Slip & Slide!

On Friday night at our Youth we had a giant slip & slide out in the park, it was already raining which just added to the fun really, add to that a fair amount of detergent and lux flakes and we had ourselves a slippery slope – the Youth had a blast! As the Youth Pastor I thought I’d give it a go, I ran, and I certainly slipped & I think I slid… I also cracked my head on the ground really hard!! Clearly it’s been awhile since I’ve done the slip & slide thing! (I am OK by the way, thanks for asking…)


I just had a thought this morning about the words that so easily ‘slip’ from our mouths and the ‘slide’ that we can start to head down if we don’t capture what’s happening. As a society we are constantly worried about what we look like on the outside, about our weight, our muscle tone, getting rid of wrinkles, the perfect hair colour blah blah blah… Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s important to take care of yourself and it certainly feels nice to look nice, however, I think it’s time for a major wake up call where we begin to think more about, and work more on what we look like on the inside!

Luke 6:45 says that out of what is stored up in our heart, the mouth speaks. Sometimes I stop and listen and am so disappointed by the jokes, the sarcasm, the pulling down, the rudeness, the lack of respect etc, and trust me I’m not saying I’m perfect – there are times when I am disgusted by what comes out of my own mouth! The thing is, we all have an opinion but not everyone needs to hear it! We often think we know better than everyone else, but do we ever stop to think if what we are saying is actually discouraging people rather than lifting them up and helping them? We all love it when people laugh at our jokes but is it really worth it if it’s making someone else look stupid? Sometimes we feel alone and like we lack friends but perhaps we need to stop and look at who we really are and what’s coming out of our mouths – would people even want to be around us?

Philippians 4:8 says ‘Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.’ The thing is, if we are thinking about these things, pure thoughts, that is what we will store up in our heart and that is what will come out of our mouths.

I believe that it is time for a revolution of generosity; with our thoughts, our words, our time, our resource, it’s time for a revolution of kindness, a revolution of wisdom where we stop and think about what we are saying before it comes out and causes all sorts of damage! A revolution of true beauty – inner beauty – beautiful hearts that are overwhelmingly attractive!

So, instead of heading down that slippery slope of unkind words and perhaps ending in disaster like my effort on the slip & slide, will you, like me, make a commitment to a revolution of generosity, kindness and wisdom?! We can see change, and let me start by saying that if I’ve ever said words to you that are unkind or hurtful, I am so, so very sorry!!

Much love, Jodie

‘The hearts of the wise make their mouths careful, sensible, marked by sound judgement, and their lips promote direction, discipline, training and edification.’ Proverbs 16:23 (Jodie’s paraphrased, thesaurus-ized version!)