Flabbergasted

The biblical character, Moses, (popularized in movies like The Ten Commandments and Prince of Egypt) is pictured as the leader of the children of Israel. Before this job description, the Almighty thought of him also as a great public speaker (not some tongue-tied adult male). Exodus 4:11-12 (MSG) states this:

God said, “Who do you think made the human mouth? And who makes some mute, some deaf, some sighted, some blind? Isn’t it I, God? So, get going, I’ll be right there with you – with your mouth! I’ll be right there to teach you what to say.”

My most recent time to give a speech was a ten minute talk on my experience of brain surgery (in discovering my 2009 Lymphoma/Leukemia combination) to my Traumatic Brain Injury Support Group happened around the beginning of June 2016 (see Blessed: The Challenge of Robert A. Kinker) in an education center at a hospital.

I was afraid there were several emotional places in my delivery where tears were a real possibility. My frail humanity became quite evident as I choked and cried at each spot in my talk (that I feared it might happen). Just to make things even more interesting, I read the entire speech from a tablet (for the first time) that was going out of focus. (My wife came to the rescue frequently.)

At the conclusion of August 2016, I got to give the above speech a second time in the meeting room of a local library. This time I sat at a group table (instead of standing) while I delivered my talk from both sides of three index cards (covering all the major points of the first speech).

My brain (and mouth) delivered worked together to deliver what needed to be communicated. No tearing up this time (though I almost did once). “Blessed” came across very natural this time (not so rehearsed as in my first attempt).

Both groups appreciated the speech, and had questions afterwards. On this second attempt, Bobbi concluded my talk with her thoughts that seamlessly connected to what talk I’d just verbally delivered.   

I believe our Heavenly Father always provides us with the right helpful words to articulate at the correct time. On the reverse side of that, the Almighty can help us deal with our anger in refraining to say the wrong hurtful words at the absolute incorrect moment. God fashioned your mouth (and speech).

As the prophet Elijah discovered in I Kings 19:12, God’s voice is often discovered in a still, small whisper.

This point is communicated to us all simply (and honestly) in the chorus of the hymn, “Softly and Tenderly.” Can you open your heart to what it’s suggesting?

Come home, come home

Ye who are weary come home

Earnestly, tenderly Jesus is calling

Calling “O sinner come home”

Though the Almighty will communicate quietly, patiently, and persistently into your soul (for His will), Proverbs 8:7 (MSG) tells you what He needs you to do for Him (as His cherished child).

“My mouth chews and savors and relishes truth – I can’t stand the taste of evil!” God wants the words that come from your mouth (and mind) for Him to be completely honest. Dishonesty (from His child in any form) is not something He desires.

So where do you stand? Are you something utterly delicious (on the Heavenly Father’s taste buds) or are you a bitter (awful) aftertaste?