Proverbs 31

"She does him good and not evil all the days of her life."  (Proverbs 31:12)

This is so true of my Mom and Sarah.  I could not have asked for better examples and treatment throughout my 70 years.  I really don't think they had to think about this, go to conferences about this, attend seminars on how to treat your husband, etc., etc.  This is just who Mom was and Sarah is. Support, encouragement, advice, check, Mom and Sarah were/are very good at this.  And only our Lord knows just how much I needed/need them.  I encourage all women today to consider Proverbs 31.  If you feel as though this does not describe you enough, it is never too late.

The first nine verses of Proverbs 31 is the advice of a mother to her son, who happens to be a king.  It too is great advice.  If anyone thinks the Bible marginalizes women, they must not be reading the Bible.  The Word of God reveals just how central a woman is to those around her, not just her family.

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to serve in the same manner to others.  Amen.

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We went to the Berliner Dom this evening, the main Protestant Church Building in Berlin, and joined a sizable crowd celebrating the 496th Anniversary of the Reformation.  I am hoping to be able to send a video of some of the service at some point.  What a treat to celebrate a Reformation Anniversary in the heart of the Reformation.  Will send photo separately.

Proverbs 30

"Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him."  (Proverbs 30:5)

The Jerusalem Bible says, "Every word of God is unalloyed," i.e., it is not a mixture; it is pure, absolutely pure.  There is no "man stuff" in there, no compromise for political correctness, no favoritism to Jew or Gentile, male or female, rich or poor; all such favoritism is man's pathetic attempt to make the Bible acceptable to every person on the planet.  This has never happened; this never will happen.  It is like people who negotiate with people whose charter it is to destroy them; it's their life commitment and work.  Any attempt to keep negotiating with them will inevitably lead to destruction.

The next verse warns, "Do not add to His words...."  When I was younger, I did not, "add to His words," as much as I neglected His words.  I don't think one is worse or better than the other.  My very neglect of His Words was an, "add[ing] to His words."  I read some portions of the Bible quite regularly, but ignored many others.  I was adding my self- sufficiency, adding my "understanding" of how to conduct my life in this earthly pilgrimage, when only the, "Every word of God is pure," can do that.

During the Nuremberg Trials which began in late 1945, the oath which was given to the defendants went something like this:  "I swear by God, the Almighty and Omniscient, that I will speak the pure truth and withhold and add nothing."  I would like to renew such commitment in this moment to, "The Word of God," Jesus Christ, and His Words.

Father, in Jesus' Name, my heart's desire in regard to my serving You is "that I will speak the pure truth and withhold and add nothing."  Amen.
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You can read an Israeli political example of this at: jhs58.blogspot.com

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

Proverbs 28 & 29

"The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion" (Proverbs 28:1). 

Boldness is determined by righteousness.  If it is not, it is just pride and self preservation.  Of course, righteousness is only in and through the Blood of Jesus.  You and I in the Blood of Jesus Christ can be, "bold as a lion."  Apart from Jesus, I am a coward, and will, "flee when no one pursues...." 

It just does not take much to put a wicked person to flight.  His fears are mostly based on what may happen, rather than what will happen.  Besides, who really knows what will happen in the next second, let alone in the coming days.  "The Lion of the Tribe of Judah," is our boldness today.  As I walk in Jesus, my boldness will be commensurate with that walk.

"The righteous considers the cause of the poor, but the wicked does not understand such knowledge."  (Proverbs 29:7)

To me, people designated as, "the poor," are those who have not and can do nothing about it.  This is not socialism/communism, i.e., take from some and give what the "some" have to others.  This is in violation of, "You shall not steal."  The problem with socialist mentality is no discrimination.  There are people who are poor indeed, and then there are people who are just lazy, give excuses, blame others.  It is, "the righteous considers the cause of the poor."  When he does, those who are poor indeed will be cared for.  "But the wicked does not understand such knowledge," is a truth which, well, "the wicked does not understand...."  According to academia, it is human intelligence which brings "understanding."  According to the Bible, wickedness and lack of understanding go hand in hand.  Only, "the righteous," understands.

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to be bold in regard to my consideration of the poor.  Amen.
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Am sending prayer points to those who requested them.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

Proverbs 27

"A satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb, but to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet."  (Proverbs 27:7)

I never "loathed" the Bible, but there was a season in my life when I was not committed to the, "God-Breathed," Word.  I must have had some satisfaction from some other source, "A satisfied soul...."  But I never experienced such a deep hunger for Jesus, "The Word of God," in His Words as that summer when our oldest son died.  Desperation, loneliness, confusion led to, "a hungry soul (to whom) every bitter thing is sweet"; I was actually underlining passages in Leviticus!  Of course there is nothing "bitter" about the Words of God.  But to most of Christendom there are many passages which are never read; to the vast majority there is just no, "honeycomb," in them.

Our, "satisfied soul," is manifest in what we give ourselves to and what we avoid.  People don't value, hence, give themselves to the Words of God because so much in life has satisfied them.  I value His Words because they saved my life------- and are saving me, "O, how love I Thy law (words)!"  This is not a "religious" or super spiritual commitment.  This is, "to Whom shall we go," commitment.  Remember, "All Scripture is God-Breathed"; therefore, "All Scripture," is, "sweet."

Father, in Jesus' Name, there is no other, "honeycomb," than Your Words.  Th ank You for Him/Them.  Amen.
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Off to airport in about 40 minutes.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2