I've been reading for the past few weeks in Proverbs during my devotional time. It makes me feel smart, or wise rather. Making wise choices is something I try to be intentional about and remembering Proverbs helps me do that. So I thought I'd share with you some of the verses that have caught my attention and have been reflecting on lately.
Proverbs 3: 1-6
My child, never forget the things I have taught you. Store my commands in your heart, for they will give you a long and satisfying life. Never let loyalty and kindness get away from you! Wear them like a necklace, write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will gain a good reputation. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.
10:12 (b)
Love covers all offenses.
10:19
Don't talk too much, for it fosters sin. Be sensible and turn off the flow!
11: 2
Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
11: 8
God rescues the godly from danger, but he lets the wicked fall into trouble.
I had a question mark by this one. I don't understand it. Yes, it's true I don't always understand the Bible.
11:17
Your own soul is nourished when you are kind, but you destroy yourself when you are cruel.
16:20 (b)
Those who trust the Lord will be happy.
16:24
Kind words are like honey - sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.
16:31
Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by living a godly life.
17:3
Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the Lord tests the heart.
17: 9
Disregarding another person's faults preserves love; telling about them separates close friends.
19: 2
Zeal without knowledge is not good; a person who moves too quickly may go the wrong way.
19: 11
People with good sense restrain their anger; they earn esteem by overlooking wrongs.
19: 18
Discipline your children while there is hope. If you don't, you will ruin their lives.
19: 20
Get all the advice and instruction you can, and be wise the rest of your life.
20: 3
Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling.
20: 5
Though good advice lies deep within a person's heart, the wise will draw it out.
I really like Proverbs. It makes me think about my life right now. I can also see in my Bible where I've underlined or highlighted when I've read these verses before and remember what I was thinking about my life back then.
Rob Bell, a pastor and author, writes and creates material that makes me think about life too. Not just for a second, but he raises ideas that stay with me. Next time, I want to post some of my thoughts about a few of his ideas.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Friday, January 11, 2008
Creation
I started the last semester of my college career this week and it's got me thinking quite a bit about my life. I'll be honest, I'm a little scared. In less than four months my life is going to change, a lot. I've been preparing myself to graduate college my entire life and it is now upon me, I am living it right now. What's next? What will I be preparing myself for and working toward after I graduate? What lies ahead? I'm just letting you in on a few of my reflections as of late.
Most specifically this week, I've been thinking about creation. I saw the movie PS I love you, which was really sad but good. Most of the sappy love stuff hasn't stayed with me, but what did stay with me was a conversation the couple had when they met. The girl was in college and trying to figure out what she was going to do with her life and said something along the lines of each of us are to create something with our lives. We get a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment when we create something from within ourselves. It's a part of ourselves that we share with the rest of the world. That could be art, music, socks, anything.
Another creation idea from this week came up in my lighting class. Yes, I'm taking a lighting class. It's about stage lighting...or something, I'm not really sure just yet. Anyway, an article we read for class talked about how light isn't just a thing, it's not just a task for the designer but it has an element of livingness to it. It has energy and it breathes, it's alive. It is a living creation of the designer. This creation comes from within the designer and so it's not separate from them but it is part of who they are.
So I wonder, what am I creating with my life? What is it that I have to offer and share with the rest of the world? Were we created to create? Am I living into the person I was created to be? As a creation, how do I represent my Creator?
There are no easy answers to these questions, if any. And really, there's no smooth transition into a conclusion for this entry. Because there is no conclusion to these questions. I think I'll continue to wrestle with them for the rest of my life. I fully anticipate and fervently hope that the answers will continue to change throughout my life. We'll see...
Most specifically this week, I've been thinking about creation. I saw the movie PS I love you, which was really sad but good. Most of the sappy love stuff hasn't stayed with me, but what did stay with me was a conversation the couple had when they met. The girl was in college and trying to figure out what she was going to do with her life and said something along the lines of each of us are to create something with our lives. We get a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment when we create something from within ourselves. It's a part of ourselves that we share with the rest of the world. That could be art, music, socks, anything.
Another creation idea from this week came up in my lighting class. Yes, I'm taking a lighting class. It's about stage lighting...or something, I'm not really sure just yet. Anyway, an article we read for class talked about how light isn't just a thing, it's not just a task for the designer but it has an element of livingness to it. It has energy and it breathes, it's alive. It is a living creation of the designer. This creation comes from within the designer and so it's not separate from them but it is part of who they are.
So I wonder, what am I creating with my life? What is it that I have to offer and share with the rest of the world? Were we created to create? Am I living into the person I was created to be? As a creation, how do I represent my Creator?
There are no easy answers to these questions, if any. And really, there's no smooth transition into a conclusion for this entry. Because there is no conclusion to these questions. I think I'll continue to wrestle with them for the rest of my life. I fully anticipate and fervently hope that the answers will continue to change throughout my life. We'll see...
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