Proverbs 10:27-32: Positives—a far better outcome!

The fear of the Lord prolongs days, but the years of the wicked will be shortened. The hope of the righteous will be gladness, but the expectation of the wicked will perish. The way of the Lord is strength for the upright, but destruction will come to the workers of iniquity. The righteous will never be removed, but the wicked will not inhabit the earth. The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut out. The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked what is perverse. Proverbs 10:27-32

Prolongs days. (add strength = grow stronger)

Will be gladness. (glad result, gleeful issue)

Is Strength. (figurative, of God as refuge)

Never be moved. (secure)

Brings forth wisdom. (bears the fruit of wisdom, prudence)

Know what is acceptable. (assuredly, be aware goodwill, favor)

Each of these positives is followed by a BUT showing the negatives which, sadly are often too common. The positives have a far better outcome than the negatives! 

The Question: Why when we have the opportunity to make a choice that is all positive do we chose to ignore it and follow the ways of fools? 

The Answer: Because of the first 5 words of Proverbs 10:27: "The fear of the Lord." 

Instead of having a reverence for who God is, we would rather declare ourselves god and follow the folly of our own ways leading us to misery and death. We may say we believe in God, but that doesn't mean we fear Him. The devils believe in God too—and they know what God can do! But they don't obey God. 

Belief and reverence for God MUST translate into obedience of His wisdom. We can't expect the positives to happen if we ignore the foundation of fearing God and obeying Him. 

Each attitude and action is based wether we fear God or hate God. If a heart is truly permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG), then the attitudes and actions will result in the positives listed in Proverbs 10:27-32. 

Positives—a far better outcome! 

Grilling! Yum!

A few weeks ago, God gave me a small grill. It's the perfect size for me. The first time I grilled it was steak. On Saturday, although I didn't feel like grilling, it helped me ignore the pain and provided some yummy food! This time, I grilled onions, ground turkey burgers and the buns. A few extra so that I can enjoy grilled burgers without all the work of grilling.

There are steps necessary to grill. First I have to clean out the old ashes, then add the new coals, set the grates. I also set up some chairs to keep the birds away from the hot grill. For safety, I fill a pitcher with cold water, just in case the fire gets too big. Then I get all the food ready and light the coals. Wait for the fire to die down, add the food, wait, and ENJOY! 

Just as there are steps to grilling, there are steps to living a positive life. The first and foremost is a relationship with God. He is the one who not only supplies eternal life, but also gives grace to live each day. Another step is to keep your focus positive. If you focus on "all the bad things" it will drag you down. Yes, there are bad things that happen, however, there are many good things too! Another step is to share the blessings with others. That way you remember the blessings and others can rejoice with you. And lastly, take time to thank God for the great things He does for you, including loving you with an unconditional love.

If you feel overwhelmed,  one way to create a positive day is to do something special, (in spite of the pain). Yes, grilling did increase my pain, but I sure enjoy the "reward" of the yummy food afterward.

Here are some pictures from the latest grilling episode.

(View left to right then down)