Proverbs 17: 12-14

STRIFE

Oh, mercy, I do not like conflict! Not at all. I don't even like debates. I don't like political news shows. (That might be off topic...focusing back on strife now...)

vs..14--When you pour water out on the ground, what happens? That's right, it runs every which way and you can't get it back.

Yet sometimes, we do have to choose to battle. We are humans. Strife and conflict are going to happen. So what can we do about it?

Flip over and read 1 Peter 3: 15-16.

As I type this (Tuesday evening around 6:45 p.m.); my heart is heavy. There is someone that used to communicate to me very kindly, and has shown me much kindness. But suddenly, as in just the last week, this person won't comment on my blog, won't reply to comments that I've left on her blog, nor answer direct emails from me to her. I have no explanation as to why. I've been saddened over it, I've combed emails to see if I can find the reason...and I can't. Most of you know this person--but please do not start trying to guess who. I bring this up only to say that when I was looking up verses about strife, and stumbled upon this one, it gave me courage. I certainly don't want this person 'put to shame' but, I also know, in good conscience that I've done nothing wrong. So--right here, right now--I give her and the entire situation to God.

Is there anyone or any situation that you need to give to God today? Really...things are much better in His hands. We just have a habit of making a mess out of them when we try to handle it on our own!

I am afraid I spent this study time 'preaching' to myself...sometimes that is the best way, isn't it?

Proverbs 17: 10-11

Today's passage visits the subject of discipline. We have visited this subject several times in our study..but really we have not studied it very deeply.

Begin by reading today's passage, then flip over to the New Testament and read Hebrews 12: 5-11.

None of us really like to be disciplined, and often, even though we've drilled it into our children, we forget that discipline is for our own good. It's not like God really wants to discipline us. Again, same as we are with our children, He would rather us not need the discipline. But to help us not make mistakes again, or to make us wake up and take notice and repent, He will use deep conviction through Scriptures or sermons or even through the rebuke of friends.

There are SO MANY passages on rebuke/discipline! I thought I would give you a fill in the blank today. Because most of you use NIV I will use that translation for these questions.  Enjoy spending time with God today and let Him speak to you.

1. Job 5:17-18  "Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not ______________ the discipline of the Almighty. For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal."

2. Rev 3:19  "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and _______________."


3. Heb 10:31 It is a _____________ thing to fall into the hands of the living God.


4. Num 32:23  ... "Be sure _________ will find you out."


5.  Prov 28:23  He who ____________ a man will in the end gain more ________________ than he who has a flattering tongue.


6. Prov 15:31 He who listens to a ________________ rebuke will be at home among the wise.


7. Ps 23:4  ... your ________and your __________, they comfort me. 


8. Prov 1:28-31  "Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me. Since they _________ knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord, since they would not accept my advice and spurned my __________________, they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the ______________ of their schemes."

I Corinthians 13: 1-13

When I sat down to write this study for today I realized that I could spend an entire week on this chapter. But I think we can at least touch base on it and if you want to expand your study in your quiet time, then of course I encourage you to do so!

Before we begin, I ask you...if you could have ANY spiritual gift, what would it be? Now, open your Bible, and read I Corinthians 13:1-3.

What does God say these gifts by themselves mean? NOTHING.

Now read verses 4-7 and make two lists in your journal. A what "Love Is" list and a what "Love Isn't". Now, take a good look at your list and decide..Does this list make me feel good about myself..or Bad? How am I doing? (Rhetorical here!)

Next read verses 8-12. Ok, so these verses say some things fail us..but love doesn't. So why do people 'fall out of love?" (Hint: Discussion starter! )

Now read verse 13..and if you haven't, it would be a great verse to memorize today!

Proverbs 17: 7-9

Hello Ladies! Just to minimize confusion to our newcomers, this is Tonya and I will be your leader this week. 

Open your Bibles to Proverbs 17 and let's dig! 

I gave you three verses to read today; so after you have read them to yourselves, I would like to focus on verse 9. Do you know what the verse is talking about? Read it again if not. Uh oh! Gossip and slander. A favorite topic among us women, I know!

I think all of us have been hurt by gossip at one time or another. We probably have even hurt someone. Sometimes entire nations get out of control about their gossip. 

An example: President Lincoln's grave has been re-opened twice...just because of rumors spreading across the nation that he wasn't really dead. The first time was in 1887--twenty two years after he was killed. Fourteen years later...same reason. Rumors spreading the nation that he wasn't really in there. Couldn't even believe it the first time! Of course, Lincoln isn't the only. I mean--Elvis sightings have gone on as long as I can remember practically. And we live in Jesse James territory. Guess what? Yep...he had to be dug up too because people rumored that he wasn't there.

Oh these are just silly little rumors that didn't hurt a soul, but we all know there are rumors that have very badly hurt others. I was trying to think of a rumor that has hurt me; and here is the most recent that I can think of: When my ex husband and I separated, my deacon took it upon himself to write me a very hurtful letter accusing me of having an affair, among other things. He did not check with our Pastor first (who I'd been in counseling with through the entire process). This deacon I had known for years. His wife and I had a quilting group at the church. But he started a rumor weed...and it grew and I had to leave the church. Incidentally, I even showed the letter to my then estranged husband and he was very angry as well. He knew that the things written about me were not true. So, yes, I was deeply, deeply hurt. But God had plans for me, and I found an even better church, so it was all good in the end. For me at least. I don't know about that deacon. We've not spoken since. 

On the subject of gossip, Bill Gothard gives us 5 questions to ask before listening to a negative report from someone. These would be good to jot into your journal to remember.

1. What is your reason for telling me? Widening the circle of gossip only compounds the problem. 

2. Where did you get your information? Refusal to identify the source of information is a sure sign of an evil report. 

3. Have you gone to those directly involved? Spirituality is not measured by how well we expose an offender but by how effectively we restore an offender (Gal. 6:1). Satan will sift you like wheat. 

4. Have you personally checked out all of the facts? Even facts become distorted when not balanced with other facts or when given with negative motives. 

5. Can I quote you if I check this out?

P.P. Discussion Week 8

Hello my friends, I have missed you this week. I am so thankful it was a light P.P. week so that I could keep up!
Here are your discussions for last weeks questions

1)-rhetorical

2) KNOWLEDGE--a truly great minister will have the highest knowledge, a thorough knowledge of the Bible and thus of himself. From this knowledge he can feed his sheep.
EXPERIENCE--A pastor is able to speak with absolute authority about God's comfort and the strength of his everlasting arms after going through a difficult time in which the existence of these attributes has been proved by experience
WATCHFUL--A pastor's vigilance will be seen as he visits, instructs, and personally deals with his people.
SINCERE--His sincerity towards God is seen in his holy living, and thus he is esteemed by his flock. He is transparent and means what he says.

3) rhetorical, but we can discuss. I had a hard time choosing. I think I would go with sincere. The other traits would show in his sincerity I think.

4) HILL OF ERROR--false truths not backed by Scriptures causes instability and a fall. Oh, there are big name false prophets out there. I WISH people would learn to back what they hear with Scripture. It makes me sad.
MOUNTAIN CALLED CAUTION--if it weren't for God's graciousness and mercy, we would be the same as those stumbling, blind men
DOOR IN A HILL--many are exposed to the truth but reject it.
CLEAR HILL-- a view into heaven. To quote from my book: "Often our unbelief and fear, not to mention our  constant gazing with love in the wrong direction, cause us to be unable to appreciate or to see clearly the beauty of all that awaits us as joint heirs with Christ."

--------------------------------------

Reading assignment:

Moody pp 123-137
Revel spire pp 114-135

Prov 17 : 6 Family Ties

Pro 17:6  Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

Some of you are aware of the painful situation that exists in our family --- one of our children is estranged from all of us; he has not spoken to us (or to his siblings) for three years now, and has resisted our efforts to reconcile. I first approached this verse with some dread . . . it is difficult to think of grandchildren that I may not see, or be able to hug and love.
It is indeed an honor to parents when their children and their grandchildren walk in the virtues that they have tried to model and teach. It is a blessing to live long enough to see those new families established, and to observe them serving and honoring God.  It crowns a long and full life.

As I studied, however, and as my weekend (last) unfolded, I looked at this verse with fresh understanding. Let me explain. Late on Saturday night, my husband and daughter had just dropped his mom at her house, making sure she was snug and safe, and then they headed toward home (thirty miles away). Minutes after they left, she called in a panic and said her cat had knicked her hand with one tooth (whether it was accidental or he was irritated, we'll never know) and she could not stop the bleeding. Hubby turned around and went back when called, and doctored her hand for the night. (It was pretty large, and looked like it might need stitches if it wasn't handled correctly.) Concerned that it would be difficult for her to change the bandage with one hand and poor eyesight, I made the trip on Sunday, to clean and re-dress her wound. I took her to a local cafeteria for some prepared foods to stock her fridge, and washed up the dishes I found, so that her injured hand would not need to get wet. After I opened her Bible for her and set out her plate of lunch, I started for home.

As I drove away, I was glad that I could help her. I felt contentment because I had been able to minister to her in my own limited way. I had to stop myself from thinking about her other children who live far less than thirty miles from her, but who show less concern for her --- well, there is less action coupled with the compassion. (Remember earlier this week?!)  I stopped, though, and asked for Him to forgive me for those thoughts, since that is their concern, not mine. Mine is to do what Scripture and my heart tells me is right, and "do it as unto the Lord."

I'm not saying all of this to get a pat on the head. Please don't take that away from this post. This is the point I am trying to make, but that Matthew Henry said, far better than I can say:

It is an honour to children to have wise and godly parents, and to have them continued to them even after they have themselves grown up and settled in the world. Those are unnatural children who reckon their aged parents a burden to them, and think they live too long; whereas, if the children be wise and good, it is as much their honour as can be, that thereby they are comforts to their parents in the unpleasant days of their old age.

I believe this is what the second half of the verse means. And I am so grateful that He has blessed me with the opportunity to serve, to comfort, and to honor her.

Lord, thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve others in some small way.  I take as my example the way You ministered, when You were here on earth. Help me to show Your love and be Your hands and feet, right here where I live.

Prov 17 : 4 - 5 Tongue double, brings trouble

Pro 17:4  A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
Pro 17:5  Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.

The title today is a saying by one of our sage, colonial men-about-town, Benjamin Franklin. He was noting, as so many have, that a "double" or deceitful tongue can cause a world of trouble. Lies and innuendos and mockery and taunts . . . none of those are positives!

I thought we'd focus today on "mocking the poor" and on being "glad at calamities."  Oh, my goodness, none of us are guilty of those, are we? Or are we?
We've discussed this once before: when we see a poor person, do we think, "well, he should get cleaned up and get some nicer clothes and get a job...then he wouldn't have to panhandle." Or, "the mission is just down the street - why doesn't she go there and get some help?"  Or even, "well, I know she is a Christian, but we have a committee that handles that - she can get help there."

1 Jo 3:17  But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

I think we can all agree that compassion is not complete until there is action  --- one example would be the parable of the good Samaritan; another would be the work of Mother Teresa.

If y'all will give me just a minute or two, I want to massage my toes kinda gently for just a bit . . .

"Glad at calamities" surely doesn't apply to us, right?  . . . We don't laugh at people who lose their homes in disasters, or act smug, or anything like that.  But how 'bout, "Well, I knew that would happen. That boy is always running around with the wrong crowd."  Or, "She is just getting what she deserves, I just know it."  Or even, "See, I TOLD her she shouldn't (insert sage advice here)."
Hmmm, I think I know a verse that would suggest an alternative attitude:

2Pe 1:5  . . . giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
2Pe 1:6  And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
2Pe 1:7  And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. (Emphasis is mine.)

I believe I have found some very wise advice that I am going to try to follow after I bandage up my toes:

Col 3:16  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

I figure if I keep busy that way, I can't get in trouble with my tongue!