Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

January 5
Monday


A LOT TO
REMEMBER

READ:
Proverbs 10:11-21
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He who restrains his
lips is wise.
__Proverbs 10:19
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Thanks a lot," the man behind the postal counter said to the person in front of me. The clerk, Jon, had seen me in line and was hoping I would overhear him. When it was my turn, I said hello to Jon, who had been a student of mine when I taught high school in the 1980's.

"Did you notice what I said to her?" Jon asked. "I told her, 'Thanks a lot.' " Sensing that I was missing his point, he explained, "Remember what you told us about the term a lot? You said a lot was a piece of land, not a phrase to use instead of much,"

Astounding! An English lesson from a quarter-century before had stuck with Jon through all those years. That speaks clearly to us of the importance of what we say to others. It also backs up one of my favorite lines by poet Emily Dickinson: A word is dead when it is said, some say. I say it just begins to live that day."

The words we say may have long-term consequences. Our comments, our compliments, and even our harsh criticisms may stick with the hearer for decades.

No wonder Scripture says, "He who restrains his lips is wise" (Prov. 10:19). The words we speak today live on. Let's make sure they come from "the tongue of the righteous" (v.20). __Dave Branon
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```````````````````````Father, help me live today````````````````
````````````````````With thoughtfulness in what I say,`````````````
``````````````````Confronting wrong with truth and fact,````````````
``````````````````Expressing gentleness and tact. __Hess``````````
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The tongue is a small organ
that creates either discord or harmony.

***************Today's Bible Reading __ Proverbs 10:11-21*********

11 The mouth of the
righteous is a well of life,
but violence covers the
mouth of the wicked.

12 Hatred stirs up strife,
but love covers all sins.

13 Wisdom is found on
the lips of him who has
understanding, but a rod is
for the back of him who is
devoid of understanding.

14 Wise people store up
knowledge, but the mouth
of the folish is near
destruction.

15 The rich man's wealth
is his storng city; the
destruction of the poor is
their poverty.

16 The labor of the
righteous leads to life, the
wages of the wicked to sin.

17 He who keeps
instruction is in the way
of life, but he who refuses
correction goes astray.

18 Whoever hides hatred
has lying lips, and whoever
spreads slander is a fool.

19 In the multitude of
words sin is not lacking, but
he who restrains his lips is
wise.

20 The tongue of the
righteous is choice silver;
the heart of the wicked is
worth little.

21 The lips of the righteous
feed many, but fools die for
lack of wisdom.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Proverbs, the book of inspired wisdom, says much about the
words we use and how we use them. Words carry more than mere
definitions__they also carry intent, emotion, and attitude. In today's
Bible reading, we see our words pictured as a well of life (10:11),
wisdom (v.13), knowledge (v.14), instruction (v.17), love and truth
(v.18), restraint (v.19), silver (v.20), and food for many (v.12).
__Bill Crowder