Wind and Rain – Gossip and Anger
“As surely as a north wind brings rain, so a gossiping tongue causes anger!”Proverbs 25:23 NLT Have you ever heard the expression: “Everyone talks about the weather, but no one is doing anything about it.” Weather is something we might be able to manage, but we certainly can’t control. “A north wind brings rain.” We experience […]
Do Good for All – Even Enemies
“If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat. If they are thirsty, give them water to drink. You will heap burning coals of shame on their heads, and the Lord will reward you.”Proverbs 25:21-22 NLT There seems to be debate among scholars as to the meaning of this verse, even different versions read slightly […]
A Time to Weep
“Singing cheerful songs to a person with a heavy heart is like taking someone’s coat in cold weather or pouring vinegar in a wound.” Proverbs 25:20 NLT As Christians we are able to live joy filled lives knowing that we have eternal life and are heaven bound. But as mortals living in a fallen world, we […]
Well Placed Trust
“Putting confidence in an unreliable person in times of trouble is like chewing with a broken tooth or walking on a lame foot.” Proverbs 25:19 NLT God is always trustworthy, and He is always faithful. Men and women are not always. We may need to trust God more, but we are not called to blindly trust […]
Words Can Hurt
“Telling lies about others is as harmful as hitting them with an ax, wounding them with a sword, or shooting them with a sharp arrow.” Proverbs 25:18 NLT This week the Proverb gives us a word picture of the horror of how words can afflict others. If we could physically see the damage of hurtful words, […]
Being Welcome
“Don’t visit your neighbors too often, or you will wear out your welcome.” Proverbs 25:17 NLT Being welcome is important, especially when it comes to ministering to people and sharing the gospel. We want to do all we can to cultivate gospel relationships with people, including our neighbors. But, as with many things, more is not […]
A Taste for Honey
“Do you like honey? Don’t eat too much, or it will make you sick!… It’s not good to eat too much honey, and it’s not good to seek honors for yourself.”Proverbs 25:16,27 NLT There are 61 references to honey in the Bible. Honey is often referenced in relationship to God’s provision and abundance. “But I would feed […]
Persuasion Power
“Patience can persuade a prince, and soft speech can break bones.” Proverbs 25:15 NLT Anger and shouting frequently leads to…. more anger and shouting. Have you ever seen a shouting match won? Have you ever seen anyone change their minds by harsh words? There were theories sometime in the 60’s and 70’s that offered the Idea of […]
A Promised Gift
“A person who promises a gift but doesn’t give it is like clouds and wind that bring no rain.” Proverbs 25:14 NLT This year our landlord put new sod down on our yard. It looked great but required twice a day watering to get established. The thing is that we don’t have a working sprinkler system. […]
Refreshment
“Trustworthy messengers refresh like snow in summer. They revive the spirit of their employer.” Proverbs 25:13 NLT Often times in business we think of inspiration as a one-way street that comes down from leadership and management. But it in reality it ought to be a two-way street. At times everyone can get discouraged. If you are an […]