A bit of wisdom from Proverbs

My family and I have started Family Hour and during that time, we will read one chapter of Proverbs. The chapter we will read will be the same as the day of the month. And after each verse is read, we discuss it and ask the boys if they understand what is being said. So last night we read Proverb 26, and this one scripture stuck with me...

Answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself ~ Proverbs 26:4 (NIV)

We go around and if we have different versions, we read from each. Well, me and hubby have the same version, and my two youngest boys have the same version, and my oldest son has the Contemporary English Version, and I love his version, and here it is...

Don't make a fool of yourself by answering a fool ~ Proverbs 26:4 (CEV)

I have always told my children that if you fight with a fool, what does that make you?? And they always answer, "A Fool"... And as I read that scripture, I never knew that what I was saying was biblical!! When you fight with a fool, you have to go to their level, and if they have been there long, they are pro's at being a fool, so you will lose their game!

Just something to think about!!!

The message for today is an awesome one, so please enjoy!!

Have a Blessed Day

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Malachi 3:3 says: 'He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.'

This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they
wondered what this statement meant about the character and
nature of God.

One of the women offered to find out the process of refining
silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.

That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an
appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention
anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity
about the process of refining Silver.

As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over
the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver,
one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot;
then she thought again about the verse that says: 'He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.' She asked the silversmith if it
was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole
time.

The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding
the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire
time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, 'How do you know when the silver is fully refined?'

He smiled at her and answered, 'Oh, that's easy -- when I see
my image in it.'

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire , remember that God
has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His
image in you.