Monthly Archives: April 2022

Focus; April 8, 2022


Proverbs 23:17-18 Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord. There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. Once again there is a … Continue reading

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Parenting; April 7, 2022


Proverbs 19:18 Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to his death. This verse really brings out the difficulties of Bible translation! The Japanese renders it as, “Discipline your child while there … Continue reading

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hope; April 6, 2022


Proverbs 13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. This well-known verse is obviously the reason this passage came up in this series on hope, but comparing the Japanese to the English … Continue reading

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Winning Souls; April 5, 2022


Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise. I’ve seen this verse quoted many times in relation to personal evangelism, quite memorably in an evangelism class in seminary. However, … Continue reading

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Various Hopes; April 4, 2022


Proverbs 11:7 When a wicked man dies, his hope perishes; all he expected from his power comes to nothing. Not all hopes are the same. We have countless examples of people whose evil plans, both big and small, were dashed … Continue reading

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Way of the Lord; April 3, 2022


Proverbs 10:29 The way of the Lord is a refuge for the righteous, but it is the ruin of those who do evil. There is a seeming irony in this verse that is clarified only by the Gospel. It would … Continue reading

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Our Image of God; April 2, 2022


Psalm 147:10-11 His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of a man; the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love. The Japanese makes … Continue reading

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Trusting God Alone; April 1, 2022


Psalm 146:3 Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save. It’s interesting that we need to be reminded of this so often. Human beings can do a lot of damage, and sometimes they can do … Continue reading

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Anxiety; March 31, 2022


Psalm 131:1-2 My heart is not proud, O Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child … Continue reading

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Forgiveness; March 30, 2022


Psalm 130:3-4 If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared. This has long been a deeply impressive passage to me. From one standpoint it … Continue reading

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment