"Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, 

and the glory of children is their fathers." 

Proverbs 17:6

And a big "AMEN" to that!  But seeing that God has crowned us with 12, almost 13 grandchildren (not including the ones we've "adopted," I feel a great sense of responsibility towards them.  Two things have impressed me; I must be faithful to lead them in the things that touch the heart of God, and I must be faithful to pray for them.  I desire as long as I am able, to be actively involved in their lives. 

It's easier with the girls, and there are 9 of them.  I'll have to leave much of the training of the boys to the dads and granddads, although I like to take them out now and then.  The girls and I sew together, have big time tea parties, go to lunch (usually one or two at a time), and have lots of time to talk about life.  I even help homeschool one of them.  I'm so thankful for the opportunities that God has given me to minister to them.  They are all close by, so I am without excuse.

As I have started a new prayer notebook, one of the things I'm doing in the "family" section is praying through the Proverb of the day for them.  I love to write (if you haven't noticed), so I write down prayers for them.  For instance, today some of the things I am praying for them are:

• That they will not listen to the wicked. (17:4)
• That they will hold their tongues and not listen to gossip. (17:9)
• That they will learn to accept rebuke (17:10)
• That they will not act foolishly (17:12)
• That they will never return evil for good (17:13)
• That they will learn how to end strife quickly (17:14)
• That they will be a friend who loves at all times--and always there for their siblings. (17:17)
• That they will hate sin (17:19)
• Honesty (v.20), joy (v.22), discernment (v.24)
• A cool spirit (v.27)

One thing that I realize as I pray for them is that responsibility to teach them these things falls back on the shoulders of the parents and grandparents.  No rest for the weary!

Waiting for heaven as my restingplace,

Gloria

Sovereign

"The Lord has made everything for its purpose, 

even the wicked for the day of trouble."

Proverbs 16:4

      Sovereign:

• belonging to or characteristic of a sovereign or sovereignty; royal.

• having supreme rank, power, or authority.

• supreme; preeminent; indisputable: a sovereign right.

• greatest in degree; utmost or extreme.

• being above all others in character, importance, excellence, etc.

(For once I didn't like Noah Webster's definition very well.  It wasn't definitive enough!  This one from dictionary.com seemed more accurate.)

I have nothing cute, astute, or profound to say about this verse.  And I can't say that I just love it, either.  I am thankful that it is here, because it explains some things--like why God allows the wicked to exist at all.  And it is another proof of God's sovereignty and a good test for us of simply believing Him and knowing that in the end it will be for our good ( Romans 8:28 ) and for His glory 

( Revelation 4:11 ).  God doesn't lie ( Numbers 23:19 ) and He doesn't fail, 

(  2 Timothy 2:13 ); therefore, I can believe Him.

Thankful that He's on my side!

Gloria

Words, Words, Words

"But no human being can tame the tongue. 

It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison."

James 3:8

Sometimes it seems that I am going around the same mountain over and over, but to stay true to the Proverbs, that just happens.  And you wonder: what in the world does James 3 have to do with the Proverbs?  It appears to me an appropriate way to address today's subject--words.  We are going from here to Proverbs 15, and perhaps it will give us some insight into how the tongue can be used for benefit rather than to shoot deadly poison into its victim.

"A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." (Proverbs 15:1) How we say our words is so important.  One can say the same thing with different emphasis and cause either compliance or anger.  "Honey, the trash is outside the door again.  Will you please take it to the street?"  (said in kindness).  "Honey!  The trash is outside the door again.  Will you please take it to the street!!"  (said in anger or frustration).  What different responses would those two questions make?

"The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of fools pours out folly." (15:3)  Don't speak without knowledge of the subject.

"A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit."  (15:4)   Practice Gentleness. 

"The lips of the wise spread knowledge, not so the hearts of fools."  Wisdom is the key to knowledge, so the importance of developing wisdom cannot be overemphasized.

"The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly." (15:14) The fool is lacking in that which clearly enables others to have a tongue that heals, and that is wisdom, knowledge and understanding.

"A hot tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention." (15:18)  Don't speak while you are angry!

"To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is!"(15:23)  Until our answer is appropriate and properly timed, it would be better if we just keep our mouths shut!

"The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord, but gracious words are pure." (15:26)  Season your words with grace!

"The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things." (15:28)  Think before you speak! 

Man cannot tame the tongue, but through the application of the Word of God, our God can enable us to keep our words pleasing to Him.

Praying for God's strength to utter the right words at the right time,

Gloria

 

Leave His Presence

"Leave the presence of a fool, 

for there you do not meet words of knowledge."

Proverbs 14:7

As I seek to give good advice to my children and grandchildren through the Proverbs, sometimes I come across a verse that gives me something of an "uh-uh" reaction.  For some reason this one does.  It always hurts to think of avoiding someone, so I must discover who God calls a fool and why I am to leave his presence.

Therefore, my question is, "Who does God regard as a fool?"  I must go to the Scriptures to discover His heart.

• He lacks sense--Ecclesiastes 10:3
• He always thinks he's right--Proverbs 12:15
• He is quick to show his anger--Proverbs 12:6
• He is dishonorable--Proverbs 26:1
• His speech is perverse--Proverbs 19:1
• He takes the wrong paths in life--Ecclesiastes 10:2
• He despises his parents' discipline--Proverbs 15:5
• He doesn't learn from his mistakes--Proverbs 26:11
• He has no desire to get wisdom--Proverbs 17:16
• He refuses to listen to rebuke--Proverbs 17:10
• He is idle--Ecclesiastes 4:5
• He says in his heart that there is no God--Psalm 14:1
• He is corrupt and does evil--Psalm 14:1

This is not necessarily a complete list of characteristics, but with this alone we find good reason to avoid the company of  fools.  Does this mean that we are not to witness to them?  Of course we are, but having them as our bosom buddies is definitely forbidden in the Scriptures.  Choose wisely those whom you embrace as your friends and companions.

 

Thanking God for friends who love Him,

Gloria

Who Has Bragging Rights?

"A prudent man conceals knowledge,

but the heart of fools proclaims folly." 

Proverbs 12:23

Do you find that those who continually run their mouths, bragging about themselves and what they have and who they know--and who knows them--can be very irritating and difficult to be around?   And sometimes what they are bragging about is true!  They really do have and know and are known.

I have often wondered if it was just my problem, that perhaps I was unknowingly envious.  There is warning in the Scriptures not to be envious of the wicked (Proverbs 24:19, Psalm 37:1), or even our neighbor, desiring what he has (Exodus 20:17).  Nonetheless, there is a great comparison in the Scriptures between men who tell all and those who are silent about themselves.  I love what Matthew Henry had to say about this Proverbs 12:23.

1. He that is wise does not affect to proclaim his wisdom, and it is his honour that he does not. He communicates his knowledge when it may turn to the edification of others, but he conceals it when the showing of it would only tend to his own commendation. Knowing men, if they be prudent men, will carefully avoid every thing that savours of ostentation, and not take all occasions to show their learning and reading, but only to use it for good purposes, and then let their own works praise them. Ars est celare artem—The perfection of art is to conceal it. 2. He that is foolish cannot avoid proclaiming his folly, and it is his shame that he cannot: The heart of fools, by their foolish words and actions, proclaims foolishness; either they do not desire to hide it, so little sense have they of good and evil, honour and dishonour, or they know not how to hide it, so little discretion have they in the management of themselves,  Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary Online

My prayer today is for myself and my encouragement for those I love.  

Oh, Lord, help me to learn to keep my eyes and ears open, my hands and works of love diligent,  and my mouth shut.    May my works praise me, and not my own lips, and if anyone speaks boastfully of me may it be another and not myself.

With sealed lips,

Gloria

Want Joy?

"The hope of the righteous brings joy,

but the expectation of the wicked will perish."

  Proverbs 10:28

As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we have something more than an "I hope so" concerning salvation, our future home, or even our lives here on earth.  We have hope!  Now, I know that sounds redundant, but it really isn't, because hope for goes much deeper than merely an "I hope so."

Noah Webster's 1828 dictionary (by now you must know that it's my favorite) defines hope for us:

1. A desire of some good, accompanied with at least a slight expectation of obtaining it, or a belief that it is obtainable. Hope differs from wish and desire in this, that it implies some expectation of obtaining the good desired, or the possibility of possessing it. Hope therefore always gives pleasure or joy; whereas wish and desire may produce or be accompanied with pain and anxiety.

2. Confidence in a future event; the highest degree of well founded expectation of good; as a hope founded on God's gracious promises.

Actually, that definition pretty much defines both kinds of what we call "hope":

One kind brings pleasure and joy because we recognize the benefits of God's Word and what obedience to it will do for us.  

It is the confident expectation:

• That He will do what He says. "For all the promises of God find their Yes in Him. That is why it is through Him that we utter our Amen to God for His glory."  (2 Corinthians 1:20)

• That He will not desert us.  "I will never leave you or forsake you."  (Hebrews 13:5)

• That He will come again.  "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also."  (John 14:3)

• That  He will bless us with all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places.  "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 1:3)

• That He will supply our needs.  "But my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:13)

• That He will do above all that we could ask or think.  "Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us"  (Ephesians 3:20)

On the other hand, the expectation (the "I hope so") of the ungodly will perish.  There is no joy because there is no real hope, only vain expectation.  Let's not fail to pray for those we love who have no hope.

No wonder we can have such joy as we live righteous (in right standing with God) lives!  He is our Source for all things hoped for!  

To finish the satement that Paul was making in Ephesians 3: 20-21:

"to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus 

throughout all generations, forever and ever. 

Amen.

And amen!

Gloria 

Memorize It!

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight."  

Proverbs 9:10

So much of our time is spent doing the "urgent" things that we often miss out on the most important things in life.  If you have a chance (see, there I go!) read the little article "Tyranny of the Urgent". It will give you great insight into our way of life here in the good 'ole USA.

All of that to say, I have been remiss in doing something that I really love to do, and that is Scripture memory.  So I have decided to renew my habit of old, and as long as I am in the Proverbs, I shall memorize specific verses from that book.  My verse for today is Proverbs 9:10.

Oh, you have a hard time memorizing Scripture?  Well, do I have a solution for you!  It appears to me that if God wants us to hide His Word in our hearts, then He will enable us to do so.  Doesn't that make sense to you?  I began memorizing on a consistent basis about 42 years ago when I was a young bride.  We lived in Taiwan, and our pastor quoted many of the verses he used in his sermons.  We asked him how learned to memorize so many verses, and he sent us to the Navigators New Topical Memory System.  Not only will it teach you how to memorize Scripture so that you never forget it, but it will also change your life with the verses that you memorize.  You will use them more than often in your daily walk.  Please take a look at it.

If you find memorization easy for you, you might like to know how I store the verses that I am memorizing.  I use a 3x5 index card holder (2 ring binder) and two-holed index cards.  I write out my verses, and voila--a memory verse holder!  I'm then able to go back and review without having to look them up.  (A hint from the New Topical Memory System--one of the biggest keys to memorization is review, review, review.)

Please consider Scripture memory as a daily part of your life.  It only takes a few minutes and is much more rewarding than reading a magazine or watching a tv program.  You can still do that; just watch one less program or read one less chapter in your book.

Hiding it in my heart,

Gloria