Prompting or Punishment?

I have been reading about the children of Israel, and the judgments that God had to inflict on them.  Most of them seemed pretty harsh, but they just would not listen!  They would come about and begin to obey Him again, but before you know it, they were right back in sin.  So finally He let them be led away captive for 70 years!

This morning I read an article by Dr. Paul Chappell entitled Requiring Punishment.
Part of the article said,

"Isaiah gives us a fascinating insight into God’s chastisement of His children. “For the fitches are not threshed with a threshing instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned about upon the cummin; but the fitches are beaten out with a staff, and the cummin with a rod. Bread corn is bruised; because he will not ever be threshing it, nor break it with the wheel of his cart, nor bruise it with his horsemen” (Isaiah 28:27-28).
Delicate plants like fitches—a herb used for seasoning food—were not threshed because the heavy tool would crush them. But the thicker grains used for making bread went under the tribulum [a threshing instrument]. When our hearts are soft and we quickly listen to God’s Word, we do not require judgment to remind us to do right. When our hearts are hard and our ears refuse to listen, God is able to get our attention, though we will certainly not find that process enjoyable. God calibrates our circumstances based on what is required to get us to obey.
If we are responsive to the prompting of the Holy Spirit and the instruction of Scripture, we will save ourselves much heartache."

This is so true!  When our hearts are ready to listen, it only takes a small bit of prompting by the Holy Spirit to make a change.  That still, small voice can only be heard when we are listening.  I know we've all seen that in our children as well.  Some children listen better than others, and when they don't, we often need to administer a more stern punishment.

Stay in the Word of God daily, and ask him to show you something from what you read.  Be searching as you read.  Read for understanding.  Find a quiet place and block out everything around you.  Early in the morning before everyone else gets up is best for me, and I like to write down in a notebook the verses that speak to me.  Don't have your cell phone or other distractions near.
I do keep a sheet of paper handy because there is always something popping into my mind that I need to do that day, so I just jot it down rather than dwelling on it.  I think this is more distracting for women, because we don't have the focus men have.  Our minds are constantly thinking of the cares of the day, and it can be a hindrance when we are concentrating on something the devil would rather us not.

So get in your Bible early!
Before it is "too late" and things start needing to be tended to and the phone starts ringing!

sMiLeS,

"Love and Honor"

"Marriages do not usually collapse suddenly. Instead they fall due to a long process of erosion..."
Read more here.

The verse right at the beginning of the article got me.
I had just this morning been kind of implying that my husband was wrong about something.  Just a little dig, you know.  Like we women can do.
But those little things can cause great hurt.  We all know how that feels.  And I felt so bad that I just had to call him and apologize.  Even though he didn't say much back to me when I uttered those unkind words (he rarely does), I knew it hurt him for me to be that way.
I don't want to be the cause of erosion in our marriage!

"A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones."  Proverbs 12:4

sMiLeS,

Proverbs 7

If you are a lady, and have been reading Proverbs for awhile, you may think that you wouldn't get much out of chapter 7.
But today as I began reading through the familiar verses, I got a few verses in and started more or less skimming...  I knew these verses were about the strange woman, and that men are to beware of her.  And thought that didn't apply to me since I'm not a man.
Then I thought, wait.  All of God's word is for everyone, anyone.  So I started over, reading slower... and thinking...

Proverbs 7
1 My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.
2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.
3 Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.
4 Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:
5 That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.
6 For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,
7 And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,
8 Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,
9 In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:
10 And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.
11 (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:
12 Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)
13 So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,
14 I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.
15 Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.
16 I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.
17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.
19 For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:
20 He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.
21 With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.
22 He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
23 Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.
24 Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.
25 Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
26 For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.
27 Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death. 

As I read each day, I jot down verses or phrases from verses in a notebook, and sometimes my own thoughts as well.  Here are some of my notes from today:

Proverbs 7
1.  ... keep my words, lay up my commandments
2.  ...my law as the apple of thine eye
3.  Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.
4.  Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman.
5.  That they may keep thee from the strange woman, which flattereth with her words.
-- That they may keep thee!
-- flattereth with her words!  That's all. To begin with...

I thought about these verses.  In verses 1-3, "apple of thine eye," "bind," and "table of thine heart" clearly tell us that we should love and embrace God's words.  His laws, even!  We should love his laws!  Wow.
Then verse 4 tells us that wisdom and understanding should be very close to us.  Our sister, our kinswoman.
Verse 5, That "they" (understanding and wisdom) may keep thee from the strange woman.
Understanding and wisdom can keep all of us from whatever sin that may snare us.

But how do we get understanding and wisdom???  
By studying God's word.  By heeding His words, and actually applying them to our lives.  By really searching for what He wants us to do.  And listening when he tells us.
Then we will want to give God our heart.  We will want Him to guide and direct us.  We will be open to anything He lays on our heart that we need to do, or to get rid of, or give up.  And if you're really searching His will and getting close to Him, it won't be nearly as hard to do as we once thought.
If you read Proverbs, you'll see a lot of verses about wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.  And the more you read, the more you will understand what you are reading!
(Read Proverbs 2 at the bottom of this post.)

7.  ...void of understanding (see v. 4-5)
8.  (Proverbs 4:14-15  "Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.  Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.")
9-10.  If you're in the wrong place, you'll meet the wrong people.

Years ago, even when my kids were still very young, my husband took them to youth meetings, revivals, 1-day services, Christian camps, or even just the night services at these camps, and whatever he could find out about that had good preaching.
I didn't used to always go to these, but he did, and I'm so thankful.  Through church, we have met some wonderful people, and our kids have found some really great friends, and have gotten some great opportunities they wouldn't have had otherwise.
I'm glad my husband took them to the right places.

13.  escalates suddenly
15.  "diligently" -  but at first she flattered w/ her words.
19.  The goodman is not at home.  Beware of those who want to be secretive about any little thing, even if it seems harmless now.  (fb, Google+, texting, etc. Hiding things from parents, teachers, or spouse.) Or is dishonest in any way.
21.  flattery w/ speech, lips.  Trying to talk you into something.
23.  =(
24.  Hearken, attend -- listen up!
25.  Your heart goes first.
26.  many strong men. =(

So if you're a lady, watch out for other ladies who flatter with their words.  Stay in your Bible so you will recognize when something isn't quite right.  Beware of those who are secretive about anything.  Even gossip. When a woman gossips, they are putting someone else down in order to make themselves look/feel better.  We all have faults, but the gossipers won't tell you theirs; only those of others.

If you're a man, watch out for women who act as the strange woman in this chapter.  A woman who flatters with her words, paying you attention.

If you're a teenager, be careful of what friends you have.  Are they secretive?  Have an online account their parents don't know about?  Delete texts before parents can see them?  Pretend not to hear when their mom or dad calls them?  This is all dishonest.
Don't be "void of understanding."  Get in your Bible and read at least one chapter in Proverbs every day.  Read for understanding.  God will begin to change your heart, and you will draw closer to Him!


There are SO many verses in Proverbs about wisdom!
It's hard to choose, but since I was looking at Proverbs 4 a bit earlier, I'll put that chapter here.

1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.
3 For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

And these verses about wisdom and understanding!

5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.
7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.
9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee. 

10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.
11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.
12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.
14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil. 

Oh, and I really love Proverbs 2 also!  This may be my favorite.  =)
I love the If-Then's in the Bible.  Read carefully all of v. 1-9.

1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
8 He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.
9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.

And the when's.  Look at what happens when you get wisdom and knowledge!   

10 When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;
11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:
12 To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;
13 Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;
14 Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked;
15 Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:
16 To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;
17 Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.
18 For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.
19 None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.
20 That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.
21 For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.
22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it. 

I love Proverbs!!!

sMiLeS,


(hehe, this got long!)  =)

The Path We Follow to Destruction

I posted the other day about Sudden Destruction.
Proverbs 29:1 "He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy." 
Sometimes we are so shocked by things we learn about a fellow Christian, but we know that none of us are immune to sin...
But how could it have happened???

This article tells The Path We Follow to Destruction.

Root: discontent

As I was reading this, I was thinking, I am pretty content with my life... then I realized that sometimes with my husband I am not. I get aggravated at certain things. And I realized I do the same with my kids.
We all have different personalities, and when we live together, personalities are bound to clash now and then. But I need to be content and overlook some things. Be more agreeable rather than getting aggravated at certain tendencies (not talking about disobedience).
Just mainly being discontent with who they are.

Some friends and I recently talked about reading verses like Proverbs 29:1, and passing over verses like this, thinking they were for some really bad person.
But when I first read the above article, I was doing just what we had talked about!
Passing over looking at ME and thinking this must be for someone else.
We hear certain things all our lives, and come to think of certain verses and phrases from the preacher as applying to someone else.
But God wants our heart. In his eyes, all sin is sin. And it only takes a little for God to not truly have our heart. (It is the little foxes that spoil the vine. - Song of Solomon 2:15)
I heard an illustration once about a little sin. "Would you drink a glass of water that someone had spit in? It's only a little spit..."
When we compare ourselves to others, we think we're not nearly as bad, right? But compared to God's holiness... not so good after all.

It's amazing after having read Proverbs over and over (once a month, each chapter on its corresponding date), I keep finding new things, or old things that apply differently to a current situation. Either in life, or maybe an attitude.

I love Proverbs!  So like a mirror.

sMiLeS,