NOTE TO SELF--and anyone else interested

WATCH a great chat about Proverbs 30:21-23--do you tremble over change? https://www.facebook.com/tlvbiblesociety/videos/491810971313163/?notif_id=1543584561690334&notif_t=live_video_explicit

What causes you to tremble? TODAY'S PROVERB: Under three things the earth trembles, and under four it cannot bear up: a slave when he becomes a king, a fool when he is stuffed with food, an unloved woman when she is married, and a handmaid when she displaces her mistress. Proverbs 30:21-23 It's unsettling when things don't go the way we think they should. When up is down and right is left. When sin is no longer considered a  sin and righteousness is considered quaint--or worse, ridiculed. How do we keep up with what society deems as the new normal? How do we stop the change? Believe it or not, some changes are good. Abolition. The right to vote. Victim's rights. There are still changes that need to happen, like protection of children and women kidnapped and sold as slaves. Regaining ground of the freedoms we once had should always be measured with His word. How we go about it shouldn't conflict with it either. Here is where we must be wise and discerning. ...

WATCH our Proverbs 29:20 chat about hasty generalizations. https://www.facebook.com/pg/tlvbiblesociety/videos/?ref=page_internal

It's true: Haste makes waste. TODAY'S PROVERB: Do you see someone hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than him. Proverbs 29:20 What is the definition of a hasty person? Someone who makes a fast, and typically superficial decision, action, or opinion. In today's proverb King Solomon pronounces one of the worst curses on the person who is too hasty with his words. They're worse than a fool. He has even more to say about this in Ecclesiastes 5:1-6, especially verse one:  "Do not be quick with your mouth nor hasty in your heart to utter a word in God’s presence. For God is in heaven, and you are on the earth— therefore, let your words be few." Making hasty decisions generally means we're not seeking advice from wise counselors (Proverbs 1:5; 19:20; 24:3,6), which isn't scriptural or wise. One of the most common ways we can be too hasty with words is in making generalizations. A generalization is a conclusion based on biased evidence a...

WATCH our Proverbs 28:23 discussion about those flatterers that can reek havoc in our life. https://www.facebook.com/tlvbiblesociety/videos/vb.931611850198181/775117272833343/?type=2&theater

Would you rather have Flatterers or Truth-Speakers? TODAY'S PROVERB: One who rebukes a man will in the end find more favor than one with a flattering tongue. Proverbs 28:23 There are two types of flatterers: 1. The weak "yes-man" 2. The calculating sycophant. The yes-man always agrees with the one they admire--whether a leader, friend, or public figure. Their goal is to please however and whenever they can. They have difficulty thinking for themselves and seek their leader to decide for them. It's nearly impossible for them to think critically because they view it as negativity, and therefore disloyalty toward the one they admire. The sycophant, on the surface seems like a yes-man, but in reality uses flattery to gain an advantage over the leader, friend, or public figure. They have their own agenda and create a false sense of security in those they work for or with whom they are friendly. If their efforts are unfruitful they will move on and find someone els...

WATCH: Proverbs 27:13 teaches us so much about sensible business practices and GIVING TUESDAY. https://www.facebook.com/tlvbiblesociety/videos/583259312117321/

Who is high risk in your life? TODAY'S PROVERB: Take a man’s garment, who puts up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge, as security for a seductive woman. Proverbs 27:13 Today's proverb is one of those "blink" verses. We tend to blink past them because, on the surface, they don't appear to have any relevance in our life. However, if you are a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or anyone of influence in the life of a  young person, please read on with eyes wide open. First, a bit of an explanation for the scene in this verse. This is a business transaction between a man who's borrowing money for a tryst and someone he's trying to convince to help him. He doesn't have enough collateral for a loan himself, so he arranges for someone else to "co-sign." It's a risk to lend money to such a person. King Solomon instructs the person to take the guy's garment--the collateral--up front because in all likelihood the guy will no...

WATCH our Wisdom Journey: we discuss how a gossiper can disrupt our lives. We also show a real Torah scroll. https://www.facebook.com/tlvbiblesociety/videos/vb.931611850198181/218169532454600/?type=2&theater

What do you kindle? TODAY'S PROVERB: Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip quarrels cease. Proverbs 26:21 Hopefully you've never experienced the devastation of a real fire. Even after a fire is put out, there can be great damage. So it is when gossip ignites a quarrel.  I call these contentious folks the "pot-stirrers." We've dealt with them. It can begin in a meeting or a discussion. Things may be lively, perhaps there's a disagreement, but everyone is respectful and they're inches from a resolution.   Then, the contentious soul ignites the conversation with a bit of gossip--an ember that burns. Suddenly the whole environment changes. The chances for a positive engagement goes up in flames. A pot-stirrer brings doubt and accusation into a situation. They stir up old issues into a blaze. It's less about pointing out a true concern and more about finding any possible flaw. This person uses the pursuit of perfect as a weapon, rather than ...

Are you a time abuser? TODAY'S PROVERB: Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house, lest he become weary of you and loathe you. Proverbs 25:17 What happens when someone doesn't respect our boundaries? How do we handle someone who takes up our time? Today's proverbs speaks of uninvited visits--frequent uninvited visits. With the invention of the telephone, the chances of intrusions on our life escalated. Caller ID helps.   Emails and texts help mitigate long conversations. But, it can do little to help us with the frustration of endless interruptions. I suppose it's all about our time. Our time is a precious gift given by our Heavenly Father. We're born with a number of days and hours (Job 14:5). It's good to remember that, but not be fearful or possessive about our time. Scripturally, we can surmise that our first priority for our time is GOD, then our spouse, children, parents, extended family and friends, congregation, and community. Somewhere in there-...

WATCH our discussion of how we can live the life of gratitude. Proverbs 23:17 https://www.facebook.com/tlvbiblesociety/videos/vb.931611850198181/563726924098251/?type=2&theater&notif_t=mention&notif_id=1542980044718495

Do you envy? TODAY'S PROVERB: Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be in the fear of ADONAI. Proverbs 23:17 Why would we envy sinners? What do they have, really, that we want? There was a time when I wanted more--to live a bigger life. The cost of this desire was my time, money, resources, and shalom--my peace. It meant I had to sometimes close my eyes to my family and faith. The real things of this life. Letting go of that want wasn't easy. It can be addictive. It took going back to the basics. Gratitude. Wonder. Love. Awe. Realizing that the Creator of the Universe loves us, knows us, redeems us, provides for us is a great place to begin. Once we abide in that place, we will want to respond. All He asks in return is that we love Him back, then follow His way to live in this world. And what has this world given us anyway? Fear. Hatred. Envy. Hopelessness. Temporary highs. Devastating lows. Demands on our lives that drain our happiness and wellbeing.  ...

WATCH WISDOM'S JOURNEY: How do we see life? https://www.facebook.com/tlvbiblesociety/videos/281561219135961/

How do we view the world? TODAY'S PROVERB: The reward of humility and fear of ADONAI is riches, honor and life. Proverbs 22:4 What would life be like if we viewed the world through the lenses of humility and the fear of the LORD? What riches would be revealed? There's a quote about someone looking through rose-colored glasses. In other words, they have an optimistic perception of something. Critics might think that optimism covers over reality. Followers of Jesus are often thought of as optimistic simpletons who don't live in reality. It's interesting to note that there actually were "rose-tinted" glasses around the 1800s--they were thought to have medicinal value. Now, modern medicine is investigating their value. A study performed by researchers at the University of Birmingham, England tested a group of migraine sufferers by having them wear glasses with a rose colored tint called FL-41. Participants experienced a reduction in the number o...