Need help learning to tame your tongue? Today’s post, an interview with Michael & Carlie Kercheval, authors of Learning to Speak Life™: Fruit of the Spirit, can help! Thanks for being with us today, Michael and Carlie!
Q: How did the concept of Learning to Speak Life™: Fruit of the Spirit come about?
A: Back in 1999, while we were engaged and still in college, God spoke to us very clearly about the call on our lives to minister to people in the area of self-discipline when it comes to speaking God’s life-giving, faith-building words. He put a burning desire in our hearts about the importance of teaching others how to speak God’s life-giving words in place of words that lead to doubt and unbelief. It is an area that everyone on the face of the planet struggles in – and we are grateful that God has called us into this ministry as a husband and wife team!
Q: On a personal level, do either of you struggle in the area of speaking life?
A: Yes. We both do, however due to her upbringing, Carlie is going to share a little bit of her testimony.
For me (Carlie), this is a very difficult area. I came from a very abusive non-Christian home where I was subjected to extremely harsh physical and verbal abuse. Spouting off at the mouth was just a way of life as a child, and it has been something I’ve had to be very intentional about overcoming as an adult. I thought it was “normal” to speak unkindly to people when I became frustrated or angry in the slightest way. However, once I came to Christ in 1998, He showed me otherwise. Because of His love and grace, I am able to say that I have been delivered from the abusive, harsh talking individual I once was. Through the confession of God’s Word (the Bible), prayer, worship, and fellowship with other Believers, I have made great strides in this area of my life. While the Bible tells us in James 3:8 that no human can tame the tongue; the good news is, that with God’s help we can change the way we speak!
In September of 1998, God gave me this as my life verse: Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. (Ephesians 4:29 KJV) By taking my life verse and plastering it on my mirrors, doors, computers, and vehicles, it has given me the strength and conviction to press forward in this area of my life every day. Speaking God’s word is such an important part of the journey of all Believers — and specifically for building faith and training yourself to speak life instead of death over your circumstances and those around you.
Q: If your readers take away one concept from this book, what do you hope that one concept would be?
A: That’s a great question. Our heart behind this is to equip people with the know-how and discipline to change their speaking habits regardless of the circumstance. So our prayer is that families who work through our devotional gain the knowledge to change their speaking habits and put it to use!
Q: Do you have plans for any upcoming projects in the Learning to Speak Life™ series? How can we stay informed?
A: Yes, we do. We are currently working on two projects to add to our Learning to Speak Life™ series. One of them is a book for tweens called “Get Control of Your Mouth!”, and the other is a new family devotional. These books are due out in early spring. You can sign up for our email list to be informed of our new projects as well as special discounts on our current book.
Michael & Carlie Kercheval are college sweethearts turned happily married couple in June 2000. They are the proud parents of two handsome and rambunctious boys and one beautiful girl. They travel the world as a military homeschooling family and love to share the love of Christ with everyone they meet. They are the co-authors of the Learning to Speak Life™ books and Fulfilling Your Vows. You can connect with them on Pinterest and Twitter.
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Join the MOB Society tonight at 9PM EST for our MOB Chat Facebook with special guest, Brooke McGlothlin. Brooke is the co-founder of the MOB Society and author of the newly released Praying for Boys: Asking God for the Things They Need Most! Have any questions for her about praying for boys? Leave them here.
