I’m so thankful for this opportunity to have Sharla Fritz share a guest post today! I “met” her through our online writing group and loved her heart. I had just spoken at a ladies event on a message entitled, Divine Designs and soon after, I found here website and saw she had written a book called Divine Designs. Our approach to the topic was different, but our hearts seem to beat with the same passion. So I am honored to introduce you to Sharla Fritz:
Do Your Words Need a Fix-it Man?
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” Proverbs 18:21
One hectic Saturday I was driving along a busy road, trying to keep up with traffic and paying attention to the cars around me when the traffic light turned red and I found myself stopped behind Marty’s Handyman Service van. While I waited for the light to turn green, I read Marty’s slogan: “I can fix what your husband repaired.”
My husband, John, is a fix-it genius, but I laughed out loud because I have heard many stories of people who paid more to fix something after they tried a do-it-yourself project than they would have paid had they hired a professional in the first place.
As I contemplated Marty’s ad, I found myself thinking how wonderful it would be if I could hire a service to fix what my mouth had done! Too often my tongue has done irreparable damage, hurting others when I open my mouth before initiating my brain.
If only I could call up Marty’s Handyman Service and say, “My mouth has messed up again. Can you come and fix the damage done?”
If only I could buy a Word Eraser and every time I said something stupid, thoughtless, or hurtful I could just erase the words and their effects.
If only I could slip a potion into a friend’s drink to help her forget the hurtful words that I have spoken.
But of course that is not the case. Our words do make an impact. Will our mouths make a positive or negative impression? Will they deliver a valuable message or a damaging blow?
Solomon tells us in Proverbs that death and life are in the power of the tongue. Think of a time when you have endured words that killed your joy or remember when you received compliments that animated your spirit and I’m sure you will agree. It is not difficult to recall both heart-slaying phrases and life-giving words.
I want to use my tongue to form words that give happiness to others. I hope my words be like surprise presents tied up in shiny bows that are cherished when they are recalled. I pray my comments will not be remembered with a twinge of pain.
Let’s choose our shade of lipstick carefully. Remember our lips and tongues have both the power of life and death. May the words we speak be more like a Revitalizing Red instead of a Killing Crimson.
Will you join me on a Mouth Makeover Project?
Check out the beginning of the “Makeover My Mouth Project” at: http://sharlafritz.blogspot.com/2011/01/make-over-my-mouth-project-2011.html
Sharla’s Bio: 
Sharla Fritz is a Christian speaker, author, and singer. She loves to communicate the transforming power of God’s love and grace. Her first book entitled, Divine Design: 40 Days of Spiritual Makeover, uses clothing analogies to encourage woman to toss out unattractive attitudes like the Worry Handbag, the Prom Dress of Pride and the Field Marshal Uniform of Control. Her blog, Spiritual Makeover, is tackling a new makeover project in 2011—a “Makeover My Mouth Project”.
Blog: http://sharlafritz.blogspot.com/
Web site: http://www.sharlafritz.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Sharla-Fritz/1696164261