Tag: Proverbs

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When thou goest, it shall lead thee

Some days when my mind is wandering and full of “things to do and places to be” I stop and open up the Proverbs to the day of the month.  I think I have mentioned this little trick before.  There is so much wisdom in the Proverbs that you can’t help but find a gem of thought to consider.  For instance, since today in April 6th, the sixth set of Proverbs contains warnings of taking loans, indolence, being wicked and a warning for self discipline.

I found myself this morning focusing in on verses 20-23.

20-23 Good friend, follow your father’s good advice;
don’t wander off from your mother’s teachings.
Wrap yourself in them from head to foot;
wear them like a scarf around your neck.
Wherever you walk, they’ll guide you;
whenever you rest, they’ll guard you;
when you wake up, they’ll tell you what’s next.
For sound advice is a beacon,
good teaching is a light,
moral discipline is a life path. (Proverbs 6:20-23, The Message)

I especially like the King James for verse 22

22When thou goest, it shall lead thee

As you go about your life today, consider the commands of the Lord, keep them in your mind, let them lead you through the day.

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No Name Calling Week

Oh how could I forget, I am so dumb. How could all you you ‘people’ out there not remind me. It’s No Name Calling Week. Come on you bunch of …. whoa whoa, its No Name Calling Week, I can’t do that.

This is a good thing, as bullying is a huge problem with our children and well, even with adults. Of course, we can help combat that by teaching our children to treat each other with respect.
We all know the old adage “Sticks and Stones will break my bones, but names will NEVER hurt me.”

(While we are talking about this playground sayings, I sort of liked “I’m rubber, your glue what you say bounces off me and sticks to you!”)

Anyway, back to stick and stones. Although there can be some truth to old saying, and that statement is still worth considering, in that the words of others do not form us unless we let them. However, that’s the problem, its is hard to turn those words into affirmation, and thus the modern adage is now “Sticks and Stones will break my bones but names call also hurt me” or something like that. Maybe its “..but names can destroy me”, or …”but names will break my heart” Yes, I think that’s the proper way to say it today “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but names will break my heart.”

8The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. (Proverbs 18:8, King James Version)

However, look at this:

24Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. (Proverbs 16:24, King James Version)

So, as you go about today, remember the power of the words that you use, and consider what I tell my children when their behavior is, well not what it should be. I always say, would you want to be treated that way?

31 Do to others as you would have them do to you. Luke 6:31 (New International Version, ©2010)

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Routine and Words

I am way out of my routine today and a little behind schedule.  Having no great stories about mysterious taxi rides, or no deep motivational thoughts this morning, I will reach into some other writers heads and pull out some nice simple thoughts about words:

Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body. Proverbs 16:24 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. Psalm 19:14 ESV

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. Proverbs 25:11 ESV

Enjoy Friday and keep your words sweet.

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Boston in the Fall

Despite what the Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything say, I have made it to Boston in the fall.  I made it even though my travel agent evidently decided that I didn’t in fact need to have hotel reservations. :).  Oh the joys of business travel!

On the bumpy plane ride up here I was finally making progress in the book I have been trying to read for the last few months – The Kite Runner.  It is acutally a very intriguing and interesting story about growing up in Afghanistan and the changes to the country by the 30 plus years of war that it is had.  But interestingly enough the section that I was reading yesterday describe the main characters reentry from America to Afghanistan, a Taliban controlled Afghanistan.  The descriptions of the poverty and descruction were heart wrenching.

It was this on my mind, that I arrived in Boston and finally checked into a very nice “luxury” hotel, and proceeded to eat a very overpriced meal, although the company was great.   It was just one of those odd juxtapositions that has my mind racing today.  The thoughts in my mind are probably too premature to share, but I did stumble upon a few verses this morning that I think help bring some sort of order to my wavering mind.

11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11-13

8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.
9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’
Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God. Proverbs 30:8-9

Let us always remember to be content and to realize that the stuff around us does not make us who we are.  Enjoy the physical blessings you have been given today, but remember to share them as it is appropriate and remember who gave them to you!

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Droopy, Wade, Words and Wisdom

Have you ever had a dude who just get up in your crawl?  I mean, you just want to take their head off, and sometimes you would feel justified about it.  There’s this nameless dude, (don’t ask Mr. Jones!) who just is Mr Negativity.  Let’s call him Droopy. However, I think that might doing his attitude a favor! I have been struggling with how to deal with this concern, because it just does not help my day, or my co workers day.

I had a course of action set in place, up the management chain I was heading, I had had enough!  Then I started to think about two things.  First, there’s this other dude at work who we will call Wade. (not his real name).  Wade, is like super nice – always ready to serve, and I mean always.  As I matter of fact, his Labor Day was ruined(my word, not his) by a mistake of another person and he was like “as long as its working, I am OK”.  Man, what a fantastic attitude. ( esp versus mine, I mean really, I think I am upset so much by Droopy, because sometimes dealing with him is like looking in a mirror for me.)

Then last night, I was meeting with a group of men, and we were talking about Proverbs and some of the Proverbs about your words, and how to deal with people.  The conversation wandered, and some directions that just can never be explained, but eventually got around to co workers and our speech and words with them.  One of the dudes(that’s my word of the day) mentioned this verse:

If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him—work it out between the two of you. If he listens, you’ve made a friend.  Matthew 18:15 (MSG)

So that brought me back to Droopy and Wade.  Maybe the right thing, based on this principle is a direct attack.   But not really an attack.  Could I mix the encouragement from Wade’s attitude, and the teachings of our Christ, and the words of wisdom from Proverbs together and gain the direction and strength to turn what could be a real issue into a positive and productive situation?

I guess we will see how that goes, but I think it will be heading in a better direction if I take a better position on this situation.  How about you, do you have similar issues where you attitude can greatly impact the outcome and the lives of others?

There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 12:18 ESV

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. Proverbs 25:11 ESV

Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Proverbs 17:27 ESV

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.Proverbs 15:1 ESV