Proverbs 2:11

“Discretion will preserve you...Understanding will keep you.”

Notice the two key words here, preserve and keep.  These two words most importantly deal with a powerful obstacle in life...one which wears heavily upon us all...and in one way or another at some point will overcome us all...and that is the element of time. Time is a great enemy of the young even more so than the old...mainly because they are not as keenly aware of its existence!  Throughout history one of the most important keys to improving life was discovering new ways to obtain food...and then finding ways to preserve it over long periods.  Preservation was a big key to early prosperity...and during hard times a necessity for sheer survival!

With this in mind, life is not a sprint.  It is a long and time consuming marathon!  One filled with important turns at key crossroads of life!  One whose sidelines are littered with unhealthy distractions.  Discretion and understanding are two components of wisdom which give us the power to run hard...run long...run wise...and finish well.

Click the title above to read the entire article..”Running With Patience”.

Proverbs 26:2
A whip for the horse...and a rod for the backside of him that needs instruction.

We have seen the whip used in horse racing, in order to get the horse moving as fast as possible, so that he might win the race.  Most often it is used during the final stretch of the race.  Maybe the horse has just become complacent with his position...and having settled to finish there...he needs to be motivated to move out of that mentality and into his full potential.  Maybe he is growing weary, and doesn’t realize that he has another storage vault of strength of which he hasn’t tapped into...and once he grabs it...moves just one or two steps beyond the competition to win the race!

Click the picture above to read the entire artilce… “A Need of Coaching!”

 Proverbs 26:2
As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying..
They carelessly fly without direction or cause, and fall into the hunter's snare. 

Notice the writer uses the analogy is comparing life to the flight of birds.  I love to watch the graceful migratory flight of geese. They fly with such unity and determined purpose. However, have you ever seen a swallow fly? They are not graceful at all…but rather they fly in a chaotic pattern…pointlessly darting to and fro…suddenly changing directions from one way to another…as if without any rhyme or reason!

Click the picture above to read the entire article… “Flight Patterns”.

Proverbs 25:28
He that cannot control his own emotions is like a city without walls and on the verge of collapse.

In ancient times the most effective defense that a city could possess was usually a large thick wall of protection, one which surrounded the entire city and its inhabitants; the higher and thicker the wall, the better. We have such walls even today.  However, they are not made of stone and hardened clay.

Click the picture above to read the entire article…When Walls Fall.

Proverbs 25:26
Great leaders who become corrupt…are like fresh cool springs that get filled with poison. 

As leaders yield themselves to serve others, they become these powerful outflows of grace and goodness to multitudes of lives that need wisdom, direction, refreshing, hope, love, and life!  Their speech opens eyes to see truths they never saw before, and hear counsel, they never were willing to hear before.  The works of their hands reach out to heal the wounds of hearts broken by abuse, poverty and despair.   These leaders certainly are rivers of life that have the power to give life and alter the ultimate destiny of individual lives, entire cities, and even nations! 

Click the picture above to read the entire article…Fountains of Leadership.

Proverbs 25:25
As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a stranger. 

Sometimes life situations can appear to be this continuously revolving monotony that make us feel hopeless and despondent.  As a result, we get tired and exhausted… and many times in our desperation we lose hope.  Most of the time, these wave of emotions come upon us as a direct result of our own isolation and lack of communication with others on the outside. Other times, it just comes down to who our guide is.   

Click on the picture above and read the entire article..."A New Guide to A New Path!" 

Proverbs 25:24
It is better to live in the corner of a housetop, than in a big house with a brawling spouse. 

By comparing “a small corner” to “a big house”, this particular proverb is basically making an interesting comparison of living standards, coupled with a possible reference to choices.  In past generations of history, life was commonly lived in an agrarian type of lifestyle.  A period in which people lived much more simple lives, working tirelessly to obtain a small “corner” of land, one upon which they could build a safe and sustainable life, and live their lives in peace. 

Click on the picture above to read the entire article..."A Little Corner of Paradise".

Mark 8:29
“Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do the people say that I am?” 

This is a very popular question these days.  Furthermore, it is an unavoidable question that we must all answer.  Who was Jesus Christ?  Some, still say, just as they did in his day, that he was just one of many prophets.  If that is true, then Jesus the Christ was a complete fraud. For He claimed to be much more than just one of many.  He claimed to be the one and only savior of the world, the very Son of the one and only living Creator.  So, it is not just enough that we answer, who Jesus was historically, but we must also ask ourselves, “Was Jesus Christ who he said he was?” 

Click the picture above to read the entire article..."Who Is Jesus the Christ?"

Proverbs 25:21-22
If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink: You will heap coals of fire upon his conscience, and God will reward you for it.

Wicked hate is a very powerful force in the earth, but its power pales in comparison to two very powerful forces of peace...called Love and Prayer!  Hate has torn down and broken many people.  However, for all the damage it has inflicted, Love and Prayer has always come into the aftermath of its wake; and not only has it repaired the damage; but more importantly, it rebuilt greater establishments than before in its place.  Where hate has killed thousands … Love and Prayer has given life to millions more.  Where hate has divided families … Love and Prayer has brought together nations.   Where hate has brought hunger… Love and Prayer has feed the world!  Where hate brought condemnation upon mankind … Love and Prayer brought redemption!   

Click the picture above to read the entire article..."Forces of Peace".

Proverbs 25:16
Have you found some honey? Don’t eat too much! It can make you sick.

In Louisiana, when we happen upon a really good fishing spot, one that is just full of fish, we often refer to these little places as our little... “honey holes”.  It is a place that we would like to think that only we know exists.  However, we make sure to take care of them, so that they have an opportunity to grow and reproduce, so that we can return on another occasion and access their blessings over and over again.  God loves to provide abundantly for his children. However, let us be determined to not abuse these blessings, or lose them, so that they can continually be a blessing not only to us, but many generations to come!

Click the picture above to read the whole article...“Honey Holes”.

Proverbs 25:15
By patience is a leader persuaded, and a soft tongue breaks down a man’s defenses.

Words bite the hardest when they are spoken in truth and backed with the greatest sense of love.  There is great power in the soft words of powerful men; especially when they are wisely and properly conveyed.  Nothing makes the largest mountains tremble greater than when they hear the soft words of a man who has relentlessly, patiently and faithfully pursued after his goals, knowing that nothing, or no one, will ever turn him away from them! 

Click the picture above to read the entire article..."Powerful and Patient Pursuits!

Proverbs 25:14
Anyone, who boast of a gift that he does not possess, is like clouds and wind without rain. 

In tropical climates there is a time of year called “dry season”.  It usually starts towards the end of March, beginnings of April, and then builds in heat and intensity through the first week of June.  During this time dark rain clouds that build up from over nearby oceans and seas will often fill the skies, and then simply pass by without allowing one single drop of rain to fall upon its viewers below.   It is almost like these clouds simply tease its audiences below, and intensify the frustration.  If there is one thing that I know about people, it is that they don’t respond well to disappointment!  They don’t like to be built up only to be let down, and that is exactly what empty boasting does. 

Click the picture above to read the entire article..."Empty Clouds". 

Proverbs 25:13
A faithful messenger to them that send him is as the cold of snow in the time of harvest.
He refreshes their souls in a time of hardship. 

Snow, in time of harvest is actually quite unheard of; and even if it does happen, it is a rare thing these days.  Mainly, because harvest takes place in the early to mid summer months, both here and in most parts of the world.  However, if it did come, it certainly would be a refreshing change from the heat that often bears down on us during that time of year.  It is the exact same feeling, when during the heat of the day, a faithful friend suddenly shows up to help us finish the work at just the right time.  These supports are rarely early... but always faithfully on time!

Click the picture above to read the entire article..."Like A Cool Breeze".

Proverbs 25:11

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a handmade vessel of silver.

The key word in this entire phrase is “fitly”.  We try clothes on, so we can find the ones that fit us properly.  And the word “fit” does not just co-notate size, but also style.  What looks good on one person might not look so hot on another…and nothing is more uncomfortable and dysfunctional than clothes, or shoes, that don’t fit well, or look good on us.  Life functions at its best when we put elements together that were meant to go together. If life is awkward for us, we need to change the focus and direction of our search...until we find something that fits! 

Click the picture above to read the entire article, "Finding Something That Fits".

Proverbs 25:8
Don’t strive and over-pursue a purpose in haste.

Don’t get hasty.  Don’t over pursue!  We need to keep everything in front of us.  When I say, “Keep things in front”, I am talking about the decision-making process.  Sometimes not making a decision is the best overall decision.  Once we make a move it can be easy for things to get behind us, or even worse, beyond us!  Also, don’t be tempted to take on the whole situation at once.  Take some time to simplify things by separating the singular issue into smaller sub-issues.  Then tackle one sub-issue at a time.  This can quickly turn any mountain into a mole hill... thus making it much easier to conquer!  No matter how tall the mountain...it can only be conquered...one step at a time!

Click the picture above to read the entire article, "One Step At A Time!". 

Proverbs 25:6-7
Do not attempt to exalt yourself.
It is better to be told, “Come up here with me.”
Than to be rejected and humiliated in the presence of a leader.

There is a very popular saying that my father used to always tell me, “Son, the cream comes to the top no matter how big the barrel!”  In other words, cream does not have to exalt itself.  It just comes to the top of the milk through a process a natural order.  Leaders are what leaders are by nature.  If we find ourselves at the bottom of the barrel, we don’t need to strive to climb from where we are without… we simply need to seek to change what we are within.  

Click the picture above to read the entire article..."Posturing for Promotion".

Proverbs 25:4-5
Take away the dross from the silver, and an excellent vessel shall come forth.
Take away inferior qualities from a leader, and his purpose will be established. 

High quality metals, such as gold and silver, are almost always mixed with others of much lower quality and value when they are initially discovered in the ground.  It is not until they are submitted to a rigorous purification process that these elements are separated from their inferior counterparts and their true brilliance is able to shine forth.  The same is true with precious stones such as diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires.  Their beauty cannot be revealed until a master cuts away the dull opaque edges and releases the light from within.  In this same manner we cannot aspire to excellence and hang on to a shape that will keep us from revealing our true potential.

Click the picture above and read the entire article of..."Brilliantly Cut Edges". 

Proverbs 25:3
The heaven is high, and the earth is deep, and so is the heart of great leadership.

I love these unbelievable comparisons that these ancient proverbs display!  In the eyes of man what is higher than the heavens?  As Star Trek so eloquently quotes this very sentiment by saying: “Space the final frontier!”  In 2005 NASA had a budget of $16.2 billion.  This includes not only the human space-+flight division, but also other engineering projects, and science funded by NASA.   (Source: Cornell University: Astronomy Department Statistics: November 10, 2005 5:19:27 PM, Also CIA World Fact-book)  When I contemplate the sheer intelligence that has been invested in these programs, it is beyond my understanding. 

Click the picture above to read the entire article..."To Infinity and Beyond!".

Proverbs 24:29
Do not say to yourself, I will do to him as he has done to me:

We all know what it feels like to have been wronged in one way or another.  It could be a simple snide remark, a rude comment, a lie spoken behind our back, or something even more malicious, like physical harm or personal loss.  Of course, the first natural reaction, is anger.  Furthermore, it is important to note that this emotion in itself is not wrong.  Heck, even God gets angry.  However, we must not allow our feelings to corrupt us, because they certainly can.  It is ok to get angry, but it is not ok to become an angry person.  If we are not careful, our reactions to the way that we are treated can keep us in a constant state of discontent, unhappiness, and bitterness; consequently, contaminating not only our lives, but those closest to us as well.  

Click the picture below to read the entire article, "Hot Heads".