Read the Bible in a Year (19JUL19)

DAILY REMINDER – Today, July 19’s Bible reading is Proverbs 19-21.

NEXT DAY REMINDER – Tomorrow, July 20’s Bible reading is Proverbs 22-23. May God bless you with the reading of His WORD.

PROVERBS MOMENT – (19JUL19) “…a quarrelsome wife is like the constant dripping of a leaky roof” (Proverbs 19:13b). The writer of Proverbs used the analogy of a leaky roof with that of a wife that constantly wants to argue. Basically, he was describing how irritating it can be living with someone who is never at peace. Now, this is not to pounce on women because men are guilty of this too, but many husbands have made the complaint that their wives seem to do nothing but nag. Their complaints range from them not taking out the trash, forgetting to mow the grass, paying a bill late, leaving the toilet seat up, and the list goes on and on. Their wives, in their opinions, act more like their mothers, and never see the positive in anything that they do. The husbands feel as if they are always in the deficit when it comes to appeasing their wives. Yet, one must ask, “Does nagging really accomplish the change that I am looking for?” Most of the time, the answer will be an overwhelming NO. All it does is create a lot of tension within the marriage, and nothing still gets done. So, what are wives to do? Season your words with GRACE.

We are not able to go into a full marriage therapeutic session in this short lesson, but the Bible tells us plenty in a couple of verses. “The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent, and their lips promote instruction. Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the souls and healing to the bones” (Proverbs 16:23-24). The writer of Proverbs was letting the reader know that a wise person is careful with their words to encourage teaching rather than degrading. And tactful words are healing agents and pleasantly uplifting. So, what does this mean? Dear wife, if you want to make progress with your husband, your words, tone, attitude, and timing plays a lot into getting him to respond. If you have a rebuke as soon as he gets home from work without a “how was your day,” then you are not likely to get positive feedback. Now, this is not to say that you do not communicate with your spouse that something is wrong, or address concerns that you have. In an article on Crosswalk.com written by Debbie McDaniel titled 5 Truths I Learned About Being a Nagging Wife, she wrote that although nagging is not limited to women, most do not even realize that they are doing it. She goes on to say that one must remember that the only One who can change a person’s heart is God. Therefore, having the need to feel heard and in control is why nagging normally occurs, but it does not work.

Healthy communication is very important in a marriage, and the lack of it can act as termites to its foundation. You will find that the less communication there is, the more distant you and your spouse will become. Nevertheless, it doesn’t have to be that way if healthy communication is involved. Healthy communication is not yelling and screaming, nagging and belittling, but talking and listening – listening and talking. Your words will either uplift or tear down – build up or destroy. Showing the love of Christ begins with how you treat your spouse and those in your home. The wife sets the tone in the home, so allow your words to flow with love and grace so that positive results will follow. If you do not know how to do this, pray, and ask the Lord to help you honor Him and your husband with words that are pleasing to Him. The Holy Spirit gives us wisdom in all things if we ask. He will teach you how to be the Lady Wisdom of your home who knows when, what, and how to speak. Something to ponder….

QUESTION OF THE DAY - (19JUL19) “Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin”? (Proverbs 20:9). As much as we would like to be perfect, we have all sinned. We live in a world full of sin and we are born into sin. When Adam and Eve fell in the Garden of Eden, it had devastating effects on mankind. Yet, God had a plan so that we would not be eternally lost. That plan was Jesus coming to earth as a baby and dying on the cross for our sins. The Bible says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whosoever believes in him, shall not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). The Good News was not just that Jesus was going to die and take on our sins, but He would rise again so that we too would be able to rise, and one day, take on immortality. The Bible says, “For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies” (1 Corinthians 15:53). Until such time, sin will be in existence until Jesus returns and finally does away with it once and for all time. Aren’t you glad that you have a Risen Savior who enables us to be victorious over sin? I sure am, and I pray that you are too. Something to ponder….

PROVERBS MOMENT – (19JUL19) Many millennials are being called snowflakes. Why is that? They are living in a world that makes them think that they are “entitled” to get any and everything that they want without having to work for it and properly earn it. This is causing many parents to be in distress when their children come home on holiday break from many universities and colleges where socialism is being taught and endorsed. The young people feel that someone owes them something, while they owe nothing to the society who has given them everything. The Bible, however, says, “Discipline your children, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to their deaths” (Proverbs 19:18). The writer of Proverbs was saying that parents must lay down the law with their children, or it will be to their detriment. If there are no standards, boundaries, and rules enforced, then we will have a society of unruly people who throw temper tantrums when they do not get their way. Unfortunately, this is already being played out in society, but those who still have little ones at home can make a change for the better.

The Bible says, “A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty; rescue them, and you will have to do it again” (Proverbs 19:19). If parents do not teach their children how to be model citizens of society, they will have the mindset that they can get by with anything, and it will land them in jail, prison, and even the grave. Although parents want to come to the aid of their children, if they do not learn from their mistakes, then rescuing them every time will do nothing but cripple them later. They should be taught that nothing comes for free and to earn what they get is more satisfying than having and entitlement mentality. Why is there youth willing to kill someone over a pair of shoes? It is because they feel entitled to something that someone else has. Therefore, parents must be mindful that what they allow today, may be to their children’s demise tomorrow. Parents cannot afford to allow society to do their job in teaching their children values, but it begins at home. Something to ponder….