Proverbs for Daily Life

The Book of Proverbs Chapter 18
(Please read the entire chapter of lovely proverbs yourself; I will comment on a few with the help of notes from my NLT Bible.)

Verse 8: What dainty morsels rumors are-but they sink deep into one's heart. (Refuse to listen to gossip . It is hard, but taking just one morsel creates a taste for more. Resist the same way you resist candy- by never opening the box.)

Verse 11: The rich think of their wealth as an impregnable defense; they imagine it is a high wall of safety. (Rich people are mistaken if they think money can provide safety because there are too many ways to lose that power. The government may cease to back it, thieves may steal it, inflation may ruin it. But God never loses his power. Look to him for security and safety. He is always faithful.)

Verse 22: The man who finds a wife finds a treasure and receives favor from the Lord. (This verse says it is good to be married. In today's world with emphasis on individual freedoms, a strong marriage still is important. God created marriage for our enjoyment and he pronounced it good.)

Verse 23: The Poor plead for mercy; the rich answer with insults. (It is wrong for rich people to treat the less fortunate with contempt and arrogance and God will judge such actions severely.)

Verse 24: There are "friends" who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother. (Many people feel cut off from others. Loneliness is everywhere. We all need friends who will stick close, listen, care and offer help in good times and in bad. It is better to have one friend like this than a dozen superficial friends. Instead of wishing you could find a true friend, seek to become one. )

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? The lessons in this chapter are just as relevant as they were hundreds of years ago when they were written. There are still rich folks who hide behind their money. The Ponzi schemes took it from them and they are no longer safe from greed. I hope everyone who got caught up in the scams and bank fraud has learned their lesson. I hope each of them has turned to God and not become hardened by their unfortunate experiences. God can ease the pain. God can show them and you mercy and grace and can put everyone on the path to righteousness and lead us to the promise of heaven.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH: Pray for Gabe.
Pray for Janice Long’s parents, especially her mother who faces another round of chemotherapy and her father with Alzheimer’s and now her mother in law also with Alzheimer’s. Their family is feeling the strain both emotionally and financially. Pray for them. Update on this family: Her mother-in-law is being taken to Oklahoma to live with an aunt who will care for her.
Pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life.
Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer.
Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. Thanks to your prayers, she is able to hobble without a cane and has been granted disability. She still has surgery scheduled on her hand, but I saw her recently and her attitude is fantastic.
Pray for Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.
Pray for my friend from church Gary Summers who has cancer.
Pray for Judy’s husband who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Pray for her too, that she can deal with the side effects of his illness.
Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who is undergoing chemo for his prostate cancer. Update on Robert: he has one more treatment and then three months of waiting for his psat test to come back clean.
Pray for John’s recovery from a heart attack and for the doctors who have difficulty diagnosing his other symptoms.
Pray for James’s sister Cynthia whose chemo has lost its effect as the cancer grows powerful.
Pray for another friend named Carolyn whose faith remains strong, but is lost and confused about where and how to spend her elder years.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.