift that benefits both the giver and receiver.

Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for free for my review. The thoughts and opinions are my own. I am a member of the Amazon Affiliates program and links to books in this post are connected to my affiliates account with Amazon.com. 

Wise Up! {A Review and Giveaway}

As parents, we desire that our children walk in the way of wisdom. We teach them what is right and wrong. We read them God's Word and help them store it in their hearts. When they are foolish, we lead them back to the narrow path. All because we long for them to live their lives for the glory of God.

Proverbs is one of those books in the Bible we often use to teach our children the way of wisdom. Yet to be honest, I've struggled at times to know how to teach my children the book of Proverbs. I don't want to teach them Proverbs as merely a long list of do's and don'ts. I don't want it to be a moralistic lesson. I want to teach them Proverbs in the context of the story of redemption, with Christ as center, wisdom incarnate.

That's why I am excited that Marty Machowski wrote Wise Up: Ten-Minute Family Devotions in Proverbs. It's a family devotional suitable for elementary age children. It teaches Proverbs through a Christ-centered lens. There are 12 weeks of devotions, with 5 days of devotions for each week. Each day has a passage to read, a devotional that unpacks the concept, questions to discuss, and a prayer topic. Each week also includes a song or activity to do together as a family.

If you've read any of Mary Machowski's other books, you'll not be disappointed with this one. It is Christ centered, easy to read and understand, and the perfect length for 5-10 year old children to listen to. Wise Up: Ten-Minute Family Devotions in Proverbs points to Christ as the truly wise One, who has succeeded where we cannot.

"Jesus is the living Word who came down from heaven. When reading Proverbs, keep in mind the truth that Jesus is the Word. Jesus shows us God. For example, when we read, "Obey my words. Store up my commands inside you" (Proverbs 7:1 NIrV), we need to remember that Jesus is God's Words and our greatest treasure. Remembering this helps us to think correctly about how to make the wisdom of Proverbs part of our everyday lives. In Proverbs we don't only have good advice, we have Jesus who is perfect Wisdom." (p. 60).

This devotional does not go through the entire book of Proverbs, rather it unpacks specific ones, particularly those that apply to children: obedience, honesty, diligence, love, friendship. After using this devotional, it might be good to follow up by reading the book of Proverbs together and then discussing it, using what your children learned from the book. In addition, Sovereign Grace Music has developed songs to go along with the book, accessible from their website.

The book of Proverbs is rich with wisdom and direction for life in this fallen world, wisdom our children need. But as Marty Machowski encourages, we ought to "enjoy all of the practical direction in Proverbs, but remember, don't try this without turning to Jesus for forgiveness, help, and direction. Jesus lives in the hearts of his people, empowering them to become like him, the wisest King of all."  

I'm excited to give away two copies of Wise Up! Enter below. US residents only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Note: I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for my review. I am a member of the Amazon Affiliates program and links to books in this post are connected to my affiliates account with Amazon.com.