proverbs

Sermon share: The Reverent Fear of the Lord is the Start of Wisdom, Proverbs 1-2

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Scripture: Proverbs 1:1-7 NKJV
The Beginning of Knowledge
The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:

To know wisdom and instruction,
To perceive the words of understanding,
To receive the instruction of wisdom,
Justice, judgment, and equity;
To give prudence to the simple,
To the young man knowledge and discretion—
A wise man will hear and increase learning,
And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,
To understand a proverb and an enigma,
The words of the wise and their riddles.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Sermon – The Reverent Fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom – 20SEP2026

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” We say that all the time, but do we fear the Lord enough to really investigate what that means.  Yes, we can wrap our heads around wanting wisdom, we all want that I hope, we all could thrive in wisdom, that’s not like knowing the future – with a magic 8 ball – but wisdom that comes from a pure source – from God… Yes, it is easy to realize whether we have wisdom or not, we should and probably we know we want it. WISDOM…

The fear though? I bet none of us fear enough. This is NOT SIMPLY to mean that we are to be ANXIOUS scared, fear of DOOM, but have a REVERENT fear of the Lord in realization that God is God and we are not. That’s a healthy fear, that’s the start of wisdom. 

“Healthy fear” – which it is – is reverence and just a start – so can add that reverence in God gets us to change our ways. I have friends who are examples to me – an example that  the Lord is “picking on us” – not in that way of Jaws, cue the music – dunnn – na, dunnn – na, dunnn – na…. but that the Lord is picking us out – picking us up… The Lord is a shark circling us for the kill? – no – the Lord is circling us to come in for the kill of the sin and death and of our worldly views – the Lord is circling us – FOR THE LIFE THAT HE WANTS US TO HAVE. This should bring us some wisdom – or at least appreciation of the Lord – He wants to bring us LIFE. God Knows Best – like Father Knows Best – yeah… Solomon would write: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor detest His correction; 12 For whom the Lord loves He corrects, Just as a father, the son in whom he delights.”

My friend who is a pastor now, Pastor “N”, well he tells the story of his life – of how the Lord got a hold of him – how the Lord severely shook him up – Him then young – certainly never could envision him being a pastor, even though his mom was an awesome minister) – well N was a wayward youth – living what he thought was the good life – party party party – even came inebriated at least once (I think this is how the story goes that he recounted) to church as a young man – came in still inebriated from the night before and they were lighting the advent wreath and well – the fire… (don’t worry – all was OK – and taken care of) – but yeah he remembers the wayward ways of not having reverence for the Lord – not in His house – in spite of his family – just off the rails. Financially awful – eating cold cans of food without a decent home – yeah bad… Well, one day he was in the bar – quite inebriated and THEN SNAP – like a snap of fingers – He heard God talking to him and N became stone cold sober in a second – instant – miraculous – boom… Yeah God can do that – yeah – it taught him some fear – it taught him lots of reverence – and yeah – wisdom??? Yeah – wisdom is as the proverbs say: the beginning of wisdom is this: get wisdom!!! and the scriptures state to not stop there. KEEP LEARNING MORE WHAT THE LORD HAS INSTORE. Yes it helps us – but imagine how many more lives each person saved for the Lord’s work can help – we grow as community when we grow each in ourselves:

“LET THE WISE LISTEN AND ADD TO THEIR LEARNING,  AND LET THE DISCERNING GET GUIDANCE “ – that is: “To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion – A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel…”

IF WE KNOW HOW GOD IS GOD – WHO WOULDN’T WANT HIS COUNCIL!

(and yes Pastor N now – is a wise man of council… ) Yeah God got him GOOD!!! And FOR HIS and GOD’s GOOD!!!

And I have seen many a friend who inspires me in their weakness but in God’s Strength – please continue to pray and know that God wants the best for them and for the people they are with. God ONLY wants good for us – we are weak but He is Strong!

Solomon (King after his dad David was king) would continue writing about this WISDOM – this is from Proverbs 2:1-12 – such good stuff:

The Value of Wisdom:

My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you,
 So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding;
 Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding,
 If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures;
 Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, And find the knowledge of God.
 For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;
 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; He guards the paths of justice, And preserves the way of His saints.
 Then you will understand righteousness and justice, Equity and every good path.

 When wisdom enters your heart, And knowledge is pleasant to your soul,
 Discretion will PRESERVE you; Understanding will keep you, to deliver you from the way of evil….

And how do we use this wisdom ? – how do we “put your own oxygen mask on first, so that you can help others”? – how do we live in order to serve? One aspect of reverence of the Lord is to love His people.

Another aspect of reverence – healthy fear – is to stop complaining about every little thing and start appreciating blessings – like in the book of James – perseverance…

And a clear aspect of reverence is that famous saying: “God put you into this world and He can take you out!” – But God is not mean in that way = He has a purpose we don’t always see. And so since we are IN this world – God wants us to use wisdom to be wise – then we get to share the wealth of our wisdom and work – and our work isn’t always about elbow grease – it is more about giving credit where credit is due and praising God – all creation groans to praise Him – we should too…

We ALSO are to take our blessings and replenish those fertile fields that helped us – and replenish so that they help the increase for next time – like putting down good fertilizer – if this were gardening or farming – sometimes even letting the soil take a rest for one crop season – in other words, we need to listen to God to then know when to act – how to act – when to rest – and always to listen

Proverbs say: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

We also have the benefit of wisdom when we have that extra sense – to listen to God and not to the world – like I know something that might seem so silly or even stupid to some folks – even to our family – well if we have worked that out with God – if we trust our Good God and our guts – then we are probably on the right path… God puts us in the path of people whom He needs to encourage – so we are to ENCOURAGE WHEN ABLE – to HELP – Jesus said: 27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so. 28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it,” When you have it with you.

This is the basis of our Know God, Show Love, Grow Community – isn’t it? We want all to know the blessings of God – and honestly it is part of our Great Commission too – to seriously say that we know it is God’s guidance –

God knows best, and why? BECAUSE HE LOVES US MORE – AS VERY GOOD – AS GOD IS LOVE AND CAN NOT NOT LOVE – SO HE WANTS THE BEST FOR US…

Jesus said look at the lilies of the field and as fine as Solomon dressed as good, yet here today gone tomorrow, the manmade stuff of life is but the briefest time, but how much more God loves us to keep us in forever, not necessarily here on earth, but forever with Him. Our reverence is in realizing His love enough to not spare His own son Jesus in exchange for our eternal life. That IS, He IS a God worth our reverence. 

Previously in a sermon we spoke about not neglecting getting together for worship, Hebrews 10, and I noticed in the passages afterwards from Hebrews 10, a “fear” phrase which is clear – that we need to have a fearful check of reality to pay attention to God and accept His forgiveness and grace and instruction – verse 27 “. a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.”

We should know that as we draw nearer to God, He will help us keep from sinning, He will help us with His Wisdom and strength… and honestly, he would rather that we be weak so that HE can be strong in our lives.   We have to reduce anxiety – that devil of doubt – and keep living – remember Jesus said alongside the lilies comparison, (also from Luke 12)

29 “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. 30 For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. 31 But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.

Our wisdom has to say to us to be God’s wise follower = He is a jealous God and He will be looking for us as that one sheep of the lost 100 = He is looking for us and knows where we are – as in Psalm 139 – we can’t separate ourselves from God’s watchful eye…

And God needs us for times like these (like Queen Ester was called for her time = God has us here for these times!)

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Conclusion: SO – Faith over Folly, Wisdom over Worldliness, and Fear of God over Forgetting God. It is worth reading these Proverbs – and living them – Solomon asked for the most important thing he could really use, WISDOM, not riches or long life. God gave generously all these to Solomon as well, God is generous that way.  Was Solomon perfect??? No, not at all. Not at all. And lots of people after Solomon were also NOT perfect – and yet God continued to secure a remnant of the family line of David and Solomon through hard years of people not listening to God (Dave in many other sermons spoke of this). And we know from this Word of the promises in the scriptures – that THE WORD is Jesus and Jesus came through this lineage of David and Solomon = as promised: Jesus came.

And with our reverence of God – we are more able to listen to Jesus and follow the more narrow path – which we will find is very much more sure than the wider more deadly path of worldliness.

All told, the world still needs wisdom now. Our wisdom should tell us that God has instilled instructions inside of us, a Holy Spirit center in us pointing to Jesus growing, if we simply follow Him over distractions of the human heartaches of this world. Know them – see them – fix them best we can – think Globally and act Locally – act BOLDLY – and spread the Love – remember the “share a Coke and a smile” commercial – do whatever you can to share LIGHT in a dark world…

Please pray with me – Lord, we know you state that “whoever listens to me [God’s Wisdom] will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.” Keep us today in your grace and mercy and lead us to the people you want us to see. Amen

BENEDICTION:

Here is a poem about wisdom to set us off on a good day – listening to the Lord – being philosophical as well as practical

Wisdom is precious to Know,

A GIFT from God to help us grow.

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When wisdom, like hidden treasure, is sought,

It is an easier path through life that is wrought.

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Be God’s and fear Him, Awesomely,

Desire Understanding, Wholeheartedly.

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The Righteous walk is with the Lord, not the human flatterer, 

How God deals with them is a whole other matter.

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Hide Commandments in your heart.

Quiet Discretion will make you appear SMART.

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Side step all of evil’s ways,

Instead Lord, only YOU do we Praise.

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Worthy is Your Word,

Your Wisdom calls out to be heard.

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YOUR WISDOM CALLS OUT TO BE HEARD!

Amen  – And have a wonderful day!!! God bless you and keep you!

Better READING from the Lord, Proverbs Plus

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I got my summer reading all set for the beach! These laminated pamphlets (from Rose Publishing) with titles like “Proverbs” and “Prophets” and “Bible Maps” and “Bible Timelines” are perfectly going to be my “short” sets of reading for absorbing the Lord’s Word in bite-sized chunks. AT THE BEACH!!!. I really hope to get to the beach quite often – already dreaming of it even though it might be a month before we get there and have to be all bundled up with the sharp ocean breeze, but that is OK. And then when it does get warm enough, I already know the two best shade spots, no umbrella required. Under the pier or under the pavilion on the boardwalk – I know the plans that will be good! Lord willing the sun will shine – and we know the Lord is willing.

And as I see in a bookmark I just acquired, quoting Jeremiah 29, scripture’s wisdom and wish for us is to TRUST GOD – “For I know the plans I have for you.” declares the Lord, “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The best reading “into” the Word is reading ourselves into it. The Best Better experience is to know that the Lord has given us the Word as Wisdom to live by and live through. And we are to know that the Lord DOES want us to live – so to live BEST – live BETTER – we best listen to His best advice. God’s Word is Better Advice than anywhere else. 

That’s MY plan – a plan to prosper – to not harm – to give hope and a future -that plan of mine is to keep reading the Word. The BEST reading is from the Lord!

Amen

The Deep Dish into Life. Our Kings Favor over Raging Lion Roars

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Too excited not to write it in gratitude… Oh, the crumbs of my leftover pizza are like the crumbs of my thoughts dropping everywhere… (PS I highly recommend an air fryer for re-crisping pizza!) I am happy to write about how GOD IS GOOD and we savor His Blessings…

Between last week and this week, I had wildly different experiences at concerts, both FABULOUS. Last Friday night 80’s music, I knew every song, and oh fun night of dancing singing along with my friends, plus 1000 others, everyone could record it, no one stopped them. A free-flowing fun… Then tonight was an elegant singer of Broadway fame. Oh fabulous and you could hear a pin drop as we waited on every note… no photos or recordings mind you, no standing nor dancing, a much fancier-dressed crowd. Elegant… ELEGANT!!!

Both concerts fantastic, both in the same venue, and remarkably I had the same seat, pretty much. Both were the cheap seats, but the riches of experience for me IS in this deep dish of experience of life that was and is palpable and palatable. 

And speaking of DEEP DISH, I just finished my airfryer reheated lunch leftovers of a detroit-style deep dish pizza, made excellently and scrumptious. And like the concerts last week and this week, wildly different, it was 2 types of wildly different deep dish pizza at lunch, in contrasting savory flavors. The first pizza like eighties pop with spicy sauce, mini pepperoni and a big eighties’ hair-sized piped-dollop of smooth ricotta cheese. Glad I ate that one first. Then the second deep dish pizza was smooth cheese, mushrooms and arugula with balsamic drizzle, it was ELEGANT pizza… MMMM… So yes from a POP concert then to an ELEGANT concert,  I bracketed that inside my fun perky pizza to elegant taste in pizzas. Yes, it was a life palooza of pizza and performance. 

For friends it was a good girls night out to dance 80’s, and leapt at the really in expensive tickets months ago before it sold out, but contrast, for this Mandy Patinkin concert I thought to go alone right after work, not even knowing if I would go. But nothing impeded me, nothing popped up in interference, so after extra time at the office, traffic zipped there on my way home, and I got a cheap seat (there are no bad seats in that theatre) from the way way back, in my own row practically, just enough solitude to absorb my own pin drop thoughts as I sat there and soaked in the sounds of meticulous life music…   After a fun lunch with the girls from work, and more work work, this was the ELEGANCE of alone time which is never alone, of thanking the Lord for the time, means, venues, the deep dish of life…

The best “LION scripture for March” (and it was LION March weather last night with the crisp cold) – that I can relate our “deep-dish life” experiences to is a Proverb 19:12: “A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass...” and I have to say that God’s favor in our ability to love life and live life is that dew on the grass – gentle and generous... Any favor – any rest – and sweetness of laughter of friends, and blessed aloneness of thought, is that dew on the grass – that deep generous dollop of life – that favor…  AND aren’t we all living in favor for the generosity of our Lord and King? Not material items or trips or pizza – but living IN His mercy and grace – that is our dew blessing on our lives and even on our graves when we step into glory – there is no King’s rage anymore in that sense – there is only dew of LIFE and favor of LOVE. We should savor this all knowing God is in control. “The fear of the Lord leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble.”

Another proverb: “The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper.” – it is with understanding of the blessings of the Lord that we can sit in a deep dish of life and savor dew on the grass of His Blessings…

May you have deep-dish plans to prevail today – may you soak in the dew of the blessings of the King.

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”

Amen

March Lions are BOLD, Proverbs 28

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“The righteous are as bold as a lion.” Solomon’s observation in Proverbs 28:1b

(I am keeping with my theme of March Lions and Lambs for this stretch of writing…)

I watched the Oscars as mindless meaty media and had many munchies as it was as marathon-like as any movie, but longer. I didn’t see any movie except “Wicked” which was so good, and like life, the deep understanding of the characters and their history in that movie is necessary to gauge their wickedness or goodness, or simply their human-ness gone astray. The Broadway musical score, of course, is grandeur and catchy at its best. The performance and every musical score were crowd pleasers on the show.

I don’t see many movies – but I’ve liked comedian Conan O’Brien, the Oscars host, for years, so made sure to tune in… and I appreciated the witty humor, gags, the speeches even, the glamor yes, and that the people liked doing their craft of making movies to inspire, teach, and entertain. Politics and faith, war and peace, fashion and firefighting, it all fit in the show. 

Some folks play both good and evil characters, but mostly human ones who can make mistakes. THANK GOD, GOD LOOKS AT AND WEIGHS THE HEART (more wisdom from Solomon in Proverbs 21). Like the movies, people get type cast, but God is the one who leads the better plots. Follow Him.

And watching the Oscars was good for an “evening in” on a roar of chilly weather, on an early March night. Sunday is when my weekend brain is full, just decompression of a weekend and “time for myself”.

And yet this weekend was also a good time for me and the Lord, because click click click, I forced myself to sit down and I organized 2 whole chapters of my writing for print and pdf. It seems a process, but it’s my purpose and my pursuit of God’s Heart holds me in alignment of both writing and curating. Most of my writing is captured brain waves that flash then disappear from memory, maybe someone reads or needs it, but like last year’s Oscar’s and star-winners and movies, it’s gone from memory that quick. But SCRIPTURE remains – the wisdom and the freshness of it refreshed.

SO, the Lions in scripture roar the righteousness right into place. The Proverbs seem to be Lion roars of observation and wisdom from King Solomon both good yet flawed. King Solomon saw A LOT, ruled a long time, wrote extensively in God’s name and in his own processing. Human and wise, King Solomon would have seen the righteous and the wicked, both, and known how to use a Lion as symbol for each:

1) The Righteous are as bold as a Lion.

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2) Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.

…

It is up to us to be aware of the difference between good, righteous and evil, wicked. It is like a movie in some ways to discover and discern the characters of life, but behind the scenes and in front too, we are to know God weighs the heart. We need to be a March Lion of righteousness “righted” by God and “Marching” in His Way. We need to be wary of wicked lions chasing us. We need to remember that we can be bold IN God – and let Him score our lives.

Amen 

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Proverbs 21:1-3, 29-31

In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him.
A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart.
To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

…

The wicked put up a bold front, but the upright give thought to their ways.
There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.
The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord.

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Proverbs 28 NIV

The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.

When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.

A ruler who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.

Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked, but those who heed it resist them.

Evildoers do not understand what is right, but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.

Better the poor whose walk is blameless than the rich whose ways are perverse.

A discerning son heeds instruction, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.

Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.

If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are detestable.

Whoever leads the upright along an evil path will fall into their own trap, but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.

The rich are wise in their own eyes; one who is poor and discerning sees how deluded they are.

When the righteous triumph, there is great elation; but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding.

Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.

Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.

A tyrannical ruler practices extortion, but one who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long reign.

Anyone tormented by the guilt of murder will seek refuge in the grave; let no one hold them back.

The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe, but the one whose ways are perverse will fall into the pit.

Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.

A faithful person will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.

To show partiality is not good – yet a person will do wrong for a piece of bread.

The stingy are eager to get rich and are unaware that poverty awaits them.

Whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain favor rather than one who has a flattering tongue.

Whoever robs their father or mother and says, “It’s not wrong,” is partner to one who destroys.

The greedy stir up conflict, but those who trust in the Lord will prosper.

Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.

Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.

When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding; but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.

QTIP – Quit Taking It Personally – Guard Your Heart

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…attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings…   Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life...   Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.

It was the very end of the multi-division presentation at work when they talked about the survey results that you may see and interpret within your group (small or site-wide) and they urged people to act upon them without getting upset if they were general or specific comments that seemed negative. We always need to be correct in our work ethics, but INSTEAD of the negative implications of getting upset,  consider these comments as OPPORTUNITIES for growth. Yes. The best acronym I heard – QTIP – “Quit Taking It Personally”… yes.. 

When we don’t think about situations and how we are personally affected, we are then able to think more broadly in helping. When we don’t ‘get our noses bent out of shape’, we can keep moving and be less shaken. And if it’s just a venting session, don’t you get steamed too…

I connected this QTIP “cute-tip” about not letting things bug you, not taking things personally, with a scripture right away – ‘Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it’… from wise Solomon.

TRUE, as your heart can sway and overspill, can corrupt your mind allowing it to get carried away, causing even more angst. 

A QTIP is USEFUL – I use them to grease my sewing machine. Useful for hygiene yes, as well as cleaning up little things, as a decorating tool paintbrush for improvement, and ELEGANTLY MADE and clean if we don’t let them overspill the clean container. 

Our hearts are needed that way too, USEFUL, could paint a picture of our lives, ELEGANT and hard-working, CLEAN if we keep them that way. And yet they are indescribable as fragile and strong at the same time.

In the wisdom of Solomon, GET WISDOM, and guard your heart… use the wisdom to ‘live long and prosper’…

And QTIP.

Amen

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Proverbs 4:18-27

The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.

My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. 

Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

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Proverbs 4:5-13

“Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. She will give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown.”

Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many. I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life

Light in the Darkness – Proverbs 15

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All the days of the afflicted are evil, But he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.

It’s not just food for the stomach, there’s food for the soul and a hungry heart to be satisfied. A merry heart heads Proverbs as well as the Lord’s wisdom. Us living on what God feeds us is a delight and good.  A merry heart has a continual feast – what a blessing!

I have travelled up to my alma mater to speak to the students and faculty and friends about my career journey success and how they can embark on their careers… blessed to share!!!

I believe in the sentiment Proverb: “Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, Than a fatted calf with hatred.” – to scale back the excess.  So this and to go feel the love… so to have herbs AND beef in a local flair sandwich was satisfying to the stomach as was the conversation to the soul…

I know all the activities today will be satisfying to the soul too… so excited to speak with everyone. 

Last night I stood up on the hill in fair darkness and saw the milky way a bit. I know it is there, and when it is darker in the light pollution, the lights in the sky are brightest and the stars so numerous… light in the dark. That’s us looking for God in our hearts – Light in the dark where we shut out the light pollution which is like evil blocking our view… 

Keep a clear view. Know God’s words and work for today. If: “The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.” – THEN I PRAY WE LOOK FOR GOD IN OUR LIVES – we hunger to LISTEN AND HEED. Slow the foolishness feeding frenzy and get to a quiet place. The more we look, the more we know. The more we hear, the more satisfied our souls. 

AMEN

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Proverbs 15:13-18, 21-33

13 A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance,

But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

14 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,

But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.

15 All the days of the afflicted are evil,

But he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.

16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord,

Than great treasure with trouble.

17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is,

Than a fatted calf with hatred.

18 A wrathful man stirs up strife,

But he who is slow to anger allays contention.

. . .

21 Folly is joy to him who is destitute of discernment,

But a man of understanding walks uprightly.

22 Without counsel, plans go awry,

But in the multitude of counselors they are established.

23 A man has joy by the answer of his mouth,

And a word spoken in due season, how good it is!

24 The way of life winds upward for the wise,

That he may turn away from hell below.

25 The Lord will destroy the house of the proud,

But He will establish the boundary of the widow.

26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,

But the words of the pure are pleasant.

27 He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house,

But he who hates bribes will live.

28 The heart of the righteous studies how to answer,

But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.

29 The Lord is far from the wicked,

But He hears the prayer of the righteous.

30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,

And a good report makes the bones healthy.

31 The ear that hears the rebukes of life

Will abide among the wise.

32 He who disdains instruction despises his own soul,

But he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.

33 The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom,

And before honor is humility.

SKILLS

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A great conversation this week with a friend who is running a VBS that I will help with – a conversation about the fear of God – respectful fear – awesome fear – and yet fearful fear…  Well, I said about my sense with God and the fear of God – is that I fear God if I don’t use my SKILLS that He gave me for His Purposes first and foremost and then I fit the rest of “my” work into the day. I fear the Lord, in the sense that if I fall and fail to be the one that people (in a good way) look to – He won’t look as good – or Christians won’t look so faithful. But I even fear if I forget that when I do fail, that Jesus has me in the saved and forgiven category… 

Jesus saves, we use skills, and life continues…

A skill I know I have is to speak to people one by one and then in big crowds as if I am speaking to individuals – it is a personality trait as well as life training. And another skill I have is to “wing it”. And another skill I have is to write (seriously wonder how to use it best). And another skill is no skill at all – it is to smile.

A skill I don’t always use – that I should – is to keep my mouth shut and let it roll off my back. And a skill and learned experience – I also should use more – is to speak up and set things straight. And the crucial skill for us all – to make amends when we can. Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright.

Well, what are your skills? Where has the Lord led you to show witness to His Ways through you?

I’m still working on mine – aren’t we all! I will wing the rest of this life on the skills I have – yet the best “SKILL” for each of us is to hold onto the Lord and watch Him plan our days.

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Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. (from Proverbs 16)

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In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. (from Proverbs 16)

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Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning and even among fools she lets herself be known. (from Proverbs 14)

Amen

excerpts from Proverbs 14 NIV

The wise woman builds her house,
    but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.

Whoever fears the Lord walks uprightly,
    but those who despise him are devious in their ways.

A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride,
    but the lips of the wise protect them.

The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none,
    but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.

Stay away from a fool,
    for you will not find knowledge on their lips.

The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways,
    but the folly of fools is deception.

Fools mock at making amends for sin,
    but goodwill is found among the upright.

The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways,
    and the good rewarded for theirs.

The wise fear the Lord and shun evil,
    but a fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure.

All hard work brings a profit,
    but mere talk leads only to poverty.

Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress,
    and for their children it will be a refuge.

The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
    turning a person from the snares of death.

A heart at peace gives life to the body,
    but envy rots the bones.

Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning
    and even among fools she lets herself be known.