My Proverbs Journal (Chapter 30)

IN JULY OF THIS 2020 YEAR, THE LORD GAVE ME A PROVERBS JOURNAL THAT ALLOWED ME TO READ A CHAPTER EACH DAY, AND THEN NOTE FROM THAT READING. BELOW WILL BE A LINK TO THE CHAPTER FOR EACH DAY, MY NOTES FOR THAT CHAPTER, AND SOME DAYS POETRY THAT HIS WORD INSPIRED ME TO WRITE AS WELL. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL AND STRENGTHENING JOURNEY.
THANKS GOD FOR THE MOMENTS! I LOVE YOU! 

Proverbs, Chapter 30 (Click here to read for better understanding of the connection between the scripture and the notes they inspired below.)

Good afternoon, Lord. How are You? I pray You are blessed and smiling. I’m sorry if I disappointed You in not getting You read first. Or rather, I think I did read, got to thinking, and fell asleep. Or was it I read, got to thinking, but had to leave so quickly to the doctor’s office for Bobby’s doctor, or Sandra’s errand, or Bobby’s home health care. I’m sorry that I can’t remember too well. My days run together. And the personal issues with my health are so overwhelming. I’m just not doing good lately.

Thank You for every way You help me, for every moment of patience, for understanding, for long suffering, for mercy, for grace, for Jesus, and for everything about You! I love You! No matter what!

Proverbs 30 is the words of Agur. He and I have some similarities. So often I had more “something horrible” than I cared for, and I knew I did not have the understanding some people did, but I did not care because I felt like I didn’t understand people anyway. I knew I did not have wisdom or knowledge of the Holy.

I love his honesty, and am fond of a sensing I felt with him being fond of You, and You with him for that honesty and humility. Especially considering his questions that show awareness, awestruck,  and respect of You. I love how he says You hold the wind in Your fists, that You have bound the waters in a garment! He even knows Jesus! Maybe not by name, but he knows him. And he knows Your word is pure, and that You are a shield to them that trust You.

He wisely warns against adding to Your word. He hated vanity and lies. He doesn’t want to be rich so as not to be so full and nourished as to deny You, nor does he want to be poor so that he will not steal, or take Your name in vain. Again such honesty.

Accusing a servant to his master is not wise because he may love the servant so much that he will call you a liar and curse you, and say you are guilty. He speaks on the generation that is evil to their parents, thinks they are right in their own eyes, and filled with evil ways. And gives so much wisdom but You have shortened the pages for today’s study. You have brought me comfort today through Agur. Reminding of my beautiful relationship with You from the beginning. Thank You for loving me so faithfully.

My Proverbs Journal (Chapter 29)

IN JULY OF THIS 2020 YEAR, THE LORD GAVE ME A PROVERBS JOURNAL THAT ALLOWED ME TO READ A CHAPTER EACH DAY, AND THEN NOTE FROM THAT READING. BELOW WILL BE A LINK TO THE CHAPTER FOR EACH DAY, MY NOTES FOR THAT CHAPTER, AND SOME DAYS POETRY THAT HIS WORD INSPIRED ME TO WRITE AS WELL. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL AND STRENGTHENING JOURNEY.
THANKS GOD FOR THE MOMENTS! I LOVE YOU! 

Proverbs, Chapter 29 (Click here to read for better understanding of the connection between the scripture and the notes they inspired below.)

Good morning, LORD! How are You? I pray You’re happy! 🙂 It’s hard to believe there’s only 2 more days of this Proverbs Bible Study after today! Thank You for giving me this journal, and for walking me through Proverbs again. I love Your Proverbs! I love ALL of Your Holy word! I love you!

When someone is tested so often they harden their necks (or their hearts), they shall be suddenly destroyed with no way to save them.

With righteous in authority,  people rejoice, but when they wicked rule, people mourn.

Whoever loves wisdom makes his father rejoice (I pray I make You rejoice, Heavenly Father! I love Your wisdom!), but whoever hangs with harlots spends his substance.

A king establishes a land by judgment, but bribery causes it to be overthrown. Flattering my neighbor traps him. The sin of an evil man is a trap, but the righteous rejoice and sing. The righteous consider the poor, but the wicked won’t even regard them. Scornful men are a trap for a city, but wise men turn away wrath. When a wise man hangs with a foolish man when he’s raging or laughing, there’s no rest.

The blood thirsty hate the upright, but the just seek after him. A fool runs his mouth about anything on his mind, but a wise man shuts his trap. This verse convicts me, God, because I talk too much!! Especially if I’m nervous. Help me! Be the guard over the door of my tongue!

If a ruler listens to lies, all his servants are wicked. You bring the poor and the deceitful man together to enlighten both their eyes.  Th king that judgeth the poor faithfully establishes his throne for ever. The rod and the reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.

When the wicked increase, sin increases, but the righteous shall see their fall. I am to correct my son, and he will give me rest and delight my soul. I remembered verses like this when raising Anthoni. It helped me to be a strong mom because I knew I had a responsibility to keep him from being evil to himself or anyone else, to keep him out of jail or any trouble the best that “I” could, and to not fail him in teaching him the value of discipline. I knew I had doubly the responsibility in being his mom and dad. Thanks for leaving me all these instructions to help him, and the assurance in “training up a child.”

Keeping the law makes You and me happy. Help me to answer, Lord, and be corrected. Hasty words are foolish. Delicate love can nourish a servant and a child. It can foster. Anger and furious men bring strife and sin. Pride brings low, honor upholds. Hate a thief, not myself. Cursing is wrong. Fear of men is a trap. Trusting You, Lord, is safe. We all seek favor, but our judgment comes from You. The just and the unjust are an abomination to each other.

My Proverbs Journal (Chapter 28)

IN JULY OF THIS 2020 YEAR, THE LORD GAVE ME A PROVERBS JOURNAL THAT ALLOWED ME TO READ A CHAPTER EACH DAY, AND THEN NOTE FROM THAT READING. BELOW WILL BE A LINK TO THE CHAPTER FOR EACH DAY, MY NOTES FOR THAT CHAPTER, AND SOME DAYS POETRY THAT HIS WORD INSPIRED ME TO WRITE AS WELL. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL AND STRENGTHENING JOURNEY.
THANKS GOD FOR THE MOMENTS! I LOVE YOU! 

Proverbs, Chapter 28 (Click here to read for better understanding of the connection between the scripture and the notes they inspired below.)

Good morning, God! I love You! The wicked run when no one is chasing them, but You make the righteous bold as a lion. Princes may use transgressions to gain a land, but a man of understanding and knowledge prolong the state of it.

The poor oppressing the poor is like a rain that leaves no food. Those who forsake Your law praise the wicked. I am to contend with him who keeps the law. Evil men don’t understand judgment, but seeking You brings understanding to all things.

Better is the poor walking in his uprightness than someone perverse in his ways, even a rich man.

A wise son keeps the law, but he that hangs with riotous  people shames his father. Usury and unjust gain is wrong, I need to give ear to Your law. Misleading the righteous will lead me unto my own pit. The upright shall have good things. A rich man is wise in his onw conceit. but the poor that has understanding will know Him better (will see through Him).

When righteous men rejoice, there is great glory, but people hide when the wicked rise. Whoever covers up his sin will not prosper. We need to confess and forsake them to have Your mercy. Happy is the one who fears You always because hardening our hearts can cause us to fall into mischief.

Wicked rulers over poor people are like roaring lions and raging bears. A prince that lacks understanding is a huge oppressor, but he that hates coveting makes his days last longer. A violent man guilty of someone’s blood will run to hide. No one is suppose to help him.

Help me to walk uprightly, Lord, so that I will be saved and not fall. Help me to do my part in whatever You ask of me and to trust You with my provisions. I want nothing to do with vanity. Help me to be faithful and abound with blessings. It is not good to have respect for persons, I may be willing to sin for food when hungry. I might compromise. Get rich quick schemes are not wise. They’re not realistic. Rebuking someone after will bring more favour than a flattering tongue.

Whoever robs his parents and thinks he’s innocent brings his own destruction. A proud heart stirreth up strife, but putting our trust in You, LORD, will makes us well nourished. He that gives to the poor won’t lack, but whoever hides his eyes will have many curses. When the wicked rise, men hide, but when the wicked perish, the righteous increase.

The chapter shows clearly how we can deceive ourselves into thinking we are innocent, that we are wise in our own eyes, and that we will have no consequences. We are so wrong! Only You can save us from ourselves. Save me, LORD! Save me! I love You!

testing the heart

❤ Oh heart are you trying to tell me something?

are you shouting at me? ❤

My Proverbs Journal (Chapter 27)

IN JULY OF THIS 2020 YEAR, THE LORD GAVE ME A PROVERBS JOURNAL THAT ALLOWED ME TO READ A CHAPTER EACH DAY, AND THEN NOTE FROM THAT READING. BELOW WILL BE A LINK TO THE CHAPTER FOR EACH DAY, MY NOTES FOR THAT CHAPTER, AND SOME DAYS POETRY THAT HIS WORD INSPIRED ME TO WRITE AS WELL. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL AND STRENGTHENING JOURNEY.
THANKS GOD FOR THE MOMENTS! I LOVE YOU! 

Proverbs, Chapter 27 (Click here to read for better understanding of the connection between the scripture and the notes they inspired below.)

Good early morning, Lord! How are You? I pray You are pleased and smiling. I love You. I pray my day and this reading time to You! In Jesus’ beautiful name. I love Your Son! My Best Friend Ever!

I am not to brag about tomorrow. I have no idea what can happen each day. I am not to sing my own praises. Others are allowed to, but I am not. A fool’s wrath is heavier than a stone or the weight of sand. Envy is crueler than wrath, and more outrageous than anger.

It’s better for me to be openly rebuked than to have a secret love.

“Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”
(verse 6)

That verse reminds me of Judas, and makes me think on past hurts of friends.

When we’re full we can actually hate food, but when we’re hungry every bitter thing is sweet. That reminds me of the saying about a cracker being the most delicious in the world to someone starving, but considered such a waste of time and thrown away by those who have so much that they can afford to throw food away and not even miss it.

It also makes me think  on the missionaries who have to live off of food in the other land, even if it makes them sick, or they hope for packages from home.

We need to stay in the place You put us.

Perfume and ointment make our hearts rejoice, just as the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel. We are not to forsake our friends and neighbors. Wisdom gives gladness and accountability. It is prudent to hide from seeable evil, else we could punish ourselves. Be careful with our character, our name, and our testimony.

I’m not really sure about verse 14, but it fits perfectly to how most people hate morning people, especially when they insist on trying to force a friend to be cheerful too early.

“He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him. A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.”
(verses 14-15)

These verses tell us we can annoy people. They will want to avoid us. We are to bless one another, not burden. When we take care of our responsibilities, we will reap the benefit. People know when you’re answering from the heart.

We are never satisfied.

We are daily being made worthy of any praise that we are given through the testing and trial that brought that praise.

Foolishness cannot be forced out of a person.

Be diligent in taking care of what You give us. Riches don’t last forever. Each generation has to work for their own needs.

You tell us the provisions You provide us in the last few verses. An interesting chapter. We need to be diligent in our heart, our service, our character, in all things You give us, and NEVER take what belongs to You. All glory to You, Father God! All glory to You!

My Proverbs Journal (Chapter 26)

IN JULY OF THIS 2020 YEAR, THE LORD GAVE ME A PROVERBS JOURNAL THAT ALLOWED ME TO READ A CHAPTER EACH DAY, AND THEN NOTE FROM THAT READING. BELOW WILL BE A LINK TO THE CHAPTER FOR EACH DAY, MY NOTES FOR THAT CHAPTER, AND SOME DAYS POETRY THAT HIS WORD INSPIRED ME TO WRITE AS WELL. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL AND STRENGTHENING JOURNEY.
THANKS GOD FOR THE MOMENTS! I LOVE YOU! 

Proverbs, Chapter 26 (Click here to read for better understanding of the connection between the scripture and the notes they inspired below.)

Lord, I love You! Honor is not right given to fools. Fools need discipline. We are not to answer him in a way that allows us to become like him. We are to answer him in his folly so that he doesn’t become conceited in his own wisdom.

Never send a message through a fool. Parables just aren’t the same told by a fool. Honoring a fool gives him a weapon. God rewards the fool and the transgressors. A fool returns to his folly.

There is no hope in a man who is wise in his own conceit. Laziness is not good. His world will fall apart. He gets too lazy to even move his hand to eat.

Meddling in other people’s affairs is like taking a dog by the ears, or like a mad man. We are not to play mind games with our neighbors. Gossiping is like adding fuel to the fire. If we don’t do it, then we don’t supply it.

A contentious man is hard to strive with. He’s like a wound that goes into the belly. Burning lips and a wicked heart are not pretty. Don’t believe what he says. He divides with his hatred and deceit. Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. A lying tongue and a flattering mouth hate and ruin.

So much about fools, Lord. Help me not to be foolish. I am trying my best to follow You and Your wisdom.
I love You!

Proverbs 26 in Your word inspired me to write the poem below called You Foolish Fool.

You Foolish Fool

Oh you, fool, I do not like you.
You want to receive God’s glory.
You don’t care about His way.
You lie and embellish Your story.
You seek to make me foolish
With pride and wasteful spirit.
I do not want any part of it.
I do not want to hear it.
You seek to flatter the world
Using any way you can.
But I am not that foolish.
I know God is faithful to man.
Do not waste your lies on me.
He won my heart long ago.
All glory to His Holy name!
I know He loves me so.

7.26.2020 Sunday
Written by Gail Brookshire

My Proverbs Journal (Chapter 25)

IN JULY OF THIS 2020 YEAR, THE LORD GAVE ME A PROVERBS JOURNAL THAT ALLOWED ME TO READ A CHAPTER EACH DAY, AND THEN NOTE FROM THAT READING. BELOW WILL BE A LINK TO THE CHAPTER FOR EACH DAY, MY NOTES FOR THAT CHAPTER, AND SOME DAYS POETRY THAT HIS WORD INSPIRED ME TO WRITE AS WELL. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL AND STRENGTHENING JOURNEY.
THANKS GOD FOR THE MOMENTS! I LOVE YOU! 

Proverbs, Chapter 25 (Click here to read for better understanding of the connection between the scripture and the notes they inspired below.)

Lord, good early morning. How are You? I love You! How fascinating to see these are Proverbs of Solomon that were copied by the men of Hezekiah, especially after reading Solomon and Hezekiah’s stories.

It glorifies You to conceal a matter.

All of these verses on kings remind me of how much I was always using things to do with kings, kingdoms, princes, damsels, knights, and more in my writing. I was so fascinated with it all I guess. In the end, it was You preparing my heart to love You, Your kingdom, and everything about You.

The kings search things out, but they themselves are unsearchable.

We are hidden precious vessels of Yours up under all that life throws at us. The removal of the wicked makes everything better.

Don’t try to exalt thyself, especially using others. You will just embarrass yourself while having to look life straight in the eyes. Better to be called for than sent away.

Don’t be so hasty to strive or you’ll know not what to do. Wow is this such truth. Thank You for reminding my spirit of this truth, and the may experiences You have taught me in life regarding this truth. Thank You for building my character, my strength, and my faith.

Deal with any neighbor you’re having problems with directly. Letting others hear your troubles will bring you shame.

(verse 11) reminds me of that painting with apples in it. “A word fitly spoken
is like apples of gold in pictures of silver“

Heyyy! Verse 12 says earrings look good on an obedient ear that has been wisely reproved. 🙂 Cold snow can be refreshing like a faithful messenger. Boasting is not good.

Long forbearance and a soft tongue can persuade and break. Honey should be eaten in moderation or it will make you sick. Don’t wear out your welcome at your neighbor’s house. Bearing a false witness against our neighbor is a cruel weapon.

Don’t put your confidence in an unfaithful man. Heavy hearts don’t want songs/music. Feed your enemy and quench his thirst. God will reward thee. Anger and backbiting takes away our blessings. Brawling women are hard to live with.

Good news from a far country is so welcome and needed. It’s not right for wicked men to see the righteous fall. Again, too much honey is not good, nor is it for men to give themselves glory. We are broken, unhealthy, and unsafe when we do not control our spirit. We’re too vulnerable.

Merry 2020 Christmas, and Happy 2021 New Year!

Merry 2020 Christmas!

Happy 2021! 🙂

God loves you! ❤ 

My Proverbs Journal (Chapter 24)

IN JULY OF THIS 2020 YEAR, THE LORD GAVE ME A PROVERBS JOURNAL THAT ALLOWED ME TO READ A CHAPTER EACH DAY, AND THEN NOTE FROM THAT READING. BELOW WILL BE A LINK TO THE CHAPTER FOR EACH DAY, MY NOTES FOR THAT CHAPTER, AND SOME DAYS POETRY THAT HIS WORD INSPIRED ME TO WRITE AS WELL. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL AND STRENGTHENING JOURNEY.
THANKS GOD FOR THE MOMENTS! I LOVE YOU! 

Proverbs, Chapter 24 (Click here to read for better understanding of the connection between the scripture and the notes they inspired below.)

Good morning, Lord. How are You? I pray You are blessed. Your word brings so much instruction that we would be wise to heed. We are not to be envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them, because their heart studies destruction and their lips talk mischief.

Wisdom builds a house, understanding establishes it, and knowledge fills all the rooms with precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is strong. His knowledge increaseth strength. Wise counsel will fight our wars, and a multitude of counselors provide safety.

Wisdom is too high for a fool. He that deviseth evil shall be called a mischievous person. I can remember I used to think this was a cool thing. My world thought so too. Thank You for teaching me better. The thought of foolishness is sin. Being scornful is not good.

When we faint from adversity our strength is small. If we fail to help those who are drawn to death, and those ready to be slain, and try to say we didn’t know anything about it, but ponder on it when we think about it in our heart, don’t we realize that You as the Keeper of our soul know it? You will render to evil man according to his works.

Eating honey is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to eat. The knowledge of wisdom will be honey unto our soul when we have found it, and there shall be a reward.

We are not to rob the righteous, nor spoil his resting place. Just men fall 7 times, but gets up again each time. A wicked man will fall into mischief. We should not rejoice our enemy is falling, nor let our heart be glad when he stumbles because You will see it, be displeased, and turn Your wrath away from him.

We are not to fret ourselves because of evil men, nor envy the wicked, for there’s no reward to the evil man, the candle of the wicked shall be put out. We are to fear You, and not meddle with them given to change, for their calamity comes sudden, and only You know the end of them both, if there is a ruin ahead.

These are things that belong to the wise: It’s not good to have respect of persons in judgment. It’s not good to cover the wicked, nor call evil good.

We are to prepare our work outside, and make it fit for thyself, and after build thine house. We are not to be a witness against our neighbor without cause, nor deceive with our lips. We are to say, “I’ll do so to him as he hath done to me. I will render according to the his work.”

Slothfulness and being void of understanding allows thorns and nettles to grow all over our lives, bringing us to poverty and wanting.

You have brought me through many of these circumstances. Long before I really knew You or Your word, You knew me! Thank You for loving, leading, and protecting me. I love You, Lord!

My Proverbs Journal (Chapter 23)

IN JULY OF THIS 2020 YEAR, THE LORD GAVE ME A PROVERBS JOURNAL THAT ALLOWED ME TO READ A CHAPTER EACH DAY, AND THEN NOTE FROM THAT READING. BELOW WILL BE A LINK TO THE CHAPTER FOR EACH DAY, MY NOTES FOR THAT CHAPTER, AND SOME DAYS POETRY THAT HIS WORD INSPIRED ME TO WRITE AS WELL. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL AND STRENGTHENING JOURNEY.
THANKS GOD FOR THE MOMENTS! I LOVE YOU! 

Proverbs, Chapter 23 (Click here to read for better understanding of the connection between the scripture and the notes they inspired below.)

Lord, good morning. It is nice to sit and spend some time with You. It always feels like a safe place that I so desperately don’t want to leave because it feels like I am leaving You. It makes me fear so greatly that I will sin, and I want more than anything to never be able to sin against You! To never hurt You! Grieve You! Insult You! I hate disappointing You. I know You still love me no matter what, but I want so desperately to be perfect for You.

My hope is that I will be made perfect in heaven, never to sin again, never focused on earthly and selfish things. I will spend the rest of my days praising You! How beautiful heaven must be. The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door, and I can’t feel at home (on earth) anymore. This world has lost its grip on me.

Proverbs 23 begins talking about food, and being diligent in our faith, not letting our appetites have the best of us. You literally tell us to put a knife to our throats if we’re given to the temptations of the king that represents the world of idolatry, serving other gods through feats and foods. It’s like when You told us not to let our belly be our god.

You tell us not to labor to be rich, that riches can fly away. We are to avoid eating with the man who is focused on his riches. They can deceive and mislead our heart. As our heart thinketh, so we are. Those things will make us sick, and rob us of our sweet words of wisdom.

We are not to remove the ancient landmarks, nor take the lands from orphans, for You are their mighty redeemer and plead their cause. We need to apply our hearts unto instruction, and our ears to words of knowledge.

We are to correct our children. They need the discipline to keep them from jail and hell. Wise children cause us to rejoice. We are not to envy sinners, but instead to fear You for the sinners will have an end. We need to hear Your wisdom, and let You guide our hearts.

We are not to have anything to do with winebibbers (alcohol), nor riotous eaters. Violence is never a good thing. And being a drunk or glutton will just cause us to starve and not have what we need to get clothes. We are to hearken to our fathers and not despise our mothers. We are to value truth, wisdom, instruction and understanding. Wise children are a joy.

You warn of the whore and the strange woman.

Wine distorts our view, perverts our words, and leaves us clueless to our surroundings and our circumstances. Yet we awaken, we’ll get sick, and do it all over again. Help us to follow Your wisdom.

My Proverbs Journal (Chapter 22)

IN JULY OF THIS 2020 YEAR, THE LORD GAVE ME A PROVERBS JOURNAL THAT ALLOWED ME TO READ A CHAPTER EACH DAY, AND THEN NOTE FROM THAT READING. BELOW WILL BE A LINK TO THE CHAPTER FOR EACH DAY, MY NOTES FOR THAT CHAPTER, AND SOME DAYS POETRY THAT HIS WORD INSPIRED ME TO WRITE AS WELL. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL AND STRENGTHENING JOURNEY.
THANKS GOD FOR THE MOMENTS! I LOVE YOU! 

Proverbs, Chapter 22 (Click here to read for better understanding of the connection between the scripture and the notes they inspired below.)

Lord, Thank You for the early morning study hours with You, and that extra little bit of rest. It was so needed, and felt so sweet and peaceful coming right behind reading Your word. You make everything sweet, and You ARE peace. I love that about You.

Proverbs 22 starts off telling me that a good name and loving favor are more valuable than great riches, and silver and gold. You are the maker of all the rich and poor alike. It is prudent to hide from any foreseeable evil, otherwise I will be punished. Humility and fear of You bring riches, honor, and life.

Froward people are traps and thorns (which sounds painful). I am to keep my soul far from them.

Verse 6, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it,” has been a command and a promise that I have lived by since I was a young unwed teen mom of a precious little boy. How I knew that scripture when I really didn’t know the bible for myself, only what I had heard here and there through the years amazes me. But You assured my troubled spirit that what I had seen of other Christians’ children growing to hate You, that if I did my part (which was the command I was to obey) that You would take care of the rest because You would take care of him, regardless of the years or times he would learn from his mistakes. He would always be Yours wherever he was/is.

Borrowing makes us servants to the lender. A bountiful eye is a good thing because it causes us to share food with the poor. Getting rid of a scorner brings peace. To love pureness of heart brings grace and good friendships. Your eyes, LORD, bring knowledge. Laziness can make us fear, paranoid, and dread.

It is not a good thing to be abhorred (hated) of You, God. Foolishness brings the need for correction. It is wise to be good to the poor, and to be wise with our monies. Help me to always bow my ears to Your wise words, and to apply my heart unto Your knowledge. They are pleasant to keep within me. They will be fitted in my lips (praise Your Holy name).

Thank You for making this known to me that my trust may be in You. Thank You for the excellent things You have written to me on counsels and knowledge, that I might know the CERTAINTY of the words of Your truth, and that I might answer with Your words of truth to those You send my way.

It is not wise to rob the poor or the oppress them. You will plead their cause, and do to us what we did to them. It is not wise to be friends with the angry person, nor wise to hang with them. We will learn their ways and become a danger to ourselves. We are not to get involved in debt or being collateral. We could lose everything, even the bed we sleep in.

I am not to remove the ancient landmarks which You have set through our fathers. That’s important to You, so it is important to me. I am to be diligent in my business.

My Proverbs Journal (Chapter 21)

IN JULY OF THIS 2020 YEAR, THE LORD GAVE ME A PROVERBS JOURNAL THAT ALLOWED ME TO READ A CHAPTER EACH DAY, AND THEN NOTE FROM THAT READING. BELOW WILL BE A LINK TO THE CHAPTER FOR EACH DAY, MY NOTES FOR THAT CHAPTER, AND SOME DAYS POETRY THAT HIS WORD INSPIRED ME TO WRITE AS WELL. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL AND STRENGTHENING JOURNEY.
THANKS GOD FOR THE MOMENTS! I LOVE YOU! 

Proverbs, Chapter 21 (Click here to read for better understanding of the connection between the scripture and the notes they inspired below.)

Good early morning, Lord. How are You? I pray You are blessed, happy, and winning many souls. I know You love Your children. I am grateful You love me. I am glad that You begin Proverbs 21 letting me know that my heart is in Your hands, as the rivers of water, so that You can turn it whichever want You want because I can think my way is right, but You know my heart better than me.

You would rather me do right than to sacrifice. I’m not to have an high and proud look. My thoughts are to be diligently focused on You that I may enjoy Your blessings. Impatience will leave me wanting, I’m to seek those blessings honestly. Refusing to do it Your way will rob me of them. I am to work purely for them.

I am to avoid fighting. I am to avoid evil, and show favor to my neighbor. When I witness the scorner being punished, it gives me wisdom on what to avoid and what will happen when I don’t. That will give me knowledge. That will cause me to righteously consider the house of the wicked and how You, God, will destroy those who choose wickedness.

If I choose to ignore the cries of the poor, I will end up crying the same poverty, but no one will hear me. You won’t allow them to. It is a joy to do right, but doing wrong will bring destruction. Those who choose to walk away from that understanding will remain living as though they were dead because they are dead when they are not with You.

To love pleasure and other things above You does not make us rich, but instead make us the ransom for the righteous, and a sin for the upright. We will be bad news/trouble for those trying to live right.

Contentions and anger drive people away, but a treasure to dwell with is the wise. Following righteousness and mercy brings us life, righteousness, and honor. Wisdom can escape the mighty, and cast down their strength and confidence. Keeping my mouth and my tongue keeps me from troubles. Pride and haughtiness only gain me a bad name. Things that make me desire to be lazy kill my work ethic. It just makes me greedy and covetous. Righteousness makes me want to give, and spare nothing.

Wicked sacrifices are bad enough, but doing so with a wicked mind makes it worse. There is no wisdom, no understanding, and no counsel that goes against You. They would not be wise, understanding, or good counsel. We might do all we can to prepare for our battles in life, but only You can provide or guarantee safety.

Thank You for looking out for us so diligently. You are faithful! You are good! You are loving! I am blessed and thankful to be loved by You… just to be Yours! 🙂
I love You, Father!
I love You, Jesus!
I love You, Spirit!

My Proverbs Journal (Chapter 20)

IN JULY OF THIS 2020 YEAR, THE LORD GAVE ME A PROVERBS JOURNAL THAT ALLOWED ME TO READ A CHAPTER EACH DAY, AND THEN NOTE FROM THAT READING. BELOW WILL BE A LINK TO THE CHAPTER FOR EACH DAY, MY NOTES FOR THAT CHAPTER, AND SOME DAYS POETRY THAT HIS WORD INSPIRED ME TO WRITE AS WELL. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL AND STRENGTHENING JOURNEY.
THANKS GOD FOR THE MOMENTS! I LOVE YOU! 

Proverbs, Chapter 20 (Click here to read for better understanding of the connection between the scripture and the notes they inspired below.)

Lord, How many verses are in this 20th chapter of Proverbs that You have used in my life, and that of my son, to lead us, warn us, and amaze us. You taught us how wise it is to have NOTHING to do with drinking, how we sin against our own souls to cause You to be angry, how it is honorable to cease from strife. You taught us not to be a sluggard or else it causes us to beg, and have nothing.

You teach us the value of counsel, and letting YOU determine goodness because our understanding can be flawed. Integrity blesses our children. There is a mighty power in a man’s eyes that scatter evil. Even a child is known by his doings, by doing right or wrong. Loving sleep above the rest You give can bring us poverty, but Your sleep can open our eyes to Your provisions.

Knowledge is more valuable than anything we can buy and brag about. There is a difference between discretion and deceit. There is value in counsel and good advice. We are not to meddle with the talebearer who flatters with his lips, but tells our secrets. Cursing our parents leads us in darkness.

An inheritance gotten in haste will not be a blessing in the end. We are to leave vengeance and justice to You. Our goings are Your doing, we should be careful not to be fooled into thinking we know better. We should be careful not to destroy what is Holy. We will not get it back.

We are wise to run evil off, not give it a place to fester. Anthoni has long loved Your verse 27 of this chapter.

“The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly.”
(verse 27)

I loved watching his yes light up in learning this, even though I was hearing of it for the first time myself. I can only imagine how You must smile to see my eyes light up to realize how much I mean to You. You love us taking delight in being Your children and being loved by You, just as we cherish seeing the same thing in our children. How wonderful it is to love and be loved, to cherish and be cherished, to delight and to be a delight. There is no other love like Your love. There is not other counsel like Your counsel. There is no other wisdom like Your wisdom.

Help us to live our lives soaked up in Your counsel, Your wisdom, Your love, Your correction, Your delight, and Your ways. Help us to be walking in Your loving correction so that we would not be in need of Your stripes to cleanse away evil from the inner parts of our belly. Help us to trust You know the difference, and to know when we need both. Thank You for loving us enough to give us just what we need to protect us from ourselves, and anything that would come between You and us. We love You, Father!

My Proverbs Journal (Chapter 19)

IN JULY OF THIS 2020 YEAR, THE LORD GAVE ME A PROVERBS JOURNAL THAT ALLOWED ME TO READ A CHAPTER EACH DAY, AND THEN NOTE FROM THAT READING. BELOW WILL BE A LINK TO THE CHAPTER FOR EACH DAY, MY NOTES FOR THAT CHAPTER, AND SOME DAYS POETRY THAT HIS WORD INSPIRED ME TO WRITE AS WELL. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL AND STRENGTHENING JOURNEY.
THANKS GOD FOR THE MOMENTS! I LOVE YOU! 

Proverbs, Chapter 19 (Click here to read for better understanding of the connection between the scripture and the notes they inspired below.)

Lord, You word is filled with instruction, warning, love, and so much more. So much of that instruction regards the tongue and the power it has. So much of our wisdom, knowledge, and understanding is wrapped up in the use of it (and the sometimes wisest understanding in NOT using it).

So when Your chapter 19 of Proverbs begins with “Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool (verse 1),” it is not a surprise to me, but rather a familiar friend with whom I can trust sound counsel, wise rebuke, and a loving warning. Tough love that seeks to preserve my soul, and my walk with the LORD as well. And so I love hearing from that familiar friend.

That familiar friend (which is Your instruction) tells me it is not good to be without knowledge, nor to be hasty, nor to pervert my way, nor fret against You, nor to make a false witness, nor speak lies.

You also give us strong illustrations of what it means to be poor, in that being without discretion, wisdom integrity, knowledge, understanding, and many things that are basically being without those things which You give are instruction. You give those things because of their value, their necessity, and their power to keep us from the evil that is to fall into, and to be misled by.

Our friends may not value those same instructions, but that in itself is a treasure, a guide to know who is a true friend, and to discern wise counsel from evil counsel, especially when Your word tells us how valuable counsel itself is.

Your commandment tells us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves, and verse 8 tells us we love our own soul when we get wisdom, and find good in keeping understanding. Our discretion defers our anger. It is glory to overlook a transgression. Favor is as dew on the grass (Your favor). A wise wife is from You. (I value this for my son.)

We are not to be slothful, nor idle. We are to keep the commandments, not despise them. In having pit on the poor, we are lending to You. We are to chasten our children so that in love we spare them from punishments that they could learn to avoid now. If we prevent them from learning the consequences of their actions, they will do those actions again and again, expecting us to suffer for them.

Help me to receive counsel, to hear instruction, and to help my son do the same. Help us to cling to the counsel that will stand… YOURS. Fear of You tends to life. Help us not to listen to counsel that causes us to err so that we will not face that judgment prepared for scorners, nor the stripes for the backs of fools. Help us to acknowledge You in all our ways, that we would have You directing our paths. We love You!

My Proverbs Journal (Chapter 18)

IN JULY OF THIS 2020 YEAR, THE LORD GAVE ME A PROVERBS JOURNAL THAT ALLOWED ME TO READ A CHAPTER EACH DAY, AND THEN NOTE FROM THAT READING. BELOW WILL BE A LINK TO THE CHAPTER FOR EACH DAY, MY NOTES FOR THAT CHAPTER, AND SOME DAYS POETRY THAT HIS WORD INSPIRED ME TO WRITE AS WELL. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL AND STRENGTHENING JOURNEY.
THANKS GOD FOR THE MOMENTS! I LOVE YOU! 

Proverbs, Chapter 18 (Click here to read for better understanding of the connection between the scripture and the notes they inspired below.)

Father God, how are You? I do have so much on my mind, but I genuinely want to ask how You are. I know I am not the one You talk with those things about, but that’s okay. I just want You to know I do care how things are for You.

Today was such a horrifying day. I thought for sure we would have to call 911. I was even scared they wouldn’t be able to get here fast enough. I was so scared, God. I guess my throat is still pretty swollen from the ENT doing his testing with that scope. I couldn’t even get water to go down.

I’m so sorry for anything I may have done to trigger it. Thank You for helping me through that. Thank You for the many things You have taught me during the years of dealing with throat issues. Thank You for Sandra and Bobby being here. It’s scary to realize I could have choked right here in front of them, and them not know it. While I did read Proverbs 18, I’m sorry it didn’t come to mind too much today after this. I could only remember how wise it is to be silent. Today was a great motivator. I love You no matter what!

Your words in Proverbs 18 inspired me to write the poem below. It is called Wrestling The Threat.

Wrestling The Threat

Life was visiting with me
When death tried to choke me out.
It was a scary battle.
I had great fear and doubt.
The pain, the helplessness.
The struggle to have a breath.
A desperate feel of uncertainty
While wrestling to fight Death.
How great my mighty Savior
To lift me into His arms.
He had no tolerance whatsoever
For Death’s pathetic charms.
The minutes that felt like eternity
Forced patience to be exercised.
So many thoughts ran through my mind,
Behind my frightened eyes.
God was faithful to fight for me,
And save me from the threat.
“Thank You, God, for being there.
I am forever in Your debt.”

7.18.2020 Saturday
Written by Gail Brookshire