Pocket Share Jesus

My wife often works with parents whose kids stay in our church nursery and need to heed the wisdom in these words from Solomon.

Proverbs 19:18 NLT

“Discipline your children while there is hope. Otherwise you will ruin their lives.”

See it at YouVersion.com:

http://bible.us/Prov19.18.NLT

We all need to walk the line between setting goals to achieve our own dreams, and seeking God’s will for our lives. We are truly and completely fulfilled when we align our dreams with God’s perfect plans. I’m still very much seeking to find and follow that path. I think I am closer to it today than ever before in my life, but it is truly a journey which never ends.

My goal is to join God in the work He has prepared for me to do. That’s my plan and I’m sticking to it.

🙂

Proverbs 19:21 NLT

“You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.”

See it at YouVersion.com:

http://bible.us/Prov19.21.NLT

Do you have a dear friend who can always make you laugh, no matter how tough or challenging your shared circumstances? I do, but unfortunately I don’t get to hang out often with them these days. Their cheerful spirit IS good medicine, as Solomon noted many centuries ago.

Proverbs 17:22 NLT

“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.”

See it at YouVersion.com:

http://bible.us/Prov17.22.NLT

This is a good theme verse from Proverbs for “Eyes Right.”

Proverbs 17:24, 28 NLT

“Sensible people keep their eyes glued on wisdom, but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth. Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.”

See it at YouVersion.com:

http://bible.us/Prov17.24.NLT

This verse reminds me vividly of a situation I experienced working at Texas Tech about seven years ago.

When people speak they can not only reveal their levels of knowledge and understanding, they also can reveal the condition of their heart.

Proverbs 17:28 NLT

“Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.”

See it at YouVersion.com:

http://bible.us/Prov17.28.NLT

True words, although I’d have said “strongly dislike” instead of “hate.” I think that follows with Jesus’ exhortation to love the sinner but hate the sin. I think we are called to hate sin, not hate people. Hatred of other people is an evil root of many wrongs.

Proverbs 15:17 NLT

“A bowl of vegetables with someone you love is better than steak with someone you hate.”

See it at YouVersion.com:

http://bible.us/Prov15.17.NLT

Good advice here about advice to avoid at all costs.

Proverbs 9:13-18 NLT

“The woman named Folly is brash. She is ignorant and doesn’t know it. She sits in her doorway on the heights overlooking the city. She calls out to men going by who are minding their own business. “Come in with me,” she urges the simple. To those who lack good judgment, she says, “Stolen water is refreshing; food eaten in secret tastes the best!” But little do they know that the dead are there. Her guests are in the depths of the grave.”

See it at YouVersion.com:

http://bible.us/Prov9.13.NLT

I love these verses from the psalmist. They resonate with me more deeply than ever now as I see my own children growing up so fast and transforming into young adults before our very eyes. I do think in a very tangible sense our children are like arrows we fit to the string and loose upon a dangerous world filled with perils. We are each called to do God’s work which He has prepared for us in advance. It is challenging to listen to His voice and discern His call amidst the cacophony of noises around us.

I pray our children will discern their own gifts and flight path in life, and continue to look to God for direction as their true “GPS” navigator.

Psalm 127:3-5 NLT

“Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him. Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior’s hands. How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them! He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates.”

See it at YouVersion.com:

http://bible.us/Ps127.3.NLT