Proverbs 31:10-12, 27, 30
A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
I HAVE FOUND A WIFE OF NOBLE CHARACTER. Over the last 20 years, 1 month, and 8 days, I have had the privilege of being married to a woman who has exemplified the virtues found in Proverbs 31. She has never tasted the bread of idleness; I have full confidence in her. She has only brought good and no harm to our family. She may be the exception to the beauty is fleeing rule, for she is more lovely today than when I first met her. A woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. I praise you Nancy. I praise because you fear the Lord and seek him first in your life.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread
Proverbs 30:5-6
Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.
Proverbs 30:7-9
Two things I ask of you, O LORD; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.
Two of the greatest gifts we could ever receive are honesty and contentment. It would be nice to live an open, uncomplicated life free of deception. Deception and greed drive a wedge between us and our Maker. It also creates the environment in which we abuse one another for our own gain.
Proverbs 30:17
The eye that mocks a father, that scorns obedience to a mother, will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley, will be eaten by the vultures.
Just in case my kids read this blog :)!
Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.
Proverbs 30:7-9
Two things I ask of you, O LORD; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.
Two of the greatest gifts we could ever receive are honesty and contentment. It would be nice to live an open, uncomplicated life free of deception. Deception and greed drive a wedge between us and our Maker. It also creates the environment in which we abuse one another for our own gain.
Proverbs 30:17
The eye that mocks a father, that scorns obedience to a mother, will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley, will be eaten by the vultures.
Just in case my kids read this blog :)!
Friday, January 29, 2010
When People Are Big and God is Small
Proverbs 29:25
Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.
Matthew 10:28
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
One of the biggest obstacles to following God is the fear of man. It crops up in the adult child who agonizes about going on a mission trip because his parents want him to grow up and get a real job. We see it in the teenager who ignores her parents' counsel because she doesn't want to be ridiculed by her peers. Or in the silence from the corporate employee who doesn't report unethical behavior for fear of losing his job. In each scenario presented, the desire to please people is stronger than the desire to please God.
Proverb 29:25 and Matthew 10:28 forcefully remind us that the fear of man, being directed by the need to get man's approval, is a trap. We are directed to fear the one who controls our destiny not only in this life, but in the life to come.
Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.
Matthew 10:28
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
One of the biggest obstacles to following God is the fear of man. It crops up in the adult child who agonizes about going on a mission trip because his parents want him to grow up and get a real job. We see it in the teenager who ignores her parents' counsel because she doesn't want to be ridiculed by her peers. Or in the silence from the corporate employee who doesn't report unethical behavior for fear of losing his job. In each scenario presented, the desire to please people is stronger than the desire to please God.
Proverb 29:25 and Matthew 10:28 forcefully remind us that the fear of man, being directed by the need to get man's approval, is a trap. We are directed to fear the one who controls our destiny not only in this life, but in the life to come.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Corrupt Leadership A Threat To All
Proverbs 28
3 A ruler who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no crops. 4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law resist them. 5 Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand it fully. 9 If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law, even his prayers are detestable. 12 When the righteous triumph, there is great elation; but when the wicked rise to power, men go into hiding. 16 A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment, but he who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long life. 28 When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding; but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.
In the PEACE PLAN, Rick mentions corrupt leadership as a global giant that needs to be eradicated. Unjust government oppresses people and lines their own pockets. We need to call for transparent, open, servant leadership; leadership that serves the needs of people and encourages each person to reach their highest potential. We need leadership that enforces the rule of law in order to provide a stable foundation for economic growth and justice for rich and poor alike.
3 A ruler who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no crops. 4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law resist them. 5 Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand it fully. 9 If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law, even his prayers are detestable. 12 When the righteous triumph, there is great elation; but when the wicked rise to power, men go into hiding. 16 A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment, but he who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long life. 28 When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding; but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.
In the PEACE PLAN, Rick mentions corrupt leadership as a global giant that needs to be eradicated. Unjust government oppresses people and lines their own pockets. We need to call for transparent, open, servant leadership; leadership that serves the needs of people and encourages each person to reach their highest potential. We need leadership that enforces the rule of law in order to provide a stable foundation for economic growth and justice for rich and poor alike.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Boasting, Bragging, and Brawling
Proverbs 27
1 Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.
So much of my time is spent living in the future, that I often forget about today. We need a present - day focus, a rigorous pursuit of what God has put in front of us today.
2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips.
If we are doing something praise worthy, someone will notice. This frees me from resume talk - letting everyone I meet know everything I've done, so that they know how important I am.
5 Better is open rebuke than hidden love. 6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. 9 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel. 17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
We are meant for open, honest relationships with worthy sources. The joy of true friendship is to know and be known, accepted, and challenged by another person.
1 Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.
So much of my time is spent living in the future, that I often forget about today. We need a present - day focus, a rigorous pursuit of what God has put in front of us today.
2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips.
If we are doing something praise worthy, someone will notice. This frees me from resume talk - letting everyone I meet know everything I've done, so that they know how important I am.
5 Better is open rebuke than hidden love. 6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. 9 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel. 17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
We are meant for open, honest relationships with worthy sources. The joy of true friendship is to know and be known, accepted, and challenged by another person.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
To Speak or Not to Speak
Proverbs 26
17 Like one who seizes a dog by the ears is a passer-by who meddles in a quarrel not his own.
20 Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.
My mother used to always say, "No se mete entre maridos," don't get into married people's business. Wisdom discerns when we should speak and when we should remain silent. We desire to be helpful and to resolve conflict, but we can do more harm than good when we step into an argument uninvited. Even when invited, we need to be cautious before we jump in; we must ask, "Is this something that God wants me to get involved in? Will my voice bring reconciliation, or will it spread the conflict like wildfire?”
Knowing when it would be beneficial to speak or not is tricky. Proverbs 26:4-5 says, "Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes."
What have you learned about when to speak and when not to speak?
17 Like one who seizes a dog by the ears is a passer-by who meddles in a quarrel not his own.
20 Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.
My mother used to always say, "No se mete entre maridos," don't get into married people's business. Wisdom discerns when we should speak and when we should remain silent. We desire to be helpful and to resolve conflict, but we can do more harm than good when we step into an argument uninvited. Even when invited, we need to be cautious before we jump in; we must ask, "Is this something that God wants me to get involved in? Will my voice bring reconciliation, or will it spread the conflict like wildfire?”
Knowing when it would be beneficial to speak or not is tricky. Proverbs 26:4-5 says, "Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes."
What have you learned about when to speak and when not to speak?
Monday, January 25, 2010
Get Out of God's Way
Proverbs 25
4 Remove the dross from the silver, and out comes material for the silversmith;
5 remove the wicked from the king's presence, and his throne will be established through righteousness.
One of my first and finest mentors said that, "God wants his church to grow, we just have to get out of the way." He was making the point that God had already equipped and positioned his church to grow, we just needed to cooperate with him. I believe this is true of those who pursue righteousness, remove the dross and we will see the beauty of God rise up from within us.
Christian spirituality has long embraced two words, "confession" and "repentance." When we confess our sins and omissions and turn towards God's wisdom, then we will see our lives become the material God uses to bless the world.
How can we get out of God’s way so that he can shine brilliantly through us today?
4 Remove the dross from the silver, and out comes material for the silversmith;
5 remove the wicked from the king's presence, and his throne will be established through righteousness.
One of my first and finest mentors said that, "God wants his church to grow, we just have to get out of the way." He was making the point that God had already equipped and positioned his church to grow, we just needed to cooperate with him. I believe this is true of those who pursue righteousness, remove the dross and we will see the beauty of God rise up from within us.
Christian spirituality has long embraced two words, "confession" and "repentance." When we confess our sins and omissions and turn towards God's wisdom, then we will see our lives become the material God uses to bless the world.
How can we get out of God’s way so that he can shine brilliantly through us today?
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Don't Give Up
Proverbs 24
16 for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again,
but the wicked are brought down by calamity.
The righteous are resilient because they hope in the Lord. When those who do not trust in God fall, their hope is gone. For the righteous have a sure foundation in the eternal God, so that even if they fall repeatedly as they seek to follow God, they are not discouraged or disheartened; they hope in God and keep going on.
When those who have put their hope in stocks and bonds, education, or family connections to get ahead fail, then they lose heart because they finally realize that their hope for success cannot deliver; they eventually quit.
As those who hope in God, we must get up and continue to fight on because our hope, our God, will never let us down.
16 for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again,
but the wicked are brought down by calamity.
The righteous are resilient because they hope in the Lord. When those who do not trust in God fall, their hope is gone. For the righteous have a sure foundation in the eternal God, so that even if they fall repeatedly as they seek to follow God, they are not discouraged or disheartened; they hope in God and keep going on.
When those who have put their hope in stocks and bonds, education, or family connections to get ahead fail, then they lose heart because they finally realize that their hope for success cannot deliver; they eventually quit.
As those who hope in God, we must get up and continue to fight on because our hope, our God, will never let us down.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Avoiding Extremes
Proverbs 23
1 When you sit to dine with a ruler,
note well what [a] is before you,
2 and put a knife to your throat
if you are given to gluttony.
3 Do not crave his delicacies,
for that food is deceptive.
4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
have the wisdom to show restraint.
I am a person that has either an "on" or "off" switch. When I am working, I work, and when I am resting, I rest. Much like my three year old, I run all day until I collapse; like today when I needed to take a nap in the middle of a meeting because I ran out of gas. Aristotle is credited with coming up with Golden Mean, the midpoint between virtues or vices. Moderation is offered as an antidote to keep us from harming ourselves with either inactivity and hyperactivity. In Genesis 2:1, the Lord rested after his creation of the heavens and earth. He taught a pattern of work and rest that can sustain us. Are you pursuing a balanced life?
1 When you sit to dine with a ruler,
note well what [a] is before you,
2 and put a knife to your throat
if you are given to gluttony.
3 Do not crave his delicacies,
for that food is deceptive.
4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
have the wisdom to show restraint.
I am a person that has either an "on" or "off" switch. When I am working, I work, and when I am resting, I rest. Much like my three year old, I run all day until I collapse; like today when I needed to take a nap in the middle of a meeting because I ran out of gas. Aristotle is credited with coming up with Golden Mean, the midpoint between virtues or vices. Moderation is offered as an antidote to keep us from harming ourselves with either inactivity and hyperactivity. In Genesis 2:1, the Lord rested after his creation of the heavens and earth. He taught a pattern of work and rest that can sustain us. Are you pursuing a balanced life?
Friday, January 22, 2010
The Oppressor Gets Oppressed
Proverbs 22
16 He who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth
and he who gives gifts to the rich--both come to poverty.
This sounds like the American economic system - predatory lending, liar loans, risky trading, and lobbyists in Washington to keep legislation favorable to big business. Is it any wonder that economic duress has come upon us?
But as we look at the calamity about, we acknowledge that we are not completely innocent. We have bought into a system that gives us what we want and seek debt relief when things go wrong. We need to confess when we have played the system to get us what we wanted without concern for our brother.
16 He who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth
and he who gives gifts to the rich--both come to poverty.
This sounds like the American economic system - predatory lending, liar loans, risky trading, and lobbyists in Washington to keep legislation favorable to big business. Is it any wonder that economic duress has come upon us?
But as we look at the calamity about, we acknowledge that we are not completely innocent. We have bought into a system that gives us what we want and seek debt relief when things go wrong. We need to confess when we have played the system to get us what we wanted without concern for our brother.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Do You Have a Written Plan?
Proverbs 21
5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit
as surely as haste leads to poverty.
16 A man who strays from the path of understanding
comes to rest in the company of the dead.
30 There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan
that can succeed against the LORD.
31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but victory rests with the LORD.
Do you have a written plan for your activities today?
A plan is a roadmap to keep us moving in the right direction. It helps us coordinate and prioritize our most important activities so that at the end of the day, we engage in activities that yield profit, not poverty for our lives. It also allows us to “give a resounding yes” to activities that are in step with God’s will for us and a “simple no” to those opportunities that are not to our benefit according to our plan.
People with clear, written goals, accomplish far more in a shorter period of time than people without them could ever. http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/b/briantracy173268.html" Brian Tracy
“give a resounding yes” and “simple no” are terms used by Stephen Covey on planning
5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit
as surely as haste leads to poverty.
16 A man who strays from the path of understanding
comes to rest in the company of the dead.
30 There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan
that can succeed against the LORD.
31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but victory rests with the LORD.
Do you have a written plan for your activities today?
A plan is a roadmap to keep us moving in the right direction. It helps us coordinate and prioritize our most important activities so that at the end of the day, we engage in activities that yield profit, not poverty for our lives. It also allows us to “give a resounding yes” to activities that are in step with God’s will for us and a “simple no” to those opportunities that are not to our benefit according to our plan.
People with clear, written goals, accomplish far more in a shorter period of time than people without them could ever. http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/b/briantracy173268.html" Brian Tracy
“give a resounding yes” and “simple no” are terms used by Stephen Covey on planning
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Addiction
Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
Addiction wrecks havoc on everyone. Addiction occurs when you turn to something or someone else to cope with your difficulties. The “substance” can be drugs, alcohol, food, sex, work, your family or anything else that brings you comfort and release other than God. My drug is often times food. I eat when I am happy, I eat when I am sad, and I eat to pass time. It satisfies for the moment, but leads to lasting negative consequences. Instead of being led astray by “wine” or “beer,” God offers us wisdom in the Proverbs as our guide so that we will not be led astray.
Post your comments on this post or any theme that appears in today’s Proverb such as:
Hard work – verses 4 and 12
Honest work practices – verses 10, 14, 17, and 23
Vengeance – verse 22
1 Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
Addiction wrecks havoc on everyone. Addiction occurs when you turn to something or someone else to cope with your difficulties. The “substance” can be drugs, alcohol, food, sex, work, your family or anything else that brings you comfort and release other than God. My drug is often times food. I eat when I am happy, I eat when I am sad, and I eat to pass time. It satisfies for the moment, but leads to lasting negative consequences. Instead of being led astray by “wine” or “beer,” God offers us wisdom in the Proverbs as our guide so that we will not be led astray.
Post your comments on this post or any theme that appears in today’s Proverb such as:
Hard work – verses 4 and 12
Honest work practices – verses 10, 14, 17, and 23
Vengeance – verse 22
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Who's Your Daddy
Proverbs 19:11
A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.
Proverbs 14:29
A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly.
Proverbs 14:16 -17
A wise man fears the LORD and shuns evil, but a fool is hotheaded and reckless. A quick-tempered man does foolish things, and a crafty man is hated.
Nothing displays foolishness like a quick tempered person. As a boy I was told to stand up for myself and not to let anyone take advantage of me. It led to quick arguments and a few fights, but at least I had my honor. I wanted people to think highly of me, to respect me. But the wise man and the patient man do not get their sense of worth and value from other people. The wise person is more concerned about what God thinks of him rather than what others think. The wise person can overlook an offense and patiently deal with others, knowing that his or her identity is in the hand of God, not other people. It is our glory to overlook an offense, and not to get stuck in foolish anger.
A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.
Proverbs 14:29
A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly.
Proverbs 14:16 -17
A wise man fears the LORD and shuns evil, but a fool is hotheaded and reckless. A quick-tempered man does foolish things, and a crafty man is hated.
Nothing displays foolishness like a quick tempered person. As a boy I was told to stand up for myself and not to let anyone take advantage of me. It led to quick arguments and a few fights, but at least I had my honor. I wanted people to think highly of me, to respect me. But the wise man and the patient man do not get their sense of worth and value from other people. The wise person is more concerned about what God thinks of him rather than what others think. The wise person can overlook an offense and patiently deal with others, knowing that his or her identity is in the hand of God, not other people. It is our glory to overlook an offense, and not to get stuck in foolish anger.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Who is Right?
Proverbs 18
17 The first to present his case seems right,
till another comes forward and questions him.
One of the first lessons that I learned as a young pastoral counselor is that there is more than one side to any story. Instead of making decisions based on the words of the first person to speak to me, I have learned to recite this verse repeatedly in order to keep perspective on a situation. I say things like, “According to what you have told me, which is only one side of the story, it sounds like…” Or, “Since you are the one talking to me now, let’s focus on your responses to the situation; please do not speak about someone else’s behavior, I would be glad to hear from them if they decide to speak to with me.”
How do you respond when you receive a report about someone else? Do you automatically believe what you have heard? Or, do you suspend judgment until all the facts are known?
What other verses in this Proverb spoke to you today?
17 The first to present his case seems right,
till another comes forward and questions him.
One of the first lessons that I learned as a young pastoral counselor is that there is more than one side to any story. Instead of making decisions based on the words of the first person to speak to me, I have learned to recite this verse repeatedly in order to keep perspective on a situation. I say things like, “According to what you have told me, which is only one side of the story, it sounds like…” Or, “Since you are the one talking to me now, let’s focus on your responses to the situation; please do not speak about someone else’s behavior, I would be glad to hear from them if they decide to speak to with me.”
How do you respond when you receive a report about someone else? Do you automatically believe what you have heard? Or, do you suspend judgment until all the facts are known?
What other verses in this Proverb spoke to you today?
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Loving the Poor and Devastated
Proverbs 17
5 He who mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.
I have to admit that I have not always been the most compassionate to the poor or overly concerned for those who have been ravaged by natural disasters. But God has given me several opportunities to live among the poor and to become friends with those who have suffered natural disasters in Florida, Sri Lanka, New Orleans, and now Haiti. I have seen that ignoring the poor or devastated, or judging them for their station in life, is not only ignorant and cold hearted, but contempt toward the God who made them. As one who claims to love God, I can no longer just look at the world in indifference. To love the poor and devastated is to love God himself.
5 He who mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.
I have to admit that I have not always been the most compassionate to the poor or overly concerned for those who have been ravaged by natural disasters. But God has given me several opportunities to live among the poor and to become friends with those who have suffered natural disasters in Florida, Sri Lanka, New Orleans, and now Haiti. I have seen that ignoring the poor or devastated, or judging them for their station in life, is not only ignorant and cold hearted, but contempt toward the God who made them. As one who claims to love God, I can no longer just look at the world in indifference. To love the poor and devastated is to love God himself.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Dealing with Enemies
7 When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD,
he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.
This is God’s way of saying that if you continue to follow after his ways, you will eventually be led to peaceful relationships with those around you. This proverb tells us at least two things.
1) When one follows God’s commands, they are more likely to lead a life that honors and respects other. Such behaviors ultimately bring peace with others, even your biggest enemies
2) God is the peacemaker. We can relax, live right before God, and let God bring the reconciliation we so deeply desire
What are your thoughts? What have you found effective in dealing with enemies?
Friday, January 15, 2010
Words Matter
Proverbs 15
1 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.
4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
23 To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is!
2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.
4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
23 To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is!
What I say, when I say it, and how I say it matters. Sometimes in my desire to keep it real, I say whatever is on my mind without any special care to calculate my words and tones to benefit my listeners and not just make me feel good. My words must be targeted to provide the most good, even when my message may offend someone. Like I told some friends last night, “We rarely remember what we argue about, but we definitely remember how we feel after the argument.” If there is any pain in our communication, let it be caused by the message, not the messenger.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
The unexamined life is not worth living
Proverbs 14
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception.12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
but in the end it leads to death.15 A simple man believes anything,
but a prudent man gives thought to his steps.27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life,
turning a man from the snares of death.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Walking with the wise
Proverbs 13
20Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
20Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
The old saying that you are what you eat lets you know that if you eat healthy food, you are more likely to be healthy. This proverb (wise saying) tells us if we want to be wise, we need to spend time with wise people. So, who are you walking with?
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