Proverbs 13 :1 - “1 A wise son heeds [and is the fruit of] his father's instruction and correction, but a scoffer listens not to rebuke.”

Definition of scoffer: someone who jeers or mocks or treats something with contempt or calls out in derision.

Proverbs 13:2 - “2 A good man eats good from the fruit of his mouth, but the desire of the treacherous is for violence.”

Don’t we all wish our children heeded all our instructions? Hmmm. What about us? Verse two, a good man eats good from the ‘fruit’ of his mouth. Verse one, a wise son is the ‘fruit’ of his father’s instruction. Hmmm. So does that mean our lips produce fruit that our children benefit from? Or, our children are fruit of our instruction?

I remember driving down the road, with my two teenage boys in the back seat, saying “now don’t do what I’m doing kids!” I think I was just passing someone on the road, but the point is I was doing something I was telling my kids not to do.

I know I’m not the only one who has done that. My oldest son said he learned all his cuss words from the back seat of our car! I didn’t mean to, it’s those idiots out there on the road who caused me to lose it! What we don’t realize as parents, (I say this looking back in great hind sight wisdom) is that our kids learn more from our actions and ‘unspoken words’ than they do from what we tell them not to do.

Verse one above refers to the instructions of a ‘father’ but my kids didn’t have a father at home. I was both mother and father to them during those critical years from say, 4 to high school.

I’m so grateful I was raised as a little girl to know and love God, and that I also raised my children the same way. My parents weren’t perfect, and I’m not either, but God does have His right hand in ours.

Isaiah 41:10 - “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

Through our mistakes and imperfections, God does have a plan for all of us. Philippians 1:6 - “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

I guess I need to say something here. The Blanco County Newspaper has allowed me to print my writings for a little over a year now, and I began to write because of my gratitude to God for His Word because, as I read it and learn, I feel compelled to share it. It’s just too good to keep all to myself.

I’m not writing because I know it so well, and don’t claim to even walk it that well. I share it because it’s God’s Word, and Jesus said His Word is “seed”. I guess I’m planting seeds!

At our Wednesday night pot luck dinner & bible study, we studied Luke 8, verses 4 through 15. I said I think we are the sowers and reapers, and someone else said they think we are actually the seeds. I guess it’s all how you interpret it, but it’s sure fun to read and learn together.

What I think is so cool is that Jesus said in verse 11: “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s word.”

And also, when His disciples asked Him what the parable meant “10 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables to teach the others so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled:

‘When they look, they won’t really see.

When they hear, they won’t understand.’”

Do you want to be one of the elect who are permitted to understand? Do you understand? It is written in Luke 24:45 - “45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.”

I believe faith in Jesus opens our minds so we’ll understand His Word. Try believing in Jesus as your Lord & Saviour. You’ll never be the same; He gives us joy & peace~! He’s the One for you!