Wisdom
Job 28:28 (New International Version)
28 And he said to man,
'The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom,
and to shun evil is understanding.' "
Proverbs
8 (New International Version)
Wisdom's Call
1 Does not wisdom call
out?
Does not understanding raise her voice?
2 On the heights along the way,
where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
3 beside the gates leading into the city,
at the entrances, she cries aloud:
4 "To you, O men, I call out;
I raise my voice to all mankind.
5 You who are simple, gain prudence;
you who are foolish, gain understanding.
6 Listen, for I have worthy things to say;
I open my lips to speak what is right.
7 My mouth speaks what is true,
for my lips detest wickedness.
8 All the words of my mouth are just;
none of them is crooked or perverse.
9 To the discerning all of them are right;
they are faultless to those who have
knowledge.
10 Choose my instruction instead of silver,
knowledge rather than choice gold,
11 for wisdom is more precious than rubies,
and nothing you desire can compare with
her.
12 "I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
I possess knowledge and discretion.
13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil;
I hate pride and arrogance,
evil behavior and perverse speech.
14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
I have understanding and power.
15 By me kings reign
and rulers make laws that are just;
16 by me princes govern,
and all nobles who rule on earth. [a]
17 I love those who love me,
and those who seek me find me.
18 With me are riches and honor,
enduring wealth and prosperity.
19 My fruit is better than fine gold;
what I yield surpasses choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,
along the paths of justice,
21 bestowing wealth on those who love me
and making their treasuries full.
22 "The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works, [b], [c]
before his deeds of old;
23 I was appointed [d] from eternity,
from the beginning, before the world
began.
24 When there were no oceans, I was given birth,
when there were no springs abounding with
water;
25 before the mountains were settled in place,
before the hills, I was given birth,
26 before he made the earth or its fields
or any of the dust of the world.
27 I was there when he set the heavens in place,
when he marked out the horizon on the face
of the deep,
28 when he established the clouds above
and fixed securely the fountains of the
deep,
29 when he gave the sea its boundary
so the waters would not overstep his
command,
and when he marked out the foundations of
the earth.
30 Then I was the craftsman at his side.
I was filled with delight day after day,
rejoicing always in his presence,
31 rejoicing in his whole world
and delighting in mankind.
32 "Now then, my sons, listen to me;
blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Listen to my instruction and be wise;
do not ignore it.
34 Blessed is the man who listens to me,
watching daily at my doors,
waiting at my doorway.
35 For whoever finds me finds life
and receives favor from the LORD.
36 But whoever fails to find me harms himself;
all who hate me love death."
Tody's Wisdom
s
Joshua
23:1-15 (New International Version)
Joshua 23
Joshua's Farewell to the
Leaders
1 After a long time had
passed and the LORD had given Israel rest from all their enemies around them,
Joshua, by then old and well advanced in years, 2 summoned all Israel—their elders, leaders, judges and
officials—and said to them: "I am old and well advanced in years. 3 You yourselves have seen everything the LORD your God has
done to all these nations for your sake; it was the LORD your God who fought
for you. 4 Remember how I have allotted as an inheritance for your
tribes all the land of the nations that remain—the nations I conquered—between
the
6 "Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is
written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or
to the left. 7 Do not associate with these nations that remain among you;
do not invoke the names of their gods or swear by them. You must not serve them
or bow down to them. 8 But you are to hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have
until now.
9 "The LORD has driven out before you great and
powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you. 10One of you routs a
thousand, because the LORD your God fights for you, just as he promised. 11 So be very careful to love the LORD your God.
12 "But if you turn away and ally yourselves with the
survivors of these nations that remain among you and if you intermarry with
them and associate with them, 13 then you may be sure that the LORD your God will no longer
drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become snares and traps
for you, whips on your backs and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from
this good land, which the LORD your God has given you.
14 "Now I am about to go the way of all the earth. You
know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the
LORD your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has
failed. 15 But just as every good promise of the LORD your God has
come true, so the LORD will bring on you all the evil he has threatened, until
he has destroyed you from this good land he has given you.
Joshua
24:14-15 (New International Version)
14 "Now fear the LORD and serve him with all
faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River
and in
Joshua 22:4-8 (New International
Version)
4 Now that the LORD your God has given your brothers rest as
he promised, return to your homes in the land that Moses the servant of the
LORD gave you on the other side of the
6 Then Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went
to their homes. 7 (To the half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given land in
Bashan, and to the other half of the tribe Joshua gave land on the west side of
the Jordan with their brothers.) When Joshua sent them home, he blessed them, 8 saying, "Return to your homes with your great
wealth—with large herds of livestock, with silver, gold, bronze and iron, and a
great quantity of clothing—and divide with your brothers the plunder from your
enemies."
O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you and
praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things,
things planned long ago.”-Isaiah 25:1
“These commandments that I give you today are
to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you
sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you
get up.”- Deuteronomy 6: 6-7
God's Word
Proverbs 4:4-14 (New International
Version)
4 he taught me and said,
"Lay hold of my words with all your
heart;
keep my commands and you will live.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding;
do not forget my words or swerve from them.
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
love her, and she will watch over you.
7 Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom.
Though it cost all you have, [a] get understanding.
8 Esteem her, and she will exalt you;
embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 She will set a garland of grace on your head
and present you with a crown of
splendor."
10 Listen, my son, accept what I say,
and the years of your life will be many.
11 I guide you in the way of wisdom
and lead you along straight paths.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
guard it well, for it is your life.
14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
or walk in the way of evil men.
Proverbs 4:23-24 (New International
Version)
23 Above all else, guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life.
24 Put away perversity from your mouth;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.
Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with
you wherever you go.”- Joshua 1:9
Psolomon
Proverbs 3:1-2 (New International Version)
Further Benefits of Wisdom
1 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 prosperity.
Proverbs 3:7-8 (New International
Version)
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.
Proverbs 3:9-10 (New International
Version)
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.
Proverbs 3:13-26 (New International
Version)
13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom,
the man who gains understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who embrace her;
those who lay hold of her will be blessed.
19 By wisdom the LORD laid the earth's foundations,
by understanding he set the heavens in
place;
20 by his knowledge the deeps were divided,
and the clouds let drop the dew.
21 My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment,
do not let them out of your sight;
22 they will be life for you,
an ornament to grace your neck.
23 Then you will go on your way in safety,
and your foot will not stumble;
24 when you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be
sweet.
25 Have no fear of sudden disaster
or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 for the LORD will be your confidence
and will keep your foot from being snared.
Proverbs 3:33 (New International Version)
33 The LORD's curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the home of the righteous.
Who is in Charge
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither
are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher
than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your
thoughts.”- Isaiah 55:8-9
Solomon's Advice Today
Proverbs 1:1-7 (New International
Version)
Prologue: Purpose and Theme
1 The proverbs of
Solomon son of David, king of
2 for attaining wisdom and discipline;
for understanding words of insight;
3 for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life,
doing what is right and just and fair;
4 for giving prudence to the 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 proverbs and parables,
the sayings and riddles of the wise.
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools [a] despise wisdom and
discipline.
Proverbs 1:29-33 (New International
Version)
29 Since they hated knowledge
and did not choose to fear the LORD,
30 since they would not accept my advice
and spurned my rebuke,
31 they will eat the fruit of their ways
and be filled with the fruit of their
schemes.
32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,
and the complacency of fools will destroy
them;
33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety
and be at ease, without fear of
harm."
Proverbs
2 (New International Version)
Proverbs 2
Moral Benefits of Wisdom
1 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 and 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,
and from his mouth come knowledge and
understanding.
7 He holds victory 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.
12 Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men,
from men whose words are perverse,
13 who leave the straight paths
to walk in dark ways,
14 who delight in doing wrong
and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,
15 whose paths are crooked
and who are devious in their ways.
16 It will save you also from the adulteress,
from the wayward wife with her seductive
words,
17 who has left the partner of her youth
and ignored the covenant she made before
God. [a]
18 For her house leads down to death
and her paths to the spirits of the dead.
19 None who go to her return
or attain the paths of life.
20 Thus you will walk in the ways of good men
and keep to the paths of the righteous.
21 For the upright will live in the land,
and the blameless will remain in it;
22 but the wicked will be cut off from the land,
and the unfaithful will be torn from it.
Good advice
cheerful look
brings joy to the heart,
and good news gives health to the bones.
Stop reading
bad news
Godly Joy
breaks power of evil
A merry heart
is good medicine
Solomon's advice
Solomon’s advice today
Proverbs
28:27 (New King James Version)
27 He who gives to the
poor will not lack,
But he who hides his eyes will have many
curses.
Proverbs
28:25 (New King James Version)
25 He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife,
But he who trusts in the LORD will be prospered.
Proverbs
28:22 (New King James Version)
22 A man with an evil eye hastens after riches,
And does not consider that poverty will
come upon him.
Proverbs
28:20 (New King James Version)
20 A faithful man will abound with blessings,
But he who hastens to be rich will not go
unpunished.
Proverbs
28:10 (New King James Version)
10 Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way,
He himself will fall into his own pit;
But the blameless will inherit good.
Proverbs
28:1 (New King James Version)
The wicked flee when no one pursues,
But the righteous are bold as a lion.
Solomon's advice
Solomon’s advice today
Proverbs
28:27 (New King James Version)
27 He who gives to the
poor will not lack,
But he who hides his eyes will have many
curses.
Proverbs
28:25 (New King James Version)
25 He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife,
But he who trusts in the LORD will be prospered.
Proverbs
28:22 (New King James Version)
22 A man with an evil eye hastens after riches,
And does not consider that poverty will
come upon him.
Proverbs
28:20 (New King James Version)
20 A faithful man will abound with blessings,
But he who hastens to be rich will not go
unpunished.
Proverbs
28:10 (New King James Version)
10 Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way,
He himself will fall into his own pit;
But the blameless will inherit good.
Proverbs
28:1 (New King James Version)
The wicked flee when no one pursues,
But the righteous are bold as a lion.
Greatness of America
DeGaule decided to pull out of NATO. DeGaule said he wanted all US
military out of France as soon as possible.
Rusk responded,
"Does that include those who are buried here?"
DeGuale
did not respond.
You could have heard a pin drop.
When in England , at a fairly large conference, Colin Powell was asked by the Archbishop of Canterbury if our plans for Iraq were just an example of
'empire building' by George Bush.
He answered by saying,
"Over the years, the United States has sent many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return is enough to bury those that did not return."
You could have heard a pin drop.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There was a conference in France
where a number of international engineers
were taking part, including French and American. During a break, one of the French engineers came back into the room saying, "Have you
heard the latest dumb stunt Bush has done? He has sent an aircraft carrier to Indonesia to help the tsunami victims. What does he intend to do, bomb them?"
A Boeing engineer stood up and replied quietly: "Our carriers have three hospitals on board that can treat several hundred people; they are nuclear powered and can supply emergency electrical power to shore facilities; they have three cafeterias with the capacity to feed 3,000 people three meals a day, they can produce several thousand gallons of fresh water from sea water each day, and they carry half a dozen helicopters for use in transporting victims and injured to and from their flight deck. We have eleven such ships; how many does France have?"
You could have heard a pin drop.
A U.S. Navy Admiral was attending a naval conference that included Admirals from the U.S.., English, Canadian, Australian and French Navies At a cocktail reception, he found himself standing with a large group of officers that included personnel from most of those countries. Everyone was chatting away in English as they sipped their drinks but a French admiral suddenly complained that, whereas Europeans learn many languages, Americans learn only English. He then asked, "Why is it that we always have to speak English in these conferences rather than speaking French?"
Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied, "Maybe it's because the Brit's, Canadians, Aussie's and Americans arranged it so you wouldn't have to speak German."
You could have heard a pin drop.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AND THIS STORY FITS RIGHT IN WITH THE ABOVE... Robert Whiting, an elderly gentleman of 83, arrived in Paris by plane. At French Customs, he took a few minutes to locate his passport in his carry on. "You have been to France before, monsieur?" the customs officer asked sarcastically.
Mr. Whiting admitted that he had been to France
previously. "Then you should know enough to have your passport ready."
The American said,"The last time I was here, I didn't have to show it." "Impossible. Americans always have to show their passports on arrival in France !"
The American senior gave the Frenchman a long hard look. Then he quietly explained, ''Well, when I came ashore at Omaha Beach on D-Day in
1944 to help liberate this country, I couldn't find a single Frenchmen to show a passport to."
You could have heard a pin drop.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am proud to be of this land, AMERICA. Many generations of my family have fought, served and died for America...I'm a part of her history.
