Proverbs 31

Proverbs 31 from The Message

Part 1- Speak Out For Justice...
1. Verses 8/9 ""Speak up for the people who have no voice, for the rights of all the down-and-outers. Speak out for justice! Stand up for the poor and destitute!""-good advice Lemuel's Mom gave him. We should practice this today!

Part 2- Hymn To A Good Wife...
After reading this part, I am left to wonder, does this woman ever have a bad day? Good grief! This passage is something I really try to be, and some days I get it right and other days, I am a huge mess! I think that after reading this, women should want to be held to a higher standard, and we truly do make a difference in the lives of our kids and our husbands. Have you ever noticed that when you are in a good mood, your husband is in a good mood, and your kids? As women, we truly set the tone of our household, and that is a big responsibility. I am not here to guilt trip you, I am pointing the finger back at myself. I think, no, I know I need to read this passage on a daily basis to keep things in perspective, to keep on pushing toward the ultimate goal, and to remind myself that God has given me a big challenge, am I up to it?

Thanks for reading along with me in Proverbs. I learned a lot, and am glad that I was able to share this experience with you all!

Proverbs 30

Proverbs 30 from The Message

1. Verse 5/6 "The believer replied, "Every promise of God proves true; he protects everyone who runs to him for help. So don't second-guess him; he might take you to task and show up your lies.""

2. Verse 13 "Don't be stuck-up and think you're better than everyone else."

3. Out of The Message I thought the 4 Insatiables, 4 Mysteries, 4 Intolerables, 4 Small Wonders, and 4 Dignitaries were all funny, serious, and so true!

4. Verse 32/33 "If you're dumb enough to call attention to yourself by offending people and making rude gestures, Don't be surprised if someone bloodies your nose. Churned milk turns into butter; riled emotions turn into fist fights."

Can you believe we only have one more chapter?!
See you tomorrow...

Proverbs 29

Proverbs 29 from the NLT

1. Verse 1 "Whoever stubbornly refuses to accept criticism will suddenly be destroyed beyond recovery."

2. Verse 13 "The poor and the oppressor have this in common—the Lord gives sight to the eyes of both."

3. Verse 17 "Discipline your children, and they will give you peace of mind and will make your heart glad."

4. Verse 25 "Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety."

What are your favorites?
See you tomorrow...

Proverbs 28

Proverbs 28 from The Message

1. Verse 4 "If you desert God's law, you're free to embrace depravity; if you love God's law, you fight for it tooth and nail."

2. Verse 9 "God has no use for the prayers of the people who won't listen to him."

3. Verse 13 "You can't whitewash your sins and get by with it; you find mercy by admitting and leaving them."

4. Verse 25 "A grasping person stirs up trouble, but trust in God brings a sense of well-being."

5. Verse 26 "If you think you know it all, you're a fool for sure; real survivors learn wisdom from others."

What are your favorites?
See you tomorrow...

Proverbs 27

Proverbs 27 from The Message

1. Verse 2 "Don't call attention to yourself; let others do that for you."

2. Verse 9 "Just as lotions and fragrance give sensual delight, a sweet friendship refreshes the soul."

3. Verses 15/16 "A nagging spouse is like the drip, drip, drip of a leaky faucet; You can't turn it off, and you can't get away from it." I do NOT want to be a leaky faucet!

4. Verse 17 "You use steel to sharpen steel, and one friend sharpens another."

5. Verse 19 "Just as water mirrors your face, so your face mirrors your heart."

What are your favorites?
See you tomorrow...

Proverbs 26

Proverbs 26 from the NLT

1. Verse 4 "Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools, or you will become as foolish as they are."

2. Verses 18/19 "Just as damaging as a madman shooting a deadly weapon is someone who lies to a friend and then says, “I was only joking.”"

3. Verse 22 "Rumors are dainty morsels that sink deep into one’s heart."

What are your favorites?
See you tomorrow...

Proverbs 25

Proverbs 25 from The Message

1. Verses 6/7 "Don't work yourself into the spotlight; don't push your way into the place of prominence. It's better to be promoted to a place of honor than face humiliation by being demoted."

2. Verses 16/17 "When you're given a box of candy, don't gulp it all down; eat too much chocolate and you'll make yourself sick; And when you find a friend, don't outwear your welcome; show up at all hours and he'll soon get fed up."

3. Verse 28 "A person without self-control is like a house with its doors and windows knocked out."

What are your favorites?
See you tomorrow...

Proverbs 24

Proverbs 24 from The Message

1. Verses 3-4 "It takes wisdom to build a house, and understanding to set it on a firm foundation;
It takes knowledge to furnish its rooms with fine furniture and beautiful draperies."

2. Verse 10 "If you fall to pieces in a crisis, there wasn't much to you in the first place." -OUCH!

3. Verses 13-14 "Eat honey, dear child—it's good for you— and delicacies that melt in your mouth. Likewise knowledge, and wisdom for your soul—Get that and your future's secured, your hope is on solid rock."

4. Verse 26 "An honest answer is like a warm hug."

One thing I have noticed is that some of the Proverbs repeat past Proverbs that we have read before. Anyone else notice that? I guess they are just that wise that they need repeated again!
What are your favorites?
See you tomorrow...

Proverbs 23

Proverbs 23 from The Message

1. Verses 1-3 "When you go out to dinner with an influential person, mind your manners: Don't gobble your food, don't talk with your mouth full. And don't stuff yourself; bridle your appetite."-In actually just find this a tad bit humorous and true! This is advice we should give our kids when they go out on their first date, ha!

2. Verse 9 "Don't bother talking sense to fools; they'll only poke fun at your words."

3. Verse 12 "Give yourselves to disciplined instruction; open your ears to tested knowledge."

4. Verse 15-16 "Dear child, if you become wise, I'll be one happy parent. My heart will dance and sing to the tuneful truth you'll speak." -I think this is all that we want from our kids!

5. Verse 22-25 "Listen with respect to the father who raised you, and when your mother grows old, don't neglect her. Buy truth—don't sell it for love or money; buy wisdom, buy education, buy insight. Parents rejoice when their children turn out well; wise children become proud parents.
So make your father happy! Make your mother proud!"

I thought this chapter, especially from The Message had a lot of useful wisdom for me right now, regarding raising Molly.
What are your favorites?
See you tomorrow...

Proverbs 22

Proverbs 22 from the New Living Translation

1. Verse 4 "True humility and fear of the Lord lead to riches, honor, and long life."

2. Verse 6 "Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it."

3. Verses 17-29 were really good, also. I didn't want to write all back out for you to re-read, but I did like what it said.

What are your favorites?
See you tomorrow...

Proverbs 21

Proverbs 21 from The Message

1. Verse 2 "We justify our actions by appearances; God examines our motives."

2. Verse 13 "If you stop your ears to the cries of the poor, your cries will go unheard, unanswered."

3. Verse 23 " Watch your words and hold your tongue; you'll save yourself a lot of grief."

4. Verse 26 "Sinners are always wanting what they don't have; the God-loyal are always giving what they do have."

5. Verse 31 "Do your best, prepare for the worst— then trust God to bring victory."

What are your favorites?
See you tomorrow...

Proverbs 20

Proverbs 20 from The Message...thought I would switch it up :)

1. Verse 5 "Knowing what is right is like deep water in the heart; a wise person draws from the well within."

2. Verse 19 "Gossips can't keep secrets, so never confide in blabbermouths."-Okay, I just thought this one was funny, true, but funny!

3. Verse 24 "The very steps we take come from God; otherwise how would we know where we're going?"

4. Verse 27 "God is in charge of human life, watching and examining us inside and out."

What are your favorites?
See you tomorrow...

Proverbs 19

Proverbs 19 from the NIV...

1. Verse 1 "Better a poor man whose walk is blameless than a fool whose lips are perverse."

2. Verse 11 "A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense."

3. Verse 20 & 21"Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise. Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails."

What are your favorites?
See you tomorrow...

Proverbs 18

Proverbs 18 from the NIV...

1. Verse 2 "A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions."

2. Verse 10 "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe."

3. Verse 13 "He who answers before listening-this is his folly and his shame."

4. Verse 15 "The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out."

5. Verse 21 "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit."

What are your favorites?
See you tomorrow...

Proverbs 17

Proverbs 17, from the NIV

1. Verse 10 "A rebuke impresses a man of discernment more than a hundred lashes a fool."

2. Verse 17 "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity."

3. Verse 22 "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."

What are your favorites?
See you tomorrow...

Proverbs 16

Proverbs 16 from The Message...

1. Verse 6 "Guilt is banished through love and truth; Fear-of-God deflects evil."

2. Verse 9 "We plan the way we want to live, but only God makes us able to live it."

3. Verse 16 "Get wisdom—it's worth more than money; choose insight over income every time."

4. Verse 20 "It pays to take life seriously; things work out when you trust in God."

5. Verse 31 "Gray hair is a mark of distinction, the award for a God-loyal life."

What are your favorites?
See you tomorrow...

Proverbs 15

Here are some of my favorites...

1. Verse 3 "God doesn't miss a thing—he's alert to good and evil alike."

2. Verse 13 "A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face; a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day."

3. Verse 16 "A simple life in the Fear-of-God is better than a rich life with a ton of headaches."

4. Verse 33 "Fear-of-God is a school in skilled living—first you learn humility, then you experience glory."

This was probably one of my favorite chapters so far.
What are your favorites?
See you tomorrow...

Proverbs 14

Proverbs 14 from The Message...

1. Verse 2 "An honest life shows respect for God; a degenerate life is a slap in the face."

2. Verse 8-9 "The wisdom of the wise keeps life on track; the foolishness of fools lands them in the ditch. The stupid ridicule right and wrong, but a moral life is a favored life."

3. Verse 14 "A mean person gets paid back in meanness, a gracious person in grace."

4. Verse 21 "It's criminal to ignore a neighbor in need, but compassion for the poor-what a blessing."

5. Verse 26 "The fear-of-God builds up confidence, and makes a world safer for your children."

What are your favorites?
See you tomorrow...

Proverbs 13

I am reading Proverbs 10-30 all from The Message, and here is what I took from Chapter 13...

1. Verse 3 "Careful words make for a careful life; careless talk may ruin everything."

2. Verse 7 "A pretentious, showy life is an empty life; a plain and simple life is a full life."

3. Verse 13 "Ignore the word and suffer; honor God's commands and grow rich."

4. Verse 20 "Become wise by walking with the wise; hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces."

5. Verse 24 "A refusal to correct is a refusal to love; love your children by disciplining them."

I still have a hard time just picking a few that really stand out to me. I love the way Solomon wrote this, it's like little bits of random advice thrown from here and there, but all so applicable, even thousands of years later!

What are your favorites?
See you tomorrow...

Proverbs 12

Here some of my favorites from Chapter 12

1. Verse 3 "You can't find firm footing in a swamp, but life rooted in God stands firm."

2. Verse 8 "A person who talks sense in honored; airheads are held in contempt."

3. Verse 14/15 "Well-spoken words bring satisfaction; well-done work has its own reward. Fools are headstrong and do what they like; wise people take advice."

4. Verse 22 "God can't stomach liars; he loves the company of those who keep their word."

Although chapters 10-30 are "random" bits of wisdom, they all still follow the same theme that was laid out for us in the first nine chapters. Wisdom is the best way of life, follow God, ask for his wisdom. Remember, you aren't just that lucky to get it if you don't ask for it.

What stuck out to me the most today were 2 things: 1. Wise people take advice-wow! How many times have we asked for advice, only to do what we want to do anyways, and 2. Life rooted in God stands firm. How true is that?! My life always goes better when I ask God to help guide me, or to show me glimpses of him in others. I love Proverbs!

What do you think?
See you tomorrow...

Proverbs 11

Here are some of my favorite Proverbs from chapter 11...

1. Verse 2 "The stuck-up fall flat on their faces, but down-to-earth people stand firm."

2. Verse 5 "Moral character makes for smooth traveling; an evil life is a hard life."

3. Verse 12 "Mean-spirited slander is heartless; quiet discretion accompanies good sense."

4. Verse 14 "Without good direction, people lose their way; the more wise counsel you follow, the better your chances."

5. Verse 21 "Count on this: The wicked won't get off scot-free, and God's loyal people will
triumph."

6. Verse 25 "The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped."

I had a hard time just picking a few of my favorites. All of these came out of The Message.

What are your favorites?
See you tomorrow...

Proverbs 10

Chapters 10-30 in Proverbs are the little pieces of wisdom that Solomon wrote. I think for the next 20 chapters I will pick my favorite Proverbs, and then you can comment on what your favorite ones are too.

Chapter 10
1. Verse 9..."The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out." Someone should have told this to all the invest and mortgage bankers!

2. Verse 11..."The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked." I need to be reminded of this daily!

3. Verse 19..."When words are many, sin is not absent, but he holds his tongue is wise." I need this plastered on my husband's forehead when I want to say something that is viewed as disrespectful. So when I see it up there, I will keep my mouth closed!

4. Verse 29..."The way of the Lord is a refuge for the righteous, but it is the ruin of those who do evil." The Lord is my refuge and strength, forever and ever!

Proverbs 9

Today I read the chapter from The Message. It broke it up into 2 different parts...Part 1-Lady Wisdom Gives a Dinner Party, and Part 2-Madame Whore Calls Out, Too. Picture yourself living in a house in between the 2 of these ladies. They both invite you to a dinner party. Here is your evening with them...

Part 1- I imagine her living in a nice house, one that seems comfortable the moment you walk in, and you feel right at home, even though you aren't. Her table was probably set with cute, Martha Stewart like place settings and napkin rings. Her food tasted like the best food in the world, and dessert was to die for. Your dinner conversation was probably thought provoking at one moment, and crying because you were laughing so hard the next. This is what she tells you as you are leaving her party...

"Skilled living gets its start in the Fear-of-God,

insight into life from knowing a Holy God.
It's through me, Lady Wisdom, that your life deepens,
and the years of your life ripen.
Live wisely and wisdom will permeate your life;
mock life and life will mock you."

Part 2- The next night you get an invitation from the other neighbor, Lady Folly also known as the whore (The Message's words, not mine). Her house is probably filthy, you don't even want to take your shoes off. She tells you to take a seat on her couch, but you are not sure you would let your dog sit there. She goes off into the kitchen to get the appetizers, which probably consist of stale crackers, cheese whiz, and spam. Very classy. You want to leave so many times during the course of the evening, you feel uncomfortable, and hate talking to her. Yet she still engages you in her thoughts. When you leave she yells out to you...

"Are you confused about life, don't know what's going on?
Steal off with me, I'll show you a good time!
No one will ever know—I'll give you the time of your life."
But they don't know about all the skeletons in her closet,
that all her guests end up in hell."

Which dinner party do you want to go to?
See you tomorrow...

Proverbs 8

Sorry this is so late today! Between going to the apple orchard and having some new friends over for dinner, the day got away from me. So here we go...

1. I love what the footnote in the NIV says about verse 9 "The wiser a person is, the more he appreciates words of wisdom." When you were younger you hated listening to your parents or people older then you, who tried to give you advice. You thought you knew more than them, or that they had no clue what they were talking about. The older you get, the more you long for wisdom, you long for people to maybe not give you advice, rather share their ideas and thoughts with you.

2. Verse 17..."I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me" Do you put as much into your relationship with God as he puts into you? Think about it...

3. Verse 35/36..."For whoever finds me (wisdom) finds life and receives favor from the Lord. But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death" Why would you want to bring harm upon yourself?

What do you think?
See you tomorrow, hopefully at the normal time :)

Proverbs 7

After reading today, here is what stood out to me...

1. The author is still urging us to follow wisdom, to allow wisdom to guide us through life. In The Message it says "treat insight as a companion." Wisdom should be your best friend!

2. After reading about the lonely man, and the adulteress, I thought about how one might start an affair. I have never had one, so I could be way wrong here, but go with me...I am sure at the beginning everything seems innocent, you think, "oh just this one time," then it turns it something that happens more frequently, and then once you know it you are caught up in this huge mess, and you are entangled in all these lies. By not allowing wisdom to live in your heart you are making a mess for yourself too. You think oh this one time I am going to fix this problem, I will let God help me later, oh just this once I will go with this person even though they might not be the best influence for you, but you will only go once. Next thing you know you are making bad decision after bad decision. Not to say we all are never going to make mistakes, but it's a lot harder to make a mistake when you have wisdom on your side.

3. You know that song..."Highway to Hell"...well that's what you will be on if you allow the adulteress to live in your heart, keep singing that tune, and that's where you will end up.
"So, friends, listen to me, take these words of mine most seriously. Don't fool around with a woman like that; don't even stroll through her neighborhood. Countless victims come under her spell; she's the death of many a poor man. She runs a halfway house to hell, fits you out with a shroud and a coffin."

Keep storing up wisdom!
What do you think?
See you tomorrow...

Proverbs 6

Today I read chapter 6 from my NIV Bible, and I got it, but some things were still a little fuzzy, so I pulled out The Message and re-read it, and I understood it a lot more. So don't be afraid to experiment with different versions and what not. Go here to check out different versions.
Onto chapter 6...
*I am going to be quoting from The Message*
1. This first thing that stood out to me was the author talking about making a promise to someone that you know you can not keep. No matter what the reason is, you need to go tell them you can not keep it. This also goes along with saying no. I know, especially for women, saying no is hard. Whether it be society, our Grandma's, or our husbands, you are made to feel guilty if you can not be everything to all people. Know you boundaries, set limits, know what you can and can not do. It is hard to say no, but it's better to say it up front and go back later and say yes, then to say yes and get all stressed about having to do something.

2. I love the lesson from the ant. Sometimes I struggle with laziness and boredom. You go through different seasons of life where everything is busy, busy, busy, and then other times you are dying to get out of the house an do something. Stay busy, but don't be so busy that you forget to stop and enjoy yourself!

3. Seven things that God hates...
*eyes that are arrogant, a tongue that lies, hands that murder the innocent, a heart that hatches evil plots, feet that race down a wicked track, a mouth that lies under oath, a troublemaker in the family*
Now I think we can all agree that we know someone, or some people that fit into these categories. I am sure at one point or another we fall into one of these categories too. Knowing that God hates these, I am going to be trying my hardest not to do any of these!

4. I love this "For sound advice is a beacon, good teaching is a light, moral discipline is a life path." I am just going to let the Bible speak for itself.

What do you think?
See you tomorrow...

Proverbs 5

After reading the 5th chapter, this what I took away...

I am a little lost for words after reading today's chapter. When I think of adultery, I am not tempted. I have never once been tempted to cheat on Eric. I saw what an emotional affair did to my parent's marriage, and I am not doing that to my family. When Eric and I said I do, we meant it. I know a lot of you feel the same way. So I agree with what the author is writing here, and I think it is important to be aware of what adultery can do to you and your marriage.

Then I was thinking, and I am not trying to take the Bible out of context, but do you think adultery could also mean anything else that takes attention away from your spouse? Like could I be cheating on my husband with the computer (blogging, Facebook), with shopping, with talking on the phone, etc. I know all of those things are true at one point or another in my life, and I am working on setting up boundaries. But do you think today's Proverb could mean that?

This is where you all come in. Although I have a degree in Bible, I am not a Bible expert or scholar. I would love to hear what you think it means. Is it just straight up old fashioned cheating with another person, or could committing adultery mean something else too?

No matter what, keep storing up wisdom, don't let it go in one ear and out the other. Don't be "led astray by your own great folly."

See you tomorrow...

Proverbs 4

After reading the 4th chapter, here is what I took away...

1. I could feel the father's urging to his son, could you? As I was reading through this I was picturing a father pleading, begging his son to do whatever he had to, to obtain wisdom. The Message says; "Throw your arms around her—believe me, you won't regret it; never let her go—she'll make your life glorious." When you think about it, your life won't be worse because you have wisdom. Why not go and get it?

2. In verse 7 the author talks about wisdom costing you all you have...I know some of you have friends and family that think you are crazy for being a follower of Jesus. Eric and I lost a lot of friends when we went to Bible college. People did not understand why we wanted to go study the Bible, why we didn't want to have the "normal" college experience, you know getting drunk, not remembering what happened the night before. I know not everyone that goes to college does this, but you see where I am going. Here is my encouragement if you are facing adversity from people in your life...keep going, keep running after wisdom, because it might cost you everything that you have, but you won't regret it.

3. Verse 13 and 23 both talk about your heart and your life. Both of these verses are telling us to guard ourselves against foolishness, because once that creeps into your life you can kiss wisdom bye-bye. When you struggle with something, the root of that problem is a heart issue. You need to get your heart right and in line with God. Then once you are right with God, keep watch over your heart so nothing can damage it.

4. Verse 25- "Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you." This is something I struggle with. When I am going through a difficult time in my life, it is hard to not look around and see everything that is going wrong, or crumbling down beside me. But the author is telling us to keep our eyes straight ahead, keep going, walk confidently in the Lord, and know he has a plan.

What do you think?
See you tomorrow...

Proverbs 3

**For some reason I could only do this in italics, I couldn't get it just normal print, sorry!**

Today I broke the chapter up into 3 parts...
Part 1- Verses 1-10
1. Verse 3- "Let love and faithfulness never leave you" The Message uses the word loyalty instead of faithfulness. The NLT says "Never let loyalty and kindness leave you!" Whatever phrase or translation you use, never let those words leave you. I am not sure I ever want to know what life would be like if I did not have faith in God.

2. Verses 5-6- I know we all know them, and probably repeat them to ourselves on a daily basis.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take."

Since I tell myself this everyday, why do I still not trust 100% of the time? Is it that I have let faithfulness leave me? Have I let evil creep into my life, why do I doubt God and his plan for my life? There are plenty of things that I do not understand in this world, and I think all I can do is trust God because if I had to come up with an answer to "why do bad things happen to good people?" I seriously would be a wreck, and on lots of medication. I don't know why bad things happen, but I do know God loves each and everyone of us, and he also has a plan for each of us..."For I know the plans I have you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." Jer. 29:11

Part 2- Verses 11-20

1. Verse 11- Right off the bat I do not like the idea of discipline. I was one of those kids that hated being punished. I can't say I never broke the rules, but when I did, I hated being punished. To think of God as a God who punishes seems odd, but it is true. He is a just God, he is the ultimate authority and ruler. But without rules and discipline we all would be even bigger messes! In Hebrews both of these verses are quoted as an encouragement to Christians to hold strong during hard times, to never let faith leave you.

2. I love the way the author describes Lady Wisdom in Verses 14-18, she sounds like an exotic, beautiful woman.

Part 3-Verses 21-35
1. Verse 21 "My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight" Have you ever trusted someone that you knew deep down they probably weren't all that trustworthy? That has happened to me, a lot. Especially being in the ministry. I am very, very trusting of people, and I guess I am naive, because I expect the same thing in return. There are many times I tell someone something thinking it is in confidence, only to find out they told their whole Bible study group, and it got back to my husband. Then I am in big trouble! Do you have times like that? That you know you shouldn't, but you do it anyways. Maybe we should all listen to the Holy Spirit that is urging us to turn around, run away.

2. Verse 30- "Do not accuse a man for no reason-when he has done you no harm." For me this verse means do not believe everything you hear about someone. If you have not experienced a relationship with someone, do not judge them or their actions. You do not know the whole story. When Eric and I moved to Cincinnati after college, there was a lady at our church that took us out to dinner one night. She totally unloaded the church gossip on us and told us who we should be friends with and who we should steer clear of. Eric and I first were so embarrassed that she told us all of this, and second we learned way too much about people we had never even met before. Some of her advice was true, but we learned that the hard way. We wanted to give everyone a chance there before we made judgments about people. Some people were great and other people that lady liked, we didn't really click with them. So here's the word to the wise-make your own relationships, form your own opinions about people, but keeping in mind that we are God's children, and he loves us all.

I have really enjoyed the first 3 chapters of Proverbs so far, have you? Remember to store up the wisdom God has given you in your hearts, and never stray from it!

What do you think?
See you tomorrow...

Proverbs 2

After reading Chapter 2, here is what stood out to me...

1. Right away in Verse 1 the author tells us to store everything up, all the wisdom we prayed for-store it up in your heart.

2. Verses 5-8 taken from The New Living Translation-

"Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord,
and you will gain knowledge of God.
For the Lord grants wisdom!
From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest.
He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.
He guards the paths of the just
and protects those who are faithful to him."

I love how it says that God will be our shield, but only if we walk with integrity. Have you ever had to tell someone something that you knew would hurt them, but it was for the best? That's integrity. When you speak truth into other people's lives when you have nothing to gain from it. It is so hard, but it's comforting to know God is with you.

3. Verses 9-11- I love what the footnotes say in the NIV about these verses..."Those who know the Lord and the wisdom he gives will know what course of action to follow." You know that little feeling, that urging feeling sometimes, or that cautious feeling you get. You may ignore it, or you may tune into it. I believe that is God, the Holy Spirit giving you wisdom in certain situations, and when you are in tune to God's wisdom, and listen to his words, you are better off for it. Remember, he protects the faithful.

4. Overall I think chapter 2 was just another encouragement to seek out God's wisdom. Don't think he will just give you wisdom, you are not that lucky, you need to seek it out, run after it, fight for it, do whatever it takes to just get a glimpse of his wonderful knowledge and wisdom.

What do you think?
See you tomorrow!

Proverbs 1

Today I am starting to read through the book of Proverbs, one chapter at a time. Thanks for joining me if you are!

Here is a little background about the book...
-It is a book about wisdom
-It was mainly written by Solomon, but there are other authors who contributed to the book, they were known as a circle of wise men
-Proverbs are short, little sayings that have BIG meanings behind them
-The book was written to help guide the young, to help them be wise
*For more about the background behind the book you can go here and check it out, or read the introduction in your Bible, that's what I did.

Proverbs-Chapter One

After reading through the first chapter here is what stood out to me...

1. Verse 7..."The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." Once you truly give your life to God, you begin to fear his laws, his commands, you live differently. Fear here is not supposed to be like horror movie scary, rather fear out of respect, out of awe for him. So once you fully respect God, you begin to live out his wisdom. Now don't think just because you fear God, or you call yourself a Christian, you can not still be a fool. We all have foolish moments. We all disobey, break the rules, and need disciplined. But the wonderful thing about God is that once you ask for forgiveness, he gives it to you, and you can start all over again.

2. Verses 8,9- What are some instructions your parents gave you growing up, that you did not listen to, but wished you would have? My parents did not really give me advice unless I asked for it, so they were not hovering over me or my every move. But there were some things with friendships that I wish I would have listened to my mom about. Instead, I tried to solve problems my way, and ended up getting hurt worse, or ending the relationship.

3. Verse 9- I loved what my NIV Study Bible said in the footnote about this verse..."Those who follow wisdom add beauty and honor to their lives." Think about the people you most admire, whether you know them, or they are someone you have never met before, but you still admire them. Aren't they beautiful? Wouldn't you describe them as beautiful, respectful, you want to be just like them. I am obviously not talking about super model beauty here, but true, real beauty that glows on the outside because their heart on the inside is burning so bright with a love for God. It's like it is overflowing them, and they are beautiful. Would people describe you as beautiful in this context?

4. Verses 10-19- When has evil enticed you? When did you turn your back on wisdom? When was the last time you allowed evil to reign and not God? Was it when you gossiped, thought something bad, watched something you shouldn't of, talked disrespectful to your husband, didn't spend as much time with your kids because of selfish reasons? We all have been there, the important thing is to recognize that evil has taken over your tongue, mind, and heart. Replace evil with wisdom.

5. Verses 20-33- This section talks about when you have turned your back against wisdom, then find yourself in trouble, and you start calling out for help. Lady Wisdom here seems a little mean saying that she "will laugh at your disaster", she will "mock your calamity", and the "waywardness of the simple will kill them." Pretty tough words! *This is my personal opinion *-I think the fools she is talking about are the people who do not believe in God, the ones who live for themselves. I think these fools will find themselves in trouble more than once and wonder why. Do you know a fool? What are some characteristics of these fools? How would their life be different right now if they chose wisdom instead of foolishness?

6. Verse 31- In Galatians 6 verse 7, Paul talks about reaping what you sow. Think about wisdom as a fruit, think about God as the water you would use to feed it, and think about your life, your heart as the soil and the planting grounds for this fruit. Are you watering your fruit everyday?
Basically...does wisdom live in your heart? Do you fear God and his wisdom? If not, what's holding you back? If you do, are you watering your heart everyday with God's word, with his wisdom? If not, just remember "the complacency of fools will destroy them."

What are your thoughts?

I think God is going to do some great things through you all, and the wisdom he is bestowing on you. See you all tomorrow!