The Proverbs Challenge -Day 12

Reading a chapter of Proverbs a day doesn't substitute for corporate Bible study and worship. If you're a member of Hilldale I hope to see you this morning. I have Deacon's Meeting @ 7, rehearsal at 7:30, worship services at 8:30 & 9:45, a funeral at 2, ESL at 3, family choir for July 3 at 4 and orchestra rehearsal at 5, so it may be later today before I post my verse of the day. I'll be looking for your comments! Have a great day!

I chose Proverbs 12:16 as my verse for today.

16 A fool's displeasure is known at once, but whoever ignores an insult is sensible.

This is a difficult verse to live out. My first instinct is to quickly counterattack any insult thrown my way. Haha. I started to write "I know it's hard for you all to imagine someone insulting me" but I didn't really want to start that conversation.

Anyway, I think it's only possible to really ignore an insult and not show immediate displeasure by allowing God's Spirit to control my thoughts and actions. But the words are true. A quick jab back just leads to further confrontation and anger and more. Ignoring an insult shows some maturity and control of the Spirit.

The Proverbs Challenge - Day 11

Are you all staying with me? Read Proverbs 11 and leave a comment.

Hmmm. I thought this published earlier so early readers could post comments. That was 5 hours ago.

Here's my verse I chose for today.

24 One person gives freely, yet gains more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor.

This is how God's economy works. When you give to meet the needs of others you receive more - not so you can say "Wow. Look at all I have" but rather so God can continue to use you to bless others.
I can't imbed a video with my phone, but here's a link to a video of The Imperials singing a song that goes with the verse from Luke mentioned below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9V8R_I3OSY&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Here's something Jesus said that says the same thing.
Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure-pressed down, shaken together, and running over-will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you."

The Proverbs Challenge - Day 10

I looked ahead a little yesterday and today's chapter of Proverbs starts the collection of Solomon's sayings. In the first 9 chapters he's laid out the benefits of seeking wisdom.

Now we will have a lot of interesting and useful sayings to ponder (and to help us gain wisdom and practical advice. I'm anxious to see what verses you all choose to comment on.

The idea behind this challenge is for each of you to choose one or two verses (sometimes you have to have two to get the point) and then post a comment here as to why you chose that verse.

Did God show you something new? Were you challenged to do something different in life?

I'll post something once we get VBS started today.

I picked the last verse,

32 The lips of the righteous know what is appropriate, but the mouth of the wicked, [only] what is perverse

I noticed that many of the verses in this chapter have to do with what we say. The old childhood saying "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me" isn't really true. In fact, I think it is usually said to try to take the sting out of words that have just been sent our way.

Along those same lines, James said this
Controlling the Tongue


1 Not many should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive a stricter judgment; 2 for we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a mature man who is also able to control his whole body. 3 Now when we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we also guide the whole animal. 4 And consider ships: though very large and driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So too, though the tongue is a small part [of the body], it boasts great things. Consider how large a forest a small fire ignites. 6 And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among the parts of our [bodies]; it pollutes the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is set on fire by hell. 7 For every creature-animal or bird, reptile or fish-is tamed and has been tamed by man, 8 but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who are made in God's likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things should not be this way. 11 Does a spring pour out sweet and bitter water from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers, or a grapevine [produce] figs? Neither can a saltwater spring yield fresh water.
 
My prayer for myself and for all of us in this Proverbs challenge is for us to allow the Holy Spirit to control our thoughts and our tongues. We can't control our tongues on our own!

Music for Sunday, June 12

June 12, 2011


VBS Children – Love You More

God of Wonders
Mighty to Save

Fellowship song – Blessed Assurance
Resting in Your Love
Draw Me Close

Special music – Lacey Waynick (almost Woodside)

Message – Dr. Larry D. Robertson

Invitation song – Only Trust Him

Offertory – Debbie Bryant

The Proverbs Challenge - Day 9

Chapter 9 is the last chapter that encourages us to seek wisdom. Starting tomorrow we'll see a collection of the wise sayings of Solomon.

The verses that stood out to me were 8-9

8 Don't rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. 9 Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man, and he will learn more.

There are many things and many people that I can invest my life in. I guess I've noticed over the years the truth in these verses. I've tried to help "mockers" in the past and it becomes very obvious very quickly that they don't want to be helped and aren't going to change what they are doing or who they are.

But I've also seen over the years that those who know the Lord and are wise will allow you to speak truth to them and they will become better for it. There is great joy and satisfaction in investing your life in those who want to know more, who want to become wise in God's ways.

And I want to always be that man who will become wiser with instruction and learn more from others' teachings.

The Proverbs Challenge - Day 8

Ephesians 1:17 [I pray] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.

There were several different things I could have blogged about.

Proverbs 8:33 is the verse I chose for today.

The political correctness of our society and educational system has made it where it is very common to ignore those who excell and insteads seems to celebrate mediocrity. We don't want to hurt anyone's feelings and make them feel bad.

Proverbs 8:33 says, "Listen to instruction and be wise; don't ignore it."

That kind of sums up a lot of what Solomon has been saying. You can seek wisdom and you will find it. The opposite would be to sit around and watch TV and not pay attention to your pastors, teachers, parents and others who want to help you find instruction and wisdom. It's each person's choice.

What will you choose?

Sometimes we don't choose instruction and wisdom because it takes some effort and we are basically lazy in our lives and education. Sometimes we don't listen to instruction because we would have to make a change in our lives and it's easier not to. Again, it's each person's choice.

What will you choose?

The verses around this verse say we will be happy and find life if we listen to wisdom. 

That looks like the best choice to me.

The Proverbs Challenge - Day 7

I'd love to see comments from more of you, but I'm glad to hear you are reading along with us even if you aren't commenting.

2 Keep my commands and live; protect my teachings as you would the pupil of your eye.

I hate getting something in my eye. I'm sure you do too. It doesn't even have to be big to cause a lot of irritation and damage. God gave us eyelashes and eyebrows and an incredibly quick reflex system to protect our eyes. Then we've added windshields and goggles and other things for protection. That is how diligent we need to be in protecting God's Word in our hearts and lives.

It's obvious from these first chapters of Proverbs that sexual sin will destroy your life. I think we see that lived out in the world of politics too often. But even if you aren't a famous person Solomon warns us again and again 26 For she has brought many down to death; her victims are countless. 27 Her house is the road to Sheol, descending to the chambers of death.

These days you don't have to go to the "shady side" of town to find sexual temptation. It's on our TVs, computers, movies... and it's not always a big huge obvious temptation. It's like the woman here in Proverbs who very carefully mentioned sweet enticing things that at first may not sound so bad. But the end is death. RUN! Protect God's teachings. Protect your life! Don't be the next politician apologizing...