Fire Starter
“For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases. As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.”
Proverbs 26:20-21 ESV
Aren't Holidays a great time? Spending hours fighting crowds to shop for food, gifts or what ever else you need. Then there's the parties that require more of that precious thing called time that you always seem to be running out of during the holidays. Let's face it, the holidays can be very stressful and then they seem to culminate with a family gathering where you just might have to spend time and share space with people you might not see eye to eye with...so what to you do?
I know, you probably thought you had the only family where not everyone gets along. Wrong. I'm pretty sure all families have some level of dysfunction in them. It's just that some are crazier than others. So, Are you the person who waits for the conversation to get controversial and jump in with your opinions or maybe your the one who starts a conversation knowing it will spark a heated conversation. I am pretty sure I've been that person more than once and i don't think it leaves people with the warm and fuzzy feelings. It's so easy to get caught up in that 'I have to be right' mode that before you know it your arguing about things that really don't matter.
As I get older I am realizing, and also being reminded by someone, that there are times when it's easier and wiser to just be quiet and let the fire die down. Like the verse says, Why throw more wood on the fire?
This whole chapter really points to the many things we do in life that are a complete waste of time and doing or saying things that cause strife are one of them. We are called to be peace makers in a lost world...proverbs 16:7 says when a mans ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
As you get ready for Christmas and the family gatherings, take the opportunity to be peacemakers and by doing so you might just get to see Jesus change someone's heart. What a glorious gift that would be!
Have a blessed Christmas this year!
Proverbs 26:20-21 ESV
Aren't Holidays a great time? Spending hours fighting crowds to shop for food, gifts or what ever else you need. Then there's the parties that require more of that precious thing called time that you always seem to be running out of during the holidays. Let's face it, the holidays can be very stressful and then they seem to culminate with a family gathering where you just might have to spend time and share space with people you might not see eye to eye with...so what to you do?
I know, you probably thought you had the only family where not everyone gets along. Wrong. I'm pretty sure all families have some level of dysfunction in them. It's just that some are crazier than others. So, Are you the person who waits for the conversation to get controversial and jump in with your opinions or maybe your the one who starts a conversation knowing it will spark a heated conversation. I am pretty sure I've been that person more than once and i don't think it leaves people with the warm and fuzzy feelings. It's so easy to get caught up in that 'I have to be right' mode that before you know it your arguing about things that really don't matter.
As I get older I am realizing, and also being reminded by someone, that there are times when it's easier and wiser to just be quiet and let the fire die down. Like the verse says, Why throw more wood on the fire?
This whole chapter really points to the many things we do in life that are a complete waste of time and doing or saying things that cause strife are one of them. We are called to be peace makers in a lost world...proverbs 16:7 says when a mans ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
As you get ready for Christmas and the family gatherings, take the opportunity to be peacemakers and by doing so you might just get to see Jesus change someone's heart. What a glorious gift that would be!
Have a blessed Christmas this year!
- Jerry
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