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 AUGUST 1, 2022 Galatians 5:22-23 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things. Don’t you love when summer fruits are in season? You wait and wait until your favorite ones are available. I find it is worth waiting for summertime produce to arrive. Nothing tastes better than a fruit salad prepared with fresh, local, seasonal fruit. I was thinking the other day that just like our favorite fruits take time to develop before we can enjoy them, it takes time for the fruit of God’s Spirit to grow in us. It does not happen quickly, in a moment or with the snap of our fingers. I have discovered, that these nine fruits mentioned above do not tend to develop at the same rate. Our creator knows us, and God knows that some of His attributes, the fruits of the Spirit, take longer to produce in some of His followers, than they do in others. Our spiritual j

 JULY 29, 2022 Proverbs 31:10-31 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. 11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. 12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. 13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. 14 She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. 15 She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants. 16 She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. 17 She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. 18 She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. 19 In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. 20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. 21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

 JULY  28, 2022 Proverbs 30:1-9 30 The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh—an inspired utterance. This man’s utterance to Ithiel: “I am weary, God, but I can prevail. 2 Surely I am only a brute, not a man; I do not have human understanding. 3 I have not learned wisdom, nor have I attained to the knowledge of the Holy One. 4 Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Whose hands have gathered up the wind? Who has wrapped up the waters in a cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is the name of his son? Surely you know! 5 “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. 6 Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar. 7 “Two things I ask of you, Lord; do not refuse me before I die: 8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. 9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you an

 JULY 27, 2022 Proverbs 25:17 17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house— too much of you, and they will hate you. Proverbs 27:14 14 If anyone loudly blesses their neighbor early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse. One common attribute that many people associate with true friendship is familiarity. We imagine friends as people who know the rhythms of other people’s lives and are comfortable being themselves around each other. Sincerity and honesty are keys to friendship. Feeling like you need to pretend around someone is never a recipe for growing a friendship. On the other hand, there is a form of familiarity that is actually a kind of disrespect. True friends understand what the other person needs to be healthy and gives them room when they need it. Look at what Proverbs 25:17 says, “ Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house— too much of you, and they will hate you.  This is about having healthy boundaries. We sometimes use words like “extrovert” and “introvert

 JULY 26, 2022 Proverbs 17:9 9 Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. Yesterday we looked at the characteristic of a friend not being shy about confronting us through uncomfortable conversations. Today, I just wanted to add to that teaching from Proverbs 17:9 above. Our text above basically says A Friend Cuts Slack . Sometimes we can take confrontation too far. Am I right? Sometimes we use the closeness with someone as a justification to vent our own frustration and we can criticize another mercilessly. Sometimes what we have to learn is to stop confronting someone about every last little thing they do. I had a University Professor who would often remind us to be aware and “choose our battles carefully.” Friends cut each other slack. Proverbs 17:9 says, “Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.” This proverb doesn’t mean that friends help friends

 JULY 25, 2022 Proverbs 27:9 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice. Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Proverbs 27:6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. So far on the theme of Biblical Friendship Proverbs has taught us that Friends Change Us , so exercise care in who the people are that get close to us. Doesn’t mean shunning people, it just means that those who are influencing us, those inner circle friends, should be people who will help us grow and develop into women and men who live life “skillfully” and wisely. We also saw that these kind of influencers, are not just “good time” friends, but friends who stick with us through all seasons of life, no matter what. As Proverbs said it, this kind of pal who is a Friend who Cares . Today we look at a third characteristic that Proverbs highlights it is that A Friend Counsels, Corrects, and

 JULY 20, 2022 Proverbs 17:17 “A friend loves at all times, a brother is born for adversity.” Proverbs 18:24   “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” What is a healthy number of friends? Quality counts more than quantity. While it may be good to cultivate a diverse network of friends and acquaintances, you may feel a greater sense of belonging and well-being by nurturing close, meaningful relationships that will support you through thick and thin. Yesterday, we heard from Proverbs that we need to be careful who gets into our inner circle. Will they be people that build us up and strengthen us, and change us positively. Today lets look at another aspect of friendship that Proverbs points out. The teaching is that A Friend Cares . In Proverbs 18:24 says, “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Many of the friendly acquaintances we develop are relati

 JULY 19, 2022 Proverbs 17:17 17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. Friends is one of those words that has lost much of its meaning. We have hundreds of “friends” on social media, but many of them are people we hardly see and barely know. Even before Facebook, the term “friend” had come to mean just about anybody we are acquainted with. The Bible uses the term “friend” to mean something deeper, something similar to what we might refer to as “best friends” or besties. Such friendships are both needed and extraordinary.  It would be easy to blame technology, or more recently a Pandemic, for the ways in which our lives have become distanced and isolated from each other. But the truth is that developing friendship has always been complicated. It requires being intentional and wise. That is why the Book of Proverbs is full of wisdom about what friendship is for and how to pursue meaningful friendships. Being skillful in life means developing w

 JULY 18, 2022 Proverbs 3:1-12 3 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, 2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. 3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. 9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. 11 My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, 12 because the Lord discipline

  JULY 15, 2022 We noted on Monday that the Hebrew word for wisdom is best translated as “skill”. It was used to describe the ability of the craftsmen who worked on the tabernacle in Exodus 31:6. 31 Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills — 4 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 5 to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts. 6 Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you. ” The desire to be wise, is the desire to be skillful in the matters of life. Proverbs purports to be offering sound practical teaching to sharpen our skill. Today, we will look at these words from Proverbs 3:9-10 that say: 9 Honor the Lo

 JULY 14, 2022 PROVERBS 3:1-12 3 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, 2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. 3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. 9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. 11 My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, 12 because the Lord disciplines

 JULY 13, 2022 PROVERBS 2:1-11 My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, 2 turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding— 3 indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, 4 and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. 6 For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. 7 He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, 8 for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. 9 Then you will understand what is right and just  and fair—every good path. 10 For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. 11 Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you. What is in this “hidden treasure” called Wisdom that makes it worth the hard wor

 JULY 12, 2022 Proverbs 2:1-5a My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, 2 turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding— 3 indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, 4 and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord Dr. Steven Jones writes, “I once worked with a marriage counseling ministry in a church. They offered three kinds of counseling: premarital counseling, counseling for couples having marriage difficulties, and something they called “marriage maximizing.” When I asked what the third one was, I was told that it was for couples who weren’t having problems but simply wanted their marriage to be all it could be. I responded that those sessions are probably easier because the couples are already doing well and want to be doing better. The answer I received shocked me. They said these sessions were actually

 JULY 11, 2022 The Hebrew word for wisdom is best translated as “skill”. It is used to describe the ability of the craftsmen who worked on the tabernacle in Exodus 31:6. This reminds us that the Proverbs are not abstract concepts. This radically practical Wisdom isn’t just something you know. It’s something you do. It is learning to live skillfully. This week we will begin a walk through the Book of Proverbs looking at key passages that give us guidance on how we can learn to live skillfully. _____________________________________________________ PROVERBS 1:1-7 1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: 2 for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; 3 for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair; 4 for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young— 5 let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance— 6 for understanding prover

 JULY 8, 2022 Isaiah 65:24 24 I will answer them before they even call to me.     While they are still talking about their needs,     I will go ahead and answer their prayers This is one of those passages that I have found revolutionary in my thinking about prayer. A little backstory is in order I suppose. You see for much of my life I have lived with the misconception that prayer or praying is my idea, that a conversation with God in my prayers only occur if I initiated the prayer.  In my defense, I think many of us have had this understanding thrust upon us about prayer with the messages of emphasizing the importance of prayer as a duty, “you must pray” and talk to God. Prayer and Bible Reading are a necessity if you are serious about getting to know God. There is something in such teaching that is accurate, but I will be honest this emphasis caused me to think I needed to get God’s attention in some way, and that my words had to be perfect, you know the right words. This made prayer

 JULY 07, 2022 Jesus tells this parable of the kingdom of God in  Matthew 13:31-32 . He teaches,  “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”  I have become increasingly aware that trees are beautiful pictures of God’s ability to take what we view as weak or insignificant, a seed, and make a magnificent and life-giving creation out of it. And  Matthew 13  reveals how trees can be viewed as pictures of the very kingdom of their Creator. It’s amazing and comforting that God would begin his kingdom small and grow it by faithful stewardship into a beautiful and life-giving creation. Trees grow year after year, season after season. Flowers never begin as beautiful as they are in full bloom. The earth is constantly undergoing abundant transformation as God’s crea