Daily Challenges Archive

I read a newspaper article yesterday about a woman who recently learned she has cancer and will not live past a year. In the article she talked about feeling ripped off, and then she mentioned an uncle she was angry with and had no relationship wi...

I’ve always liked this verse and the one after it. I appreciate the picture of a God who looks after those who are unable to look after themselves. It’s a great picture of God and a wonderful example for us. It is especially pertinent at this time...

Throughout life there are so many things that draw people into friendships and relationships. We learn that young children’s friends are primarily those they live with and go to school with. They also build friendships with those they play with in...

At the heart of this verse is an assurance from Solomon that God’s people will be looked after. Even when it appears they are being defeated or overwhelmed in the short term, there’s an implicit truth and promise that goes beyond today and even be...

“Hmmm… that’s violent.” I read this Proverb to my 7-year-old grandson yesterday morning. He was helping me decide which verse to share today, and this one definitely caught his attention. That’s when he responded, “Hmmm… that’s violent.” True insi...

The word for folly in the original is loaded with meaning. Folly appears 25 times in Scripture, and Solomon accounts for 23 of those uses in the book of Proverbs. His dad used it the other two times in the Psalms. Its use implies everything from s...

We all have unreliable acquaintances. But an unreliable friend—that’s painful. I’m sure all of us have experienced that at some point in our lifetime. Nevertheless, it is still a hard and sad thing to discover that a friend, or at least someone we...

I’m a pretty optimistic guy. My kids will tell you that at times I’m a little too optimistic—so much so that it would drive them nuts. So overall, I’m an optimistic guy. When I read Proverbs, I find myself longing for some of the motivational post...

In this verse, proud of heart is all encompassing. The original word for heart means the seat or originating place of emotions will end in intellect. That’s all of us. Every piece. Proud is just what we would think, having a high or lofty view of ...

A soothing tongue is not the same as a smooth tongue. We all know the old image of the “used car salesman” as a smooth-tongued person—deceiving and misrepresenting a lemon. As unfair as it was, it painted the picture of a distrustful scammer. Conv...

The word amends in this context means paying restitution or a fine for foolish sin. There is a penalty to be paid for our sin. It’s also an encouragement to look for a way to make things right with those offended or wounded by our actions. Ultimat...

Recently, I met with a couple of business leaders. During our conversation, one of them mentioned that he was at the stage in life and business where he really only wanted to invest or do business with people he enjoyed being around. Obviously, it...