Proverbs 27 - A Man's Heart

27:19 As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man.

I have spent most of my adult life trying to hide my heart. Not because it was bad, but because I was vulnerable. I look at my son and I see me as a child. I want so much for him to be able to go through life and remain the way he is: open, sensitive, warm, caring, unaffected, etc. I know that won't happen so I vow that he will know how to deal with it better due to my experiences. My father or mother were never there to talk to me, to help me understand what I was feeling, to help me deal with hurt and frustration. Sensitive people get hurt and learn to hide their heart. Eventually you become someone you don't even know, recognize, or like. I spent years running and hiding. I vow that my kids will not go through that. One thing that I have learned in life is that often the tougher the person acts typically the softer their heart.

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27:22 Though you grind a fool in a mortar, grinding him like grain with a pestle, you will not remove his folly from him.

It seems like there is little hope for the fool, that they are predestined to be fools. And maybe they are, but there is hope for them in Jesus Christ. All have the opportunity to be a new creation in Christ. I am living proof. I spent many years behaving like a fool. But the heart of a fool was not in me. The foundation for believing in Christ was laid in me as a child and though I turned away for many years, I came back, accepted Christ, and have spent the last 14 years turning things around. It has been extremely difficult. I have had to re-learn 20 years of bad behavior, of living one way. Never give up hope for anyone. God loves a wishes all to come to Christ. When you look at the world today, there is no reason that Christ does not come back this very minute other than He is being patient until the allotted number has been reached.

Proverbs 26 - Gross

26:11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.

Our propensity in life is to return to the sins of our past. I know that has always been true with me. Satan knows our weaknesses and he plays/preys upon them. He wants to make us ineffective for the kingdom. Every time I have slipped it has usually been from those sins that have dragged me down before. We need to be aware of what those sins are so that we can take special precaution not to allow ourselves to be overly tempted or drawn into them. As a dog returning to his own vomit, returning to our own past life is often gross and disgusting to us once there. How could I be so stupid, how could I even think to relive the past? I want only to move forward with my hand in God's.

Proverbs 25 - Refreshment

25:13 Like the coolness of snow at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the spirit of his masters.

Though this time of year is one of great stress, it is also one of great renewal. We think about the birth of Christ and what that means to us, what hope it gives us. Every year God brings us this great message. The message of His coming to earth to save us. As we reflect we renew our promises to God, renew our promises to each other, and renew our promises to ourselves.

Do you make New Year's resolutions? I do. I did not used to because I could never keep them, but then I figured that was a defeatist attitude. Even if I do not keep them, it is good to have a self-improvement goal for the year. At the end of the year you can look back and renew your goal. I strive harder and harder each year to meet my resolutions. Some I meet, others I don't. Above all, I strive to keep things in perspective. My goals this year are pretty much the same as last year. Spend more time with God is high on the list

Proverbs 24 - Bring the Rain

24:27 Finish your outdoor work and get your fields ready; after that, build your house.

I don't need to say anything about this scripture. These videos and the scripture says it all. We need to prepare our fields for the Lord's blessing and quit questioning Him

Mercy Me "Jesus Bring the Rain"

Proverbs 23 - Are U Wearing Out

23:4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. 5 Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.

Are you killing yourself to get rich or at least seem rich? How is Christmas shopping going for you? I know I have a difficult time at Christmas making ends meet and wanting to do so much for my kids and giving to charities. It seems that no matter how hard I try I am always broke this time of year. I have learned not to stress about it. Christmas is about Christ and Christ alone. I listened to a story on KKHT this week about a child on whose birthday everyone gave presents to everyone else but him, relatives came to visit but stayed at other places and never came to see him, celebrations occurred but they weren't celebrating his birthday. This is what Christ feels like as Christmas. I wish so much that our culture would turn this around. We, as Christians need to turn this around. I try, but I feel I sometimes am lacking. I have tried different things year after year to put the focus on Christ for myself and my children, but culture drags me down.

23:16 my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.

I made a big mistake with this just last night. I had a conversation with someone who was going through a difficult time and tried to bring some levity to the situation. It did not work right and I was disappointed that what I have learned from these lessons seemed naught. A rightful word spoken at the right time is like healing to a wound. I did not do this. I guess the good thing is, I realized the fact, but I wish I had said something different. It is very difficult to know what to say sometimes so if you don't know what to say, silence is golden

Proverbs 22 - Discipline

15 A youngster’s heart is filled with foolishness, but physical discipline will drive it far away.

Ever wonder why military school works? Why parents, judges, and court systems send kids to camp or military school to straighten them out? Here is the reason. Physical discipline keeps youngsters from creating mischief or getting into trouble. The saying, "idle hands are the devils workshop", is absolutely true. If I keep myself busy, I keep myself from getting involved in wrong things. It was this way when I grew up. Because my parents did not keep me involved enough in extra-curricular activities, I stayed in trouble. It is difficult on the parents. You get frustrated, tired, and just don't want to run from place to place acting as a chauffeur, but the altenerative is a troubled youth. I plan to keep my kids so busy they won't be able to think about trouble.

On the other hand, you cannot be so busy that you forget to spend time with God. Again this is another reason I think that a quiet time in the morning is the best solution. Spend your relaxed time with God first thing, then busy your day. Don't stop until you drop. Then do it all over again 6 days a week. Rest completely 1 day. It works!

Proverbs 21 - Learn from fools

21:11 When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; when a wise man is instructed, he gets knowledge.

Even the wise learn things from fools. Fools are in trouble all the time, either with their relationships, with the jobs, with the law, or in the public eye. Wise people take note of this and gain wisdom from their folly. Did your parents ever tell you, "I want you to learn from the mistakes I made"? This is the principal behind this scripture. If we are wise we will learn from our own and other's mistakes.

21:16 A man who strays from the path of understanding comes to rest in the company of the dead


Danny Way - Big Air Wipe Out

The use of common sense it not too common anymore it seems. With some of the extreme behavior today it is a surprise to me that there is not more tragedy. I am sure there is but it goes unpublished. Have you ever watched the X-Games? The stuff some of these guys do is insane. Coming down a 75 foot ramp on a skateboard, like ski jumping, doing double back flips on motocross bikes, etc. These things to me are just a window into the mind of people these days. They are extreme in everything, especially their personal lives. How the world is not dying from STDs is a mystery. Or is it? Superbugs, AIDs, Cancer, are all on the rise. Fallen economy, bankruptcy, excessive debt, are all spiraling out of control. It seems that common sense has left the building