Reading:
Proverbs 18:13-24

“The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity: but a wounded spirit who can bear?” (14).

With courage, people carry on despite adversity.

Without courage, who can bear up under anything?!

The weight of discouragement is so heavy that carrying any additional load is nigh impossible.

So let me be an encourager…a load bearer for those who feel hopeless and strengthless. With kindness and forbearance and patience. And joy. And faith. And love.

And…somehow…let me begin at home.

[Death and life are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21)]
from Proverbs 18:21

A little bit more from Proverbs 18: Got Friends?

Reading:
Proverbs 18:1-12

American and global economic structures have sure taken a pounding the last two or three weeks.

Insurance companies, mortgage companies, banking companies, credit companies, auto companies — who else has been shown to be unstable, weak, and cracking?

This week in particular, stock markets have trended overall downward. The plunge from record highs has been stunning and breath-taking. Today is the last day of the business week — will they regain lost ground or will they collapse into a pile of financial rubble?

How does this or how will this impact me and my family?

Will this fear-inducing display of economic gravity take down Anabaptist Bookstore with it?

In what or whom will we find rest and peace?

“The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit” (11).

So many people thought they were secure and safe and sure in their investments, in their savings, and in their jobs.

Those strong cities have been besieged. Those strong walls have been breached.

Now what will they do?

[The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit (Proverbs 18:11)]
Proverbs 18:11

[The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe (Proverbs 18:10)]
Proverbs 18:10

A little bit more from Proverbs 18: Before