My Wednesday evening usually finds me sitting the House of Prayer, enjoying a beautiful devotional set by Sueanna, Linda, and Garry. I have so much respect for these folks who show up week after week and connect with God through their worship, singing, and prayers. Often there is no one in here but me, so if you need a quiet atmosphere that is focused upward, you might want to come out on a Wednesday night!
The past few weeks I have been working on putting the book of Proverbs into “my words” — the Plain Speaking Common Sense Version, which is an unwieldy but also fun-to-say acronym — the PSCSV — but that’s what it is for me. It’s easy to read through them but it takes much more thought to rephrase / restate them. (No, I am not a Bible scholar, translating from the Hebrew, etc. This is just a helpful way for me to study.) Anyway, here is some wisdom from Solomon – chapters 12-13. I was hoping to do one a day, but as you can see, I am 10 days behind, and I am okay with that! 
The Proverbs of Solomon continue. So many good thoughts here!
Proverbs 12
- If you love to learn, you know that you need discipline to keep you focused and on track. Not being open to other ideas and thoughts that help adjust course is pretty prideful.
- Delighting in the Divine and avoiding devious schemes is what a good person does.
- A life that is rooted and grounded in the Divine will always stand strong in a storm. It’s certainly hard to find stable ground in quicksand.
- A good relationship is warm, inviting and stimulating. Someone who is cold and closed off usually ends up being toxic.
- Justice is found in logical principles of thinkers. Those who are degenerate end up corrupting the system.
- Negativity kills. Positivity is life.
- A strong house holds together with goodness. A weak house is easily torn apart by negativity.
- Sensible people are esteemed. People rolls their eyes at those who talk in circles and say nothing.
- When you try and act like you are more important than you are, you usually end up broke. Better to just be an average joe and have a steady income.
- Animal abusers suck, especially when they fake being caring. Good people take care of their animals.
- Hold a steady job and you can provide food for your family. People who chase whims with no grounding in reality usually end up living crisis to crisis.
- Anything built on the back of lies, abuse, or violence will fall to ruin in the end. A foundation of truth and love is worth building on. It yields abundant life!
- Gossip usually gets you in trouble. Life giving speech keeps you out of it.
- A word fitly spoken brings fullfillment. And a job well done is satisfying.
- If you are wise, you will listen to good advice. If you aren’t, you’ll charge around like a bull in a china shop.
- People ruled by emotion often have quick tempers and often blow up. Someone who operates in balance is steady and can handle an insult.
- A liar blows a lot of smoke at you to misdirect you. A truth teller speaks it straight and cuts through the crap.
- Harsh words can cut you deep and leave unseen wounds. Wisdom speaks life and brings healing and hope.
- Truth sticks around forever. Lies are blown away like dead leaves in the wind.
- Those who plan harmful schemes end up harmed themselves. But those who operate in peace end up in joy.
- Darkness can not overcome someone living in light.
- There’s a Divine partnership with those who speak truth.
- If you are wise you know when to hold your tongue and not brag about what you know. Some people think they know everything and babble on and on … without having a clue.
- For those who are diligent, work is not a task, it brings freedom! For the lazy, work is like a chain around the neck.
- Anxiety drags us down, doesn’t it? When we get a word of encouragement it certainly can change our day.
- Some people are walking chaos-makers. People who seek goodness usually come out on the other side unscathed.
- Live a lazy life and you will be empty and feel meaningless. Getting up early and working hard is satisfying and fulfilling.
- People on a path of goodness stay the course and really live! They aren’t swayed by the detours that lead to ruin.
Proverbs 13
- Wisdom says to pay attention to your parents. Doing your own thing and ignoring their counsel often ends in ruin.
- Someone who is wise will listen and participate in good conversation. A bully will push their way in and leave a mess in their path.
- Being careful and wise with your speech is the hallmark of a life of wisdom. If you are careless with your words, you can destroy your reputation and hurt others in the process.
- Lazy people feel entitled for things they haven’t lifted a finger to work for. The diligent person goes after life and have something to show for it.
- Someone who is wise can not stand false information. The unwise will dabble in nonsense and unfounded theories.
- Staying in a place of Divine focus will keep you on the right path. Pursuing deviance lands you in the muddy ditch.
- Being a vain show-off is a pretty hollow way to live. Keeping it simple and pure is a satisfying way to live.
- If you are rich, it’s easier to get sued. If you don’t have any money, there’s not much sense in suing you.
- A good life is like a well lit street — full of light. You don’t want to be a back alley, dark and full of rubbish.
- Arrogance yields dissonance. Wisdom bring understanding and mutual respect.
- Easy come, easy go. But it pays to be diligent.
- Hope deferred makes the heart sick. But how awesome it is when something happens that turns it all around.
- When you ignore wisdom and truth you end up hurting yourself. Honor it and you will have a rich life.
- Wise teaching is like a life-giving spring; you don’t have to drink from a stagnant swamp.
- People who lie usually travel a hard path. But a sound, thinking mind gives you the ability to enjoy a good life.
- On a road filled with people spouting off nonsense, someone with common sense stands out by their life.
- When you are not responsible with what you say, it’s easy to really make a mess, but those who are truthful and reliable with their speech bring healing.
- An undisciplined life can lead to ruin and despair. An honorable person is able to accept truth and correction.
- Wisdom that is connected to the heart is a life in balance.
- You become like those you hang out with — both good and bad. Choose wisely.
- Don’t get caught into the swirl of chaos and emotion — it’s a trap. Stay true to the Divine and stay steady.
- You can pass on your wisdom and wealth to the next generation; wealth that came from stealing or cheating usually ends up lost to you and given to another.
- It’s a sad reality that those who struggle financially usually end up getting up foreclosed on and taken by the lawyers.
- If you refuse to correct, it’s the same as refusing to love. Discipline is love.
- Evil-seekers have an appetite for more and more, but those who seek goodness are filled and satisfied.