“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones” (Proverbs 17:22, ESV). Not long after my oldest son’s death, I needed a laughter reality check. I am a solemn person, and grief intensified my lack of humor. Winter had set in, and we were cooped up in the house. I kept getting sick, and the discs in my lower back weren’t staying in place. My bones literally ached with sorrow, and I gave into bitterness over my loss. Little things that I would have previously shrugged off weighed heavier on me. I sunk inward. My… 

Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning. Proverbs 9:9 ESV Biblical wisdom is a remarkable friend, a true companion for all times and all situations. Wisdom is mentioned in the Bible approximately 228 times, which says God wants us to seek wisdom and apply it to our lives. Its traits are birthed in God’s character. What does seeking wisdom mean from God’s perspective? Here are 10 truths about pursuing wisdom.   True wisdom only comes from God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding (Proverbs 2:6)…. 

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1 (NIV) Red-faced, hands thrashing through the air, mouth spewing anger settles nothing other than the self-satisfaction of telling someone off in a display of embarrassing behavior. Some may refer to the episode as “blowing a gasket.” Be honest. Have you ever experienced a moment like this? One time, twenty years ago, during my son’s rebellious and disrespectful young adult years, anger got the best of me. I literally screamed and pounded my head against the wall in total frustration because he refused to do what… 

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, But it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. Proverbs 19:21 ESV “No more pages, how can that be?” That was my question when I realized my desk calendar ended at the end of June instead of December. It is a calendar in addition to a daily list that keeps me organized. As a multi-task person, they are critical. This list includes what needs to be accomplished each day and a plan for how to do so. I was overwhelmed with frustration when I realized my daily lists… 

Letting love cover all offenses is not as easy as it sounds. Proverbs 10:12 points out why it’s easier said than done. “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses” (Proverbs 10:12) What an important and powerful word picture Proverbs 10:12 gives about anger toward others. We can “stir up” wounds or “cover” them with love and understanding. If we choose to “stir up,” we put the spoon of rehearsing hurts and misunderstandings into a pot of boiling mud and grime. Then we stir, stir, and stir causing any moisture of grace and mercy to evaporate. Then the mass solidifies into… 

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life (Proverbs 13:12 NLT). “…Void a miracle.” What had the doctor said? I shook my head, attempting to wrap my mind around his words. “Pardon?” “It’s unlikely you’ll have children biologically, void a miracle.” His furrowed brow spoke his concern. My husband Bill leaned in, then pulled me close. Always my resolute protector, even when his heart, too, was hurting. My hope for children seemed nothing more than smoldering embers, and, for a season, all passion waned. I lived in grays. But… God didn’t leave me in… 

The story of Rahab has fascinated Bible students and laypersons for centuries. Her story appears in a mere two chapters in the book of Joshua, and the events are curious right from the start. The book opens with God commissioning Joshua to lead the Israelites after the death of their leader Moses. Yet no sooner do the people come to the edge of the Promised Land than God puts the whole drama on hold to tell us the story of a Canaanite prostitute. This interruption of the conquest story is not an accident, and it gives us our first glimpse into… 

Proverbs 3:5-6, perhaps one of the most often-quoted scriptures, is loaded with nuggets of wisdom: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. The first four words are weighty ones. “Trust in the Lord…” Not your Ferrari or your size-four body (although that would be sorta special) or your knack for rhubarb pie winning the blue ribbon at the county fair or your ability to enter a room and turn heads or your Martha Stewart table setting with real…