Wednesday... What a difference it makes to be open to practical truth.

Look at these two "sterling principles - tested guidelines to live by" (v. 20-21) from Proverbs 22.

First, verses 24-25 (MSG) says, "Don't hang out with angry people; don't keep company with hotheads. Bad temper is contagious - don't get infected." And we have seen this happen over and over, haven't we? Angry people are dangerous, they really are. We can stand for something with deep conviction but being angry and a hothead will head us down the wrong path.

Let me give you an illustration. Take your right hand and make it into a fist and then start pushing the left hand. What happens with the left hand? It starts pushing back. That is not the practical, effective way to get your point across. Anger begets anger and some people are angry all of the time so don't hang out with them; "don't keep company with hotheads. Remember, "Bad temper is contagious - don't get infected."

Here is another one. Verse 29 says, "Observe people who are good at their work - skilled workers are always in demand and admired; they don't take a backseat to anyone." Now that doesn't just happen. They are constantly striving to get better at their work. They don't take things for granted and they don't take a backseat to anyone."

There are so many ways that we can get better at what we do but it takes effort, it takes work but it is so worth it.

I love to read. What about you? Just because you've got a degree or you got the job doesn't mean that you don't keep striving to get better. It takes work, it takes effort, it takes drive, it take determination but "skilled workers are always in demand and admired; they don't take a backseat to anyone."

Proverbs is filled with practical truth that will make a difference in your life. So why not read a chapter every day. Today is the 22nd and I just read Proverbs 22. Remember, "Bad temper is contagious - don't get infected." and "skilled workers are always in demand and admired; they don't take a backseat to anyone." Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning

Comments

Tuesday... It is so worth it. It really is!

Tuesday... It is so worth it. It really is! Look at this, Proverbs 5:21-23 (CEV) says, "The Lord sees everything, and he watches us closely. Sinners are trapped and caught by their own evil deeds. They get lost and die because of their foolishness and lack of self-control." That is true of so many. Now look at this, Luke 15:1-7 says, "Tax collectors and sinners were all crowding around to listen to Jesus. So the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law of Moses started grumbling, 'This man is friendly with sinners. He even eats with them.' Then Jesus told them this story: If any of you has 100 sheep, and one of them gets lost, what will you do? Won't you leave the 99 in the field and go look for the lost sheep until you find it? And when you find it, you will put it on your shoulder and carry it home. Then you will call in your friends and neighbors and say, 'Let's celebrate! I've found my lost sheep.' Jesus said, 'In the same way there is mo...

Friday... Yes, we need them. We really do

Psalm 8:3-4 (NLT), "When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers - the moon and the stars you set in place - what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?" Friday... Yes, we need them. We really do. No, not the fact that I can go out my front door and look out at night at the marvels of the sky. I can do that and it is amazing and it takes my breath away each time I see it. Yes, that is a fact but the reality of who did that and the wisdom and the faith that I have to believe that and to marvel that the one who did that cares about me makes such a difference in how I live my life. Yes, God really does. That is so wonderful for us to believe. And that is why faith and wisdom are so important. Now whatever belief you have at how that marvel happened must also be believed through faith. And the sad thing to me is that more and more people have been taught that there is no God and therefore he did not have a h...

Monday... Three ifs and two thens. They go together!

Monday... Three ifs and two thens. They go together! They really do. And this is what caught my attention this morning as I was reading Proverbs 2. Verse 1 (NRSVUE) says, "My child, if you accept my words and treasure my commands within you." Verse 3 (NIV), "Indeed i f you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, Verse 4, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, Verse 5, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God." And verses 9-11, " Then you will understand what is right and just and fair - every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you." There will always be some effort we must do, some ifs for the thens to be realized in our lives. So many of us want to understand without the ifs. But the thens are so worth, so very worth the effort. Verses 5-6 in the Ampli...

Todays Beginning

Search This Blog