Proverbs 31
We talk so much about the "Proverbs 31 woman" that we forget there is an earlier part of the chapter with 4 verses warning against alcohol and a couple advising against "giving your strength to women."
31:11 "The heart of her husband trusts in her, And he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil All the days of her life." The Proverbs 31 Woman is definitely a high standard, but start at the beginning and let God mold you and shape you into the person you are to be. Start with your relationship with your husband. Too many marriages suffer because the wife is too busy trying to do later verses in chapter 31 (verse 16 about being an entrepreneur) before simply being his helpmate, friend, wife, etc.
Pro 31:25 "Strength and dignity are her clothing, And she smiles at the future." - I love that poetry. Oh, that we all could wear "strength and dignity" about us wherever we go and that we could "smile at the future." Great questions for us all.
Now that you have finished Proverbs, would you do it again? Did you find this "challenge" helpful? stimulating? challenging? Too difficult, too easy? Would you like to see us do it again? Are you up for a bigger challenge :) ?
May you dive into the Word each day and may God bless you with an incredible meal!
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Monday, July 30, 2007
Proverbs 30
Proverbs 30
As we near the end of Proverbs, there are 4 things I have learned, 5 or more that I should have listened to: 30:8-9 "Keep deception and lies far from me, Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion, that I not be full and deny {You} and say, "Who is the LORD?" Or that I not be in want and steal, And profane the name of my God." Staying balanced is crucial. The Lord has given me what He has given me. I'd like to think that I would not dishonor the Lord if either thing happened, but He knows what is best for me. In that I will trust.
Have a blessed day!
As we near the end of Proverbs, there are 4 things I have learned, 5 or more that I should have listened to: 30:8-9 "Keep deception and lies far from me, Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion, that I not be full and deny {You} and say, "Who is the LORD?" Or that I not be in want and steal, And profane the name of my God." Staying balanced is crucial. The Lord has given me what He has given me. I'd like to think that I would not dishonor the Lord if either thing happened, but He knows what is best for me. In that I will trust.
Have a blessed day!
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Proverbs 29
Proverbs 29
This chapter is full of wisdom for those who are stubborn or easily angered.
Pro 29:1 "A man who hardens {his} neck after much reproof Will suddenly be broken beyond remedy." The only difference between a "stubborn" person and one "with conviction" is what they hold on to. We call a person stubborn when they are holding on to something either selfishly or foolishly. We praise a person "with conviction" because they are holding on to what they believe to be true and right. Lord, help me to be tenacious, but not stubborn.
Pro 29:11, 22 "A fool always loses his temper, But a wise man holds it back... An angry man stirs up strife, And a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression." It is so important that we are not ruled by our emotions but ruled by the Spirit. Easier said than done, but all things are possible through God's strength.
Pro 29:15 "The rod and reproof give wisdom, But a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother." Sometimes it is so much easier to simply give in so that we can have "peace" in our home. Unfortunately when we do that, we are not getting "peace" but giving a "piece" of our authority to children. The challenge to remember is that our goal is not to get the room cleaned, the garbage taken out, or the dishes done, but our goal is raise children who become responsible adults, with soft hearts toward God. When we are beat up and about to give in, we must remember, God has given us authority in the home for that purpose; we are not to give it away to gain a moment's peace.
Have a blessed Lord's Day!
This chapter is full of wisdom for those who are stubborn or easily angered.
Pro 29:1 "A man who hardens {his} neck after much reproof Will suddenly be broken beyond remedy." The only difference between a "stubborn" person and one "with conviction" is what they hold on to. We call a person stubborn when they are holding on to something either selfishly or foolishly. We praise a person "with conviction" because they are holding on to what they believe to be true and right. Lord, help me to be tenacious, but not stubborn.
Pro 29:11, 22 "A fool always loses his temper, But a wise man holds it back... An angry man stirs up strife, And a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression." It is so important that we are not ruled by our emotions but ruled by the Spirit. Easier said than done, but all things are possible through God's strength.
Pro 29:15 "The rod and reproof give wisdom, But a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother." Sometimes it is so much easier to simply give in so that we can have "peace" in our home. Unfortunately when we do that, we are not getting "peace" but giving a "piece" of our authority to children. The challenge to remember is that our goal is not to get the room cleaned, the garbage taken out, or the dishes done, but our goal is raise children who become responsible adults, with soft hearts toward God. When we are beat up and about to give in, we must remember, God has given us authority in the home for that purpose; we are not to give it away to gain a moment's peace.
Have a blessed Lord's Day!
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Proverbs 28
Proverbs 28
So many great verses.
Pro 28:2 (NLT) "When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily. But with wise and knowledgeable leaders, there is stability." Lord, deliver us from leaders who do not have a heart for you. May you root out the cancer and elect godly leaders.
Pro 28:9 "He who turns away his ear from listening to the law, Even his prayer is an abomination." This verse and verses like Isaiah 59:1-2 show us that God does not listen to the prayer of the ungodly. He only hears the prayer of the penitent. We must humble ourselves first.
Pro 28:13 "He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes {them} will find compassion." This goes against my very nature. When I stumble and fall, my natural desire is to cover it up and hide it. Yet only through confession do we find true freedom. Not that we need to publish our sins on a blog everyday, but the scripture says to "confess our sins one to another..." (James 5:16). If we don't "feel" forgiven, it is because we have not repented or are not believing God at His Word - "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)
Pro 28:23 "He who rebukes a man will afterward find {more} favor Than he who flatters with the tongue." So often if we would just be straight with people, they would respect us more. Yet, the world says, "be nice," "make them feel good." The bible says, tell the truth in love. Oh, that we all would be able to do that.
So many great verses.
Pro 28:2 (NLT) "When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily. But with wise and knowledgeable leaders, there is stability." Lord, deliver us from leaders who do not have a heart for you. May you root out the cancer and elect godly leaders.
Pro 28:9 "He who turns away his ear from listening to the law, Even his prayer is an abomination." This verse and verses like Isaiah 59:1-2 show us that God does not listen to the prayer of the ungodly. He only hears the prayer of the penitent. We must humble ourselves first.
Pro 28:13 "He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes {them} will find compassion." This goes against my very nature. When I stumble and fall, my natural desire is to cover it up and hide it. Yet only through confession do we find true freedom. Not that we need to publish our sins on a blog everyday, but the scripture says to "confess our sins one to another..." (James 5:16). If we don't "feel" forgiven, it is because we have not repented or are not believing God at His Word - "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)
Pro 28:23 "He who rebukes a man will afterward find {more} favor Than he who flatters with the tongue." So often if we would just be straight with people, they would respect us more. Yet, the world says, "be nice," "make them feel good." The bible says, tell the truth in love. Oh, that we all would be able to do that.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Proverbs 27
Proverbs 27
This is another one of those chapters full of pithy truths.
27:5 "Better is open rebuke Than love that is concealed." This verse reminds me how rarely I tell those close to me that I love them. I tell my wife, Lori, that I love her everyday, but sometimes I fall into habits and don't go out of my way to show that love to her. She knows that I love her, but that love is concealed. Once concealed, the enemy can come in and spread seeds of doubt or just churn things up. The same is true with my other relationships. How rare for us to really take the time to let people know how much we appreciate them. I appreciate all of you who have taken on the Proverbs Challenge. We are nearing the end and if you are reading this, you are probably one of the few. But the Lord will bless your perseverance. Thank you for reading and sharing. I have been blessed!
27:17 "Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another." Here is what this blog is all about, seeing what wonderful things God has put in the heart of each person who reads this and how we can sharpen one another with the treasures gleaned.
This is another one of those chapters full of pithy truths.
27:5 "Better is open rebuke Than love that is concealed." This verse reminds me how rarely I tell those close to me that I love them. I tell my wife, Lori, that I love her everyday, but sometimes I fall into habits and don't go out of my way to show that love to her. She knows that I love her, but that love is concealed. Once concealed, the enemy can come in and spread seeds of doubt or just churn things up. The same is true with my other relationships. How rare for us to really take the time to let people know how much we appreciate them. I appreciate all of you who have taken on the Proverbs Challenge. We are nearing the end and if you are reading this, you are probably one of the few. But the Lord will bless your perseverance. Thank you for reading and sharing. I have been blessed!
27:17 "Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another." Here is what this blog is all about, seeing what wonderful things God has put in the heart of each person who reads this and how we can sharpen one another with the treasures gleaned.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Proverbs 26
Proverbs 26
Great advice regarding fools. The challenge is to apply to our everyday life. It is easy to discern the foolish things of others but much harder to see it in ourselves.
26:5-6 "Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Or you will also be like him. Answer a fool as his folly deserves, That he not be wise in his own eyes." My natural, carnal wisdom, is to treat a foolish statement with a like response. Yet, I will look just as foolish. Instead I must respond in the Spirit with an appropriate response.
Lord, may I recognize foolish choices for what they are and instead choose your way of wisdom.
Great advice regarding fools. The challenge is to apply to our everyday life. It is easy to discern the foolish things of others but much harder to see it in ourselves.
26:5-6 "Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Or you will also be like him. Answer a fool as his folly deserves, That he not be wise in his own eyes." My natural, carnal wisdom, is to treat a foolish statement with a like response. Yet, I will look just as foolish. Instead I must respond in the Spirit with an appropriate response.
Lord, may I recognize foolish choices for what they are and instead choose your way of wisdom.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Proverbs 25
Proverbs 25
25:8-10 (NLT) "Don't be in a hurry to go to court. You might go down before your neighbors in shameful defeat. So discuss the matter with them privately. Don't tell anyone else, or others may accuse you of gossip. Then you will never regain your good reputation." It is easier to complain about people to others than to simply go directly to the person involved and deal with the problem. We live in a litigious society and very few people have the integrity to try to work out a problem. Instead we gossip and try to destroy another's character or opt to threaten lawsuits which result in lose-lose for everyone except the lawyers.
25:11 "Like apples of gold in settings of silver Is a word spoken in right circumstances." Words are powerful for they communicate thoughts, emotions, and wisdom. Everyday we have the opportunity to share rotten apples (gossip, malice, bitterness, dissension) or golden apples (the Word of God, words of edification, words of encouragement, support, love...) Which words will you use today?
25:28 (NLT) "A person without self-control is as defenseless as a city with broken-down walls." If we lack self control in any area, the Enemy has easy access to control us. We may have think we have "everything under control" but if there is even one area of compromise (lust of the eyes, anger, alcohol/drugs, etc) we can be controlled by him and open ourselves to great ruin.
25:8-10 (NLT) "Don't be in a hurry to go to court. You might go down before your neighbors in shameful defeat. So discuss the matter with them privately. Don't tell anyone else, or others may accuse you of gossip. Then you will never regain your good reputation." It is easier to complain about people to others than to simply go directly to the person involved and deal with the problem. We live in a litigious society and very few people have the integrity to try to work out a problem. Instead we gossip and try to destroy another's character or opt to threaten lawsuits which result in lose-lose for everyone except the lawyers.
25:11 "Like apples of gold in settings of silver Is a word spoken in right circumstances." Words are powerful for they communicate thoughts, emotions, and wisdom. Everyday we have the opportunity to share rotten apples (gossip, malice, bitterness, dissension) or golden apples (the Word of God, words of edification, words of encouragement, support, love...) Which words will you use today?
25:28 (NLT) "A person without self-control is as defenseless as a city with broken-down walls." If we lack self control in any area, the Enemy has easy access to control us. We may have think we have "everything under control" but if there is even one area of compromise (lust of the eyes, anger, alcohol/drugs, etc) we can be controlled by him and open ourselves to great ruin.
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