Pr. 20, 21 [The Message]

I once heard a speaker who had spent some time in the hereafter and came back. They related that the motives of the hearts of earth’s inhabitants ring louder in Heaven than their words do. After all, aren’t our words just the amplification of our thoughts?!

“Blessed are the Pure in Heart … those with pure motives …for they shall see God.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart (motives) be ACCEPTABLE in Thy sight, O Lord. [Ps. 19:14a]

Pr. 19 [The Message]

It’s usually better left unsaid. How many times do we wish we would have held our tongue rather than popping off about something. “Smart people know when to keep quiet. They forgive and forget when offended.” [v.11]

Yesterday Patty and I were driving out of our neighborhood. We have MANY 4-way stops, and I have ordained myself a 4-way stop judge, jury, and prosecutor when people roll through them. So, this GUY (not gal) rolls through his sign beating us to the anticipation. I pronounced judgement upon him and was immediately rebuked by my wife. She was 100 percent right. I should hold my tongue and forgive whomever executes their stop sign illegally. It also occurs to me that I am the guilty party sometimes.

Pr. 17, 18 [The Message]

Your words have the power to kill or give life. What will it be?

One of my greatest joys in life has been to encourage children. I’ve yet to meet a pre-schooler who doesn’t light up when you call them, “Big boy … big girl.” It’s like hitting paydirt when you get them to smile. When they excel at a task, commending them could possibly be setting them up for a lifetime of success.

My son-in-law often recalls how I complimented him on his basketball shot when he was in elementary school. Those words stuck with him, and he thereafter had the reputation as a deadly 3-point shooter.

My wife is a great cook. She would have far less motivation to create delicious meals if her husband was a critical complainer.

Remember what Thumper said.

Pr. 16 [The Message]

Who will we vote for? Who will win? We do our part in the election process of a democracy. So many different people with differing views will also cast their vote.

God is the ONE Who determines the outcome. His power is even greater than the corrupt political machines who control the candidates.

Prayer is better than voting.

Pr. 15 [The Message}

Communication skills are important. Nobody likes to be hollered at nor talked down to. The tone of the voice tells it all. A soft answer says “I am in charge of my emotions. I am in control of myself.” Soft answers also show respect. These ingredients all diffuse anger and tension.

People throw rationale out the window when they are angered or stressed. I guess their defense mechanisms have taken over. They are in pain.

Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. [Matt. 11:28, 29]

Pr. 14 [The Message]

Hard work always pays off;
    mere talk puts no bread on the table.

Between the two of us, Patty is more the hard worker and me the smooth talker. I laugh because I’m retired and she is still working. I joke that she is supporting me.

Truth is, children develop their work ethic in the home. Patty grew up on a farm where they were expected to work and pitch in. Me, not so much. I like to talk. It doesn’t pay the bills.

Pr. 13 [The Message]

Being correct has its own reward. Godly home training is the healthiest way to cultivate correctness in the heart of a child. When they are trained up in God’s Ways, they will love, appreciate and respect parents who took the time to bring correction when it was needed.

Being open to correction can have lifetime benefits. When others infer that you embrace and seek correction for the noble purpose of being correct, they will gain a new appreciation for you. Seeking to be correct is a characteristic of humility.

Christ’s blood sacrifice makes us correct.

And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. [Phil. 2:8]

Pr. 11, 12 [The Mewsage]

A wise parent will cultivate the love of learning in their children. A profitable goal is to develop lifelong learners. Children learn by doing, reading, and observing. The earlier in life they engage in these disciplines the better. Parents have a chance to establish good learning habits when children are young.

My wife grew up on a farm. Her dad prided in some of the best looking fields in the county. Why? Because she and her siblings were required to walk out in the field and pull any blatantly obvious weeds before dinner was served. Guess what!? To this day, she HATES weeds. She learned a gardening skill early that established a good lifelong habit.

Mozart was required to practice his instrument VERY YOUNG. His sister practiced her violin over his cradle when he was an infant. It’s no wonder that he became one of the most prolific and famous musicians in history.

Abraham Lincoln was a devout reader. From an early age he overcame his humble, impoverished beginnings by the intense reading of the Bible and great works of literature. His writings and speeches are some of the most eloquent in our nation’s history. His impact was profound.

Pr. 10 [The Message]

Eugene Peterson pens so many appropriate terms in his paraphrase of God’s Word. To me, this is a big benefit of reading his work.

In vs. 9 he says, “Honesty lives confident and carefree.” Who can dispute that?

My mentor, Pastor Moses Vegh, (pronounced Vay) used to say, “Always tell the truth so you never have to remember what you said (if challenged on a lie or conflicting story.) That’s confident, carefree living. Bills all paid? That’s confident carefree living. Faithful to your wife. Paying the taxes you really owe. Refraining from spreading slander about your neighbor. And on and on …

Pr. 8, 9 [The Message]

Skilled living gets its start in the Fear-of-God,
    insight into life from knowing a Holy God.
It’s through me, Lady Wisdom, that your life deepens …

As we meander through our lives, can we consider the impact God’s wisdom has upon our daily activities? Consulting God’s Word and its remembrance in every moment lifts us to a whole new level of effectiveness and reward.

If we do everything well, we can live with little regret.

“So give to God all your days; it’s the only life that pays when your recall, you have but one life (here on earth).”