wilbycoles

[wilbycoles]

Proverbs 2:20

[Wisdom will save you from the stranger who flatters]…

So you will walk in the way of good men [that is, those of personal integrity, moral courage and honorable character], And keep to the paths of the righteous(the upright, in right standing with God). [Amplified Bible]

So follow the steps of the good, and stay on the paths of the righteous. [New Living Translation]

So may you walk in the good way, and keep to the difficult paths of the just. [Catholic Public Domain Version]

Wisdom will help you follow the example of good people and stay on the right path. [Easy-to-Read Version]

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Proverbs 13:18

Poverty and shame come to a person who ignores discipline, but whoever pays attention to constructive criticism will be honored. [GOD'S WORD® Translation]

Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is honored. [English Standard Version]

If you ignore criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace; if you accept correction, you will be honored. [New Living Translation]

Anyone who turns away from good teaching will become poor and ashamed. But if you accept advice when you do something wrong, people will respect you. [EasyEnglish Bible]

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June 21

Lamentations 3:22-23 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.

You can be sure of God's love. It never fails. It never ends. It is unconditional. He loved you before you ever loved Him. You can do nothing that will cause Him to love you more; nothing you do can make Him love you less.

God is love. That is His nature. His nature determines His behavior. God is good -- He only does good things. His plans for us are to do us good, to bring us to good ends.

Love is an action verb. It is not just feeling good -- it is doing good. Love comes dressed for work, not for fashion. Love carries gloves and wears work boots, and is the first to get dirty hands.

Psalm 18:16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters.

He doesn't stop there. He works with us and trains us. Have you ever been involved in training? It is repetitive, tiring, discouraging, detailed work.

It requires getting involved in the gritty process of breaking something down to separate discrete individual steps, then building it back up again into a smooth integrated entirety, slowly, make sure each step, each move, each nuance is understood and incorporated sequentially and accurately.

Psalm 18:35 …You stoop down to make me great.

Just as God does for us, so He puts in our heart to do for others, that they may see the Father's love through us.

Love does not allow us to stay isolated, in the grandstand above the arena, yelling instructions from under the shade.

Love puts us in the dust and dirt and heat and sweat of the arena floor, walking through the steps of life so that others can see what God is able to do in someone just like them, subject to the same circumstances, disappointments, setbacks, pain.

Psalm 18:27 You save the humble, but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.

As we serve, let us become and remain humble by realizing the grace of God that empowers and equips us to serve. Let us become transparent to those who receive the benefit of our time and strength by letting God receive the glory and praise.

Service is done best when the people served do not notice who provided the service.

God is the source, He distributes His grace and love through us, His servants, and as we serve and labor in humility and, at times, obscurity, God Himself rewards His staff, His employees. And He knows how to bless and take care of His own, His beloved, His family!

Psalm 18 v.30 As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him. v.32 It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.

Loving God, we thank You for directing us in Your paths of righteousness. We elect to walk in Your ways and to not turn from Your decrees, for in this way we can become the transparent gold of Your faithful servants.

Just as Your mercies are new every morning, Lord, so we renew our trust in You daily.

You are our help, Jesus, the everlasting arms beneath us in which we can rest, even in the most crowded and fretful day, for You are our strength.

[wilbycoles]

Psalm 52:7

“Look what happened to the warrior who did not depend on God. That fool thought his wealth and lies would protect him.” [Easy-to-Read Version]

And they shall say, Lo, this is the man who trusted not in God; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and boasted in his possessions. [Lamsa Bible]

"Look, here is someone who did not depend on God for safety, but trusted instead in great wealth and looked for security in being wicked." [Good News Translation]

"Here now is the man who did not make God his stronghold but trusted in his great wealth and grew strong by destroying others!" [New International Version]

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Proverbs 15:18

Angry people bring quarrels, but patient people bring peace. [EasyEnglish Bible]

Hot-tempered people stir up strife, but patient people quiet quarrels. [Complete Jewish Bible]

An angry man provokes a brawl, and the patient man reproves a dispute, extinguishing it. [Peshitta Holy Bible Translated]

Losing your temper causes a lot of trouble, but staying calm settles arguments. [Contemporary English Version]

A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention. [English Standard Version]

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Proverbs 14:16

A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil, but the fool is reckless and shows no restraint. [New Catholic Bible]

A wise man is cautious, and departs from evil; but the fool tampers with it confidently. [Lamsa Bible}

The wise are cautious and stay far from evil, but fools are hotheaded and careless. [The Voice]

A wise man fears, and departs from evil; but the fool trusts in himself, and joins himself with the transgressor. [Brenton Septuagint Translation]

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June 14

Are you ready to take another step? It may be a small, baby step; it may be a great, life-changing step.

The distance covered doesn't matter, only the direction it takes you. Each day brings the opportunity to take another step in one direction or another.

Are you facing the Lord, the God of the universe, the Creator and Sustainer of all life, the Savior and Shepherd of our souls?

If you are, then any step forward you take will bring you closer to Him, deeper into His love, further into His plan for you. It will place you where God has prepared the next blessing, the next task, the next lesson, the next grace that He wants for you.

Is there an area of your life that resists taking that next step closer? He already knows about it. The idea of it does not shock or surprise Him.

It was already carried to its penalty of death by Jesus and laid on His shoulders as He accepted it. God knows about it, Jesus carried it, even the devil knows it was paid for, the debt was canceled, and the power it held over you broken.

Just take another step forward and let the warmth of His love, the brightness of the light of His freedom show how to unlatch that burden, how to pick that cuckle-burr off, and let the rising waters of life flowing from His throne rinse off the residue and soothe the weariness in your soul.

What will you find? Your heart's desire. That which satisfies and completes, that which fills and enriches. That which multiplies and increases as it is given away.

The nearer you come to the throne of God, the heart of God, the more closely you begin to resemble Him Who loves you and the more clearly others can see His nature, His image within you.

What can you do there? Worship deeper, love stronger, work harder, rest more securely.

As the old things continue to pass away and be replaced by your on-going growth in God, the old insecurities, the old uncertainties, the old angers, the old wounds and memories fade and so does the turmoil that accompanied them.

You find peace with God and with yourself, you find forgiveness for others and humility with honor in service to those God sends you to.

What is required to take that step? Nothing more than a decision, a choice, an exercising of your will.

It is important to note that each day you will be taking steps -- that is the nature of living in time rather than eternity. Time brings change; you will not be able to stand still. The events or results of each day will bring more steps taken in our lives.

What we need is the understanding of what each direction brings, and wisdom to make the right choice, time after time, step after step.

God offers His abundance, His freedom, His strength and power, and He honors your free will to choose and decide. Ask Him for the wisdom to make the right choice.

Proverbs 3:15 Wisdom is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.

Father God, thank You for all You have done to pave the way for us to follow. It may not be the broad road taken by so many, but You have made it a safe road, even for the blind and the lame.

Thank You for the wind of Your Spirit that blows along that road, cooling and caressing the travelers, whispering reassurances when doubts rise up from the baggage that has not yet been dropped by the wayside.

We bless You, Father, for the armed guards You set along the road, that though the lion can be heard roaring in the thicket by the road, no enemy can travel the road.

We follow Your leading, Lord, one step at a time.

[wilbycoles]

Proverbs 5:21-23

v21-22

Mark well that God doesn’t miss a move you make; He’s aware of every step you take. The shadow of your sin will overtake you; you’ll find yourself stumbling all over yourself in the dark. [The Message]

v23

Evil people will die because they refuse to be disciplined. They will be trapped by their own desires. [Easy-to-Read Version]

Because they have no discipline, their spirits die and their bodies will soon follow; because they are immensely foolish, they wander lost and confused. [The Voice]

They get lost and die because of their foolishness and lack of self-control. [Contemporary English Version]

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Proverbs 17:4

A bad man hearkens to the tongue of transgressors: but a righteous man attends not to false lips. [Brenton Septuagint Translation]

Whoever practices evil pays attention to wicked speech, and the liar listens to malicious talk. [International Standard Version]

Troublemakers listen to troublemakers, and liars listen to liars. [Contemporary English Version]

Evil people listen to lies. Lying people listen to evil. [New International Reader's Version]

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Matthew 5:22

But I say to you that everyone who continues to be angry with his brother or harbors malice (enmity of heart) against him shall be liable to and unable to escape the punishment imposed by the court; and whoever speaks contemptuously and insultingly to his brother shall be liable to and unable to escape the punishment imposed by the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, You cursed fool! [You empty-headed idiot!] shall be liable to and unable to escape the hell (Gehenna) of fire. [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition]

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June 07

We are all interested in rewards. All ages, all cultures, all times, everyone is motivated by rewards, and the flip-side, by punishment.

Infants and toddlers are quietened by rewards, and preschoolers may be made to behave by punishments. School-age children are kept in line, first by rewards offered, and if needed, by punishments threatened.

As we become adults, we exercise our choices and focus our energies in pursuing those things we enjoy and take delight in, to whatever degree of freedom we can, limiting our involvement only by what is required to avoid the dire threats of our employer or our spouse.

It is true that a reward you don't have to work for does not bring lasting enjoyment or pleasure.

As children, we would strongly disagree, but as adults and parents, we understand the need of putting time and effort into achieving the rewards of reaching our goals.

Our most enduring lessons are often gained through some combination of rewards and punishments, hopefully more of the former and less of the latter.

Researchers have learned that our brains are wired so that facts and knowledge will be retained longer, and in greater detail, when associated with some type of strong emotion, pleasure or pain, disappointment or enjoyment, to "cement" them in place in our memory.

Even after striving for and achieving the dream you set your sights on, sometimes the reward is bittersweet, not living up to the anticipation that motivated you. Or it might crumble even as you reach for it, falling apart as you watch.

Only what we have from God is of any worth. Only the things we do in obedience to God will have any lasting value.

God works in relationships rather than money and property.

An abundance of material goods does not show God's favor, only that God has given the tools for work that needs to be done.

If riches are seen as an end to itself rather than a provisioning for a task, the point is lost and the reward is missed.

Psalm 7:8…Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, according to my integrity, O Most High.

Matthew 6:1 Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

In several places through the sixth chapter of Matthew, Jesus discusses the right way and the wrong way to practice righteous living.

In each case, there are rewards for doing what should be done, but the rewards can be very short-lived and bittersweet, or they can be rich and eternal, satisfying beyond belief.

Genesis 18:14 Is anything too hard for the Lord?

Abraham and Sarah were given promises from God that staggered their belief but provided rewards that met the desires of their hearts. They were childless and they were promised not only a child, but nations and kings as their descendants.

Genesis 18:19 For I have chosen him so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what He has promised him.

The Scriptures contain many references to rewards and punishments, some temporal and short-lived, others eternal.

Many times what we think the Bible says or what we remember from it, or have heard others say about it, may not be exactly what is written.

Take the time to read it for yourself, listen to what God tells you about it, talk about it to other believers, mull it over, let it soak in.

Dwell on the contents, turning it over in your mind, writing it down, speaking it so you can hear it. Search the Word of God and let the Word explain the Word.

Proverbs 2:1-5 My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

Faithful and rewarding Father, thank You for the blessings and rich rewards You have given us. From the gift of the new birth from your Son, Jesus, to the promise of our daily bread, our lives and spirits are enriched and uplifted.

Your love, shown in what You do for us, is our motivator and our sustainer as we follow your Spirit through today.

With Your armor in place, we will confront the discouragements and inadequacies that often plague us and with the weapon of prayer, thrust through discouragements, produce breakthroughs, and rescue others as well as ourselves from impossible circumstances, using Your defense plans.

[wilbycoles]

Proverbs 25:19

Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips. [English Standard Version]

Trusting a double-crosser when you’re in trouble is like biting down on an abscessed tooth. [The Message]

Depending on an unreliable person in a crisis is like trying to chew with a loose tooth or walk with a crippled foot. [Good News Translation]

Trusting unfaithful people when you are in trouble is like eating with a broken tooth or walking with a crippled foot. [New Century Version]

A bad tooth or an unsteady foot— a trust betrayed in time of trouble. [New American Standard, Rev.Ed.]

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Proverbs 26:21

Troublemakers start trouble, just as sparks and fuel start a fire. [Contemporary English Version]

Putting charcoal on burning coals or putting wood on a fire causes the fire to keep burning; similarly, people who like to quarrel cause people to keep arguing. [Translation for Translators]

Coal glows, and wood burns. And a person who argues stirs up conflict. [New International Reader's Version]

But when a fire has wood, it continues to burn. When people love to quarrel, there will always be arguments. [EasyEnglish Bible]

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Proverbs 16:32

He that is patient is better than a mighty man, and he that subdues himself, than he that seizes a city. [Peshitta Holy Bible Translated]

He who is slow to anger is better than the powerful. And he who rules his spirit is better than he who takes a city. [New Life Version]

Patience is better than power, and controlling one’s emotions, than capturing a city. [Christian Standard Bible]

Moderation is better than muscle, self-control better than political power. [The Message]

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May 31

Psalm 92:1 It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord and to sing praises unto Thy name, O Most High.

If you have breath, give Him praise. There is no one more worthy to receive it.

He has rescued us from death, given us life, and treasured us for who and what we are.

He accepts us in our individuality because that is how He made us. We are not forced into cookie cutter molds by God's Spirit.

He is big enough and loving enough to work with us each in our own unique needs and ways, for He has unique tasks for each of us, that only we can do. And part of that is to give Him praise in our own individual style.

Psalm 150:1 Praise the Lord. Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heavens.

Where we praise Him will vary from day to day as He leads us from moment to moment. It may be in the close, inner confines of our prayer closet or work space; it may be in the wide open spaces of the fields or back yard.

He is everywhere, all the time, and always deserving of our adoration and worship.

Psalms 150:2 Praise Him for His acts of power; praise Him for His surpassing greatness.

What we praise Him for will differ in detail from event to event.

We may give praise for His rescue from a disaster or close call. We may give thanks for the blessings He sends us to meet our needs, material or spiritual.

We may honor Him as we look about us at the intricacies of the natural world or the awesome, far-flung splendor of the night-time skies, all of which evidence His vastness, His power, His immediacy, His care.

We may worship as we see the results of answered prayer in the changed life of someone we know.

Psalm 150 v.3 Praise Him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise Him with the harp and lyre, v.4 praise Him with tambourine and dancing, praise Him with the strings and flute, v.5 praise Him with the clash of cymbals, praise Him with resounding cymbals.

How we praise Him matters not, as long as it is from the heart.

Let His praise rise up from within, let it take expression in whatever form you desire, let the Spirit have His way in guiding you to express the gratitude that fills you, give wings to the love that fills your being, your heart and mind and soul.

Let it be loud or let it be soft, however is fitting; let it be exuberant or let it be gracious, however is suitable; let it gush or let it seep, however is authentic.

Even the flowing of the water from under the altar and out of the temple in Ezekiel began as a mere trickle but because it did not stop, it soon became a river that could not be crossed.

Psalm 150:6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.

Praise Him individually and praise Him together.

Each of us can glorify God and magnify Him, enlarge on some aspect that we have experienced, draw attention to, and give witness of, what He has done for us, to us, in us, and with us and make God great in the eyes and ears of others.

Corporately, as we combine our testimony of His love, we can act as multiple lenses to show the magnificence of God as a telescope shows the wonders of His works, as a microscope shows in greater and greater detail the marvels of His creation.

Haggai 3 v.16 Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in His presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored His name. v.17 "They will be mine," says the Lord Almighty, "in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. v.18 And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not."

Let us bear the name of Christ with the pride of who He is and what He has done and with the humility of the grace, the undeserved favor, of what we have received.

Let us show His love with the unrestrained abandon that limitless resources permit, the same freedom with which Jesus showed the love of the Father to us, to all who are needy and searching, hungry and wanting, fearful and anxious, wounded and hurting, angry and frustrated.

Matthew 14:29 Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus.

Let us take the first bold step.

Let us make the invitation with the assurance of His agent, His representative, His close friend, His beloved, and trust the Spirit to make the difference between mere words, and life-giving answers.

Revelation 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.

As we practice the presence of God today, as we walk in the power of the Spirit, as we draw closer to the heart and mind of the Lord, let us keep before us the image, the goal, the destination that has been set before us.

Philippians 3:12 I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.

The desire of the Father is to find a Bride worthy of His Son, one who loves His Son as much as the Father does. The love given to His Bride gives the confidence, the security, the assurance needed to go forth and do the work laid before us.

Proverbs 31 v.25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. v.26 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. v.27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. v.31 Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Gracious God and loving Savior, the praise is yours.

Let the thoughts of our minds, the intents of our hearts, the words of our mouth, the deeds of our hands, and every place that our feet take us today be to the glory and the praise of Your name.

You are worthy of this devotion, Lord, and no one else.

No celebrity, no financial wizard, no business magnate, no political office holder, no wielder of money, no owner of property, no figure of power, will be able to stand before You, for all will bow their knees and give You praise, willingly or unwillingly.

We choose to do so now, beforehand, willingly as we recognize and acknowledge Your worth. You are the One who saved us, Lord, and You are the One who will keep us.

[wilbycoles]

Proverbs 30:14

There are people who take cruel advantage of the poor and needy; that is the way they make their living. [Good News Translation]

Some people have teeth like swords; their jaws seem full of knives. They want to remove the poor from the earth and the needy from the land. [New Century Version]

[Some] are so greedy that they gobble up the poor and homeless. [Contemporary English Version]

There is a kind of man whose teeth are like swords And his jaw teeth like knives, To devour the afflicted from the earth And the needy from among men. [New American Standard Bible 1995]

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Proverbs 25:26

If you put dirt in a well, its good water becomes bad. It is the same with a righteous person who agrees to do wicked things. [EasyEnglish Bible]

A muddied spring or a polluted well— that’s what a righteous person is who compromises with the wicked. [International Standard Version]

A good person who ·gives in to [staggers before] evil is like a ·muddy [foul] spring or a ·dirty [ruined] well. [Expanded Bible]

A righteous person who is swayed by the wicked is a muddied spring or a polluted fountain. [Evangelical Heritage Version ]