Proverbs 15

A little behind... Saturday got away from me!

Vs 1 - A soft word turns away wrath but a harsh word stirs up anger... clearly this is something that I NEED to learn. I see so easily this in my children, when they immediately go to histrionics to get something, I get angry but I never seem to be able to control this same reaction in myself. God is making it clear that I will get firther with my children if I speak softly!

VS 3 - The eyes of the Lord are everywhere... I like knowing He sees everything. I think sometimes I feel like I am doing ggod and I want SOMEONE, ANYONE to notice and I need to just sit back and rest in the knowledge that the only one that matters see all that I do - for good and bad!

VS 4 - The wholesome tongue is the tree of life ... The things I say can bring life to my marriage, to my children, to my friendships and even to people I do not know. I need to be MUCH more aware of the things I say and whether they bring life or death.

VS 5 & 10 - A fool despises his father's instruction but he who recieves correction is prudent; harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way, and he who hates correction will die..... It is important that we instruct & correct our children, pointing them towards God. I liked the word "harsh" here because sometimes I get caught up in not wanting to be too hard on my children but here it clearly states that discipline is not supposed to be easy. There is be some "hurt" in it... missing out on the movie, not getting to go play with friends, losing that favorite toy for several days.... it needs to hurt so that they will learn to obey!

Vs 13 & 15 both talk about having a merry heart.... I WANT to have a merry heart, I want to be filled with joy and have a cheerful countenance! God promises and continual feast to those with a merry heart! Please, Lord help me to get here on this!!!

I will try and get 16 & 17 tomorrow so I be caught up! God is good and I am so excited that my friend challenged me to this study! I am really seeing so many areas that I need to grow in. Several weeks ago I prayed that God would reveal hypocrisy in my heart to me, that we would open up areas of weakness to me and boy is this study doing just that! I love the growth!