T.O.D.A.Y.'S ENCOURAGEMENT for Apr.17, 2003 

T.O.D.A.Y. Ministries
14745 Merrilltown  #1611
Austin   TX   78728

Good Morning!

I want to talk about verse 14 in the proverb for today.... It is telling us how "strife" gets started, and how we can stop it!  Strife will rob us of our peace and our joy, and is detrimental to "relationships".

Webster's definition of "strife"...contention or competition, a state of fighting or quarreling (especially bitterly), as in a struggle or conflict.  All of us are "tempted" to be drawn into this, from time to time, but God has made a "way of escape".

Think about it...the King James version says that it starts as "someone letting out water"... the Amplified Bible says it starts like a "trickle from a crack in a dam".  So the solution is real simple...you have the ability to stop strife before it turns into "fighting and quarreling".  In other words, you can "turn the faucet off" and you can "plug up the crack in the dam"!

You may be saying "how do I do that?"  The answer is...Keep your mouth shut!  I know from personal experience, that this is not easy, and we cannot do it without the help of The Lord, but He is faithful to His word, and if He has told us to do something, then He will give us the ability to do it!  Proverbs 15:1, tells us that a "soft answer turns away wrath"...to me that means, that you may be wanting to "speak your mind", but instead you just
"keep it under your breath", and that is what will "turn off the faucet" and "plug up the crack"!

I encourage you to read these scriptures in the light of what I have said, and make a decision to "stop contention and strife" before it turns into "fighting and quarreling"!

Have a Blessed Day!!  In His Love,      Luanne
(looks like they are still working on the web site, so just keep
  checking back....thanks for your patience!)

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