Proverbs for daily life

The Book of Proverbs Chapter 27
(Please read each chapter entirely. I will comment on a few verses with the help of my NLT Bible.)

Verses 1 & 2: Don't brag about tomorrow; since you don't know what the day will bring. Don't praise yourself; let others do it! (These two verses are common sense and let you experience humility.)

Verse 6: Wounds from a friend are better than many kisses from an enemy. (A friend has your best interests at heart and may give you unpleasant advice at times, but you know it is for your own good. An enemy, may whisper sweet words while sending you on your way to ruin.)

Verses 15 & 16: A nagging wife is as annoying as the constant dripping on a rainy day. Trying to stop her complaints is like trying to stop the wind or hold something with greased hands. (Nagging is a form of torture. People nag because they think they are not getting through, but it hinders communication more than it helps. )

Verse 21: Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but a person is tested by being praised. (Your attitude toward praise tells much about your character. Those of high integrity are not swayed by praise. They stick to their convictions and do what they should whether praised or not.)

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? This chapter's verses 15& 16 hit home to me today. I have done some nagging in my time and lately heard a bunch of it from a relative's relationship. Many times we are more concerned with being right-getting our own way- than about the person you are pretending to help. Think of a better, more effective way to get through to the other person. Surprise them with words of patience and love and see what happens.
I have seen this last sentence work in my daughter's marriage. Whenever her husband does special chores for her, she calls him "my hero" and gives him praise - and it works so well. Try it yourself!

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
Pray for my friend Carolyn whose sister Wanda died today. She is out of pain and with her Lord.
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 Gary Summers, my friend from church, 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.