THE SERMON PREP

Posted on June 22, 2020 by randscallawayffm
Matthew 3 pleased
Part 3
Some thirty years passed between chapters 2 and 3 of Matthew, during which Jesus lived in Nazareth and worked as a carpenter (Matt. 13:55; Mark 6:3). But the time came for Him to begin His public ministry, which would culminate at the cross. Was He still qualified to be King? Had anything taken place that would disqualify Him? In chapters 2 and 3, Matthew assembled the testimonies of five witnesses to the person of Jesus Christ, that He is the Son of God and the King.
 
Matthew 3, Baptism
 
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
Matthew 3 3
3 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:
 
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’”
 
4 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
 
Matthew 3 8
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
 
11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
 
Matthew 3 JesusThe Baptism of Jesus
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”
 
15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.
 
16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
 
Matthew 4 – Temptation and Ministry
Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness
 
Matthew 4 highThen Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
 
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
 
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
 
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
 
7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
 
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
 
10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
 
11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
 
Jesus Begins to Preach
12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— 14 to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:
 
15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles—
16 the people living in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned.”
 
17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
 
JMatthew 4 Jesus touch of helpesus Calls His First Disciples
18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.
 
21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
 
Matthew 4 Jesus healsJesus Heals the Sick
23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. 25 Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.
 
WHAT WE LEARN – FIVE WITNESSES
 
Matthew 3 Holy SpiritJOHN
For over four hundred years, the nation had not heard the voice of a prophet. Then John appeared and a great revival took place.
 
John’s preaching centered on repentance and the kingdom of heaven. The word repent means “to change one’s mind and act on that change.” John was not satisfied with regret or remorse; he wanted “fruits meet for repentance” (Matt. 3:8). There had to be evidence of a changed mind and a changed life.
 
John the Baptist bore witness to Jesus Christ as the Son of God and also as the Lamb of God (John 1:29). Because of John’s witness, many sinners trusted Jesus Christ (John 10:39–42).
 
Matthew 4 ledTHE HOLY SPIRIT
The coming of the Holy Spirit like a dove identified Jesus to John (John 1:31–34), and also assured Jesus as
He began His ministry that the Spirit’s ministry would always be His (John 3:34). The dove is a beautiful symbol of the Spirit of God in its purity and in its ministry of peace.
 
GOD
On three special occasions, the Father spoke from heaven: at Christ’s baptism, at the Transfiguration (Matt. 17:3), and as Christ approached the cross (John 12:27–30). In the past, God spoke to His Son; today He is speaking through His Son (Heb. 1:1–2). The Father’s statement approved all that Jesus had done up to that point. His “hidden years in Nazareth” were years of pleasing the Father. Certainly, the Father’s commendation was a great encouragement to the Son as He started His ministry.
 
SATAN
Matthew 4 followFrom the high and holy experience of blessing at the Jordan, Jesus was led into the wilderness for testing. Jesus was not tempted so that the Father could learn anything about His Son, for the Father had already given Jesus His divine approval. Jesus was tempted so that every creature in heaven, on earth, and under the earth might know that Jesus Christ is the Conqueror. He exposed Satan and his tactics, and He defeated Satan. Because of His victory, we can have victory over the tempter.
 
Jesus used the spiritual resources that are available to us today: the power of the Holy Spirit of God (Matt. 4:1) and the power of the Word of God (“It is written”).
 
CHRIST’S MINISTRY OF POWER
Matthew 1 presence
Matthew has presented to us the person of the King. Every witness affirms, “This is the Son of God, this is the King!” But Matthew had one more witness to call to prove the kingship of Jesus Christ. Matthew has already shown us that every detail of our Lord’s life was controlled by the Word of God.
 
In Matthew 4:16, Matthew quoted Isaiah (see Isa. 9:1–2). The prophet wrote about people who “walked” in darkness, but by the time Matthew quoted the passage, the situation was so discouraging that the people were sitting in darkness! Jesus Christ brought the Light to them through His teaching, preaching, and healing. His very ministry of compassion was the final witness to the Kingship of Jesus.
 
Matthew has presented to us the person of the King. Every witness affirms, “This is the Son of God, this is the King!”
 
Now we are ready to dive into The Sermon Jesus preached on the Mountain!
 
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your Word and your witnesses to Truth in the Person of Jesus, Your Son, who saved us. Thank you for making us think more deeply of the love you have for us. continue to transform my thinking and subsequent behavior because of knowing you.
In Jesus Name, Amen
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THE SERMON PREP

Posted on June 21, 2020 by randscallawayffm
Matthew 2 first to seekMatthew 2, Wise Men Still Seek Him
The Magi Visit the Messiah
 
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
 
3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
 
Matthew 2 where6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
 
7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
 
9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
 
Matthew 2 starThe Escape to Egypt
13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”
 
14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
 
16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
 
18 “A voice is heard in Ramah,
weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children
and refusing to be comforted,
because they are no more.”
 
Matthew 2 wiseThe Return to Nazareth
19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.”
 
21 So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23 and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.
 
Matthew 2 just JesusAND SO IT WAS FULFILLED…
 
God’s work of salvation, once and for all in Jesus, is being fulfilled…just as He had planned from the beginning of time. God has a purpose and plan for each one of us, too. Those who are wise still seek Him, His plan and purpose, His loving, merciful salvation to be fulfilled in our own lives. He is God and we are not so it is about God in us! We become His children at the point of repentance with a humbled believing heart. We are redeemed forever in Him, through Jesus Christ His Son. As children of God, we are joint heirs with His Son, Jesus. Give me Jesus!
 
Be fulfilled by accepting, believing and following Jesus.
 
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for leading us on this journey to prepare us for understanding the Sermon on the Mount by reading what came before and after in the gospel of Matthew, your dedicated witness. Thank you, dear Jesus, for laying down your life for ours. Thank you for your plan to save us and your individual purpose for us to fulfill in order that others will know and follow you, too. Continue to transform me.
In Jesus Name, Amen
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THE SERMON

Posted on June 20, 2020 by randscallawayffm
Matthew 1, JesusMatthew – Fulfilled and Made Complete
 
Last Sunday our pastor challenged us to spending the next 8 weeks listening to a series about Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount without missing a single one! He also challenged us to read the Sermon daily. I am taking on that challenge but as a learner and blogger, I wanted to back it up with knowing the background and context. So, here we are daily reading the Sermon but allowing Matthew, the witness to The Sermon to “set the scene”. Let’s talk about Jesus, the completer of our faith.
 
Eugene Peterson relates, “The story of Jesus doesn’t begin with Jesus. God had been at work for a long time. Salvation, which is the main business of Jesus, is an old business. Jesus is the coming together in final form of the themes and energies and movements that had been set in motion before the foundation of the world.”
 
Matthew 1 plansMatthew opens the New Testament by setting the local story of Jesus in its world historical context. He makes sure that as we read his account of the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, we see the connections with everything that has gone before. “Fulfilled” is one of Matthew’s characteristic verbs: such and such happened “that it might be fulfilled.” Jesus is unique, but he is not odd.
 
Better yet, Matthew tells the story in such a way that not only is everything previous to us completed in Jesus, WE are completed in Jesus. Every day we wake up in the middle of something that is already going on, that has been going on for a long time: genealogy and geology, history and culture, the cosmos–GOD. We are neither accidental nor incidental to the story. We get orientation, briefing, background, reassurance.
 
Matthew provides the comprehensive context by which we see all God’ creation and salvation completed in Jesus, and all the parts of our lives–work, family, friends, memories, dreams–also completed in Jesus. Lacking such a context, we are in danger of seeing Jesus as a mere diversion from the concerns announced in the media. Nothing could be further from the truth.
 
Matthew 2 MatthewMatthew 1 – His Name is Jesus
 
The Genealogy of Jesus the Messiah
1 This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham:
2 Abraham was the father of Isaac,
Isaac the father of Jacob,
Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,
3 Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar,
Perez the father of Hezron,
Hezron the father of Ram,
4 Ram the father of Amminadab,
Amminadab the father of Nahshon,
Nahshon the father of Salmon,
5 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab,
Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth,
Obed the father of Jesse,
6 and Jesse the father of King David.
David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife,
Matthew 1 save7 Solomon the father of Rehoboam,
Rehoboam the father of Abijah,
Abijah the father of Asa,
8 Asa the father of Jehoshaphat,
Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram,
Jehoram the father of Uzziah,
9 Uzziah the father of Jotham,
Jotham the father of Ahaz,
Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,
10 Hezekiah the father of Manasseh,
Manasseh the father of Amon,
Amon the father of Josiah,
11 and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.
12 After the exile to Babylon:
Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel,
Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,
13 Zerubbabel the father of Abihud,
Abihud the father of Eliakim,
Eliakim the father of Azor,
14 Azor the father of Zadok,
Zadok the father of Akim,
Akim the father of Elihud,
15 Elihud the father of Eleazar,
Eleazar the father of Matthan,
Matthan the father of Jacob,
16 and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.
17 Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.
 
Matthew 1 virginJoseph Accepts Jesus as His Son
18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
 
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
 
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
 
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
 
WHAT WE LEARN
Matthew 1 presence
The Old Testament is a book of promise, while the New Testament is a book of fulfillment. (To be sure, there are many precious promises in the New Testament, but I am referring to the emphasis of each half of the Bible.) Beginning with Genesis 3:15, God promised a Redeemer; and Jesus Christ fulfilled that promise.
 
Fulfilled is one of the key words in the gospel of Matthew, used about fifteen times. One purpose of this gospel is to show that Jesus Christ fulfilled the Old Testament promises concerning the Messiah. His birth at Bethlehem fulfilled Isaiah 7:14 (Matt. 1:22–23). Jesus was taken to Egypt for safety, and this fulfilled Hosea 11:1 (Matt. 2:14–15). When Joseph and the family returned and decided to settle in Nazareth, this fulfilled several Old Testament prophecies (Matt. 2:22–23). Matthew used at least 129 quotations or allusions to the Old Testament in this gospel. He wrote primarily for Jewish readers to show them that Jesus Christ was indeed their promised Messiah.
 
Matthew pointed out that Joseph did not “beget” Jesus Christ. Rather, Joseph was the “husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.” Jesus was born of an earthly mother without the need of an earthly father. This is known as the doctrine of the virgin birth.
 
Every child born into the world is a totally new creature. But Jesus Christ, being eternal God (John 1:1, 14), existed before Mary and Joseph or any of His earthly ancestors. If Jesus Christ were conceived and born just as any other baby, then He could not be God. It was necessary for Him to enter this world through an earthly mother, but not to be begotten by an earthly father. By a miracle of the Holy Spirit, Jesus was conceived in the womb of Mary, a virgin (Luke 1:26–38).
 
Matthew 1 mary and josephTo the Jewish people in that day, betrothal (engagement) was equivalent to marriage—except that the man and woman did not live together. They were called “husband and wife,” and, at the end of the engagement period, the marriage was consummated. If a betrothed woman became pregnant, it was considered adultery (see Deut. 22:13–21).
But Joseph did not punish or divorce Mary when he discovered she was with child, for the Lord had revealed the truth to him. All of this fulfilled Isaiah 7:14.
 
Before we leave this important section, we must consider the three names assigned to God’s Son. The name Jesus means “Savior” and comes from the Hebrew name Joshua (“Jehovah is salvation”). There were many Jewish boys with the name Joshua (or, in the Greek, Jesus), but Mary’s Boy was called “Jesus the Christ.” The word Christ means “anointed”; it is the Greek equivalent of Messiah. He is “Jesus the Messiah.” Jesus is His human name; Christ is His official title; and Emmanuel describes who He is—“God with us.” Jesus Christ is God! We find this name “Emmanuel” in Isaiah 7:14 and 8:8.
 
So, there you have it. The background and lineage of our Savior who was, is and always will be. Jesus, God’s One and Only Son who is God in the flesh who down from heaven sent by God to save the world. Jesus fulfilled. Jesus complete.
 
Titus 2 Jesus calling us to runHOLY PAUSE
You were part of God’s plan before the creation of the world. I was part of the plan. Camp on this thought. How does this deepen your relationship with God? Do we really believe we are made complete in Jesus?
 
Dear Heavenly Father,
There is always more to learn as we dive deeper into your Word. When we increase our knowledge of you we discover the depth of our unique and very personal relationship with you. Thank you for loving us so much that you meticulously created a plan for our salvation before you created us. Wow. Help me to come a little closer each day to loving others the way you love me.
In Jesus Name, Amen
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GOD CREATED WOMAN

Posted on June 19, 2020 by randscallawayffm
Proverbs 31 womanProverbs – Life Skills
 
It is wise to acknowledge a woman’s contribution to this world without bringing her down, belittling her gifts and abilities as “less than”. She is not more than man, she is the “helper” to man;
 
“The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.'” (Genesis 2:18)
 
A Godly man realizes the help a Godly woman and appreciates who she is and what she brings to life. It is the woman, designed specifically by God, who gives birth to life! It is God who pours into women who believe this nurturing trait that brings justice to the forefront of all discussions about the fairness of life. This trait of God in women loves without conditions. Like God, women want only to be loved back.
Proverbs 31 shapeAs we read this proverb, recognize God first. Don’t see this a checklist for imperfect women to be perfect. Look to God who is perfect. See and understand that God designed women with unique abilities that contribute to His work in all of His created. God loves his creation. God loves His created women. He cherishes His beloved who believe, love, trust and obey His voice above all others. He forgives when we fall down and picks us right back up again. No love lost in the process.
 
God gave believing women an innate ability (awareness of the Holy Spirit) to see danger before it happens in their family so she can warn them. God also gave her abilities to love even when it hurts. Women can endure the pain of childbirth then rejoice seconds later, forgetting the “labor” it took to bring life into being.
 
Proverbs 31 clothedWomen work at home and they work beyond the home to provide for their families. God created this particular balance and agility in women to be wise in all that affects her family. Women will do whatever it takes, God leading her, to provide what her family needs. Godly women live integrity in all ways, serving others without a thought to herself, without seeking praise. She takes more joy in seeing her husband and children progress and succeed than in the joy in her own accomplishments.
 
God is amazing. God is be praised always, for it is God who created woman to be a help, not a hindrance, to His created man. We all have our God created abilities. No one is above the other. We are ALL created in the image of God. His Holy Spirit lives in all who believe that Jesus died for our sin and asked for forgiveness from sin. Because of Jesus, the Holy Spirit enters in and does His best work to transform our lives to be all God created us to be. We love, cherish and help each other.
 
Proverbs 31 what you are notWhen we all get to heaven (I feel a song coming on…) we will sing and shout the victory in knowing,
 
“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28
 
Real justice is realizing this Truth.
 
Proverb 31, The Message
Speak Out for Justice
 
The words of King Lemuel,
the strong advice his mother gave him:
 
2-3 “Oh, son of mine, what can you be thinking of!
Child whom I bore! The son I dedicated to God!
Don’t dissipate your virility on fortune-hunting women,
promiscuous women who shipwreck leaders.
 
Proverbs 31 justice4-7 “Leaders can’t afford to make fools of themselves,
gulping wine and swilling beer,
Lest, hung over, they don’t know right from wrong,
and the people who depend on them are hurt.
Use wine and beer only as sedatives,
to kill the pain and dull the ache
Of the terminally ill,
for whom life is a living death.
 
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!”
 
Hymn to a Good Wife
Proverbs 31 good10-31 A good woman is hard to find,
and worth far more than diamonds.
Her husband trusts her without reserve,
and never has reason to regret it.
Never spiteful, she treats him generously
all her life long.
 
She shops around for the best yarns and cottons,
and enjoys knitting and sewing.
She’s like a trading ship that sails to faraway places
and brings back exotic surprises.
 
She’s up before dawn, preparing breakfast
for her family and organizing her day.
Proverbs 31 strengthShe looks over a field and buys it,
then, with money she’s put aside, plants a garden.
First thing in the morning, she dresses for work,
rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started.
She senses the worth of her work,
is in no hurry to call it quits for the day.
 
She’s skilled in the crafts of home and hearth,
diligent in homemaking.
She’s quick to assist anyone in need,
reaches out to help the poor.
 
She doesn’t worry about her family when it snows;
their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear.
She makes her own clothing,
and dresses in colorful linens and silks.
 
Her husband is greatly respected
when he deliberates with the city fathers.
 
She designs gowns and sells them,
brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops.
Her clothes are well-made and elegant,
and she always faces tomorrow with a smile.
 
Proverbs 31 prayerWhen she speaks she has something worthwhile to say,
and she always says it kindly.
 
She keeps an eye on everyone in her household,
and keeps them all busy and productive.
Her children respect and bless her;
her husband joins in with words of praise:
“Many women have done wonderful things,
but you’ve outclassed them all!”
 
Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades.
The woman to be admired and praised
is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God.
 
Give her everything she deserves!
Festoon her life with praises!
 
WHAT DO WE LEARN?
 
Proverbs 31 30
A woman who loves God loves others with all that is in her. Her love leads her to being God’s conduit of noble character. This character is in direct correlation to the character of God.  When she is praised, all glory goes back to God who created her.
 
Dear Heavenly Father,
This lasts proverb displays your character well and good. You are good, so, so good. Your good is expressed in Godly women and men who love you with all their hearts, minds and souls. I am one of them, but I need your help always. Thank you for helping me day to day be all you created me to be. Forgive me when I look away for a second to what the world says I should be. Thank you for continually transforming me to live well, to live with wisdom. May I live skillfully under your authority and guidance always.
In Jesus Name, Amen
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GOD’S NOT DEAD!

Posted on June 18, 2020 by randscallawayffm
Proverbs – Life Skills
 
Proverbs 30 Gods not dead
GOD’S NOT DEAD
He’s fully alive!
Living on the inside
Roaring like a lion…
 
God’s Not Dead!
 
This song is playing in the background of my mind as I read this next proverb of wisdom. The writer takes a look at what the world says along with results of the folly of believing there is no God. The metaphors abound.
 
This proverb reminds us of the many times Jesus, while teaching on mountain, explained the differences between living God’s ways and the ways of the world. Religion had diluted and changed Truth. God’s Law had lost God’s original intent and meaning. So, Jesus would begin with, “You have heard it said,..but I say to you…” You knew Truth, personified in Jesus, was about to set the people straight about God’s Law with how to think and how to behave to please God with hearts that love God. (See Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5-7).
 
Proverb 30, The Message
God? Who Needs Him?
 
Proverbs 30 51-2 The skeptic swore, “There is no God!
No God!—I can do anything I want!
I’m more animal than human;
so-called human intelligence escapes me.
 
3-4 “I flunked ‘wisdom.’
I see no evidence of a holy God.
Has anyone ever seen Anyone
climb into Heaven and take charge?
grab the winds and control them?
gather the rains in his bucket?
stake out the ends of the earth?
Just tell me his name, tell me the names of his sons.
Come on now—tell me!”
 
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.”
 
Proverbs 30 87-9 And then he prayed, “God, I’m asking for two things
before I die; don’t refuse me—
Banish lies from my lips
and liars from my presence.
Give me enough food to live on,
neither too much nor too little.
If I’m too full, I might get independent,
saying, ‘God? Who needs him?’
If I’m poor, I might steal
and dishonor the name of my God.”
 
Proverbs 30 8 and 910 Don’t blow the whistle on your fellow workers
behind their backs;
They’ll accuse you of being underhanded,
and then you’ll be the guilty one!
 
11 Don’t curse your father
or fail to bless your mother.
 
12 Don’t imagine yourself to be quite presentable
when you haven’t had a bath in weeks.
 
13 Don’t be stuck-up
and think you’re better than everyone else.
 
14 Don’t be greedy,
merciless and cruel as wolves,
Tearing into the poor and feasting on them,
shredding the needy to pieces only to discard them.
 
15-16 A leech has twin daughters
named “Gimme” and “Gimme more.”
 
Four Insatiables
Three things are never satisfied,
no, there are four that never say, “That’s enough, thank you!”—
 
hell,
a barren womb,
a parched land,
a forest fire.
 
Proverbs 30 small but wise17 An eye that disdains a father
and despises a mother—
that eye will be plucked out by wild vultures
and consumed by young eagles.
 
Four Mysteries
18-19 Three things amaze me,
no, four things I’ll never understand—
 
how an eagle flies so high in the sky,
how a snake glides over a rock,
how a ship navigates the ocean,
why adolescents act the way they do.
 
20 Here’s how a prostitute operates:
she has sex with her client,
Takes a bath,
then asks, “Who’s next?”
 
Proverbs 30 churningFour Intolerables
21-23 Three things are too much for even the earth to bear,
yes, four things shake its foundations—
 
when the janitor becomes the boss,
when a fool gets rich,
when a whore is voted “woman of the year,”
when a “girlfriend” replaces a faithful wife.
 
Four Small Wonders
24-28 There are four small creatures,
wisest of the wise they are—
 
ants—frail as they are,
get plenty of food in for the winter;
marmots—vulnerable as they are,
manage to arrange for rock-solid homes;
locusts—leaderless insects,
yet they strip the field like an army regiment;
lizards—easy enough to catch,
but they sneak past vigilant palace guards.
 
Proverbs 30 lionFour Dignitaries
29-31 There are three solemn dignitaries,
four that are impressive in their bearing—
 
a lion, king of the beasts, deferring to none;
a rooster, proud and strutting;
a billy goat;
a head of state in stately procession.
 
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.
 
WHAT DO WE LEARN?
 
Proverbs 30 trustNo, God’s not dead, He’s surely alive! Did you know that the message of this song was inspired and driven by 3 passages of God’s Word?
 
Hosea 11:10: “They will follow the LORD; He will roar like a lion. When He roars, His children will come trembling from the west.”
 
… John 14:19: “Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.”
 
…and Revelation 10:2-4: “He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke. And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, ‘Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down.’”
 
How can listeners apply that message when we listen to the song?
 
Proverbs 30 30 lionIt seems like culturally that atheism (along with “don’t care-ism”) has become more and more prevalent. God is being taken out of so much of our culture and has been for years. People are just deceived. There’s a lack of Truth and in some Christian music circles and in Christians in general, there’s a lack of boldness. What resonates is the bold message of this song.
 
What’s most disheartening is that even in Christian music there are so many songs that don’t proclaim the Name of Jesus. A lot of us say great things that may coincide with biblical principles and social justice, and I don’t know about you, but the boldness of this song is what attracts me. The message is that believers can still have an impact on people and culture.
 
This song resonates with all people. People are embracing the message of the song. Why? The Gospel turns the world upside down. We need to live as Christians with God’s upside down expectations that defy the world’s expectations. Like Jesus, we must declare Truth. “You heard it said…but Jesus says…” Learn Truth. Live Truth.
 
“Make ’em wonder what you’ve got…” Shine, another song just popped into my mind…also sung by the Newsboys is what happens when you really believe that what you believe is really real! (Read that again. Camp on it if you have to.)
 
Proverbs 30 all day long
And when the world asks, be ready to tell, “God loved you and the rest of the world so much that He sent Jesus, His One and Only Son to save you and all others who believe Him.”
 
Truth: God’s not dead. Jesus saved my soul.
This is My Story, This is My Song. All Day Long.
 
O Lord,
What a wonder you are! Thank you for saving our souls and not leaving us to wonder around not knowing. Thank you for your Presence. Thank you for all you have done, are doing and will do as we walk with You and talk with you. Thank you for desiring an intimate relationship with us and providing a way, The Way in Jesus, to make that possible. Continue to transform me to be all you intended for me to be..then do.
In Jesus Name, Amen
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2020 Vision

Posted on June 17, 2020 by randscallawayffm
Proverbs 29 2020Proverbs – Life Skills
 
We asked ourselves what is going on? This has never happened to us before in our lifetimes. We’ve heard stories in history of losing loved ones because of war, protests that got violent, many forms of injustice and because of flu epidemics.
 
But we don’t feel anything when it doesn’t touch us personally. What doesn’t touch us personally we seem to ignore. We worry more about the troubling sound our car is making on the way to work, if the mail will come on time or if the milk is still good enough to pour over our Cheerios.
 
Our lives have been interrupted for an important announcement, breaking news, if you will…LIFE is not what it was. Living day to day will never be the same as it was in January and February. As of March, our lives were turned upside down and inside out. Fear of the unknown set in covering us with a cloud of doubt. What in the world is happening? What’s next? We ask ourselves these questions daily as we cloister inside our homes with our families, only going out for the essentials, fully sanitized with masks and gloves to get a loaf of bread and a gallon of milk.
 
Proverbs 29 goal
What is God doing? Why is God not doing something about this so we can get back to our normal routines? We can’t go to the church building, sing songs, hear the message, go out to eat then go back to work on Monday and do it all again each week. We whine, complain, stew, get angry, look for peace, and wonder when it will all end.
 
Why are we moving from one disaster to another at breakneck speed?
 
Why is history repeating itself?
 
Who are we now as we go through what we have never gone through before?
 
Maybe we are asking the wrong questions–as we normally do.
 
Proverbs 29 18 glareCan we see God STILL at work…or not? Here is a Truth bomb, God is ALWAYS at work. When we are going about our daily routines, God is at work. When we sleep, God is at work. AND because of His created purpose in us and His love for us, God enjoys inviting us to His work.
 
When God invites us to His work, will we be too involved in getting back to our normal lives that we will miss the invitation to the “party” of His best will and purpose for us? Will we miss the celebration of giving Him glory with our lives as we join Him in His work in obedience and gladness? EVEN if the work will look nothing like we imagined?
 
We are blinded. I am blinded by trying to continue life as it was in the midst of a very changing time. We/I need to open our eyes and see, truly see what God is doing. Because if we truly believe that we believe is real we will see that God never stops working. He has and always will be at work, not to give us what we want but to give us what we really need as He continues to transform us to be all He created us to be!
 
It’s all about God. He is God and we are not.
 
This proverb points out what will happen when we don’t see or acknowledge what God is doing…
 
Proverb 29, The Message
If People Can’t See What God Is Doing
 
Proverbs 29 1For people who hate discipline
and only get more stubborn,
There’ll come a day when life tumbles in and they break,
but by then it’ll be too late to help them.
 
2 When good people run things, everyone is glad,
but when the ruler is bad, everyone groans.
 
3 If you love wisdom, you’ll delight your parents,
but you’ll destroy their trust if you run with whores.
 
4 A leader of good judgment gives stability;
an exploiting leader leaves a trail of waste.
 
Proverbs 29 85 A flattering neighbor is up to no good;
he’s probably planning to take advantage of you.
 
6 Evil people fall into their own traps;
good people run the other way, glad to escape.
 
7 The good-hearted understand what it’s like to be poor;
the hardhearted haven’t the faintest idea.
 
8 A gang of cynics can upset a whole city;
a group of sages can calm everyone down.
 
9 A sage trying to work things out with a fool
gets only scorn and sarcasm for his trouble.
 
10 Murderers hate honest people;
moral folks encourage them.
 
11 A fool lets it all hang out;
a sage quietly mulls it over.
 
12 When a leader listens to malicious gossip,
all the workers get infected with evil.
 
13 The poor and their abusers have at least something in common:
they can both see—their sight, God’s gift!
 
Proverbs 29 seeing God14 Leadership gains authority and respect
when the voiceless poor are treated fairly.
 
15 Wise discipline imparts wisdom;
spoiled adolescents embarrass their parents.
 
16 When degenerates take charge, crime runs wild,
but the righteous will eventually observe their collapse.
 
Proverbs 29 1717 Discipline your children; you’ll be glad you did—
they’ll turn out delightful to live with.
 
18 If people can’t see what God is doing,
they stumble all over themselves;
But when they attend to what he reveals,
they are most blessed.
 
19 It takes more than talk to keep workers in line;
mere words go in one ear and out the other.
 
20 Observe the people who always talk before they think—
even simpletons are better off than they are.
 
Proverbs 29 feelings21 If you let people treat you like a doormat,
you’ll be quite forgotten in the end.
Proverbs 29 man anger
22 Angry people stir up a lot of discord;
the intemperate stir up trouble.
 
23 Pride lands you flat on your face;
humility prepares you for honors.
24 Befriend an outlaw
and become an enemy to yourself.
When the victims cry out,
you’ll be included in their curses
if you’re a coward to their cause in court.
 
Proverbs 29 1825 The fear of human opinion disables;
trusting in God protects you from that.
 
26 Everyone tries to get help from the leader,
but only God will give us justice.
 
27 Good people can’t stand the sight of deliberate evil;
the wicked can’t stand the sight of well-chosen goodness.
 
Proverbs 29 fearHOLY PAUSE
 
Am I growing more stubborn to God as He works in me to change me?
 
What has God provided “in these times” that we didn’t know we needed?
 
Do I love wisdom or whining? What do I run after?
 
Who do I listen to and seek after most in my life?
 
Where does my hope come from and who do I trusts most, no matter what happens next?
 
Truth: “The fear of human opinion disables;
trusting in God protects you from that.”
 
Proverbs 29 seeDear Heavenly Father,
I repent of whining and wishful thinking that is shallow and stunts my growth in living your way. Show us your power and glory today by opening our eyes to your work. Help us to be still in Your Presence and let go of worldly, human opinions and just trust in You. Change my heart, O God, but be gentle. Transform me.
 
“Open my eyes that I may see, glimpses of Truth you have for me”…
 
In Jesus Name, Amen
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OUR REPUTATION

Posted on June 16, 2020 by randscallawayffm

Proverbs – Life Skills

Proverbs 28 no jogSometimes we wonder what people think of us, not about what we wear or what we have, but who they think we are. What is our reputation? Are we reputable? What does that even mean?

Our reputation means that we consistently, undoubtedly and assuredly will respond a certain way no matter the circumstance or crisis. Do we fall apart in a crisis? Do we follow the majority no matter where they lead? Do we come against adversity with flight or fight tendencies? Do we blame others first when something goes wrong? Do we think we know it all therefore cannot be taught, reprimanded or corrected in any way, shape or form? Are we so principled and feel so perfect that we feel no one can rise to our standard?

Proverbs 28 betterOur reputation with God is the most important. What does God think? Are we tenacious in our faith no matter what happens in the world around us? Are we serving from a heart of gratitude and love, without thinking about how it may benefit us? Do we hunger and thirst for God’s Word and enjoy learning from Him about life and how to live it well? Are our lives all about God and what He wants? Is what we worship first and always, God? Who do we think about most? Who do we think about least? Does each day begin and end with God? Do we “pray without ceasing” by having day-long, intermittent conversations with God?

This proverb points out the folly of following anyone but God and highly encourages us to “Practice God’s law—get a reputation for wisdom.” Practice, as we know, is hard work that is done often until we get it right. Knowing God’s law and not living (practicing) God’s law is futile.

HOLY PAUSE

What is my reputation? To God? To Others? Which one is the most important?

Proverb 28, The Message
If You Desert God’s Law

Proverbs 28 1The wicked are edgy with guilt, ready to run off
even when no one’s after them;
Honest people are relaxed and confident,
bold as lions.

2 When the country is in chaos,
everybody has a plan to fix it—
But it takes a leader of real understanding
to straighten things out.

3 The wicked who oppress the poor
are like a hailstorm that beats down the harvest.

Proverbs 28 4

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.

5 Justice makes no sense to the evilminded;
those who seek God know it inside and out.

6 It’s better to be poor and direct
than rich and crooked.

 

7 Practice God’s law—get a reputation for wisdom;
hang out with a loose crowd—embarrass your family.

Proverbs 28 cover8 Get as rich as you want
through cheating and extortion,
But eventually some friend of the poor
is going to give it all back to them.

9 God has no use for the prayers
of the people who won’t listen to him.

10 Lead good people down a wrong path
and you’ll come to a bad end;
do good and you’ll be rewarded for it.

11 The rich think they know it all,
but the poor can see right through them.

12 When good people are promoted, everything is great,
but when the bad are in charge, watch out!

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

Proverbs 28 trust14 A tenderhearted person lives a blessed life;
a hardhearted person lives a hard life.

15 Lions roar and bears charge—
and the wicked lord it over the poor.

16 Among leaders who lack insight, abuse abounds,
but for one who hates corruption, the future is bright.

17 A murderer haunted by guilt
is doomed—there’s no helping him.

18 Walk straight—live well and be saved;
a devious life is a doomed life.

Doing Great Harm in Seemingly Harmless Ways
19 Work your garden—you’ll end up with plenty of food;
play and party—you’ll end up with an empty plate.

20 Committed and persistent work pays off;
get-rich-quick schemes are ripoffs.

Proverbs 28 walk in wisdom21 Playing favorites is always a bad thing;
you can do great harm in seemingly harmless ways.

22 A miser in a hurry to get rich
doesn’t know that he’ll end up broke.

23 In the end, serious reprimand is appreciated
far more than bootlicking flattery.

24 Anyone who robs father and mother
and says, “So, what’s wrong with that?”
is worse than a pirate.

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

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

27 Be generous to the poor—you’ll never go hungry;
shut your eyes to their needs, and run a gauntlet of curses.

28 When corruption takes over, good people go underground,
but when the crooks are thrown out, it’s safe to come out.

WHAT DO WE LEARN?

Proverbs 28 figth for itA person whose heart is after the heart of God, knows God and practices God’s Law can see extreme differences in;

love and hate
justice and injustice
honesty and corruption
wisdom and folly
generosity and miserly
repentance and pride
commitment and undependable
God and evil

“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.”

God, help us. Heal us. Heal our land.
In Jesus Name, Amen

Proverbs 28 with ChristAnd Lord, help us to develop a reputation that reflects your character;

“But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.”
Galatians 5: 22-23, The Message

Proverbs 28 compare“Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original.”

Galatians 5:25-26

We are work under construction and God is not finished with us yet!

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KNOW YOUR HEART, KNOW YOU’RE LOVED

Posted on June 15, 2020 by randscallawayffm
Proverbs 27 19 cover heartProverbs – Life Skills
 
Wisdom, “skills for living”, as we have learned comes in all forms and is for all seasons of life. Today’s proverb is a mixed bag but the key is to avoid fools, those who will bring you down in spirit and take you down foolish roads causing your heart to be led to jealousy, pride, hate, and other characteristics that latch on to our hearts like barnacles on a ship. Barnacles impede the function of a ship just as sin impedes the function of our hearts.
 
Avoid evil and evil’s schemes for that is wisdom. Stay ready and prepared for whatever tomorrow brings without really knowing tomorrow. Knowing God, managing well what He as give to us and always being ready to move with God is wisdom.
 
Evil causes more work with a heavier burden says wisdom. Evil also causes health risk. We live longer, healthier lives when we are at peace with God, doing what please Him and not worrying about tomorrow when we know what God wants is for our best. Jesus took Solomon’s wisdom words farther when he preached,
 
“‘No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.
 
“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
 
Proverbs 26 tomorrow“And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
 
“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
 
“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”
 
When we think we know, we don’t. Jesus words always explain and give life to our current circumstances. Don’t follow fools. Imitate Christ.
 
Proverbs 27 1Proverb 27, The Message
You Don’t Know Tomorrow
 
Don’t brashly announce what you’re going to do tomorrow;
you don’t know the first thing about tomorrow.
 
2 Don’t call attention to yourself;
let others do that for you.
 
3 Carrying a log across your shoulders
while you’re hefting a boulder with your arms
Proverbs 27 stones and burdens
Is nothing compared to the burden
of putting up with a fool.
 
4 We’re blasted by anger and swamped by rage,
but who can survive jealousy?
 
PRoverbs 27 Friends5 A spoken reprimand is better
than approval that’s never expressed.
 
6 The wounds from a lover are worth it;
kisses from an enemy do you in.
 
7 When you’ve stuffed yourself, you refuse dessert;
when you’re starved, you could eat a horse.
 
8 People who won’t settle down, wandering hither and yon,
are like restless birds, flitting to and fro.
 
9 Just as lotions and fragrance give sensual delight,
a sweet friendship refreshes the soul.
 
10 Don’t leave your friends or your parents’ friends
and run home to your family when things get rough;
Better a nearby friend
than a distant family.
 
11 Become wise, dear child, and make me happy;
then nothing the world throws my way will upset me.
 

Proverbs 27 912 A prudent person sees trouble coming and ducks;

a simpleton walks in blindly and is clobbered.
 
13 Hold tight to collateral on any loan to a stranger;
be wary of accepting what a transient has pawned.
 
14 If you wake your friend in the early morning
by shouting “Rise and shine!”
It will sound to him
more like a curse than a blessing.
 
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.
 
Proverbs 27 heart reflectionYour Face Mirrors Your Heart
17 You use steel to sharpen steel,
and one friend sharpens another.
 
18 If you care for your orchard, you’ll enjoy its fruit;
if you honor your boss, you’ll be honored.
 
19 Just as water mirrors your face,
so your face mirrors your heart.
 
20 Hell has a voracious appetite,
and lust just never quits.
 
21 The purity of silver and gold is tested
by putting them in the fire;
The purity of human hearts is tested
by giving them a little fame.
 
Proverbs 27 good22 Pound on a fool all you like—
you can’t pound out foolishness.
 
23-27 Know your sheep by name;
carefully attend to your flocks;
(Don’t take them for granted;
possessions don’t last forever, you know.)
And then, when the crops are in
and the harvest is stored in the barns,
You can knit sweaters from lambs’ wool,
and sell your goats for a profit;
There will be plenty of milk and meat
to last your family through the winter.
 
Proverbs 27 todayDear Heavenly Father,
You give life, wisdom, internal joy that is inexplicable along with peace. When we are overwhelmed, you bring calm right in the middle of the storm. When we are perplexed, you give perspective. When we feel unloved, you show us your love that is unrelenting and pure in ways that are unexpected but just at the right time and place. When we do foolish things you forgive us and forget the deed altogether. O Lord, what a Savior you are. Continue to transform me to be all you intended for me to be. Then show me your purpose for this season of life. May worries be lifted, replaced by knowledge of your care.
In Jesus Name, Amen
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QUARRELSOME CRACK POTS

Posted on June 14, 2020 by randscallawayffm

Proverbs 26 wiseProverbs – Live Skills

From reading our proverb of this day, I’m wondering if the saying, “Well, that was a cheap, pot shot”, had it’s beginning among this advice for staying away from cracked pots who think they are not…cracked…who think they are perfect. Isn’t it amazing what we say to each other in all kinds of circumstances that do more harm than good.

Why DO we enter into quarrels that have nothing to do with us? Why do we give honor to foolish people as a way to get them to not be foolish? It doesn’t work, it never has. And I don’t like snow, much less in summer, so why listen and give honor to foolish words?

Proverbs 26 fireFollowing a fool because you don’t have anything else to do or don’t know what to do is like walking into a blazing fire and wondering why you hair is getting singed. It is better to do nothing and wait of God than to leap in a hole the fool digs deeper while trying to get out.

I have learned over the years that the less said, the less gets spread. You don’t tell gossips what you are feeling at the moment, what you are thinking that probably will change as you get more reliable information or even about the weather and what you think you might accomplish. Why? Because a fictional story will be told with you as the main character in a sage that will become out of control with no end.

Proverbs 26 arguementWhat great advice is given here about quarrels among people. Don’t be the unwanted guest in a quarrel. Don’t enter into a discussion you know little about for you will appear the fool and everyone will turn on you like wild dogs on a meaty bone.

Proverbs 26, The Message
Fools Recycle Silliness

We no more give honors to fools
than pray for snow in summer or rain during harvest.

2 You have as little to fear from an undeserved curse
as from the dart of a wren or the swoop of a swallow.

3 A whip for the racehorse, a tiller for the sailboat—
and a stick for the back of fools!

Proverbs 26 124 Don’t respond to the stupidity of a fool;
you’ll only look foolish yourself.

5 Answer a fool in simple terms
so he doesn’t get a swelled head.

6 You’re only asking for trouble
when you send a message by a fool.

7 A proverb quoted by fools
is limp as a wet noodle.

8 Putting a fool in a place of honor
is like setting a mud brick on a marble column.

9 To ask a moron to quote a proverb
is like putting a scalpel in the hands of a drunk.

10 Hire a fool or a drunk
and you shoot yourself in the foot.

11 As a dog eats its own vomit,
so fools recycle silliness.

Proverbs 26 mouth12 See that man who thinks he’s so smart?
You can expect far more from a fool than from him.

13 Loafers say, “It’s dangerous out there!
Tigers are prowling the streets!”
and then pull the covers back over their heads.

14 Just as a door turns on its hinges,
so a lazybones turns back over in bed.

15 A shiftless sluggard puts his fork in the pie,
but is too lazy to lift it to his mouth.

Proverbs 26 24

 

Like Glaze on Cracked Pottery
16 Dreamers fantasize their self-importance;
they think they are smarter
than a whole college faculty.

17 You grab a mad dog by the ears
when you butt into a quarrel that’s none of your business.

18-19 People who shrug off deliberate deceptions,
saying, “I didn’t mean it, I was only joking,”
Are worse than careless campers
who walk away from smoldering campfires.

20 When you run out of wood, the fire goes out;
when the gossip ends, the quarrel dies down.

Proverbs 26 negative21 A quarrelsome person in a dispute
is like kerosene thrown on a fire.

22 Listening to gossip is like eating cheap candy;
do you want junk like that in your belly?

23 Smooth talk from an evil heart
is like glaze on cracked pottery.

24-26 Your enemy shakes hands and greets you like an old friend,
all the while conniving against you.
Proverbs 26 27When he speaks warmly to you, don’t believe him for a minute;
he’s just waiting for the chance to rip you off.
No matter how cunningly he conceals his malice,
eventually his evil will be exposed in public.

27 Malice backfires;
spite boomerangs.

28 Liars hate their victims;
flatterers sabotage trust.

HOLY PAUSE
When did an argument ensue that you wished you had not become a part of lately? What did you learn?

What do we learn about gossip? What do we learn about liars?

Have we lied or held back truth so we could look good?

Are we cracked pots, glazing over real truth?

Proverbs 26 rockO Lord,
What pitfalls await us when we do not wait on you for telling us what to be and do in any given circumstance or situation. Help us to stay tenaciously focused on You. Help us to clean out our ears of the world’s ways and listen intently for You. Help to quickly obey when we hear you call. And help us to make peace at all costs to us for the benefit of those around us, but may Truth, Your Truth be told always. May Your love in us lead our every thought and action.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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WORD

Posted on June 13, 2020 by randscallawayffm
Proverbs 25 wordsProverbs – Life Skills
 
There is a response we give when we agree wholeheartedly to what a person is saying as true. We simply say, “Word”. Our proverb today tells us that the right WORD at the right time is golden and fits like fine jewelry. I would add that our words spoken in the right Spirit, as the Holy Spirit leads, adds to “rightness”. When we suddenly belch out words that are led by immediate circumstance, angry, silliness, or any other unthinking moment, we mostly do harm.
 
Proverbs 25 words spokenI once read that a great disciple of Jesus is one who does what is right and that right moment and in the right Spirit. Solomon is telling his son to think about his words before he responds for that is wisdom. It’s as if God is leading Solomon in his words. (Smiling.)
 
How wise are we with our words? (Don’t answer out loud, we all suffer from this illness of word use.)
 
Solomon is also teaching us what good to great, God-led leadership looks like and how leaders should behave as Godly people. Then he really gets personal by telling us we must be self-controlled with our eating of sweets! This is a great remix of wisdom by Eugene Peterson that we can’t ignore, however.
 
Read. Reread. Repent. Move forward in wisdom.
 
Proverb 25, The Message
The Right Word at the Right Time
Proverbs 25 words like jewelryThere are also these proverbs of Solomon,
collected by scribes of Hezekiah, king of Judah.
 
2 God delights in concealing things;
scientists delight in discovering things.
 
3 Like the horizons for breadth and the ocean for depth,
the understanding of a good leader is broad and deep.
 
4-5 Remove impurities from the silver
and the silversmith can craft a fine chalice;
Remove the wicked from leadership
and authority will be credible and God-honoring.
 
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.
 
Proverbs 25 dont jump8 Don’t jump to conclusions—there may be
a perfectly good explanation for what you just saw.
 
9-10 In the heat of an argument,
don’t betray confidences;
Word is sure to get around,
and no one will trust you.
 
11-12 The right word at the right time
is like a custom-made piece of jewelry,
And a wise friend’s timely reprimand
is like a gold ring slipped on your finger.
 
13 Reliable friends who do what they say
are like cool drinks in sweltering heat—refreshing!
 
14 Like billowing clouds that bring no rain
is the person who talks big but never produces.
 
15 Patient persistence pierces through indifference;
gentle speech breaks down rigid defenses.
 
Proverbs 25 self control 2A Person Without Self-Control
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.
Proverbs 25 overstay
18 Anyone who tells lies against the neighbors
in court or on the street is a loose cannon.
 
19 Trusting a double-crosser when you’re in trouble
is like biting down on an abscessed tooth.
 
20 Singing light songs to the heavyhearted
is like pouring salt in their wounds.
 
Proverbs 25 2121-22 If you see your enemy hungry, go buy him lunch;
if he’s thirsty, bring him a drink.
Your generosity will surprise him with goodness,
and God will look after you.
 
23 A north wind brings stormy weather,
and a gossipy tongue stormy looks.
 
24 Better to live alone in a tumbledown shack
than share a mansion with a nagging spouse.
 
25 Like a cool drink of water when you’re worn out and weary
is a letter from a long-lost friend.
 
Proverbs 25 1626 A good person who gives in to a bad person
is a muddied spring, a polluted well.
 
27 It’s not smart to stuff yourself with sweets,
nor is glory piled on glory good for you.
 
28 A person without self-control
is like a house with its doors and windows knocked out.
 
Proverbs 25 18
Dear Heavenly Father,
You are God and we are not. We fall down and make a mess with our words but Your Word picks us up, dusts us off and puts us back into play because of your love, mercy and grace. Thank you, Lord.
In Jesus Name, Amen
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