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If you lead, lead well.

3/13/2014

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Today's Bible Readings come from Matthew 14:22-36, Leviticus 22:1-33, Leviticus 23:1-44 and Proverbs 31:1-31.

In Matthew I learned "
And when the men of that place recognized him, they sent around to all that region and brought to him all who were sick 36 and implored him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well."   All they wanted to do was touch the fringe of his cloak and doing so they were healed.  The faith that takes eh?   Think about it a moment.. would you have that faith that by merely touching the cloak that you would be made well again?   That takes faith. 

You know, when I read the book of Leviticus, I am amazed at how regulated the offerings to God were.  No blemished animals, but if you had an animal with a part that wasn't quite right (too long or short) it could be a freewill offering but not a vow offering, you needed to count days in between offerings and so much more.  It makes me SO GLAD that I don't live back in those times.  I can imagine it was a bit mind-boggling for the people sometimes.  Trying to follow the rules that God put into place.

Jesus died for me.
It took the need for all that away.
Reading through Leviticus is helping me realize even more what that means. 
I no longer live under the law.
I live under grace.
I don't have to risk doing the wrong thing and being cast out of the people.   That's not a concern that I bear.


Then in Proverbs.  When I recognized what chapter it was I just wanted to stay away from it.. you know Proverbs 31 when we see a great woman at work.  I feel so inadequate next to her, a standard held that I don't think I could ever meet and therefore don't even really want to try.   BUT have you ever looked at the first few verses of this chapter?.
1 The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him: 2 What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb? What are you doing, son of my vows?  3 Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings.  4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink,  5 lest they drink and forget what has been decreed and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.  6 Give strong drink to the one who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress;  7 let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.  8 Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute.  9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.
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The words are pretty clear here.    In a day when the mayor of Toronto is basically a drunk and has turned himself into a laughing stock, when I recall from Lord of the Rings a leader who liked to drink and thus left his land open to the bad guys to infiltrate.... Drinking and leadership do not go together.  They don't.   To be a good leader you need to be able to pay attention.   If you don't, you are prone to neglect what is important.    Leaders need to keep their attention focused, they need to speak for those who cannot, they need to defend the rights of the destitute, they need judge fairly and honestly.   Leaders are to defend and LEAD, not lose themselves in unimportant venues (such as alcoholism).   So if you lead... LEAD WELL.  :)
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Wisdom Calls... Proverbs 8

2/18/2014

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Does not wisdom call?
    Does not understanding raise her voice?
2 On the heights beside the way,
    at the crossroads she takes her stand;
3 beside the gates in front of the town,
    at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:
4 “To you, O men, I call,
    and my cry is to the children of man.
5 O simple ones, learn prudence;
    O fools, learn sense.
6 Hear, for I will speak noble things,
    and from my lips will come what is right,
7 for my mouth will utter truth;
    wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are righteous;
    there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.
9 They are all straight to him who understands,
    and right to those who find knowledge.
10 Take my instruction instead of silver,
    and knowledge rather than choice gold,
11 for wisdom is better than jewels,
    and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.
I read from proverbs 8 this morning and just wanted to copy out the whole chapter and let you read from it what you will.   And you can still do that.  My words aren't gospel that's for sure.  In fact, I often feel like a foolish one, struggling to not only understand the will of the Lord but then to incorporate it into my life.    But see here... Wisdom CALLS to me.  Wisdom (which is truly the fear of the Lord) wants me to know her.  Wants me to understand her.  Wants me to know she's more important that silver, gold, stuff, social standing, lies, etc.  Wisdom...the fear of the Lord... is far better than anything.  Wisdom is what we need and wisdom is what calls to us.

And so I will struggle on trying to know the Lord more... as he really is more important that anything else... and I'll continue to strive not to let other things get in my way of knowing him.   Not even cats trying hard to choke themselves... (as the cat Milo just did).  :)  
12 “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
    and I find knowledge and discretion.
13 The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil.
Pride and arrogance and the way of evil
    and perverted speech I hate.
14 I have counsel and sound wisdom;
    I have insight; I have strength.
This is what wisdom is eh?  :)
Prudence, knowledge, discretion, fear of the Lord, hatred of evil, council, and insight and strength.   So really...who wouldn't want wisdom ruling their lives?
By me kings reign,
    and rulers decree what is just;
16 by me princes rule,
    and nobles, all who govern justly.
17 I love those who love me,
    and those who seek me diligently find me.
18 Riches and honor are with me,
    enduring wealth and righteousness.
19 My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold,
    and my yield than choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,
    in the paths of justice,
21 granting an inheritance to those who love me,
    and filling their treasuries.
And look what wisdom does.  Helping kings and princes to rule, nobles to govern justly, riches, honour, enduring wealth and righteousness.  This is what wisdom gains.  NOTE: it is ENDURING wealth.   That sort of wealth isn't money or things.. all that stuff passes away over time.   The wealth of wisdom is in knowledge, faith, fear of the Lord and such things.  THOSE are what is treasured.
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Listen for the call of wisdom.  See what having wisdom brings into ones life.    HEAR instruction, be wise.  Keep to the ways of the Lord, hate evil and death, come daily to learn wisdom, learn discretion, do not be foolish.  THIS IS WHAT CALLS TO ME.

Oh...but that I might find with the Lord himself.   Let me well learn the way of wisdom Lord, let me well learn it
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Treasure those words

2/12/2014

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So I was talking with hubby this morning about how in my daily reading I'm needing to go through Hebrews and how I find it heavier slogging reading that as opposed to going through the gospels or reading the Psalms.   And then I said.. OH.. and now I'm going through Proverbs.. THAT's easy reading.  :)   Take for instance this mornings reading from Proverbs.
1 My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you,  2 making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding;  3 yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding,  4 if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures,  5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.  6 For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;  7 he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,  8 guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.  9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path;  10 for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;  11 discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you,  12 delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech,  13 who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness,  14 who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil,  15 men whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways. 16 So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words,  17 who forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God;  18 for her house sinks down to death, and her paths to the departed;  19 none who go to her come back, nor do they regain the paths of life. 20 So you will walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous.  21 For the upright will inhabit the land, and those with integrity will remain in it,  22 but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous will be rooted out of it.
I find Proverbs to do so straight-forward... so much so that it's comforting to read it for me.   Even though sometimes I'm easily convicted.  For instance in today's reading.. do I honestly treasure up God's commands in my heart?   Do I regularly call out for insight.. wondering what God would have me do?   or do I more or less go my own way, living by general principles but thinking I can make all my own decisions?   God calls me to lean on him for EVERYTHING and the Proverbs are good at reminding that I need to check that attitude and turn to God.   I can't do it all on my own.  I do need to rely on God and if I do so... if I treasure his words and commands in my heart .. then he will guide my every step.  i will truly know the fear of the Lord in my life.  His knowledge will be ever before me then.

Should this not be the heart's desire of every believer?   To have that knowledge of God so hidden within that it's always just there.  And then you know that God will guard your every step and footprint.   Wouldn't that just be what you want and seek after?   Ah, but I need to do this better eh?   Proverbs is so convicting.   Causes me to evaluate my life more than sometimes I want to.       I want to upright before the Lord, protected in all my ways.
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Windows of Wisdom - Proverbs 16:1-9

10/18/2012

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Scripture Reading   Proverbs 16:1-9

The plans of the heart belong to man,
    but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
    but the Lord weighs the spirit.
3 Commit your work to the Lord,
    and your plans will be established.
4 The Lord has made everything for its purpose,
    even the wicked for the day of trouble.
5 Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord;
    be assured, he will not go unpunished.
6 By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
    and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil.
7 When a man's ways please the Lord,
    he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Better is a little with righteousness
    than great revenues with injustice.
9 The heart of man plans his way,
    but the Lord establishes his steps.

My thoughts

Wow...that hits to the heart doesn't it?   At least it does for me...reminding me to be aware that I can do all the planning and hoping that I want, but without the Lord what's the point?Consider these words closely

The plans of the heart belong to man,     but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

I can plan and plan and plan....but God is the one who holds the answers to my plans.

2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,  but the Lord weighs the spirit.

I can so often think that I know best, but do I really?   Do I really know more than God does?   God sees my heart, he sees my spirit and he KNOWS beyond a shadow of a doubt what is best for me.

3 Commit your work to the Lord,     and your plans will be established.

But see what I need to do?   If I commit my work, my way to the Lord....he will establish my plans.   Does this mean that if I am committed to the Lord that I will get all that I want?   NO.. it means that if I commit to the Lord...then it is more likely that what I want is what the Lord will want to.  He's good at that you know... changing us to be better than what we are.   He calls us to holiness, he calls us to MORE than what we are now.....Now we are fallen people riddled through and through with sin....and he helps us to see beyond ourselves.

4 The Lord has made everything for its purpose,     even the wicked for the day of trouble.

I read a book once, about a lass fighting for justice, and everywhere she met there was a fellow who was full of derision and it was starting to bother her.   As she was talking with one of her advisors about this matter he said "for all you know, he was created for such a time as this."   He went on to say how their gods made everything and you just needed to trust that the gods knew what they were doing.     It was a secular fiction book but that statement made a huge impact on me.   How do I know why people are as they are, or what purpose they have for living.  God knows them.  He knows their hearts.   He gives us free will to act and choose, but he has created each one of us for a purpose.

5 Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord;     be assured, he will not go unpunished.

Those who insist on being only what they want to be are "an abomination to the Lord".   God created us to be a perfect people, in full communion with him.   If we reject him....God will punish us for our arrogance.  That's just fact.

6 By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,      and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil.     7 When a man's ways please the Lord,     he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Knowing God is the best way to keep from being an abomination to him.   He is the only one who can bring peace to our hearts.  He's the only one who can help us turn from evil.   Pleasing the Lord makes the rest of life so much better....not always easier because sometimes the Lord calls us to very hard things.    the death of family, the loss of a child, losses of jobs, scorn and derision from the world, pain, sickness, separation....   but knowing God just makes it more doable.

8 Better is a little with righteousness     than great revenues with injustice.
9 The heart of man plans his way,     but the Lord establishes his steps.


But when it comes right down to.... I can do all the planning that I want, but it doesn't happen without God help.   really, truly, seriously.   I need to trust that God really does know what he doing.  And the more I trust him, the more I see it truly.

I see it in my homeschooling the lad.
I see it in my raising my rabbits.
I see it as i learn to be a better wife and mother.

If I don't lean on God, if I don't trust him, it just makes it all harder to do as I seem to then be doing it all on my own.  
God calls me to more than that.   He calls me to holiness and faith and belief.

Stephen Olford's thoughts

Olford starts his commentary with this statement "One of the exciting things about our Christian life is that god has a plan for all his children".   he continues "But the path we take and the progress we make depend all on our willingness to 'commit our works to the Lord'".

He makes three main points:
  1. The personal commitment of our lives to God.
  • "when we walk in the path of God's will with undeviating obedience, we cannot miss God's best"
  1. The practical adjustment of Our lives by God.
  • The God who sees the sparrow's fall is interested in every aspect of our lives.  We need to daily ask for his help and guidance.
  1. The purposeful fulfillment of our lives in God.
  • God will give us the fulfillment of peace, pleasure and purpose.

What are your thoughts?

it would be so kind of you to share them with me.  I would enjoy entering into polite dialogue with you.  :)
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Windows of Wisdom: proverbs 15:26-33

6/21/2012

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Proverbs 15:26-33

26  The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,
    but gracious words are pure.
27 Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household,
    but he who hates bribes will live.
28 The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,
    but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
29 The Lord is far from the wicked,
    but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
30  The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
    and good news refreshes the bones.
31  The ear that listens to life-giving reproof
    will dwell among the wise.
32 Whoever ignores instruction despises himself,
    but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.
33  The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
    and humility comes before honor.


One thing you all will need to be aware of.   I didn't sleep particularly well last night, this was worsened by the fact my six year old kept waking me up and telling me that he couldn't sleep.    It's very hot, muggy, sticky sort of weather right now.   Making doing about anything a bit of a challenge.   My thinking is quite slow this morning.  So bear with me eh?

Normally I read the whole chapter and all that, but this morning I'm going to focus just on the the text for the day.

When I read verse 26: The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,     but gracious words are pure.  I have to admit to going...oh.. right, of course they would be.   I don't  know why I felt surprised, but I did.   I think it's just the "out of there" of it.  Of how the thoughts of the wicked are abhorrent to God.   Consider that the wicked are wicked all the time, and God is holy ALL the time and as a holy God can't be near wickedness it only makes sense....For some reason this morning it just struck me as important to remember/know.   

Verse 28 jumps out at me as well: The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,     but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.  Consider how a righteous person will often take their time to pose a response, but the wicked have no need to think about what they are saying, and therefore can spew out anything they want.   sometimes for good, sometimes for ill...but remember....the thoughts of the wicked are wicked all the time.  
Verses 31-33 focus on the importance of learning from instruction The ear that listens to life-giving reproof
    will dwell among the wise.  Whoever ignores instruction despises himself,    but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.  The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,    and humility comes before honor.
Wisdom listens.  The fear of the Lord is part of wisdom.   Reproof and the ability to heed it is part of wisdom.   Those who learn to listen and heed are those willing to be wise.
What does Olford have to say?   Olford focuses on verse 29.   The Lord is far from the wicked,     but he hears the prayer of the righteous.   Olford starts off his devotional reminding us of how prayer is an important part of our relationship with God.   He makes two main points
1. the privilege of prayer
: God does not hear the words of the wicked, he hears the words of the righteous.
This points out two important things: 1. WHO can prayer and 2. WHO God hears.   God actually takes the time to listen to the prayers of the righteous.
2. the practice of prayer
: Prayer is action.  It is something we persistent in, it is something that we do, AND it is something that God acts upon.
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Day by Day - Proverbs 14:12-18

6/13/2012

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Proverbs 14:12-18
12  There is a way that seems right to a man,
    but its end is the way to death.
13 Even in laughter the heart may ache,
    and the end of joy may be grief.
14 The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways,
    and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.

15  The simple believes everything,
    but the prudent gives thought to his steps.
16  One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil,
    but a fool is reckless and careless.
17 A man of quick temper acts foolishly,
    and a man of evil devices is hated.
18 The simple inherit folly,
    but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
Proverbs 14 has so many verses in it worthy of comment, but Olford today chooses to focus on these few.   So as much as I want to look at the rest of the Proverbs in this chapter, time constraints require me choose a focus as well.

Verse 12 tells me that "there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end in the way of death".  Isn't that just so true?     It is so easy to think that we have all the answers, when in reality we really don't.   There is so much that we actually don't know, but God sees everything.   He sees so very much and way more beyond what we can think to see even if we think we've covered all the bases for something.   All the more reason to cover all our activities with prayer.   I read these words and I stand convicted of all the times I fail to do that.   How little time I actually take to pray about the things (things being events, people etc) in my life that are important to me.   I really do need to rectify this.   I really need to take my relationship with God more seriously and see him more clearly in all of my life.

Even in laughter the heart may ache,     and the end of joy may be grief  wow... Isn't this just so true?  People's hearts can be so broken, and yet they can still laugh, and sometimes laughter turns into crying.    Sometimes it is surprising when that happens, but it just does.  I'm not sure why.  I can remember as a child we could make my mom cry.   All six of us children would start saying, don't cry mom, don't cry...and she'd start laughing and before long she would have tears rolling down her face.    She'd still be laughing so I don't think we were being mean... I wonder perhaps if I should ask her?   But I've seen it many times at funerals and what not, where people can be enjoying themselves, but then tears will come.

This verse seems so obviously true to me that it's not worth of comment: The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways,     and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.   I recognize that is NOT a good sentiment. As every verse in the bible is inspired by God and as such, worthy of comment.   But it's it just so true?   People always see the results of how they have lived their lives ...it always tells out at the end.

16One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil,     but a fool is reckless and careless.  This verse makes a great deal of sense to me as well and is one I often think and knock myself on the head for.  I can be SO prone to rushing in and not thinking things through well.  This was recently hammered into my head (again) when I was building a rabbit cage and failed to measure twice before cutting.  Thusly I wasted supplies and made more work for myself.   Foolishness it was.

17 A man of quick temper acts foolishly,     and a man of evil devices is hated.  Watching one's temper I have learned is an act of wisdom.  it is so easy to go with the emotions of the moment, but a wise person knows how to keep a rein on them.

18 The simple inherit folly,     but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.   isn't this just so true?   Prudent folk aren't always the smartest ones, but they are the ones that take their time and think things true to the best of their ability, being wise holds value.    Whereas the simply too often don't take that time, the seeking of knowledge is not important to them, they are content with life as it is.    I know so many people who are like that.  Merely content to live their lives as they see them.   I do so wish I could help more of them see beyond themselves.

Olford's intense focus is on verse 14.   The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways,     and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.    His translation phrases this verse thusly :The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways, but a good man will be satisfied from above.    Seems to be a bit different does it not?   :)   Olfords makes three main points.
1. the point of spiritual departure
       The backslider simply starts to see his own stuff.  he takes his eyes off what they should be on... GOD and his ways.  Instead he starts to see his own ways too much and doesn't discipline himself to focus on God.
2. the process of Spiritual decline
       This of course leads to complacency in how they live their lives. 
3. the power of spiritual deliverance.
         BUT God can fill the heart of his people, he can shake us out of our complacency and make us into something more.   He alone can turn us into obedient followers.

So where will I stand today?   In the path of complacency or in the path of the obedience of leaning on God?  
What about you?

Oh that our hearts and minds be filled with the knowledge and wisdom of God as we live our lives this day.
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windows of wisdom - Proverbs 13:1-7

6/11/2012

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Proverbs 13:1-7

1 A wise son hears his father's instruction,
    but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
2 From the fruit of his mouth a man eats what is good,
    but the desire of the treacherous is for violence.
3  Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life;
     he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
4  The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
    while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.
5 The righteous hates falsehood,
    but the wicked brings shame and disgrace.
6  Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless,
    but sin overthrows the wicked.
7  One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;
     another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
a study of opposites.   I often find it fascinating to watch/read that interplay between states of mind portrayed in Proverbs.

The wicked one way, the righteous another, the diligent in one, the lazy another.    It's good to see those contrasts. 

I read the passage and everything seemed quite obvious to me.    So I went on to see what Olford had to say about it, And he focused on verse 7.   7  One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;      another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.   He went on to talk about pretense.  How many people live lives of pretending.   I have to admit,...I don't get this line.   What's the point of pretending to be rich or poor?   It's just .. .I dunno.. seems rather pointless.   I know there are people who do it, I've read about them in books..but everything I read about people pretending to be rich it generally all falls down around them, and well those who pretend to be poor often have a reason for it.      But it still all comes down to pretending to have (or not have) money and it seems rather pointless to me.     Still continues to the study of contrasts though. 

But that's all i got this morning.    had an incredibly busy day yesterday so I'm a bit muddle headed this morning.

Cheers all!  :)  Let me know if YOU get any


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Windows of Wisdom - Proverbs 12:18-25

6/5/2012

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Proverbs 12:18-25

18  There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,
    but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
19 Truthful lips endure forever,
    but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
    but those who plan peace have joy.
21  No ill befalls the righteous,
    but the wicked are filled with trouble.
22  Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
     but those who act faithfully are his delight.
23  A prudent man conceals knowledge,
     but the heart of fools proclaims folly.
24  The hand of the diligent will rule,
    while the slothful will be put to forced labor.
25  Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down,
    but a good word makes him glad.


I know that this verse isn't part of today's reading, but I have learned that when reading a section of verses, reading in context is important.  As I was reading, this verse popped out at me:   verse 4 "An excellent wife is the crown of her husband,     but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones."    When I was single, this verse didn't make a whole lot of sense to me, but as a married woman I am able to better understand what is being said here.    It makes me understand Hosea a bit better.   That must have been such a trial for him, even though he knew he was being obedient to God, it still would have been difficult.      A man cares for and watches over his wife in a marriage, so if he has a wife that makes the job easy for him, it makes it better all around for him.

anyways, I'm as distractable as a butterfly this morning, so I'd best focus on the task at hand.

As I read further I came to this verse: (17) Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence,  but a false witness utters deceit..   I read that and thought...well of course!     How much more obvious can something be, and wondered why something so obvious had to be written down, but then I realized that what's obvious to me might not be obvious to someone else.   And God does know best. :)   and the next verses continue this theme, pointing out what should be obvious, and reminding us to watch our words.

18 here is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,
    but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
19 Truthful lips endure forever,
    but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
    but those who plan peace have joy.
21  No ill befalls the righteous,
    but the wicked are filled with trouble.
22  Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
     but those who act faithfully are his delight.

Consider verse 18 where the person who speaks rashly can utter words as sharp as sword thrusts.   I don't know if you, my readers, have ever been bullied, but words can be awful things.  The things that people can to another can cut like a knife.   Sometimes people are deliberate about doing such damage, but often times the worst damage are those quick, unthinking words.    This is indeed a good reminder to watch my words, to think before talking too quickly.

Verse 25 seems rather unconnected in this passage Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down,     but a good word makes him glad.     Just think about this verse for a moment.   I'm currently living under a stress I've been unable to identify.  It doesn't stop me from living, but it is causing me to grind my teeth at night and to not feel rested in the morning.  This makes me have to work harder at getting things done, harder to focus on the task at hand, and more aware of my need to watch what I am saying to those around me (we call it being kind to each other).    I want this "weight" gone from me.   But until I know what is causing the stress, i don't know that I'll be rid of it.   it's a matter of prayer and letting time manage things.  It does wear on a person though....

Anyways, Olford's take on this passage:
He focuses on verse 25 "Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad".  (NKJV)
A good word is a word of encouragement.     Olford speaks to the fact that people can get to a point of feeling very discouraged and we need to at those times offer encouragement to them.   A simple word of encouragement can transform that struggling individual.   Let us be people who encourage!  :)





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Windows of Wisdom - Proverbs 11:27-31

5/30/2012

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Using as a base of Study: windows of wisdom, today I'll be reading Proverbs 11 with a focus on verses 27-31.

This chapter was an study in contrasts.   The righteous will have thus and such happen, the wicked will have thus and such.  And generally written in terms of opposites.   for instance, verse 17 tells us that  A man who is kind benefits himself,
    but a cruel man hurts himself.
   How much more opposite could you get?

The verses we are focusing on today in the ESV read
27Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,
    but evil comes to him who searches for it.
28 Whoever trusts in his riches will fall,
    but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.
29 Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind,
    and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
    and whoever captures souls is wise.
31 If the righteous is repaid on earth,
    how much more the wicked and the sinner!


These verses continue to show the difference in what the wicked and the righteous should expect.    When I read through this chapter it just makes me wonder why a person would choose to be wicked?     Over and over again I'm told how the righteous will flourish, the wicked will perish.  The righteous will live, the wicked will fall.   The wicked earn deception, the righteous get rewarded.     Do the wicked merely not open their eyes to see what is happening to them?

But I suppose it is just that most people don't see the value in God and don't really think they are wicked.    But God sees people as wicked regardless.   If they don't love him and serve him, ergo they are wicked.     Belief in God is what makes a person truly live.   But how do I help people to truly know that God is real?   I wasn't raised in such a way that I was encouraged to talk about my faith beyond the doors of my family, so I do at times find it a difficult thing to do.    It is so much easier to keep it all to myself.   But God calls me to do more than that.    He doesn't want people to be wicked, he doesn't want people to fail, even though he knows full well that some will, doesn't mean he likes it.  He creates us in his own image.

I'm reading a Dan Brown novel right now and he's trying to make the point that since God made us in his own image that therefore we are equal to God.   And I just feel like snorting... being made in the image of doesn't mean that we are exactly the same.  Look at all the artists out there who make sculptures of people, or who render portraits.  All these things are made in the image of their creator, doesn't mean they are equal to their creator.   Does the spirit of God reside in those who love God and seek after him?   Yes, the bible tells us that it does, but at doesn't mean we ARE God, just means his spirit resides within.

Last week I read a book about a guy who killed someone in a fit of passion.  I found the book really interesting to read but the whole time I was noting that this guy did something horribly wrong, but the book was written in such a way that I was rooting for him to come through it all okay in the end.   But at the end of the book I realized that he should have been caught and punished for his crime.  he should not have gotten away with it.   What Proverbs does is remind me that at the end of it all He will pay for his crimes.    It's sad though... we should not glorify in being wicked.

We should seek after God.  We should love him desperately.  It is the ONLY way that in the end we will prosper.

Do you not truly wish to prosper?


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    Pastor's Wife, believer, here I share sermons and devotions.

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