A Tribute to My Wife

Tomorrow I celebrate yet another birthday, but I've already received the greatest gifts possible...salvation in Christ, a wonderful wife, and four children...


Proverbs 31.20 describes a major characteristic of Jane:

"She opens her hand to the poor

and 

reaches out her hands to the needy."

Life Verse?

Ah, the second day of a three-day weekend.


By the time it is over this may be our verse for the day:

"The man declares, I am weary, O God;

I am weary, O God, and worn out." Prov 30.1

Russian Roulette

I believe Proverbs 29.1 is one of the scariest verses in not only the book of Proverbs, but in the 66 books of the Word of God.

Whether a teen or an adult, a prisoner or a "free" person, a churched or unchurched...over the years I've seen too many, far too many, ignore God's proddings, wise counsel, situations...many times saying, "one of these days", not recognizing that there is nothing as fleeting as the moment of conviction.

Is Your Prayer an Abomination?

How is your intake of the Word of God? How often do you listen to gospel-centered preaching? 


Read and consider:

"If one turns away his ear

from hearing the law,

even

his prayer 

is an abomination." Proverbs 28.9

Don't Get Big Headed

I believe it was Howard Hendricks who said, "You know you are in trouble when you start to believe your own press releases."

When we do something well, and people start to give us props and high fives...watch out!

Proverbs 27.21:

The crucible is for silver,

and the furnace is for gold,

and

a man is tested

by

his praise.

Don't Fear the Trash Talkers

So, so-and-so is spreading garbage about you? Someone else is whispering lies to someone else about you?

Is the stuff they are talking about true? Then fix it. Is it lies? Then don't worry about it.

Huh?

Proverbs 26.2, "Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, a curse that is causeless does not alight."

Spreading garbage...rumor-mongering...is, in effect, a curse. And the proverb tells us a principle...the underserved curse doesn't find a place to rest...people blow it off.

Don't you have one or two people in your life who are always trying to dump on you about somebody else? You don't believe them...so shut them up! And recognize that someone is probably trying to spread lies about you...but don't sweat it...it won't "find a place to rest"

Wonder Why?

Proverbs 25.2 "It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out."

Why does God "conceal things"? In this context it gives the unlazy impetus to "search things out."

I've heard it said that there is a cure for everything in the Bible except laziness....

And one of my favorite verses is Deut 29.29

It's okay to be puzzled, it's okay to say "I don't understand," it's okay to say "I'm confused," but unless we are willing to do the hard work of thinking/praying/reading...we won't find out much!

What Does Sin Cause You to Think?

Proverbs 24.1 orders:

Be not envious

of evil men,

nor desire to be with them.

Proverbs 24.1

Simple question: Does sin make you curious, or furious?

How Dumb Was I?

I drank from the time I was in 5th or 6th grade. Not sure when I became an alcoholic, but that I still am...and will be until I die.

For those wasted years of drunkenness, my life verses (though I didn't know it of course, as I wasn't captured by Christ until I was 26) were Proverbs 23.29-35

My goal was to eliminate hangovers by staying drunk, and there were periods of my life that I could do that (along with other drugs).

But there were also times I'd wake with that crushing hangover...and verse 35 vividly describes the feeling:

"They struck me," you will say, "but 

I was not hurt;

They beat me, but I did not feel it.

Wehn shall I awake?

I must have another drink."

Patton's Wisdom

Colonel George S. Patton III (or junior, depending on what you read) was the Commanding Officer of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, with which I served 1968-1969 in the Republic of South Vietnam (and a couple other countries - but that didn't really happen )

His mantra was "Stay Alert, Stay Alive." That passed down the chain of command to the platoon sergeants and lower.

A sort-of paraphrase of:

"The prudent sees danger

and hides himself,

but

the simple go on

and

suffer for it." Proverbs 22.3

Stay alert...stay alive!

God is Sovereign

I sure don't "get it," but I believe in both my head and heart that the Lord God is sovereign...period, end of sentence, nothing follows.

The baby with the tumor? The wars all over the planet? The car wreck that takes the 16-year-old's life? These and more shock, stun, shame, sadden us; but they are not a surprise to the Lord. He never says, "Oops." He is never surprised, or caught off guard.

"The kings' heart is a stream of water

in the hand of the Lord;

He turns it wherever he will." Proverbs 21.1

Can't Fix Stupid

As an alcoholic, I hate alcohol as probably only an alcoholic can.

I wish the Word forbad drinking...it does not..Jesus did not turn the water into freshly squeezed grapejuice...sorry friends.

But the Bible does forbid drunkenness, and the only way to ensure one doesn't get drunk is to not drink...

Enter Proverbs 20.1:

Wine is a mocker,

strong drink a brawler,

and

whoever is led astray by it

is not wise.

If you drink, that's your choice...if you claim to follow Christ and drink in public, even in moderation, I beg you to reconsider. I posted about this on my other blog...CLICK HERE TO READ

The Blame Game

It started with Adam. Eve bought in...("The woman you gave me..."; "the serpent deceived me...")

To paraphrase a saying I often heard in the Army, "Excuses are like elbows, every one has a couple."

And the biggest obscenity in America remains, "It's not my fault!"

To blame others is to ignore personal responsibility. But to blame the Other is unthinkable...yet all too common:

"When a man's folly

brings his way to ruin,

his heart rages against the Lord." Proverbs 19.3

Have you ever "raged against the Lord" because of your own stupidity?

Even the Lone Ranger Had a Buddy

Counsel is a wondrous thing....but it is hard to receive counsel if you don't hang with potential counselors!

"Doing your own thing," "Doing it my way," are simply longer ways of saying "sin."

As part of the Body of Christ, we need one another, as we serve, exhort, love, encourage, etc one another.

Yeah, I'm primarily writing about being an involved body part in a local congregation!

As Proverbs 18.1 states:

Whoever isolates himself

seeks his own desire;

he breaks out against

all sound judgment

Wanna be a Peacemaker?

Proverbs 17.14 is a bit earthy, but astoundingly simple advice:

The beginning of strife

is like

letting out water,

so

quit

before the quarrel breaks out

Tired of "Success" Books? Try a "Sanctified Success Verse"!

Of the making of books there is no end...and self-help, success books seem to mate on the shelves...

But if you are looking to succeed in His eyes, Proverbs 16.3 suffices:

Commit your work to the Lord,

and your plans

will be established.

Comfort...or..Challenge

God's omnipresence is hard to fathom. All places, all "times" (I put quotes on it because time is a man-word; not a God word).

To know that God is with me at all times can be a tremendous comfort; or it can be terribly convicting...depending on what I'm doing...or wanting to do.

Proverbs 15.3, "The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good."

How it must break His heart to see evil people being evil...but even more hurtful must be the wounds of His "friends..."

Laughter Can Be a Covering

It is so easy for me to joke to someone's hurt...

And sometimes the offended person joins in the laughter.

But the hurt remains.

Proverbs 14.13, "Even in laughter the heart may ache..."

What a Difference an Inch Makes

If I speak, my mouth is opened about an inch.

Often that small opening creates huge problems.

Proverbs 13.3, "Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin."

Help me keep my lips in "park" until my brain catches up, Lord.

Can't Fix It!

What do you call someone who hates correction?
Dumb?
Stubborn?
Rebellious?

What does God call that person?

Stupid.

Proverbs 12.1: "Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid."

And, as they say, "you can't fix stupid."

Make God Smile!

First verse of Proverbs 11 grabbed me this morning:

"A false balance is an abomination to the Lord; but a just weight is His delight."

What do you do when you are delighted? Clap hands? Shout "yay"? Smile?

Do right today; and maybe God grins?

Oh Yeah?

The Proverbs are not infallible.

Wait! Before you stone me that does not mean that the book of proverbs was not inspired by the Spirit of God...no way would I say that.

But the proverbs are full of principles rather that promises. Though most of the proverbs stand alone as infallible truisms, many are principles that don't always "pan out."

Take Proverbs 10.3a, "The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry..."

Really? Tell that to our brothers in certain African and Asian countries. But the principle holds true; God normally provides the food His followers need...normally.

We need to be careful in "claiming" promises that are, in fact, principles...

Can't Turn Down the Volume

When people ask me what prison was like, a standard answer is "five hundred radio sets on five hundred different stations going full blast!" I was on in a five-tiered cell block, 100 cells per tier...it was LOUD as big bad dudes tried to outshout each other.

Not to hint that all convicts are fools, but Proverb 9.13 declares, "The woman Folly is loud..."

Seems to me the "proud and the loud" are usually foolish, and the loudness of their comments is an indicator of less-than-wise counsel...

The Action of Fear

Proverbs 1.7 states, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge..."

But what does the fear of the Lord look like?

Proverbs 8.13 offers some insight, "The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil..."

As I heard many years ago from a speaker I've long forgotten, "Does sin make you curious, or furious?"

Another Validation of Bible Quizzing

For decades I've been involved in Bible quizzing and am constantly amazed and blessed to be a part. Of course the long term benefit is that hundreds of students memorize great chunks of God's Word.

Proverbs 7.3b dictates, "...write them (His commandments/teachings) on the tablet of your heart..."

Another way of saying "memorize."

And it's not just for teens.

What's the last verse you memorized?

Anty Up

Proverbs 6.6 "Go to the ant..."

I have fuzzy memories of writing a report about ants in maybe the 5th or 6th grade, and using this Proverb as my opening. How I found the quote I know not, since I was not churched, much less born-again.  I do remember being fascinated as I studied the subject...and decades later I put together a sermon on ants that discussed various types of ants and their functions.

You could dwell much on the subject, but if you wikipedia "ant" the description opens, "ants are social insects..." and maybe that is a key. The verse, of course, is directed to "sluggards," and lazy people tend to be loners.

It takes two four-letter words to be "social", or active, in the Body..."time" and "work." Yet we are not called "simply" to Christ, but to be His Body (cue "Casting Crowns").

Am I a "social" Christian?

On Guard!

Proverbs 5.2b "...and your lips may guard knowledge."

So how do lips guard? With that most powerful ammunition - words. And since the first part of verse 1,2 talk about wisdom, understanding, and discretion...the context mandates educated (by God), understanding, discrete words.

Thus it means to speak up. Christians are notorious for almost saying something. And say what you say in love, with understanding, but with clarity.

The power of words is exaggerated by some, negated by others; and all too often ignored by those who should know better.

How "armed" is your tongue?

Lost Act Like Lost Because They Are Lost

We who follow Christ are often shocked by the actions of the lost. We sometimes forget that, like us before salvation, they are "children of the devil," and thus their actions are dictated by their condition.

There are many non-Christians who live lives, on the surface, "better" than most Christians, and therein is the evidence that the Body of Christ, indwelt by the Spirit of God, working as a preservative...

But we need to remember that unconverted people are spiritually blind; and, as today's verse puts it:

Prov 4.19 "The way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know over what they stumble."

 

They are blind. They don't know. They are held captive.

And we have the privilege, responsibility, and joy of praying that God would open their hearts and eyes!

Extra!

Just found this...music is kinda weird but the insights are worth a couple minutes of your time:

Don't Let It Get Old!

Probably the most-often memorized portion of Proverbs is chapter 3:5,6:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

and He will make straight your paths."

Perhaps it is too familiar? Maybe it is so well-known that too often I forget to meditate on what it means to actually trust with all? Have I chewed on how I may still be leaning on my own understanding? What does it look like to acknowledge Him in all my ways?

Excuse me, I'm going to go for a jog and think on this...

Duh, Follow Directions!

Yesterday we cited Prov 1:7a, and asked what the fear of the Lord was...

Not sure? Try following directions...

(read 2.1-6 for context...but here's an abbreviated directive)  "if you week it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord.." (Prov 2.5-6a)

We've Only Just Begun!

And so we zoom into a new month of looking into Proverbs. Must say I am a tad disappointed at the lack of "comments"...again, not looking for "good job, jack" but for your insights, ideas, etc on the cited text.

As I look into chapter one I realize afresh how little I know as I read (Prov 1.7a):

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge..."

So...what does it mean to have a "fear of the Lord"?