Lately I
have spoken with men who don’t find it important to meet with other men. The y find other things that are more
important than sharpening or being sharpened.
I seem to remember a scripture. Proverbs 27:17
as iron sharpens iron: so one man sharpens
another.
Are you getting sharpened or are you just too busy. It has taken me a long time to realize I need
men in my life. Men to sharpen me!
I want
to tell you a little story about a little dog that I had in 2006. She was a rat
terrier that was very precious to me. When we moved to our house in Saginaw we
had a wrought iron fence. The fence had a bad place that would allow my dog to
get out. I kept hearing you better fix that fence before your dog gets eaten by
coyotes, but I put it off. One morning
when I let her out she didn't come back and I had to leave. I told my wife to
check on Duchess but she had to go to leave and she had not come back yet. My
wife called me around noon and said Duchess has still not come home. I had a very bad feeling about this. When I
was driving home and turned into my neighborhood. There were buzzards flying
over my roof. Now I had a really bad feeling. So I went to my house and put on
my pants and my boots and went out into the field to search for my dog that I
feared was dead. As I got out there
into the field I asked the Lord where's my dog? I didn't hear anything and I just
stood there and then I heard turn left. So I turned left took about five steps
and there was the head of my dog with two buzzards eating on her.
I was heartbroken and I was pissed.
I just stood there in disbelief at what I was seeing and then I hear the
Lord say this, “your procrastination killed your dog" well..... That did
not sit well with me in fact it wounded me. That was a direct word from the
Lord. I also heard, “do you still love
me" of course I said,” Yes I do.”
So here is what I took from this incident. My dog Duchess was under my protection in my
backyard inside of the fence. That was where she was protected, Surrounded by
family, but the moment she stepped out of the backyard, she became alone all by herself in the vast
wilderness of the field behind my house.
She was alone; she had nobody to watch her back. She could only rely on herself. She got out of the protection of the backyard
and isolated herself. Then the enemy was
able to pick her off and kill her. There
are strength in numbers this was the day that I learned the importance of
meeting with men on a regular basis and not isolating myself. I stopped believing the lie that I am too
busy to meet with men on a regular basis.
Meeting with men to get sharpened is as important as anything in my
life.
Have a
blessed day
So I have
questions. Are you meeting with people that sharpen you
on a regular basis or are you isolating yourself. I am not talking meeting at church or meeting
once a month.
Who are
you doing life with?
Thanks Kevin. That is one of the things I am doing right. I just counted it up, 20+ years of men's group. In fact just got back home from my Friday morning group. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteLove ya,
Doug
Thanks Kee....As a man it is hard to reach out and be vulnerable, but agree one man sharpens another.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
Dale
Dang… That was deep. Thanks for sharing! PS yes meeting weekly with men.
ReplyDeleteMike
Awesome post! Really got to me.
ReplyDeleteJim
I am not meeting with men who will hold me accountable. I am too busy. I dont have anyone I trust or like enough. Everyone else is busy too.... pick whichever excuse you prefer. I have used them all. Wanting and needing that sharpening. Found a solid day of it last sunday... want more.
ReplyDeleteSteve
Very powerful message Brother. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteBrigham
Hi Kee,
ReplyDeleteGreat email! I have about 3-4 men, most of them Quest brothers, that I walk life out with. They encourage me, challenge me, speak life into me, have fun together. And vice versa. It's so important. The enemy's scheme is to isolate us and tell us we are the only one walking through things. We need men/brothers in our lives!
Have a great weekend. Will see you at bus return tomorrow.
-Bobby