Proverbs, chapter 14

9 Fools mock at making amends for sin,
but goodwill is found among the upright. – Proverbs 14:9

I have made a lot of mistakes in my life. I am probably going to continue making mistakes because I am human. I cannot attain perfection no matter how hard I try. What I won’t do, however, is mock people who seek to makes amends for our mistakes. Those that seek forgiveness see that it is a way to gain reconciliation. They try to make a mends for what they have done wrong, so we should commend them on that. That ties into the next verse I want to focus on:

15 A simple man believes anything,
but a prudent man gives thought to his steps. – Proverbs 14:15

Part of the reason we find ourselves mired in sin is a lack of forethought. If we don’t plan ahead there really is no point in living. Our lives are then directionless and we are not living our lives with the purpose God has for us. Planning is important, but we cannot go the other way and become so focused on the planning that we forget to live. We must remember what we believe, and more importantly why we believe it, as my father told me dozens of times while growing up. If we don’t know why we believe in something the world will tell us what to believe in.

29 A patient man has great understanding,
but a quick-tempered man displays folly. – Proverbs 14:29

If you want to talk about lessons I need to learn, this is one of them. The bad thing is that I know the last five years have been meant to teach me patience, but instead I have let bitterness creep in until recently. I have always been a bit of a hothead. When you through frustration and bitterness on top of that it can make for a volatile situation. This is why I am actively seeking God’s patience and wisdom, because I know that my way is not the way to go.

Proverbs, chapter 13

Yesterday I spoke about keeping my big mouth shut. It is a weakness I have, but it is one that I am slowly learning to overcome. It seems as if I have two extremes. Either I am talking too much on a topic and repeat my thoughts over and over, or I am silent and barely want to speak. Maybe that is the book of Proverbs finally taking root in me.

3 He who guards his lips guards his life,
but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin. – Proverbs 13:3

This does not mean we should always be silent. On the contrary, we are charged with spreading the Word of God at all times. It is hard to do that if we remain silent all the time. Instead, God is asking us to think before we speak. Words can have incredible value, but there is nothing worse than speaking when you have nothing to say. That is what reality television is for, especially on the E Network.

7 One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;
another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth. – Proverbs 13:7

This is another fundamental problem with society, and a major reason our economy is in shambles at the moment. People think they must be rich, so they spend money they do not have and rack up huge amounts of debt. Nothing but trouble lies that way. It is a departure from the Biblical principles that work. I know because I am proof of this. Not having a permanent job for four and a half years has certainly not made me rich, yet God has provided and we have never been without, plus we have virtually zero debt.

20 He who walks with the wise grows wise,
but a companion of fools suffers harm. – Proverbs 13:20

The final point I want to make today is to watch the company you keep, as told in verse 20 here. I know today’s entry has come off as somewhat cynical. I apologize for that, as it is my poor attitude getting in the way. Still, the book of Proverbs warned us, millennia ago to watch the company that we keep. We learn the most from those around us. If we keep good company that is a step along the road to wisdom.

Proverbs, chapter 12

1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but he who hates correction is stupid. – Proverbs 12:1

I wanted to start today’s entry with the very first verse because it is one of the most poignant you will ever see in the Bible. I know it is a point I have tried to make over and over again here, but I think that it is because it is something that God wants to make sure we know. If we truly are going to seek knowledge we must always be ready for discipline. It is impossible to grow without discipline. Even if it is painful, it is probably for our own good.

15 The way of a fool seems right to him,
but a wise man listens to advice. – Proverbs 12:15

Another key component of wisdom is knowing that we are not the source of it. We must always have our ears open to wisdom. This is true not for ourselves, but for others. One of the most stunning things I have discovered recently is that people have come to me for wisdom. I just turned 30, yet people respect me for wisdom I might have. Inside I feel 15 still some days. I should be the one seeking wisdom, and I strive to do it every day for the rest of my life. On both sides of the coin we must be willing and able to listen when necessary.

18 Reckless words pierce like a sword,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing. – Proverbs 12:18

This is in conjunction with verse 15. If we are going to speak wisdom to others we must be careful with what we say. We can do a lot of good with the words we say, but we can do a lot of bad as well. Believe me, when I was working full-time I had a problem with what I said. I was young and idealistic, so I thought people would appreciate an honest take on things. Sometimes a little tact can help you be on the right side of the line between wisdom and reckless.

Proverbs, chapter 11

Part of true wisdom is humility. We must know when we do not have all the answers, and therefore we should seek them in those cases. Unfortunately, it is human nature to charge ahead blindly without knowing. I’ll give you an example. I am a big college football fan. I am going to see a game this weekend, but it is on a campus I have never been to before. I could charge ahead blindly, thinking I know everything because I got o games all the time. Without humility and seeking the wisdom of directions, however, I can impair my weekend.

Think of God and the wisdom He offers as the ultimate game day guide to any stadium. I have produced a game day guide to Purdue’s Ross-Ade Stadium That many fans have found quite helpful when they visit Purdue. Well, God’s Word is our game day guide to life. Think of the book of Proverbs here as the parking guide. You need the basic knowledge of where to park before you can enjoy the game.

2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with humility comes wisdom. – Proverbs 11:2

There is nothing wrong with being proud of what we have accomplished as long as we realize that the ultimate source of our accomplishments lies in God. I have built a popular sports blog that has been read by people as far away as Argentina. It thrills me to no end that I have readers thank me for what I do every week, but ultimately it is God’s glory, because I know this is only a step along the way. This is part of the process of Him putting me in a better position to do His work. I must remain humble before God and give Him the glory here.

23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
but the hope of the wicked only in wrath. – Proverbs 11:23

This ties in with the idea that God is preparing me for something better than what I am currently doing. It is my desire that I serve His kingdom at all times and in all places. I know I can do great work through my writing, but I must wait to get there first. I must strive to be righteous and serve His ends first so that my life might have meaning.

Proverbs, chapter 10

In Proverbs 10 today we see the theme of Proverbs change slightly. The book now is not focusing on a single thought, but rather on a collection of thoughts and advice from King Solomon. This is a good idea because you can almost take what you want from it. Since I believe the Bible is the living Word of God, I believe it can speak to me at different times. If I read a verse one day it may not mean much depending on my circumstances at the time. If I read the same verse years later it can feel like a lightning bolt revelation. I don’t see any of those revelations today, but I do see some good things in the context of the moment.

⁷ The memory of the righteous will be a blessing,
but the name of the wicked will rot. – Proverbs 10:7

My wife and I recently moved to a larger apartment in our same building. The place we had lived for almost the last five years, since we got married, was getting too small for us. As we finished moving things out yesterday, however, there was a very sad moment. We would never again see our first home together. The walls were bare, the floors were empty, and the only reminders that we were ever there for so long were some nail holes in the wall. Just before I turned the keys in this morning I went back upstairs and did one last walkthrough of place. I prayed that God’s love, mercy, grace, peace, strength, and everything else would be poured out upon anyone who lives there after us until He returns.

How does this relate to the verse above? I want my memory to be a blessing upon those after me, even if I never meet them. I will likely never meet the people that live int hat apartment after me. I still pray for them. I still want them to receive God’s blessing and mercies. That is why I think it links in with this next verse:

¹⁷ He who heeds discipline shows the way to life,
but whoever ignores correction leads others astray. – Proverbs 10:17

I know that part of my discipline means that I must always seek the kingdom of God. I must always be willing to impart that gift on others. This morning’s gesture may have been a silly thing. I likely will forget about it and not know any results until after I am dead, but I still did it because I feel God called me to do it. I pray that you will have a similar type of discipline this day.

Proverbs, chapter 9

What is the difference between wisdom and folly? That is the question that Proverbs 9 tried to answer. It is a short chapter, but it is one that tries to draw a clear distinction between the two. From Solomon's words here, both wisdom and folly call to us. They say that all who are simple should come here. They promise wisdom when we lack judgment, but there is a difference between the two.

¹¹ For through me your days will be many,
       and years will be added to your life.

 ¹² If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you;
       if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer."

 ¹³ The woman Folly is loud;
       she is undisciplined and without knowledge. – Proverbs 9:11-13

To me, the biggest difference between wisdom and folly is their basis. True wisdom is based with God behind it. Folly is more likely based in the thoughts of man. We may think we are smart, but the truth is that mankind has absolutely no idea what it is doing if it turns away from God. That is why Folly is undisciplined and loud. We think we know what is going on. We boast about it. In truth, however, we are lost children. When you are seeking wisdom remember to tests its source. That is how you define between wisdom and folly.

Proverbs, Chapter 8

I have spoken a lot here recently about seeking wisdom at all times. After all, we have to do our part to constantly seek God in all we do. Today, in Proverbs chapter 8, we see that wisdom wants to be found. God wants us to find the wisdom that we seek. He even goes so far as to tell us that wisdom seeks us if we are open to look for it. That makes the journey that much easier.

⁴ "To you, O men, I call out;
       I raise my voice to all mankind.

 ⁵ You who are simple, gain prudence;
       you who are foolish, gain understanding. – Proverbs 8:4-5

This is why I love that God is an interactive God. He does not sit back on a cloud, waiting for us to come to Him. He leaves his wisdom in places where we can find it easily. He wants us to find Him. He wants us to seek him at all times, trying to know what He wants us to know. The biggest place, of course, is His Word in the bible. We find it in other places though. We find it in quiet moments of prayer and reflection. We find it when we calm our hearts and listen for His voice even when our bodies cry out for action.

I wish this came as easy as it sounds though. Anyone who has read this blog before knows that it is as much a quest for personal wisdom as it is me trying to teach what I have learned. I am once again in a place where I crave that wisdom that God is offering. Sitting at home every day, unemployed, is not good for my personal mindset. I know God has something better planned for me. Fortunately, he spoke to me today with these following words.

³² "Now then, my sons, listen to me;
       blessed are those who keep my ways.

 ³³ Listen to my instruction and be wise;
       do not ignore it.

 ³⁴ Blessed is the man who listens to me,
       watching daily at my doors,
       waiting at my doorway.

 ³⁵ For whoever finds me finds life
       and receives favor from the LORD. – Proverbs 8:32-35

Like everything with God, this is a matter of faith. This is His promise to us. If we seek wisdom, we will find it. It may not be instant. It may not be a parting of the clouds moment, where a ray of sunlight hits you and a voice from above tells you what you are supposed to do. It is there though. I know God will be faithful to me. I know it in my heart even when my mind tells me I have been abandoned. That is what keeps me alive.

Proverbs, Chapter 7

Proverbs 7 serves as another warning against adultery, but I think the language of the text here suggest that it is a different type of adultery. The wisdom given in this chapter is more meant as a preventative measure from getting tripped up by all that tempts us in life, not just sexual temptation. The adulteress in this chapter can serve as a metaphor for all types of temptation that can lure us away from the path that God has chosen us.

 ² Keep my commands and you will live;
       guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.

 ³ Bind them on your fingers;
       write them on the tablet of your heart.

 ⁴ Say to wisdom, "You are my sister,"
       and call understanding your kinsman;

 ⁵ they will keep you from the adulteress,
       from the wayward wife with her seductive words. – Proverbs 7:2-5

Life can be seductive. That which can destroy us or take us off the path God has for us can be seductive. The only true way to avoid these temptations is through the knowledge that God provides in His word. That is why Solomon, the author of this book, warns us to guard these teachings. He is not only talking about the word of Proverbs, but the Word of God itself.

It is the word of God that guides us. As I have said many times previously when writing about the book of Proverbs, the Word is God's way of keeping us on the path that He has intended for us. When we are on that path, life is good. Unfortunately, as this chapter suggests, life wants to lure us away from that path. It makes things look easier, when in truth it is quite the opposite. We are never the master of our own destinies, but it is only by submitting ourselves to the wisdom God provides that we can truly find our place.

Proverbs, Chapter 6

Part of seeking wisdom is acknowledging that we need to seek it. This is where I was about a week ago. After a long talk with my father about being so lost, he pointed out that sometimes you need to step back and simply ask god to show us back to the path. In those moments we need to repent that we are lost, and we must seek God. Proverbs 6 today shows that one of the main reasons we get lost is because we strike out on our own path, rather than seeking the path God has set before us. I admit god slapped me in the face this morning with these first three verses:

 ¹ My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor,
       if you have struck hands in pledge for another,

 ² if you have been trapped by what you said,
       ensnared by the words of your mouth,

 ³ then do this, my son, to free yourself,
       since you have fallen into your neighbor's hands:
       Go and humble yourself;
       press your plea with your neighbor! – Proverbs 6:1-3

Most of the time I really have no idea what I am doing. God made it plain to me a few years ago that I am on this earth to write. Since that time, the only place that I truly find peace is in my writing. When my recent job fell apart late last week, I was laid off after just three days on the job because of a lack of revenue for the site I was managing. Imagine my frustration. I had waited four and a half years for a full-time job. I was given one that allowed me to work from home and to write about something I love. It was taken away after just three days, leaving me more lost than before.

So I am trying to humble myself this morning and seek the wisdom that God has for me. I feel like I am at the mercy of the world, not knowing what to do next with no more doors open before me. I must push forward though. This chapter says that we are to continue working without being lazy. I know God wants me to write, so I write at my ventures that won't pay the bills because I know I am building a foundation with them. It is all I can do this morning.

Proverbs, Chapter 5

There is not a single positive thing that can come out of adultery. It destroys trust, lives, and any benefits from it are only for the short term. It is ironic that we get a warning from King Solomon in Proverbs, chapter 5, as he had over 700 wives and 300 concubines. Why then should we trust a man who so clearly disregarded God's design for sexuality and marriage.

Perhaps it is because he speaks from experience. The entire idea behind sexuality is that it is an intimate, treasured experience. God only means for us to share it between a husband and wife. As always, God's idea about something is much better than anything man can come up with. From what I have seen, those that value this idea are much happier in the long run than those that do not.

 ²⁰ Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress?
       Why embrace the bosom of another man's wife?

 ²¹ For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD,
       and he examines all his paths.

 ²² The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him;
       the cords of his sin hold him fast.

 ²³ He will die for lack of discipline,
       led astray by his own great folly. – Proverbs 5:20-23

Adultery affects more than the people committing it. It is an affront to God, turning away from Him in one of the strongest ways we can turn from him. It is a selfish act, and it strong speaks of a lack of discipline. Discipline comes from sticking through event he bad times, and that includes with a spouse. Without discipline, you can never find true wisdom.

Proverbs, Chapter 4

As the heading of today's chapter states, wisdom is supreme. It is also found all around us. Since God is always accessible, His wisdom is always accessible to us as well. We don't have to go on some great hunt for the wisdom we seek. It is often right there in front of us. Solomon makes and interesting point about that early on, speaking about how he gained wisdom from his father, David.

 ³ When I was a boy in my father's house,
       still tender, and an only child of my mother,

 ⁴ he taught me and said,
       "Lay hold of my words with all your heart;
       keep my commands and you will live.

 ⁵ Get wisdom, get understanding;
       do not forget my words or swerve from them.

 ⁶ Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
       love her, and she will watch over you. – Proverbs 4:3-6

For many, this is where the root of wisdom comes from. It comes from a mentor that is willing to instill the proper teaching in us early. In a way, that is another responsibility that comes from seeking wisdom. We must also be willing to share it with others so that they may know. That is part of our responsibility, and it is our charge from the Great Commission given to us by Christ at the end of Matthew.

Wisdom means nothing if we horde it for ourselves. Wisdom is something that needs action. It needs a change to grow and flourish, otherwise it is not true wisdom. Think about your education. If you are a doctor, what good is all the wisdom you have gained in school if you do not put it into practice? It means nothing, right? It is the use of the Wisdom that God provides for us that is the true value of that wisdom.

²⁰ My son, pay attention to what I say;
       listen closely to my words.

 ²¹ Do not let them out of your sight,
       keep them within your heart;

 ²² for they are life to those who find them
       and health to a man's whole body.

 ²³ Above all else, guard your heart,
       for it is the wellspring of life. – Proverbs 4:20-23

We are to keep this wisdom in our heart because that is where we often make our decisions. Sure, there are plenty of decisions we think through completely. There are quick decision, however, that must be made with the heart. With God's wisdom in our heart we always have the proper foundation to make these decisions.

 

Proverbs, Chapter 3

There are more benefits of wisdom than just gaining access to God's plan in our lives. That is a fantastic benefit in itself because we are happiest when we are doing what God has planned for us. In Proverbs chapter 3 today we see some other tangible benefits from seeking wisdom. God offers this wisdom to us because He loves us. Imagine that for just a moment.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to sit down and speak with my father. He is a man that has been walking closely with God for almost all of my life. He explained some things to me that I needed to hear since I had fallen away a bit in my walk with God. As he told me, not only is God still in the same place and never moves, He also loves us and wants us to come back to Him for wisdom. That love is never ending as well. It never goes away and we need only seek it if we want to find it.

 ³ Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
       bind them around your neck,
       write them on the tablet of your heart.

 ⁴ Then you will win favor and a good name
       in the sight of God and man.

 ⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart
       and lean not on your own understanding;

 ⁶ in all your ways acknowledge him,
       and he will make your paths straight. – Proverbs 3:3-6

When we think of binding something around our necks, it can be considered to be a burden. After all, this is how animals are handled when they are attached to plows. When we allow love and faithfulness to bind us, however, we can never go wrong. That love is God's love as promised above. There is not one thing ever wrong with God's love. The more of it we accept, the better. As we see here, we are taught to rely on His love and understand. It is when we begin relying on our own understanding that we begin to fall.

 ²⁵ Have no fear of sudden disaster
       or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,

 ²⁶ for the LORD will be your confidence
       and will keep your foot from being snared. – Proverbs 3:25-26

I wanted to focus on these verses to end today's entry. Once again, this is a promise from God that He will always be there to love and care for us. Does this mean that our lives will be perfect without any adversity? No. We will still have to face things that go wrong. These things can be big or small, but they still happen. With God's love and wisdom, however, we have no reason to fear it. He will help us from being snared and paralyzed into inaction when we face these troubles. Again, this comes from relying on god instead of ourselves. It is when we begin to rely on ourselves that we take our first step toward failure.

 

Proverbs, chapter 2

As I mentioned yesterday, Proverbs is about a search for wisdom. Today, in chapter two of Proverbs, Solomon explains the moral benefits of wisdom. Let's face it, much of this world has lost its way in terms of morality. Unfortunately, this departure from morality has affected me too much because it has made me a very bitter person. It is this bitterness that has led me here to Proverbs, ironically, because I am seeking the wisdom to get away from it.

 ¹ My son, if you accept my words
       and store up my commands within you,

 ² turning your ear to wisdom
       and applying your heart to understanding,

 ³ and if you call out for insight
       and cry aloud for understanding,

 ⁴ and if you look for it as for silver
       and search for it as for hidden treasure,

 ⁵ then you will understand the fear of the LORD
       and find the knowledge of God. – Proverbs 2:1-5

Seeking wisdom takes work. The payoff, however, is clear if we seek it. Once again, understanding the fear of the Lord does not mean we have to be afraid of what God has for us. It means we must be receptive to His teachings and respect what He can do for us. Part of the reason for the lack of morality in the world is that people have fallen away from this. I am not immune to this, as it is not uncommon for people to shy away from hard work. This is hard work that pays off, however, as it opens the door to so many other things.

 ²¹ For the upright will live in the land,
       and the blameless will remain in it;

 ²² but the wicked will be cut off from the land,
       and the unfaithful will be torn from it. – Proverbs 2:21-22

This is another reason that I like the book of Proverbs. The author, Solomon, is very straightforward. He plainly states what the consequences are if we do not seek the moral wisdom that God offers. If we stay upright we are promised eternity because that way walks with God. If we walk in the ways of man, however, we will be cut off from God.

 

Proverbs, chapter 1

Proverbs is a book that thrives on the search for wisdom. It was written primarily by Solomon. This is significant because God presented Solomon with any gift he could possibly ask for, but Solomon asked for wisdom. He could have had money, power, respect, fame, but instead he chose to ask God for wisdom. God gave him everything else in addition to wisdom, and Proverbs is a collection of that wonderful gift of wisdom. I wanted to come here and begin an in depth study because I am seeking for wisdom as well. It is through proper wisdom and knowledge of God's plan for us that I feel I can finally find some peace in my soul.

⁷ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
       but fools despise wisdom and discipline. – Proverbs 1:7

Does this mean that we have to be afraid of God? Of course not! Fear, in this use, is used primarily to show proper reverence and respect for God. It is the cornerstone of this entire book. If we do not give God the proper credit and respect He deserves then we have no basis for wisdom. That is because we are then basing our wisdom on man, not God. Wisdom based on man has no chance of standing up to God's standard. We must approach God with an attitude of humility and respect, thus allowing us to connect with Him. That is where wisdom begins.

 ²⁰ Wisdom calls aloud in the street,
       she raises her voice in the public squares;

 ²¹ at the head of the noisy streets she cries out,
       in the gateways of the city she makes her speech: -- Proverbs 1:20-21

The amazing thing about wisdom is that it does call to us. God does not want us to walk around in a fog of cluelessness as I have for the past year or so. He wants us to grow and connect with Him. By growing and connecting with Him, we can serve the purpose that He has placed us on this earth for. God wants us to have the wisdom He has promised us because we are also happier when we are serving in the role He wants us to serve. A former pastor of mine once gave a sermon about living in the zone of God's blessing. In short, we are happiest when we are doing what God wants us to do. We feel like we are living in the groove and serving the purpose we were created for.

I have not been in this zone of God's blessing for some time. I know this because I can remember when I was. Nothing is sweeter than being in that spot with God. Even though at the time I was not working a great job, I was still serving in the role God had intended for me. Life is fluid, however. That zone changed for me and I slipped away from it. That is why I am now seeking wisdom, as Proverbs tells me to do, so I can get back.

Taking this in a new direction

I have not been happy with a lot of things lately. I have not been happy with the way this blog was progressing. I have not been happy with the way I have handled news, both good and bad. For example: I recently received wonderful news that I finally had a full-time, permanent job. Not only that, I would be managing a sports website from home. This seems to be perfect for me. I would be getting paid to sit at home, write, and work in a field that I am genuinely interested in. How could it not be better?

My latest reaction, however, has been sheer terror. I am afraid I can't do the job. I am afraid that I will become too tied down to it. I am afraid that it is too good to be true. I start this job on Thursday, and I have so much anxiety that I can barely breathe at times. This anxiety consumes me when I know mentally that there is no reason for it. It doesn't make since that I would be paralyzed by this much apprehension over something so simple. That is what makes the situation all the more frustrating because I should be overjoyed.

The only reason behind his is the same reason this blog has suffered. I have fallen away in my walk from God. There has not been something drastic. I haven't had a great moral failure or anything like that. I have simply relied on myself for too long and I have fallen away from the peace that God offers. The connection that I once had is no longer there. I have felt adrift in my faith. My worship has been non-existent. My spiritual disciplines have been robotic at best.

Today is a good day to move past that. I turn 30 today. It is the age where I can see where I have been and I realize that where I am going is very close at hand. Today I want to repent from how lost I have become and I want to rededicate myself to the plan God has for me. I have gotten here because of a lack of patience, and as a result I don't even know what I want now. One of God's great promises, however, is that he doesn't move. He is still there. I just have to ask him to show me the path back to Him.

Here is what I want for the rest of my life: I want to make the most of the gifts that God has given me. I want to study His Word, His promise to us, and have it speak to me as it once did. God has given me a wonderful gift with the written word. I have no doubt that His plan for my life involves my writing. As much as I enjoy my sportswriting, I know it ultimately means nothing compared to what I can write for God's kingdom. He has given me everything that I need. They are his gifts anyway, not my own. God has placed me in a position where I can influence people for him with the written word. He has placed me where I can reach people for His kingdom, which is what we are called to do.

This is what I want to turn this blog into. I want to continue writing on what God is telling me. I want to study his word, learn from it, and pass it on to others. I know there is much I need to learn, but I want other to learn with me. My own doubts are preventing me from feeling so much. They make me focus on negativity and question if I even believe in all this despite the evidence to the contrary I have seen.

We are told through God's Word that Christ is the only way to salvation. It is by believing in His death on the Cross and resurrection that we are absolved of our sins if we only accept his sacrifice. That is the message. It is so simple, but it takes such a leap of faith to follow because no one can prove it by earthly means. We won't know the final answer on it until we die or He returns as promised. Right now I know I believe it, but my heart does not feel it. I long to share that with others because I know it is my responsibility, but I need to get that feeling back in my heart as well. This has become a quest for inner peace as well as a mission to speak of God's Word.

It is my hope that you will come along with me on this journey as I strive to get back there. I do not have all the answers and never will. I am willing to look for them though. I will begin tomorrow by seeking wisdom from the book of Proverbs. I cannot promise I will post every day, but I feel led in the direction of the book of Proverbs so that is where I shall go. Please be patient as I work through this new direction.