Things My Mother Taught Me

Listen, my son, to your father's instruction

   and do not forsake your mother's teaching.

They will be a garland to grace your head

   and a chain to adorn your neck.

Proverbs 1:8-9

There are a lot of things my mother taught me. Allow me to share

just a few.

Son, if you have a problem with one person, it might be them. If you have a problem with two, three or more, your the problem. 

Always wait two weeks to buy something you don't absolutely need, If you still want it, you've had time to think about if you really can afford it.

There's two kinds of people. Good people and bad people. It doesn't matter what color they are, what they look like or where they come from.

What would Jesus do?

These are just a few and if you have any you'd like to share please feel free to do so in the comment section. 

Wise Up

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 

James 3:13 NIV

What I do, not what I say demonstrates wisdom. I am a teacher so, I realize the importance of speaking accurately and intentionally. But, if my students don't think I give a rip about them, they find it hard to value much I say.

The love of God, the wisdom of God in action, is seen in Christ's sacrificial death for us on the cross. That wisdom provides peace for us with God and other people. 

My prayer is that you and I can act in wisdom. May the love of Christ compel us to humbly act with godly wisdom as we are led by the Holy Spirit.

What Bothers Me About You Is the Reflection of My Issues

I attend a men's Bible study on Wednesday mornings and we have been making our way through the epistle of James. I sit with a great group of guys and a pretty good group dynamic has developed. A very nice gentlemen has joined our group lately. Observing him try to "lead" us along is interesting. The rest of us are comfortable with a moment of silence while we process whatever is being asked of us to discuss. Our new friend, I think, sort of sees us as a rudderless ship and he better get the conversation going. This week we looked at James 1:19-27. Verses 19-20 of course warranted much of our discussion. 

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 

James 1:19-20 (NIV)

Personally, waiting, being quick to listen to what the other men say has allowed me to hear some very wise words that I very much needed to hear. Even if I am the first to speak, I try to speak less so that I can hear what the Lord is speaking to and through the other guys. 

Now, one other thing. A pastor of mine once said that the imperfections of others was easy for us to notice (or bugs us) because it's like looking in the mirror. So I ask myself, am I bothered by someone else being quick to speak because I am quick to speak?

Wise up!

Get wisdom, get understanding;
   do not forget my words or turn away from them.
Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
   love her, and she will watch over you.
The beginning of wisdom is this: 
   Get wisdom.Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
   embrace her, and she will honor you.
She will give you a garland to grace your head 
   and present you with a glorious crown.”
Proverbs 4:5-9  (NIV)

Wow! I can't tell you how many times, growing up, someone told me to "Wise up". I definitely am one of those "foolish things" God chose to confound the wise. If there is anything in my life that is good or makes any sense it is because I have, in my own feeble way tried to follow Christ. 

As an adult, that truth, "Wise up" continues to be applicable. Every day we need the wisdom of God to deals with people, problems and shall we say "unpleasantries". I lost the chance for a promotion a few years ago simply because I didn't control my tongue. I did not act with wisdom. I've received promotions because I did control my tongue and responded with wisdom. 

Wise up. 

A FEW WORDS ON SELF-CONTROL

So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. 

I Thessalonians 5:6

He who guards his lips guards his life,

   but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin. 

Proverbs 13:3

A wise man fears the LORD and shuns evil,

   but a fool is hotheaded and reckless.

Proverbs 14:16

A quick-tempered man does foolish things,

   and a crafty man is hated.

Proverbs 14:17

A patient man has great understanding,

   but a quick-tempered man displays his folly.

Proverbs 14:29

ARE CHRISTIANS SIMPLEMINDED?

"For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,
     and the complacency of fools will destroy them; 
 but whoever listens to me will live in safety 
     and be at ease, without fear of harm.”
Proverbs 1:32-33 (NIV)

I recently responded to a post by an atheist. What I said was that I found it funny that so many people who don't believe in God talk a lot about a god. Of course there were a few "responses" that assumed things like I believed in a state endorsed church. What I did not read was a rational statement about what an atheist believes about anything. 

Here's the deal: if you reject God, the simplicity of your denial and the arrogance of your self assuredness will lead to self destructive actions, the end of which will be answering to God at the final judgement. 

In contrast, listening to God and living according to the truth will lead to peace and in the end eternal life in his Presence.  

To the world we may seem like ignorant fools, but, the fear of the Lord is anything but ignorance and the avoidance of knowledge. In Proverbs 1:29 (which sets the context for the verses 32-33) we are told, "Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD." Rejecting God and hating knowledge go hand in hand. Listening to God leads to knowledge, safety and peace. 

Listen to God. Fear God. Live according to the Truth. Be blessed.

Father, help us to live in the fear of the Lord, not the fear of man. May your Presence lead us in peace. Praise be to you in us today!

DO YOU KNOW GOOD FROM EVIL?

"But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." Hebrews 5:14

I think one of the more frightening things about the times we live in is the startling blur our society sees between good and evil. At the Democratic convention held just before the last presidential election there was a vote on whether or not to take the name of God off their platform and to not recognize Israel as a country. Former LA mayor Antonio Villaraigosa had to call the vote three times and the yes and no shouts were nearly equal!  

The reason we seek God on a daily basis is to train ourselves in righteousness. Part of that training is to distinguish good from evil. Honestly, isn't the beginning of this just trying to obey what we know the Bible says? 

Someone was trying to tell me that anyone could interpret the Bible anyway they wanted. I asked him, "So how do you "interpret" do not commit adultery?" 

The point is that obedience is the key to maturity. Obedience is my willingness to trust God's word to be true and live accordingly. My guide to knowing what is good or evil is the Bible. By "using it" on a daily basis I mature. 

Father, help us to live by faith. Set your word in our hearts that we will know good from evil. Praise be to you in us today! 

TIME TO SHUT IT DOWN: Titus 3:9

"But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless." Titus 3:9

If you have ever been involved in an online "discussion" with someone with an opposing viewpoint,  then you probably have a pretty good idea what this verse is talking about. Most of the time people just write whatever pops into their minds without really thinking about it. Frankly, most people are trained to think anymore and it shows in what they write. I thought I was involved in a decent conversation with an atheist about two weeks ago. But, he just kept avoiding responding to anything that would cause him to evaluate why he actually held any of his beliefs. It was time to shut it down. 

The point is to be wise. Know when it is time to not say something. Sometimes silence makes people listen to not only what they said or what they were going to say, but, it also allows God to speak.

Father, give us wisdom to know when and when not to speak. Praise be to you in us today!