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Iron-Sharpening Friends

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photo booth pictures As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. Proverbs 27:17 NLT
 
I'm days away from finishing a draft of the first book in a new series. After months of work, I admit it's tempting to blast through the scenes just to get them on paper, then soak in the satisfaction of being done. But I have a terrific friend – an iron-sharpening friend – who critiques my stuff almost as soon as I write it, and she simply will not let me write "lazy". Especially this week. It doesn't matter that it's the first draft. It doesn't no one else will  see it. It doesn't matter that we'll rewrite it anyway. She pushes me to dig deep and lay down a better first draft. And a better second, third and final draft will follow.
 
I need that same kind of push – an iron-sharpening friend – in my spiritual life. Now the Holy Spirit is always at work, challenging, encouraging and exhorting me. God's word convicts, enlightens and motivates me. I read deep books. I hear great teaching. But what a blessing it is to have deep, Godly friends… 
 
who are in my corner when I wrestle with taking God at His word, 
 
and walk with me and pray me through the difficult times, 
 
And then, share those times of renewal and rejoicing.
 
Whether we get in touch by text, IM, email or over a milkshake, I know that my life is fuller, deeper and richer because of my iron-sharpening friends.
 
 

Who are your iron-sharpening friends"? Take a moment and let them know. 

 

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STT: 31 Days

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For today's tip, what do August, October, December, January, March, May and July have in common?
 
These are great months to read through Proverbs. Thirty-one chapters. Thirty-one days. It's almost like it was planned.
 
If you've never studied Proverbs, you'll find it tackles a whole range of subjects from finances, laziness, diplomacy and interpersonal relationships. The quips are enlightening, sometimes convicting, and occasionally humorous. It's not just a collection of quaint sayings, though. Proverbs contains some very astute observations about the differences between God-fearing people and those that reject God's counsel. 
 
Spend a little time daily this month in the book of Proverbs, and see what new insights you gain. Granted, if you start today, you'd need to read two chapters to catch up, but I think you can handle that. (Of course, if you're a purist, I suppose you can wait until October.) 
 
Be sure and let me know what catches your eye. Next week, we'll talk about those 30 day months.
 
 
 
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Best Laid Plans

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Monday was supposed to be a catch-up day. A holiday. No school. No commitments. I had a plan. Then circumstances conspired to ruin said plan. Day also ruined. (Accompanied by unsanctified speech and dog-kicking. Not really. I didn't kick the dog.) I finished the day further behind, and far more agitated than I started. Not a unique experience, I'm sure.
 
When a day goes south that way, how should I respond? 
 
1. Reaffirm the sovereignty of God. Even though I think I set my schedule for the day, God does. "We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps." Proverbs 16:9 NLT
 
2. Redeem the experience. Because He is in control, everything serves a purpose. Is that purpose always clear? Hardly ever. But God works in every experience and situation to make me more Christ-like. "For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him." Philippians 2:13 NLT 
 
3. Respond with peace and humility. This is where the Christlikeness comes in. Responding to a bad day with frustration is typical, expected even. Choosing peace over aggravation requires letting go of that sense of injustice. (I was robbed of a free day. That's not fair.) Then it means an additional step of relinquishing control of my day and my schedule to God. Back to Proverbs 16:9. My control over my schedule is just an illusion anyway.
 
How do you respond to a bad day? What have you learned from them?

 

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Who to Ask?

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"…So she went to inquire of the Lord…" Genesis 25:22

Rebekah was pregnant but this was no ordinary pregnancy. She figured since God was the one who had blessed her with the baby (babies, she would soon discover), He should be able to explain what was going on.

I admit, God is not always the first One I turn to when things don't make sense. Usually I call on my husband or my friends. They are good, Godly people who give good counsel, but they don't have the inside knowledge God does.

Some reasons I don't go to God first-

  • He's invisible.
  • He doesn't always answer immediately.
  • I'm afraid my questions are silly.

Some reasons I should get over that-

  • "I have called you by name; you are Mine." Isaiah 43:1
  • "No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly." Psalm 84:11
  • "The secret things belong to the Lord." Deuteronomy 29:29
  • "I have loved you with an everlasting love." Jeremiah 31:3
  • "The prayer [even the dumb questions] of the upright is His delight." Proverbs 15:8

I'll work on this one.

 

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Sharpened

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At HutsonvilleWe Wisemans had an adventure this weekend. A friend of mine mentioned early in the summer that she planned to ride her bike to a neighboring town for their Community Days, and she asked if I'd like to try it. I agreed, and soon my teenager expressed interest in going. So did my husband, and that meant my son was in, too. So Saturday morning, we packed the 4-year-old in the seat on my bike, packed the supplies on Jon's bike, and off we went.

We logged three and a half hours of riding, 24.1 miles total. (Of course, there was a pancake breakfast, a parade, and some pulled pork in the middle of that ride.) God blessed us with a 15 degree break in the afternoon temperatures, and a good time. I teased my friend that it was hard riding with her, because she never huffed, never seemed to be pedaling hard, never even sweated. She was patient and easy-going, a perfect 'trail boss' for us newbies.

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. Proverbs 27:17 NLT

I'm so thankful that God gives us friends who love us, listen to us, but also challenge us. My friends constantly challenge me to step out into new territory. They stand by and encourage me when I'm ready to quit. They remind of the things I tend to forget when I'm frustrated. They don't think less of me in those moments when I'm falling well short of Christ's example.

Jesus calls us friends in John 15:13-15, and He certainly challenges me, stands by me, encourages me, reminds me when I forget, and loves me even in failure. But to help me grasp the reality of that, He brought people into my life who would model all these things. And He allows me the privilege of a relationship with them in which we can help each other out.

We need mentors who walk before us, and we should always have disciples following our footsteps, but what a great gift to have friends to walk beside us. I love all of you.

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