Proverbs 25:9

If you have an argument with your neighbor, don’t tell other people what was said.

There’s seeking wise counsel and then there’s venting, which inevitably turns into gossip, which damages relationship, and therefore, shalom.

Take this very seriously and handle with great care. You can save much damage being done in your friendships thru your prudence in this area. Prudence being: taking the time to think thru a situation, the actions available and their likely outcomes, then making the wise choice.

Matthew 25:45

Then the king will answer, “I tell you the truth, whatever you refused to do for even the least of people here, you refused to do for me.”

Don’t ever refuse to do good to someone who is presented to you. No matter who they are or where you’re at, do not refuse people.

Let people in when you’re driving.

Smile at everyone you talk to.

Encourage whoever is on your mind.

Forgive everything done to you.

Proverbs 24:33-34

You sleep a little; you take a nap. You fold your hands and lie down to rest. Soon you will be as poor as if you had been robbed. You will have as little as if you had been held up.

If you sleep spiritually, you will be spiritually bankrupt.

We reap whatever we sow day in and day out.

What are your habits?

What do you do everyday?

What do you intentionally do every week?

In your roles as husband, wife, father, mother, son, daughter, boss, employee, do you have good habits formed to become your absolute best in these roles? Maybe just one or two things every week in each role can be a game changer over time.

Matthew 24:35

Earth and sky will pass away, but the words I have said will never pass away.

If you put energy into anything, put energy into what Jesus said.

Proverbs 23:3

Don’t be greedy for his fine foods, because that food might be a trick. [NCV]

Proverbs 22:5

There are thorns and snares on the path of the crooked; the one who guards himself stays far from them.

Proverbs 21:4

Haughty eyes and a  proud heart–the lamp of the wicked–are sin. [NRSV]

The saintly Scottish preacher James Denney said, “No man can bear witness to Christ and so himself at the same time. No man can give the impression that he himself is clever and that Christ is mighty to save.” That quotation should be printed in large letters and displayed in every church sanctuary and conference auditorium where God’s people gather. It might humble some of the preachers and musicians who call so much attention to themselves that the hungry sheep can’t see Jesus. If the greatest sin is the corruption of the highest good, then people who use the Christian religion to promote themselves are guilty of great transgression.

-Warren Wiersbe

Does your life point to Jesus as the answer for everything? Or to yourself? Or to a book? Or to a method?

Proverbs 20:7

Proverbs 19:8,20,27

Whoever gets sense loves his own soul; he who keeps understanding will discover good.

Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.

Cease to hear instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.

We must never stop learning, never stop sharpening ourselves. Whoever keeps on gaining understanding of God and life will surely “dis-cover” good. He will uncover more and more goodness available to all who search for it.

He who searches, finds.

He who sits on the couch, finds nothing.

Proverbs 19:11

Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

As we become a person of good sense via seeking God daily, we become “unoffendable.” I have found that when I listen to God more than people, I am unoffendable. When I listen to people more than God, I am a stressed out, anxious basket case.

Proverbs 19:23

The fear of the LORD leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.

I’m wondering if this means that nothing will seem like harm to the one who truly rests in Papa YHWH. Because he trusts in God, His goodness, and His perfect care of His children no matter what it may look like.

This person listens to YHWH in every situation and in every person, uncovering the good and deeper meanings that are always there, that we normally are not tuned into. Every circumstance is an opportunity for growth. At the same time, it is also an opportunity to keep paving the old path we’ve always taken, further solidifying our paradigms of death.

If we could just learn to ask what God is saying or doing in every situation, how much better off we would be mentally, spiritually, and emotionally, for we would live in so much more joy, knowing God is always with us and happy to be with us as well.

“His ways are not our ways” is not just some bumper sticker-type cliche. It describes the deeper meaning of life. We cheat ourselves out of so much by keeping our eyes on the surface of everything, talking about football and the weather.

Pay attention to what you’re paying attention to.

Matthew 19:26

Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible, but with God everything is possible.”

As much as we can do in our human power, and it is quite a bit really, there is much we simply cannot do.

We cannot save people.

We cannot regenerate a person’s heart.

We cannot make someone believe in Jesus.

We cannot force someone to follow after God daily.

We cannot, by command, have someone read the Bible, pray to YHWH, or participate in Christian community and partnerships.

So what the hell can we do???

We can choose to follow Jesus.

We can love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

We can love others deeply.

We can interact with God about everything.

We can obey God.

We can listen to God daily, at all times, and do what we hear.

And what will come of doing these things we can do, with God?

Oh, not much, other than CHANGE THE WORLD!!!

And you’ll have and live in joy and shalom flowing from the Source of Love itself.

With God, everything is possible.

With God.

EVERYTHING.

Proverbs 18:2

Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinion.

Proverbs 18:6-7

Notice the relationship between the fool’s mouth and the resultant effect:

Words–>constant quarrels

Asking–>beating

Mouths–>ruin

Lips–>trap

It is our mouths that get us into most trouble. I don’t know about you, but I haven’t gone up and kicked anyone in the belly recently. It’s not my kung-fu feet that usually get me into trouble. It’s my mouth.

Sometimes it’s helpful to view how absurdly a verse reads when you make opposite only some of the words. It does not read “Fool’s listening gets them into constant quarrels.” Or that their “open receptivity is begging for a beating.” Nor does it say “The ears of fools are their ruin; they trap themselves with their deep listening.”

Ridiculous. Our receptive listening ordinarily will not get us into a fight. Like the old corny, yet memorable line goes, “God gave you two ears and one mouth because you’re suppose to listen twice as much as you speak.”

Also, you can usually make opposite all of the action-type words in a passage in order to see the positive side (in this case) of a truth. We might say:

Wise people’s listening helps them connect with others; their open receptivity fosters healing.

The ears of wise people are their restoration; they free themselves with their deep listening.

Or something like that.

Matthew 18:1-3

About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” Jesus called a little child to Him and put the child among them. Then He said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.”

We ask the dumbest questions and from my reading of the Bible, humanity has a long and significant lineage of fools asking the wrong questions. To this day I ask God for understanding in this situation and clarity in the face of this injustice and that injustice and for what? What answer to such situations and wordly faults is ever going to satisfy my lust for understanding? And that is exactly what it is–lust–and therefore sin and therefore not of God. “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” How foolish a question and how ridiculously simple, beautiful, and cutting the answer.

Proverbs 17:17

A friend loves you at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

As friends, we love each other all the time, even when we’re being stupid. We don’t stop loving one another. Ever. This is the great comfort of true friendship, is it not? This is the great comfort of Jesus’ friendship with us, knowing that when we give Him the finger, He just hugs us more tightly. Now, if we act stupid long enough, He may back up, but still remain open-armed. Either way He is loving us.

Our brothers are born for tough times. That’s what we’re here for as far as our Christian brothers and sisters are concerned. To be with one another during the tough times. That’s so much of life. That is so much of comfort. In one sense, I was born to be there for others. I was not born merely to please myself. Paradoxically, when I am there for others, I am very pleased.

Proverbs 17:28

Even fools seem to be wise when they keep quiet; if they don’t speak, they appear to understand.

What’s that old quote?

Better to remain silent and thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.

Sometimes we all need that.

Matthew 17:7-8

“Then Jesus came over and touched them, ‘Get up,’ he said. ‘Don’t be afraid.’ And when they looked, they saw only Jesus.”

I often wonder how easier my life would be if I just looked up and saw only Jesus. How the fear, doubts, anger, and resentment would all melt away if I just quit and looked up. How many times have I just not had faith in the One whom has always seen it through? How many times has he asked me “Why?” when I get distracted, or look at other places for help, or even worse rely on my own broken nature and lies? At times like those I feel prepared for the lash or the hit in the face, but it never comes. Tenderness, grace, and comfort are there to meet me in my most selfish and prideful of times. Vengeance is not for those that love him, but peace, love, and strength if we just stop and look at Him.

Forgiveness is actively relieving others of payment for their wrongs against you. Our punishment of others, which is their payment, most often comes in the form of our silence, but may also be our disgusted stare, slander, defamation, or simply our inner resentment.

Forgiveness refuses to punish with silence.

Forgiveness does not punish with a disgusted stare.

Forgiveness does not punish with slander.

Forgiveness does not punish with defamation.

Forgiveness does not nurture inner resentment.

Forgiveness is not easy.