THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
A young family man had decided that he wanted to learn "bow hunting" in order to provide his family with venison. He purchased a bow, arrows, quiver and all the necessary equipment. Then he began to prepare for practice shooting.
Out back of his house there was a storeroom. He had no bales of hay, so he made a target of styrofoam. Then he leaned several sheets of insulation against the storeroom, and put the target in front of it. He stepped off 40 yards and fired an arrow. Hit the target near the center bulls eye the first time!
However, he heard the distinct sound of breaking glass! When he looked, he had stacked the insulation sheets in front of the storm windows which he had removed from the house. The arrow had gone "clean through" the styrofoam target, the insulation boards and EVERY ONE of the storm windows!
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________SCRIPTURE____________________________________________________________________
Prov 27:17
17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
KJV
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_______THOUGHT______________________________________________________________________
There are times when the results of our best-aimed intentions are not what we planned them to be. Instead they become what we least expected.
Proper planning for words used in conversations requires looking beyond the obvious and checking for possibilities of broken glass!
Good friends will encourage and inspire. It is our joy, as Christian friends, to minister kindness with our words. It is our "aim" to lift up, build up, and help our friends.
Even in seemingly meaningless conversations, we can say things that might be hurtful. As my Dad used to say, "We sometimes let the transmission of our tongue get engaged before the motor of our mind has been started."
Let us weigh carefully the words we use, and stick to the plan of sharpening "the countenance" of our friends. May our Lord be with us today and use our words to encourage and sharpen our friends.
Love ya,
Bruce