Sweet to the Soul, Royse City, TX (2026)

08/23/2024

"A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Proverbs 15:1

Ever met someone just looking for a fight? Didn't matter what you said, their response was cantankerous? ... ever been that person?

If I'm being honest, yes and yes.

Circumstances, bad moods and attitudes can play a part, sometimes our irritable response has nothing to do with the person we're talking to or whatever we're talking about. It happens to all of us, right?

But for some, it seems to be the standard tone of conversation. And that's what we are being warned about. This verse is the first of a section titled "the contrast of goodness and evil" where we learn that this type of every time response is actually rebellion and disobedience of God. It's even referred to as evil and wicked. And in vs 9 were told, "The way of the wicked is an abomination to God... ".
I'm praying for God to remind me of this when my responses become snippy. And to also remind me to just walk away if I need to.
There's a saying that we don't have to attend every argument we're invited to. (Or such)

And I think it and today's verse are good to remember as we are engaging with others on social media.

Blessings .

08/23/2024

Today's Scripture reading is Proverbs chapter 15

1A soft answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
but the mouths of fools pour out folly.
3The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
keeping watch on the evil and the good.
4A gentle tongue is a tree of life,
but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
5A fool despises his father’s instruction,
but whoever heeds reproof is prudent.
6In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.
7The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
not so the hearts of fools.
8The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.
9The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
but he loves him who pursues righteousness.
10There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way;
whoever hates reproof will die.
11Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord;
how much more the hearts of the children of man!
12A scoffer does not like to be reproved;
he will not go to the wise.
13A glad heart makes a cheerful face,
but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.
14The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
15All the days of the afflicted are evil,
but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.
16Better is a little with the fear of the Lord
than great treasure and trouble with it.
17Better is a dinner of herbs where love is
than a fattened ox and hatred with it.
18A hot-tempered man stirs up strife,
but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.
19The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns,
but the path of the upright is a level highway.
20A wise son makes a glad father,
but a foolish man despises his mother.
21Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense,
but a man of understanding walks straight ahead.
22Without counsel plans fail,
but with many advisers they succeed.
23To make an apt answer is a joy to a man,
and a word in season, how good it is!
24The path of life leads upward for the prudent,
that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.
25The Lord tears down the house of the proud
but maintains the widow’s boundaries.
26The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,
but gracious words are pure.
27Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household,
but he who hates bribes will live.
28The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,
but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
29The Lord is far from the wicked,
but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
30The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
and good news refreshes the bones.
31The ear that listens to life-giving reproof
will dwell among the wise.
32Whoever ignores instruction despises himself,
but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.
33The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
and humility comes before honor.

08/22/2024

"The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down." Proverbs 14:1

Ladies we can either build up our families or we can tear them down. We carry great influence over our household.

Let's vow to be who Build Up

Blessings

08/22/2024

Today's Scripture reading is Proverbs chapter 14

1The wisest of women builds her house,
but folly with her own hands tears it down.
2Whoever walks in uprightness fears the Lord,
but he who is devious in his ways despises him.
3By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back,
but the lips of the wise will preserve them.
4Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean,
but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.
5A faithful witness does not lie,
but a false witness breathes out lies.
6A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain,
but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.
7Leave the presence of a fool,
for there you do not meet words of knowledge.
8The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way,
but the folly of fools is deceiving.
9Fools mock at the guilt offering,
but the upright enjoy acceptance.
10The heart knows its own bitterness,
and no stranger shares its joy.
11The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.
13Even in laughter the heart may ache,
and the end of joy may be grief.
14The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways,
and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.
15The simple believes everything,
but the prudent gives thought to his steps.
16One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil,
but a fool is reckless and careless.
17A man of quick temper acts foolishly,
and a man of evil devices is hated.
18The simple inherit folly,
but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19The evil bow down before the good,
the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20The poor is disliked even by his neighbor,
but the rich has many friends.
21Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner,
but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.
22Do they not go astray who devise evil?
Those who devise good meet steadfast love and faithfulness.
23In all toil there is profit,
but mere talk tends only to poverty.
24The crown of the wise is their wealth,
but the folly of fools brings folly.
25A truthful witness saves lives,
but one who breathes out lies is deceitful.
26In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence,
and his children will have a refuge.
27The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
that one may turn away from the snares of death.
28In a multitude of people is the glory of a king,
but without people a prince is ruined.
29Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding,
but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
30A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh,
but envy makes the bones rot.
31Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker,
but he who is generous to the needy honors him.
32The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing,
but the righteous finds refuge in his death.
33Wisdom rests in the heart of a man of understanding,
but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools.
34Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a reproach to any people.
35A servant who deals wisely has the king’s favor,
but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.

08/21/2024

Today's Scripture reading is Proverbs chapter 13

1A wise son hears his father’s instruction,
but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
2From the fruit of his mouth a man eats what is good,
but the desire of the treacherous is for violence.
3Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life;
he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
4The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.
5The righteous hates falsehood,
but the wicked brings shamea and disgrace.
6Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless,
but sin overthrows the wicked.
7One pretends to be rich,b yet has nothing;
another pretends to be poor,c yet has great wealth.
8The ransom of a man’s life is his wealth,
but a poor man hears no threat.
9The light of the righteous rejoices,
but the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
10By insolence comes nothing but strife,
but with those who take advice is wisdom.
11Wealth gained hastilyd will dwindle,
but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.
12Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
13Whoever despises the worde brings destruction on himself,
but he who reveres the commandmentf will be rewarded.
14The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
that one may turn away from the snares of death.
15Good sense wins favor,
but the way of the treacherous is their ruin.g
16Every prudent man acts with knowledge,
but a fool flaunts his folly.
17A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
but a faithful envoy brings healing.
18Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction,
but whoever heeds reproof is honored.
19A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul,
but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.
20Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
21Disasterh pursues sinners,
but the righteous are rewarded with good.
22A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.
23The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food,
but it is swept away through injustice.
24Whoever spares the rod hates his son,
but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.i
25The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite,
but the belly of the wicked suffers want.

08/20/2024

Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad. Proverbs 12:25

I had a boss tell me once that I actually performed better under stress. I took it as a compliment. I had accepted the conditions of my work environment as status quo and was pleased that I could successfully navigate the work day land mines.

But another co-worker of mine did not fare as well. When placed in a purposefully highly stressful situation, his body reacted negatively and it appeared he was having a heart attack. At the hospital, it was diagnosed as a panic attack. It was similar symptoms, but thankfully not as serious.

So yes, I definitely believe today's scripture that anxiety weighs down a man's heart. A woman's heart also.

And although my boss thought I performed well under stress, it was only because I was getting my job done. In truth, my body was paying the price - high blood pressure, weight gain, sleeplessness, etc.

So what are we to do? I mean, it would be nice if we could just tell everyone around us "Stop stressing me out!" but our life circumstances may just be stressful.

One thing we can do is go to the Word of God. I find reading and meditating on scripture very relaxing.

But let's also do something for our friends and family under stress. First, let's notice. Let's look up from our phone, look beyond our situation and notice the people around us. Second, let's be encouraging. Let's speak gracious words into their life and look for ways we can help reduce their stress level.

And it might just happen that while we are focused on someone else, we realize that our own stress level has been reduced a bit.

Blessings

08/20/2024

Today's Scripture reading is Proverbs chapter 12

1Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but he who hates reproof is stupid.
2A good man obtains favor from the Lord,
but a man of evil devices he condemns.
3No one is established by wickedness,
but the root of the righteous will never be moved.
4An excellent wife is the crown of her husband,
but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.
5The thoughts of the righteous are just;
the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
6The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
but the mouth of the upright delivers them.
7The wicked are overthrown and are no more,
but the house of the righteous will stand.
8A man is commended according to his good sense,
but one of twisted mind is despised.
9Better to be lowly and have a servant
than to play the great man and lack bread.
10Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast,
but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.
11Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread,
but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.
12Whoever is wicked covets the spoil of evildoers,
but the root of the righteous bears fruit.
13An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips,a
but the righteous escapes from trouble.
14From the fruit of his mouth a man is satisfied with good,
and the work of a man’s hand comes back to him.
15The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
but a wise man listens to advice.
16The vexation of a fool is known at once,
but the prudent ignores an insult.
17Whoever speaksb the truth gives honest evidence,
but a false witness utters deceit.
18There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
19Truthful lips endure forever,
but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
20Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
but those who plan peace have joy.
21No ill befalls the righteous,
but the wicked are filled with trouble.
22Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
but those who act faithfully are his delight.
23A prudent man conceals knowledge,
but the heart of fools proclaims folly.
24The hand of the diligent will rule,
while the slothful will be put to forced labor.
25Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down,
but a good word makes him glad.
26One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor,
but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27Whoever is slothful will not roast his game,
but the diligent man will get precious wealth.d
28In the path of righteousness is life,
and in its pathway there is no death.

08/20/2024

Father, there are times my pride gets the best of me, and I grieve your Spirit. I am sorry. Please humble my ways and wrap your blanket of wisdom around me. I desire to seek you and find you all the days of my life. Help me understand you better to live out your love and light. I love you. I need you. In Jesus' name, Amen.

08/19/2024

When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with the humble is wisdom.
Proverbs 11:2

Pride slays thanksgiving, but an humble mind is the soil out of which thanks naturally grow. A proud man is seldom a grateful man, for he never thinks he gets as much as he deserves. H W Beecher

08/19/2024

Today's Scripture reading is Proverbs chapter 11

1A false balance is an abomination to the Lord,
but a just weight is his delight.
2When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with the humble is wisdom.
3The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.
4Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death.
5The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight,
but the wicked falls by his own wickedness.
6The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust.
7When the wicked dies, his hope will perish,
and the expectation of wealth perishes too.
8The righteous is delivered from trouble,
and the wicked walks into it instead.
9With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor,
but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
10When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices,
and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness.
11By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown.
12Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense,
but a man of understanding remains silent.
13Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets,
but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.
14Where there is no guidance, a people falls,
but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
15Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm,
but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.
16A gracious woman gets honor,
and violent men get riches.
17A man who is kind benefits himself,
but a cruel man hurts himself.
18The wicked earns deceptive wages,
but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward.
19Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live,
but he who pursues evil will die.
20Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the Lord,
but those of blameless ways are his delight.
21Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished,
but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
22Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
is a beautiful woman without discretion.
23The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
the expectation of the wicked in wrath.
24One gives freely, yet grows all the richer;
another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
25Whoever brings blessing will be enriched,
and one who waters will himself be watered.
26The people curse him who holds back grain,
but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it.
27Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,
but evil comes to him who searches for it.
28Whoever trusts in his riches will fall,
but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.
29Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind,
and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
and whoever captures souls is wise.
31If the righteous is repaid on earth,
how much more the wicked and the sinner!

08/16/2024

Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray. Proverbs 10:17

Heartcheck: do I have a teachable spirit when I read the Word of God or do I superimpose what I want it to mean?

Today's Scripture reading is Proverbs chapter 10.

08/16/2024

Today's Scripture Reading is Proverbs chapter 10

The Proverbs of Solomon

1The proverbs of Solomon.

A wise son makes a glad father,
but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.
2Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit,
but righteousness delivers from death.
3The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry,
but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.
4A slack hand causes poverty,
but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
5He who gathers in summer is a prudent son,
but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame.
6Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
7The memory of the righteous is a blessing,
but the name of the wicked will rot.
8The wise of heart will receive commandments,
but a babbling fool will come to ruin.
9Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,
but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.
10Whoever winks the eye causes trouble,
and a babbling fool will come to ruin.
11The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
12Hatred stirs up strife,
but love covers all offenses.
13On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found,
but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense.
14The wise lay up knowledge,
but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.
15A rich man’s wealth is his strong city;
the poverty of the poor is their ruin.
16The wage of the righteous leads to life,
the gain of the wicked to sin.
17Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life,
but he who rejects reproof leads others astray.
18The one who conceals hatred has lying lips,
and whoever utters slander is a fool.
19When words are many, transgression is not lacking,
but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.
20The tongue of the righteous is choice silver;
the heart of the wicked is of little worth.
21The lips of the righteous feed many,
but fools die for lack of sense.
22The blessing of the Lord makes rich,
and he adds no sorrow with it.
23Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool,
but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.
24What the wicked dreads will come upon him,
but the desire of the righteous will be granted.
25When the tempest passes, the wicked is no more,
but the righteous is established forever.
26Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
so is the sluggard to those who send him.
27The fear of the Lord prolongs life,
but the years of the wicked will be short.
28The hope of the righteous brings joy,
but the expectation of the wicked will perish.
29The way of the Lord is a stronghold to the blameless,
but destruction to evildoers.
30The righteous will never be removed,
but the wicked will not dwell in the land.
31The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,
but the perverse tongue will be cut off.
32The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable,
but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse.

Sweet to the Soul

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