What Does the Bible Say About Sparing the Rod?

He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.  Proverbs, Chapter 13, verse 24.

Parents often feel guilty for being away from their children with their work and other things that take them away from home.  At times, some parents over compensate by giving their children all they desire, overlooking the child’s disobedience without realizing how counterproductive it is. 

If a parent gives in to a child’s demands when they are young and doesn’t provide appropriate consequences for misbehavior, do you think that child will behave any differently as a teenager or adult?  Maybe correcting children and having reasonable expectations for them while they’re young would be to their best advantage.  Our ultimate goal should be that they grow into responsible Christian men and women.

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.

This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 
Please click on comments below to share your suggestions. Thanks! Debbie

Who Do We Let Influence Our Lives?

He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.  Proverbs, Chapter 13, verse 20.

Well, I have sadly noticed something over my years as a teacher.  I have often placed a student who was a good role model next to a disruptive student.  I thought the positive role model’s example would rub off on the disruptive student.  Almost every time, I found the exact opposite to be true.  It seems the role model student almost always starts taking on some of the characteristics of the disruptive student, not the other way around.

I think that this often applies to Christians, as well.  I think we often take on the traits of the people we hang around.  If we associate with people who live their lives focused on God, we are more apt to live in a similar manner.  If we hang around people who have worldly values and make lifestyle choices that don’t reflect their love for God, then we are more apt to live our lives in a like manner.  It boils down to who you think God would want influencing your life.

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.


This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 
Please click on comments below to share your suggestions. Thanks! Debbie

The Ant and the Grasshopper, How Does That Relate to the Bible?

The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.  Proverbs, Chapter 13: 4.

This reminds me of the story my grandfather used to tell me when I was little about the Ant and the Grasshopper.  The ant worked busily throughout the spring, summer and fall and put food away for the winter while the Grasshopper enjoyed himself and played.  Then when the winter came along, the Ant had a plenty of food to last him and the lazy Grasshopper was cold and hungry.
Here is a related passage:

*Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.  Proverbs, Chapter 19, verse 15.

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.
This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 
Please click on comments below to share your suggestions. Thanks! Debbie

Watching Where We Are Walking

Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.  Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.  Proverbs, Chapter 4, verses 26-27.

I remember walking with a friend on a dirt road that ran along the far side of my elementary school.  I was rambling on about something as I walked, only to be stopped by the squeals of delight from my walking partner.  She had found a silver dollar in my tracks.
I had been so busy focused on something else that I hadn't watched where I was walking, as she had.  If I had paid attention to what I was doing and where I was going, I would have been the person who found the treasure. 

Well, Christians also have to watch where they are going and whether the choices they are making are leading them astray.   The worldly things in life can lead us off our path of faith.  If we focus on God’s Will for us, as stated in the Bible, we are more apt to find the treasure of Salvation at the end of our road.

 Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.

This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 
Please click on comments below to share your suggestions. Thanks! Debbie

With Music, Do We Throw the Baby Out With the Bath Water?

Praise Him with the timbrel and dance: praise Him with stringed instruments and organs.  Praise Him upon the loud cymbals: praise Him upon the high sounding cymbals.  Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD, Praise ye the LORD.  Psalm, Chapter 150, verses 4-6.

I realize that some types of music present subject matter and promote beliefs and actions that don’t always glorify God.  There have been styles of dancing that are less apt to be what God would approve of than others.  I think that sometimes we “throw the baby out with the bath water”.  Here is another time that we are encouraged to sing and dance, showing our love of God.  In my opinion, this shows that singing and dancing, in and of themselves aren’t bad, especially when they are done to glorify God.  Of course, we need to have balance in all things.

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.

This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 
Please click on comments below to share your suggestions. Thanks! Debbie

I Wouldn't Want God to Put Me on the Back Shelf

He telleth the number of the stars: He calleth them all by their names.  Great is our LORD, and of great power: His understanding is infinite.  The LORD lifteth up the meek: He casteth the wicked down to the ground.  Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God: Who covereth the heaven with clouds, Who prepareth rain for the earth, Who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.  He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young raven which cry.  Psalm, Chapter 147, verses 4-9.

This passage had the word thanksgiving in it long before there were any Pilgrims and national holidays.  When David talks about thanksgiving, he has the right idea.  God provides for us and all the creatures of the world.  My focus at Thanksgiving shouldn’t be on which recipes to cook, so that my relatives brag on the spread they had at our house.  Instead, my focus should consistently be on God, thanking Him for all He does for me.  I shouldn’t just thank Him on religious holidays.  I wonder what it might be like the other way around.  God would take care of my concerns on Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.  The rest of the year, God would put me back on the shelf to wait; because I interfered with all the things He was doing during the year.  I sure wouldn’t want the tables turned!
Here is a related passage:

*Yet I am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but Me: for there is no Saviour beside Me.  I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.  According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten Me.  Hosea, Chapter 13, verses 4-6.

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.

This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 
Please click on comments below to share your suggestions. Thanks! Debbie

Too Independent for My Own Good

Teach me to do Thy will for Thou art my God: Thy Spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.  Psalm, Chapter 143, verse 10.

Sometimes, I get too independent for my own good.  I figure that since I’m a Christian and a basically good person, I can see when someone needs help and just take care of it.  I’m starting to realize that the “I’s” and “Me’s” get me no where and I need to start praying for God’s guidance, first.  Sometimes I have rushed in to help someone, thinking “I” knew what was best for them, only to find out that I had undermined their dignity without realizing it.  It sure knocked my “Christian ego” down a few notches and hopefully, I will be more aware of this in the future.

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.

This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 
Please click on comments below to share your suggestions. Thanks! Debbie

What Does a Light House Have to Do With this Passage?

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a Light unto my path.  Psalm, Chapter 119, verse 105.
This passage has special significance to me because my husband collects light houses.  My thoughtful step-sons, daughter-in-law and grandchildren got my husband a light house shower curtain for a gift.  When we moved into our house, I decided to paint light houses on the bathroom wall to go with the shower curtain.
My twelve year-old grandson drew the light houses free-hand and I painted them.  Being inspired when the painting was completed; I looked for a Bible passage to paint over the door to make a connection between God and the light houses.  There were several passages to choose from, although none spoke specifically about light houses.  I couldn’t decide, so I prayed and asked God for guidance.  I decided to use a portion of this passage: Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a Light unto my path.  Psalm, Chapter 119, verse 105.

When we went to church with our grandsons that evening, one of the songs was Thy Word Is a Lamp Unto My Feet, and a Light Unto My Path.  At that point, I knew that God had me choose the passage that He wanted.  I was so excited that it was hard to wait until after church to tell my husband and grandsons all about it.  This passage pops back into my mind, at times when I’m feeling frustrated or discouraged.

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.

This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 
Please click on comments below to share your suggestions. Thanks! Debbie

Jesus Wiped Our Tally Sheet Clean

If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.  Jeremiah, Chapter 18, verse 8.

I remember staying at my aunt’s house for a couple of weeks during the summer.  We had wonderful fun watching the “Soaps,” eating fried egg sandwiches and just spending time together.  The girl next door had an above ground pool.  I had been envious of her since I had gotten there.  At the end of my vacation at my aunt’s, the neighbor invited me over for a pool party.  I wasn’t allowed to go so I ranted and raved around the house, having a “royal hissy fit” because I didn’t get my way.
My aunt had been there supporting me all along like God supports us.  Then the minute I didn’t get everything I wanted, I had a fit and acted like everything wonderful didn’t matter anymore.  I’m sure she must have been hurt by my ungrateful behavior, the same as God is hurt through ours.

Once I calmed down and realized how unreasonable I was, I apologized and my aunt forgave me, much in the same way that God forgives us, even when we have behaved hatefully.  My aunt’s forgiving nature, not harboring resentments, allowed us to enjoy our last days of my vacation, creating fond memories to last a lifetime.  Fortunately, God doesn’t keep a tally sheet of all our shortcomings because Jesus wiped it clean.  He doesn’t harbor resentments for our sinful deeds.  What an awe inspiring and wonderful God!

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.

This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 
Please click on comments below to share your suggestions. Thanks! Debbie

This Passage Helps Me Re-Evaluate My Priorities

For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand.  I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.  For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.  O LORD of Hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in Thee.  Psalm, Chapter 84, verses 10-12.

David again, eloquently professes his love for God.  He says one day of life with God is better than a thousand days of life without Him.  He would rather have a lowly job in God’s house than to live with all the riches that the wicked have.  He tells us how well God takes care of the people who love Him.
This passage helps me to re-evaluate my priorities.  I’m looking for a job because we have moved back to the area where our grandchildren live.  I haven’t gotten a teaching position yet.  There are some smaller jobs in the newspaper that I haven’t applied for.  Part of me doesn’t want to go from being a teacher to a position of less significance.  I still want to impact the lives of students!

This passage makes me think that I shouldn’t minimize jobs.  It’s hard telling what God’s plan is.  It says that David would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of God than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.  I need to see that any position that God puts in my life has some special significance and I need to be open to it.

This seems especially significant on the first day of the New Year where people are taking stock of changes they want to make.

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.


This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 
Please click on comments below to share your suggestions. Thanks! Debbie

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