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Our Plans and God's Plan

July 15, 2018 • Russ Miller

Scriptures from the Message...

- Our Plans (Proverbs 16:3, 16:9)

- Diligence (Proverbs 13:4, 21:5)

- Humility (Proverbs 22:4, 18:12, 28:14)

- Self-Evaluation (Proverbs 3:7, 14:12, 16:2, 28:26)

- Christ's Example (Philippians 2:5-11)


Thoughts from the Message...

"The more we know God, ourselves, the human heart, the order of creation, the times and seasons, the more we will have the wisdom to make good decisions. Modern people want a technique for guidance, 'five steps to good decisions.' God offers wise character, hard won over a lifetime."
(Timothy Keller - "God’s Wisdom for Navigating Life")

CS Lewis says: Pride is anti-God state of mind.

More from Proverbs

Work

September 2, 2018 • Sean Hardwick

“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” Proverbs 16:3 From the fruit of his mouth a man is satisfied with good, and the work of a man's hand comes back to him. Proverbs 12:14 “Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.” Proverbs 22:29 “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.” Genesis 2:1-3 ESV The LORD God took the man kand put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. Genesis 2:15 “A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame.” Proverbs 10:4-5 The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor.” Proverbs 12:24 “I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction. A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.” Proverbs 24:30-34 “Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense. Proverbs 12:11 From the fruit of his mouth a man is satisfied with good, and the work of a man's hand comes back to him. Proverbs 12:14 “She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.” Proverbs 31:13-14, 31 Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice. Proverbs 16:8 The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor. All day long he craves and craves, but the righteous gives and does not hold back. Proverbs 21:25-26 Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men. Proverbs 22:29

Women in Proverbs

August 26, 2018 • Russ Miller

CHARM - deceitful Proverbs 11:6 A gracious woman gets honor, and violent men get riches. Proverbs 13:15 Good sense wins favor, but the way of the treacherous is their ruin. 1 Corinthians 7 32 I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. 33 But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, 34 and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. 35 I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord. She is trustworthy 11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. 12 She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. *Proverbs 31 wife comes from a Proverbs 1-30 husband. Proverbs 25:24, 21:9 It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife. Proverbs 12:4 4 An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bone Good advice: (12) She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. She faithfully provides for her family 13 She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. 14 She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar. 16 She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. 18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. 19 She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. 22 She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. 24 She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant.

Manhood in the Proverbs

August 19, 2018 • Russ Miller

A WISE MAN IS SELF-CONTROLLED Proverbs 25:28 28 A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls. Proverbs 16:32 32 Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. Self controlled in what we say Proverbs 10:8 8 The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin. Proverbs 21:23 23 Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble. Proverbs 15:1 15 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. What is your strength for? What is at stake? Proverbs 22:16 16 Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty. Proverbs 14:21 21 Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor. Proverbs 5 My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding, 2 that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge. 3 For the lips of a forbidden[a] woman drip honey, and her speech[b] is smoother than oil, 4 but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. 5 Her feet go down to death; her steps follow the path to[c] Sheol; 6 she does not ponder the path of life; her ways wander, and she does not know it. 7 And now, O sons, listen to me, and do not depart from the words of my mouth. 8 Keep your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house, 9 lest you give your honor to others and your years to the merciless, 10 lest strangers take their fill of your strength, and your labors go to the house of a foreigner, 11 and at the end of your life you groan, when your flesh and body are consumed, 12 and you say, “How I hated discipline, and my heart despised reproof! 13 I did not listen to the voice of my teachers or incline my ear to my instructors. 14 I am at the brink of utter ruin in the assembled congregation.” A WISE MAN LOVE HIS CHILDREN THROUGH NURTURING DISCIPLINE Proverbs 13:22-24 22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous. 23 The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food, but it is swept away through injustice. 24 Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him. Proverbs 29:17 17 Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart. Proverbs 22:15 15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him. Proverbs 29:15 15 The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. A WISE MAN LOVES HIS WIFE Proverbs 31 10 An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. 11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. 28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 29 “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” Proverbs 13:13 13 Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself, but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded. Proverbs 28:13 13 Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.