Proverbs 13
"Hope deferred makes the heart sick" - verse 12. The Christian faith is a hope in Christ. But that hope is not like hope how we normally think about it. It is a "sure hope", something we know for sure. Yet, if we take away someone's hope, the heart grows sick. Nothing makes you feel as awful as the feeling of hopelessness. It feels like the bottom has dropped out and we are continually falling wondering, "when will it end?" Yet, as Christians, we have hope and need not experience that falling feeling. Only when we disbelieve God does hopelessness enter. Abraham believed God and God's promises weren't fulfilled for years; yet, Abraham had hope. The hope wasn't deferred, but the fulfillment of the promises was. He could continue to believe, and thrive and live. Have you lost hope? Then you are doubting God's promises: to never leave you nor forsake, to never be separated from His love, to provide for all of your needs, to give you the strength to do everything He has called you to...
One last thought on this chapter. Verse 24: "He who withholds his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him diligently." Notice is says "diligently", not "gently." Discipline is part of being a parent. We are charged with the task of discipling our children. There are a variety of methods, but the key is discipline needs to be diligent, consistent, expected. When children know that they did wrong and that you are simply meeting out the punishment "they chose" (through disobedience), then children can begin to understand and learn to control their behavior. When we become the punishment, through shouting, frustration and the like, children never learn responsibility for their behavior and think that it is your fault. Lack of personal responsibility is probably the greatest blight on our society today. People were never taught to take responsibility for their actions, so anything that goes wrong is because of someone else. The result is workers with no drive, no sense of responsibility or desire to excel, workers that give up when something becomes even marginally challenging. The Lord is trying to teach each of us the same lesson, yet we don't want to be held responsible for that either!
Lord, help us to learn these lessons and pass them on.
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Calvary Chapel West Boca
Seek God, Share Jesus, Show Love
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3 comments:
Thank you for the encouraging words Tye. I know one of the most discouraging things to me is praying for people that I care about who care nothing about the Lord and His ways. I get so discouraged that I often give up. But, God is faithful and I must trust in Him and not grow weary in doing good. (Gal. 6:9)
What spoke to me today was v. 20: “He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will suffer harm.”
The company you keep really does matter. I remember when I was a new Christian. I so wanted to walk with the Lord. But, I also wanted to be a companion of my foolish friends. Although I had friends that I loved dearly, and some of them also loved the Lord, I had a number who were bringing me down. I had to “flee” so to speak and find new friends to walk with; wise friends.
I am so grateful that God brought me to a place where meet wise and godly friends (Wendy and Jeff… thanks for being there!). With their support, He gave me the courage to walk away and start a new life so to speak. This new life led me to many brothers and sisters in the Lord that I will have all eternity to fellowship with, and even led me to meet Tye. The influence of Tye’s wisdom has been a blessing in my life and has caused me to be wiser as well. Thank you God for Tye!
v3 he who guards his lips guards his life,but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.
we have been blogging alot about our tongues and yet today it convicts me yet again of how many times I speak rashly because I want my feeling to be heard, or because I am angry. Then I say something I regret. not to mention my tone is poor as well. Then when my children respond at a later time in a similiar tone I discipline them for it. Later the Lord will show me that they are just reponding in the way they have been shown to respond. Woe is me. God help me to guard my lips and set lifegiving examples in my home of what Godly speech should look like. Forgive me for teaching my children ungodly ways, and help me to speak calmly and pleasantly. I need discipline with my mouth and my heart. Holy spirit correct me before I go to speak rashly so that I may begin to grab it and say the Godly choice instead. My heart is broken over this and i need you. give me the discipline to make this change and honor you with my mouth, and restore the damage that I have done in yelling at my children.
First- GREAT GAME NIGHT!!!
Pro 13:3 The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; The one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin... This tells me to choose my words wisely.
Pro 13:5 A righteous man hates falsehood, But a wicked man acts disgustingly and shamefully...Reminder to take the high road even though the rest of this world takes the easy or illegitimate road.
Pro 13:11 Wealth {obtained} by fraud dwindles, But the one who gathers by labor increases {it.}--- There are NO shortcuts! Hard work and Godly practices our Lord will bless.
Pro 13:18 Poverty and shame {will come} to him who neglects discipline, But he who regards reproof will be honored...I pray that I will be open and receptive to constructive criticism and Godly advice.
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