My Favorite Book

Day 3 or is it 4?? Anyway, so today my posting is that I am thinking of a favorite book. I actually have many favorites and books I enjoy. I am an avid reader and like many kinds of book. Fantasy, Research articles, Health, Sci-Fi, Crime, Biographies, and Self Help.

However, the one book that trumps them all for me lately in the last 4 years is The Bible. The book is an amazing guide for my life, my decisions and my choices as well as how to love.

Others may disagree and that is fine, but that is my all -time favorite because of the timeless and endless wisdom it holds inside.



What's yours?

The Bible and I have the same mate in mind

A Repost  4-8-2009

Learning About the Proverbs Man 

I was totally shocked when I read the Bible last night after like 10 years. The man I want now, the qualities I want, and now find attractive is actually stated in the Bible. It's crazy!

The men I used to choose were also in there! Here are some examples from the book of Proverbs:

• Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way; and he who hates correction will die.
• He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, be he who is impulsive exalts foolishness and folly.
• A false witness shall not go unpunished and he who speaks lies shall perish.
• Whoever hides hatred has lying lips, who ever spreads slander is a fool.
• Like a madman who throws arrows, firebrands and death, is the man who deceives his neighbor and then says "I was just joking" (yeah, thats actually in the Bible, lol)
• A proud and haughty man - "Scoffer" is his name - he acts only with arrogant pride.
• He who loves pleasure will be a poor man, he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
• Do not mix with winebibbers, or gluttonous eaters of meat; for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe a man with rags.
• Do not envy wicked men, do not desire their company; for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about making trouble.
• He who loves transgression seeks strife, he who exalts his gate seeks destruction.
• Do not speak to a fool, for he will scorn the wisdom of your words.
• Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine. Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper. Your eyes will see strange sights and your mind imagine confusing things. You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging. "They hit me," you will say, "but I'm not hurt! They beat me, but I don't feel it! When will I wake up so I can find another drink?"

Those have been the qualities of the men I chose. "Lovers of themselves" They are sinners and wicked in God's eyes because they walk away from repentance and do not choose God's way - choosing the ways of sin "they seek death". He describes exactly his feelings about all these things/these types of men, in verse after verse, chapter after chapter.

Here are the male types however, that I have been seeking newly in my heart. The Bible actually describes them just as clearly so I may know the difference. He will be someone who will be/have:

• "by humility and fear of the Lord" (in actions, not words)
  
• "he who has a generous eye"
  
• "he who is in wisdom and understanding"
• "he who excels in his work"
• "he who does not mistreat his father or chase away his mother"
• "he who does not utter a false witness"
  
• "he who owns discretion and is slow to anger, slow to wrath"
• What is desired in a man is kindness, and a poor man is better than a liar. (in actions, not words)
• "he who keeps the commandments" (in actions, not words)
• Wisdom is in the sight of him who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
• He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and who rules his spirit that he who can take a city.

There it is. In black and white and laid out pretty damn clearly since, oh I don't know, a really long time. Totally blew my mind when I read it.

2 But I had almost stopped believing; I had almost lost my faith
3 because I was jealous of proud people. I saw wicked people doing well.
4 They are not suffering; they are healthy and strong.
5 They don’t have troubles like the rest of us; they don’t have problems like other people.
6 They wear pride like a necklace and put on violence as their clothing.
7 They are looking for profits and do not control their selfish desires.
8 They make fun of others and speak evil; proudly they speak of hurting others.
9 They brag to the sky. They say that they own the earth.
10 So their people turn to them and give them whatever they want.
11 They say, “How can God know?
12 These people are wicked, always at ease, and getting richer.
13 So why have I kept my heart pure? Why have I kept my hands from doing wrong?
14 I have suffered all day long; I have been punished every morning.
15 God, if I had decided to talk like this, I would have let your people down.Psalms 73:2-15

1 Don’t be upset because of evil people. Don’t be jealous of those who do wrong,
2 because like the grass, they will soon dry up. Like green plants, they will soon die away.
3 Trust the Lord and do good. Live in the land and feed on truth.Psalms 37:1-3

Because the imperfection of the earthly justice system and the assumption that the principles instituted by God is slow to react, men think they can continue with their ways unhampered. Influencing as many as they can. But the answer to the assumed passiveness of the Creator is explained also!

He has been very kind and patient, waiting for you to change, but you think nothing of his kindness. Perhaps you do not understand that God is kind to you so you will change your hearts and lives. Romans 2:4

Eventually, people will receive the appropriate wages for the decisions and actions they made. This could be the reason why we are advised to embrace “wisdom” .

20 Wisdom is like a woman shouting in the street; she raises her voice in the city squares.
21 She cries out in the noisy street and shouts at the city gates:
23 If only you had listened when I corrected you, I would have told you what’s in my heart; I would have told you what I am thinking.
24 I called, but you refused to listen; I held out my hand, but you paid no attention.
25 You did not follow my advice and did not listen when I corrected you.
31 So you will get what you deserve; you will get what you planned for others.
32 Fools will die because they refuse to listen; they will be destroyed because they do not care.
33 But those who listen to me will live in safety and be at peace, without fear of injury.” Proverbs 1:20-25, 31-33

I'm going to have another great day.