Unite Church 1/11/24 Unite Church 1/11/24

Thursday

This week we spend time in the the Proverbs, allowing the Holy Spirit space to shape and form us with the wisdom of God.

Proverbs 26

Like snow in summer or rain in harvest,
honor is not fitting for a fool.

2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,
an undeserved curse does not come to rest.

3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
and a rod for the backs of fools!

4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
or you yourself will be just like him.

5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
or he will be wise in his own eyes.

6 Sending a message by the hands of a fool
is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison.

7 Like the useless legs of one who is lame
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

8 Like tying a stone in a sling
is the giving of honor to a fool.

9 Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

10 Like an archer who wounds at random
is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.

11 As a dog returns to its vomit,
so fools repeat their folly.

12 Do you see a person wise in their own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for them.

13 A sluggard says, “There’s a lion in the road,
a fierce lion roaming the streets!”

14 As a door turns on its hinges,
so a sluggard turns on his bed.

15 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.

16 A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
than seven people who answer discreetly.

17 Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears
is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.

18 Like a maniac shooting
flaming arrows of death

19 is one who deceives their neighbor
and says, “I was only joking!”

20 Without wood a fire goes out;
without a gossip a quarrel dies down.

21 As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire,
so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.

22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
they go down to the inmost parts.

23 Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware
are fervent[a] lips with an evil heart.

24 Enemies disguise themselves with their lips,
but in their hearts they harbor deceit.

25 Though their speech is charming, do not believe them,
for seven abominations fill their hearts.

26 Their malice may be concealed by deception,
but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it;
if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.

28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts,
and a flattering mouth works ruin.

Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible,
New International Version® NIV®
Copyright © 1973 1978 1984 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™
Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Unite Church 1/10/24 Unite Church 1/10/24

Wednesday

This week we spend time in the the Proverbs, allowing the Holy Spirit space to shape and form us with the wisdom of God.

Proverbs 25

These are more proverbs of Solomon, compiled 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 a silversmith can produce a vessel;

5 remove wicked officials 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 his great men;

7 it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,”
than for him to humiliate you before his nobles.
What you have seen with your eyes

8 do not bring[a] hastily to court,
for what will you do in the end
if your neighbor puts you to shame?

9 If you take your neighbor to court,
do not betray another’s confidence,

10 or the one who hears it may shame you
and the charge against you will stand.

11 Like apples[b] of gold in settings of silver
is a ruling rightly given.

12 Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold
is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.

13 Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time
is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him;
he refreshes the spirit of his master.

14 Like clouds and wind without rain
is one who boasts of gifts never given.

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 they will hate you.

18 Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow
is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor.

19 Like a broken tooth or a lame foot
is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble.

20 Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day,
or like vinegar poured on a wound,
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 Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain
is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look.

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
are the righteous who give way to the wicked.

27 It is not good to eat too much honey,
nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep.

28 Like a city whose walls are broken through
is a person who lacks self-control.

Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible,
New International Version® NIV®
Copyright © 1973 1978 1984 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™
Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Unite Church 1/9/24 Unite Church 1/9/24

Tuesday

This week we spend time in the the Proverbs, allowing the Holy Spirit space to shape and form us with the wisdom of God.

Proverbs 24

Do not envy the wicked,
do not desire their company;

2 for their hearts plot violence,
and their lips talk about making trouble.

3 By wisdom a house is built,
and through understanding it is established;

4 through knowledge its rooms are filled
with rare and beautiful treasures.

5 The wise prevail through great power,
and those who have knowledge muster their strength.

6 Surely you need guidance to wage war,
and victory is won through many advisers.

7 Wisdom is too high for fools;
in the assembly at the gate they must not open their mouths.

8 Whoever plots evil
will be known as a schemer.

9 The schemes of folly are sin,
and people detest a mocker.

10 If you falter in a time of trouble,
how small is your strength!

11 Rescue those being led away to death;
hold back those staggering toward slaughter.

12 If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,”
does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who guards your life know it?
Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?

13 Eat honey, my son, for it is good;
honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.

14 Know also that wisdom is like honey for you:
If you find it, there is a future hope for you,
and your hope will not be cut off.

15 Do not lurk like a thief near the house of the righteous,
do not plunder their dwelling place;

16 for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again,
but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.

17 Do not gloat when your enemy falls;
when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice,

18 or the Lord will see and disapprove
and turn his wrath away from them.

19 Do not fret because of evildoers
or be envious of the wicked,

20 for the evildoer has no future hope,
and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.

21 Fear the Lord and the king, my son,
and do not join with rebellious officials,

22 for those two will send sudden destruction on them,
and who knows what calamities they can bring?

23 These also are sayings of the wise:
To show partiality in judging is not good:

24 Whoever says to the guilty, “You are innocent,”
will be cursed by peoples and denounced by nations.

25 But it will go well with those who convict the guilty,
and rich blessing will come on them.

26 An honest answer
is like a kiss on the lips.

27 Put your outdoor work in order
and get your fields ready;
after that, build your house.

28 Do not testify against your neighbor without cause—
would you use your lips to mislead?

29 Do not say, “I’ll do to them as they have done to me;
I’ll pay them back for what they did.”

30 I went past the field of a sluggard,
past the vineyard of someone who has no sense;

31 thorns had come up everywhere,
the ground was covered with weeds,
and the stone wall was in ruins.

32 I applied my heart to what I observed
and learned a lesson from what I saw:

33 A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest—

34 and poverty will come on you like a thief
and scarcity like an armed man.

Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible,
New International Version® NIV®
Copyright © 1973 1978 1984 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™
Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Unite Church 1/8/24 Unite Church 1/8/24

Monday

This week we spend time in the the Proverbs, allowing the Holy Spirit space to shape and form us with the wisdom of God.

Proverbs 23

When you sit to dine with a ruler,
note well what[a] is before you,

2 and put a knife to your throat
if you are given to gluttony.

3 Do not crave his delicacies,
for that food is deceptive.

4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
do not trust your own cleverness.

5 Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone,
for they will surely sprout wings
and fly off to the sky like an eagle.

6 Do not eat the food of a begrudging host,
do not crave his delicacies;

7 for he is the kind of person
who is always thinking about the cost.[b]
“Eat and drink,” he says to you,
but his heart is not with you.

8 You will vomit up the little you have eaten
and will have wasted your compliments.

9 Do not speak to fools,
for they will scorn your prudent words.

10 Do not move an ancient boundary stone
or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,

11 for their Defender is strong;
he will take up their case against you.

12 Apply your heart to instruction
and your ears to words of knowledge.

13 Do not withhold discipline from a child;
if you punish them with the rod, they will not die.

14 Punish them with the rod
and save them from death.

15 My son, if your heart is wise,
then my heart will be glad indeed;

16 my inmost being will rejoice
when your lips speak what is right.

17 Do not let your heart envy sinners,
but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord.

18 There is surely a future hope for you,
and your hope will not be cut off.

19 Listen, my son, and be wise,
and set your heart on the right path:

20 Do not join those who drink too much wine
or gorge themselves on meat,

21 for drunkards and gluttons become poor,
and drowsiness clothes them in rags.

22 Listen to your father, who gave you life,
and do not despise your mother when she is old.

23 Buy the truth and do not sell it—
wisdom, instruction and insight as well.

24 The father of a righteous child has great joy;
a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.

25 May your father and mother rejoice;
may she who gave you birth be joyful!

26 My son, give me your heart
and let your eyes delight in my ways,

27 for an adulterous woman is a deep pit,
and a wayward wife is a narrow well.

28 Like a bandit she lies in wait
and multiplies the unfaithful among men.

29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
Who has strife? Who has complaints?
Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?

30 Those who linger over wine,
who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.

31 Do not gaze at wine when it is red,
when it sparkles in the cup,
when it goes down smoothly!

32 In the end it bites like a snake
and poisons like a viper.

33 Your eyes will see strange sights,
and your mind will imagine confusing things.

34 You will be like one sleeping on the high seas,
lying on top of the rigging.

35 “They hit me,” you will say, “but I’m not hurt!
They beat me, but I don’t feel it!
When will I wake up
so I can find another drink?”

Unite Church 12/31/23 Unite Church 12/31/23

Sunday

This week we spend time in the the Psalms, reflecting on the year we’ve had.

Psalm 132

1 Lord, remember David
and all his self-denial.

2 He swore an oath to the Lord,
    he made a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:
3 “I will not enter my house
    or go to my bed,
4 I will allow no sleep to my eyes
    or slumber to my eyelids,
5 till I find a place for the Lord,
    a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

6 We heard it in Ephrathah,
    we came upon it in the fields of Jaar:[a]
7 “Let us go to his dwelling place,
    let us worship at his footstool, saying,
8 ‘Arise, Lord, and come to your resting place,
    you and the ark of your might.
9 May your priests be clothed with your righteousness;
    may your faithful people sing for joy.’”

10 For the sake of your servant David,
do not reject your anointed one.

11 The Lord swore an oath to David,
    a sure oath he will not revoke:
“One of your own descendants
    I will place on your throne.
12 If your sons keep my covenant
    and the statutes I teach them,
then their sons will sit
    on your throne for ever and ever.”

13 For the Lord has chosen Zion,
    he has desired it for his dwelling, saying,
14 “This is my resting place for ever and ever;
    here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it.
15 I will bless her with abundant provisions;
    her poor I will satisfy with food.
16 I will clothe her priests with salvation,
    and her faithful people will ever sing for joy.

17 “Here I will make a horn[b] grow for David
and set up a lamp for my anointed one.
18 I will clothe his enemies with shame,
but his head will be adorned with a radiant crown.”

Unite Church 12/30/23 Unite Church 12/30/23

Saturday

This week we spend time in the the Psalms, reflecting on the year we’ve had.

Psalm 133

1 How good and pleasant it is
when God’s people live together in unity!

2 It is like precious oil poured on the head,
    running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
    down on the collar of his robe.
3 It is as if the dew of Hermon
    were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the Lord bestows his blessing,
    even life forevermore.

Unite Church 12/29/23 Unite Church 12/29/23

Friday

This week we spend time in the the Psalms, reflecting on the year we’ve had.

Psalm 134

1 Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord
who minister by night in the house of the Lord.
2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary
and praise the Lord.

3 May the Lord bless you from Zion,
he who is the Maker of heaven and earth.