Daily Proverb - Why study Proverbs 31 when I can just study you HONEY!

Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her   -Proverbs 31:28

Father, thank you for mothers and wives that try to live by your instruction and guidance.  They are a true blessing to all they touch with your love.  Amen!

Daily Proverb - God's promise proves true!

The believer replied, “Every promise of God proves true; he protects everyone who runs to him for help.
                                                                                                      -Proverbs 30:5

Father, I believe that your promises prove true, please help me with my unbelief. Amen!

Daily Proverb - Be Careful: Pride will put me flat on my face.

Pride lands you flat on your face; humility prepares you for honors.    -Proverbs 29:23

Father, please protect me from my ability to believe that I did it on my own.  Help me to see the world through your eyes. Amen!

Daily Proverb - Help the Poor. Don't look away and be cursed!

Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.
                                                                                                      -Proverbs 28:27

Father, thanks for the reminder that you have given us the poor in spirit your gift of Jesus to save us. Help me to pay it forward to those in need today. Amen.

2014 Observations - God please help.

We all should be disturbed just a little at these observations.

Here then, is the sad State of the Union in 2014. (note, not ALL of the changes are for the worse…see #1, #2 and #4)

1. Our phones – Wireless
2. Cooking – Fireless
3. Food – Fatless
4. Tires – Tubeless
5. Youth – Jobless
6. Leaders – Shameless
7. Relationships – Meaningless
8. Attitudes – Careless
9. Babies – Fatherless Or even worse…
10. Babies – Lifeless
11. Feelings – Heartless
12. Education – Valueless
13. Children – Mannerless
14. Country – Godless

May God help America, nothing short of a national renewal or revival may cure what ails this nation

Daily Proverb - Never write a book named "My Life of Humility and how I achieved it!"

Don’t call attention to yourself; let others do that for you.   - Proverbs 27:2

Father, Help me when I am weak, scared and victorious. Amen!

Daily Proverb - Mister Know-it-All!

See that man who thinks he’s so smart? You can expect far more from a fool than from him
                                                                                                          - Proverbs 26:12

Father, you are all knowing and even when we think we have things figured out we are so far off the mark it is not even funny.  Thank you for your love in spite of our self absorbed attitudes. Amen! 

Daily Proverb - Surprise your Enemy!

If you see your enemy hungry, go buy him lunch; if he’s thirsty, bring him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness, and God will look after you.                                    
                                                                                                      - Proverbs 25:21-22

Father, I can only do this with your help. Look after me an guide me as I attempt to follow your instructions.  Amen.

Daily Proverb - Do you really want an Honest Answer?

Whoever gives an honest answer kisses the lips.   - Proverbs 24:26

Father, Help me share your truth with love and grace.  With an offense of your unconditional love there is no defense.  Praise and Glory are yours! Amen.

Daily Proverbs - Discipline for da Children

Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die.                                                                                                                                        - Proverbs 23:13

Father, thank you for your discipline of me. Please guide me in the best use and most effective ways of disciplining my kids and temper my emotional state during that time. Lord in your mercy, Amen.

Daily Proverb - Train a Child

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.  - Proverb 22:10

Father, thank you for supplying me with some of your wisdom. Help me to grow in your wisdom and guide me in  transferring and training up my kids (assigned by you). Lord in your mercy, Amen.

Saints & Sinners

Some religious traditions distinguish between saints, who obey God's will, and sinners, who disobey. Others set apart saints as super-holy people. Regular Christians like you and me aren't particularly bad, they would say, but we haven't done anything extraordinary enough to be called saints.

Being a saint isn't about what I do or don't do but about who I am in relationship with God. That's also true of being a sinner. The Lutheran confessions define sin as the self-centered failure to trust God (Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article II). Adam and Eve's problem wasn't just that they ate a piece of fruit or broke one of God's rules. Their real sin was their desire to be "like God," relying on their judgment rather than trusting God's word. For us, too, our specific sinful behaviors are only symptoms of this self-centered condition that theologians call "original sin."

Martin Luther describes Christians as "simultaneously saint and sinner." This both/and approach is a distinctly Lutheran understanding of who we are in God's eyes. Luther calls Christians "simultaneously saint and sinner" because he redefines "saint" as a forgiven sinner. We are called saints not because we change into something different but because our relationship with God changes as a result of God's grace. Luther said: "The saints are sinners, too, but they are forgiven and absolved."

During my final year of college, I faced some difficult decisions. I sought advice from one of my professors, who was also a pastor. He said, "Remember that even if you make the right choice, you're forgiven."

Wow! It's easy to rely on ourselves, with forgiveness as an insurance policy in case we mess up. But this wise pastor reminded me that even on my best days, what matters most is not what I do or decide but that Jesus died for me. When I look at myself in the mirror, I always see the reflection of a sinner. But when God looks at me, he sees me through Jesus. My sin is covered with Christ's own righteousness. Thanks be to God! 

Daily Proverb - Control your Mouth and Tongue, it's biblical!

Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble      - Proverb 21:23

Father, give me the discipline to keep my mouth and tongue. Amen!

Daily Proverb - The cause and effects of Drinking!

Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.
                                                                                               - Proverb 20:1

Father, please protect me from being led astray. Amen!

Daily Proverb - The cure for Road Rage!

Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.
                                                                                                            - Proverb 19:11

Father, you know how quick my rage flares, please help me to overlook the many offenses.  Amen!

Daily Proverb - Listen to advice and accept instruction!

Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.
                                                                     - Proverbs 18:20

Father, thank you for making your wisdom available to us. Please help us to focus and open our eyes and ears.  Amen!

Daily Proverb - Keep Silent you Fool and look smart!

Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
                                                                                                                    - Proverbs 17:28

Now you know where the joke comes from.  Let's cherish the wisdom of the Lord and apply discipline today. Maybe, we can be a little smarter TODAY!

Father, please guide our day and our tongue so we may be a blessing to you and the ones around us. Amen.

Daily Proverb Selection - Proverb 16:3

Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.

- Proverb 16:3


Where is my commitment to my daily work? The Corporation? The Government? My Self?


My Prayer

Father, today I commit my efforts and plans to you. Please guide me, Please protect me, and please have my efforts bring glory to you. Amen.

Daily Proverb Selection 15:16

Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble with it.                                    - Proverbs 15:16
When has having great treasure brought you great trouble?  
Possibly without including the Father?

My Prayer
Father, your word and instruction speaks to us each and every day. Please grow and create in me a clean heart that focuses on you, today.  Amen.

Forsaken by our father and mother

Though my father and mother forsake me,
    the Lord will receive me.                                 Psalm 27:10

No matter how good or bad we have it with our parents, this Scripture gives us ultimate hope and peace.

Father, thank you for being you. The unconditional love is so amazing, even when we have turned our backs to you. Please forgive us, guide us, and be our friend.   Amen

Fear of the Lord

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom...

Then why aren't you dummies scared?

Fear = Respect, Reverence, Honor, and Glory.

Respect the Lord
Revere the Lord
Honor the Lord
Give glory to the Lord

Amen