Am I Smart Enough to Take Refuge?

Doesn't need any commentary:

"Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him." Prov 30.5

Lord, Slow My Mouth Down!

I frequently speak too soon. I do not want to become a typical Christian. Among other things, typical "Christians" are known for almost saying something. But I do wish I'd make sure my brain was a bit ahead of my mouth!

Must not be the only one suffering this malady, Proverbs 29.20 declares, "Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him."

Often the best thing I can do in any given situation is put my lips in park...or at least "low."

Start Now!

You have dreams, aspirations, goals, visions...whatever term you want to use, there is stuff you want/feel called/need to do.

So get off your knees and do something! Am I saying prayer isn't enough? Yeah. As a native American proverb puts it, "Pray, but row away from the rocks."

Whatever your aim, there is stuff you can do now...research/plan/seek counsel/put it in writing/whatever.

Proverbs 28.19 puts it, "Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty."

I think "worthless pursuits" includes daydreaming without discipline, prayers without obedience, and "grass is greener on other side"-itus.

Can You Handle This Proverbial Illustration?

Okay, watch this and think of which appropriate Proverb (from chapter 27)  is, however unintentionally, illustrated:

Ignore the Cursers!

Well, it is tough to ignore those who curse, huh? Depending on the situation, we should not ignore it.

But Proverbs 26.2 declares (in the English Standard Version), "Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, a curse that is causeless does not alight."

I do not think it is too stretching to, in this case, define "a curse" as any trashtalking that anyone is doing about you. If it is "causeless" and thus "undeserved," ignore it!

That curse will "flit" and "fly" around, but the people who care will also ignore it...it won't "alight." It may be heard, but intelligent people will consider the source and/or recognize it as gossip and, if they are godly, will come to you rather than pass it on.

And always remember that those who are cursing the loudest are those who have major issues within themselves and are thus trying to get the focus on you so they don't have to deal with their issues.

Oh...and there is only one way to avoid the cursers...don't do anything (and be sure to hang out ONLY with those who have exactly the same belief system as do you, and exactly the same preferences ((though they will call them convictions)). How do you identify the latter? They have lists of things to NOT do rather than things to do...and virtually NONE of them have ANYTHING to do with the Bible.

Act Like Royalty!

Deut 29.29 is one of my favorite verses (go ahead, look it up...I'm not doing all the work!)

I think it ties in with Proverbs 25.2, "It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out."

Not sure how it is the "glory of God to conceal," what do you think? (That's what the comments section is for by the way...so we can think and grow together...)

But I do want to be king-like and "search things out." You can increase my blood pressure by telling me what your church believes, or what your pastor thinks; but I really love to hear what you think!

Of course I am, by nature, a searcher. If I wasn't in full time vocational ministry, I'd want to be a research assistant for just about anybody. As it is, I shall "study (research) to show myself approved..."

Counseling Caution!

Proverbs 24.6 declares, "for by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory."

Just an observation for those who are seeking counsel...too often we can keep going from counselor to counselor, book to book, seminar to seminar...until we find someone who tells us what we wanted to hear in the first place!

Be cautious in counsel...both in the receiving of and the giving of....

HOPE

Back in my bc days I used to say (and mean), "Ain't no hope without the dope!"

Despite what most of the tbn crowd and the pastor of that big church in the former basketball arena say, it is not about health and wealth and your best life now. The Christian life is marked by sacrifice and inconvenience, yet laced with great joy.

But even in that joy there are the valleys of life...and like most things, those valleys are relative, but if you are in one your valley seems awfully dark, and awfully deep.

Perhaps that's why this verse jumped into my skull:

"Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off." Proverbs 23.18

My acronym for hope:

He Oversees People and Events.

As Peter Kuzmic wrote, "Hope is the ability to hear the music of the future; faith is having the courage to dance to it today."

Even if you think it is "bad,"...brother or sister, make some time to dance today!

Action Verbs

Thank God we are not saved by works, but our salvation results in works. We are commanded to "work out our salvation with fear and trembling" and are told that we are "created in Christ Jesus for the purpose of bringing forth good works..."

In today's chapter this stood out:

"Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge." Prov 22.17

It takes work, effort, and discipline to "incline," "hear," and "apply."

How are you doing?

ZIP IT!

Everytime I read Proverbs I'm struck by how many of them comment on the tongue or mouth.

For instance, Proverbs 21.23:
 
"Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble."

Sunday a student talked about the trouble he keeps getting into at school...I shared this proverb with him, He shrugged it off.

Sad. It is a promise of God (keep out of trouble). But it is a conditional promise. You can "claim it" all you want, but unless you are meeting the condition (keep your mouth/tongue) it is all for naught.

Why do we have so many problems with our mouths?

What are you doing to "keep" your mouth/tongue?

A Non-Controversial Subject...NOT!

Proverbs 20:1, "Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise."

I am an alcoholic. Dry for well over thirty years, but an alcoholic nonetheless. I hate alcohol as only an alcoholic can..or someone whose life has been shattered by a drunk.

And I wish the Word condemned drinking.

It does not. It condemns drunkenness.

Many friends who were involved in ministry with me when they were teens are now what used to be called "social drinkers." Some of them seem to take every opportunity to broadcast that over the internet.

I wish they wouldn't. And I wrote them an open letter about it on another blog. Uf you care to read it
CLICK HERE.

What do you think?

Slow Down!

Proverbs 19.2b "...whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way."

The move from New York (after 21 years) to Missouri 14 months ago was epic, of course. Moreso for my wife and kids than for me, but still a huge undertaking.

For more than a year I struggled with the "fit" here. Doors were slow in opening; minor philosophical differences with surroundings were chewing on me. But the Lord gave me the grace to wait. I'd constantly repeat, "Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength..."

Had I "made haste" I may have changed ministries, gone to a different location...and I often was sorely tempted. But I waited, by His grace.

And in the last few weeks door after door has blasted open. I will soon be an "official" volunteer chaplain at a prison here in St Joseph, an opportunity that, in some way or other, I'd be praying for since walking out of prison myself in 1977. From April 29 - May 2 I and a team of 29 men will go into Crossroads Maximum Security Prison in Cameron, Mo to minister to 30 men, most of whom will never see the streets.

Other doors are open, and after all the waiting the difficulty now will be to discern which doors should be entered, and which should be passed over.

I am so grateful God nudged me to "wait," and thankful the Spirit allowed me to obey.

Got any "waiting" stories? Or need prayer as you are currently "waiting"? Comment:

Don't Be Like Destroyer

No matter how mundane the job, no matter how tedious, no matter with whom you work,

Proverbs 18.9 "Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys."

I think followers of Christ too often forget that "work" was a gift from Abba before the fall. Adam took care of the garden before the fall. God worked, works, and will work...and, if we want to be like Him...well, duh, we work, "as unto Him."

Every task, every chore, every (ethical, honest) job provides us the opportunity to reflect well on our Lord, to do our work "as unto Him," and to do it consistently in such a way that others notice...and...perhaps...ask why we don't sluff off, gripe, and whine the way they do.

Maybe that would be an opportunity to brag on Jesus?

Don't Mock God's Creation

Proverbs 17.5a, "Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker..."

Dare I make jokes about the homeless person I see stumbling along? Do I belittle the shoddily-dressed kid in youth group?

The above portion of Proverbs 17.5 tells me that by so doing I insult the Creator of all....

Stay Alert! Stay Alive!

My commanding officer in Vietnam was Colonel George S. Patton, Jr...yes, the son of "Blood & Guts." He commanded respect and was loved by his men simply because he never commanded us to do anything he would not do.

His mantra was "stay alert, stay alive." In physical combat, a life-saver. In spiritual combat, a life-saver.


Proverbs 16.17, "The highway of the upright turns aside from evil; whoever guards his way preserves his life."

Scripture reveals the life of a disciple is one of combat. The proverb instructs us to turn aside from evil. I picture our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan watching out for I.E.D.'s (Improvised Explosive Devices), and turning away from them.

As a follower of Christ I must "stay alert" to I.E.D.'s that try to exploit my weaknesses. I need to guard my ways by not relaxing in the disciplines of Bible reading and prayer.

In so doing I preserve my life...which isn't mine anyway, because I've been bought with a price!

A Start

For years I have followed advice long-ago-given to strive to read a chapter of Proverbs daily. Since the Spirit of God was gracious enough to supply 31 chapters in the sacred book, heeding this guidance takes me through the book monthly.

Why so important? Psalms teach us how to worship; Proverbs teach us how to live. This blog shall try to be a reflection of insights gained.

My goal is to post daily, to ask questions, seek comments for mutual growth, etc.

It is also a way to stay connected with those to whom I have the opportunity to minister.