Well-timed silence hath more eloquence than speech.  – Martin Farquhar Tupper

Does the Bible address this necessary ability? Glad you asked.

Luke 9:33

And as the men were parting from Him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for You and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said.

Poor Peter, he thought he had to say something when he should have been quiet. I’ve been there and done that. Man, don’t you feel stupid when that happens. Apply the brake on that tongue.

Give it some thought.

Gary

“You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.”
― Abraham Lincoln

Abe had that one nailed. How many times did we tell ourselves we waited too long and regretted not tackling it immediately?  Sadly, it was too late.

Does the Bible address this phenomenon? Glad you asked.

Proverbs 24:30-34

³⁰ I went by the field of the lazy man,
And by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding;
³¹ And there it was, all overgrown with thorns;
Its surface was covered with nettles;
Its stone wall was broken down.
³² When I saw it, I considered it well;
I looked on it and received instruction:
³³ A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to rest;
³⁴ So shall your poverty come like a prowler,
And your need like an armed man.

Get out there and go to work. Give it some thought.

Gary

Her name was Lady and she was a chow/retriever mix. How I loved that dog. I would brag and tell people that in thirteen years she never once defecated on our property, but went down the street and took care of business in the woods. Once when I told that story, my neighbor listened with a sparkle in her eye. I asked her if I was wrong and was the canine going over to her property to make the dump?

She replied with a grin, “Yes.”

Do you know in thirteen years our neighbors never complained once about that mut. What neighbors!

Does the Bible address people like that? Glad you asked.

Romans 15:2 

Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

Romans 13:10 

Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.

If we ever move, I want to take our neighbors with us.

Gary

“Procrastination is not laziness,” I tell him. “It is fear.”

“Call it by its right name, and forgive yourself.”
― Julia Cameron, The Prosperous Heart

Fear keeps us from so many responsibilities.  It adds to the haunting regrets that fill a folder in our hard drive. Does the Bible address it? Glad you asked.

Proverbs 29:25 

The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.

Psalm 34:4 

I sought the Lord, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

Get over this thing by first calling it what it really is. Give it some thought.

Gary

The French believe that kids feel confident when they’re able to do things for themselves, and do those things well. After children have learned to talk, adults don’t praise them for saying just anything. They praise them for saying interesting things, and for speaking well.

–       Pamela Druckerman

Pam had that one nailed. Most everyone can talk, but many can’t be understood. Proper training in appropriate speech is absolutely necessary. Does the Bible address it? Glad you asked.

Psalm 49:3 

My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.

Ephesians 4:29 

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

 Before you open your mouth, give this some consideration.

Gary

“Don’t It Make You Want to Go Home Now” was a song by Joe South that I first heard in 1968. My eyes still water up when I hear it. It is about someone who wanted to go back to his hometown. When he finally did, he realized it no longer existed. It was only a memory and not a reality of the present. The past had evaporated like the morning fog at the beginning of a sunny day.

Joe was being shortsighted. The home that we should be desiring, intently and with longing, is the one being prepared for us. It will be perfect and never washed away with the tide of time.

John 14:1-4 

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.”

Again, focus on the eternal home Christ offers, for it has a great view, never needs repairs, is rodent proof, and is situated in an outstanding neighborhood.  “Don’t it make you want to go home?”

Give it some consideration.

Gary

“You may delay, but time will not.”  ― Benjamin Franklin

It has to be addressed today because the repository of tomorrows is being milked dry at an alarming rate. You shouldn’t just tackle it today because you fear what others might think of you. Truth is, you have much energy for the things you enjoy doing, but this requires work, so it’s put off. What is it? You know.

Proverbs 13:4 

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.

Ephesians 5:15-17 

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Consider these verses and listen to old Ben Franklin, then go out and do it.

Gary