“Karen’s Notes!
Insights from a Glory-Bound Lady”

Selected Notes
Volume 5 Number 2 ”Oops! Let Me Take Those Words Back!”

January 12th, 2022

We’ve all said it. “I take back those words!” While we have all said it, the simple matter is that we can be forgiven for our hurtful words, but we cannot take them back.

I have never met a person who is being honest who can truly say, “I’ve never regretted saying something inappropriate, untruthful, or in anger.” Please understand. I’ve met a few folks who came close to thinking this way, but I can assure you they weren’t being honest. We all have said things that we have later regretted saying. Every one of us have spoken hastily, angrily, and have later regretted it. Words, tones, and expressions are powerful and can be really, really helpful or really, really hurtful.

I was reading through Karen’s Bible and discovered a verse that she had underlined. I will share the verse and a couple of her own notes as well.

“Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you” (Titus 2:8).

Karen wrote: As a servant of the King of Kings, there is no room for an uncontrolled temper that reaches out with hurtful words. Words can never be taken back. God promises forgiveness upon confession (1 John 1:9), but the injured party will long remember! Words come from the heart (Matthew 12:34, 35). We need to be an encourager and not a discourager.

Michael’s observation: I miss hearing Karen’s voice and listening to her speak with me. She was serious about words being helpful or hurtful. I want to have as a goal that my words and motives would be encouraging and helpful. I just have to wonder who will the Lord bring into our lives today that need to hear Christ-honoring words from us?