Beauty!

God is beautiful, he is Beauty himself. Oh how has that truth changed my whole weekend. His creation is a reflection of him: flowers, sunsent, women, snow, the sky, the space, etc. We as humans try to express this in art, music, poetry and so many different ways. My heart is filled with beauty tonight.

Day 31 - A good woman is hard to find, and worth far more than diamonds.

Ok. I made it! 31 days, 31 chapters. What an awesome experience. Still so fast I think. Definitely it was worth making it through the first 9 days to get to all the practical stuff from chapter 10 and on. Definitely awesome sayings from Salomon and his friends! So here it is Proverbs 31 from The Message version and the highlights (my favorite verses and maybe some comments)

If all leader's moms were like this:

¹The words of King Lemuel, the strong advice his mother gave him:

^2-3 "Oh, son of mine, what can you be thinking of!
Child whom I bore! The son I dedicated to God!
Don't dissipate your virility on fortune-hunting women,
promiscuous women who shipwreck leaders.

"Leaders can't afford to make fools of themselves,
gulping wine and swilling beer,
Lest, hung over, they don't know right from wrong,
and the people who depend on them are hurt.
Use wine and beer only as sedatives,
to kill the pain and dull the ache
Of the terminally ill,
for whom life is a living death.

"Speak up for the people who have no voice,
for the rights of all the down-and-outers.
Speak out for justice!
Stand up for the poor and destitute!"

-----

Hymn to a Good Wife

Ok. So now living in Sweden where equality is a big word the rest of the chapter you can say it is a very old school perspective of what a great woman is; that's how roles were seen before. Putting it in context with today's men and women roles, especially in the house, you can just say that this is a smart, talented, hard worker and family oriented woman, one has more to show than what meets the eye. The opening and closing statement are just great and a good thing to keep in mind for all of us men:

A good woman is hard to find,
and worth far more than diamonds.

Give her everything she deserves!
Festoon her life with praises!

Day 30 - Don't imagine yourself to be quite presentable when you haven't had a bath in weeks.

It's quite hard to picture this but it has been 30 days I've been reading a chapter every day and blogging about it. Tomorrow is the last day and today's chapter is not less better than any of the previous ones. This chapter touches on a lot of topics but for the first one comes to my mind how this book started "Start with God—the first step in learning is bowing down to God; only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning." Proverbs 1 MSG

I have to share this whole section with you:

The Words of Agur Ben Yakeh

God? Who Needs Him?

^1-2 The skeptic swore, "There is no God! No God!—I can do anything I want!
I'm more animal than human;
so-called human intelligence escapes me.

^3-4 "I flunked 'wisdom.'
I see no evidence of a holy God.
Has anyone ever seen Anyone
climb into Heaven and take charge?
grab the winds and control them?
gather the rains in his bucket?
stake out the ends of the earth?
Just tell me his name, tell me the names of his sons.
Come on now—tell me!"

^5-6 The believer replied, "Every promise of God proves true;
he protects everyone who runs to him for help.
So don't second-guess him;
he might take you to task and show up your lies."

^7-9 And then he prayed, "God, I'm asking for two things
before I die; don't refuse me—
Banish lies from my lips
and liars from my presence.
Give me enough food to live on,
neither too much nor too little.
If I'm too full, I might get independent,
saying, 'God? Who needs him?'
If I'm poor, I might steal
and dishonor the name of my God."

I have to specifically comment on verses 5-6. I have no other way to express my faith in God, the God the Bible talks about, but as it has become something personal to me. I have taken "steps of faith", I have trusted God to come through for me in key areas of my life like jobs and this opportunity of education abroad I am experiencing now, and he has proved to be faithful. How? We'll have to talk more about it. You just have to take the first step and decide to start following God, like Jesus said to his candidate disciples "follow me". Once you start following God consciously then he'll reveal more of himself to you. Why would he do other wise? Does he needs us? haha. So in the end I believe, like Salomon and Agur -the guy wrote this chapter- say: wisdoms starts recognizing there's a God.

Here are more awesome sayings from Agur:

Don't blow the whistle on your fellow workers
behind their backs;
They'll accuse you of being underhanded,
and then you'll be the guilty one!

Don't curse your father
or fail to bless your mother.

Don't imagine yourself to be quite presentable
when you haven't had a bath in weeks.

Don't be stuck-up
and think you're better than everyone else.

Day 29 - If you think you know it all, you're a fool for sure; real survivors learn wisdom from others.

Ok, so yesterday I skipped chapter 28 by mistake. I'm doing it today. So here it is awesome saying from Proverbs chapter 28! The Message version as usual! :)

When the country is in chaos,
everybody has a plan to fix it—
But it takes a leader of real understanding
to straighten things out.

Get as rich as you want
through cheating and extortion,
But eventually some friend of the poor
is going to give it all back to them.

God has no use for the prayers
of the people who won't listen to him.

Among leaders who lack insight, abuse abounds,
but for one who hates corruption, the future is bright.

Work your garden—you'll end up with plenty of food;
play and party—you'll end up with an empty plate.

Committed and persistent work pays off;
get-rich-quick schemes are ripoffs.

In the end, serious reprimand is appreciated
far more than bootlicking flattery.

If you think you know it all, you're a fool for sure;
real survivors learn wisdom from others.

Be generous to the poor—you'll never go hungry;
shut your eyes to their needs, and run a gauntlet of curses.

When corruption takes over, good people go underground,
but when the crooks are thrown out, it's safe to come out

Day 28 - Pride lands you flat on your face; humility prepares you for honors.

Day 29 - Proverbs 29! The Message version :)

For people who hate discipline and only get more stubborn,
There'll come a day when life tumbles in and they break,
but by then it'll be too late to help them.

When good people run things, everyone is glad,
but when the ruler is bad, everyone groans.

The good-hearted understand what it's like to be poor;
the hardhearted haven't the faintest idea.

Leadership gains authority and respect
when the voiceless poor are treated fairly.

It takes more than talk to keep workers in line;
mere words go in one ear and out the other.

Observe the people who always talk before they think—
even simpletons are better off than they are.

If you let people treat you like a doormat,
you'll be quite forgotten in the end.

Pride lands you flat on your face;
humility prepares you for honors.

The fear of human opinion disables;
trusting in God protects you from that.

Good people can't stand the sight of deliberate evil;
the wicked can't stand the sight of well-chosen goodness.

Day 27 - The wounds from a lover are worth it; kisses from an enemy do you in

It hasn't stopped getting better :) Day 27: full of great sayings! Gotta learn more.

Don't brashly announce what you're going to do tomorrow; you don't know the first thing about tomorrow.

Don't call attention to yourself;
let others do that for you.

A spoken reprimand is better
than approval that's never expressed.

The wounds from a lover are worth it;
kisses from an enemy do you in.

Just as lotions and fragrance give sensual delight,
a sweet friendship refreshes the soul.

Don't leave your friends or your parents' friends
and run home to your family when things get rough;
Better a nearby friend
than a distant family.

A prudent person sees trouble coming and ducks;
a simpleton walks in blindly and is clobbered.

What trouble can I forsee coming if I take certain decisions today?

Hold tight to collateral on any loan to a stranger;
be wary of accepting what a transient has pawned.

You use steel to sharpen steel,
and one friend sharpens another.

If you care for your orchard, you'll enjoy its fruit;
if you honor your boss, you'll be honored.

Just as water mirrors your face,
so your face mirrors your heart.

Hell has a voracious appetite,
and lust just never quits.

The purity of silver and gold is tested
by putting them in the fire;
The purity of human hearts is tested
by giving them a little fame.

Wow, so true

Know your sheep by name;
carefully attend to your flocks;
(Don't take them for granted;
possessions don't last forever, you know.)
And then, when the crops are in
and the harvest is stored in the barns,
You can knit sweaters from lambs' wool,
and sell your goats for a profit;
There will be plenty of milk and meat
to last your family through the winter.

Take care of your business!

Day 26 - Don't respond to the stupidity of a fool; you'll only look foolish yourself.

It's day 26! Almost finishing this reading challenge :) So here it is, today's favorite verses:

Don't respond to the stupidity of a fool;
you'll only look foolish yourself.

Answer a fool in simple terms
so he doesn't get a swelled head.

Loafers say, "It's dangerous out there!
Tigers are prowling the streets!"
and then pull the covers back over their heads.

A shiftless sluggard puts his fork in the pie,
but is too lazy to lift it to his mouth.

People who shrug off deliberate deceptions,
saying, "I didn't mean it, I was only joking,"
Are worse than careless campers
who walk away from smoldering campfires.

When you run out of wood, the fire goes out;
when the gossip ends, the quarrel dies down.

Day 25 - Reliable friends who do what they say are like cool drinks in sweltering heat—refreshing!!

My favorite sayings from Proverbs 25 MSG, I'm just impressed at how wise these sayings are and how much common sense there is here, wow!

God delights in concealing things;
scientists delight in discovering things.

Like the horizons for breadth and the ocean for depth,
the understanding of a good leader is broad and deep.

Don't work yourself into the spotlight;
don't push your way into the place of prominence.
It's better to be promoted to a place of honor
than face humiliation by being demoted.

Don't jump to conclusions—there may be
a perfectly good explanation for what you just saw.

In the heat of an argument,
don't betray confidences;
Word is sure to get around,
and no one will trust you.

The right word at the right time
is like a custom-made piece of jewelry,
And a wise friend's timely reprimand
is like a gold ring slipped on your finger.

Reliable friends who do what they say
are like cool drinks in sweltering heat—refreshing!

Patient persistence pierces through indifference;
gentle speech breaks down rigid defenses.

When you're given a box of candy, don't gulp it all down;
eat too much chocolate and you'll make yourself sick;
And when you find a friend, don't outwear your welcome;
show up at all hours and he'll soon get fed up.

If you see your enemy hungry, go buy him lunch;
if he's thirsty, bring him a drink.
Your generosity will surprise him with goodness,
and God will look after you.

Like a cool drink of water when you're worn out and weary
is a letter from a long-lost friend.

A person without self-control
is like a house with its doors and windows knocked out.

Day 24 - Intelligence Outranks Muscle

Ok, so today is part 3 and last of those 30 principles Salomon is recommending to live life by. Principles 19 - 30:

20

It takes wisdom to build a house,
and understanding to set it on a firm foundation;
It takes knowledge to furnish its rooms
with fine furniture and beautiful draperies.

21

It's better to be wise than strong;
intelligence outranks muscle any day.
Strategic planning is the key to warfare;
to win, you need a lot of good counsel.

24

If you fall to pieces in a crisis,
there wasn't much to you in the first place.

25

Rescue the perishing;
don't hesitate to step in and help.
If you say, "Hey, that's none of my business,"
will that get you off the hook?
Someone is watching you closely, you know—
Someone not impressed with weak excuses.

28

Don't laugh when your enemy falls;
don't crow over his collapse.
God might see, and become very provoked,
and then take pity on his plight.

30

Fear God, dear child—respect your leaders;
don't be defiant or mutinous.
Without warning your life can turn upside down,
and who knows how or when it might happen?

More Sayings of the Wise

First plant your fields;
then build your barn.

Don't talk about your neighbors behind their backs—
no slander or gossip, please.
Don't say to anyone, "I'll get back at you for what you did to me.
I'll make you pay for what you did!"

Day 23 - Number 6 to 18

Ok, so today principles number 6 to 18 that Salomon recommends to live by. Here are some of my favorite:

6

When you go out to dinner with an influential person, mind your manners:
Don't gobble your food,
don't talk with your mouth full.
And don't stuff yourself;
bridle your appetite.

7

Don't wear yourself out trying to get rich;
restrain yourself!
Riches disappear in the blink of an eye;
wealth sprouts wings
and flies off into the wild blue yonder.

9

Don't bother talking sense to fools;
they'll only poke fun at your words.

15

Oh listen, dear child—become wise;
point your life in the right direction.
Don't drink too much wine and get drunk;
don't eat too much food and get fat.
Drunks and gluttons will end up on skid row,
in a stupor and dressed in rags.

Day 21 & 22 - Do your best, prepare for the worst

Chapter 21 MSG version: awesome proverbs about intentions, beyond religion, leadership and spouses.

Good leadership is a channel of water controlled by God; he directs it to whatever ends he chooses.

We justify our actions by appearances;
God examines our motives.

Clean living before God and justice with our neighbors
mean far more to God than religious performance.

Mixed motives twist life into tangles;
pure motives take you straight down the road.

Better to live alone in a tumbledown shack
than share a mansion with a nagging spouse.

You're addicted to thrills? What an empty life!
The pursuit of pleasure is never satisfied.

Better to live in a tent in the wild
than with a cross and petulant spouse.

Do your best, prepare for the worst—
then trust God to bring victory.

Chapter 22 MSG version:

A sterling reputation is better than striking it rich; a gracious spirit is better than money in the bank.

A prudent person sees trouble coming and ducks;
a simpleton walks in blindly and is clobbered.

Young people are prone to foolishness and fads;
the cure comes through tough-minded discipline.

Exploit the poor or glad-hand the rich—whichever,
you'll end up the poorer for it.

Ok, so the next statement by Salomon is such an important one. I could picture him thinking of his son and looking him straight in the eyes while saying this. Is like the moment in the movie Kingdom of Heaven, when Balian's dad is dying (I hope I spelled his name right) and he is giving him the last instructions. Wow, what a moment! I think I can picture myself being lectured by him too. This is an important moment:

Listen carefully to my wisdom;
take to heart what I can teach you.
You'll treasure its sweetness deep within;
you'll give it bold expression in your speech.
To make sure your foundation is trust in God,
I'm laying it all out right now just for you.
I'm giving you thirty sterling principles—
tested guidelines to live by.
Believe me—these are truths that work,
and will keep you accountable
to those who sent you.

I'm sharing No. 4 and 5

4

Don't stealthily move back the boundary lines
staked out long ago by your ancestors.

5

Observe people who are good at their work—
skilled workers are always in demand and admired;
they don't take a backseat to anyone.

Day 20 - A Sunny Day

Oh the joys of a sunny day in the winter :) And a good set of proverbs to end the day :)

Wine makes you mean, beer makes you quarrelsome— a staggering drunk is not much fun.

Knowing what is right is like deep water in the heart;
a wise person draws from the well within.

Plans are established by seeking advice;
so if you wage war, obtain guidance.

Don't be too fond of sleep; you'll end up in the poorhouse.
Wake up and get up; then there'll be food on the table.

A bonanza at the beginning
is no guarantee of blessing at the end.

Don't ever say, "I'll get you for that!"
Wait for God; he'll settle the score.

Love and truth form a good leader;
sound leadership is founded on loving integrity.

Youth may be admired for vigor,
but gray hair gives prestige to old age

Day 19 - Ooooh yea!

More awesome proverbs. Today was... yes you guess! Proverbs 19 MSG :)

Ignorant zeal is worthless;
haste makes waste.

Grow a wise heart—you'll do yourself a favor;
keep a clear head—you'll find a good life.

Smart people know how to hold their tongue;
their grandeur is to forgive and forget.

Mean-tempered leaders are like mad dogs;
the good-natured are like fresh morning dew.

House and land are handed down from parents,
but a congenial spouse comes straight from God.

Keep the rules and keep your life;
careless living kills.

Day 18 - More awesome sayings!

Definitely some fabulous proverbs today :)

Loners who care only for themselves spit on the common good.

It's not right to go easy on the guilty,
or come down hard on the innocent.

Authorities: Justice please!

Listening to gossip is like eating cheap candy;
do you really want junk like that in your belly?

Slack habits and sloppy work
are as bad as vandalism.

God's name is a place of protection—
good people can run there and be safe.

Pride first, then the crash,
but humility is precursor to honor.

Answering before listening
is both stupid and rude.

A healthy spirit conquers adversity,
but what can you do when the spirit is crushed?

could we also use the word attitude here? I think the correct attitude can conquer adversity, and the good thing about attitudes is that we can chose them

Wise men and women are always learning,
always listening for fresh insights.

Do a favor and win a friend forever;
nothing can untie that bond.

Words satisfy the mind as much as fruit does the stomach;
good talk is as gratifying as a good harvest.

How true this is! *sigh*

Words kill, words give life;
they're either poison or fruit—you choose.

The words we speak I would say.

Find a good spouse, you find a good life—
and even more: the favor of God!

The poor speak in soft supplications;
the rich bark out answers.

Friends come and friends go,
but a true friend sticks by you like family.

I know you're my friend if you read this far and are enjoying it :)

Day 17 - Friends love through all kinds of weather

Amazing proverbs on today's reading! :)

Overlook an offense and bond a friendship;
fasten on to a slight and—good-bye, friend!

A quiet rebuke to a person of good sense
does more than a whack on the head of a fool.

Friends love through all kinds of weather,
and families stick together in all kinds of trouble.

It's stupid to try to get something for nothing,
or run up huge bills you can never pay.

Careful with getting stuff you don't need with credit cards!

A cheerful disposition is good for your health;
gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.

It's about having the right attitude :)

The perceptive find wisdom in their own front yard;
fools look for it everywhere but right here.

Huh! I knew it!

The one who knows much says little;
an understanding person remains calm.

Proverbs 17 MSG

Day - 16 Great proverbs on leadership and more

My favorite verses from today's reading: Proverbs 16 MSG

Mortals make elaborate plans, but God has the last word.

Put God in charge of your work,
then what you've planned will take place.

We plan the way we want to live,
but only God makes us able to live it.

Proverbs about Leadership:

A good leader motivates,
doesn't mislead, doesn't exploit.

God cares about honesty in the workplace;
your business is his business.

Good leaders abhor wrongdoing of all kinds;
sound leadership has a moral foundation.

Good leaders cultivate honest speech;
they love advisors who tell them the truth.

An intemperate leader wreaks havoc in lives;
you're smart to stay clear of someone like that.

Good-tempered leaders invigorate lives;
they're like spring rain and sunshine.

Day 15 - Congenial conversation—what a pleasure!

Favorite verses from today's reading:

A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire.

Kind words heal and help;
cutting words wound and maim.

God can't stand pious poses,
but he delights in genuine prayers.

--Oh the trap of religion--

An intelligent person is always eager to take in more truth;
fools feed on fast-food fads and fancies.

A miserable heart means a miserable life;
a cheerful heart fills the day with song.

--Is good we can control our emotions :) --

Better a bread crust shared in love
than a slab of prime rib served in hate.

Hot tempers start fights;
a calm, cool spirit keeps the peace

Refuse good advice and watch your plans fail;
take good counsel and watch them succeed.

Congenial conversation—what a pleasure!
The right word at the right time—beautiful!

Fear-of-God is a school in skilled living—
first you learn humility, then you experience glory.

Proverbs 15 MSG

Day 14 - The mark of a good leader is loyal followers; leadership is nothing without a following

Favorite proverbs today from chapter 14:

The gullible believe anything they're told;
the prudent sift and weigh every word

Foolish dreamers live in a world of illusion;
wise realists plant their feet on the ground.

Hard work always pays off;
mere talk puts no bread on the table.

The mark of a good leader is loyal followers;
leadership is nothing without a following.

Slowness to anger makes for deep understanding;
a quick-tempered person stockpiles stupidity

A heart at peace gives life to the body,
but envy rots the bones. NIV

Diligent work gets a warm commendation;
shiftless work earns an angry rebuke.

Proverbs 14 MSG (unless indicated otherwise)

Day 13 - Walk with the Wise

Proverbs 13

A sluggard’s appetite is never filled,
but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied. NIV

Dishonest money dwindles away,
but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow. NIV

Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick,
but a sudden good break can turn life around. MSG

Sound thinking makes for gracious living, MSG

Irresponsible talk makes a real mess of things,

but a reliable reporter is a healing presence.
Refuse discipline and end up homeless;
embrace correction and live an honored life. MSG

Souls who follow their hearts thrive, MSG

Day 12 - Get to work!

Ok. So I'm not going to comment much today. But my favorite verses from today's chapter are these: (I hope you see the topic in trend here)

If you love learning, you love the discipline that goes with it— how shortsighted to refuse correction!

The thinking of principled people makes for justice;
the plots of degenerates corrupt.

Better to be ordinary and work for a living
than act important and starve in the process.

Good people are good to their animals;
the "good-hearted" bad people kick and abuse them.

I think this is about walking the talk

The one who stays on the job has food on the table;
the witless chase whims and fancies.

The diligent find freedom in their work;
the lazy are oppressed by work.

Worry weighs us down;
a cheerful word picks us up.

Let's be happy! :)

A lazy life is an empty life,
but "early to rise" gets the job done.

Proverbs 12 MSG

Day 11 - Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful face on an empty head.

Oh how priceless is The Message translation! haha! I love that proverb from the title.

Again, here is the good stuff but so many proverbs I can't really comment on all of them. A thought on a couple of them:

Generosity, what a powerful word. I just don't even know how to put this into words but I have learned and experienced generosity and it's awesome. It's hard sometimes because you may think that if you are generous people might take advantage of you or you may not have enough for yourself, but being generous is also an act of faith trusting that what those proverbs say below is true. I gotta think how I can be generous this week: with my time, with my knowledge, with my goods, with my ears, I gotta think but I have to do it!

The world of the generous gets larger and larger;
the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.
The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed;
those who help others are helped.

Proverbs 11 MSG

Day 10 - Here comes the good stuff

Ok so I guess we're finally reaching all the wisdom and advice talked about in previous chapters. The title for the section of chapters is even "The Wise Sayings of Solomon". There are so many good proverbs I can't comment on each and I would love to comment all of these with someone but at least I'll share one I want to live up to.

"The speech of a good person clears the air;
the words of the wicked pollute it." Proverbs 10 MSG

You just got to read the whole chapter! http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=pr%2010&version=MSG

Day 9 - Lady Widsom and Madam Whore

I knew there were two of them! haha! Lady Widsom and Madam Whore! Gotta love The Message version.

Wise thing: when sharing wisdom and knowledge do it to the people who cares. Don't waist your time trying to convince the skeptics. There's people who are ready to listen and learn; get them!

I just can't ignore this "Skilled living gets its start in the Fear-of-God, insight into life from knowing a Holy God." Proverbs 9 MSG. This might sound like a cliche but I say with property that I personally can't put God aside in my life. Times I've done this life becomes a senseless pursuit of temporary pleasures. Life with God give purpose, meaning, direction, hope and fulfillment.

Day 8 - When you find me, you find life, real life

My thoughts on today's reading:

Salomon describes wisdom as a lady. Interesting, hug? Now comparing it to what I wrote about yesterday this is a woman you must seek. This requires intention as stated on this chapter. Where can we find wisdom? Definitely in the Proverbs of Salomon but there are many place were we can find wisdom like books, blogs, podcast, you name. Just make sure you're reading from a trusted source. Some words I find which Salomon uses when talking about wisdom:

Listen

Discipline

Sanity

Common Sense

Insight

Truth

Good counsel

Righteousness

Justice

My favorite verses:

Proverbs 8 MSG

So, my dear friends, listen carefully;
those who embrace these my ways are most blessed.

Mark a life of discipline and live wisely;
don't squander your precious life.
Blessed the man, blessed the woman, who listens to me,
awake and ready for me each morning,
alert and responsive as I start my day's work.
When you find me, you find life, real life,
to say nothing of God's good pleasure.
But if you wrong me, you damage your very soul;
when you reject me, you're flirting with death.

Day 7 - Careful!!

Proverbs 7

A whole chapter on a seducer and adulteress woman. Can we blame it all on her? What role did the guy play? I think he knew where he was going. But how do I apply this to my own life. Definitely there are things which we know we shouldn't get close to. We know from experience or we've been told. We have been told to stay away from certain situations, certain people, certain places, etc. What if this guy hadn't decided to go "that" way? Maybe the story would be different. When it comes down to temptation the best way to defeat it is not to get even close to "it".

Day 6 - A handful of advice

Before you commit to something or someone. Think it twice.

Be diligent. Work hard whenever you can. Think ahead not only about today. Do not be lazy.

6+1 things God hates: yep!

1. eyes that are arrogant,
2. a tongue that lies,
3. hands that murder the innocent,
4. a heart that hatches evil plots,
5. feet that race down a wicked track,
6. a mouth that lies under oath,
7. a troublemaker in the family.

Again, remember what your parents taught you.

Again, cheating on your partner = not worth the few minutes of passion

Day 5 - Women and relationships

First: find and marry an awesome woman I could not live without.

Second: stay faithful to her.

Thrid: live happily ever after.

Fourth: repeat from the >>second<< step indefinitely.

(lots to say about each step, but not here nor now! ^^)

Day 4 - Keep vigilant watch over your heart

The first sections of this chapter always make me wonder. Where is that wisdom you are talking about? What kind of understanding you're talking about? I guess I gotta keep reading, huh?

Well the last paragraph of this chapter is a well known one but so worth to read over and over again; especially in the message version:

Keep vigilant watch over your heart;
that's where life starts.
Don't talk out of both sides of your mouth;
avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip.
Keep your eyes straight ahead;
ignore all sideshow distractions.
Watch your step,
and the road will stretch out smooth before you.
Look neither right nor left;
leave evil in the dust.

The heart, oh the heart! That's where life starts? Where's my heart? What do I devote myself? What makes my heart vibrate? What makes me feel alive? What takes most of my thoughts and time every day?

Oh how important it is to be careful of what we talk! Oh yea... gotta be careful with I talk!

Well, now is the beginning of a new year and many people like to have a resolution for this new year. It would be think about what sideshow distractions exist that can move us away from our goals or delay them.

Day 3 - Pr 3

Oh wow! I almost miss this day! But I couldn't go to sleep without reading this day and writing about it. A perfect way to end this marvelous day.

I love how The Message version start with the title "Don't assume you know it all"

Love and loyalty... so intersting, but what a great principle to live by and to keep a good reputation. How important one is! A real challenge.

Trust God... :) Yea, that's exactly what I need to hear tonight: trust him from the bottom of your heart.

My favorite verses:

Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don't try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he's the one who will keep you on track.
Don't assume that you know it all.
Run to God! Run from evil!
Your body will glow with health,
your very bones will vibrate with life!
Honor God with everything you own;
give him the first and the best.
Your barns will burst,
your wine vats will brim over.
But don't, dear friend, resent God's discipline;
don't sulk under his loving correction.
It's the child he loves that God corrects;
a father's delight is behind all this.

Discipline: been there don't that! haha. But I still gotta remember not to assume I know it all.

Again, thinking, how important it is to do that! Before you speak, before you act. Clear thinking and Common Sense: gotta keep 'em close.

Day 2 - Pr 2

I think many times in our search for something new we miss what he have at hand. I believe that is the case in the search for wisdom that Salomon talks about. Today I think of what are those simple things I have learned so far which are wise. Things like being grateful, having a positive attitude towards any situation, trusting in God, doing to others as I would like to myself, being diligent, manage my time learning to say no to some things, learning to rest, etc. I can really look my life now and see how does things have made a big difference in me and help me enjoy life more.

What's new to discover? What new I have to learn? I'm with my eyes and heart open to learn. Hanging out with wise people is a good point too.

31-31: One proverb a day keeps trouble away

This is my challenge for the first month of 2011: Read daily one chapter of the book of Proverbs of Salomon and comment on it. 31 chapters, 31 Days.

Join by posting your favorite verse(s) and tagging me and your friends along in FB, twitter, etc. By the way, I'll be reading mostly from The Message version.

Day 1

to understand what life means and where it's going;

A manual for living,
for learning what's right and just and fair;
To teach the inexperienced the ropes
and give our young people a grasp on reality.
There's something here also for seasoned men and women,
still a thing or two for the experienced to learn—
Fresh wisdom to probe and penetrate,
the rhymes and reasons of wise men and women.

Proverbs 1 MSG (emphasis added)

Oh wow! who hasn't felt like they don't understand what life means some time or which direction to take? A manual for living? Are you kidding me! I gotta find out. And yea, who hasn't thought some people REALLY need a gras on reality? I think I do some times.

God—the first step in learning is bowing down to God;
only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning.

This requires humbleness and recognizing there's someone higher than us. We're not gods, we're so fragile as humans and we are a small tiny dot in the library of earth and the universe history. Maybe we can learn something if we humble a little, and we can start by paying attention to some of those things our parents taught us.

Pay close attention, friend, to what your father tells you;
never forget what you learned at your mother's knee.
Wear their counsel like flowers in your hair,
like rings on your fingers.

That's it for day 1. Next post should be shorter I think.