Category: Proverbs

HOW OTHERS FEEL IN MY SPACE

Much wealth is in the house of the righteous.  Proverbs 15:6

            The wealth Solomon is referring to has nothing to do with net worth.  He speaks of an abundance that can be felt in one’s spirit. How do others feel when they’re in my space, whether home, office, car, or Sunday School room?

            Have you ever driven by a certain house and felt that something is wrong?  The house felt dead, even dark.  Sadness, trauma, anger, and perversion all left their mark on a property.  I have stayed in many homes where there has been a lot of arguing.  I could tell just walking in the door that the spirit of anger had a foothold.  Tension knotted my stomach just minutes after arriving. I have also been the guest in homes where depression ruled.  I felt my energy decline the longer I was under their roof.

            God’s children are not to be held captive to sin, nor a prisoner to the things of darkness that seek to rule all men.  We are to know how to get free from such chains to walk in freedom and joy.  The effects of that on our home, whether we live in a palace or a small room in a nursing facility, are simply profound.

            Some years ago, I had the chance to visit a certain woman’s house for the first time.  It was the home of Elizabeth Guthrie, my dear friend and co-laborer in this ministry. It was Christmastime and I was invited for lunch along with two other friends.  I didn’t know Elizabeth well back then so when she answered the door and I took a step inside, I felt I had stepped into such a peaceful space that it literally took my breath away.  It was obvious that someone firmly connected to God lived there.  A holy calm marked her territory and it spoke volumes to me about her private world. While I conversed over lunch about other topics, I never stop pondering the feelings of being in her space. Continue reading “How Others Feel In My Space” →

STUFFING PAINFUL MEMORIES

Even in laughter the heart may be in pain, and the end of joy may be grief.  Proverbs 14:13

            That which weights down my heart like lead is usually difficult to acknowledge.  Somewhere beneath my sanguine exterior, grief pokes at me constantly, begging for acknowledgment.  If it’s too frightening to process, I will run from it. If the grief is terrifying, I’ll run from it indefinitely.

            I am in tune with the sad eyes of people at social gatherings.  Those who regale others with the funniest stories of the evening can be the very ones who cry themselves to sleep in private agony.  How many comedians have admitted that they struggle with depression? It seems to be a theme. The jokester is often the troubled soul. Continue reading “Stuffing Painful Memories” →

PRE-REQUISITES OF GOOD TEACHING

The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable.  Proverbs 15:2

    I still tremble with fear knowing that I have been called to be a teacher of the Word.  In the beginning of my ministry, I was a recording artist and never could have imagined the future. I’ve learned the hard way that teaching is so much more than just sharing information.  Eloquence of the spiritual kind is what happens when what a teacher shares is shaped and empowered by God to go into a man’s spirit, like a well crafted arrow, to change his life.

• To teach successfully, I must have wisdom.  That means I have come to the end myself and recognize that I am spiritually bankrupt without God.
• To teach successfully, I must know people.  I must understand the heart of a man and how he thinks, moves, and breathes with or without God.  That starts with knowing myself as revealed by the Holy Spirit.
• To teach successfully, I must be in tune with whether or not others are connecting with me.  Blank stares, napping, shifting in their seats…these are not good signs. I must be open to others feedback.
• To teach successfully, I must know when the hearts of my listeners are ready to hear the message.  There must be fertile ground for the seeds to take root.  A message delivered prematurely, even though it may be expertly crafted, is completely wasted.  I may as well have curled up at home with a good book. And, there will never be fertile ground without prayer. Lots of it.
• To teach successfully, I must know how to hear the voice of God’s Spirit while I’m teaching.  As one who used to be chained to my notes, convinced that I needed to have every “t” crossed and every “i” dotted, I have learned that God wants to tweak my messages during the delivery.  If I don’t know how to hear Him and don’t have the guts to follow His lead, I will live in the bondage of perfectionism. I will forfeit the thrill of seeing Him move supernaturally through a Spirit-led tangent.

“The Scriptures come alive to me,” is one of the greatest comments a teacher will ever hear.  God is looking for those who are willing to do their own rigorous heart preparation before ever taking the podium. I’m asking God to never let me do anything less.

Break me and mold me.  Burn the message into my spirit and remove the dross. I finally have no other agenda than Yours, Lord.  In Jesus’ name, Amen

SAVE YOURSELF THE TROUBLE

“Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse.”  Proverbs 9:8

            Since the Word of God is ‘profitable for correction and for instruction in righteousness’, it would also stand to reason that the messenger who brings the Word of God to others is also bringing correction and instruction.  As God’s ambassador, I should be prepared because not all are willing to receive it.  I shouldn’t be surprised when the experience turns sour and my spirit is left stinging after the encounter.

            If the other person’s pride is wounded, there is often payback. The level will be determined by the degree of evil in the person.  Try to reason with a mocker, one who is addicted to being right, and you can plan on being insulted.  His need to look good at all costs will prevail.  Rebuke a wicked man and the stakes go even higher.  Instead of arguments, there will be personal attacks.  Know that your soul will be unsafe and the target of injurious comments meant to do personal damage. Continue reading “Save Yourself The Trouble” →

YOUR REACTION TO GOOD NEWS

Good news puts fat on the bones.  Proverbs 15:30

            What do you do when you get good news?  It would be interesting to give good news to ten people and note their different reactions.  Not all would dance and exclaim, even though they are happy.  Each person processes joy differently.

            I have spent many years of my life traveling with various people.  Life on the road allows you to get to know someone really well.  I know I was an anomaly to more than a few because of my seeming lack of response to things.  For instance, when we drove down the highway and passed some beautiful scene, most in the group would point and exclaim.  They couldn’t stop talking amongst themselves about what they had seen.  I, on the other hand, usually took it in privately.  My appreciation was just as deep but just solitary.   Often, someone in the group would say, “What is the matter with you?  How can you refrain from gushing over that?”   I usually answered, “I’m gushing on the inside!”  And I was. Continue reading “Your Reaction To Good News” →

WHAT’S YOUR SECRET?

The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, to turn aside from the snares of death.  Proverbs 13:14

            The older I get, the more I am in touch with the fact that my mind has turned into a running catalogue of information.  Perhaps like you, I’ve asked many I’ve admired, “What’s your secret?”  They might have answered in ten words or less but their advice went deep into my spirit and their words still live to this day.

            My inner library is constantly shifting.  As I learn yet another secret from a wise child of God, to own it might mean I have to replace an un-truth from someone I looked up to long ago.  They might have given me their advice with sincerity but, with time, I felt like I drank from a stagnant pool rather than a stream of living water. Later, I learned that Jesus regarded their instruction as foolishness. What often appeared to be good advice was revealed as flawed. Continue reading “What’s Your Secret?” →

WHO HAS THE KEY OF KNOWLEDGE?

The lips of the wise spread knowledge.  Proverbs 15:7

            Where can I find knowledge as God describes it? It is not in secular education.  It isn’t taught in every church, either.  In talking to religious leaders in Luke 11, Jesus warns them, “Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge.  You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”  Jesus is shocking His audience by announcing that it’s possible for religious leaders, inside religious institutions, to hinder God’s people from learning real wisdom.  The very ones who are to lead us into the holy of holies and connect us with the Author of knowledge, are leading us in circles in the outer courts.

            Who is it that can possess knowledge and where do I find it?  Isaiah says that there is a key that unlocks the door to it.  It is the fear of the Lord. The one who does not live in awe of God will never know the knowledge that scripture describes. The one who believes he already has an inordinate amount of it will be left wanting too.     Continue reading “Who Has The Key Of Knowledge?” →

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.  Proverbs 14:12

            A twenty-four hour day is filled with dozens of decisions; some minor, some major.  For most us, minor decisions don’t present a problem.  At least we think we know the right thing to do.  Wouldn’t you agree?

            What if our own gut is leading us astray?  Scripture says it often will.  Our ‘take’ on things, though at the time it seems so right, lead us down the road to harmful spiritual consequences.

            I face ministry decisions daily that could easily be made by the logic of good marketing.  I may think I need to do whatever it takes to keep my name out there. God, though, may tell me to withdraw for a season. I may want to approach a certain church about hosting a women’s event. God may feel that their women are not ready for the message. He knows He needs to prepare the soil in ways I can’t see.  If I don’t take the time to pray about everything, I’ll expend the energy and scatter a few spiritual seeds with disappointing results. Continue reading “Am I Working Against God’s Purposes?” →

Leave the presence of a fool, or you will not discern words of knowledge.  Proverbs 14:7

            If we spend too much time with the wrong people, our inner world is adversely affected.  Our parents said it this way, “Choose your friends wisely.”  They knew that playing soccer together was one thing but hanging out by the hour and talking was another.  It’s the latter that has the potential to defile.  Spend enough time with a person and there will be hours of sharing.  First, there will be an intellectual exchange. Eventually, we could feel comfortable enough to disclose more personal things and lose our objectivity about what should come out of our mouths.

            Many of us have given our heart to a fool.  A fool is one who scoffs at God’s ways and charts his own course.  Perhaps the fool is in our family.  How do we act on Solomon’s advice and guard our hearts?  Perhaps the real message today is – Keep your wits about you.  Stay sharp on acknowledging who follows God and who does not.  Don’t seek personal advice from someone who does not know God well.  Their ‘wisdom’ is not wisdom.  Trusting the words of a fool, in any respect, is like playing Russian roulette with your life.  Continue reading “Opening Up To A Fool” →