Hatred is one of the strongest words we humans have…the sheer intensity and emotion tied to it makes the word almost have a life of its own. This unbridled emotion of hatred will provoke all kinds of hostility, bitterness, and strife into ours and others lives. But Godly love shows forgiveness towards others, and a willingness to put away adversity for the good of all. As Jesus said, “Forgive as you have been forgiven.”
Tag: proverbs
Proverbs 13: 12 ” Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”
” You have less than 4 months to live, go home and put your affairs in order.” My husband’s Cardiologist did not mince words after performing an Angiogram on his heart. Thus started one of the most difficult times of our marriage. And so, we waited…waited for changes…waited for declines…waited for the other shoe to fall. I discovered that while you’re in the middle of this gray void there is no future, other than the present moment, there is no hope, other than the eternal hope you cling to. So after a year of living in this wasteland, I sat Landy down and said, “I can’t do this anymore. From this day forward, we’re going to live like you’re healed and not dying. We’re going to move forward in life rather than sit, waiting for something to happen. We’re going to make plans for the future, and start looking forward to things.” And we started doing just that…and 15 years later we’re still making plans and looking eagerly towards the future together. God is so very good!
Proverbs 29:11 ” A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.”
When we allow the flesh to take over, a simple irritation can quickly snowball into a raging outburst that can cause irreparable damage to all parties involved. When an unwise person allows their anger out in inappropriate ways, it can escalate and lead to major problems. A wise man keeps himself under control…he keeps himself still and restrained…and at all times, in command of his flesh.
Matthew 10: 42 ” And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is My disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.”
Simple acts of kindness done for a stranger…opening a door, offering a friendly smile and a greeting, getting a glass of water, helping someone across a busy street…all things that only take a minute of our time, but may have lasting impact on the person receiving it. “Whoever is kind to the needy honors God.” (Proverbs 14:31) If we call ourselves His children, these gestures of kindness are showing Jesus in a real and tangible way to the world around us. As it says so beautifully in Hebrews 6:10, “God remembers your work and love you have shown Him as you help His people.” Those simple acts of kindness you do are far from simple, and far from unimportant in The Lord’s sight.
Proverbs 6: 9-11 ” How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest – and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like a armed man.”
There are several places in Proverbs that talk about lazy people who become poor through their lack of ambition and slothfulness…” Do not love sleep or you will grow poor.” When we don’t have motivation and drive, we become apathetic,and uncaring of ourselves and others around us… and this in turn affects all aspects of our personal and financial lives. This rather lyrical Proverb wants us to rise up, get moving, and persevere.
Proverbs 3: 5-6 ” Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
What is your trust and confidence in today? Is it in the great education you received, is it in the prestigious and high power job you finally landed, is it in your family name that demands attention and respect… or maybe is it in your proud pronouncement of being a self-made man? When we rely on our own intelligence, rather than the Lord’s, we’re setting ourselves up for failure. God wants us to find our safety and security in Him…not in ourselves. If we commit our lives, our plans, our dreams, and aspirations to Him, He will make the way even and level under our feet.
Proverbs 11:24-25 ” One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper, he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.”
When it comes to giving, God tests the heart and is pleased with integrity. The Lord wants our giving to be done with the right motive… He desires us to give out of a heart of mercy, not for what we can gain from it. Those
Proverbs 15:1 ” A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
I work with sick people everyday, and you know that when you’re ill you can be rather…grumpy. I have also found that if I respond to an angry patient in a quiet, subdued tone, most times I can reverse the negative emotions and defuse the situation. Unfortunately, when we take offense at the painful words being spit at us, tempers flare, and things get out of hand fast. A gentle reply has more power than you can imagine…elsewhere in Proverbs it says, “A gentle tongue can break a bone.” Mighty and potent can be the eloquent, thoughtful, and persuasive response.
Proverbs 21:9 ” Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.”
Elsewhere in Proverbs it’s written, ” The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.” Constant angry nagging, strife and conscientiousness will wear anyone down to the point they just need some peace and quiet…and maybe the writer of this Proverb found it on the roof! But it doesn’t say much for the wife left down below to simmer in her wrath. And it surely doesn’t say much about the home-life for children who have to grown up in that type of toxic environment.
Proverbs 17:6 ” Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.”
During the Summer as children we would occasionally spend a night at our paternal Grandparents who lived close by. My Grandpa was a jovial sort, who smoked White Owl cigars and wore bib-overalls. Grandma was a tiny woman with a tremendous amount of energy and her Bible always at the ready. But the one thing I will always remember fondly about those visits was Breakfast. Now, it started out with the traditional fare of…eggs, bacon,and toast, but the real fun started when that had all been eaten. Grandpa would go to the pantry and bring back a fruit pie. What a forbidden treat… pie for Breakfast! As little girls, we would be absolutely giddy with excitement to think we could share in Grandpa’s special custom. This memory of my Grandparents has always been very special, and I can only hope that I’m making those same kind of lasting traditions and memories for my Grandchildren.
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