Saturday... They just left.

Our son Brett just texted that they just left their home in Denver, Colorado and are headed here to our home in Las Vegas, Nevada so all ten of our immediate family will be together this Thanksgiving week. It is so good to be together.

Now this is the 19th day of this month and I just read Proverbs 19 and it gave some proverbs about family.

Now the one that stepped out to me was verse 14 (AMP) and it says, "House and wealth are the inheritance from fathers, but a wise, understanding and sensible wife is [a gift and blessing] from the Lord." And that is so true in my life. Margaret and I just had our 48th anniversary. She has made such a difference in my life and the life of our family. And Marissa and Stefanie are truly gifts from God to Brett and Andrew, our son and son-in-law. God you are so good.

There was a time in our life together that I didn't listen. I was in charge and I was right but God stopped and showed me that I was so very wrong. That Margaret was created by Him to be listened to and to be a major part of making a difference in our family and that we were in it together.

Now this next Proverb isn't true in our family but it could have been but I'm sure it is in others. Verse 13 (MSG) says "A parent is worn to a frazzle by an irresponsible child; a nagging spouse is a leaky faucet." And I'm sure that can be so true. There are many different stages in this adventure of being parents and we need to ever keep at it. We need God and His Word involved in our families. As a father I need to constantly be at my best and the same is true as a husband, as a spouse. It is easy to say it is their fault when in a family we each have a part. That's why we need God in it.

Here is another one. Verse 18 says, "Discipline your children while you still have the chance; indulging them destroys them." Now all discipline must be channeled through love. Abuse is not acceptable at all and is so damaging. Understanding what type of discipline each child needs is so important. Yes, indulging them does destroy them and so does abuse. Here is a key, never discipline when you are angry. Never!

The NLT says, "Discipline your children while there is hope. Otherwise you will ruin their lives."

Verse 26 (MSG) says, "Kids who lash out at their parents are an embarrassment." And that is so true. We need to be embarrassed because we are a great part of the reason why they do it. We must always be on the job.

Verse 27, "If you quit listening, dear child, and strike off on your own, you'll so be out of your depth." My father and mother are both gone but their wisdom still is with me. I still need to do what they taught me.

The NLT says, "If you stop listening to instruction, my child, you will turn your back on knowledge." Even at 75, I still have so much to learn. I have not yet arrived.

Now Proverbs is a great place for people to go to learn. There are 31 chapters, one for each day of the month. They are nuggets of truth in so many different areas. They have made such a difference in my life and they will also in yours.

So our Colorado family is on the road and they are for sure in our prayers. By the way, I pray for each member of my family by name everyday. I am still on the job of being a parent and a spouse. They have been given to me by God and I love each one of them so very much! Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning

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

Tuesday... Let's be smart.

Tuesday... Let's be smart. Proverbs 12:16a (CEV) says, "Losing your temper is foolish." It really is. And it is so hard to take it back. That is not smart. There are always consequence when we lose our temper and they are usually not good. Think of the last time you lost your temper at home, at your kids, at your spouse, at your pets. at your life, at where you live, at where you work. There are always repercussions and they are not good. The New Living Translation says, "A fool is quick-tempered." The Message says, "Fools have short fuses and explode all too quickly." The Amplified Bible says, "The [arrogant] fool's anger is quickly known [because he lacks self-control and common sense]." It just is not a good thing. is it? But then the rest of this verse, this proverb (CEV) says, "ignoring an insult is smart." It really is. I have striven in dealing with people to give them a benefit of doubt. They didn't mean that, they

Friday... But, can be such a beautiful word.

Friday... But, can be such a beautiful word. It really can be life changing. Look at what Paul writes in his letter to the Ephesians. In 2:1-3 (NLT) he says, "Once you were dead because of your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil - the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God's anger, just like everyone else." There it is, there it is. That is the way we are living or have lived. Dead is a definite word of finality. At least the devil thought so and maybe you do too. And then verses 4-5 starts by saying, "But", that beautiful life changing word of opportunity even though we are dead. Yes, we are subject to God's anger, "But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even t

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