Proverbs 27

Here are some verses taken from RSV of chapter 27 of the book of Proverbs:

12. A prudent man sees danger and hides himself; but the simple go on, and suffer for it.
17. Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

Verse 17 is particularly interesting. As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. So, choose your friends carefully as a motivated, full of energy, diligent attitude of a friend is likely to rub off on you and the same goes for a slothful person who spends money like there is no tomorrow enjoying himself and refusing to work. The opposite negative effects can also influence you to his bad lifestyle if he's your friend. Also, don't let anyone pigeonhole you, and you are created for great things in life, for success and prosperity.

The Tongue has the Power of Life and Death

Proverbs 18:21 says, "Life and death are in the power of the tongue." A singer by the name of Patsy Klein sang the song, "I drop to pieces"....and she died in a plane crash. A few years later, another singer named Jim Reeves, sang the same song and he also died in a plane crash. Mrs Steve Ervin, the wife of the famous Crocodile Hunter star says that Steve kept saying he will die young. So folks, don't let the devil wiretrap you to keep saying things like "mati ar", or "Die, die." Even in American culture, instead of saying "I am dying to eat that piece of cake", why not say "I am living to eat that piece of cake." Is it as if in dying you can eat that piece for cake? Wake up folks. Use life giving words of power and grace and be careful of what you say.

Even God has to speak it out to see good. He said "Light be" and there was light. He also said, "Let there be birds of the air." And it was so and God saw it was good. God spoke it out before it happen and God saw it was good. Likewise, we were created in the image of God and we have the power of life and death, and that is in our tongue. It is like a small rudder of the ship. Use it aright and you have smooth sailing; use it awrong and you have ship wrecked. So use your tongue wisely and avoid death words!

Romans 12:14-21

Romans chapter 12, verses 14 - 21 states below:

14. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
15. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
16. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; never be conceited.
17. Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all.
18. If possible, so far as it depends upon you, live peaceably with all.
19. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord."
20. No, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head."
21. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

This is my reading daily from Romans to turn your enemies into friends if possible. God has my interest at heart, and if I just obey and humbly listen, I don't have to carry the poison anymore and let peace dwell in my heart. It is better to forgive and forget than to carry the hurt in the past. As you cannot change the past, why carry the burden in your heart and make it into poison that fester in your body? Many sickness and diseases are due to stress and unforgiveness that the person carries. The people who live the longest have this profile: they are the most forgiving, carefree and worry free. As a result, they live long happy fulfilled lives.

How to Be Happy

Proverbs 16:20 tells us, "Whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he." And Psalms 146:5 indicates that happiness comes to those who find their help and hope in God. It says "Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help." The foundation for happiness is a proper relationship with the Lord. But to fully experience that happiness, we must build on that foundation in a practical way. Here are the 10 Rules for Happier Living:

1. Give something away.

2. Do a kindness.

3. Give thanks always.

4. Work with vim and vigor.

5. Visit the elderly and learn from their experience.

6. Look intently into the face of a baby and marvel.

7. Laugh often - it's life lubricant.

8. Pray to know God's way.

9. Plan as though you will live forever - you will.

10. Live as though today is your last day on earth.

- Richard De Haan

Happiness is to know the Saviour,
Living a life within His favor,
Having a change in my behaviour,
Happiness is the Lord. - Stanphill

Proverbs Chapter 7

Here is my reading this morning from RSV:

10. And lo, a woman meets him, dressed as a harlot, wily of heart.
11. She is loud and wayward, her feet do not stay at home;
12. now in the street, now in the market, and at every corner she lies in wait.
13. She seizes him and kisses him, and with impudent face she says to him:
14. "I had to offer sacrifices, and today I have paid my vows;
15. so now I have come out to meet you, to seek you eagerly, and I have found you. 16. I have decked my couch with coverings, colored spreads of Egyptian linen;
17. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18. Come, let us take our fill of love till morning; let us delight ourselves with love.
19. For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey;
20. he took a bag of money with him; at full moon he will come home."
21. With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him.
22. All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast
23. till an arrow pierces its entrails; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life.
24. And now, O sons, listen to me, and be attentive to the words of my mouth.
25. Let not your heart turn aside to her ways, do not stray into her paths;
26. for many a victim has she laid low; yea, all her slain are a mighty host.
27. Her house is the way to Sheol, going down to the chambers of death.

This whole chapter is about avoiding harlots and prostitutes. Therefore, let your wife satisfy you and not other women. Not only do you cheat on your spouse if you visit a brothel but you also lose money and integrity in the process. So, young men, control your raging hormones and don't waste a penny on hookers.

Today's sermon

Here are some brief verses from today's sermons by an American pastor that I have jotted down. Basically it speaks to the broken hearted and to the contrite.

Psalms 34:18 - The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit. (Revised Standard Version)

Isaiah 57:15 - For thus says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite. (RSV)

Psalms 51:17 - The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. (RSV)

So there you have 3 verses, I am sure there are more, of God speaking to the contrite in heart. So where you have been hurt, remember to look to the Lord for He is close to such low spirited people. And where sin abounds, GRACE much more abounds. Remember that the Lord is close to the brokenhearted. If you have a loved one who just passed away, remember that God is also with the departed and as well as the living. If we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us. So we need to spend some quiet time alone with God Almighty and set aside some time each day if possible. Don't let the business and pressures of daily living crowd out God in your lives. Peace be to you, my friends.