JUSTICE

Posted on June 13, 2020 by randscallawayffm
Proverbs 24 pleasingProverbs – Life Skills
 
Pray the most dangerous prayer of your lives, for only then you will see what justice doled out with unconditional love, mercy and grace looks like. You will begin to see what drives the passion for justice. You will see from a new, higher thinking, perspective. You will begin to know God and His character. What is this dangerous prayer? “Lord, break my heart of those things that break your heart.”
 
Because of what is currently happening in our world today the words and message of this proverb leap to the forefront of a person who prays this prayer.
 
“Rescue the perishing;
don’t hesitate to step in and help.
If you say, ‘Hey, that’s none of my business,’
will that get you off the hook?
Someone is watching you closely, you know—
Someone not impressed with weak excuses.”
 
Proverbs 24 15What if Jesus said, “Hey, that’s none of my business” or “believe what you want and I will believe what I want”?  Where would we be today? Jesus came as the One and only Person who was Truth.
 
God is Truth.  Truth never changes. God is love and He wants us to love Him back. God wants a relationship with us that is intimate and cherished. God wants to call us Friend. Can you imagine the creator of the world wants to call us Friend? God is the only one who will bring justice in our sick world who knows not what true justice is.
 
Justice came to earth when Jesus was born. Jesus was the way, truth and life who doled out justice to the poor, sick, lame, blind, lost and demon possessed. Jesus taught us that justice is how we treat each other. Justice is a God-led concern and passion for fairness, peace, with a genuine respect for people. It is for ALL people who God created from the bloodline of Adam and Eve. Yep, we all came from the same parents.
 
Proverbs 24 rescueAlong with the word justice that the world is throwing around these days as “my rights” is expanded to justification in a believer’s heart who has found true justice from turning from this world’s thinking and behaving to how Jesus thinks. Jesus gives, the lost in sin, justification. Jesus the only true, perfect one who has the right to judge, justifies us from all sin. How did He do that? He paid the debt of all our sins for all who believe He did and believe in Him as Lord of our lives. “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
 
Jesus’ Justification–It is “just as if” we had never sinned. Our sin, not in part but the whole, as the old hymn says, is gone. Not to be remembered any longer. As justified, redeemed at the price of a cruel cross, saved by grace believers how can we treat anyone less than or more than our own saved selves? Christ died for all. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
 
Proverbs 24 helpWho does God send to rescue the unjustified, caught up in the way the world thinks? Who will help others find and follow Jesus, the Savior and Lord of all, who opens to door to an intimate relationship with God? Who will point the way to true justice in Jesus?
 
The perishing are the ones lost without God. Justice is not a cause or a movement. Justice is Jesus who teaches us to love each other the way HE loves us. It is more than “treat others they way you would like to be treated”, it is showing love, concern, compassion for every God created human on the planet without judgement. It is laying down our own interests and desires, forgetting what we want, think we deserve or what is “fair”. It is truly loving each other the way Jesus loves us. To do that we must pray the dangerous prayer and by the power of the Holy Spirit in us begin to pattern our lives after Jesus, our Lord. When we really believe what we believe is real we will touch the surface of justice and treat others BETTER than we treat ourselves.
 
Paul, the judge, jury and executioner of Christians who was stopped and brought to his knees by Jesus, writes these words after repenting of his former behavior…
 
Proverbs 24 love Him
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
 
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
(Philippians 2:3-8, NIV)
 
Proverbs 23 crossLove. The greatest trait of God’s character is love. God’s Love is the equalizer that drives us to His justice. Love is the passion that requires us to rescue the perishing before it’s too late.
 
Love seeks to serve others, not be served.
 
Proverb 24, The Message
Part 3 of 3
 
Proverbs 24 wisdomIntelligence Outranks Muscle
19
24 1-2 Don’t envy bad people;
don’t even want to be around them.
All they think about is causing a disturbance;
all they talk about is making trouble.
20
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.
21
Proverbs 24 his mind5-6 It’s better to be wise than strong;
intelligence outranks muscle any day.
Strategic planning is the key to warfare;
to win, you need a lot of good counsel.
22
7 Wise conversation is way over the head of fools;
in a serious discussion they haven’t a clue.
23
8-9 The person who’s always cooking up some evil
soon gets a reputation as prince of rogues.
Fools incubate sin;
cynics desecrate beauty.
 
Rescue the Perishing
proverbs 24 10
24
10 If you fall to pieces in a crisis,
there wasn’t much to you in the first place.
25
11-12 Rescue the perishing;
don’t hesitate to step in and help.
If you say, “Hey, that’s none of my business,”
will that get you off the hook?
Proverbs 24 lookSomeone is watching you closely, you know—
Someone not impressed with weak excuses.
26
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.
Proverbs 24 falling and getting up27
15-16 Don’t interfere with good people’s lives;
don’t try to get the best of them.
No matter how many times you trip them up,
God-loyal people don’t stay down long;
Soon they’re up on their feet,
while the wicked end up flat on their faces.
28
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.
Proverbs 24 humility29
19-20 Don’t bother your head with braggarts
or wish you could succeed like the wicked.
Those people have no future at all;
they’re headed down a dead-end street.
30
21-22 Fear God, dear child—respect your leaders;
don’t be defiant or mutinous.
Without warning your life can turn upside down,
and who knows how or when it might happen?
 
More Sayings of the Wise
An Honest Answer
23 It’s wrong, very wrong,
to go along with injustice.
 
Proverbs 24 accomplice24-25 Whoever whitewashes the wicked
gets a black mark in the history books,
But whoever exposes the wicked
will be thanked and rewarded.
 
26 An honest answer
is like a warm hug.
 
27 First plant your fields;
then build your barn.
 
28-29 Don’t talk about your neighbors behind their backs—
no slander or gossip, please.
Don’t say to anyone, “I’ll get back at you for what you did to me. I’ll make you pay for what you did!”
 
30-34 One day I walked by the field of an old lazybones,
and then passed the vineyard of a lout;
They were overgrown with weeds,
thick with thistles, all the fences broken down.
I took a long look and pondered what I saw;
the fields preached me a sermon and I listened:
“A nap here, a nap there, a day off here, a day off there,
sit back, take it easy—do you know what comes next?
Just this: You can look forward to a dirt-poor life,
with poverty as your permanent houseguest!”
 
Proverbs 23 justice hands around the world
WHAT DO WE LEARN?
 
Injustice breaks the heart of God.
 
“It’s wrong, very wrong,
to go along with injustice.
 
Whoever whitewashes the wicked
gets a black mark in the history books,
But whoever exposes the wicked
will be thanked and rewarded.”
 
Dear Lord and Savior,
Help us. Heal us. Heal our land.
In Jesus Name, Amen
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ABOUT THOSE QUARANTINE BAD HABITS…

Posted on June 11, 2020 by randscallawayffm
Proverbs 23 helpProverbs – Life Skills
 
After three months of “stay at home” without our regularly scheduled lives, we have been left to our devices and bad habits. These bad habits of biting into our favorite snacks in mindless large quantities while binge-watching Netflix and Prime has come back to bite us. We get up from Spring’s inactivity to go for walks and wonder what is dragging behind, only to figure out it IS our behinds! Yikes!
 
Proverbs 22 eating and drinkingAll the diets “that will save our lives” are coming out in full force. The Keto craze is on all our social media feeds taunting us about what our bad habits have done to us and how to fix it. People are crying out for help, seeking comradery in fixing the problems we did to ourselves. You would think it was January!
 
We seem to be weak, as a general rule, in restraint. So it is fitting that we come upon this timely Proverb today! (Sigh, I needed this.)
 
Proverb 22, The Message, Part Two
Restrain Yourself
6
Proverbs 22 focus on God1-3 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.
 
7
4-5 Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich;
restrain yourself!
Riches disappear in the blink of an eye;
wealth sprouts wings
and flies off into the wild blue yonder.
 
8
6-8 Don’t accept a meal from a tightwad;
don’t expect anything special.
He’ll be as stingy with you as he is with himself;
he’ll say, “Eat! Drink!” but won’t mean a word of it.
His miserly serving will turn your stomach
when you realize the meal’s a sham.
 
9
9 Don’t bother talking sense to fools;
they’ll only poke fun at your words.
 
Proverbs 23 1210
10-11 Don’t stealthily move back the boundary lines
or cheat orphans out of their property,
For they have a powerful Advocate
who will go to bat for them.
 
11
12 Give yourselves to disciplined instruction;
open your ears to tested knowledge.
 
12
13-14 Don’t be afraid to correct your young ones;
a spanking won’t kill them.
A good spanking, in fact, might save them
from something worse than death.
 
13
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.
 
Proverbs 23 7 think14
17-18 Don’t for a minute envy careless rebels;
soak yourself in the Fear-of-God—
That’s where your future lies.
Then you won’t be left with an armload of nothing.
 
Proverbs 23 two ways15
19-21 Oh listen, dear child—become wise;
point your life in the right direction.
Don’t drink too much wine and get drunk;
don’t eat too much food and get fat.
Drunks and gluttons will end up on skid row,
in a stupor and dressed in rags.
 
Buy Wisdom, Education, Insight
16
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!
 
17
26 Dear child, I want your full attention;
please do what I show you.
 
27-28 A whore is a bottomless pit;
a loose woman can get you in deep trouble fast.
She’ll take you for all you’ve got;
she’s worse than a pack of thieves.
 
Proverbs 23 o my son18
29-35 Who are the people who are always crying the blues?
Who do you know who reeks of self-pity?
Who keeps getting beat up for no reason at all?
Whose eyes are bleary and bloodshot?
It’s those who spend the night with a bottle,
for whom drinking is serious business.
Don’t judge wine by its label,
or its bouquet, or its full-bodied flavor.
Judge it rather by the hangover it leaves you with—
the splitting headache, the queasy stomach.
Do you really prefer seeing double,
with your speech all slurred,
Reeling and seasick,
drunk as a sailor?
“They hit me,” you’ll say, “but it didn’t hurt;
they beat on me, but I didn’t feel a thing.
When I’m sober enough to manage it,
bring me another drink!”
 
Proverbs 23 heartIT’S NOT TOO LATE!
IT’S NEVER TOO LATE!
 
God will help us with the profound hard changes in our lifestyles that we need to make. It is up to us to say yes to His powerful intervention. God created us, knows everything about us and loves us beyond our human thinking. He knows our weaknesses and longs to be our strength. He knows our willpower and longs to be the Power from within. “Be still and know God” says the Psalmist, who meant let go of doing life on our own and let God help us, guide us into what is best for us. To know God is to listen to God speak to our hearts.
 
Proverbs 23 18 hope
The power of God’s Holy Spirit will restrain us and if we ask, will help us avoid what is bad for us. Jesus taught his disciples to pray a prayer that included, “Lead us not into temptations but DELIVER us from evil.” Evil wants you to remain chained and bound to his devices of all that will make you unhealthy until you die. Pretty sure that’s why Jesus included that in his prayer. Jesus spent 40 days and nights being tempted by Satan in the desert with food, drink with taunts of “I will give you…” which he had no power to give.
 
As believers we have the power given to us by Jesus to help us restrain ourselves and live well, at His best. Our temporary bodies are His temple of residence until we meet Him face to face and get a new body. Yes, I’m ready to have a new body, too. But in the meantime, let’s take care of this one as a great investment to healthier living.
 
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” I Corinthians 6:19-20, NIV
 
Proverbs 22 offering“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.”
Romans 12:1-2, NIV
 
Dear Heavenly Father,
We joke about overeating but inside we are saddened by our lack of restraint. Help us to tap into the power you give us to live wisely with skills that help us to live at our spiritual, physical, mental and emotional best. Help us get up and move. Help us to judge only ourselves by listening to your Holy Spirit’s guidance and correction who resides in my body, Your Temple. Help us to live a quality life that is ready to quickly join you in your work when invited by you.
In Jesus Name, Amen
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BOUNDARY LINES

Posted on June 10, 2020 by randscallawayffm
Proverbs – Life Skills
 
Proverbs 22 decayI still remember my senior paper in high school. I based my research on the current, acceptable norms of our society at that time (1969). I wrote about the moral decay of our world and how it was affecting our lives. I wrote about how the moral boundary lives of behavior kept moving back and away from what we knew to be right and good. The lines were becoming consistently blurred. More and more was acceptable in media and movies. “I promise you, just ignore the language and the nudity, there really is a story here” was becoming the norm in conversation with each other. Moral decay was settling in and rot was beginning to form. And we allowed it, excused it and then accepted it.
 
My English teacher was a bit surprise that a seventeen year old would write this essay on the world. I was a bit anxious when presenting my paper to the class wondering how much sarcasm and ridicule I would get, but there was none. There was no rebuttal. It was weirdly surreal.
 
Proverbs 22 1Now, it is 2020. What we see with 2020 Spiritual vision is the result of consistently pushing the envelop of morality with no boundaries in behavior. Anything goes. Some ask, “has God changed His boundaries so He can accommodate us?” Absolutely not. In fact, God’s boundary lines of living at His best for His glory have not moved. God’s Word still stands and has not changed.
 
Limits and Lines actually provide security. That’s why in God, we trust. When we know and trust that He wants the best for us, we readily and willingly obey. The more we realize His love for us, we love others more like He loves us. We see people, situations, circumstances, and God’s justice with new perspectives based on God’s love and discipline in a new light, a brighter light. Decay spreads quickly in dark places.
 
We must live within God’s boundary lines. When we do, we find God expands our territory and our lives without moving the lines of what is right and good.
 
Our next proverb tells of the “cure” for this moral decay.
 
Proverb 22, The Message
The Cure Comes Through Discipline
 
Proverbs 22 4A sterling reputation is better than striking it rich;
a gracious spirit is better than money in the bank.
 
2 The rich and the poor shake hands as equals—
God made them both!
 
3 A prudent person sees trouble coming and ducks;
a simpleton walks in blindly and is clobbered.
 
4 The payoff for meekness and Fear-of-God
is plenty and honor and a satisfying life.
 
5 The perverse travel a dangerous road, potholed and mud-slick;
if you know what’s good for you, stay clear of it.
 
PRoverbs 22 train6 Point your kids in the right direction—
when they’re old they won’t be lost.
 
7 The poor are always ruled over by the rich,
so don’t borrow and put yourself under their power.
 
8 Whoever sows sin reaps weeds,
and bullying anger sputters into nothing.
 
Proverbs 22 generous9 Generous hands are blessed hands
because they give bread to the poor.
 
10 Kick out the troublemakers and things will quiet down;
you need a break from bickering and griping!
 
11 God loves the pure-hearted and well-spoken;
good leaders also delight in their friendship.
 
12 God guards knowledge with a passion,
but he’ll have nothing to do with deception.
 
Proverbs 22 1113 The loafer says, “There’s a lion on the loose!
If I go out I’ll be eaten alive!”
 
14 The mouth of a whore is a bottomless pit;
you’ll fall in that pit if you’re on the outs with God.
 
15 Young people are prone to foolishness and fads;
the cure comes through tough-minded discipline.
 
16 Exploit the poor or glad-hand the rich—whichever,
you’ll end up the poorer for it.
 
The Thirty Precepts of the Sages
Don’t Move Back the Boundary Lines
Proverebs 22 title
17-21 Listen carefully to my wisdom;
take to heart what I can teach you.
You’ll treasure its sweetness deep within;
you’ll give it bold expression in your speech.
To make sure your foundation is trust in God,
I’m laying it all out right now just for you.
I’m giving you thirty sterling principles—
tested guidelines to live by.
Believe me—these are truths that work,
and will keep you accountable
to those who sent you.
 
1
22-23 Don’t walk on the poor just because they’re poor,
and don’t use your position to crush the weak,
Because God will come to their defense;
the life you took, he’ll take from you and give back to them.
 
Proverbs 22 anger2
24-25 Don’t hang out with angry people;
don’t keep company with hotheads.
Bad temper is contagious—don’t get infected.
 
3
26-27 Don’t gamble on the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, hocking your house against a lucky chance.
The time will come when you have to pay up;
you’ll be left with nothing but the shirt on your back.
 
Proverbs 22 284
28 Don’t stealthily move back the boundary lines
staked out long ago by your ancestors.
 
5
29 Observe people who are good at their work—
skilled workers are always in demand and admired;
they don’t take a backseat to anyone.
 
Proverbs 22 space
WHAT DO WE LEARN?
 
Paul tells in Romans 5, “By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us—set us right with him, make us fit for him—we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that’s not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God’s grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.”
 
HOLY PAUSE
 
Proverbs 21 repentMorality is the issue. Do we have the moral discipline to live in the wide open spaces of God’s grace for his glory?
 
OR do we limit ourselves to going along with the crowd because, frankly it’s easier?
 
What is acceptable behavior today that wasn’t a few years ago?
 
Has God moved the lines or have we?
 
When we move the moral boundaries of our behavior we actually shrink the space we live in until it consumes all our space. Decay rots the soul. Decay takes life. God gives life, an expanded, abundant life. By living by His power we actually live in a bigger space!
 
“Cultivate your own relationship with God, but don’t impose it on others. You’re fortunate if your behavior and your belief are coherent. But if you’re not sure, if you notice that you are acting in ways inconsistent with what you believe—some days trying to impose your opinions on others, other days just trying to please them—then you know that you’re out of line. If the way you live isn’t consistent with what you believe, then it’s wrong.”
 
Proverbs 22 fear of
Every person is called of God, their creator to make a choice. The two choices are clear;
–Live in the wide open spaces of God’s love, mercy and grace with a life that never ends…
–OR life that is catastrophically closing in which leads to no other options but death.
 
Rough talk, you might be thinking as you read this, but God is serious about His relationship with us. So serious, that He sent His Son to lay down His life for us in the most cruel way possible. Yeah, it’s serious stuff.
 
Dear Lord,
When we focus, truly focus on all You are, we see how much we accept as okay in our behavior. We repent. Cleanse our hearts. Help us to live, truly live like we say we believe. Expand the work of your salvation in us. Show us your ways then help us live Your best. Your plan and purpose, not ours.
In Jesus Name, Amen
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THE EXAMINATION

Posted on June 9, 2020 by randscallawayffm
Proverbs 21 exam dayProverbs – Life Skills
 
Life is full of tests and exams. We might think we are finished with testing and examinations when we graduate, ah, but no! A life that is lived well and skillfully daily examines one’s heart and asks;
 
Why am I being this way and why am I doing this?
 
What does God want? What does God want of me?
 
Proverbs 21 2 heartWhen God examines my heart, what will He find?
 
What or who motivates me to do what I do?
 
Who am I? Who am I in God’s eyes?
 
God is the only judge I should be concerned about but am I driven by how I appear to others?
 
Don’t you love it when the Teacher gives you the answers to the test BEFORE you take it? This proverb gives us the answers to the test! Read and mediate on all the positive goals of a life lived for God. List them. Write them down.
 
Your test is about to be given today, but here are the answers!
 
“Whoever goes hunting for what is right and kind
finds life itself—glorious life!”
 
Proverbs 21 jepardy
Like Jeopardy…the answers are here, life will give you the questions! (Hear the music? I do.)
 
Proverb 21, The Message
God Examines Our Motives
 
Proverbs 21 examines the heartGood leadership is a channel of water controlled by God;
he directs it to whatever ends he chooses.
 
2 We justify our actions by appearances;
God examines our motives.
 
3 Clean living before God and justice with our neighbors
mean far more to God than religious performance.
 
4 Arrogance and pride—distinguishing marks in the wicked—
are just plain sin.
 
Young Child Boy Training Golden Retriever Puppy Dog in Meadow on Sunny Day
5 Careful planning puts you ahead in the long run;
hurry and scurry puts you further behind.
 
6 Make it to the top by lying and cheating;
get paid with smoke and a promotion—to death!
 
7 The wicked get buried alive by their loot
because they refuse to use it to help others.
 
8 Mixed motives twist life into tangles;
pure motives take you straight down the road.
 
Do Your Best, Prepare for the Worst
9 Better to live alone in a tumbledown shack
than share a mansion with a nagging spouse.
 
Proverbs 21 1910 Wicked souls love to make trouble;
they feel nothing for friends and neighbors.
 
11 Simpletons only learn the hard way,
but the wise learn by listening.
 
12 A God-loyal person will see right through the wicked
and undo the evil they’ve planned.
 
13 If you stop your ears to the cries of the poor,
your cries will go unheard, unanswered.
 
14 A quietly given gift soothes an irritable person;
a heartfelt present cools a hot temper.
Proverbs 21 justice
15 Good people celebrate when justice triumphs,
but for the workers of evil it’s a bad day.
 
16 Whoever wanders off the straight and narrow
ends up in a congregation of ghosts.
 
17 You’re addicted to thrills? What an empty life!
The pursuit of pleasure is never satisfied.
 
18 What a bad person plots against the good, boomerangs;
the plotter gets it in the end.
 
19 Better to live in a tent in the wild
than with a cross and petulant spouse.
 
Proverbs 21 repent20 Valuables are safe in a wise person’s home;
fools put it all out for yard sales.
 
21 Whoever goes hunting for what is right and kind
finds life itself—glorious life!
 
22 One sage entered a whole city of armed soldiers—
their trusted defenses fell to pieces!
 
23 Watch your words and hold your tongue;
you’ll save yourself a lot of grief.
 
Proverbs 21 tongue
24 You know their names—Brash, Impudent, Blasphemer—
intemperate hotheads, every one.
 
25 Lazy people finally die of hunger
because they won’t get up and go to work.
 
26 Sinners are always wanting what they don’t have;
the God-loyal are always giving what they do have.
 
27 Religious performance by the wicked stinks;
it’s even worse when they use it to get ahead.
 
28 A lying witness is unconvincing;
a person who speaks truth is respected.
 
Proverebs 21 30
29 Unscrupulous people fake it a lot;
honest people are sure of their steps.
 
30 Nothing clever, nothing conceived, nothing contrived,
can get the better of God.
 
31 Do your best, prepare for the worst—
then trust God to bring victory.
 
Proverbs 21 21
SO, HOW DID YOU DO ON THE TEST?
 
Did you match the answers to today’s life questions? Seek God. Be motivated by His Holy Spirit who lives in all believers of Jesus.
 
Lord,
Help us to daily examine our hearts and hear your correction and wisdom. Help us to live skillfully, knowing how to match your answers to life’s questions. But first, cleanse my heart of all that offends you. Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Renew a right Spirit within me.
In Jesus Name, Amen
 
Psalm 51…
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

 

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DEEP WATERS

Posted on June 8, 2020 by randscallawayffm
Proverbs 20 living waterProverbs – Life Skills
 
We can have peace by being peaceful. We can have good friends by being a good friend. We can be free of who others think we are by realizing who God says we are. We can drink from a well of negativity, hypersensitivity, hate, injustice and disrespect of human lives or we can drink from a well deep inside us formed from knowing God and knowing His way to live skillfully and pleasing to Him. Know God. Know what is right.
 
“Knowing what is right is like deep water in the heart;
a wise person draws from the well within.”
 
Proverbs 20 I am living waterWhat is this deep water?
Jesus said, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart’.
(John 7:37, NLT)
 
“I am the Way, the Truth and the Life” says Jesus. (John 14:6) When we believe in Jesus as The Way to God, the Truth about God we gain a new Life. This new life continually digs a well deep into our hearts, minds and souls of all that is right in God’s eyes. This well gives, sustains, refreshes and renews life forever. This well of deep water gives knowledge of how to live abundantly and expectantly by His Holy Spirit.
 
Proverbs 20 truth
HOLY PAUSE
From what well am I drawing from?
 
How deep is the well of Truth in my life?
 
Am I drinking from His chalice of knowledge or doing life on my own?
 
What is the mark and measure of my character?
 
Proverb 20, The Message
Deep Water in the Heart
 
Proverbs 20 5Wine makes you mean, beer makes you quarrelsome—
a staggering drunk is not much fun.
 
2 Quick-tempered leaders are like mad dogs—
cross them and they bite your head off.
 
3 It’s a mark of good character to avert quarrels,
but fools love to pick fights.
 
4 A farmer too lazy to plant in the spring
has nothing to harvest in the fall.
 
5 Knowing what is right is like deep water in the heart;
a wise person draws from the well within.
 
6 Lots of people claim to be loyal and loving,
but where on earth can you find one?
 
7 God-loyal people, living honest lives,
make it much easier for their children.
 
Proverbs 20 actions
8-9 Leaders who know their business and care
keep a sharp eye out for the shoddy and cheap,
For who among us can be trusted
to be always diligent and honest?
 
10 Switching price tags and padding the expense account
are two things God hates.
 
11 Young people eventually reveal by their actions
if their motives are on the up and up.
 
Drinking from the Chalice of Knowledge
12 Ears that hear and eyes that see—
we get our basic equipment from God!
 
13 Don’t be too fond of sleep; you’ll end up in the poorhouse.
Wake up and get up; then there’ll be food on the table.
 
Proverbs 20 integrity14 The shopper says, “That’s junk—I’ll take it off your hands,”
then goes off boasting of the bargain.
 
15 Drinking from the beautiful chalice of knowledge
is better than adorning oneself with gold and rare gems.
 
16 Hold tight to collateral on any loan to a stranger;
beware of accepting what a transient has pawned.
 
17 Stolen bread tastes sweet,
but soon your mouth is full of gravel.
 
18 Form your purpose by asking for counsel,
then carry it out using all the help you can get.
 
19 Gossips can’t keep secrets,
so never confide in blabbermouths.
 
20 Anyone who curses father and mother
extinguishes light and exists benighted.
 
The Very Steps We Take
Proverbs 20 wait
21 A bonanza at the beginning
is no guarantee of blessing at the end.
 
22 Don’t ever say, “I’ll get you for that!”
Wait for God; he’ll settle the score.
 
23 God hates cheating in the marketplace;
rigged scales are an outrage.
 
Proverbs 20 direct24 The very steps we take come from God;
otherwise how would we know where we’re going?
 
25 An impulsive vow is a trap;
later you’ll wish you could get out of it.
 
26 After careful scrutiny, a wise leader
makes a clean sweep of rebels and dolts.
 
27 God is in charge of human life,
watching and examining us inside and out.
 
Proverbs 20 change
28 Love and truth form a good leader;
sound leadership is founded on loving integrity.
 
29 Youth may be admired for vigor,
but gray hair gives prestige to old age.
 
30 A good thrashing purges evil;
punishment goes deep within us.
 
ITS A HEART CONDITION
 
Proverbs 20 8Our words determine where our hearts are. Jesus also said, “What you say flows from what is in your heart” (Luke 6:45). If your heart is hard, then it will show by what you say. If you are bitter, then you will find yourself talking about it, because bitter people love to spread it around.
 
But if you have a heart that is filled with grace and love and wisdom from God’s Word, that, too, will come out. And that should be the goal of every believer. THIS is the deep well to draw from when deciding what is right, good and wise. This is the Living Water that Jesus provides for our souls.
 
Proverbs 20 draw itDear Heavenly Father,
You are wisdom. You are so, so good. You reveal who you are every day. Helps to draw from the deep waters of your love, mercy and grace you have provided. Help us to love well and live wisely. You are the well that never runs dry. Continue to grow and mature us with the fruits of your character that are nourished from your deep waters. May living waters run deep in our hearts. May we always draw from this well to respond to life here.
In Jesus Name, Amen
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THE ART OF LISTENING

Posted on June 7, 2020 by randscallawayffm
Proverbs 19 listenProverbs – Life Skills
 
We feel awkward if there is sudden silence in a group of people talking over what is best for the situation at hand, so our human tendency is to speak “off the top” of our heads to fill the void. Sometimes, in the silence, God is trying to get our attention, individually and collectively with what HE wants for the topic at hand.
 
Listening is an art. Listening to God is an art. A developed master of listening is able to produce masterpiece living that lets go of what he/she wants, shuts off the world’s noise, and becomes silent and still for a moment to hear exactly what God wants. A master of listening skills learns the quieter he/she becomes the more they hear God. The more we hear Him, the more God speaks! God is wisdom. Wisdom is God.
 
The following proverb shows us what happens when we quit listening to God. It’s the fool who does not learn the art of listening. Fools miss the big picture, lessons to learn and wisdom to be gained.
 
Proverb 19, The Message
If You Quit Listening
 
Proverbs 19 integrity
Better to be poor and honest
than a rich person no one can trust.
 
2 Ignorant zeal is worthless;
haste makes waste.
 
3 People ruin their lives by their own stupidity,
so why does God always get blamed?
 
4 Wealth attracts friends as honey draws flies,
but poor people are avoided like a plague.
 
5 Perjury won’t go unpunished.
Would you let a liar go free?
 
Proverbs 19 86 Lots of people flock around a generous person;
everyone’s a friend to the philanthropist.
 
7 When you’re down on your luck, even your family avoids you—
yes, even your best friends wish you’d get lost.
If they see you coming, they look the other way—
out of sight, out of mind.
 
Proverbs 19 178 Grow a wise heart—you’ll do yourself a favor;
keep a clear head—you’ll find a good life.
 
9 The person who tells lies gets caught;
the person who spreads rumors is ruined.
 
10 Blockheads shouldn’t live on easy street
any more than workers should give orders to their boss.
 
11 Smart people know how to hold their tongue;
their grandeur is to forgive and forget.
 
12 Mean-tempered leaders are like mad dogs;
the good-natured are like fresh morning dew.
 
13 A parent is worn to a frazzle by a stupid child;
a nagging spouse is a leaky faucet.
 
14 House and land are handed down from parents,
but a congenial spouse comes straight from God.
 
15 Life collapses on loafers;
lazybones go hungry.
 
Proverbs 19 2316 Keep the rules and keep your life;
careless living kills.
 
17 Mercy to the needy is a loan to God,
and God pays back those loans in full.
 
18 Discipline your children while you still have the chance;
indulging them destroys them.
 
19 Let angry people endure the backlash of their own anger;
if you try to make it better, you’ll only make it worse.
 
20 Take good counsel and accept correction—
that’s the way to live wisely and well.
 
Proverbs 19 rest21 We humans keep brainstorming options and plans,
but God’s purpose prevails.
 
22 It’s only human to want to make a buck,
but it’s better to be poor than a liar.
 
23 Fear-of-God is life itself,
a full life, and serene—no nasty surprises.
 
24 Some people dig a fork into the pie
but are too lazy to raise it to their mouth.
 
25 Punish the insolent—make an example of them.
Who knows? Somebody might learn a good lesson.
 
Proverbs 19 8 cross26 Kids who lash out against their parents
are an embarrassment and disgrace.
 
27 If you quit listening, dear child, and strike off on your own,
you’ll soon be out of your depth.
 
28 An unprincipled witness desecrates justice;
the mouths of the wicked spew malice.
 
29 The irreverent have to learn reverence the hard way;
only a slap in the face brings fools to attention.
 
Proverbs 19 Jesus
HOLY PAUSE…IF WE DO LISTEN…
 
Read these wise words again, look for and list all that we gain from listening. Let me get you started;
 
“Grow a wise heart—you’ll do yourself a favor;
keep a clear head—you’ll find a good life.”
 
Dear Heavenly Father,
We have heard from you in the quiet of this hour. Continue to speak our hearts through your word, in your creation, and through your church of wise people who love you. Help us to be still, let go and listen to You. There is nothing worth more to me than hearing from you. We cry out for wisdom, insight and understanding. Help us to boldly speak for justice, mercy, and grace with your love and by the prompting of your Holy Spirit. Help us to also be boldly silent when You need to speak to us. Help us to know You and know this precious timing of when to speak and when to be silent. Develop the art of listening in all of us.
In Jesus Name, Amen
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WORDS KILL, WORDS GIVE LIFE

Posted on June 6, 2020 by randscallawayffm
Proverbs – Life Skills
 
Proverbs 18 words
As public school teachers, we are trained to rid our classrooms of talk that hurts others. We work hard to lose the sarcasm, manipulation, bribery and others forms of communication that do not contribute to the molding of a student’s behavior. We make conscious efforts to model respect and dignity with the mantra of “treat others they way you want to be treated”. (I often added, “treat others better…”.) When we do anything but this kind of training, the classroom becomes an unsafe place where bullies gain control and others feel defeated.
 
Proverbs 8 Jesus is wisdomTo have a safe, loving environment is the goal of great teachers. It means everything to the learning process.
 
This is a form of wisdom. Our manner of relating to each other can bring life and refreshment to the heart and souls of others…or not. Our words, along with our attitude and body language, can give life and encouragement or destruction and chaos to the human soul.
 
Where does this wisdom come from for our lives? Jesus. Jesus is Wisdom. Our Master Teacher, Jesus, taught his disciples then and His followers now to “Love God. Love others they way I have loved you”. To really love others like Jesus unconditionally loves us changes they way we think, the words we say and the life we display each day.
 
PRoverbs 18 talk is fruitful or not
I would agree with Solomon, our words are a matter of life or death.
 
“Words satisfy the mind as much as fruit does the stomach;
good talk is as gratifying as a good harvest.
Words kill, words give life;
they’re either poison or fruit—you choose.”
 
Proverbs 18 death and lifeProverb 18, The Message
 
Loners who care only for themselves
spit on the common good.
 
2 Fools care nothing for thoughtful discourse;
all they do is run off at the mouth.
 
3 When wickedness arrives, shame’s not far behind;
contempt for life is contemptible.
 
4 Many words rush along like rivers in flood,
but deep wisdom flows up from artesian springs.
 
5 It’s not right to go easy on the guilty,
or come down hard on the innocent.
 
Proverbs 18 enter to fight6 The words of a fool start fights;
do him a favor and gag him.
 
7 Fools are undone by their big mouths;
their souls are crushed by their words.
 
8 Listening to gossip is like eating cheap candy;
do you really want junk like that in your belly?
 
Proverbs 18 gossip wounds9 Slack habits and sloppy work
are as bad as vandalism.
 
10 God’s name is a place of protection—
good people can run there and be safe.
 
11 The rich think their wealth protects them;
they imagine themselves safe behind it.
 
12 Pride first, then the crash,
but humility is precursor to honor.
 
13 Answering before listening
is both stupid and rude.
 
Proverbs 18 15
14 A healthy spirit conquers adversity,
but what can you do when the spirit is crushed?
 
15 Wise men and women are always learning,
always listening for fresh insights.
 
16 A gift gets attention;
it buys the attention of eminent people.
 
17 The first speech in a court case is always convincing—
until the cross-examination starts!
 
PRoverbs 18 stick close
18 You may have to draw straws
when faced with a tough decision.
 
19 Do a favor and win a friend forever;
nothing can untie that bond.
 
PRoverbs 18 friends20 Words satisfy the mind as much as fruit does the stomach;
good talk is as gratifying as a good harvest.
 
21 Words kill, words give life;
they’re either poison or fruit—you choose.
 
22 Find a good spouse, you find a good life—
and even more: the favor of God!
 
23 The poor speak in soft supplications;
the rich bark out answers.
 
24 Friends come and friends go,
but a true friend sticks by you like family.
 
Proverbs 18 Lord
Dear Heavenly Father,
Our words. Lord, help us to think before we speak. Help us to listen to others, really listen, before thinking of a response. Help us reduce the amount of our words altogether. Less said is less spread in gossip. The evil one uses our words said in haste as fuel for angry fires. Help us to avoid sarcasm and whining and replace our talk with words that give life and encouragement. The world needs life-giving words–Your words from YOUR WORD! Help us to think often of whatever is true, noble, praiseworthy, as Paul writes so our words that tumble out from our lips give life.
In Jesus Name, Amen
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WISDOM OR A WHACK ON THE HEAD?

Posted on June 5, 2020 by randscallawayffm
Proverbs 17 few wordsProverbs – Life Skills
 
“Just because you think it doesn’t mean you always have to say it”, said my mom many years ago…more than once. She didn’t always follow her own advice when it came to some issues. When it came to protecting her faith, she spoke up. But she would soon realize that actions spoke louder than words. Walking in the Light of God showed love and respect for those seeking a better way. We can all learn from choosing our words wisely.
 
“Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary, use words.”
 
This is, perhaps, the best known and most commonly quoted statement made by St. Francis of Assisi. It might surprise some to discover that he did not, in fact, say this. At least not as far as we know. Whether he said it or not, the idea has taken hold of the imagination of many, some who embrace it as great wisdom and some who reject it as compromise. While Francis never made the statement, it does reflect something of a Franciscan quality. However, the saint’s actual words were far more nuanced:
 
“It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching.”
 
Proverbs 17 9 prosperThe example of St. Francis of Assisi in these respects stand as a challenge to Christians today. In the face of our increasingly post-Christian context, we must resist the temptation to fight to sustain our place of power and privilege. In truth, such a position has largely compromised our authority and credibility before a watching world.
 
Instead, let us rediscover the radical life of peace, grace and love that was characterized by Christ and seek to live it. Perhaps then, in the light of a community of believers known for humility and love (rather than self-righteousness and bigotry), the words we proclaim will carry the credibility and authority worthy of the Christ we follow.
 
Our wisdom for today in this proverb gives us the details of quiet, peaceful living with each other while showing love and respect for all.
 
HOLY PAUSE
Note all the relational nuggets of life skills! Allow me to get you started;
 
Proverbs 17 whack“A quiet rebuke to a person of good sense
does more than a whack on the head of a fool.”
 
“Overlook an offense and bond a friendship;
fasten on to a slight and—good-bye, friend!
 
“Those who return evil for good
will meet their own evil returning.”
 
“The one who knows much says little;
an understanding person remains calm.”
 
Proverbs 17, The Message
 
Proverbs 17 1A Whack on the Head of a Fool
A meal of bread and water in contented peace
is better than a banquet spiced with quarrels.
 
2 A wise servant takes charge of an unruly child
and is honored as one of the family.
 
3 As silver in a crucible and gold in a pan,
so our lives are assayed by God.
 
4 Evil people relish malicious conversation;
the ears of liars itch for dirty gossip.
 
5 Whoever mocks poor people insults their Creator;
gloating over misfortune is a punishable crime.
 
Proverbs 17 6 respect6 Old people are distinguished by grandchildren;
children take pride in their parents.
 
7 We don’t expect eloquence from fools,
nor do we expect lies from our leaders.
 
8 Receiving a gift is like getting a rare gemstone;
any way you look at it, you see beauty refracted.
 
9 Overlook an offense and bond a friendship;
fasten on to a slight and—good-bye, friend!
 
10 A quiet rebuke to a person of good sense
does more than a whack on the head of a fool.
 
11 Criminals out looking for nothing but trouble
won’t have to wait long—they’ll meet it coming and going!
 
Proverbs 17 quarrels12 Better to meet a grizzly robbed of her cubs
than a fool hellbent on folly.
 
13 Those who return evil for good
will meet their own evil returning.
 
14 The start of a quarrel is like a leak in a dam,
so stop it before it bursts.
 
15 Whitewashing bad people and throwing mud on good people
are equally abhorrent to God.
 
16 What’s this? Fools out shopping for wisdom!
They wouldn’t recognize it if they saw it!
 
One Who Knows Much Says Little
Proverbs 17 friend17 Friends love through all kinds of weather,
and families stick together in all kinds of trouble.
 
18 It’s stupid to try to get something for nothing,
or run up huge bills you can never pay.
 
19 The person who courts sin marries trouble;
build a wall, invite a burglar.
 
20 A bad motive can’t achieve a good end;
double-talk brings you double trouble.
 
21 Having a fool for a child is misery;
it’s no fun being the parent of a dolt.
 
Proverbs 17 cheerful22 A cheerful disposition is good for your health;
gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.
 
23 The wicked take bribes under the table;
they show nothing but contempt for justice.
 
24 The perceptive find wisdom in their own front yard;
fools look for it everywhere but right here.
 
25 A surly, stupid child is sheer pain to a father,
a bitter pill for a mother to swallow.
 
PRoverbs 17 27
26 It’s wrong to penalize good behavior,
or make good citizens pay for the crimes of others.
 
27 The one who knows much says little;
an understanding person remains calm.
 
28 Even dunces who keep quiet are thought to be wise;
as long as they keep their mouths shut, they’re smart.
 
Proverbs 17 taste firstHOW WISE ARE WE NOW? ARE WE THERE YET?
 
The more we learn the more we realize we need to learn.
 
Thank you, Lord, for your words of wisdom that teach us to use these words wisely. Help us to say only what is led by your Holy Spirit to say at the right time, right place and in the right spirit of love and respect for your created. All else is, well, foolish and self-driven that boomerangs back in grief and disrespect. That’s not what you want. So, help us.
In Jesus Name, Amen
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GOD’S PURPOSE FOR HIS CREATION

Posted on June 4, 2020 by randscallawayffm
Proverbs 16 God isProverbs – Life Skills
 
The opening sentence in The Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren, says it all. “It’s not about you.” If we take life seriously, like this Proverb of wise words says, and wrap our minds around who is really in charge only then can we begin to understand our created purpose.
 
“The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness. It’s far grater than your family, your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions. If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were born BY his purpose and FOR his purpose.” (Warren)
 
Proverbs 16 God in chargeWe search for good. God IS good. We search for wisdom. God IS wisdom. We want a plan. God IS the plan. We want to know our purpose, that gives meaning to life. God IS the purpose that means everything and IS life.
 
Are we beginning to catch up to what God is saying to us? God is the one and only “I AM” who is in charge. God created all, and is in all. He created a plan with purpose for each one of us. God also has a plan for right living, to be at His best for His glory. When we fail in living right, God also created a plan, from the beginning of creation, for us to be forgiven, set right and be reconciled to Him when we sin. That plan has a name. His name is Jesus.
 
That’s why it’s not about you or me. Life begins with God. Life IS God.
 
Proverb 16, The Message
Everything with a Place and a Purpose
Proverbs 16 2
Mortals make elaborate plans,
but God has the last word.
 
2 Humans are satisfied with whatever looks good;
God probes for what is good.
 
3 Put God in charge of your work,
then what you’ve planned will take place.
 
4 God made everything with a place and purpose;
even the wicked are included—but for judgment.
 
Proverbs 16 75 God can’t stomach arrogance or pretense;
believe me, he’ll put those upstarts in their place.
 
6 Guilt is banished through love and truth;
Fear-of-God deflects evil.
 
7 When God approves of your life,
even your enemies will end up shaking your hand.
 
8 Far better to be right and poor
than to be wrong and rich.
 
9 We plan the way we want to live,
but only God makes us able to live it.
 
Proverbs 16 take life seriouslyIt Pays to Take Life Seriously
 
10 A good leader motivates,
doesn’t mislead, doesn’t exploit.
 
11 God cares about honesty in the workplace;
your business is his business.
 
12 Good leaders abhor wrongdoing of all kinds;
sound leadership has a moral foundation.
 
13 Good leaders cultivate honest speech;
they love advisors who tell them the truth.
 
Proverbs 16 honest14 An intemperate leader wreaks havoc in lives;
you’re smart to stay clear of someone like that.
 
15 Good-tempered leaders invigorate lives;
they’re like spring rain and sunshine.
 
16 Get wisdom—it’s worth more than money;
choose insight over income every time.
 
17 The road of right living bypasses evil;
watch your step and save your life.
 
Proverbs 16 1818 First pride, then the crash—
the bigger the ego, the harder the fall.
 
19 It’s better to live humbly among the poor
than to live it up among the rich and famous.
 
20 It pays to take life seriously;
things work out when you trust in God.
 
21 A wise person gets known for insight;
gracious words add to one’s reputation.
 
22 True intelligence is a spring of fresh water,
while fools sweat it out the hard way.
 
Proverbs 16 2423 They make a lot of sense, these wise folks;
whenever they speak, their reputation increases.
 
24 Gracious speech is like clover honey—
good taste to the soul, quick energy for the body.
 
25 There’s a way that looks harmless enough;
look again—it leads straight to hell.
 
26 Appetite is an incentive to work;
hunger makes you work all the harder.
 
27 Mean people spread mean gossip;
their words smart and burn.
 
28 Troublemakers start fights;
gossips break up friendships.
 
29 Calloused climbers betray their very own friends;
they’d stab their own grandmothers in the back.
 
Proverbs 16 owl30 A shifty eye betrays an evil intention;
a clenched jaw signals trouble ahead.
 
31 Gray hair is a mark of distinction,
the award for a God-loyal life.
 
32 Moderation is better than muscle,
self-control better than political power.
 
33 Make your motions and cast your votes,
but God has the final say.
 
WHAT DO WE LEARN ABOUT LEADING OTHERS?
 
Proverbs 16 trustGod’s leaders develop His characteristics:
–They motivate, don’t manipulate.
–Explain instead of exploit or exaggerate.
–Honest, sincere, transparent.
–Seekers of honest advice.
–Walk the moral high ground
–Inspire and invigorate lives
–Seek wisdom over wealth
–Ego is left behind.
–Gracious, kind, loving words of wisdom are their mantra.
–They give life to those around them.
 
God’s Leaders know Who has the final say. They are completely comfortable and confident knowing that He is in control and rely on this truth each day. This is faith and trust in the One who loves us most.
 
Proverbs 16 stepsDear Heavenly Father,
As we seek your wisdom, you are there to show us the way, your way. Thank you for teaching us through your word today with clearly stated characteristics that you are consistently developing in those who believe and want to grow and mature. Thank you for Your Presence. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for your guidance. Correction means you care enough about us to lead us to your intended purpose for our lives. Thank you for caring. Thank you for saving my soul.
Life IS all about you. You are God and i am not.
In Jesus Name, Amen
 
INVITATION: A group of ladies, wanting to grow in Christ, meet electronically each Tuesday evening at 7PM via Zoom to encourage each other. We are reading a Proverb a day as well as reading The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. YOU ARE INVITED to join us! Message me at susan.callaway@thepointechurch.net and you will be given the code to come in. You will enjoy our lively discussions!
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SCHOOLED IN SKILLED LIVING

Posted on June 3, 2020 by randscallawayffm
Proverbs 15 schoolProverbs – Life Skills
Each verse is a lesson in the school of skilled living. If we seriously meditate on the wise teaching of each verse, we find that to live in this way, we cannot lose in pleasing God who wants the best living for us. We also find our purpose for living among the wise words written as nuggets of His Truth.
Proverbs 15 apt reply
We might have to read it twice. The first time, we might be thinking of others and how they should heed this advice and live “right”. But the second time we prayerfully read, IF we are honest with God, we begin to see the dark places within ourselves that need cleansed with the Light of God’s Love.
TODAY…Be schooled.
“Fear-of-God is a school in skilled living—
first you learn humility, then you experience glory.”
Proverbs 15 relationshipsProverb 15, The Message
God Doesn’t Miss a Thing
A gentle response defuses anger,
but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire.
2 Knowledge flows like spring water from the wise;
fools are leaky faucets, dripping nonsense.
3 God doesn’t miss a thing—
he’s alert to good and evil alike.
4 Kind words heal and help;
cutting words wound and maim.
5 Moral dropouts won’t listen to their elders;
welcoming correction is a mark of good sense.
Proverbs 15 cheer6 The lives of God-loyal people flourish;
a misspent life is soon bankrupt.
7 Perceptive words spread knowledge;
fools are hollow—there’s nothing to them.
8 God can’t stand pious poses,
but he delights in genuine prayers.
9 A life frittered away disgusts God;
he loves those who run straight for the finish line.
10 It’s a school of hard knocks for those who leave God’s path,
a dead-end street for those who hate God’s rules.
11 Even hell holds no secrets from God—
do you think he can’t read human hearts?
Life Ascends to the Heights
12 Know-it-alls don’t like being told what to do;
they avoid the company of wise men and women.
13 A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face;
a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day.
14 An intelligent person is always eager to take in more truth;
fools feed on fast-food fads and fancies.
15 A miserable heart means a miserable life;
a cheerful heart fills the day with song.
Proverbs 15 anger16 A simple life in the Fear-of-God
is better than a rich life with a ton of headaches.
17 Better a bread crust shared in love
than a slab of prime rib served in hate.
18 Hot tempers start fights;
a calm, cool spirit keeps the peace.
19 The path of lazy people is overgrown with briers;
the diligent walk down a smooth road.
20 Intelligent children make their parents proud;
lazy students embarrass their parents.
21 The empty-headed treat life as a plaything;
the perceptive grasp its meaning and make a go of it.
Proverbs 15 plans22 Refuse good advice and watch your plans fail;
take good counsel and watch them succeed.
23 Congenial conversation—what a pleasure!
The right word at the right time—beautiful!
24 Life ascends to the heights for the thoughtful—
it’s a clean about-face from descent into hell.
25 God smashes the pretensions of the arrogant;
he stands with those who have no standing.
26 God can’t stand evil scheming,
but he puts words of grace and beauty on display.
27 A greedy and grasping person destroys community;
those who refuse to exploit live and let live.
Proverbs 15 2328 Prayerful answers come from God-loyal people;
the wicked are sewers of abuse.
29 God keeps his distance from the wicked;
he closely attends to the prayers of God-loyal people.
30 A twinkle in the eye means joy in the heart,
and good news makes you feel fit as a fiddle.
Proverbs 15 serve31 Listen to good advice if you want to live well,
an honored guest among wise men and women.
32 An undisciplined, self-willed life is puny;
an obedient, God-willed life is spacious.
33 Fear-of-God is a school in skilled living—
first you learn humility, then you experience glory.
Proverbs 15 school in skill
Choose wisely. Live wisely. A “God-willed life is spacious.”
Dear Lord,
Forgive us when we go our own ways thinking that is the only way to go. Evil loves it when we separate ourselves from the herd of your people, your love, grace and mercy and even you. But you see the “one” and bring us back to the fold. You school us in your wisdom for you ARE wisdom. Help us to live skillfully, following in your ways, running after you as you lead us to what is best for us. May we listen, look up and live the expectant life to the full. Help us to see your glory even today.
In Jesus Name, Amen
Posted in Blessings, Christian Living, Christian Perspective, Creation, demons, Discipleship, Embrace, Emotional Health, Encouragement, Faith, First, God, Following Jesus, Forgiveness, Grace, harvest, heaven, Holy Spirit, Hope, insight, investments, Jesus, joy, Leadership, Listen, lost but found, Love, marriage, Mercy, ministry, Praise, Prayer, relationship with God, repent, Revelation of Jesus, Salvation, Searching, Teaching, temptations, Thanksgiving, Training, Transformation, trust in God, Truth, Uncategorized, Unconditional love, waiting on God, wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment