Wisdom in Proverbs

Yesterday morning as I was doing my personal devotions, I read Proverbs 15. Most of the time my morning Bible time is rushed - plus I'm not quite top-notch coherent yet - and I don't usually take the time to really think about the words and let God speak to me through them. This time, however, I wanted to really ponder and get my mind focused on the Word.

As I started the first few verses of the chapter, I began thinking about 1 Peter 3.
I'd better explain. I think of Proverbs as sort of a godly guideline of living wisely. Proverbs 15:1 says "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger."
How true these words are to me. I remember a couple years ago I would get really frustrated with my siblings (usually if they were violating what I thought to be my "rights"). My anger would soon boil over and I'd treat them very poorly. Then I started applying this verse to my life when I felt provoked or angry. I'd say it to myself in my mind and just keep quiet.. And you know what? It usually worked! Of course, sometimes it was my own fault that I was angry or I had started the whole fight, and then it was better if I didn't get bitter but just apologized right away. :)

Other verses in this passage speak to me of using my tongue wisely and for the glory of God, listening to the instruction and reproof of my parents (or those in authority over me), following in the path of righteousness, having a merry heart, getting counsel and advice when planning, thinking right and pure thoughts, and fearing the Lord.
So what is the "end result" (at least on earth) of these things? This is where I think of 1 Peter 3.

"But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which  is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." 1 Peter 3:4

This Scripture is actually talking about how wives are supposed to act and how to present themselves, but can't this be applied in other situations as well? I think that by following the instructions in Proverbs - listening to the leadership and reproof of those in authority, thinking holy and pure thoughts, having a reverence for the Lord, and speaking wisely (to name a few) - we can be well on our way to obtaining "the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price" 1 Peter 3:4b (italics added) As I was writing, the last part of that verse popped out to me. (See? God shows you new things all the time!)
"...which is in the sights of God of great price." Who wouldn't want to have a spirit of great value in God's eyes?? I sure would!  By having a "meek and quiet spirit", we can point others to God by our example . . . which brings me to the next verse: 1 Peter 3:15.

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:"

What do I do if someone does ask me about my faith? or about the "hope that is in you [me]"? 
I looked up this verse in a Bible program we have and glanced at some different commentaries. This is part of one by John Wesley. (The Scripture is in red and his commentary is in blue.)

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts - Have an holy fear, and a full trust in his wise providence. 
The hope - Of eternal life.

With meekness - For anger would hurt your cause as well as your soul. 
And fear - A fear of offending God, and a jealousy over yourselves, lest ye speak amiss.

In other words, if we have a holy fear and a full trust in HIS wise providence, then we should want to always be ready to give an answer to anyone that asks us a reason of the hope (the hope we have of eternal life) that is in us. We should be able to talk to people about Christ with meekness and fear (of God).

Anyway, those were just some of my thoughts I wanted to share with you'll today!  :)  My apologies if I didn't write it in a clear manner. Getting my thoughts out in words is not really my forte. Ah well...  :)

Lord willing I'll write more some . . . but until then, on with the life of a busy high-schooler!  :)

Snow! Snow, snow....oh....

Here are some pictures of my siblings and I in the snow from the last week or so.   :)

Jerusha and I went outside and did some photo shots of each other in the snow.

 A day or so after the snow came, we all went out and shoveled the walkway and the driveway...well, *some* of the driveway. We shoveled enough that our sister could go to work the next morning and not get stuck.   :)

Josiah was an awesome big brother and came out with us even though he had a headache! 

 After we finished shoveling, Jessica, Jerusha and I scrambled on top of a big snow pile in our neighbor's field . . . it's actually a lot bigger than shown here.



Since Jerusha and I had our photo shot the day before, we all concurred it was only right that Jessica should have one too!  

-Dramatic change of subject-

     I have decided that the Kindergarten/First grade Sunday School class that Jessica and I teach is absolutely the cutest class ever!!!! Their prayer requests are so sweet.

Little boy: "Um, I, umm . . . umm, my dad, uh . . . my dad's other dad died . . . so could you, umm . . . could you pray for him?"

Jessica: Okay, well, if your grandpa died then - "

Little boy: NO! Not my Grandpa! It's my um . . . uh, my dad's other dad.

Jessica: "All right, but you don't need to pray for him, we should pray for comfort for your family instead." 

Finally convincing the little boy that she was going to pray for the right thing, she moved onto the next prayer request which was a little girl asking for prayer for her "aunt who died in Heaven".

Sorry, I didn't mean for that to be morbid or anything. Unfortunately they all seemed to be about death.
There are other really cute things that they do . . . but it's not the same trying to write them down. (*Warning! Cliche line ahead!*) You would have had to be there.    :D

~ "The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:" ~ Numbers 6:25