A PIECE OF MY HEART...Say what you mean and mean what you say!

"Say what you mean and mean what you say!" - says Horton the Elephant.

When my son Jordan was very young, one of the things that he enjoyed was mommy reading to him. His all-time favorite book was a book about Horton the Elephant and a bird named Maizie. (Dr. Seuss "Horton hatches the egg") In fact, he would want me to read it so much that I finally tape recorded myself reading the book so when I was busy doing other things around the house, he could pop in the cassette tape and follow along with the book on his own.

Jordan is grown up now and in college. But he remembers that book very well, in fact when he graduated from high school, I found that book for him and we laughed and laughed about it. I am glad that Jordan still remembers those great times that we spent together reading that book, but I often wonder if he remembers the line in the book that Horton says over and over ... "Say what you mean and mean what you say!"

And more importantly, I wonder if Jordan ever considers what that means for christians today?

"Say what you mean and mean what you say?" God intends for His children to be men and women of their word. Integrity...this is what Horton the elephant was suggesting. And it is also what God expects.

JAMES 5:12 "But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your 'Yes' be "Yes' and your 'No' be 'No', lest you fall into judgement."

There is nothing more that will hurt our testimony than if we are children of God who cannot keep our word. It doesn't take too many times before our integrity and our trust will be broken when we do not keep our word or fullfill promises that we make to others.

It is my prayer that when I say I will do something ... I will do it! And when I make a promise...I will do my best to fullfill it! And when I say yes ... I mean yes and when I say no...I mean no!

God is looking for some "Horton-like" Christians!

and that is a piece of my heart today;