Tag: Proverbs

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Distractions

Today is March 1st, and its a day full of distractions.  The first of March, is it in like a lion or a lamb?  Its the second day of the Hindu holiday Holi.  There’s a full moon.  Its National Peanut Butter Lovers Day.  There’s talk of another big snow event in the southeast. Its almost Spring.  March Madness is right around the corner. And I am sure you can add lots of other things to the day. A day of distractions.

My youngest son turns 10 today.  I still remember being at the hospital and getting a call from a boss at the time.  She was asking me if I could get a report complete and to her by the end of the day. I told her that I was a little distracted at the time, and probably would not be able to accomplish that today .  Finally, remembering what was going on, she realized the ridiculous nature of her request and started apologizing immediately. Distractions.

Distractions from the goal at hand are always present, its our job to filter them out and focus on the goal, the prize.  But boy is it hard some times, I find my self so easily distracted that its absolutely infuriating.  Today’s buffet is a few verses to help you (me) keep your (my) spiritual focus.

24 Put away perversity from your mouth;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

25 Let your eyes look straight ahead,
fix your gaze directly before you.

26 Make level [a] paths for your feet
and take only ways that are firm.

Proverbs 4:24-26 (New International Version)


2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:2 (New International Version)

Stay focused on your spiritual goal today, and avoid the distractions!

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Daily Post

Wisdom from Twitter

I have recently started using Twitter with more vigor – more on the following end then the tweeting end, however I do tweet to keep my family and friends up to speed on the mundane in my life.  But seriously, I find it a great way to discover ideas and get a glimpse of other things going on out there.

Also, I have been spending time thinking about myself in relationship to God and other people.  This is one of the elements of my New Years statement on wanting to be obsessed.  Anyway, I’ll return to that later in the week, I think, but its the cross roads of these two thoughts – Twitter and relationships that I wanted to share today.

(Yes, what a goofy introduction, I hope you are still hanging with me)

So, one the tweets I read this weekend pointed me to a blog by an author named Donald Miller.  He is just releasing some new material that I thought seem interesting, so I keep his page up on my browser for a few days with the intention of stopping back by and reading it.  Well the weekend took other turns and when I returned and refreshed he had posted a new article, one I felt worth sharing.

The post is about humility and knowledge.  Take time to read it here.  He tells a tale about how knowledge puffs up.  Its a struggle we all deal with, ok, maybe just me.  But really, as we gain knowledge and wisdom, we can battle feeling “better” or being condescending to others who may have just not learned that yet.  Maybe its your role to teach them?  Maybe its your role to make those around you better? Maybe its your role to simply apply that knowledge to the way you treat other people?  Either way, humility and love seem to go hand in hand.  I could not help but read this and think back to 1 Cor 13.

4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; (1 Corinthians 13:4, New King James Version)

or Proverbs 3:34 (actually James 4, who is quoting Proverbs)

34 He mocks proud mockers
but gives grace to the humble.

So take some time to read his post.  And as you gain wisdom, also gain humility.

“The only wisdom we can hope to acquire is the wisdom of humility: humility is endless.”
-T.S. Eliot

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Making Preparations

I was preparing to write about an entirely different topic, when I was checking to see if schools were closing hours before the first snow flake even was forming and I saw this classic poll on the front of my local news station:

You can't have snow with a cupboard full of bread and milk
You can't have snow with a cupboard full of bread and milk

Preparations and plans. Sometimes it’s important to make them.  Apparently, when winter weather strikes its even more important.   It’s always the running joke about hitting the grocery when winter weather approaches, and it always makes good news stories.  That and a story about the road crews loading up the salt and sand.  Winter in the South is fun stuff.  However I noticed yesterday on weather.com, more evidence of my government weather conspiracy plot.  Notice the green circle around Chattanooga!!!

Weather Channel Forcast
Anyway, since snow is once again the talk of the town, and yesterday’s post dealt remotely with the creation, I almost think this is an incredible image to try to conjure up in your mind.  The storehouses of snow.  I think it shows the mightiness and the greatness of the Lord.

20 “Have you ever traveled to where snow is made,
seen the vault where hail is stockpiled,
The arsenals of hail and snow that I keep in readiness
for times of trouble and battle and war?
Can you find your way to where lightning is launched,
or to the place from which the wind blows?
Who do you suppose carves canyons
for the downpours of rain, and charts
the route of thunderstorms
That bring water to unvisited fields,
deserts no one ever lays eyes on,
Drenching the useless wastelands
so they’re carpeted with wildflowers and grass?
And who do you think is the father of rain and dew,
the mother of ice and frost?
You don’t for a minute imagine
these marvels of weather just happen, do you? (Job 38:21-23, The Message)

and since we started with a little bit of planning, how about this verse to consider today:

3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do,
and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3 (NIV)

Enjoy the snow – if we get it!

( oh, by the way, the conspiracy theory is a joke -just a joke)

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New Years Best of Countdown

Pride Goeth Before…

Originally published on July 28, 2009

Pride and forgiveness.  Hm.  The go hand and hand, or well maybe they don’t ever touch.  They can’t exist together! Our Savior says forgive as I have forgiven you! Tough stuff.  Imagine Joseph – his brothers ‘killed’ him, his boss sent him away, his ‘friends’ forgot him, but he still forgave and lived to give the glory to God.

Do you think Joseph may have started this Proverb?

Proverbs 24:17New International Version (NIV)

17 Do not gloat when your enemy falls;
when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice,

Then look at the next verse – just as Jesus says forgive and you will be forgiven, I think this Proverb says, “Gloat and you will fall” or “Have Pride and well, its your turn to stumble”.

18 or the LORD will see and disapprove
and turn his wrath away from him.

I like how the message phrase that last part  – or he might “take pity on his plight”.

17-18 Don’t laugh when your enemy falls;
don’t crow over his collapse.
God might see, and become very provoked,
and then take pity on his plight.

Lets be transformed and changed.  And lets forgive and lets help our ‘enemies’ – after all who really is your enemy?

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Daily Post

Wisdom when you need it

Well its officially two weeks away!

Dinkletown children: Ho, ho! Away we go!
With rosey cheeks and hearts aglowin’
Hey, hey! Our favorite day!
It makes us want to cheer!

Man, I better do some shopping and decorating.

Speaking of decorating.  Check these out, the first one was from Brandon, the second from my Dad.  Make sure you read he comments under the second.

Nice!

xmashanger

“Good news is that I truly out did myself this year with my Christmas  decorations. The bad news is that I had to take him down after 2 days. I had more people come screaming up to my house than ever. Great stories. But two things made me take it down.

First, the cops advised me that it would cause traffic accidents as they almost wrecked when they drove by.

Second, a 55 year old lady grabbed the 75 pound ladder almost killed herself putting it against my house and didn’t realize it was fake until she climbed to the top (she was not happy). By the way, she was one of many people who attempted to do that. My yard couldn’t take it either. I have more than a few tire tracks where people literally drove up my yard.” – some guy named Greg

Anyway, sometimes we make strange decisions.  Sometimes, we need wisdom. As many of you know, I have been making some decision lately.  When you are faced with choices,  its always good to seek Gods wisdom.  The best way I have found to address these types of things is to turn it over to God.  He will direct your ways.  Its really amazing what happens when you turn it over and let God handle difficult situations.

Proverbs 4:10-12 (New International Version)

10 Listen, my son, accept what I say,
and the years of your life will be many.

11 I guide you in the way of wisdom
and lead you along straight paths.

12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
when you run, you will not stumble.

Have a great Day!

Oh and the song from Josh’s song list is

George Thorogood and the Destroyers – Rock n roll christmas