“Karen’s Notes!
Insights from a Glory-Bound Lady”

Selected Notes
Volume 2 Number 25 “Building Up and Not Tearing Down”
June 19th, 2019
Many of the readers of Karen’s Notes are so very kind to me. The responses that I receive are so special. Often her notes are passed along via the internet. Still others are actually printed and shared with friends. I am the one that is blessed in sending them to so many.
In a seminar that Karen was teaching, she spoke specifically about the way we communicate with each other. Even though she was speaking exclusively to a ladies’ retreat, these thoughts are good for all of us. She even had an alliterated outline! She mentioned that our words need to be gracious (Proverbs 15:1) as well as they need to be guarded (Titus 2:8). Let me share the two verses and then a couple of the sentences she wrote out.
“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger” (Proverbs 15:1). “Sound speech that cannot be condemned” (Titus 2:8).

Karen wrote: The aim of our words is to build up and not to tear down. Be an encourager. Be a Barnabas! We need to think before we speak. Ask ourselves the following questions.
• Is it true?
• Do I have all the facts?
• Am I breaking confidence to speak about this?
• Am I speaking in love?
• Have I listened carefully?

Michael’s observation: Karen spoke only to ladies’ groups. But to be honest with you, not only was she a very good speaker, her words are good for men and ladies alike. How much better life would be if we believers thought before we spoke!