Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Proverbs 3:13-15
Author Archives: KevinS
Proverbs 1:7 Beginning of Wisdom
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Proverbs 1:7
Proverbs 26:12-Wise in Our Eyes
Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. Proverbs 26:12
Running From Mice
Cartoon of two mice and a fleeing elephant. A mouse says, “I don’t know about you, but I feel empowered.”
The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion. Proverbs 28:2 (NIV)
Tested by Praise
Cartoon of three boys. One is acting cool. Another boy says, “He’s been that way ever since the teacher praised him for his clean desk.”
The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,
but man is tested by the praise he receives. Proverbs 27:28 (NIV)
Some people like to puff up when they get some praise, don’t they? You can complement someone on the way they look or something they just did, and the next thing you know, their head won’t fit through a doorway.
I have the opposite problem. I have to be careful not to give off a false sense of humility. Someone can praise me, and I’ll say, “Oh, it’s nothing. In fact, it’s pretty lousy. Why a kindergartner can do that! Think nothing of it!”
What am I doing? The guy just told me I did a great job and then I insult his judgment? A simple “thank you” would have been better.
I’m working on being humbly grateful for praise. I don’t need my head to become the size of a hot air balloon, nor should I pop the balloon of the person giving me a complement. Somewhere in the middle is just fine, thank you.
I drew this comic in Adobe Illustrator CS2
Two are Better Than One
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: Ecclesiastes 4:9
Genesis 2:15-17: Crossing Boundaries
The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.” Genesis 2:15-17
Exodus 17: 8-13 Cooperation for the Home Team
As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. Exodus 17:11-12
Proverbs 26:27-The Trap You Set
Cartoon of a boy in a trap and another boy. Trapped boy says, “OK! I admit the trap was meant for you. Now will you please let me out?”
If a man digs a pit, he will fall into it; if a man rolls a stone, it will roll back on him. Proverbs 26:27
I used to love to watch the Warner Brothers’ “Roadrunner” cartoons with my dad and brother. Every time, Wile E. Coyote would set a trap for the roadrunner. And every time, the poor coyote would trap himself. It didn’t matter if it was a sophisticated contraption fit for Einstein, the coyote would always taste defeat, but never taste that succulent, elusive bird.
I’ve found in life I have to be careful about traps. Many times, I’d like to get even when I feel wronged. But the trap I’d like to set for someone could end up snaring me. It’s best I let God deal with the other critter!
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”says the Lord. Romans 12:19
Sermon Notes: God is sovereign
My pastor, Jim Lyon, took last Sunday’s sermon from Malachi 1:1-5.