Day 81 – 90 Days in Proverbs - Light

Proverbs 13:9 [ESV] The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

The word used for light in this proverb is the same word used in Genesis 1:3 [KJV] where it says, And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

In that beginning, God called for light in this world.

The word used here for “rejoices” means to brighten up or cheer up. If you are at all like me, seeing a sunrise or sunset, seeing a blue sky with puffy white clouds, seeing sunlight dance across the water of a lake or the ocean, or watching sunlight glitter through the leaves of the trees brings joy to your heart. Sunlight can cheer us up and brighten our days. Sunlight can even reduce depression.

But the light of the sun is not the only light meant to bring joy and cheer to this earth.

God sent Jesus to light the world, as we read in John 8:12 [ESV] - Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." We praise God for the light that Jesus brings to this sin darkened world. However, there is more. Jesus is not the only one tasked with lighting the world.

Matthew 5:14 [ESV] tells us, You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

We believers also have a responsibility to brighten the lives of others – to cheer up the downtrodden of this world. We can do that in the same way that Jesus did. How did Jesus bring light? First of all He used words of hope. He spoke about God’s great love for all mankind and His plan of salvation. He gave people hope for the future. He promised to bring everyone into the family and Kingdom of God. He said He would make room in the Father’s mansion for each of us.

We can shed light into this world too, by using words of hope too. We can tell others about what God has in store for us, about salvation through Jesus and about the hope we have in Him.

Jesus also brought light by His actions. He feed the hungry and prayed for the sick so they might be healed. We can feed the hungry. We can pray for the sick. These are just a few of the ways that we can imitate the light-giving work of Jesus.

Sisters, when God originally said “let there be light”, the sun, the moon and the stars appeared in the heavens. In creating mankind in His image and calling us to be His children who are to be doing His work in the world, He is also saying “let there be light” and we must respond. We are called to shine His light into this dark world. Let there be light. Let that light be you. Shine on, my sisters.

Prayer: Father God, thank you for the light that Jesus brought to this world. Please help me to also answer your call to be the light of the world, to cheer up those around me, to cause others to rejoice. Let me shine your light out into the world as Jesus did. In His name I pray. Amen.

Your thoughts —  

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Day 80 – 90 Days in Proverbs - Emptying the Ocean

Proverbs 13:7 [NKJV] There is one who makes himself rich, yet [has] nothing; [And] one who makes himself poor, yet [has] great riches.

Money and the things it can buy is only one way to be rich. Even though money is the primary factor used to designate someone as rich in this world, the vast majority of the people of the world today do not qualify as rich by that measure. This was also true of most of the people of the world in Solomon’s time.

As Christians, we understand that those of us with money to spare are commanded to help those with less. Giving to the poor is one of the factors that separates the sheep from the goats. [See Matthew 25:31-46]

However, we miss the greater point of this Proverb if we only think of money and goods as a way that someone can be rich.

Perhaps you are rich in friends, in relationships, and have many people you can depend on to be there for you. Maybe you have many people who can count on you in good times and bad. However, if I have lots of acquaintances that I don’t truly appreciate, failing to nurture the relationships and express appreciation, then I am rich in the number of people I know, but have nothing – no real friends. If I choose to give myself in time and attention, prayer and fellowship with the people and the relationships God has put in my path, then I make myself poor in self-focus but rich in the blessing of those relationships.

Perhaps you are rich in talents. What are those talents used for? Someone with a beautiful singing voice may not be using it to bless others. You can sing at home and glorify God, of course. But could that talent be used to bless others at a nursing home, at church or at a children’s hospital? When we use our talents to serve or bless others, we make ourselves poor in a way because we are giving those things away for free. Yet that service of giving away a talent – using it to serve or bless others – provides spiritual richness now and a rich blessing in the Kingdom.

The focus of this Proverbs seems to be that giving away what we have makes us truly rich. You don’t have to take a vow of poverty and divest yourself of all material things. You don’t have to spend all your days giving away your talents. God understands that you need to make money and take care of family responsibilities.

But we become rich in many ways when we use what we have to bless others. We become rich in joy as we see the joy that our talents bring to others. When we use what we have to serve others we become rich in hope because we are storing up treasure for the Kingdom.

In addition, we have this promise from God in Luke 6:38 [NKJV] "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."

Luke 6:38 is showing us that we have a promise that whatever we give away will return to us abundantly. Therefore, we can only try to make ourselves poor by giving away the blessings that God has provided to us. Ultimately, it will not work – we cannot become poor by giving away our blessings – because God will bless us more abundantly for our efforts.

I this way, giving away the goods and talents with which God has blessed us is a bit like trying to remove the water from the ocean during a rainstorm. You cannot empty the ocean. And you will not be able to out-give our generous Abba. But we are supposed to try.

There are many ways in which you or I could be considered rich. God asks us to respond to any richness by giving it away, so that He can make us truly rich.

Prayer – Lord God, from whom all blessings flow, you have blessed me with riches from your storehouse in heaven. Lead me to find ways to give away the blessings of riches that You have specifically given to me. Help me to give them away so that I can truly be rich.

Your thoughts —  

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Day 79 – 90 Days in Proverbs - Guide

Proverbs 12:26 [ESV] One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

We are all aware of the fact that ultimately God, through His Word and the Holy Spirit, is to be our guide in life, as David points out in several Psalms. Here are just two examples:

Psalm 31:3 [KJV] For thou [art] my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.

Psalm 48:14 [KJV] For this God [is] our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide [even] unto death.

But Proverbs 12:26 reminds us that we are also to provide the service of being a guide to others around us.

How does that work? When we show the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace) it should be a guide to others, showing them how to act in the various circumstances of life. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we show joy when it seems like a tough time to show it. We love when the natural reaction is hate. We show inner peace when others would expect us to be troubled. We show patience in our very impatient world. Our actions should say, “This is how a Christian responds.”

Of course, we each are human and we stumble and fail in our efforts to be a consistently good guide for others. But, even in our failures, when we admit sin or fault, seek forgiveness and work to be better the next time, we set a good example of the right path for a Christian to follow.

As the Psalms remind us, if we are ever unsure of the path to take, God is our true guide until our death. When we need guidance, we can search His word and seek Him in prayer, as well as seeking out godly counsel from others. And that is also a good guide for those neighbors who might be watching our examples.

Sweet sisters, I hope you have had good guides in your Christian walk. I hope you seek God, the supreme Guide, when you need help. I hope you will have the great joy of guiding others to Jesus by your words and deeds.

PRAYER – Sometimes, Lord God, I don’t know what path to take. Sometimes I stumble on the path of righteousness I am seeking to follow. So, please lead me in the way you would have me to go. Help me to be sure footed in my walk. And help me, thereby, to be a guide to others around me who may wonder themselves which is the right path for a Christian to follow. In Jesus name I ask. Amen

Your thoughts —  

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DAY 78 – 90 Days in Proverbs - Lifting Heavy Hearts

Proverbs 12:25 [KJV] Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.

While the Hebrew word is translated “heaviness” in the King James Version, it actually means anxious or anxious care. This is often a self-imposed heaviness that we can find relief from by focusing on the Good Word of God’s promises to His children.

The English Standard Version uses the word “anxiety” instead. It says, Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad. [Proverbs 12:25 ESV] We each face trials and troubles in our lives – trials and troubles that can cause anxiety. Maybe it is a wakeful night worrying about a medical test. Or maybe it is a season of worry about a grown child who is making bad choices that are negatively affecting his/her life.

Jesus also offered us some guidance on anxiousness and anxious care.

Matthew 6:25, 28, 31, 34 [NKJV] 25 "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? ... 28 "So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; ... 31 "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' ... 34 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day [is] its own trouble.”

I believe Jesus is saying that we should not allow these physical concerns like food and clothes to weigh our hearts down, as Solomon also warned in Proverbs 12:25. Jesus isn’t saying that we should not work to provide food and clothing for ourselves and our families. He is saying that the Father is faithful to provide these to us because He cares for us.

Sisters, when we have anxious cares, the Word of God is there to help lift our hearts back to gladness. We can focus on His promises. We can read about the guaranteed victory that is waiting for the faithful. We can focus on the blessings God has provided in the past, recalling the times He has rescued us, provided for us and given us peace even in difficult times. Counting our blessings isn’t just something we sing about. It is also a very effective method of helping to lift a heart that is heavy with anxious cares about things we need.

Sweet sisters, I hope you are not burdened with anxious care today. However, if you are experiencing troubles that are causing you anxiety, please seek wise counsel for help out of your situation, if possible. Please also take it to God in prayer and ask others to pray for you. Please also count your blessings and center yourself in the Word of God and the work of the Holy Spirit. And I pray you will be relieved of the anxiety that is burdening you today.

Prayer:  Father God, sometimes I get anxious about my physical needs or the physical needs of my family and friends. In those times, please help me to remember all you have done for me. In those times, help me to lift my heart with the promises in Your Word. And when my friends or family are experiencing anxious care, please help me to be a comfort to them, lifting their heavy hearts with words of comfort, love and peace. In the name of your Son and my Savior, Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

Your thoughts —  

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Day 77 – 90 Days in Proverbs - Lip Service

Proverbs 12:13-14 [ESV] 13 An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, but the righteous escapes from trouble. 14 From the fruit of his mouth a man is satisfied with good, and the work of a man's hand comes back to him.

The book of Proverbs certainly talks a lot about lips – both the proper use and the destructive use of our lips (or mouths).

As a salesperson, I do a lot of talking, introducing myself and the company I work for, explaining what we do, giving presentations about our services, reviewing proposals over the phone and more. I guess you could say that the “fruit of my mouth” is a key factor in providing my income. I am careful to accurately outline the cost of our services and what the software program can and cannot do. If I am not clear, it can cause us to lose an opportunity or create some major problems for existing clients.

How much more important is it for us to speak clearly and accurately about the Gospel message and God’s plan of salvation? How much more important is it that in all our conversations we sew good fruit and do not transgress God’s law or His will?

Of course, God alone does the calling of His children into the flock. However, I must realize that it is possible for my words (in person or on social media) to cause undo concern and work against God’s own efforts in someone’s life – especially if my lips express inaccuracies about the Gospel. It can also be a problem to new believers and potential new believers if my lips spew out sinful things like lies or gossip, or hateful things like name-calling or ugly memes. This is not the example I should be setting.

James warns against the potential conflict between what I say about being a Christian and what my lips put out there into the world. James 3:8-12 [NKJV] 8 But no man can tame the tongue. [It is] an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring send forth fresh [water] and bitter from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.

Even though James says “no man can tame the tongue” we know that God, through the Holy Spirit in us can tame our mouths and bring them into His service. Without the intervening of the Holy Spirit taming the human tongue is nearly impossible.

As Christians, our words, our lips were meant to be fruitful for God’s purposes. Let’s be like the righteous in Proverbs 12:13 whose words help us escape from any trouble. Let’s be like the righteous in verse 14 whose words sew good things that can come back to us and satisfy not only our lives with good, but also work the works of God.

Prayer – Lord God, you gave me a mouth to sew good things for my benefit and for the benefit of others. Use my lips today to work good works – to encourage, uplift, speak truth, preach the gospel and anything else that will glorify you and make good use of the mouth you gave me. In Jesus name I ask, acknowledging that He set the example me in using words to glorify you. Amen.

Your thoughts —  

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Day 76 – 90 Days in Proverbs - Pursuing What Matters

Proverbs 12:11 [ESV] Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense. ...

When we read about worthless pursuits, let’s not be tempted to think of young people and their video games or Youtube watching. I should consider my own worthless pursuits. In order to examine what might be considered my own worthless pursuits I should think about binging a season of my favorite show in one night. But I should also go deeper.

The definition of what is a “worthless pursuit” can be much more complex and far-reaching than that.

For example, anything not guided or blessed by God – anything not within His will – can be or can become a worthless pursuit.

James 4:13-16 warns us about setting about on any plans not guided by God [ESV] 13 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit"-- 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that." 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

While you may not need to pursue God’s will in deciding if you should serve broccoli or green beans for dinner, buy a blue car or a black one, etc., I believe that there’s much more of our lives that could and should be subjected to the “God’s will test”. This is true especially if you and I want to ensure that we don’t pursue something that is worthless. Again, we are defining anything that is not within the will of God for us as being a “worthless” pursuit.

So, we need to search God’s scriptures, lay out our plans to Him via prayer, and seek wise council among trusted advisors before life’s big decisions – like marriage, college, career choices, and volunteering. Volunteering, helping others, is an important component of the Christian walk. But we should ask God, “What should I spend my time doing? Where would you have me serve? Is this the best place, the right place to use the resources and talents you have given me?” before getting involved with a service project. Whether that project is volunteering at women’s shelter, for a church educational program, for a community service project or any other charitable deed.

God has invested each of us with resources, with talents and with 24 hours a day. He gives most of us “three score and 10” (that is 70 years). We should be spending some of that serving others. However, any time, resource or talent we spend that is not spent doing what is within His will can ultimately be a worthless pursuit and a waste of our limited time on the earth.

Sisters, we must filter all potential activities (even those that seem good and worthwhile) through the lens of God’s will. This is the only way to ensure that the time, resources and talents we have are spent on only the most worthy pursuits – pursuits that honor our Father and are done because it is His will that we should do them.

Prayer – Lord God, all that I have you have given me. I seek your guidance today. Show me your will for how I spend my time, resources and talents. Help me spend them on pursuits that are worthy and in line with your will. In Jesus name. Amen

Your thoughts —  

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Day 75 – 90 Days in Proverbs - The Animal Treatment Test

Proverbs 12:10 [ESV] Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.

I am not much of a pet person. I have had pets – everything from goldfish to gerbils to dogs and cats to rabbits and even a pig. But I haven’t had any pets for at least 15 years, in part because my husband is decidedly not a pet person and in part because I travel so much for work that it makes having a pet impractical and potentially unfair to the animal.

Our merciful Father is concerned with the life and well-being of animals. After all, He created them with carefully planned design and purpose too. Animals don’t have the potential of eternal life, but that doesn’t mean God does not care for them.

Matthew 10:29, 31 [NIV] Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father's care… So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Even though animals do not have a divine purpose, God gave Israel instructions for being kind to animals. For example, we find this in Deuteronomy 25:4 [ESV]: "You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain.

Deuteronomy 22:4 [ESV] You shall not see your brother's donkey or his ox fallen down by the way and ignore them. You shall help him to lift them up again.

Further, God’s instructions to the nation of Israel also included warnings to not let a contentious human relationship cause them to neglect or be cruel to animals.

Exodus 23:5 [ESV] If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying down under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it; you shall rescue it with him.

As is so often the case, Jesus bridges the gap between instruction to Israel on the humane way to treat animals and a greater spiritual lesson for us. We see this in Matthew 12:10-12 [ESV] And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"--so that they might accuse him. He said to them, "Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."

The Word of God indicates that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she treats the animals in their care. Jesus instructs us to give even more thought to how we treat our fellow man.

Sisters, we should think about this valuation in how we treat our co-workers on the job. It should inform the decisions we make about how to treat our children and what to prioritize in their lives. It should guide how we treat our mates. We should think about it in regards to how we treat the server at that restaurant or the customers, if you are the server at the restaurant. We should think about it before telling a joke or posting a meme or spreading gossip that would hurt someone else (even if that gossip is a fact).

God cares about animals. He takes care of them and He bids us to do the same. In fact, He indicates that one can tell a lot about a person by how they treat the animals in their care.

God requires that we treat each other with loving care in every interaction and to consider the well-being of our fellow man in every decision we make, just as Jesus did.

PRAYER – Father, help me to be kind and caring toward the animals in my care. You created them to serve mankind. Even more important to You, my loving Creator, is how I treat my fellow man. Please help me to treat others with loving care, concerned for their well-being and how my every word or action could impact others for good or evil. Help me to show mercy to others as you have shown mercy to me.

Your thoughts —  

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Day 74 – 90 Days in Proverbs - Stand Up

Proverbs 12:7 [NKJV] The wicked are overthrown and [are] no more, But the house of the righteous will stand.

The word translated “will stand” can mean to endure or it can mean to take a stand. The house of the righteous endures specifically because it is a house that also takes a stand.

We, God’s daughters, are not meant to be silent in this world, nor are we meant to be hidden.

Luke 11:33 [ESV] No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light.

God’s own light, His Spirit, has been given to those of us who give their lives to Him for the express purpose of shining that light into the world. We must then hold that light up high – place it on a stand so that it may be lifted higher and shine out further. No one should be left to wonder if I am a Christian, because the light of God in me should be so obvious that they cannot doubt it.

Often, the best way for others to see God’s light is for them to witness us taking a stand. It may be that I intervene when someone is bullied. It may be that I don’t turn and attack a person who has caused me trouble with gossip or back-biting at work, but instead praise and support that person – show them good in return for evil. It may be that I return a soft answer when faced with wrath, or that I risk my job to keep the Sabbath or Holy Days.

Whether in small opportunities or large ones, we must always take a stand on the side of God. As we take a stand, in opportunities both large and small, we build something.

Knowing that Jesus is, and must always be, the foundation of what we build, 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 [NKJV] tells us: 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation [with] gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone's work which he has built on [it] endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

When we take a stand for good in this life, when we stand up for God’s ways no matter what we may lose in the process, be build a house of good works. That house of good works we do in this life will stand in the minds of others long after we are gone from this life. It will stand with God, too, in His heart and in eternal rewards for what we have built with His light in us.

Sisters, the children of God take a stand for good, thereby shedding His light into the world and building a history of glorifying God that will stand long past our time on this earth.

PRAYER: Father God, help me to take a stand for you today – a stand for good and against evil; a stand for love and against hate; a stand for peace in a world where there is none; a stand for hope in a world that needs it so much. Lord, I will stand up for you, for your ways, for your Word and for your Son. Show me how and give me always the strength to take a stand so that my house can endure.

Your thoughts —  

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Day 73 – 90 Days in Proverbs - The Mind-Mouth Connection

Proverbs 12:5-6 [ESV] The thoughts of the righteous are just; the counsels of the wicked are deceitful. 6 The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the mouth of the upright delivers them.

This isn’t the only place in the Word of God where we see a connection between thoughts and words. One scripture that I often repeat to God in prayer is the request of the psalmist found in Psalms 19:14 [ESV] Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

If you’ve ever read about having a positive attitude and speaking of things “as though they already are” then you may want your prayer to be phrased this way: Psalms 49:3 [ESV] My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.

Whichever you choose, please notice that the good or the bad begins long before the words come out. We have this admonition in Proverbs so that we know that we need to change our thoughts in order to direct our words. And we have these examples in the Psalms so that we understand that the way to change our words and ensure they are words of love and peace and edification is to change our hearts and minds first.

As with so many changes required of Christians, what we really need is not to adapt our existing minds but to exchange them for the mind of God.

Our carnal minds are naturally very far from the mind of God. Isaiah 55:8-9 [NKJV] 8 "For My thoughts [are] not your thoughts, Nor [are] your ways My ways," says the LORD. 9 "For [as] the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.

What kind of thoughts does God have? Well, here is an often quoted example that sums it up nicely: Jeremiah 29:11 [NKJV] For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Peace. Future. Hope. These are the thoughts of God.

Our thoughts can become aligned with God’s. Philippians 2:5 [KJV] commands us: Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: We need to exchange our human, carnal minds for the mind of Christ. This is the work of the Holy Spirit in us.

Once we exchange our human, natural way of thinking for the mind of Christ, our words will become aligned with His as well. Luke 6:45 [NKJV] puts it this way: A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. When heart and mind are aligned with God, then godly speech comes out of us.

Sweet sisters, I pray that our thoughts will be aligned with the Father’s – with those of Jesus – becoming thoughts of hope, peace and future and that our conversations are filled with talk of hope, of peace and of the beautiful future that God offers all of us.

PRAYER: Father God, with Jesus Christ at your right hand, today I ask that you exchange my carnal, human mind for Jesus’ own mind. Exchange my human heart for a godly one – a heart of love. And lead my words to flow from my new heart and mind so that they glorify you and edify others. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Your thoughts —  

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DAY 72 – 90 Days in Proverbs - Crown Jewels

PROVERBS 12:4 [KJV] 4 A virtuous woman [is] a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed [is] as rottenness in his bones.

The word “virtuous” here is the same word used to begin the praise of the Proverbs 31 woman.

In the NIV puts it like this: A wife of noble character is her husband's crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.

Here, again, the writer uses contrast, as he often does, to show the results of opposite choices in behavior. It is very important for Christian wives to understand how our behavior impacts our families. It is important for Christian husbands to appreciate the great value of a wife of good character. However, since each believer is a part of the bride of Christ, it is even more important that we all (women and men) understand and think about how our daily behavior impacts Jesus.

Am I, by word and deed, a crown to my Savior or do I cause Him disappointment that feels like sickness in His bones? If people know that I am a Christian, my behavior reflects on my Savior, either for the good or for the bad.

The Hebrew word translated “makes ashamed,” according to the Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon, is more than just a slight embarrassment. Gesenius says, “the origin should not apparently be sought in the idea of blushing, but rather in that of paleness and terror.”

This proverb is cautioning against making the High Priest at the right hand of the Father, the One who came to earth, lived the perfect example of virtuous character and then died for me, more than a little worried for us. This proverb cautions me against making my Savior worried to the point of being, metaphorically, sick at heart.

Have you ever had a friend, child or even acquaintance do something that made you “sick at your stomach?” I have. I’ve also done things that, looking back on them later, in a repentant attitude and seeing those words or deeds in a different light, made me sick at my stomach.

We don’t need to worry that the Father won’t forgive us, or that Jesus’ blood will not cover us, for anything we do. All repentance results in forgiveness. But I should be considering if I am acting or speaking like a crown jewel of which my Savior may be proud or if I am hurting Him “down into His bones.”

Sisters, we are meant to be jewels in His crown. So, let’s think ahead before speaking or acting, and ask how this will affect our future Husband, Jesus. Let us plan our words and deeds so they enhance His crown with the jewels of kind words and loving actions, rather than the stomach churning opposite behavior. Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to help us in our goal to be crown jewels.

PRAYER: Father God, I know my words and deeds have impact on the lives of those around me. Please help me to remember that they are also either making you and Jesus proud or causing you distress. Help me to choose to be a crown jewel at every moment of every day. Thank you for the Holy Spirit that helps me make the right choices. Fill me with your Holy Spirit so that I will always make you and Jesus proud. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Your thoughts —  

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DAY 71 –90 Days in Proverbs - Disciplined

Proverbs 12:1 [NIV] Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid.

Do you like people to be direct? Well, the author really “tells it like it is” in this passage: if you hate correction, you are stupid.

As far as I can tell, there isn’t a lot of difference between the Hebrew word translated as “discipline” (Discipline, chastening, correction) and the one translated “correction.” (Rebuke, correction, reproof, punishment, chastisement.) Solomon isn’t talking about loving or hating some more gentle application like instruction or education. The words he selected are clear – we have to come to love being corrected.

The thing is, does anyone really love discipline, being chastised or correction? I don’t know of anyone who does. We may be able to learn to appreciate correction, even if it doesn’t come naturally. Solomon makes it clear that if I truly love knowledge, I must learn love discipline.

As Christians, we have the goal of becoming more like Jesus Christ, living as He lived, loving as He loved, walking as He walked when He was on the earth. If I cannot come to at least appreciate correction as a necessary part of Christian growth, I’d basically be saying that there is nothing wrong in me as I am. I’d be claiming that I never make bad decisions. I will admit that I cannot claim either as true.

The Word of God is our guide, our instruction book. The Holy Spirit leads and urges us to do what is right. Still, we sin. And when that happens, we will be corrected. Sometimes it is gentle correction by the Holy Spirit. Sometimes it is private correction from reading the Bible.

Sometimes chastisement comes through a sermon, were I may feel the preacher is speaking directly to me, but no one else knows it. This can be difficult to swallow if we think of that preacher as a sinner who needs to “take his own medicine.” I find these easier to handle private correction than other ways that God might correct me.

The toughest to handle? When God sends a friend, family member, mate or brother in Christ to directly correct me, or worse, someone publically corrects me. In the instance of David’s sin with Bathsheba, where he didn’t just commit adultery but also murdered her husband, David received very public correction and discipline. [2 Samuel 11-12] Not only did Nathan, the prophet, publically chastise David in his court, but David’s son died and, later, one of his other sons publically slept with one of David’s wives. Ouch.

Proverbs 15:10 goes as far as to say, Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way, and he who hates correction will die. We all want gentle correction, don’t we? But God will use harsh discipline if we need it.

No matter how chastisement happens to us, we must learn to react like David always did – admitting the sin/wrong, seeking forgiveness, asking for mercy, but ultimately accepting any punishment God levied. Nathan was just another human being with a role to play as a servant of God. I’m sure David knew Nathan was a sinner too, but he realized the correction came from God and that he deserved it.

This is the key to learning to love correction, disciple and chastisement: to understand that it all comes from God.

2 Timothy 3:16 [NIV] tells us, All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correction and training in righteousness, so that the servant may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. If we seek to be God’s children and our lives are focused on becoming more like Jesus and the Father, we must learn to seek His discipline in the Bible. We must learn to love and accept the correction God sends to us. Whether He uses a sermon, a person, the Holy Spirit or the Bible, we must be open to correction. As we come to love and accept it in all its forms and formats.

Sweet sisters, ultimately, the goal of correction is to change us into people who need less correcting. That is at least something to love about it.

PRAYER: Father God, I don’t love correction, chastisement and discipline yet, but I do want to be more like you. Please send me correction and discipline whenever I need it, but please be gentle and merciful with me as I seek to grow more like Jesus every day. In His name I pray. Amen

Your thoughts —  

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DAY 70 – 90 Days in Proverbs - Make Good Choices

Today’s text is PROVERBS 12:1-28. I’m not going to read all 28 verses to you this morning, but do suggest that, if you have time, you read it through.

Each verse of chapter 12 of Proverbs uses the tool of comparing and contrasting to differentiate between good behavior or good choices and wrong behavior or wrong choices, including the results of each choice. We’ll dive into some of them specifically over the next few days. However, an overview of the entire chapter is helpful to get a sense of what Solomon is trying to say with all this comparing/contrasting.

Interestingly, Solomon seems to have three areas of focus: what we say, what we do and how we feel. With this, he covers all aspects of the human existence in 28 verses.

As you read through the chapter, you will probably note, as I did, that he does not talk about eternal reward or eternal punishment. Nor does he say, “you should do this” or “you should not do that.” Instead he mostly just points out the differences between the bad behavior or bad choice and the good - doing what God hates versus what He delights in, and how it impacts our lives in the “here and now.”

outlines that good behavior results in good things in this life, while bad choices provide negative results in this life.  But sometimes he just defines good choices and bad choices without giving any results.

As parents, we often do the same with our children, don’t we? We say, “If you study hard, you will make good grades” or “If you eat your vegetables, you will grow big and strong” or “If you don’t feed your goldfish it will die” – pointing out the results of choices. We point out that choices, good or bad, have consequences in the here and now.

Something to think about as we read through this chapter is that not all bad choices have eternal results. If, after killing an animal you hunted for, you are then too lazy to cook it, you will go hungry (as outlined in verse 27) – that’s a fact. But it does not result in eternal condemnation.

God is interested in us having a good life now, not just a beautiful, eternal future. Deuteronomy 30:16 [MSG] says to “Love God, your God. Walk in His ways. Keep His commandments, regulations, and rules so that you will live, really live, live exuberantly, blessed by God, your God.” The choices we make have an effect the quality of our lives now.

There will be times in our lives when time and chance, the bad choices of others, and other external factors that you and I cannot control will negatively impact our lives, of course However, the Father wants us to understand that we do have a role to play in establishing how happy, healthy, successful and satisfied we are in the years we live on this earth.

My younger sister told me that when she dropped her children off at school each day, the last things she said to them was, “Make good choices!” Reading through Proverbs 12 seems to say the same, but also follows, in most verses, with the consequences of doing so or not.

Sisters, good choices in even the decisions of everyday life – how to act, what to say, how we think – don’t always impact our eternal future. Sometimes they just make life better, or worse, today. Make good choices.

PRAYER: Father, each day is made up of many choices, small and large, that impact my life today. While You are both focused on my eternal future, I know that You also care about my life each day. Help me to make the choices that better the life within my control today- things like my health, my job, my overall happiness – so that I can enjoy this life, even as I prepare for the future in Your Kingdom. Thank you for your words of wisdom throughout the Bible, which guide me in all my day-to-day choices. In Jesus name I pray. Amen. 

Your thoughts —  

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DAY 69 – 90 Days in Proverbs - You Get What You Look For

Proverbs 11:27 [RSV] He who diligently seeks good seeks favor, but evil comes to him who searches for it.

There is an old rock song by the Rolling Stones that says, “You can't always get what you want, But if you try sometimes you might find, you get what you need.”

Proverbs 11:27 tells me just the opposite. It says that I will get what I look for, whether that is seeking good or searching for evil.

Looking at the definitions of the Hebrew words translated seek and search gives us some additional insight. The word translated “seeks” in the phrase “seeks favor” means to seek early, earnestly or diligently.

But the word translated “searches”, speaking of the one searching for evil, means “to tread or beat a path, or frequent.” This paints a better picture of what is going on here. The person seeking evil isn’t just casually looking around to see if there is any bad to be had – he is really working at it – going again and again to the places when you can find evil to the point of wearing down a path toward it.

Proverbs 11:27 is describing someone whose goal and focus is to find evil or, as it is translated in the King James Version: “mischief.” Trouble isn’t finding this person, she is doing her best to find it.

But, what about the early part of the verse “He who diligently seeks good; seeks favor.”? What do the root words tell us about this persons efforts?

The Hebrew word translated “diligently seeks” means “to be up early at a task.” The word translated “procures” means “searches after, strives for” and the word translated “favor” means “to be pleasing, acceptable, approved.” Perhaps you, like me, are up early in the day on most days, spending time searching for what is pleasing or acceptable to God by praying or reading the Bible or meditating on God’s word.

It’s okay if you do this late in the day instead. The implication is that it is a priority to this person to seek to be pleasing or approved in the same way that the other person is seeking mischief or evil.

So far we have addressed seeking to do good or to do evil. This Proverb reminds me of a folk tale that goes like this:

A traveler came upon an old farmer hoeing in his field beside the road. Eager to rest his feet, the wanderer hailed the countryman, who seemed happy enough to straighten his back and talk for a moment.

"What sort of people live in the next town?" asked the stranger.

"What were the people like where you've come from?" replied the farmer, answering the question with another question.

"They were a bad lot. Troublemakers all, and lazy too. The most selfish people in the world, and not a one of them to be trusted. I'm happy to be leaving the scoundrels."

"Is that so?" replied the old farmer. "Well, I'm afraid that you'll find the same sort in the next town.

Disappointed, the traveler trudged on his way, and the farmer returned to his work.

Some time later another stranger, coming from the same direction, hailed the farmer, and they stopped to talk. "What sort of people live in the next town?" he asked.

"What were the people like where you've come from?" replied the farmer once again.

"They were the best people in the world. Hard working, honest, and friendly. I'm sorry to be leaving them."

"Fear not," said the farmer. "You'll find the same sort in the next town."

Whether you seek to do good, or seek to find good in people, you will succeed. Whether you seek to do evil, or seek to find bad in people, you will succeed.

When it comes to wanting favor or wanting mischief, finding good in others or seeing them as bad, sorry Mr. Jagger, you CAN get want you want. In fact, you can count on it.

Sisters, keep striving for good and to see the good in others. You will find it.

PRAYER: Lord God, help me to be careful what I am seeking for – to seek to be pleasing to You and always make You my priority. Help me to work at it as a thresher works at releasing the kernel of wheat. Your scripture is there for me to thresh out the good from it. Thank you for that. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Your thoughts —  

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DAY 68 – 90 Days in Proverbs - Generosity Returned

Proverbs 11:25-26 [CSB] 25 A generous person will be enriched, and the one who gives a drink of water will receive water.  26 People will curse anyone who hoards grain, but a blessing will come to the one who sells it.

The Bible makes it clear that God does not give us things – physical things or spiritual things – for our use alone.

We each have finite days on this earth, but are asked to give time in prayer and Bible study. We are also to give some of our time to serving others – like visiting the sick or those in prison, as we see outlined in Matthew 25. We each have different gifts, roles and talents, given to us by God.  1 Corinthians 12:27-31 makes it clear that God gave them to us so that we will use them for the edification of the church.

In Matthew 10:8 [NKJV] in sending out His disciples, Jesus tells them, Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Whatever God gives us, He also asks us to turn around and give out to others.

Sweet sisters, we know that God never asks us to do what He is unwilling to do as well. He and Jesus set an example for us in the things we are asked to do. So, rest assured, God will not withhold good from us either. Psalm 84:11 [CSB] For the LORD God is a sun and shield. The LORD grants favor and honor; he does not withhold the good from those who live with integrity.  He does not withhold good from His followers. In fact, He gives freely, just as Jesus asked His followers to do in Matthew 10. Romans 8:32 [NKJV] He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

There are, of course, things that only God can do. The fact that the Father has already given Jesus as a sacrifice for us all is proof that He will not withhold good things from us.

Nothing that God gives us is for us alone. Nothing we receive is to be consumed by only our own needs. Proverbs 11:26 warns us against hoarding our blessings. And James 4:3 warns us about even asking for things that we intend to only use for ourselves, saying When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. [NIV]

Sisters, we have a generous God. He freely gives us so many great blessings from His storehouse in heaven – blessings both physical and spiritual. None of those blessings are meant to be kept to ourselves. Whether it means freely distributing our excess money, food, clothes, etc. or generously giving of our time and talents, we are called to be generous children, following the example of our Father.

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for all you have given me. Thank you for your generosity. Help me to be generous in sharing the talents, time, goods and resources you have given me so that I can be more like you. Show me today what I can share with others and help me to give freely, sharing the blessing you have showered on me. In Jesus name I pray. Amen

Your thoughts —  

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Day 67 – 90 Days in Proverbs - Water Freely

Proverbs 11:24-25 [ESV] 24 One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. 25 Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.

Our Heavenly Father tells us repeatedly that He wants children who are giving. He promises to reward giving behavior.

Luke 6:38 [ESV] says, “give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you."

Ecclesiastes 11:1 [ESV] tells us, Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.

And 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 [ESV] explains two points about giving: 6 … whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

The Father wants cheerful and generous givers and He promises an abundant return on that investment in giving to others. He understands that few of us will ever have the resources to build an orphanage or a hospital wing. In fact, some of us have had or will have times in our lives when we don’t have a dollar to spare.

In those times, as well as in times of abundance, we need to remember the latter part of verse 25 of Proverbs 11, where it says one who waters will himself be watered, And be reminded of John 7:38-39 [ESV] where it says 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

If we are filled with the Holy Spirit (if we are “watered” by it), we have living waters that can flow from us to others. And then, because the Holy Spirit is a living, flowing water source, like a river, we will always be refilled so that it can continue to grow.

Without a dollar to my name, I can water others with the Holy Spirit – with love, joy, peace, the Gospel message, and so forth.

Sisters, the Good Father, who gives generously to us, wants His daughters to also be generous givers, especially with the Holy Spirit. If we withhold it, we ourselves will suffer want as Proverbs 11:24 tells us. If we give it generously, we will find that we have the Holy Spirit, that living water, in abundance.

May your rivers never run dry, sweet sisters.

Prayer — Father God, thank You for your generosity in giving me good gifts in this life. Thank You for the Spiritual gifts You give: the gift of forgiveness and eternal life through Jesus Christ my Lord; the gift of the Holy Spirit – a living water that can flow through me. Please help me to be generous like You, helping others by sharing the physical blessings You have provided and, most importantly, by sharing the gift of the Holy Spirit and its fruit with them. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen

Your thoughts —  

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Day 66 – 90 Days in Proverbs - Gilded Pig

Proverbs 11:22 [CSB] A beautiful woman who rejects good sense is like a gold ring in a pig's snout.

These days, we use this phrase: “Like putting lipstick on a pig” to make the same point as Solomon is making here. Jewelry or makeup doesn’t mask reality. Perhaps our modern phrase evolved from this Proverb.

However someone may try to dress it up, bad character is still there and God can see it. Usually, it will also eventually be revealed to others.

There is nothing wrong with good genes that make others consider you beautiful. There isn’t anything wrong with taking care of your hair and body, or in wearing nice clothes or makeup. The problem comes in when the outer beauty is at odds with the inner character.

The King James Version uses the term “without discretion” but the word can mean literally without taste (like for food) or figuratively without a taste for judgement, discernment or reason. So, “a beautiful woman who rejects good sense” is someone who has access to sound judgement and guidance but doesn’t use it.

Sweet sisters, this is a warning for all believers. We have access to the Father. We have access to the Bible. We have the Holy Spirit in us. If we reject the sound judgement, guidance and influence of these resources, then we become like that pig wearing jewelry.

1 Timothy 2:9-10 offers similar advice, [NKJV] 9 in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, 10 but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. Far from rejecting good character, we should be adorning ourselves with it.

The book of Proverbs is a great resource for gaining understanding, good judgement, discernment and reasoning skills. We’ve spent more than 60 days learning from some of those nuggets of truth.

It is so easy to get distracted by other voices in this life. It is what Satan wants. Human nature, Satan, and the world around us that is primarily led by these, encourages us to act irresponsibly, take revenge, lash out in anger, to put self-interest over the interest of others, and in many other ways reject the teachings of the Bible and the leading of the Holy Spirit.

These are not the character qualities of a godly woman. The character qualities of a godly person are found in Galatians 5:22-23. These qualities include love, joy, peace, patience, kindness and self control.

My grandmother used to say, “you cannot make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear”.  (Side note: I don’t know how pigs became the go-to animal for this, but they seem to be just that.) God never considers anyone to be a sow, sweet sister. He has always loved us and has always considered us precious to Him. However, our character, apart from the Holy Spirit can be something that is pretty ugly, at least at times.

The transformation of a godly woman is something like turning a sow’s ear into a silk purse – taking an odd item that many would consider to be of no value and transforming it into something where its true value shines through.

The love of God, the sacrifice of Jesus, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit do radically change us. They transform us into a new creation that is beautiful and useful. They do this IF we don’t reject them or the good sense that is available through them.

Sisters, God isn’t looking to put jewelry or lipstick on our human character. He looking to transform our character – to transform us – from our old selves into something entirely new and differnt.

Prayer — Father God, You call me beloved. You made me beautiful and You seek to transform me into a reflection of You – of Your good character, love and mercy. You seek to infuse me with Your own wisdom and to guide me to have good sense and to make wise decisions. Thank You for Your word and the Holy Spirit that can transform me in this way. Please lead us today to be women of beautiful character, who are adorned with good works, so that we are beautiful inside. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Your thoughts —  

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Day 65 – 90 Days in Proverbs - Favor and Glory

Proverbs 11:16 [NKJV] A gracious woman retains honor, But ruthless [men] retain riches.

The Hebrew word translated gracious here means to find favor in the eyes of someone; to be acceptable to him. And who is it that we are working to find favor with, sweet sisters? It is God, Himself, isn’t it?

You know who found favor with God? Mary, mother of Jesus. Luke 1:30 [NKJV] Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

Interestingly, finding favor does not seem to be an action verb either in Proverbs 11 or in Luke 1:30. It seems to be a gift of favor bestowed on someone. The favor of God is not something we can earn, any more than we can earn His love. He chooses to give us favor, and love, because of who He is, not because of what we have done.

Having found or received favor with God, then what? According to Proverbs 11:16, a woman who has found favor retains honor.

The word translated “retains” means to grasp, hold, support, attain, lay hold of, hold fast.

The word translated honor could also be translated “glory” and is used in the phrase “glory of the Lord” in Exodus 16:10 and other verses.

So, to put that all together, let me suggest this – a way that we could reword Proverbs 11:16. We might say, “The woman who has been given favor by God, holds fast to His glory.”

As with all our goals as Christian, Jesus is our example. Luke 2:52 [NKJV] tells us And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. And in John 1:14 [NKJV] we read, And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Jesus had the Father’s glory and favor. He held onto the glory of the Father by the life He lived – a life of love and service. He preached the gospel, fed hungry people, healed others, cast out their demons and lived a life of integrity – in other words, He did the works the Father sent Him to do.

That is how we will hold fast to God’s glory as well. The glory of the Lord is in us through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit enables us to live lives that serve others and, thereby, glorifies the Father. We don’t hold tight to glory by keeping it to ourselves, but by using it to serve others.

We have the favor of the Lord, my sisters, because He loves us, not because of what we have done. However, we must hang onto His glory by using our lives to glorify Him. If every thought, word and deed is done to glorify God, then we are holding tight to His glory. You have His favor. Hold tight to His glory, gracious sisters. Seek to be a woman who has been given favor by God, and, therefore, holds fast to His glory.

Prayer — Father God, Thank You for Your favor, Your love and Your mercy. Thank You for Your favor, though I have not earned it. Help me, help us, today to hang onto Your glory by using the Holy Spirit in us and the resources at our disposal to honor you, to serve others and to do good works. We want to hold tight to that glory, Your glory, by spreading it out into the world. Help us to do so. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Your thoughts —  

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Day 64 – 90 Days in Proverbs - Hearing Counselors

Proverbs 11:14 [NKJV] Where [there is] no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors [there is] safety. [ESV] 14 Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. [NLT] 14 Without wise leadership, a nation falls; there is safety in having many advisers.

Whether the Bible translators chose to use counsel, guidance or wise leadership, the message is that a nation is best served by a getting input from many wise voices. We know that, in business, it has been proven that crafting a team with mix of genders, ethnic backgrounds, ages, talents and experience who work together toward a common goal is the best way to keep a company healthy and moving forward.

Whether you are buying a car or choosing a career, you’ll make a better decision if you look at all key factors and get a variety of input. The key, though, is actually listening to all the different and wise counselors – not just the ones who say what you want to hear or who agree with your own opinion.

This passage is almost prophetic for the nation of Israel. After Solomon’s death, his son, Jeroboam had the chance to improve his rulership and seal himself as king. The elder counselors gave him the advice to ease up on the people. But Jeroboam refused their counsel in favor of the advice of his young friends who appealed to his machismo. Essentially, he said, “you thought my dad was tough? I’ll show you tough!”

He lost the better part of the nation of Israel over his failure to listen to wise counsel.

I get it – no one likes to hear that they are all wrong, or to receive counsel that goes against what we really want to do. But that is the whole point of seeking a multitude of wise counsel – to hear the things we might not think of on our own. And, using this advice, to make a decision that brings success instead of failure.

The ultimate wise counselor is someone I bet you do love to talk to and to hear from: Jesus. Isaiah 9:6 [NKJV] For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Sweet sisters, good counsel from a variety of wise sources is the way to make smart decisions and true success in both this life and in your Christian walk. We should start with the counsel of God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the Bible. We should also seek wise counsel from experienced fellow believers and from secular leaders, experts and advisors. who can give experienced input.

I wish you success in all your endeavors today and in the future. The key to that success is not only seeking wise counsel but actually listening to it and making a wise decision based on that counsel.

Prayer — Father God, we seek your counsel, the counsel of Jesus, of Your word and of the Holy Spirit to guide us today. Whether our decisions are large or small, we know we will be benefited from doing so. Help us to be wise counselors to others. And send wise counselors to us when we need help with an important decision. Most of all, we seek the safety and success that comes from following Your wise counsel. Please lead us today and always. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Your thoughts —  

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Day 63 - 90 Days in Proverbs - Neighborly

Proverbs 11:12-13 [NIV] 12 Whoever derides (or belittles – as the ESV puts it) their neighbor has no sense, but the one who has understanding holds their tongue. 13 A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.

Wes and I live in the country. We have neighbors on one side. Our properties are separated by trees and a fence, as well as long driveways. Being neighborly takes a lot less effort than if you live in an apartment where you can hear the TV of the folks next door or a subdivision where you hear the kids in the yard and see each other taking the garbage out.

Being a good neighbor is important to God. Romans 13:10 [NKJV] tells us, Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love [is] the fulfillment of the law. In Luke 10:27-28, we find that we must go beyond just not gossiping or just not doing harm. Verse 27 So he answered and said, "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself.' " 28 And He (Jesus) said to him, "You have answered rightly; do this and you will live." The young lawyer than asked Jesus “who is my neighbor?” and, in response, Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan. Everyone who needs your help is your neighbor – not just those who share a fence line.

The millennial in the next cubicle who is struggling to keep up with multiple projects is your neighbor. The mom who always brings the worst junk food to little league practice is your neighbor. The family member no one wants to invite to dinner is your neighbor. We are to love and help them in any way we can.

It can be tempting to belittle a mate, sibling or coworker when we should do as Proverbs 11:12 tells us – to hold our tongues. The people closest to us have the greatest chance of rubbing us the wrong way.

My grandma used to say, “if you cannot say something nice, say nothing at all.” I bet you’ve heard that too. God does not want us to belittle others or gossip about them. He wants us to hold our tongues rather than do harm to a neighbor – whether that neighbor is a relative, coworker, friend or actual neighbor.

He expects us to love each neighbor as we love ourselves, whether that neighbor is an annoying coworker, a busy-body neighbor, a relative who always embarrasses us in public or someone who is easy to love. That love includes reaching out to help when we see them in need.

Don’t belittle or gossip about any neighbor. Instead love them. It’s the neighborly thing to do. It’s the godly thing to do.

Prayer — Father God, you call me to love my neighbors as myself. Help me today to hold my tongue rather than gossip or belittle. Help me today to reach out with support and provision when I see a neighbor in need. Help me to love all my neighbors as myself – for every one of them is a child of yours. Jesus showed us the way and it is His example I seek to follow. In His name I pray. Amen.

Your thoughts —  

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Day 62 – 90 Days in Proverbs - Hope, No Hope

Proverbs 11:7 [NIV] Hopes placed in mortals die with them; all the promise of their power comes to nothing.

Unless all our hopes and plans are reliant on God rather than man, any man, death ends that hope. No one has any real power beyond his/her death. I suppose if you leave a bunch of money to a non-profit like the American Cancer Society, you might say that, until the money runs out, your money has some power to do good. However, the society will spend it as they see fit. So, you really have no power.

Sometimes our power and influence ends before death – maybe after leaving political office or if you become physically or mentally feeble. Power, wealth and influence are fragile things and the actions of time and chance are fickle.

In the story of Lazarus and the Rich Man, which we read in Luke 16:19-31, the rich man learns this lesson the hard way. After death, his fate was sealed and all the money and influence he wielded when alive did him absolutely no good in trying to change his circumstances and the future of his living family.

However, in this life, we are called to be people who can be relied upon. We are to be people that others can trust and place their hope in. Others should be able to be assured that we will keep our word and our promises and that we will do what is right and good.

If we have power in this life, maybe being a teacher or a pastor or a supervisor at work, we are to use that power for good. We are to be just and fair. But the power of even the good and just ends with death.

Sweet sisters, there is one hope that does not die with us, and that is the hope in the Lord. Psalm 146:5 [NIV] tells us, Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God. The hope we place in Jesus did not die with Him at His crucifixion. That hope lived on, until He was resurrected 3 days later. It lived on after He went back to heaven to be with our Father. That hope lives on today and it will live on through all eternity – after our own deaths and resurrection to new life.

Because I know that this is where you place your hope, I say to you the words we find in Psalm 31:24, [NIV] Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD. Your hope in the Lord will not die with you.

Prayer — Father God, we hope and trust in You and Jesus. This is the only hope that lives past the grave. Lord, help us to be strong in this hope. Help us to be people others can trust in and help us to wield any power we have with kindness and love. Although we cannot continue to give hope or wield power beyond the grave, we pray that we will leave behind a legacy of being like You in this. We ask it all in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Your thoughts —  

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