by Marilynn Chadwick

"A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17:22

Can practicing thankfulness actually improve your health? Some think so. I read about a study in which participants were asked to list the things for which they were thankful. They were instructed to write their gratitude list and sustain this exercise for exactly five minutes. The results of the study showed that those who practiced gratitude for five minutes experienced a sharp rise in their disease fighting antibodies. These antibodies remained elevated for several hours!

Being thankful can improve our mental health as well. The Bible teaches us that a thankful heart is a joyful heart. And as Proverbs 17:22 points out, a joyful or cheerful heart is "good medicine." I like this paraphrase from the Message Bible: "A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired" (Proverbs 17:22 MSG).

The Bible promises joy when we spend time with Jesus: "You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence" (Acts 2:28 NIV). The Greek word for "joy," euphrosune, comes from two words that mean "well" and "mind." Said another way, a sound mind. Joy springs from a sound or healthy mind when we're connected to Jesus. Just spending time in his presence can be healing. That's good news!

When we practice being thankful, we become more aware of Jesus and all his blessings. This naturally (and supernaturally) increases our joy. And who doesn't want more joy? Joy is a language anyone can understand.

The story is told of missionaries who went to a tiny village in a faraway place. Even before the missionaries became fluent in the village's native language, some villagers approached them wanting to hear more about "this Jesus" after hearing the sounds of joyful laughter coming from the missionaries' tent.

So today, let's exercise our "thank you muscles." A thankful, joyful attitude promotes physical and emotional health. This, in turn, will help us be filled with more joy. We can pray that thirsty people—especially those who may not even know what they're thirsty for—will be drawn to our joy. Above all, let's pray they are drawn to our Jesus who gives us this joy!

by David Chadwick

"Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it." Proverbs 15:17

Better is dinner with herbs, a meager meal, where there is love, laughter, and joy, than a dinner with feasting and luxurious food where there is hatred.

I don't know about you, but some of my best memories with my family of origin were around the dinner table. My dad, mom, brother, and sister all together sharing memories and conversations. My mom would fix great meals, but it was the laughter and great conversation that have had such an impact on my life.

Along with my wife, Marilynn, we created those same kinds of memories with our three kids. And today, our three kids are extending the same blessing to our now 12 grandchildren.

Now, for just a moment, imagine sitting around this kind of dinner table with people you hate. Even if the food is great, the enjoyment of the moment will fizzle away quickly.

How does this apply to all of us today?

First, think about your own personal family. Have you put more of a focus on your career, money, and success and, as a result, forgotten to cultivate love? None of these things are inherently evil. But without love, they are meaningless. Are you spending more time on things that will fade away than on the things that remain: faith, hope, and love, the greatest of which is love (1 Corinthians 13:13)?

Secondly, think about the local church in which you take part. Are you prioritizing love? Do you have a high value for the bride of Christ? Do you desire the nourishment that comes from a life that follows Jesus? Or are you constantly pursuing things that may fill your flesh in the moment, but leave you lacking spiritually?

Celebrate the beautiful moments around a dinner table. But most importantly, feast on love. Seek to be in unified communion with one another. This is God's heart for his church.

by David Chadwick

"Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers." Proverbs 17:6

Grandchildren are the crown of those in old age. And the glory of children is their fathers.

This proverb has two great insights. Let's take a look at them together.

First, grandkids are a crown for faithful parents. Marilynn and I now have 12 grandchildren. Yet we vividly remember the years when we were told by doctors that we would never have children. From a barren womb came three children and now 12 grandchildren.

In the midst of our brokenness, God was faithful. Now to have 12 grandkids is like wearing a crown! A "well done" from the Lord and a display of his faithfulness in our lives. Our grandchildren make us feel like royalty! And help us see why we were placed on this planet.

Second, this proverb states the importance of a father's relationships with his kids. Dads aren't add-ons to God's plan for the world. They are not superfluous. They are a crucial and integral part of family unity and God's original intent.

In fact, I've often stated through the years that I can't think of one time where I have met a dysfunctional adult who had a great, present, and invested dad. A Godly dad who persistently pursued Jesus in his own life, I am sure there may be some examples, but I've not personally seen or experienced it.

If you're a father, teach your children God's Word. Pray with them and for them. Memorize Scripture with them. Imitate Jesus to them. Always remember that kids spell love T-I-M-E. Spend time with them. Be present. Hug them often. Tell them you love them. That you are proud of them.

The Father in heaven did this with his Son, Jesus, at his baptism. If Jesus, who was perfect, benefited from his Father's blessing and affirmation, how much more do our earthly kids need them from us!

And our grandkids!

by David Chadwick

"An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue." Proverbs 17:4

Evildoers listen to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue. I don't think any healthy individual would desire to be called an evildoer or a liar.

Who has wicked lips? I actually think many could fall into this category. Those who seek to slander and essentially kill someone with their words. Those who spread rumors and lies with evil intent. Those who seek to intimidate and bully others. Those who manipulate you for selfish gain. Those who seduce people into sinful behavior. The list could go on and on.

Don't get near wicked lips! According to God's Word, evildoers are those who listen to these kinds of wicked and twisted lips.

In the same way, you must be careful not to give an ear to mischievous tongues! What are some examples of this? Those who spread folly and seek to disturb peace. Those who aim to be sneaky and devious. Those who enjoy crude joking, filthy language, and foolish talk (Ephesians 5:3-5).

An evildoer and a liar both take two people to accomplish a mission. The one doing the evil slandering and lying and the one listening to the slander and lies. If no one listens, the person slandering gets shut down. This is such an important truth to remember. You can squash evil like this dead in its tracks by simply refusing to listen!

I will always remember a friend who, when hearing gossip or slander, would quietly say, "I'm not going to be a part of this" and simply walk away. It spoke volumes to the person slandering and quieted his tongue. That is the essence of what this proverb is trying to say. And it's what my friend modeled.

The Bible is explicitly clear in this proverb that in order to not be an evildoer or a liar, we must be vigilant in what we take in through our ears.

by David Chadwick

"The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts." Proverbs 17:3

Silver is refined in the crucible, as is gold in the furnace. Similarly, our hearts and lives must be tested, purified, and refined by the Lord in whatever ways he sees fit.

Titus 2:14 says that Jesus "gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works." Jesus sacrificed his life to pave the way for humanity to be reunited with the Father. He died to redeem us and to purify us! Jesus loves us all so much, and at times, he may test our faith to make us more pure.

God tested Abraham and Isaac in Genesis 22. It's part of his nature and character to discipline his children. Hebrews 12:7 says, "It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?" Every good father who really cares about his children desires for them to be trained up, equipped, and walking in maturity.

This is partly why we are to rejoice when trials come our way (Romans 5:3-5). When we walk through trials and are tested, we are given the invitation to grow and mature. Hard times, when handled righteously, produce patience, and patience produces character, and proven character gives us hope, which does not disappoint.

How else can God know if our faith is real if he doesn't test it? Is it only through mere words? No! Words can be cheap. Daniel was proven worthy in the lion's den. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fire. Abraham and Sarah as they waited for Isaac.

Fire always burns off selfish and sinful dross. It purifies the things that are hindering your faith from growing and advancing–that which is keeping you from being pure like silver and gold.

Let me challenge you to look at your tests of faith as positive things. Thank God for them! Every time, God is giving you a pop quiz. Be ready WHEN they occur. And pass them well. As you do, feel God's delight in you.

by David Chadwick

"Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife." Proverbs 17:1

Better is a dry, crusty morsel of bread in a peaceful home than a house with delicious food and delicacies that is full of strife.

Strife. Defined as "conflict or an angry or bitter disagreement over fundamental issues," strife ruins relationships. It hinders momentum and stops the Gospel from moving forward. Biblically, in James 3:16, strife is also called "selfish ambition."

If pride is the root of all evil, I would argue strife is one of the most wicked fruits that comes from pride. In fact, Marilynn and I know of a pastor who has only one firing offense: causing strife.

James 3:16 says, "For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice." This verse should cause all of us to pause the next time we feel tempted to stir up a problem.

Strife invites chaos, disorder, dissension, division, and dark, demonic activity. Strife is like an open door to the devil that says, "Come on in and do your dirty work in my life. You can destroy my family, my workspace, my friends, everything!"

As followers of Jesus, we must resist strife and selfish ambition with every ounce of our being. It must be avoided at all costs. But how, you might ask?

First, guard your words. Don't respond in anger when someone speaks against you. Do not gossip or slander another person.

Secondly, pursue the fruit of the Spirit. Choose to love. Find joy. Seek peace. Be patient and kind. Do good. Be faithful and gentle. Develop self-control!

Third, choose to forgive. Living in bitterness and unforgiveness leaves you vulnerable to initiating and tolerating strife.

Finally, walk every day in Jesus's perfect peace. After all, he is the Prince of Peace. Seek his kingdom and experience the benefits of his rulership!

by Marilynn Chadwick

"A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man." Proverbs 6:10-11 NIV

I am not a naturally self-disciplined person. But I discovered early on that it was impossible for me to take the kids beyond where I had gone myself. If I was undisciplined, it was hard to discipline the children. If my schedule was inconsistent, it was hard to help them follow a schedule. If I quit before I reached the finish line, it was hard to teach our children to persevere.

When an airplane loses cabin pressure, we're told to administer oxygen to ourselves before we give it to our child. There are some lessons we have to "administer to ourselves" before we can teach them to our children. Hard work is one of those.

We encouraged our children to see all work as honorable—whether it was waiting on tables, doing weekly chores, or even folding laundry. Sometimes I would point out those who appeared to be "working with all their heart," like the guy who loaded up our groceries with an especially cheerful attitude. "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for man" (Col. 3:23).

Hard work is vastly underrated in today's culture. I'm all for talking about the importance of big dreams. I love dreaming big, and I was passionate about helping our children reach their dreams. But without plenty of hard work, they remain just dreams. I once heard a quote that still is with me. "Insights are beautiful castles, but you can't live in them."

Proverbs 14:23 puts it this way: "All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty." God's Word is immensely practical as well as spiritual. These verses in Proverbs highlight the necessity of action over merely words. Disciplined effort results in gain, while constantly dreaming, and even talking, about our plans—without executing them—results in unfulfilled potential and a lackluster life.

by Marilynn Chadwick

"My child, sinners will try to lead you into sin. But do not follow them." Proverbs 1:10 ICB

Proverbs warns about the danger of bad companions. We were careful with our children and who they chose as friends. We made the decision to send our children to secular schools, knowing they would be surrounded by a variety of kids. But a troubled kid was always welcome in our home. Sometimes, even a problem child, when surrounded by a healthy home environment, could make great progress.

The phrase "Bad company corrupts good character" is a famous quote from 1 Corinthians 15:33. It warns that close association with foolish peers can negatively influence one's own morals and behavior.

However, there was one category of friend that caused us to provide more boundaries of protection. These I would call the "dream killers." David and I have been more intentional about protecting our children from dream killers than we have from more obvious misbehavior. Children can be taught to recognize the dangers of drinking or drugs. But they may not always see the subtlety of a dream killer.

Dream killers can come in the form of peers or even adults at times. This is sometimes called "the crab pot syndrome." This means when one crab tries to crawl out of a pot, the others will pull him back down. We've seen this syndrome play out time and again.

Not everyone sees our child's dream or supports that dream. That's why we prayed fervently for God to guard our children's friendships. We prayed the Lord would use those friends to encourage each other to draw our children close to him and then to open doors for their calling to make an impact for Christ on this broken and hurting world. Let us consider [thoughtfully] how we may encourage one another to love and to do good deeds (Hebrews 10:24 AMP).

Every dreamer needs a team. Consider ways to build a good team around your child. Bring teachers, grandparents, coaches, and church leaders into your circle of friends. They can be some of your biggest allies in helping your children reach their dreams.

I supported our children's teachers and coaches and volunteered whenever possible. Coming from a family of educators, I deeply admired the many adults who poured their lives into our children. I prayed for them, encouraged them, even befriended them.

But there were times when I had to go to bat for our children. On a couple of occasions, I asked a teacher or coach to consider giving a second chance or a harder challenge to one of our children. In each case, I knew the child was ready. And in each case, the teacher or coach agreed, so I was glad I spoke up. Prayer partners are also key, along with the parents of your children's friends. It really does take a village.

by Marilynn Chadwick

"My son do not despise the Lord's discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in." Proverbs 3:11-12 NIV

Children are generally asking two questions: "Do you love me?" and "Can I have my own way?" They seem to thrive on love and limits. So as parents we would say, "Yes, I love you, and "No, you can't always have your own way."

Focused attention, eye contact, lots of snuggles, a listening ear. There are many ways to say I love you. Unconditional love is a vital ingredient of a healthy home. But limits are important too. Limits provide a sense of security.

Here's a little secret: If it's necessary to correct your children, give them consequences that are actually beneficial to them. For example, an early bedtime, cleaning the bathroom, finishing a book instead of watching television, doing 50 jumping jacks to get the wiggles out. You get the point.

I also learned as the kids reached middle school to go easier on eye contact. Don't bear down too hard in serious conversations. That's probably why our best talks—especially the hard ones—happened while driving in the car. They'd tell me most anything I wanted to know if I didn't intrude. Conversations in the van often turned into spiritual life lessons—I dubbed our drive time "e-van-gelism."

Faith is both caught and taught. I encouraged our kids to be on the lookout for signs of God at work—in big ways and small ones. We dared our kids to dream big and trust God with the results. But mostly, I wanted them to be able to hear God for themselves—to discern his voice from all the others. They didn't know it, but I continually watched to see if they were shaping their views according to what they were learning at home or what the world was telling them.

It really doesn't matter where I travel. It's the same in any culture—rich or poor. We can never underestimate the power of a strong and loving home. Home is where humans thrive and grow best. It's where children should be nurtured. Instructed. Protected. It's where they catch the faith. And where they're free to dream. Especially when the home is built on the solid rock of faith in Jesus Christ.

When a home is filled with the grace of unconditional love and the framework of strong limits, and when parents seek the Lord with all their whole heart, a home can produce children who are likely to change the world.

by Marilynn Chadwick

"Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf." Proverbs 11:28

Wealth tricks us, tempts us, and promises what it can't deliver. So, we humans buy the lie and exhaust ourselves—chasing after that which fades. Riches. Achievements. Beauty. All are satisfying at first. But they don't last. Anyone who has watched a loved one age and die knows that the joys we experience on this earth are fleeting. Faded jeans. Faded furniture. Faded memories—mental images grow dim over time. Let's be honest. Life here on earth fades.

The book of James is filled with practical wisdom. That's why some call it "The Proverbs of the New Testament." We find this same warning about the fleeting nature of wealth. James beckons us to turn our eyes toward eternity, reminding us how "the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements" (James 1:11b NLT).

Let's look at the complete passage from The Message, a stirring paraphrase: "Prosperity is as short-lived as a wildflower, so don't ever count on it. You know that as soon as the sun rises, pouring down its scorching heat, the flower withers. Its petals wilt and, before you know it, that beautiful face is a barren stem. Well, that's a picture of the 'prosperous life.' At the very moment everyone is looking on in admiration, it fades away to nothing" (James 1:9-11 MSG).

Several proverbs speak about greed, warning us that chasing wealth brings trouble, destroys families, and ultimately steals the life of the greedy person. They emphasize that greedy pursuits lead to ruin, whereas contentment is a source of security and wisdom. "He who is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household" (Proverbs 15:27a ESV). "A greedy man stirs up strife" (Proverbs 28:25a).

Overwork and greed are modern-day idols. So it's wise to be aware that when we set our minds to guard against idolatry, we step into an intense spiritual battle. I believe materialism is the chief rival god of our age. That's why victory over the bondage to material things and pulling down the stronghold of busyness requires a fierce fight. It's also why, at its core, our real battle is to believe and take our place in prayer.

God wants us to freely enjoy this life. But it's wise to sit lightly on the world's fleeting pleasures. We are to build our foundation on the eternal life given to us only in Christ.