If You’ve Ever Wished for A Zipper on Your Lips…
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** Post includes a book giveaway for Karen Ehman’s new book: Keep It Shut!
Words. I love them so much. They carry weight and authority. They can beautifully display love and affection. But oh when they slip out without a filter, how dangerous and damaging it can be! This week as we’re reading through the 2015 Bible Reading Challenge and reading the book of Proverbs for the month of January, I couldn’t help but notice all the verses that speak about the value of words and our mouths.
and one who waters will himself be watered.Proverbs 11:25b
but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 12:18b
The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things. Proverbs 15:28
If you’ve ever wished for a zipper for your lips, then you are not alone. My awesome friend, Karen Ehman, has written a new, fabulous book, Keep It Shut: What to Say, How to Say It and When to Say Nothing At All. I read the pre-release version of this awesome book and I’m reading it for the second time right now. Karen has a witty way with words that make this book such a fun read, yet her experience in learning how to use words shines right into our lives too.
This trailer video clip displays the depth and unique style of this book. Take a peek at the Keep It Shut book trailer:
This book will teach you:
The difference between gossip and properly processing with a trusted friend
A helpful grid for using our digital tongues as we talk online or on social media
How to pause before you pounce, attacking the problem but not the person
How to avoid saying something permanently painful just because you are temporarily ticked off
What the Bible teaches about making our speech laced with grace, as sweet as honey, and yet seasoned with salt
I personally am looking forward to an opportunity to do the accompanying Bible study and small group DVD series for this book in the spring or summer!
To find the Keep It Shut book or the Keep It Shut small group DVD and material, click on the links.
And now today I’m privileged to give away a copy of this awesome book! To enter, follow the Rafflecopter and I’ll see you tomorrow with a summary of Proverbs 10-15 as we continue on with the 2015 Bible Reading Challenge!
Which is harder for you: filtering the words you speak or the words you type? How do you manage those words?
Thank you Rachel for posting this book! Sometimes my issue is keeping too quiet yet exploding on the inside. Needing to know when and how to speak to make the most impact is where I’m learning. This might be just the book/and study I need! Thank you!!!
Hi Rachel! Filtering the words I speak is way more challenging for me! When I write or type or text, I almost always reread and think…love the delete key…lol! Been praying for God to replace my thoughts with His before they come out! And for understanding and wisdom! This has been a blessing! So glad we started in Proverbs! Almost caught up to comment on your post from today! Love and prayers! God bless!
I’m more careful with my typed words than the ones I speak! Great give-away!
Defiantly the words I speak!
Looks like a fun and helpful book. I find it more difficult to filter my spoken words, because I don’t spend as much time thinking about them before putting them out there.
The words I speak are definitely harder for me to filter. When I types the words I am seeing them & reflecting upon them.
Love Karen Ehman and her wisdom and I know I will love this book. For me guarding my mouth is needed at times. Thanks for the giveaway.
Thank you for this giveaway! I certainly can use help in this area of my life. While I’m better than I used to be, I am still a work in progress. Thank you for this opportunity!
Blessings.
I have a hard time keeping my mouth shut. Sometimes things come out that I didn’t know were in there.
It is much harder for me to filter the words that come out of my mouth! When typing, I can proof-read and reflect on how I amcoming across before I send it. When I am upset is when my filter goes on the fritz 🙂 Especially when dealing with my dh and kids. Then, later on during reflection, I am riddled with guilt. It is definitely something I am working on. I try to be patient and take a minute before I respond. It has improved, but I still have a long way to go. This book could be a helpful tool. Thanks for the chance to win it 🙂
I wish I did better at thinking before I speak!
Thank you for the giveaway. I have a hard time filtering the spoken word.
I have a hard time with the wordsi speak especially when I allow my kids to push my buttons. Thinking this book would help me a lot in that area!
Thanks for offering this giveaway. I hope. Whoever does receive it is blessed and will pass it on as a gift to the next person.
Filtering the words I speak is the most difficult for me. I think I have gotten better at it in my 23 year marriage, but I know I have a ways to go.
It is very difficult for me to filter what I say. I generally speak in the moment without control my emotions. My goal for 2015 is to work on that….think and more importantly take a big breath before I speak.
it is easier for me to control my written words – i read them over at least twice and then hit “send”; the spoken word? if i’m upset, much harder to keep the words in check.
I sometimes say something even when I know but I know I shouldn’t. Oh the conviction afterwards but I cannot undo what I have said. I think I would carry this book with me all the time so that if I did not heed the advice I could stick it in my mouth….!
It is harder for me to filter my angry words in a text- I believe mostly because I cannot see the immediate pain I am causing. Not something I am proud of, and is a very real struggle right now with my wayward son.
Definitely filtering the words I speak. God led me here as I have been feeling remorse for words spoken only yesterday. Help!
Filtering the words I speak is the hardest for me.
I have a problem filtering the words I speak. I have to sit and think more when I type. I try to pray or think before I speak now.
What a wonderful book! Sounds amazing and helpful at filtering the tongue . I want to speak with grace and loving kindness … Always .
I struggle a whole lot with my tongue! The book looks fantastic. I’m entering.
Definitely harder to filter what I am going to say, it is something I struggle with daily, as with most of us I am sure. I just try to think before I speak. Thanks for this giveaway it sounds like a great read!
Oh, if only we all had a filter! If only we all used our words exclusively for love and affirmatiion and building up one another! Sounds like a wonderful book”
It is more difficult to filter the words that I speak. When I write I have a chance to pause and reread making sure the message I want to convey is on target. Speaking words can be more reactive than responsive. Responding verbally requires the discipline to step back, pause/pray then speak.
Thanks for this giveaway opportunity. A topic we all can relate to for sure.
To finish the comment, definitely it’s harder to filter what I say than what I type. There is usually more time to weigh what is typed, and, for me, it’s less impulsive. I have been making a conscious effort to think before I speak, but sometimes it just comes out. I think it takes a physical effort to literally stop, think, and then speak.
It’s always been easier for me to control my words & be thoughtful in writing. The act of writing is a filter for me. If I’m talking & in the moment I loose sight of any filtering & my mouth runs on rails.
I would love to win this book as I am hoping to participate in the book study at Proverbs 31 Ministry. This sounds like such a great book that I know I can grow from.
I struggle much more with the words I say than the words I write. I comment when I shouldn’t, say things I shouldn’t and hope that this book can help me with fighting the urge to speak and keeping my mouth shut! Thank you for the words of encouragement this morning!
One thing that I have been really trying to work on over the past couple of months is thinking about what I say before I say it. I’ve been known to say things that I don’t mean when I’m upset and end up regreting it later. I wasn’t happy with the feeling of regret so I’ve made a genuine effort to change it. I love reading books to help inspire what I’m working on. Thank you so much for giving a copy away Rachel!
Filtering what I type is more difficult. I have typed and then deleted lots!
it is harder to filter the words I speak. I have more time to think about the ones I type and I can always type it and then delete without hurting any ones feelings. but the words said can’t be unheard or taken back.
Filtering words I speak is much more difficult than filtering what I write. When writing, I read and reread and read again, before sending an email or letter. With speaking I don’t have the luxury of that much time, so I must really pray that the Lord takes over the words of my mouth and more importantly, the meditations of my heart as it is from my heart that the truth really springs.
I have been adding to my long list of prayer requests that God helps me to not talk to much. I really struggle with this. Maybe this book would help. If nothing else, I know I am not alone.
Be blessed 🙂
Looking forward to reading this book as well as studying it together with my small group at church next month.
Learning when to speak and when to be quiet has always been and issue for me. Thoughts come flying out of my mouth way too often before I have a chance to “make them nice.” I believe this book and the bible study could be a great resource for me.
I am learning to engage brain before opening mouth! I would like a redo of the years I spoke quickly and harshly to my children as they were growing up.
Such a hard thing to learn. I’d like to teach my daughters this while they are young.
I choose a word each year to meditate on and quiet was my first because I have always struggled with adding my two cents to everything. When I concentrated on being quiet, sitting my mouth, I learned so much more. But, I will say that others noticed that I wasn’t talking so much! I think this book will be very helpful. I’m looking forward to reading it.
Robin, I too select a “word of the year”! I haven’t yet come upon my word yet, but it’ll come-with prayer and my own quiet time to hear what the Holy Spirit will show me! Glad to know other sister out there have the same thing going on!
Thank you for offering this giveaway! This book really intriques me because I can use help with my words too. Thank you for the proverbs this morning too!
“Keeping it shut” has always been one of the hardest things for me to do. Emotions get going and the words start flying. Thank you, for this, it’s just the reminder I needed for this Thursday morning.