Spirit Fire, Proverbs 18:20: Whose Lips?

“From the fruit of his mouth a man’s stomach is filled;
with the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.”

Now I know I see Jesus whenever I read the book of Proverbs to my kids, but tonight I was preempted by my daughter. Each night I give my kids the chance to explain the proverb to me before I try, most times Betsy and I have to explain definitions of terms etc. Tonight, however, my daughter dropped this on me that changed/fulfilled the meaning and our direction for the night:

“His” is referring to God.

We then talked about John chapter 1- the Word became flesh and lived among us. Which then lead us to talk about the reason for this next season, Jesus’ birth, and that in the garden of our hearts, souls, and minds, a new tree is growing… A Christmas tree! And this proverb, with my daughter’s saintly explanation, was its first ornament!

Spirit Fire: Proverbs 18:19, “An Offended Brother”

“An offended brother is more unyielding than a fortified city,
and disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.”

Last night’s Spirit Fire started out a little daunting for me. I read the proverb to my kids and knew right away that it was going to be a difficult one to explain. Like so many other times in my life, I jumped in anyways, and boldly told them Betsy would explain it.

After we got definitions out of the way, Betsy began explaining by using our kids as examples. She sited times when one of my son’s made my daughter so mad from teasing her, (usually from copying her), that when he needed her help, (like going downstairs with him to get something, because that still scares him, but not her), he has to beg her over and over. Sometimes he has to pay for his offense to inspire her to help by giving her whatever works.

I am so thankful that is not how we have to come before God when we pray for help. Because of Jesus, though He suffered the offense of the cross did not use it as an excuse to punish us or shut us out, we can come to the throne of grace with confidence, Hebrews 4:16. He actually turned the “offense” around and made it a cause for joy not fear, because through it Jesus opened the way for us to be with God.

Jesus went downstairs for us all, not because we bribed Him. He suffered the greatest offense of the cross because He first loved us. And we, who follow Him, are called to love through offenses no matter how much we may want to bar the gates.

“Open the gates and love!”

Voting: The Importance of a Choice

If we only knew how many depend on our vote around the globe. We’ve seen the eroding a poor choice can do. I wonder about our moral compass. Are we so
happy to free ourselves of conscience before we even consider how intrinsically it is connected to our freedom? As we look around and remember to value others better than ourselves we see the nations, their economies, their past, and their future. We see them, when left on their own, trample the poor. We watch them destroy history and ravage cultures. We know our own nation’s sordid past and valor.

It is interesting how time changes definitions. What one time considered heroic another considers villainy. How do we know, to what do we compare? Does
anyone even care?

I know when something demands my attention my initial reaction is to ignore. When something tells me the fabric of our reality depends on my choice, I tend to downplay it. Unfortunately the gravity of a situation is only visible from hindsight, because I am woefully immature. I know that there is a higher rock, but there is no higher ground here, not in this life. Greed, greed, greed. It is the way of the world. It is how nations are formed, governed, and defended. Statistics are its study,
theology its ethic.

Every election time I see the world spread its wings like a peacock. The colors
dazzle, the importance overwhelming. Is it any better to close your eyes and flip a coin? So many have died to allow us the choice. Did their lives matter, their
sacrifice, or was it all in vain as we watch machines we’ve made take on a life of their own making our hopes, that have gotten misaligned, into a Grima Wormtongue?

Fading, fading, fading is this world, which makes its grasp all the more desperate. Can you feel it? Do you sense it, the overwhelming presence dominating your thoughts? Concern for your wife, your kids, future generations is how it starts. Then in its grip your vision narrows till finally all you see is you.

Till then comes a Man. We, sinking in the swirling waves of greed and shame, look up to see His feet standing atop it all. He looks down upon our fate as each of our hands bring more of the fetid putrescence to our lips, at once sweet then violently bitter and horrid. We wretch, our own body tosses out what we so willingly put in. Our hands are already busy trying to return this doomed and exiled vomit to our mouths. Tears in our eyes at our helpless state, we see Him reach out His hand to ours.

A choice, stronger than a vote for its binding is eternal, is ours to make. Do we take His hand to pull us from what we can’t let go or do we ignore its importance and swallow another gulp? What do you choose? The kingdom of this world, or the Kingdom of Heaven?

This voting season is important, but lets not confuse its amount. I would rather us see it as a doorway into the Divine. If voting for the presidency is this important, upon which so many in this fading world depend, what about your soul? What about your decisions of each and every moment of the day? Does it really matter that much? People died so we can vote and not live under the oppression of the crown. One Man died to give us His. He alone frees us from the oppression of this fading world, of its greed. Do not turn away, now is the time more than ever because for a moment, we see the value in a choice.

When you vote, think on Him, and know that with Him your decision is secure. Gain your strength follower of Christ. Do not be conformed by the promises you see here. Walk with Jesus, and know that atop the waves with Him is surer ground than any you will find here.

May His Name Be Praised!!!

“Always know that the only higher ground is on top of the waves.”