Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 10:8, Don’t Forget to Execute
A Moment of Hope
by Marilynn Chadwick “The wise in heart will accept and obey commandments, but the foolish of lips will fall headlong.” Proverbs 10:8 AMPC In the Hebrew language, the words "listen" and "obey" are represented by the word “shema.” This means to hear, pay attention, and act upon what is heard. It embodies the concept that true listening includes obedience. In Hebrew and Greek, the original languages of the Old and New Testaments, there is no distinct word for "obey." Listening and doing are considered two sides of one action. We see this sentiment expressed in James, often called...
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Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 3:13, Wisdom’s Reward
A Moment of Hope
by Marilynn Chadwick “Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding.” Proverbs 3:13 NIV People talk a lot about profitable investments and especially the ROI, or “return on investment.” According to Proverbs, there are very few investments in life as profitable as the gaining of wisdom. Threaded throughout Proverbs are admonitions to seek wisdom. The gain from wisdom is “better than gain from silver, and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her” (Proverbs 3:14,15 ESV). Do you want to be wise?...
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Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 17:22, Joy is Good for Your Health
A Moment of Hope
by Marilynn Chadwick "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17:22 Can practicing thankfulness actually improve your health? Some think so. I read about a study in which participants were asked to list the things for which they were thankful. They were instructed to write their gratitude list and sustain this exercise for exactly five minutes. The results of the study showed that those who practiced gratitude for five minutes experienced a sharp rise in their disease fighting antibodies. These antibodies remained elevated for several hours!...
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Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 15:17
A Moment of Hope
by David Chadwick “Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it.” Proverbs 15:17 Better is dinner with herbs, a meager meal, where there is love, laughter, and joy, than a dinner with feasting and luxurious food where there is hatred. I don’t know about you, but some of my best memories with my family of origin were around the dinner table. My dad, mom, brother, and sister all together sharing memories and conversations. My mom would fix great meals, but it was the laughter and great conversation that have had such an impact on my life. Along with...
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Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 17:6
A Moment of Hope
by David Chadwick “Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.” Proverbs 17:6 Grandchildren are the crown of those in old age. And the glory of children is their fathers. This proverb has two great insights. Let’s take a look at them together. First, grandkids are a crown for faithful parents. Marilynn and I now have 12 grandchildren. Yet we vividly remember the years when we were told by doctors that we would never have children. From a barren womb came three children and now 12 grandchildren. In the midst of our brokenness, God was...
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Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 17:4
A Moment of Hope
by David Chadwick “An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.” Proverbs 17:4 Evildoers listen to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue. I don’t think any healthy individual would desire to be called an evildoer or a liar. Who has wicked lips? I actually think many could fall into this category. Those who seek to slander and essentially kill someone with their words. Those who spread rumors and lies with evil intent. Those who seek to intimidate and bully others. Those who manipulate you for selfish gain. Those who seduce...
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Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 17:3
A Moment of Hope
by David Chadwick “The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts.” Proverbs 17:3 Silver is refined in the crucible, as is gold in the furnace. Similarly, our hearts and lives must be tested, purified, and refined by the Lord in whatever ways he sees fit. Titus 2:14 says that Jesus “gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” Jesus sacrificed his life to pave the way for humanity to be reunited with the Father. He died to redeem us and to purify...
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Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 17:1
A Moment of Hope
by David Chadwick “Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife.” Proverbs 17:1 Better is a dry, crusty morsel of bread in a peaceful home than a house with delicious food and delicacies that is full of strife. Strife. Defined as “conflict or an angry or bitter disagreement over fundamental issues,” strife ruins relationships. It hinders momentum and stops the Gospel from moving forward. Biblically, in James 3:16, strife is also called “selfish ambition.” If pride is the root of all evil, I would argue strife is one of the most wicked fruits that...
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Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 6:10-11, The Value of Hard Work
A Moment of Hope
by Marilynn Chadwick “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.” Proverbs 6:10-11 NIV I am not a naturally self-disciplined person. But I discovered early on that it was impossible for me to take the kids beyond where I had gone myself. If I was undisciplined, it was hard to discipline the children. If my schedule was inconsistent, it was hard to help them follow a schedule. If I quit before I reached the finish line, it was hard to teach our children to persevere. When an...
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Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 1:10, Choose Your Companions Wisely
A Moment of Hope
by Marilynn Chadwick “My child, sinners will try to lead you into sin. But do not follow them.” Proverbs 1:10 ICB Proverbs warns about the danger of bad companions. We were careful with our children and who they chose as friends. We made the decision to send our children to secular schools, knowing they would be surrounded by a variety of kids. But a troubled kid was always welcome in our home. Sometimes, even a problem child, when surrounded by a healthy home environment, could make great progress. The phrase "Bad company corrupts good character" is a famous quote from 1 Corinthians...
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"Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead. Carefully consider the path for your feet, and all your ways will be established." Proverbs 4:25-26 CSB
The book of Proverbs is filled with tips on how to persevere as we pursue a dream or fight through a trial. James, sometimes called “The Proverbs of the New Testament,” gives us similar encouragement: "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life" (James 1:12 ESV).
But let’s face it. Waiting is hard! "How do I hold onto my hopes and dreams when God seems silent?" This question came from a sincere follower of Christ. How do we handle those times when we have prayed and prayed, but the answer is so slow in coming? Perhaps we sense that a particular dream is God's plan for us. But the days, weeks, months, and even years go by. How do we keep our dream alive? How do we learn to wait well?
I think back to what I refer to as my season of "wait training." In our early years of marriage, David and I looked forward to the day we would have children. But nothing happened, month after month. Months became years, and by the end of the fourth year, waiting had become a way of life. I hovered between my dream of having a child and the dailiness of living life well in the moment. But I wanted my life to count, even while I waited.
I decided to get my master’s degree in counseling and spent time working in vulnerable communities. I later worked at a Crisis Pregnancy Center with young women caught in problem pregnancies. An infertile woman trying to have a baby caring for women who didn’t want to be pregnant? It was an odd assignment, but strangely healing. I used to remark that I was like a recovering alcoholic serving drinks at a bar—surrounded by that which I could not have.
During this time, a door was opened for David and me to go on a short-term missions trip. My first trip to Africa would be our first of many short-term missions experiences. Even after our children finally came, this lesson remained etched in my mind: When you are hurting, fight forward.
We eventually partnered with organizations delivering aid, education, and hope on six continents. Some say we should live to give. I discovered that I could give to live.
I would sometimes pray, “Lord, I’m entrusting my business into your hands. While you are caring for my business, I will put my hands to work on your business.” Even today, fighting forward never fails to fill and heal my own soul as I give hope to someone else.