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 […]
The Right to Remain Silent Read More »
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
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. —Proverbs 11:2 At the time of this writing, the public’s assessment of the U.S. Congress is at an all-time low—a negative 95%. You would think that politicians with a dismal 5% approval rating would hide. Instead, they
If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer. —Proverbs 9:12 Punctuating thought and speech with negative “ifs” will dump you in the company of losers: If the teacher hadn’t had it
Guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. —Proverbs 4:23 Your heart is the size of your fist, weighs only a half-pound, pumps five quarts of blood a minute, and beats 37 million times a year. It’s a vital part of your physical equipment; if it malfunctions you’re in
