Taken by Surprise

Due to health reasons, I'll be taking a break from my blog for a few weeks. Please check back in early May, as I plan to resume my weekly blogging then. Thank you!

One Way to Honor God

As I read Psalm 16:4 today I was reminded of an incident in San Francisco. In my early twenties, I was the pianist for a young group of musicians who were excited to go on a road trip from California to Oregon.

In San Francisco’s wharf area, we separated into groups, agreeing to meet back at a certain time and place. Just as my friend and I were ready to catch a cab and return, a Hare Krishna member approached.

When we said we weren’t interested, he surprised us by asking, “Can you say Hare Krishna?” Puzzled when we shook our heads and said, “No," he asked again. To our "no" that time we added, "We need to be on our way.”

David lived by the Torah. He was probably familiar with Exodus 23:13 where God specifically said His people were not to call on any other god or even speak their name.

I didn’t know that scripture, at the time. I just didn’t see any reason to speak the name of another god.

God’s name is holy. Too many Christians today use God’s name in an empty way, saying “Oh, my God!” as an expression of shock or surprise. It’s even been reduced further to “OMG,” as if that makes a difference.

Perhaps we need to consider more carefully the words in this brief *worship song, written and recorded by Rich Mullins in 1988.

Our God is an Awesome God

He reigns from heaven above

With wisdom, pow’r and love

Our God is an awesome God

People substitute other slang words for God’s name, but I’m not here to judge. I’m here to encourage people to honor God by being conscious of how we use His holy name.

Consider this meaningful prayer of David:  Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable and pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my (firm, immovable) rock and my Redeemer. **Psalm 19:14, AMP 

*Our God is an Awesome God, credited to Rich Mullins in a Wikipedia article about him.

**All scripture marked AMP is taken from the Amplified Bible and is used by permission of the Lockman Foundation.

Illustration by Pixabay, Used by permission: Speech Bubble Icon, TheDigitalArtist. 

One Mouth, Many Words

Words float through the air with the greatest of ease but have a great impact. They can be used positively or negatively - - - to build up another’s self-esteem, or tear it down. That applies even to our self-talk.

Here’s an example of a lasting impact. While in high school, I made a call to a friend’s church. I don’t remember why I was desperate to contact her, but at the time it seemed extremely important.

When someone answered, I asked if I could get a message to my friend. When I gave my name, I was shocked to hear the person answer roughly that since my dad was a pastor I should know better than to call a church on Sunday. End of story.

Considering it now, they were right, but which of us always makes the right decision?

Interest in words is nothing new. The Apostle James wrote, “Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing . . . these things ought not to be so (James 3:30 *NKJV). So, let’s consider two varieties of words.

First: Wise words. You’ve probably heard that a word to the wise is sufficient. That’s good, but I think it’s better to remember that from a wise mind comes wise speech (Proverbs 16:23 **NLT). Don’t allow just anyone to speak into your life.

Wise words, like those of the godly, can bring healing, make knowledge appealing, and act like a life-giving fountain (Proverbs 12:18, 15:2, and 13:14 NLT). What a lovely illustration. A bubbling fountain is pleasant to hear, besides being refreshing if we choose to enjoy it further.

Second: Unwise words. These negative words come from the wicked, rather than the wise, and can conceal violent intentions, be perverse (deviating from what is considered right or good), and even act like a murderous ambush (Proverbs 10:6, 10:32, and 12:6 NLT).

Your words are two sides of the communication coin. It’s a flip of the coin whenever you speak; however, it’s not a matter of luck, it’s a matter of intent.

Yes, it’s one mouth, many words. Your words will impact others . . . so why not think before you speak?

*The New King James Bible (NKJV), Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.; Spirit-Filled Life Bible for Students, 1995 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

**Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Photo: Pixabay, Silhouettes, People, by geralt.

A Well of Wisdom

Wells are only valuable if they contain life-giving water. People come to be refreshed, whether prepared with a bucket or a cup. At some wells, you simply dipped the bucket in, but others required you to muscle a pump. In either case, water was worth the effort.

Dehydration can become a life-or-death matter. My Goddaughter was just sharing with me her experience as a young child with food poisoning. She vomited so much that her parents finally took her to the hospital. They were shocked when the doctor said, “If you had waited much longer, she could have died.” She said she was in the hospital on IVs for two days.

Wisdom is on my mind since I just completed the Book of Proverbs. It’s easy to review my list of thirty-one stand-out verses. Take Proverbs 23:23 *(NLT) for example: Get the truth and never sell it; also get wisdom, discipline, and good judgment.  

Wisdom comes from the wise. I did a little side study in Proverbs on the “words of the wise.” Here are four out of fifteen entries.  

THE WORDS of the WISE:

Bring healing (Prov. 12:18b)

Satisfy like a good meal (Prov. 18:20)

Come from the lips of people with understanding (Prov. 10:13)

Are like deep waters (Prov. 18:4a)

Deep waters bring us back to the idea of wells. The Book of Proverbs is like a waiting well of wisdom, but are we thirsty for it? Reading a chapter might be like coming to the well with a bucket. Choosing a verse might be like coming with a cup. Either way, water has a life-giving effect.

Proverbs gives us powerful truths through contrasts. It is a practical book; it doesn’t require deep studies in theology. For example, the contrasts between the wise and the foolish are as clear to the man on the street as to the king in his palace.

Are you desiring changes in your life? Are you willing to come to the well of wisdom for refreshing? Don't allow yourself to become dehydrated.

*Photo by Pixabay: Clean Countryside Drink, Public Domain Pictures.

*All scriptures are NLT from the New Living Translation/Life Application Study Bible copyright 1988, 1990, 1993, 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 

Listening Beats Hearing

Hearing is one of our five senses. It’s a blessing in its own right, but if we train it further into listening, we have an even greater blessing.

I enjoy interview shows. Some great listeners and interview hosts, in my opinion, are Dr. Phil, Henry Louis Gates, Jr., and Sheila Walsh. I mention them because of how they focus on the speaker, listen carefully, and ask follow-up or clarifying questions.  

There are many others, but I want to focus on the value of listening, not the lives of the examples I’ve shared.

As I reviewed my verses this week, I kept returning to Proverbs 18:13, NLT: Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish.

Perhaps you also noticed that verse, plus two supporting verses below it: (1) Intelligent people are always ready to learn. Their ears are open for knowledge. Proverbs 18:15; and (2) The first to speak in court sounds right---until the cross-examination begins. Proverbs 18:17.

Notice three basic principles: (1) Get the facts before you speak, (2) Don’t cross off new ideas, and (3) Remember you want to hear both sides of an issue before making a response.  

In my younger years, someone greatly challenged me. Although I don’t remember the details of our conversation, I do remember where we were standing when they said, “It must be nice to be right all the time.”

I knew I had been corrected. I had rushed in with a reply before I listened or asked any clarifying questions.

Social media makes quick communication possible. But sometimes it seems simply an easy platform for uninformed opinions. I’ll admit that trying to get more information, even by texting can become tedious.

It’s a pleasure to talk with friends and family face to face, or at least by phone. It allows for give and take, questions, and clarifications.  

Listening beats hearing. Do yourself a favor and step it up a notch. You might be surprised at how listening improves your relationships.

*NLT is the New Living Translation/Life Application Study Bible copyright 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. All Rights Reserved. (Available wherever books are sold, or check christianbooks.com)

Photo from Pixabay: Word Image/Transformation by johnhain.   

An Unexpected Word Search

I’m always interested in words. Perhaps it comes with being a writer, but Mom was into words, too. She loved playing Scrabble and excelled at Crossword. I enjoy Word Search.

While writing I often refer to a dictionary or a thesaurus, but I didn’t expect to do that on my quest for a proverb today. I was enjoying an overview of chapter seventeen when one word called a halt to my thoughts.

The word was detestable. Not the word itself, but the way it described a couple of things detestable to God. This show-stopper was Proverbs 17:15, NLT: Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent - - - both are detestable to the LORD.

Anybody who joined me on this month’s quest for a personal daily proverb might remember that Proverbs 6:16 says, “There are six things the LORD hates - - - no, seven things he detests.”  All seven are listed, yet it didn’t stop me in my tracks like today’s simple two-liner.

I reviewed Proverbs 6:16 and decided the word hate softened the blow a little. I wasn’t too far off. I took time for a detestable word search and something called vocabulary.com turned up below another search claiming that the words hate and detestable are interchangeable. Hate is more common, but detest was considered an expression of such powerful dislike that no other word would do.

Some people read through the Bible each year in a different translation. Mom used to do that. I prefer to use a translation in studies for a few years. I’m currently using a *New Living Translation (NLT).

Perhaps your Bible translation says, "abomination, abhorrent, repulsive, or hateful." The idea is the same as detestable. Not one of these words indicates something in which God delights. Clearly, there are some things that God neither desires nor takes any pleasure in. 

I became interested in finding other things that are detestable to God, or that God detests. As I quickly reviewed the previous chapters of Proverbs, I noticed that some of the detestable things listed in Proverbs 6:16-19 are repeated individually in two-line Proverbs in the chapters that follow.

Life improvement comes with reading the Bible to learn. It’s not as rewarding when you just read a chapter so you can mark it off your list.

Remember Jesus’ instructions:  Love God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength (Mark 12:30). Happy reading!

*NLT is the New Living Translation/Life Application Study Bible copyright 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. All Rights Reserved. (Available wherever books are sold, or check christianbooks.com)

Photo from Pixabay: Bible, Book, Literature, by kevron2001. 

An Unexpected Challenge

I took the Proverbial challenge last week. But finding one verse that speaks to me more than all the others in the chapter for the day is not a snap.

I keep a list of my chosen verses, then for good measure, I put a small checkmark beside them. I’m on a quest, but this will not be the last time I read Proverbs. Future readings might draw my attention to something new, or I may be reminded to work on what I know now.

Once you get through the first few chapters, the verses start to pop. Whether scriptural or cultural, proverbs are short sayings or moral truths that encourage us to make wise choices.

If you want to have some fun with this, Google “cultural proverbs” and you’ll see examples from around the world. God’s word is for all cultures, but I’m sure it presents a challenge for translators.

One verse I marked this week was *Proverbs 9:12, (NLT):

If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit.

If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer.

My first thought was that this was another way of self-care - - - be wise and make good choices. But then I thought of an earlier section of scripture that I had labeled “Wisdom is Rewarding.”

According to Proverbs 3:13-18 (NLT), the person who finds wisdom and gains understanding is joyful. It also says those who hold wisdom tightly are happy. Did you notice joy and happiness are not automatic? We are to find and hold on to wisdom and understanding.

Solomon has convinced me they are worth the effort. Read these five verses in your Bible, computer, phone, or tablet, and ponder them for yourself. Proverbs 3:13-18 lists nine (9) positive results provided by wisdom.

If you’ve found Proverbs to be an unexpected challenge, don’t give up. Personal conclusions are always the most meaningful.

If you're new to this, just read last week’s blog. It’s never too late to do something good for yourself.

*All scripture quotations are NLT, taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by Permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Photo "Proverb, Poetry, Sign," by Peggy Marco on Pixabay.

The Proverbial Challenge

I’ve thrown out a one-month challenge and had many takers. I started by texting a few family members and friends, and then I challenged my email list. Now I’m sending it to an even larger group.

 Here’s My Challenge

Each day in February, join me in reading 1 chapter of Proverbs

After reading, choose 1 verse for the day

Ponder how it applies to you

Yes, February has already begun. No problem. Just read the chapter in Proverbs that matches the calendar date and cycle on through.

This challenge has been good for me. I have read The Book of Proverbs many times, but that was the problem. I simply read it, never taking time to ponder one verse for me, for the day. I can’t believe how I now look forward to my daily quest.

Knowledge is good, but not good enough. Knowledge is an accumulation of facts . . . Wisdom is applied knowledge. Effective living moves beyond knowledge to action.

We each acquire knowledge in a variety of ways. But nothing is really important to us until we decide to apply (or live by) what we have learned.

I’ll share an example of a verse I pondered this week: Proverbs 2:2 (NLT, New Living Translation):

Tune your ears to wisdom,

and concentrate on understanding.

As I pondered tune your ears to wisdom, I thought of how my piano tuner tunes all tones to Middle C. It occurred to me that God’s Word is the Middle C for the tuning of my life. I must listen closely to it.

When I pondered concentrate on understanding, I thought sometimes it takes me a while to “get it”. . . whatever “it” challenges me at the moment. But once I do “get it,” it feels good to move forward.

So, now The Proverbial Challenge is yours. Three things await you: (1) Growth in knowledge, (2) Wisdom through understanding, and (3) Personal improvement as only you can apply it. Enjoy!    

Challenges, Photo on Pixabay by Mohamed Hassan

A Source of Heat and Light

Imagine our world before the invention of electricity. The best source of heat and light would have come with the rising of the sun. Is it any wonder that people would go to bed with the chickens and get up with the roosters?

I lived in the Southwest desert for over fifteen years, and though I lived in an air-conditioned house and drove an air-conditioned car, they were only temporary escapes. Nothing could eliminate the outdoor heat, but I learned to be thankful for anything that could give me a shadow or some shade.

The Creator of the Universe made two great lights. *Genesis 1:14-18 (NLT) says the larger light was to govern the day and the smaller was to govern the night. The word “govern” denotes a certain power. While mankind has learned to harness the sun’s power, no one has yet eliminated its light or its heat.

As hot and dry as the desert gets, or even as humid as summer gets in other places, I don’t think anyone would vote to eliminate the sun or the moon.

According to *Genesis 1:14, they are signs to mark the seasons, days, and years. They do their assigned jobs so well that Robert B. Thomas, a schoolteacher and bookseller in 1792, created a yearly bestseller called **The Farmer’s Almanac.  

It’s fun to read David’s description of the sun: Psalm 19:4b-6:

 God has made a home in the heavens for the sun.

It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding.

It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race.

The sun rises at one end of the heavens and follows its course to the other end.

Nothing can hide from its heat.

We can temporarily evade the sun’s heat with our A/C, shade trees, covered porches, and beach umbrellas, but we can never permanently hide from it. That’s good since the sun causes seeds to grow, develops healthy Vitamin D, and helps people avoid SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) from lack of sunlight.

Whatever time of day you wake up and see the sun, be personally thankful. Remember *Psalm 113:3: Everywhere---from east to west---praise the name of the LORD.

*All scripture quotations are NLT, taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by Permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

**The History of the Almanac: Editors; Old Farmer’s Almanac, https://www.almanac.com.history

Pixabay Photo: Sunrise, Desert Landscape, Public Domain 

The Silent Marvel

How often do you take time to look up at the night sky? When we lived in the desert, I used to enjoy night rides in our little 914 Porsche. It didn’t take long to get away from city lights, and the sky was so beautiful. We moved and the Porsche is long gone, but I still enjoy nighttime beauty.

Think of the night skies as David would have seen them thousands of years ago. As a shepherd boy, he did not have to contend with city lights. He beautifully describes the worldwide enjoyment of the heavens in Psalm 19:1-4 (NLT):

The heavens proclaim the glory of God.

The skies display his craftsmanship.

Day after day they continue to speak;

Night after night they make him known.

They speak without a sound or word;

Their voice is never heard.

Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,

And their words to all the world.

Have you ever given God praise for His craftsmanship? I find it easy to be in awe of Michelangelo’s artistry on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and his well-known sculpture of David. Though I’m not familiar with all of Michelangelo’s works, it’s easy to give praise for those that I have seen.

Let’s not forget that the living God, Creator of the Universe, is open to praise for His works, too.

If you go back to the order of Creation, night and day were brought into being on Day One. The lights in the sky, such as the sun, moon, and stars were put in place on Day Four (Genesis 1:1-3; 1:14-19, NLT). To see the complete order of Creation, read Genesis 1:1-2:4 and make a list.

People of every generation have witnessed the silent marvel. In Romans 1:20 (NLT), Paul wrote that people have seen God’s eternal power and divine nature in creation. On that basis, no one has an excuse for not knowing God. It’s just a matter of choosing to acknowledge Him.

Psalm 113:3 (NLT) says, “Everywhere - - - from east to west - - - praise the name of the Lord.” This week we have focused on the night sky. Next week we’ll consider the sun.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Night Scene photo from Pixabay by Pezibear.  

Warnings and Rewards Redo

Oh, boy. I hit the wrong button and published an unfinished draft by mistake. I corrected my layout, but when I hit publish it said I could not update the time on an already-published article, so let's see if this will allow you to read the corrected version.

With the new year, I’ve started a new study. I’m focused on The Book of Psalms. I’ve read it many times, memorized verses, and even turned a couple of chapters into songs for easier memorization. Years ago, I enjoyed playing my autoharp and singing from a Psalter during private devotions.

The Bible is an amazing book. It has been revered, read, and applied to life by people from generation to generation. Can you imagine how many people besides you and me have noticed both warnings and rewards from Genesis to Revelation?

These two things are basic to life. Caring parents try to warn children to keep away from certain things or to avoid acting in certain ways. Children who choose to ignore those warnings usually learn some hard lessons. On the other hand, children who choose to listen up may find life more rewarding.

Psalm 19:7-11 shares this same principle along with some interesting descriptions of God’s Word:

                       Scripture is declared to be:

                        Perfect . . . reviving the soul

                        Trustworthy . . . making wise the simple

                        Right . . . bringing joy to the heart

                        Clear . . . giving insight for living

                        True . . . God's laws are fair

                        Do you see any personally desirable things there? 

                        I sure do.

How about two more warnings and rewards scriptures?

 When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild.

But whoever obeys the law is joyful.

Proverbs 29:18 (NLT)

I have followed your commands,

which keep me from following cruel and evil people.

Psalm 17:4 (NLT)

By now the value of choices is clear, but here’s a clincher: Words alone will not discipline a servant; the words may be understood but they are not heeded. Proverbs 29:19 (NLT).

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by Permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.  

Photo from Pixabay a few years back.

Give Worry the Boot

Would you like to have happier days? Give worry the boot. I was reminded of this when my town performed its annual New Year’s Eve ritual. A famous saloon in our historic downtown drops a large neon cowboy boot from its second story.

It’s not as exciting as the New York Ball Drop, but it’s not meant to be. New York is bringing in the New Year while our town is giving the old year “the boot.” If you haven’t heard the term, it’s for real- - -give something “the boot,” a kick or a shove to get it out of the way.

Paul advised us to give worry or anxiety the boot. His advice in Philippians 4:6-7 has three parts.

Part One: Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Life gives us plenty to be distressed, miserable, or fearful about. If it’s not the world news, it’s probably something on a more personal level. But we all know our worry or stress changes nothing in the world or us.

Even Jesus said that in this world we will have troubles. But we are to take heart and be encouraged because He overcame these things, and He has solutions for us (John 16:33).

Part Two: Give Thanks. Once we’ve given our anxieties over to Jesus, we can choose a new focus. Being thankful is not an automatic spiritual response. You may need to remind yourself of what God has done in your life. If you need a jumpstart, review Psalm 103:1-5. And nature may have some reminders, too.

Don’t forget to look out and up. Modern technology has us looking down most of the time. It’s amazing how I find beauty as I’m driving if I only look for it. And at home, I sometimes take time to enjoy the evening sky.

Part Three: Receive Peace. This is a result of giving your worries to God and having a thankful heart. Paul says this happens as you continue to live your life with faith. Remember God’s timetable is not ours, so give Him time.

Opportunities will abound to give worry the boot. The new year marks a fresh start, but we must keep the faith to the finish line!