New Life Christian Church

Scripture: Proverbs 12

Observations:

v.1-- Love discipline & be wise.          

            Lots of reason to hate discipline.  I love the results; don't like the process.  Need to learn to smile more in the process (James 1)

            "Hate Correction = stupid"  Need to learn to smile more when criticized, challenged, corrected.  "Problems are your friends."

v.2-Better to be good and naïve than crafty.

v.3-- People who gain through ungodly means build success on sand.  Don't admire them. 

v.4-Be thankful for a noble wife!  Some are proud of beauty.  Some of professional accomplishments or buying power of wife.  Be proud of Godly, respectable wife.  Are you proud of the right things?

v.5-Whose advice are you listening to?  Don't listen to everyone equally.  The wicked sound smart....

v.7-Remember the wise man and the foolish man?  How many people do well for a season (e.g. Ceasars, Napoleon, Hitler, Stalin) but time reveals their mettle?  Who do I admire: the wise man or the foolish?

v.9-Don't pretend to be rich.  Don't pretend to be more than you are.  Don't pretend to be smarter than you are.  Don't pretend to be more capable than you are. 

Be authentic.

Don't be afraid to be who you are in God.

v.11-Better to work your reality than to chase your fantasy.  When you dream, work your realities.... Don't just dream.

Dream about the bigger farm, but work the real farm, be productive today, this year, this harvest.

v.15-Fools won't listen.  A fool is bold, confident, but not teachable.  He must look good for a while.  Wise man listens.

Listen more: Read more.  Meditate more (listen to God).

v.16-Don't be touchy!  Love is patient.  When annoyed, be prudent.  Don't show it.  It is not inauthentic to be self-controlled. 

v.18-Do your words cut like a sword or heal?

v. 20-Joy come to those who promote peace (blessed are the peacemakers... where's the war I'm making peace in?)

v.23-Control your tongue (again!).  Don't say everything that comes to mind.  A fool blurts out.  The wise restrain.

v.26-It's okay to be cautious in friendships.  Don't trust too soon.

v.27-Get it done NOW! Don't procrastinate!

v.28-When you don't know what to do, just do something good.

Application:

1. Love Discipline.  Be disciplined in speech. 

Always be honest.  Be careful to speak healing words.  Get rid of hurtful words (Watch sarcasm.  Watch words when frustrated. Watch how people respond to words.)

When tired, more discipline required!

Just because you have a smart thought doesn't mean other people want to hear it!  Wisdom restrains when folly talks.

2. Be Thankful for Laura today! 

3. Work Your Reality today, don't just dream about your fantasy.

Dreaming isn't bad, but you have to plow the field with what you have in your hand right now.  Wanting a bigger farm isn't bad, but you have to plant with the seed you have with the tools you have on the land you have right now. 

Better to do something with what you have than to keep hoping for the fantasy you don't have to come true.

Work the farm today and the dream may become reality in time.

4. Listen more!  Read-when am I going to read today?

            Meditate: find time to listen to God today (turn off radio; commit to quiet time; go to sleep and wake up meditating on God... set aside time to fast and listen.)

Prayer:

Almighty God,

            You are so good to us!  We don't have to guess what You're thinking; You've made it clear to us in Your Word!  Thanks!

            You are so patient with me!  I read Your Word over and over, learn the same stuff over and over... yet, still have to learn it, again.  Thanks for not losing patience with me, as I would with my kids!  Make me like You.

            Today, I want to focus on working Your fields, so You can bring in the fullest harvest You desire from my life.  I leave the fantasies to You.  I hear your call to go into the ALL the world and preach... (that's a fantasy!), and to stay in Jerusalem until Your Holy Spirit comes in power and moves.  I recommit to be your servant, not your dreamer. Yet, be my vision.

            Thank You, Jesus, for working the fields for 33 years, dying on a cross, confident that God's Will would be fully accomplished in His way, His time.  Lord, take my life today.  I am Yours. My hands.  My mind.  My lips.  My feet.  Yours.  Because of Jesus, through whom I pray, Amen.