The Proverbs Challenge - Day 17

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I guess Proverbs 17:17 has been quoted thousands of times, it looks great on greeting cards and posters and everyone wishes for a true friend that "loves at all times."

The best way to have that kind of friend is to be that kind of friend. For a refresher course on what true love really is, read I Corinthians 13

Here's another verse from this chapter that I really like. First, let me say I am not elderly!

I do, however, totally relate to verse 6

Grandchildren are the crown of the elderly.

In case you've somehow missed seeing them, here are my grandbabies.

The Proverbs Challenge - Day 16

Wow! June is more than half over. If you've missed a day or two of our Proverbs Challenge you can either read a couple of chapters one day or go through again next month and try to miss different days. haha


The verse I chose for today is a very popular verse. People really like to quote it when they are making big plans. Here it is in a few translations.

"Commit your activities to the Lord and your plans will be achieved." CSB - Homan Christian Standard
"Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." NIV -  New International Version

"Commit your works to the LORD And your plans will be established." NAS - New American Standard

"Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established ." KJVPeople like to use vs.3 like it's a magic charm or something. "Oh, well, I've committed my activities to the Lord, so He's going to make me succeed." "Lord. I'm doing this for You. Help me achieve my plans."

I think a good passage of scripture to help understand this is Psalm 37
4 Delight yourself in the LORD ; And He will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.

Here's the way these verses work. You don't just sing a song that says how much you delight in God and then expect Him to do whatever silly thing pops into your head. If you truly delight in the Lord then the desires of your heart will be His desires. It's the same with these verses from Proverbs. If we commit our way to the Lord then we are seeking His direction, reading His word, spending time in prayer and then our desires for the way we should go will be His desires and then he will establish our steps.

Here are some other great verses from Proverbs 16

The Proverbs Challenge - Day 15

I noticed again in this chapter how our tongues can get us in a lot of trouble or they can bring healing and joy and turn away anger.

Controlling our tongues is a discipline we must practice and learn. The best way to do this however isn't to learn to count to ten before we speak or memorize a bunch of pretty words to say to people - even when we don't mean them.

The best way to control our tongue and be a blessing to others is to have a change of heart.

Jesus said in Luke 6: 43 "A good tree doesn't produce bad fruit; on the other hand, a bad tree doesn't produce good fruit. 44 For each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs aren't gathered from thorn bushes, or grapes picked from a bramble bush. 45 A good man produces good out of the good storeroom of his heart. An evil man produces evil out of the evil storeroom, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart."

However... the verse I'm going to choose for today's verse is 15:

13 A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, But when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken.

Why? Because I have used this verse in previous church ministries as the name and theme of a clown/puppet ministry. This Fall I would like to begin a clown troupe and a puppet team and take this ministry team out into the community.

I was first introduced to clown ministry at MissionFuge many years ago. We didn't have real clown costumes and just tried to wear our clothes funny. We had some makeup and we got ourselves all fixed up as clowns. We then went to a local nursing home to visit. Wow! It was so incredible to see the reaction from the residents. Even those who were strapped into wheelchairs and couldn't talk - their eyes would light up when we came in the room. We brought a lot of joy to that place and I knew then that a clown ministry was a wonderful way to visit.

I've been to backyard Bible clubs, nursing homes, children's events, church picnic and more over the years.

I'll let everyone know when we're ready to launch a "Joyful Hearts" clown/puppet team. You can go ahead and send me an e-mail if you think you might be interested in being a part of this ministry.

The Proverbs Challenge - Day 14

Feel free to leave a comment about your favorite verse from Proverbs 14.

15 The naive believes everything, But the sensible man considers his steps.

There are so many areas of life where dishonest men try to -and often succeed - take advantage of the naive. Wisdom is needed in every area of life. I think a wise man/woman should study, have counselors, read books etc so wise decisions and clear direction in every area of life: spiritual, financial, mental, emotional, relational etc etc.

The Proverbs Challenge - Day 14

Feel free to leave a comment about your favorite verse from Proverbs 14. I'll leave my comments later

VBS Kids and Bro. Lyndel

I love doing this every year!

The Proverbs Challenge - Day 13

Many of the verses in Proverbs 13 - at least the ones that I remember while writing this - had to do with wise men (and women) listening to advice, discipline and instruction. There is a rebellious streak in each of us. It's the old sin nature that wants to go its own way.

The verse I chose as my verse from the chapter for today is v. 16

Every sensible person acts knowledgeably,

but a fool displays his stupidity.

I guess I picked this one because how we act shows whether or not we have listened and taken to heart advice, discipline and instruction. Hearing instruction is just the first step. We have to make changes in our behavior if we are going to be wise in what we do.

Here are some other great verses from Proverbs 13.