Keep It Shut: What to Say, How to Say It, and When to Say Nothing at All

Karen Ehman

Jan 2015 · HarperChristian + ORM

About this ebook

Kind, encouraging, and humorous, Karen Ehman helps us learn the essential practice of using our words more effectively--alleviating heartache and regret, reducing relational tension and conflict, lessening our stress levels, and growing our relationship with God.

From Bible times to modern times women have struggled with their words. What to say and how to say it. What not to say. When it is best to remain silent. And what to do when you've said something you wish you could now take back. In this book a woman whose mouth has gotten her into loads of trouble shares the hows (and how-not-tos) of dealing with the tongue.

Beyond just a "how not to gossip" book, this book explores what the Bible says about the many ways we are to use our words and the times when we are to remain silent. Karen will cover using our speech to interact with friends, co-workers, family, and strangers as well as in the many places we use our words in private, in public, online, and in prayer. Even the words we say silently to ourselves. She will address unsolicited opinion-slinging, speaking the truth in love, not saying words just to people-please, and dealing with our verbal anger.

Christian women struggle with their mouths. Even though we know that Scripture has much to say about how we are--and are not--to use our words, this is still an immense issue, causing heartache and strain not only in family relationships, but also in friendships, work, and church settings. 

Also available: Keep It Shut small group video study and study guide.

Ratings and reviews

Well written, entertaining, Biblically grounded, and challenging. I read this book a year ago with Proverbs 31 Online Bible Study and the biblical principles of this book still come to mind daily. Karen Ehman holds no punches or laughs. Good read, great teaching resource.

I can't purchase a book if it's found to be not in best interest & negate Men from this equation; ie. which segregates the sexes. When an author assumes & doesn't remain inclusive of such duality it seems she misses out on true Gospels messages. Tsk tsk?!?

I was inspired to read the book titled Keep it Shut after reading of Wicked Women of the Bible by Ann Spangler

About the author

Karen Ehman is a Proverbs 31 Ministries speaker, a New York Times bestselling author, and a writer for Encouragement for Today,an online devotional that reaches over 4 million people daily. She has written seventeen books including Keep It Shut,Pressing Pause, and Keep Showing Up. Her passion is to help women to live their priorities as they reflect the gospel to a watching world. Married to her college sweetheart, Todd, the mother of three, and mom-in-law of two, she enjoys antique hunting, cheering for the Detroit Tigers, and feeding the many people who gather around her mid-century dining table for a taste of Mama Karen's cooking. Connect with her at www.karenehman.com.