The first to present his case seems right, till another comes forward and questions him. —Proverbs 18:17 Have you noticed that when things go wrong it is always someone else’s fault? It isn’t deliberate dishonesty; it’s just that we look […]
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. —Proverbs 17:17 A true friend is … Tolerant. He avoids passing judgment; is tolerant of flaws and failures. Unselfish. She is not self-centered; does not have to be the focus of attention. With her
Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city. —Proverbs 16:32 A trigger temper is a sign of immaturity; childish people are easily provoked. “Anger
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How good is a timely word. —Proverbs 15:23 Kind words heal. Harsh words hurt. “Their words bite deep like the poisonous fangs of a snake” (Ps. 140:3 CEV). Have you ever been on the receiving end of stinging words? Sure you have. Put it behind you. Repeatedly replaying spiteful, hurtful words puts
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The cheerful heart has a continual feast. —Proverbs 15:15 Some people could sulk their way through Disneyland. They’re chronic complainers—gruff, grouchy, gloomy, souls that you’d walk across the street to avoid. Then there are their opposites—delightful folks who are always cheerful, even when the
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. —Proverbs 15:1 Gentle words defuse explosive situations; harsh words light the fuse. Caustic words inflict wounds that heal slowly, if ever. Eric Idle said it well: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will
A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. —Proverbs 14:30 What osteoporosis does to the body, envy does to the spirit: it cripples its victim. “Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?” (Prov. 27:4). The
I had a delightful meal at one of my favorite restaurants last night. Back home, emptying my pockets I discovered my credit card was missing. It hadn’t been stolen; I had just left my brain and my plastic behind at the restaurant. As I drove back to retrieve the orphaned card, I began thinking about
The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied. —Proverbs 13:4 John Erskine’s music teacher counseled him to grab a few minutes of practice whenever he could, rather than waiting for big
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A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret. —Proverbs 11:13 Gossip is a sweet treat that is hard to resist: “Gossip is so tasty! How we love to swallow it! (Prov. 26:22 TEV). That’s too bad, because its aftertaste is fractured relationships: “a
