Carl: A Note from Hope

You may not know, but before Scout came to live with Mom and Dad and me,  she lived with Jennifer and Daniel, who  have Fat Boy (her dog dad), Deedee, Petey and Monkey (her dog mom); Jenn and Daniel kept one of her brothers, and his name is Carl.

Well, the other day Carl was outside playing, and all of a sudden, Daniel and his friends heard him screaming, so they ran outside.  One of his legs was broken, and another one was scraped up real bad, and his mouth and his back were hurt.

Jenn and Daniel took him to the vet and he’s going to be all right – but he’s gonna have to stay with the vet for a while ’til his legs get better. Mom and Dad were scared, and so were we – we like Carl and we didn’t want him to get hurt.

When we say our prayers every night, we’re praying for Carl to get back as good as new, so he can run and play.  We hope you’ll pray for him too.

And if you’re out driving, please watch out for kids and dogs and cats. Sometimes we’re playing so hard  we get distracted and don’t realize we’re too close to the road. If you do accidentally run over someone’s dog or cat, please be kind and stop to let someone know. It’s the human thing to do.

Proverbs 22:28-29

Proverbs 22:28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
 
In these last two verses we see that the boundaries God laid out in the Old Testament and the alters that were set up were to stand forever. We know today that Israel does not occupy all the land God gave but one day they will. Put that in today’s terms and when you buy land you expect to get ten acre if that is what you bought and not nine and a half. In the last verse we that a leader will select those men that he knows he can trust, and only those men that have the guidance of God will want to serve under a good leader. The men in the days of kings were beheaded. From these verse let see that we always need to deal truthfully with people and those landmarks that are dear to us keep them safe. Also when ask by a leader to serve him do it with the guidance and wisdom of God.

Proverbs 22:26-27

Proverbs 22:26 Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.
27 If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
 
Again we see that it is not a good thing to take over or sign with anyone on a note. If you do not have anything to pay do not take a note for someone else because it could cause you to lose everything you have even the bed you sleep on. You know this is talking about a physical debt but we need to realize to that we are responsible for our own salvation and we do not need some trying to lure us away from it by following them in their schemes. This could really cost us everything. Today I ask that you attend a church of your choice but would hope that it would be one that is a true Bible teaching church and no sugar coating. May God bless you and have an awesome day.

Proverbs 22 : 24-25

Proverbs 22:24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
 
These two verses help us to see that who we hang around with is who we will imitate if we stay around them long enough. if we hang around people who use bad language we will begin to use the same language. If we hang with someone who commits murder we are guilty by association. Fellowship has a tendency to teach you the evil ways of the one you fellowship with. We are told not to be unequally with those of unbelief. A man or woman will pick up the habits of the people they hang around with whether good or bad. So these verses let us know to surround ourselves with Godly people if we want to be a Godly person.

Proverbs 22:22-23

Proverbs 22:22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
23 For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
 
We see here that God tells us not to oppress those that cannot help themselves. We are also not to judge them because they do not have the means to plead their case.If they were rich they could buy favor for themselves, but the warning here is not to judge to judge them harshly because they are poor. The next verse lets us know that the Lord plead their cause. God will always help those that cannot help themselves when they ask for it and rely on Him. For those that want to oppress the poor know that God will deal with them to.

Proverbs 22:20-21

Proverbs 22:20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,
21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?
 
These two verses remind us that we have already learned of the knowledge of God because of His Word. With this we receive the blessings from God that enable us to go and share the words of truth with people when they ask us questions. We have heard it said to be instant in season and out of season which means to be ready at all times to answer with the truth of God’s word. In I Peter 3:15 it tells us “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”

Proverbs 22:17-19

Proverbs 22:17 Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.
18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.
19 That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.
 
These three verses tell how to profit from the wisdom that has been gained. If we humble ourselves and listen to the words of the wise and apply them to our hearts then we will receive personal pleasure and profit to our soul. It will enable us to be able to be bold in our ability to speak the wisdom we have to others which will help others to learn to trust in the Lord and know the absolute certainty of the truth. We should never be ashamed of the knowledge and wisdom God has given us. Our trust should always be in Lord who will never let us down because He has revealed Himself to us.

Proverbs 22:15-16

Proverbs 22:15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.
 
Verse 15 is one I am sure some people will argue about today, but it is a fact that all children are born being a bit mischievous and the best way to correct children when disobey what they have been told to do is to spank them. The child who is punished in this way learns a lot quicker than the ones that are just talked to. A loving parent will spank their children to help correct them while those who spare the rod is doing a disservice to their child.
Verse 16 lets us know that to believe you can rich off the poor is foolish just like it is foolish to think the rich want what you get from the poor. This endeavor leads to no gain at all. First the poor are oppressed and the gifts given to the rich should be given to poor so they might be supplied with what they need.

Proverbs 22:12-14

Proverbs 22:12 The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.
13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.
14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.
 
Verse 12 tells us that God guards those that are following in His ways because we knowledgeable unto salvation. But for those that are sinning God will not help them in furthering their sin In verse 13 we see yet another excuse for the lazy person not to work. This one is the lamest excuse yet that a lion would enter a city when they live in the jungle. He is just totally determined not to work. This last verse talks again of the adulteress who use all kinds of flattering language to lure men into a pit that can cause more damage than you can believe. Not only can you lose your salvation for this sin but the punishment for this could come her on this earth in the form of disease, family problems, and the lose of friends. These three verse carry more of a warning to us again and shows us things we need to stay away from and as the first verse says to gain knowledge and walk in God’s ways is the only way to salvation.

Proverbs 22:10-11

Proverbs 22:10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
11 He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.
 
Verse 10 says we need to get rid of all the people in our lives that are causing problems in our lives. Those who are constantly criticizing what we do are tearing down not building up and need to be removed immediately where we can get on with the job at hand. In verse 11 we again see that what we speak comes from the heart so what we speak needs to be pure. In Matthew 5:8 we see where Jesus says, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” What greater King would you want to be friends with. Those that are wise and speak with a pure heart even have some of the powerful people who want to listen to them. Please attend a church today that teaches the truth of God’s word and gain all the wisdom you can from it.