Greetings and salutations on another fine day on this side of the Grave, dear Reader, and welcome. Today the US will get to see an eclipse; we'll get to that in a little while. First things first though, starting with beautiful songs of praise to the only One Who is worthy:
You know, Reader, there's a real reason that I typically like to open with praise and worship music. Praise and worship music helps us focus our minds and heart on Him Who we praise. Here, I'll even back it up with Scripture:
Without any further delay, here is Proverbs 8 (since today is the eighth day of the month).
From the Book of Wisdom, NKJV, full-text, highlighted:
The Excellence of Wisdom
8 Does not wisdom cry out,
And understanding lift up her voice?
2 She takes her stand on the top of the [a]high hill,
Beside the way, where the paths meet.
3 She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city,
At the entrance of the doors:
4 “To you, O men, I call,
And my voice is to the sons of men.
5 O you [b]simple ones, understand prudence,
And you fools, be of an understanding heart.
6 Listen, for I will speak of excellent things,
And from the opening of my lips will come right things;
7 For my mouth will speak truth;
Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are with righteousness;
Nothing crooked or perverse is in them.
9 They are all plain to him who understands,
And right to those who find knowledge.
10 Receive my instruction, and not silver,
And knowledge rather than choice gold;
11 For wisdom is better than rubies,
And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.
12 “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
And find out knowledge and discretion.
13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil;
Pride and arrogance and the evil way
And the perverse mouth I hate.
14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom;
I am understanding, I have strength.
15 By me kings reign,
And rulers decree justice.
16 By me princes rule, and nobles,
All the judges of [c]the earth.
17 I love those who love me,
And those who seek me diligently will find me.
18 Riches and honor are with me,
Enduring riches and righteousness.
19 My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold,
And my revenue than choice silver.
20 I [d]traverse the way of righteousness,
In the midst of the paths of justice,
21 That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth,
That I may fill their treasuries.
22 “The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way,
Before His works of old.
23 I have been established from everlasting,
From the beginning, before there was ever an earth.
24 When there were no depths I was brought forth,
When there were no fountains abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains were settled,
Before the hills, I was brought forth;
26 While as yet He had not made the earth or the [e]fields,
Or the [f]primal dust of the world.
27 When He prepared the heavens, I was there,
When He drew a circle on the face of the deep,
28 When He established the clouds above,
When He strengthened the fountains of the deep,
29 When He assigned to the sea its limit,
So that the waters would not transgress His command,
When He marked out the foundations of the earth,
30 Then I was beside Him as [g]a master craftsman;
And I was daily His delight,
Rejoicing always before Him,
31 Rejoicing in His inhabited world,
And my delight was with the sons of men.
32 “Now therefore, listen to me, my children,
For blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Hear instruction and be wise,
And do not disdain it.
34 Blessed is the man who listens to me,
Watching daily at my gates,
Waiting at the posts of my doors.
35 For whoever finds me finds life,
And obtains favor from the Lord;
36 But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul;
All those who hate me love death.”
Footnotes
Proverbs 8:2 Lit. heights
Proverbs 8:5 naive
Proverbs 8:16 MT, Syr., Tg., Vg. righteousness; LXX, Bg., some mss. and editions earth
Proverbs 8:20 walk about on
Proverbs 8:26 outer places
Proverbs 8:26 Lit. beginning of the dust
Proverbs 8:30 A Jewish tradition one brought up
So verse five totally applies to yours truly. (That's why I bolded that one). And I note, too, how the Scripture says to be of an understanding heart, making no mention of the human mind. Therefore, I submit to you that the truly important issues in life really are each a heart-matter. It's ALL about our hearts, which is further illustrated in the contrasting story in the New Testament where Jesus compares the Pharisee and the tax collector.
Here you go! Luke 18:9-14 NIV:
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
I don't know about you, dear Reader, but I AM the tax collector. In all instances, every day:
Also today, humanity will get to witness another solar eclipse; here in the southern border town of Douglas, AZ, we're supposed to be in the path of about 70% totality. Please, dear Reader, if you go out to see the eclipse, PLEASE wear something that was created to protect your eyes, ok? That's all that I ask. Other than that I pray that the eyes of your heart gain understanding and, in all other ways, that your day and Life are today blessed. 💜
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