Proverbs 20.......integrity

Proverbs 20:7-It is a wonderful heritage to children to have a just, honest father with integrity.
Proverbs 20:10-The a Lord hates every kind of cheating.
Proverbs 20:11-Even a child is known by doing, whether he is pure and right. (character counts)
Proverbs 20:13-Do not be overfond of sleep, lest you come to poverty.
Proverbs 20:14-Utterly worthless, says the buyer as he haggles over the price and then he brags about his bargain.
Proverbs 20:15-Good sense, knowledge and understanding is more valuable than precious jewels.
Proverbs 20:16-It is risky to make loans to strangers.
Proverbs 20:17-Some men enjoy cheating, but the cake they but with ill-gotten gain will turn to gravel in their mouth.
Proverbs 20:18-Every plan should begin with good advice and council.
Proverbs 20:21-A fortune gained quickly (by cheating) will not be blessed.
Proverbs 20:22-Do not repay evil for evil...let the Lord take care of the matter.
Proverbs 20:23-The Lord loathes all cheating and dishonesty.
Proverbs 20:24-Since the lord directs our steps, you do not have to understand everything along the way.
Proverbs 20:25-It is foolish  and rash to make a promise to the Lord
Proverbs 20:27- A man's conscience (Spirit) is the Lord's search light exposing his hidden motives.
Proverbs 20:29-The glory of the young man is his strength, the beauty and attractiveness of the old man is his grey hair and experience.
Proverbs 20:30- Punishment that hurts, chases evil from the heart.

Integrity is found all over the pages of proverbs.  Read to learn how we can live a life pleasing to Jesus as a birthday gift to him and so that we can have the abundant life

Lessons from proverbs 19 on kindness

Today , I  learned  couple of lessons from Proverbs 19 and a reminder about the man I married.
For the first 30 years of our marriage, I did most of  the cooking.  After retirement, Mark realized that he really loves to cook  which is great.  But sometimes it causes little disagreements in the kitchen.

Proverbs 19:12- A wise prudent man with good sense , restrains his anger.  It is to his credit that he over- looks an offense.
Mark is a wise man.  He will walk away before he gets angry and says something that hurts. It is to his credit that he over looks offenses

Proverbs 19:13b The quarreling and nagging  of a wife annoys  like a constant drip.
Proverbs  19:14b An prudent understanding wife is a gift from the Lord.
Lord, give me understanding and help me to know when to speak up and when it is better to let it go.

Proverbs 19:20- Hear instructions and be wise.
Proverbs 19:21-Many are the plans in the heart and mind of man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.
Proverbs 19: 23- Reverence for God gives life, happiness and protection.

I love the fact that God  uses his word to help us in our daily life when we take the time to study it.
I heard a sermon this week that said ,"this too comes from God".  Everything that God allows to come through the filter of his love is for our good and is a life lesson.

Proverbs 19:17 He who is kind to the poor, lends to the Lord and he will repay him for benevolent actions.
Proverbs 19:22-Kindness makes a man attractive. What is desired in a man is steadfast love and loyalty.
Ephesians 4:23 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another.

Kindness was  the first thing that drew me to Mark. I tell girls to find a boyfriend who is kind to their mom and senior ladies, because some day they  will be that lady. I am that lady now and  Mark treats me so well.  I love to watch him as he shows kindness everyday as we travel .  I am so blessed..





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The hayride

Going to Aunt Dot's house for the Christmas hay ride was always one of the highlights of the kids  holiday season.  Yesterday, four generation of family and friends from  ages 2 to 82 gathered up in Adel at the farm. There was always plenty of  food and family, friends and fun.What a delight to see the next generation out in the cotton field together.  Fishing in the fish fed pond where every cast produces a fish,  making everyone a happy successful fisherman , with a little help from Mark and Drew was great.  Boards games came out, as well the same old outdoor games that we played as kids......, hide and seek, playing in the hay and chase.  The circle of hand holding  during the prayer kept growing as we kept finding kids to come to supper.  We all ate way too much great food sitting all over the house.  Then came the main event..  The hayride.  Bundle up, grab all the coats and blankets we can find.  Grab a spot on the tractor pulled hay trailer and settle in and wait for Uncle Virgil to crank up the tractor.  The singing began as he pulled away from the house.  A good singing voice is not required as long as you sing loud and remember some of the words.  There was actually three hay rides. I short one around the lake for the smallest children and a few adults.  The second one, the longest, for the older kids and a few brave adults.  The last one for the rest of the family. A good time was had by all.  We would like to thank Steve and Cyndi  Uncle Virgil and Aunt Dot inviting us to share in this wonderful holiday family tradition.

Virtuous woman example of how to handle the holidays Proverbs

Proverbs 18:22-   He who finds a wife ,finds a good thing.  She is a blessing from the Lord.
Proverbs 12:4--     A virtuous, excellent, woman of valor with strength of character is a joy and crown to her husband,  But she who acts disgracefully is  a shame and corrodes his strength and tears down everything he does.

Some how I knew  that I would not get out of proverbs with out dealing with the virtuous woman found in proverbs 31:10-31.  She is the woman that we would love to hate and hate to love.  She is also our example of how the please God and be a good wife, mom,  daughter, boss, sister and friend.  Well basically,  how to be the virtuous woman that we all strive to be.  Please read Proverbs 31:10-31 when you get a chance.  I just did and thought of my Mom.  She is a close as it gets.

The saying goes, when mama ain't happy, nobody is happy.  This is so true in family situations. We set the tone for the day for our family.  That is one reason that I have always tried to get up early and have a quiet time with the Lord.  Especially  when the kids were little.  Take of yourself the season so that you can take care of your family.  Enjoy your family.

Home for Christmas Proverbs

Christmas is the time that we throw large extended  family into one small house (home) and hope for the best.

Psalms 127:1  Except the  Lord build the house, (home). your labor is in vain.

With all the work that goes into preparing the house (home), remember, that without the Lord being in  the center,  it is all in vain.

Proverbs 17:1 Better is a morsel with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting with strife
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Try to be the vessel for peace and joy and not strife and argument.

Proverbs 17:9, 14
 9-He who forgives an offense , seeks love, but he who brings up a matter and nags about it causes division.
14-It is hard to stop a quarrel once it starts, so don;t let it begin.

Forgive offences of the past and enjoy you time together.

Now for the best part of family gatherings

Psalms 127:3- Children are a legacy and heritage, a gift from God.  They are his reward.
Proverbs 17:6-Grandchildren are the crown of old age.

Enjoy your family this Christmas

Christmas plans

Proverbs 16:  1, 2, 9, 33b
1 - We can make plans, but the final outcome is in God's hands
2 - The ways of man is pure in his own eyes, but God weighs the spirit'
9 - A man makes plans, but the Lord directs his steps.
33b It is God who is in control

I have no control over anyone.  I use to think that I was in control when my kids were little.  I never realized  that I was a control freak until I lost control. The last few weeks, I have been trying to get everybody together for Christmas and driving myself and Mark crazy in the process. Finally Mark told me that he did not like the stress that it was causing and that it would only get worse. He told me to just let it happen.   Like the saying goes, let go and let God.

It is all going to work out......with out my help...imagine that.  When am I going to learn?

proverbs for family time during the holiday season Proverbs 15

Proverbs 15:1,  2, 4,  26b ,28      A soft answer turns away wrath but harsh words stir up anger.
The tongue of the wise dispenses knowledge, but the mouth of the foolish gushes forth with foolishness' 
Gentle, soothing,  wholesome words cause health and life, but griping and complaining bring discouragement and breaks the spirit.   The Lords delights in kind words.  The good and righteous heart and mind ponders the answer before speaking..  The mouth of the wicked pours out evil words (that hurt ).

Lord, forgive me for making everyone miserable when I do not get my own way.  Help to think before I speak. Put a guard on my mouth before I hurt the ones that I love.

In this time of family togetherness, stress can cause us to say things that we should not say.  Lord, please help my words be healing and not hurtful.