The Storms of Life

Proverbs 1:26 (MSG)
I'll turn the tables and joke about your troubles!
What if the roof falls in, and your whole life goes to pieces?

We have a tornado watch here this morning, so reading of the "roof falling in" seems a little too tangible to me right now!

A Respectful Heart

Proverbs 1:25 (MSG)
"Since you laugh at my counsel and make a joke of my advice, how can I take you seriously?"

Oh boy...as a parent, there is one thing that can really try my patience. 

"Let That Go!"

Proverbs 1:24  (MSG)
As it is, I've called, but you've turned a deaf ear;  I've reached out to you, but you've ignored me.

The phone rings.  I hear it, but my family is just sitting down to dinner....

The Revision

Proverbs 1:23 (MSG)
About face! I can revise your life.  Look, I'm ready to pour out my spirit on you; I'm ready to tell you all I know.

My dryer quit working yesterday.  Who knew a person could be so dependent on a dryer?  Ridiculous!! 

Ready to Learn

Proverbs 1:22 (MSG)
"Simpletons!  How long will you wallow in ignorance?  Cynics!  How long will you feed your cynicism?  Idiots!  How long will you refuse to learn?


I remember trying to feed my son his first bites of baby food.  As I would hold the spoonful of mush up to his lips, he would push out his tongue and smear the food all over his face. 

Open Your Eyes

Proverbs 1:21 
In the middle of the traffic she takes her stand.  At the busiest corner she calls out.

Wisdom is easy to find....when you're looking.

"MERRY CHRISTMAS!" (Did you receive that?)

Proverbs 1:20 (MSG)
Lady Wisdom goes out in the street and shouts.  At the town center she makes her speech.

When someone starts yelling, it always gets my attention!

Keep a Clear Image

Proverbs 1:19 (MSG)

When you grab all you can get, that's what happens:  the more you get, the less you are.


Focus....Focus....Focus.....

Doing Yourself In

Proverbs 1:18 (MSG)

Yet that's what these people are doing--
they're doing themselves in.

I do NOT want to be "done in"....and especially not by my own accord!! 

Burglary

Proverbs 1:17 (MSG)

Nobody robs a bank with everyone watching.

I suppose they don't.....but I get the feeling we might be finding out that our "bad companions" do...rob a bank with people watching that is.  Why?  Why would they do this?  For attention?  Because they just don't have any common sense?  Greedy?  Hmmmm....

A Very Good End

Proverbs 1:16 (MSG)

They're racing to a very bad end, hurrying to ruin everything they lay hands on.

I ran a half marathon several years ago.

See No Evil~Hear No Evil

Proverbs 1:15 (MSG)

Oh, friend, don't give them a second look; don't listen to them for a minute.

It's the second look that always gets me in trouble!

To Join or Not To Join

Proverbs 1:14  (MSG)

Join us for the time of your life!  With us, it's share and share alike!"


Remember that the "bad companions" are talking in this verse.  The "bad companions" represent sinners, who have chosen to ignore the call of Christ.  With that in mind, I read today's verse and one thing is shouting at me....people don't want to be alone in their sin, so watch out!! 

Don't Load the Loot

Proverbs 1:13 (MSG)
We'll load up on top-quality loot.  We'll haul it home by the truckload.

How timely this verse is seeing that it is the last Saturday before Christmas! 

Don't Pick

Proverbs 1:12
Let's pick them clean and get them ready for their funerals.

The "bad companions" are talking here, and they want you to join them in their destruction!! 

What NOT To Do

Proverbs 1:11 (MSG)
If they say-"Let's go out and raise some hell.  Let's beat up some old man, mug some old woman.

I enjoy watching the show, "What Not to Wear".  It gives me a little direction for what clothes I should definitely not be wearing to appear that I have some fashion sense! 

My Response

Proverbs 1:10 (MSG)
Dear friend, if bad companions tempt you, don't go along with them.

I am trying to figure out, why I would even have "bad companions" around me!!

Heed Wise Counsel

Proverbs 1:9 (MSG)
Wear their counsel like flowers in your hair, like rings on your fingers.

Interestingly enough, I love a beautiful ring.  I like my rings to be quietly beautiful....not loud and obnoxious. 

Listen Up

Proverbs 1:8  (MSG)
Pay close attention, friend, to what your father tells you;  never forget what you learned at your mother's knee.

I'm pretty sure there have been entire books written on this one sentence.  Powerful stuff!

Start With God

Proverbs 1:7 (Message Bible)
Start with God~the first step in learning is bowing down to God; only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning.


I remember my first day of college as though it were yesterday.  I walked into the student lounge while talking with a friend and completely missed the first two steps down into the lobby!  Yeap...I walked right off them.  I fell flat on my face!!

Fresh Wisdom

Proverbs 1:6
Fresh wisdom to probe and penetrate, the rhymes and reasons of wise men and women.

There is something exciting about the word "fresh".  It brings with it the vision of something newly created.

Always Something To Learn

Proverbs 1:5  (The Message)
There's something here also for seasoned men and women, still a thing or two for the experienced to learn-

No matter how hard you study...no matter how much you learn...there is always more to take in.

A Grasp On Reality

Proverbs 1:4
To teach the inexperienced the ropes and give our young people a grasp on reality.

I don't think there is anything that I can use more during this season of my life than something that will help me teach my children!

A Manual For Living

Proverbs 1:3 (The Message)
A manual for living;  for learning what's right and just and fair;

Whoa.....perfect....I am all about manuals.  

Understanding Life

Proverbs 1:2 (The Message Bible)
Written down so we'll know how to live well and right, to understand what life means and where it's going;

I love to write....and I am thrilled to see this verse!!

The Art of Skillfull Living

Proverbs 1:1 (The Message Bible)
These are the wise sayings of Solomon, David's son, Israel's king-

Ok...there you have it!  Words from a king. 

Finally

I Corinthians 14:40 (ESV) Bible
But all things should be done decently and in order.

Finally, my name is called again....for one more test. 

Do Over

Matthew 18:21-22  Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?  As many as seven times?"  Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven. (Holy Bible~ESV)

Seventy times.....now that is a lot of "do overs"!  And....yes, you guessed it....I had to go back in the room for more "pictures". 

More Waiting

Isaiah 40:31 ..but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.  (Holy Bible ESV)

Waiting....again...that's tough!!

The Procedure

2 Corinthians 4:8
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed..... (Holy Bible NIV)

That scripture was literally hanging on the wall where you wait for your mamogram!! 

The Name

Proverbs 22:1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches....

You know...there is a lot in a name? 

The Appointment

Matthew 10:29-31  "What's the price of a pet canary?  Some loose change, right?  And god cares what happens to it even more than you do.  He pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detail--even numbering the hairs on your head!"  (Holy Bible~MSG)

  Well, so off I go to the second appointment. 

The Question

Matthew 6:27: And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? (Holy Bible ESV)

So, there you have it.  The big question that has been on my mind for the past week:  "If I only had a little while" to live....what would I be doing differently?

The Phone Call

Job 2:10 "We take the good days from God--why not also the bad days?" (The Message Bible)

 I didn't start out this day with the plans of writing a blog.