Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, 

and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God.

And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!

Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? 

Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? 

No, and you can't draw fresh water from a salty spring. 

James 3:9-12 NLT

James doesn't seem to want us to rush past this idea that our words can be praise and cursing, as its a symptom of something deeper. 

To ensure that he's not lecturing us but is right here with us he reminds us that we're dear brothers and sisters. This allows me to sit with this idea and wonder what's going on in me that brings out these different things.

It's a reminder that all is not as it should be, not just in the world, but in me too.

There's a restlessness there to put an end to the selfishness, the insecurities, the fears, the unmet needs, that prompt, allow, justify, my words at times. 

All is not as it should be, but we get glimpses, moments, times, when it is. When there is shalom in our inner world. A pointer to a time when all will be made new, when our fears and insecurities will finally, along with our tears, be wiped away.

#James

#onedayallwillbemadenew

#shalom