What lessons can we learn from this woman, this wife, this mother? Certainly there are to many to cover, so lets look at a few:

• She provides for her family (verses 11-15)
• She makes wise decisions (verses 16-22)
• She brings blessings to her family (23-31)

The ingredients mixed together in her life bring abundant blessings to those people in her life. Are the people in your world being blessed because of your diligence wisdom? If not, chose to learn from the mother whose children "rise up and call her blessed".

Proverbs 31:26 (ESV) She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

LESSONS FROM CREATION (day 30)

This proverb goes to great lengths illustrating valuable lessons to us through God's creation. The barren womb, the grave, the eagle, the earth, the ant, and the rock badger just to name a few. With each of these there are beneficial lessons for life.

Thanks and praise are due our Heavenly Father for giving us His Word. Proverbs is still speaking in 2015, just as it was in the days of Solomon. Will you learn from this collection of wisdom from God's manual for life?

Proverbs 30:5 (ESV) Every word of God proves true, He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

How many perfect people are in the world? Okay, what about this. How many perfect Christians are in the world? The answer to both questions is none. Perfection was only attained by one on the earth and that man was Jesus.

So, what do we do when we mess up, commit sin, do someone wrong, do things contrary to God's will? We quickly confess and forsake all of the above. In doing this we not only please our Heavenly Father, we also receive His mercy. I don't know about you, but I need His mercies every day.

Proverbs 28:13 (NKJV) He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.

Quick wittedness although often funny, is not always the best reaction to all situations.  Proverbs 26 speaks of how we respond to comments made.  Whether it be dirty jokes, foul language, or hurtful words, our reaction to those words should not be of the same manner.  Sometimes the best responses to each of these situations, is no comment at all.  Respond in a soft unexpected way and be the wiser person.

Proverbs 26:4  "Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself."

​(Guest writer:  Clarence Glaze)

FAILURE IS NOT FINAL (day 24)

No one likes to fail. Everyone desires success. However, failure is one of the stepping stones to success. John Maxwell, a well know author and pastor, has said he will not have anyone on his team who is afraid of failure. Failure builds character and teaches valuable lessons. Without the existence of failure, we would be self sufficient and self sustaining human beings without a need for God's mercy and grace.

Some of the greatest examples of success following failures are seen in the Bible; Joseph, Moses, Rahab, David, Job, Peter, James, John, Mary Magdelene, just to name a few. These individuals, in various situations and historical times, all failed yet continued to get up! May we follow their example.

Failure is not final especially for the child of God. We have a Heavenly Father cheering us on in spite of our struggles in regard to failure. Don't allow failure to smother you, rather, allow failure to send you running to the Father for grace and mercy.

Proverbs 24:16 For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity.

"O be careful little ears what you hear", "O be careful little eyes what you see". Do the lines of this children's song convict you? It does me. We teach our children from an early age what is appropriate to hear and see. Then, as the years pass from teenage to adult life, we tend to drift from this mindset.

The average American watches television 3-4 hours every day. I would imagine most of those hours are not instilling wisdom and instructions in their heart and mind. No wonder the nation is morally bankrupt!

If we desire the wisdom from above, it will take radical changes in what our eyes see and our ears hear. Don't think for a minute that the pollution and garbage you see and hear will not send you on a downward spiral of spiritual depravity. Be sure to only allow your eyes and ears to consume those things which will bring wisdom and instruction to your life.

Proverbs 23:12, 26 (NKJV) Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to words of knowledge. My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.

On October 11, 2015 in Chadwicks, NY, a counseling session was held at the Word of Life Church. Soon thereafter, a 19 year old young man was beaten to death by his father, mother and a few other parishioners of the congregation. The deceased 17 year old brother was beaten as well but survived the assault.

You may be asking yourself how something this cruel could happen in a church. One possibility could be taking scripture out of context. "He who spares the rod hates his son...the rod of correction will drive foolishness from him". These are two passages from Proverbs but by know means do these verses suggest beating a child to death. A balance of loving kindness and discipline are paramount in raising children in a godly manner. Discipline which is practiced with anger and wrong motives not only has the potential to injure the child physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. This type discipline is destructive instead of constructive discipline. May discipline be seasoned with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, scripture, and above all love.

Certainly biblical discipline will involve PAIN for the child at times. Yet the deeper motive is to TRAIN the child through discipline. Then in the end there will be GAIN for both child and parent.

Proverbs 22:6 (NKJV) Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.