July 2025
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A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son and will share the inheritance as one of the family. -Proverbs 17:2 Leading your family closer to Christ is everything. You have to spend time with them in intentional discipleship to do this. I am often overjoyed and overwhelmed by the responsibility God has entrusted to me
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Kings detest wrongdoing, for a throne is established through righteousness. -Proverbs 16:10 There’s always been something grand about “living like a king.” When you first hear that, you (like me) probably think about riches and possessions. I’ve never met a king. I’d rather meet “Sir Charles” than “King James” any day (IYKYK). I did meet the
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The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway. -Proverbs 15:19 Highways and hedges are different. The first allows for movement, and the other stops it. Nothing will prevent you from picking a rose faster than its thorns. My dad used to say thorn bushes are
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A wise man fears the Lord and shuns evil, but a fool is hotheaded and reckless. -Proverbs 14:17 Anger and recklessness haven’t been besetting sins in my life (thank the Lord), but at times they have reared their ugly heads and caused me to hurt people I love. When my wife and I were first
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Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. -Proverbs 13:12 “I hope so”. That’s a phrase we’ve all said before. Its evil twin is “Don’t get your hopes up.” When we’ve said those phrases, it was probably in a moment of despair, frustration, or even doubt. In the world’s
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The plans of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful. -Proverbs 12:5 A friend of mine is very skilled at trapping nuisance animals such as coyotes that attack cattle or hogs that destroy crops. These animals cost ranchers and farmers millions each year and hurt food production. He surveys the land,
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A generous person will prosper; Whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. -Proverbs 11:25 Over the years, I’ve written numerous character references for individuals seeking enrollment in schools, jobs, and organizations. I once wrote a pastoral recommendation for Miss Arkansas! All these were based on how well I knew someone and included information about their character. Qualities like
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The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of sense. -Proverbs 10:21 My dad used to say, “A man’s word is his bond.” He always tied work and words together. It had to do with Colossians 3:17, “In whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the
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If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer. -Proverbs 9:12 I once received an invitation to escort the Governor of Arkansas on a Statewide initiative on marriage. I was tasked with setting up lunch for him and his staff in my region of the State and
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Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight, I have power. -Proverbs 8:14 I’ve done some dumb things in my lifetime. I’d like to say, “Hasn’t everybody?” just to make me feel better. Once, I was considering getting a new wedding ring, but my old one wouldn’t come off. I had not planned to take it
stephen R Harrison 