go to: free music at  www.pastorob.com/audiodwnload.htm
       go to: pastorob at  www.pastorob.com/rob’sblog.htm

Pastor Rob Patterson    653 A Street    Galt, California   209-745-4665 

              

                      CLICK HERE for pastorob's reflection upon Proverbs 25:19
 "Like a bad tooth or a lame foot is reliance on the unfaithful in times of trouble."
      When I find myself in times of trouble, mother Mary comes to me, speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
                                    And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me, speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
                                    Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be. Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.
And when the broken hearted people living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.
For though they may be parted there is still a chance that they will see, there will be an answer. let it be.      Let it be, let it be, .....

And when the night is cloudy, there is still a light, that shines on me, shine until tomorrow, let it be.
    I wake up to the sound of music, mother Mary comes to me, speaking words of wisdom, let it be.  Let it be, let it be.         The Beatles, 1969.

Proverbs 25

   1 These are more proverbs of Solomon,
            copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:

    2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter;

            to search out a matter is the glory of kings.

    3 As the heavens are high and the earth is deep,

            so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.

    4 Remove the dross from the silver,

            and out comes material for the silversmith;

    5 remove the wicked from the king's presence,

            and his throne will be established through righteousness.  

    6 Do not exalt yourself in the king's presence,

            and do not claim a place among great men;

    7 it is better for him to say to you, "Come up here,"

            than for him to humiliate you before a nobleman.  

    What you have seen with your eyes

           8 do not bring hastily to court,

            for what will you do in the end

            if your neighbor puts you to shame?

    9 If you argue your case with a neighbor,

            do not betray another man's confidence,

    10 or he who hears it may shame you

            and you will never lose your bad reputation.

    11 A word aptly spoken

            is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

    12 Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold

            is a wise man's rebuke to a listening ear.

    13 Like the coolness of snow at harvest time

            is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him;

            he refreshes the spirit of his masters.  

    14 Like clouds and wind without rain

            is a man who boasts of gifts he does not give.

    15 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,

            and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

    16 If you find honey, eat just enough-

            too much of it, and you will vomit.

    17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor's house-

            too much of you, and he will hate you.

    18 Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow

            is the man who gives false testimony against his neighbor.    

    19 Like a bad tooth or a lame foot

            is reliance on the unfaithful in times of trouble.    

    20 Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day,

            or like vinegar poured on soda,

            is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

    21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;

            if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

    22 In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,

            and the LORD will reward you.  

    23 As a north wind brings rain,

            so a sly tongue brings angry looks.

   24 Better to live on a corner of the roof

            than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.  

    25 Like cold water to a weary soul

            is good news from a distant land.

    26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted well

            is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked.

    27 It is not good to eat too much honey,

            nor is it honorable to seek one's own honor. 

    28 Like a city whose walls are broken down

            is a man who lacks self-control.

"Like a bad tooth or a lame foot is reliance on the unfaithful in times of trouble."
                                                                                                  Proverbs 25:19

At the close of the Sixties (y1k69) a song was played over and over on our radios in Smalltown, America. Boomers bought the album and played it repeatedly as a memorial to the end of an era.

The anthem began with these words:

"When I find myself in times of trouble,
Mother Mary comes to me speaking words of wisdom,  '_______  _____  _____ '. "

Some listeners may have thought that their pop-culture poet, Paul, was sharing a superstitious belief in Madonna-sightings. Perhaps, it has simply been 'projection' on my part, but I've always thought that McCartney was testifying to the faithfulness of his own mother, Mary.

Mary McCartney had died suddenly when Paul was a teenager.

Regardless of the story behind that song, I have experienced visitations of important people from my past during some of life's hardest times. Wise sayings from a faithful Voice in our lives will replay for years
after we first hear them.

The simple proverb spoken by King Solomon reminds us of the pain we cause others when our lives are not being faithfully invested toward their best interests. How do you eat when you have a bad tooth? In times of a troubled tooth, I usually chew on the other side of my mouth. Lately, my left knee starts to hurt when I try to run; therefore, I haven't been running much. Likewise, we find it painful to rely upon the unfaithful in our most personal times of trouble.

Yet God continue to entrust important relationships to us. Why? Have we been found faithful?

In pursuit of Integrity, we would do well to turn to the life-giving words of Jesus on a daily basis. As He speaks His Faithful Word to us, we ought also to be found faithful in the lives of others. Faithfulness is developed in our lives day by day as we invest ourselves in the lives of others.

Troubled times are ahead for each one of your loved ones. Will they see you standing right in front of them?
    If so, what will be the message they hear replayed from your life?

 "And in my hour of darkness, she is standing right in front of me,
                speaking words of wisdom, "____________________ . "


Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him,
      we will also live with him; if we endure,
      we will also reign with him. If we disown him,
      he will also disown us;

if we are faithless, he will remain faithful,
      for he cannot disown himself.     2 Timothy 11-13

Pastor Rob Patterson    653 A Street    Galt, California   209-745-4665    
 go to: free music at  www.pastorob.com/audiodwnload.htm
       go to: pastorob at  www.pastorob.com/rob’sblog.htm