#Proverbs 3:1

[bojackson54]

The Heart of the Matter is, Your. Heart. Matters.

What goes into your heart matters. What comes out of it matters, too. For people who didn’t have EKG’s, cardiologists, or heart hospitals, the ancient Hebrew people were pretty wise about matters of the heart. Solomon in particular seemed to have a deep understanding of the way the heart functions, and his Book of Proverbs is full of references to it. With all of our technology, do you think we…

[walkswithmyfather]

“You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.” —2 Chronicles 20:17 (NIV)

“It’s discouraging to feel depleted and think, This was not supposed to be my story. Whether it’s the doctor’s report we never thought we would receive, the ending of a relationship we thought would last forever, or maybe the job we worked so hard for that is not turning out the way we expected, we often cannot escape the wars we feel raging in and around us. Yet we wish we could hide rather than face them.

Thankfully, God gave us the beautiful story of King Jehoshaphat that can help teach us how to deal with our problems His way.

In 2 Chronicles 20, we meet Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. He had just received word that a vast army was coming to destroy him and his people.

Jehoshaphat pleaded to the Lord: “For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you” (2 Chronicles 20:12b, NIV).

God’s gentle response settled the king’s anxious heart: “You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you” (2 Chronicles 20:17).

God cares about our safety and well-being, and often He does provide a way of escape from danger; in this story, though, God called the king to face his problem with praise. And as he began to sing of God's glory, the enemy began to fall (2 Chronicles 20:21-22).

God didn’t tell Jehoshaphat to fight his problem, and He didn’t tell him to flee; He told him to face it with God by his side. The king faced his impossible situation and responded with praise before he even knew the outcome. 

In moments where you find yourself in a seemingly impossible situation and you’re not sure whether to fight, flee or face it, you can invite God into that space too. Even if all you have left is a whisper, whisper His name.

One simple decision helped me face the battle with my job: I decided to start listening to worship music on my way to work in the morning. Not just as background music — I would sing out loud with the words. You don’t have to have a perfect voice to praise. Praise is a posture, not a performance. The choice to face each day with praise gave me the reminder that God was in the car with me and would walk into work with me every single day. This sounds easier said than done, but as we acknowledge His presence, we then notice His power. Our battle cry is the name of Jesus.

As we begin to sing, we can trust that God has already begun His work. By the time we get to the edge of our battlefield, we will see the Lord has already won.

Father, give me the strength to face this day with praise. Help me to remember this battle is not mine but Yours. Help me to keep my eyes on You through every situation I face. I praise You, Father, for Your goodness. Thank You for defeating all my enemies. Thank You for keeping me safe. Thank You for loving me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.”

—Taylor Stuart

[aressida]

Feminists, I want to express how I feel when I see all of you (as someone who once held feminist views and disliked men a decade ago, but now that I have gained understanding): Enough with the sabotage!

Be the duty of a woman. -> Genesis 2:18

-> Galatians 3:28 -> 1 Timothy 2:9-15 -> 1 Corinthians 11:3 -> Titus 2:3-5 -> 1 Timothy 2:11-12 -> Ephesians 5:22-24 -> Proverbs 31:11–12 -> Genesis 3:16

[disneynerdpumpkin]

~ Scriptures about forgiveness ~

Matthew 6:15 "But if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

Ephesians 4:32 "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."

Colossians 3:13 "Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive."

Daniel 9:9 "To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him."

Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

Proverbs 10:12 "Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses."

Micah 7:18 "Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love."

Mark 11:25 "And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."

Luke 17:3-4 "Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him."

Luke 6:37 "Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:"

Matthew 6:14 "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:"

1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Isaiah 1:8 "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

James 5:16 "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

[pastorhogg]

Today's Spiritual Disciplines

As the Day Begins: Seeking Strength in His PresenceIn this morning’s meditation on 1 Chronicles 16:11, we are called to begin each day by seeking the Lord’s strength and presence. In doing so, we root ourselves in His power rather than our own striving, setting the tone for a Spirit-led day. A Year in the Life of Jesus: When Seeing Still Isn’t BelievingOur reading in Matthew 12:38–42 reminds us…

[jesus-is-lord-and-savior]

1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments,

2 for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.

(Proverbs 3:1-2, ESV)

[futurefind]

THE 'HYPOCRISY' OF LOYALTY

ON: SASUME'S INTERSECTION OF LOVE VS LOYALTY VS MORALITY (AND, HER PROPENSITY FOR 'KNIGHT'/'DRAGON' ROLES)

Much of Sasume's base behaviors and mindset comes from her upbringing—a street rat and orphan who was ostracized at best by those in her hometown. Setting aside the resulting trauma (for the most part), such an upbringing set the stage for her morality and relationships, as well as relationships with morality itself.

Firstly, this impacts her pride. Yes, internally, but also externally: she ranges from crippling insecurity and discomfort to outright aggression when it comes to those of higher classes and/or positions of power (and/or 'formal' contexts).

Combined, this sets the stage for her boundless compassion and staunch sense of justice—not simply kindness for kindness's sake (although it certainly is that, too), but as active rebellion against such a cruel world that harms its people. Hence, her default support of those most vulnerable is paired with a default defensiveness against those with power (and thus power to exploit the former).

However,

Nothing effects her point of view as much as her loyalty. It may be earned justly to match her own morality (such as being a compassionate, or similarly loyal, or valuing true justice/equality), but... it may also be earned simply for treating Sasume correctly.

Not 'correctly' as in 'kindly' or even 'morally,' but as in simply giving her 'just enough' to inspire loyalty. Whether it's giving her mercy after being the one to threaten her, or generosity after depriving her, or simply sheer attrition and proximity (even with extreme starting animosity), or sheer chance, it is not hard to earn her favor.

Not because she is gullible, but because of the core issue of her childhood: isolation.

Sasume, at her core, is lonely and she is alone, and no matter how much she may insist otherwise or have grown accustomed to it, she is desparate to be otherwise. Combined with her difficulty in letting people in, as well as how impersonable she is to strangers, and she is wont to quickly and staunchly become attached to those willing to become 'attached' to her (however reciprocated it may, or may not, be).

And once her loyalty is won it is very, very hard to persuade her otherwise. The more intense the loyalty, the more unshakeable her faith. It may be hard to gauge or appreciate it overall, but the peak of it is clear: not just asking if she's loyal, but asking for her loyalty itself.

She might give a more mixed response, yes, but she may also not. May not just give but swear her (entire) loyalty to them. Ownership of her loyalty. Unquestioningly, irrevocably, evermore.

While her loyalty may, unsurprisingly, come with things like admiration, respect, and affection, it does not require an absence of things like scorn or condemnation.

Such 'contradictions' may be a given in interpersonal relationships, but in the right (or wrong) hands this can be taken to extremes.

She can overlook or outright enable cruelties, or even enact them for the other. She may not like, may treat it as inevitable but unfortunate as needing to use her violence onto others, but she can and she will if need be.

Not only does her loyalty supersede all, allowing her to sacrifice her own morality, but also to sacrifice herself. Whether its exploitation, her raw destructive power, or simple disposability, she is willing to suffer damn near anything for those who have her loyalty, her love.

Because, in the end, that is the crux of it: those she loves have her loyalty, and those who have her loyalty have her love.

And in such a cruel and lonely world, how can anything else be more important than that?

Author's Note: While novels may have stories that have fixed characters with fixed decisions and fixed consequences, set in stone especially in the writer(s)'s eyes, roleplay is a collaborative and continuous form of storytelling. Thusly, the relationship between Sasume's love and loyalty and her morality can have any number of outcomes. Perhaps it could entail her becoming corrupted, a villain's Dragon, or perhaps it could have her swearing her undying loyalty to one that may be called a hero. On the other end, mayhaps she's a genuine friend, or perhaps a mere pawn that's been carefully manipulated into giving away her everything. Perhaps she inspires them to do better (potentially to the point of a redemption arc), or perhaps her compassion and selflessness inspires resentment for her 'idiocy'. Maybe it's a combination of a number of these things, mixed and molded together, or maybe it's a rollercoaster of completely different things on a single path. They only way to know for sure is to try and see. :)

[biblequotesdaily]

Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Matthew 7:1 & 2

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Philippians 2:12

So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14:33

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.

1 John 2:15

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Romans 12:2

And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its affections and lusts.

Galatians 5:24

The Lord detests all the proud of heart.

Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.

Proverbs 16:5

And the publican, standing afar off, would not so much as lift up his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’

Luke 18:13

"We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

Luke 23:41

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.

Psalm 51:3

Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction.

Isaiah 48:10

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

1 John 4:18

[tiand]

Do Not Forget My Teaching (Proverbs 3:1-2)

Proverbs 3:1-2 1. My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, 2. for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.

[graceandpeacejoanne]

"What's In It for Me?"

The Bible also talks about being good stewards, being responsible as well as generous. You and I cannot spend what is not ours, what is supposed to cover our obligations.  But we can be responsible and generous, just as God is.

Published almost twenty years ago, “Ten Prayers God Always Says Yes To” by Anthony DeStefano changed how I pray and how I experience God’s answers to my prayer. I’ll be spending the next few weeks talking about what I got from his book, and how applying the principles in this book to my own life changed me. The Floodgates of Heaven God will never be outdone in generosity.  In fact this is the…

[walkswithmyfather]

Proverbs 27:2. “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips.” Proverbs 16:24 (NLT). “Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.”

 “Handling Praise” By In Touch Ministries:

“Do you feel awkward when someone compliments you?”

“Think about a time when you received praise from a parent, a teacher, or an employer. How did you feel? Did it make you glad or uncomfortable? For many people, praise is nearly as difficult to handle as criticism. Because God’s Word instructs us to be humble (Matthew 18:4; Philippians 2:3), we may sometimes feel confused about how to receive compliments. Here are three ways to respond:

1. Acknowledge the comment by thanking the person. Don’t explain why you are unworthy of praise or try to deflect such kindness. The Lord is using that person to bless you!

2. Identify and acknowledge the character quality that led the other person to commend you. Perhaps he or she sees something you’ve missed (and that God wants you to be aware of). Remember, believers are called to “encourage one another and build one another up” in the Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

3. Share what the encouragement means to you personally. Scripture says that “pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones” (Proverbs 16:24). Tell the other person how much you’ve been blessed by his or her attention and care. After all, praise can go both ways.”

Matthew 18:4. “Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Philippians 2:3. “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;”

[Unless otherwise stated, Bible verses are in the NASB translation.]

[aressida]

God is testing our hypocrisy, revealing the truth behind what we say and how we live. As it says in Matthew 15:8, 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.' We may hide from others, but not from God. He sees our hearts, like it says in 1 Samuel 16:7, 'People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.' We are called to live out our faith, not just speak it. James 1:22 reminds us to be 'doers of the word, not hearers only.' Through these trials, God refines us, testing our hearts like silver in the furnace (Proverbs 17:3).

[touchofgoddotworld]

Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People? (Pt.3) (281) – January 18 2025

Choose your Podcast App to Play this episode We begin this week by asking who should define what and who is ‘good’. As we walk through the Word of God, we see the progression of sin that began with Adam and Eve at the tree, leading to the spread of their fallen nature to Cain who killed his brother Abel, and onward it spread. This program covers the following Scriptures from the Amplified…

[mindfulldsliving]

Exploring Prophets, Faith, and Obedience: A Latter-day Saint Take on Heber C. Kimball and Michelle Grim's Critique

In the rich teachings of Latter-day Saints, the messages from prophets hold profound significance. Heber C. Kimball, in the Journal of Discourses, emphasized the importance of following prophetic guidance as an expression of our faith and obedience. This perspective, however, faces scrutiny from voices like Michelle Grim, who offers a critical view of Kimball’s teachings. In a recent blog post…

[pastordin]

Shepherding with Purpose: Chaputer 1

Responding to the Call | Shepherding with Purpose | Pastor Aamir and Carissa Din Home | Media | Contact Part I: Responding to the Call Chapter 1: Understanding the Call to Ministry “Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly.” — 1 Peter 5:2 (NIV) Published on December 12,…