Snippets from Proverbs 16

If you need direction, this Proverb speaks of the Lord's guidance for those who love him (and listen to him)!

To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.

All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord.

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.

The Lord works out everything to its proper end—even the wicked for a day of disaster.

The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: they will not go unpunished.

Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the Lord evil is avoided.

When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone’s way, he causes their enemies to make peace with them.

Better a little with righteousness, than much gain with injustice.

In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.

Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord; all the weights in the bag are of his making.

Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value the one who speaks what is right.

How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver.

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.

The wise in heart are called discerning, and gracious words promote instruction.

Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent, but folly brings punishment to fools.

The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent, and their lips promote instruction.

Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.

The appetite of laborers works for them; their hunger drives them on.

Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.

The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.

Snippets from Proverbs 14

The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.

Whoever fears the lord walks uprightly, but those who despise him are devious in their ways

A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride, but the lips of the wise protect them.

The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.

The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception.

Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright.

Each heart knows its own bitterness and no one else can share its joy.

There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.

Even in laughter the heart may ache, and rejoicing may end in grief.

The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways, and the good rewarded for theirs.

The simple believe anything but the prudent give thought to their steps.

The wise fear the LORD and shun evil, but a fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure.

The simple inherit folly but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

Evildoers will bow down in the presence of the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.

Do not those who plot evil go astray? But those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness.

All hard work brings a profit but mere talk leads only to poverty.

Whoever fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge.

The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death.

Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.

A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.

Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Makers, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.

When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down, but even in death the righteous seek refuge in God.

Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning and even among fools she lets herself be known.

Snippets from Proverbs 13

A wise son hears his father’s instructions but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

The soul of a sluggard craves and gets nothing while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.

The righteous hates falsehood but the wicked brings shame and disgrace.

The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

 Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.

Hope deferred makes the heart sick but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.

Good sense wins favor but the way of the treacherous is their ruin.

In everything the prudent acts with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly.

A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing.

Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction but whoever heeds reproof is honored.

A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.

Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.

The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite but the belly of the wicked suffers want.

Snippets from Proverbs 12

• Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid.
• A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.
• The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.
• Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult.
• The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.  
• The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves, but a fool’s heart blurts out folly.
• Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor.
• Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.
• The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
• In the way of righteousness there is life; along that path is immortality.

How Do You Know When It's God Speaking To You?

Or when it is just your own inner thought life? What about through repeated manifestations of the same ideas/words/thoughts/themes? If you set your mind on Him, can you then "trust" (with qualification) that what is on your mind and heart is allowed there by him?  It is a great mystery. I don't think I have been mislead before, so I guess that a careful acceptance of such messages are not my own Will speaking, but Him guiding and directing me.

Send Me Wisdom From Above

Where am I being called, where am I being tugged?

I grew up in a wonderful, glorious place.

I was nurtured and loved, supported and encouraged by the good and Godly people of Central California.

I was a bright mind, an ambitious branch of the conservative philosophy and theology of the region.

I had a community of like-minded friends who mutually edified and challenged one another.

But I was set on blazing a new trail, and I had a quest and search for more stimulation for my mind, spirit, intellect, soul, and understanding.

This led me to Washington DC.

Everyone here is as I described myself: bright, ambitious, passionate, thoughtful, willing to risk to change the world according to the dictates of their worldview.

I felt like a small fish in a big pond. It was glorious. I found stimulation, challenge, and encouragement everywhere. And I grew, and GREW, and GREW.

Now, I face my life at a crossroads. Have I learned to form and challenge myself (with the proddings and leadings of God, of course), to the point where I could go back to a non-challenging region and still grow? 

Or should I stay in this community of national discourse, intellectual rigor, and educational and imaginative stimulation? DC is truly the nexus of today’s national and worldwide problems and concerns, and to step back and remove myself would be to step down to a lower, more personalistic realm of thought and consideration. Would I be giving up too much if I move? 

God, please make it clear to me. These years are so formative for me, and will define the route of my future path.  I want to do what brings most glory to God. Where will my gifts be most anointed and used? Where will I be most humble, and most open to you? 

Send me wisdom from above!

-JTG

Fun! Fun! Fun!

It's Friday Night!

Quote from my Favorite: Mr. Charles Dickens

“Love her, love her, love her! If she favours you, love her. If she wounds you, love her. If she tears your heart to pieces – and as it gets older and stronger, it will tear deeper – love her, love her, love her!”
― Charles Dickens, Great Expectations

One Down, Fifteen to Go

I just finished a book! I subscribe to goodreads.com to keep track of the books I am trying to get through. I have been reading a lot, and I don't want to start anything new until I finish what I am currently working on (FIFTEEN BOOKS I have started and need to finish). This is one of my Lent projects. I am not going out at night, except for my normal routine of walking and talking on the phone. I really want to finish these books so I can refresh my book selection.

The book I finished this weekend is "Return to Modesty" by Wendy Shalit. Here is an excerpt.

It was depressing, mostly, but I guess it is real life and had some truth to it. Although I don't really like the soapbox tone that sometimes creeps in....it is generally secular, which makes it that much more interesting to me. I am used to hearing this tone from Christians, but this is a widespread, secular publication. I appreciated it for that. It is not sanctimonious, but respectfully pushing against the feminist norms encountered in our secular institutions.

How Do You Know What Love Is?

"What distinguishes all love from lust is the fact that it bears an impress of eternity."-- Soren Kierkegaard

Audience of One

In this stage of my life, much of my time and energy is spent on endeavors that no one but my Lord sees. My internal thoughts and many of my actions are not noticed, rebuked, or affirmed by others. Lest you think that I am complaining or lamenting this fact—please do not assume so! It is a precious life, and during my singleness, I am able to do things for my God alone. 

 First Corinthians 7:34-35:

 “An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. ³⁵ I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.”

In this way, I feel like my life and actions are largely received into the silence, with my God to know and hear me and comfort and provide for me.  And he has done so, so completely and wholly that I am at a loss to understand or comprehend it.

It is good for my vanity to know that God alone sees what I do in secret. I write from my heart, I work from my heart, I serve from my heart, and I do little things here and there to serve Him. And He always knows. My motivations are not to be seen or esteemed by others, but for God to witness my service to Him.

I have a lot to offer the world, and some day I may be involved in more public events than I am today. But for now, my thoughts and my efforts are for God alone. And I am thankful that He appreciates me!

Why Pray For....(Fill-in-the-Blank)

Whether you are praying for marriage, or praying for another longing, this is a beautiful, inspiring article. Thank you Jesus that you don't despise, but love our petitions! Thank you that you answer prayers all the time, and that you have our good in mind. Thank you that you are in charge of the answers to our petitions and needs.

Why Pray for a Husband?

Carolyn McCulley
September 12, 2011 

Over several years of ministering to single women, I've heard one question asked repeatedly: "Should I pray for a husband?" On the surface, it can seem an odd question, but I am sympathetic to the reasons why it is asked. Lurking behind that one question are many others: "What if God doesn't answer this prayer?" "Is this something I should even be focused on?" "Is it selfish of me to want a husband?" "Is God still good if I pray and I remain single?" and so forth.

My short answer is: Yes, you should pray! And don't just pray for yourself. Pray for your other single friends (men and women). Pray for the marriages among your friends and family.

Then open your eyes to the many, many prayers He is answering. Every day, God is bringing people together. So instead of sighing with self-pity when you get that next wedding invitation, rejoice for the evidence of answered prayer!

To be honest, I have not always rejoiced at the weddings of others. At least not initially. But the more I've encountered the faithfulness of God, the easier it has become. Taking note of answered prayers is the best antidote I know for overcoming the forlorn assumption that your own prayers go unanswered. Soon you will see an abundance of prayers are answered every day, which balances out the long wait for other prayer requests.

In fact, these days I typically find it very easy to "rejoice with those who rejoice." Over the years, I've been in many formal and informal prayer groups where women have petitioned the Lord for husbands, asked God to bring more single men to their churches, and interceded for the single men who are already there. The majority of each group is now married. I can list dozens and dozens of men and women alike who now have spouses-men and women of various ages, ethnicities, sizes, shapes, abilities, and temperaments. And I take great delight in saying that because God is no respecter of our arbitrary standards of who is "marryable" and who is not.

So, praise the Lord! Seriously! I'm not being flip. It's actually quite difficult to take two self-centered people and move them toward making a lifetime commitment to each other. Marriage is an act of grace in action.

Inevitably, though, when I talk about praying for husbands, someone comes in a theological tangle, wondering if God is good to me and to anyone else who is still praying and still single. Should we even pray for husbands? Is that acceptable? What if we pray and we remain single-what then??

My first answer is that of course God is still good if we pray and remain single. Marriage is a gift for this life alone. If we have received forgiveness for our sins and life eternal, we have already received the biggest and best gift and one that is for all eternity. We didn't miss out on God's very best.

Secondly, if we are still alive, the story of God's grace in our lives is still being written. We don't know the future. Only He knows the beginning from the end (Is. 46:10 and Rev. 21:6) and so it is arrogant to assume we can survey our circumstances and conclude we know what God is doing. (See: Naomi. A woman who was so very sure God's hand was against her that she wanted to be called "Bitter." But as she stood complaining, she had no idea that God was already at work to provide food, a kinsman-redeemer, an heir, and even far more unexpectedly, a place in the lineage of her Savior!)

Thirdly, we have no other option, according to Scripture. Philippians 4:4-7 makes this very clear: "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." This passage makes it very easy for us to understand that all we can do is pray, be thankful, and avoid anxiousness, which leads to bitterness. We're not in charge of the answers. We're in charge of the petitions. So, petition away!

But be thankful in those petitions. Since we're not the omniscient, omnipotent, perfect, holy, just, and merciful Being in these transactions, we get to be the grateful recipients. All the time. Without ceasing. "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

What circumstances do you find yourself in today? Give thanks and pray without ceasing. For as we keep our eyes on Him and praise Him in all circumstances (the good, the happy, the hard, the confusing, the horrifying), we silence the Accuser, the one who exists to blame God for not being good and blame us for not being good enough.

Of this I am supremely confident: When we see our Savior and Redeemer face to face, we will not regret being thankful for trusting Him, even in circumstances we could not control and would not have chosen. We will see then by the light of His glory all that He was doing in and through those very moments. What seemed like unanswered prayer will be set against the grand tapestry of His grace coursing through history. We will see what He was doing ... and we will eternally praise Him for it.

So pray without ceasing and eagerly await what God does in and through these prayers.

[Carolyn McCulley is an author of Radical Womanhood: Feminine Faith in a Feminist World and is a women's conference speaker across the nation. She also publishes the Radical Womanhood blog, where the above post first appeared.]

Yes, Let's Elevate the Scrutiny on Planned Parenthood--Finally!

This is from a Member of Congress to House Speaker John Boehner  asking for further investigation into Planned Parenthood. She lays out their series of violations, which are inexcusably ignored by the mainstream media. I like this political strategy: calling for official Congressional hearings on this despicable organization.

Dear Colleague:

Please see the following letter I sent respectfully calling for Congressional hearings on Planned Parenthood. This is a very important issue that I wanted to bring to your attention.

Sincerely,

Representative Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)

---

Dear Speaker Boehner:

Based on several reports and mounting evidence regarding Planned Parenthood’s numerous improprieties, I am respectfully requesting that we move forward with a full-scale series of Congressional hearings to expose the damage Planned Parenthood has caused to our nation. In the House Republican Pledge to America we committed to honor life and we promised: “to make government more transparent in its actions, careful in its stewardship, and honest in its dealings.” To hold true to those commitments, this Congress must move forward the investigations of Planned Parenthood to ensure it is held fully accountable.

Several months have passed since the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations first initiated its investigation into Planned Parenthood under the leadership of Congressman Cliff Stearns. I was pleased that the actions of Planned Parenthood rose to the Committee’s attention and that it was determined the Committee should move forward to review and investigate.

We have been made aware of reports that last year Planned Parenthood received $487 million in federal, state, and local funding. At the same time, Planned Parenthood topped $1 billion in total net assets while abortions made up 91% of their pregnancy-related services.

Last December, several former officers and employees of Planned Parenthood blew the whistle on their former employer. These former employees called out Planned Parenthood for failing to: segregate taxpayer dollars in a way that is required under federal law; failing to give parental notification in cases of statutory rape and human trafficking; failing to stop or adequately address coercion at their facilities; and failing to keep financial records in compliance with state and federal laws.

Just yesterday, the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) and the Susan B. Anthony List released a groundbreaking report to Congress that already identifies nearly $8 million in waste, abuse, and potential fraud by Planned Parenthood. Their report states that: “Planned Parenthood’s primary motivation is to take advantage of ‘overbilling’ opportunities to maximize its revenues in complex, well-funded federal and state programs that are understaffed and rely on the integrity of the provider for program compliance. Thus, Planned Parenthood’s primary motivation appears not to be to provide quality healthcare to patients who seek family planning services, but rather to enhance its profits.” The report also found that federal audits of family planning programs from 1995 to 2009 reached almost $88 million in overbilling, with the sum rising as high as $99 million according to the Inspector General’s Office at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

If Planned Parenthood is defrauding the Treasury to meet its abortion quota then the American people deserve answers in an open and transparent series of Congressional hearings. Congress needs to take leadership now. House Republicans shouldn’t settle for inaction in the face of injustice. Please join me to make sure we don’t leave this growing scandal left unchecked.

Sincerely,

                                                                              

Marsha Blackburn

cc: House GOP Conference

Keep Watch on Yourself, Lest You Too Be Tempted

Galatians 6:1 says, “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.”

I have learned this verse by experience in the past year. For the first time, I was deeply hurt by someone very close to me. A Christian friend who claims to love and worship Jesus refused to extend grace and mercy to me. And not only to me, but to many others as well. 

One can only do so much to “restore someone in a spirit of gentleness.” It was my place to do so; I was not a stranger or acquaintance, but loved and wanted the very best for this person. It was my job to gently and lovingly try to point out this weakness in the hope of restoration. But my caring intentions were flatly rejected by the individual, who instead judged me and turned a steeled heart toward me. 

I hurt for many reasons, some of which were my own vanity, the feeling of judgment, and the lack of mercy for my human failings for which my friend withheld grace and forgiveness. This is where I started to encounter the second part of the verse, where I lost watch on myself, because my eyes were on my friend, and I was tempted to the same unforgiveness, lack of mercy, and judgment I had pointed out in the first place.

When you try to restore someone with gentleness and they do not receive it, it is easy to become preoccupied with the other person’s behavior, and lose sight of your own heart. I found that mine had become hardened toward my friend, just as my friend’s had been toward me.

I will react differently in the future, and I will determine today that my feelings, emotions, hurts, and pains will not dictate my life or thoughts of other people. I am so sorry for becoming hardened and embittered toward my friend for not receiving or hearing my gentle rebuke. 

God, I only ask that you please help this friend overcome this significant barrier to experience your mercy. You state that God will “forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Jesus please have mercy on those who refuse to forgive and extend mercy. And please help me to let go of the hardness and bitterness that I have allowed to hold me captive.