#Proverbs 4:1

[wiirocku]

Proverbs 4:1 (NKJV) - Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding;

[walkswithmyfather]

1. When you need, God knows:

Philippians 4:19 (NIV). “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”

2. When you ask, God listens:

Proverbs 15:29 (ESV). “The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.”

3. When you believe, God works:

2 Kings 20:5 (NIV). “I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you.”

4. When you thank, God gives more. Jesus gave thanks and fed the five thousand!

Matthew 14:17-21 (NIV). “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. “Bring them here to me,” he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.”

5. Everything comes from God:

James 1:17 (AMP). “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of lights [the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens], in whom there is no variation [no rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [for He is perfect and never changes].”

6. And whatever you give, you'll get just as much back, if not more!

Luke 6:38 (CSB). “Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over—will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”

We serve a good, loving and giving God! Amen! 🙏🕊️🙌

[disneynerdpumpkin]

~ Scriptures about forgiveness ~

Matthew 6:15 "But if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

Ephesians 4:32 "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."

Colossians 3:13 "Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive."

Daniel 9:9 "To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him."

Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

Proverbs 10:12 "Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses."

Micah 7:18 "Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love."

Mark 11:25 "And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."

Luke 17:3-4 "Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him."

Luke 6:37 "Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:"

Matthew 6:14 "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:"

1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Isaiah 1:8 "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

James 5:16 "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

[tabernacleheart]

How many times has God asked us to do something, and we have either not done it, or we have done it halfway? This is pride. This is us saying, “I am God, and I know what’s best for me in this situation.” Pride is running rampant in today’s world: pride in personal prestige, pride in income, pride in ability, pride in family, and so much more. This pride is turning us away from God and making us focus on ourselves and what we can accomplish.

In James 4:6-8, James states that God opposes the proud and shows favor to the humble. We need to humble ourselves in the face of the Lord to receive His favor. When we realize all we have and all we have accomplished is a blessing from the Lord, we have no room for pride. Proverbs 16:18 adds to the danger of pride by saying it is the precursor to destruction. Pride leads to destruction! [This is an inevitable outcome, for pride opposes God, and anything that goes against Him is doomed to downfall. Yet] if we know this to be true, why do we continue to harbor pride over insignificant things in our lives?

To live an overflowing life [of grace], we must rid ourselves of pride. If we want to be Spirit-filled, there is no room for it. 

Jeremiah Hosford

[futurefind]

THE 'HYPOCRISY' OF LOYALTY

ON: SASUME'S INTERSECTION OF LOVE VS LOYALTY VS MORALITY (AND, HER PROPENSITY FOR 'KNIGHT'/'DRAGON' ROLES)

Much of Sasume's base behaviors and mindset comes from her upbringing—a street rat and orphan who was ostracized at best by those in her hometown. Setting aside the resulting trauma (for the most part), such an upbringing set the stage for her morality and relationships, as well as relationships with morality itself.

Firstly, this impacts her pride. Yes, internally, but also externally: she ranges from crippling insecurity and discomfort to outright aggression when it comes to those of higher classes and/or positions of power (and/or 'formal' contexts).

Combined, this sets the stage for her boundless compassion and staunch sense of justice—not simply kindness for kindness's sake (although it certainly is that, too), but as active rebellion against such a cruel world that harms its people. Hence, her default support of those most vulnerable is paired with a default defensiveness against those with power (and thus power to exploit the former).

However,

Nothing effects her point of view as much as her loyalty. It may be earned justly to match her own morality (such as being a compassionate, or similarly loyal, or valuing true justice/equality), but... it may also be earned simply for treating Sasume correctly.

Not 'correctly' as in 'kindly' or even 'morally,' but as in simply giving her 'just enough' to inspire loyalty. Whether it's giving her mercy after being the one to threaten her, or generosity after depriving her, or simply sheer attrition and proximity (even with extreme starting animosity), or sheer chance, it is not hard to earn her favor.

Not because she is gullible, but because of the core issue of her childhood: isolation.

Sasume, at her core, is lonely and she is alone, and no matter how much she may insist otherwise or have grown accustomed to it, she is desparate to be otherwise. Combined with her difficulty in letting people in, as well as how impersonable she is to strangers, and she is wont to quickly and staunchly become attached to those willing to become 'attached' to her (however reciprocated it may, or may not, be).

And once her loyalty is won it is very, very hard to persuade her otherwise. The more intense the loyalty, the more unshakeable her faith. It may be hard to gauge or appreciate it overall, but the peak of it is clear: not just asking if she's loyal, but asking for her loyalty itself.

She might give a more mixed response, yes, but she may also not. May not just give but swear her (entire) loyalty to them. Ownership of her loyalty. Unquestioningly, irrevocably, evermore.

While her loyalty may, unsurprisingly, come with things like admiration, respect, and affection, it does not require an absence of things like scorn or condemnation.

Such 'contradictions' may be a given in interpersonal relationships, but in the right (or wrong) hands this can be taken to extremes.

She can overlook or outright enable cruelties, or even enact them for the other. She may not like, may treat it as inevitable but unfortunate as needing to use her violence onto others, but she can and she will if need be.

Not only does her loyalty supersede all, allowing her to sacrifice her own morality, but also to sacrifice herself. Whether its exploitation, her raw destructive power, or simple disposability, she is willing to suffer damn near anything for those who have her loyalty, her love.

Because, in the end, that is the crux of it: those she loves have her loyalty, and those who have her loyalty have her love.

And in such a cruel and lonely world, how can anything else be more important than that?

Author's Note: While novels may have stories that have fixed characters with fixed decisions and fixed consequences, set in stone especially in the writer(s)'s eyes, roleplay is a collaborative and continuous form of storytelling. Thusly, the relationship between Sasume's love and loyalty and her morality can have any number of outcomes. Perhaps it could entail her becoming corrupted, a villain's Dragon, or perhaps it could have her swearing her undying loyalty to one that may be called a hero. On the other end, mayhaps she's a genuine friend, or perhaps a mere pawn that's been carefully manipulated into giving away her everything. Perhaps she inspires them to do better (potentially to the point of a redemption arc), or perhaps her compassion and selflessness inspires resentment for her 'idiocy'. Maybe it's a combination of a number of these things, mixed and molded together, or maybe it's a rollercoaster of completely different things on a single path. They only way to know for sure is to try and see. :)

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Truths to Live By - One Day at a Time

by William MacDonald

“Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.” - Proverbs 4:1-2

In the first four verses of Proverbs 4, Solomon describes how good advice can and should be passed down from one generation to another. He tells how his father had taught him, then urges his son, in turn, to pay attention to good doctrine and sound instruction.

It is sensible for young people to learn as much as possible from their earthly parents concerning the practical affairs of life. But it is also true that, in the spiritual sphere, every young Christian should have a spiritual mentor—someone to whom he can go with his questions, someone in whom he can confide, someone who will share from a rich store of experience and someone who will be candid in dealing with areas of need. If a parent can fill this role, all the better. But if not, someone else should be sought out.

Godly, mature believers have accumulated a vast amount of practical knowledge. No doubt they have experienced defeats, but they have learned valuable lessons from them and have learned how to avoid them the next time. Older Christians can often see aspects of a problem that young people might miss. And they have learned to be balanced and to avoid unreasonable extremes.

A wise young Timothy will cultivate a Paul, trying to draw on his wisdom and know-how. He will save himself from humiliations and blunders by checking first with someone who has been through it before him. Instead of treating old age with contempt, he will honor those who have fought in the conflict and have maintained a good record.

Generally speaking, older saints will not push themselves on the young. They know that no advice is as unwelcome as advice that is unsolicited. But, when asked, they are always glad to share insights that have been of help to them along the way.

So whether a young person is having a struggle with lust, or wants to know how to find God’s guidance, or seeks to raise a family for the Lord, or wonders if God is calling him to the mission field, or needs help in managing his finances, or longs for a more effective prayer life—he would be wise to seek the help of a spiritual guide who can bring the light of Scripture to shine on the particular problem. Underneath those gray hairs there is often a fund of wisdom to be tapped. Why learn the hard way when you can profit from the insights and past experience of others?  

[touchofgoddotworld]

Whose Report Do You Believe? (270) - November 2 2024

Choose your Podcast App to Play this episode Pastor Catrice speaks on this week’s topic about the heart of the Christian when finding themselves in a Wilderness. Moses sent out scouts to report back what they found in Canaan, the land which God had given His children. However, some of them brought back an evil report because they were afraid of what they saw and didn’t acknowledge the Lord and…

[bojackson54]

Since Wisdom is a Rare Commodity, Share Some of Yours With US!

“Then he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; Keep my commandments and live; Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding!” (Proverbs 3:4-5, NIV). Taught and Caught Make a quick mental list of things important to you that were taught to you by someone else. The obvious things like reading, riding a bike, swimming, and driving a car come to mind… And then there are the subtle…

[ciochinaflorin]

213 I 2024. CALEA SAU 4. ÎL ÎNVĂȚ PE COPIL CARE ESTE MISIUNEA LUI [Proverbe 22.6 I 1 Samuel 15.20 I Psalmul 1.3] 31 Iulie 2024

213 I 2024. CALEA 4. ÎL ÎNVĂȚ PE COPIL CARE ESTE MISIUNEA LUI I Podcast I Pasaje Biblice : Proverbe 22 : 6 I I Samuel 15 : 20 I Psalmul 1 : 3 I Meditaţii din Cuvânt I Cezareea I Reşiţa I 31 Iulie 2024 I Calea 4. Îl învăț pe copil care este misiunea lui. Misiunea oricărui credincios este să facă voia Lui Dumnezeu și să împlinească toată lucrarea Lui (a se vedea Ioan 4 : 34) adică să ducă la bun…

[mindfulldsliving]

Understanding the Fear of God: Impact on Faith and Wisdom

It is vital to rest in God's love, but that love is best understood when seen against the backdrop of His awe-inspiring greatness and our own need for His mercy. This perspective doesn’t just comfort us; it transforms us, grounding us in true wisdom that

Photo by Jr Korpa on Unsplash Introduction Proverbs 9:10-12 provides profound insights into the interconnectedness of the fear of God, faith, wisdom, and God’s love. These verses emphasize that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and that understanding leads to a fulfilling life. To fully grasp the depth of these concepts, it’s essential to explore related scriptures and their…

[trueconservativepundit]

Lead Your Family by Example

By Adrian Rogers “The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: to know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding, to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity; to give prudence to the simple,”  Proverbs 1:1-4 A wise man can look down the pike: he can prepare for the future; he can see danger; and he can get out of the way. But this is not…

[spiritualreload]

Fireside: The Proverbs of David

“When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.” Psalm 27:10 David, The Follower It is no secret that David was a man after God’s heart. David admired the Lord, and the Lord admired David. Jehovah invaded every part of David’s life, for David invited Him into every phase of his journey: As Soldier As Shepherd As Musician As King As Husband As a Son And also as a…

[walkswithmyfather]

1. “David and Saul finished talking, and soon David and Jonathan became best friends. Jonathan thought as much of David as he did of himself. From that time on, Saul kept David in his service and would not let David go back to his own family. Jonathan liked David so much that they promised to always be loyal friends. Jonathan took off the robe that he was wearing and gave it to David. He also gave him his military clothes, his sword, his bow and arrows, and his belt. David was a success in everything that Saul sent him to do, and Saul made him a high officer in his army. That pleased everyone, including Saul's other officers.” —1 Samuel 18:1‭-‬5 (CEV)

2. “You are better having a friend than to be all alone, because then you will get more enjoyment out of what you earn. If you fall, your friend can help you up. But if you fall without having a friend nearby, you are really in trouble.” —Ecclesiastes 4:9‭-‬10 (CEV)

3. “As one piece of iron sharpens another, so friends keep each other sharp.” —Proverbs 27:17 (ERV)

4. “A friend is there to help, in any situation, and relatives are born to share our troubles.” —Proverbs 17:17 (CEV)

5. “Then the Lord God said, “I see that it is not good for the man to be alone. I will make the companion he needs, one just right for him.”—Genesis 2:18 (ERV)

Ever since the beginning of the Word, it has been Gods plan that we not go through life alone. Jesus Himself had His Disciples, close friends to support Him through tough times. He said, “Servants don't know what their master is doing, and so I don't speak to you as my servants. I speak to you as my friends, and I have told you everything my Father has told me.” (John 15:15, CEV)

A good friend is a blessing from God. Amen! 🙌

[dwuerch-blog]

Call Her Baby!

Nikki, our Vietnamese manicurist, overheard Carl say: “Donna, what do you think about that?” Nikki piped up as she was doing my nails: “You don’t call her Donna! You call her Baby!” I turned and looked at Carl and said, “She’s right. I’m not Donna to you. I am “Baby!” We laughed about it because we do call each other pet names most of the time. Today we celebrate our marriage’s…

[scripture-pictures]

[tom4jc]

Are You On Fire?

One of the things my wife and I love to do is sit in front of our fireplace and watch it, during the few days it is cool enough to run in Texas. Although our fireplace is a gas fireplace and does not consume anything other than gas, it is great to watch. When we can, we also love to have an outside firepit to watch and roast marshmallows on. Fire is something that many people love to watch. It…