Wisdom-Trek © - Archive 2

Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is Day 416 of our trek, and today is Wisdom Wednesday. Every Wednesday along life’s trails we dig for the nuggets of wisdom that are found within the book of Proverbs. Today we will explore the 1st half of chapter 17.

We are broadcasting from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. We had planned to drive up to Marietta on Sunday, but some medicine that we were waiting to be shipped to Paula’s mom did not arrive until Monday. So we delayed our plans by 1 day. Fortunately, we had nothing pressing on Monday, so we left after the mail arrived with her medicine. When we travel on a weekday, it does require that Paula drives so that I can continue to work providing remote software support for one of our clients. There is fairly good data coverage most of the trip, so I am able to stay connected and work as we travel.

After making a quick stop for a few groceries, we arrived home at about 8 pm. It looks like the lawn needs to be mowed, so I will have to work in that this week along with a little bit of exterior trim that I need to finish up while we are here this time. With a house of this size and age, there will always be some project that needs to be completed, but we will work them in when possible and enjoy the time.

It is time to head out on our trail for today as we discover more nuggets of wisdom in the book of Proverbs. We will dig through the first 14 verses, and the title of our trek for today is extracted from verse 9 and starts out with…

Let’s start in with verse 1.

1 Better a dry crust eaten in peace

than a house filled with feasting—and conflict.

In this verse, Solomon reiterates a concept that he introduced previously. It is much better to have very little to eat and a house filled with love for each other, than a house filled with food, but conflict with family and friends. If you have ever eaten a scrap of dried crust, you know how tasteless and non-filling it is, but if you are sharing it with those you love and are at peace then it is special. Contrary to this, is having plenty to eat, but the meal times are not enjoyable because of the conflict.

2 A wise servant will rule over the master’s disgraceful son

and will share the inheritance of the master’s children.

A faithful and wise servant or employee will gain favor with the master or business owner, even to the point that they could receive a share of the inheritance or company profits. This would certainly be considered if the children disgraced their parents or were wasteful of what the master/owner worked so hard to obtain.

3 Fire tests the purity of silver and gold,

but the Lord tests the heart.

If you have ever observed how gold or silver are purified, it is by melting them at an extremely high temperature and then waiting for the impurities that are mixed in the gold and silver to come to the surface so that it can be skimmed off. These impurities are considered dross. In the same way, you may have to go through the fires of tribulation and hardship so God can purge that which is impure from your life. You should not shun this, but welcome it as part of your maturing process.

4 Wrongdoers eagerly listen to gossip;

liars pay close attention to slander.

The person who enjoys and shares in the gossiping about others is doing wrong. We should minimize our exposure to this type of person. A person who enjoys, listens to, and then spreads gossip is a slanderer. We should not take advice from these people. The fact is, when you are not around, they are probably slandering you.

5 Those who mock the poor insult their Maker;

those who rejoice at the misfortune of others will be punished.

God has a deep abiding love for all, and especially those who are poor because of their misfortune. We should never take advantage or insult those who are less fortunate than we are. We should never rejoice if someone falls on hard times, but instead always be looking for ways to help and assist those who are struggling. We really do not know what most people have and are going through.

6 Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged;

parents are the pride of their children.

As a gramps of 6 grandchildren (so far), I can personally testify that they are indeed the crowning glory. It is such a blessing to be able to share with them and invest time with them. In the same way, we as parents should live in such a way that our children are proud of who we are and what we have accomplished, especially when it is in reference to how we raised them and how we love them unconditionally.

7 Eloquent words are not fitting for a fool;

even less are lies fitting for a ruler.

When you think of someone that is foolish, you do not expect them to speak articulately or persuasively, since that would be very out of character. It is even a more serious situation of someone who is in a position of authority to be a person who lies. It appears that most politicians of today, don’t follow this advice.

8 A bribe is like a lucky charm;

whoever gives one will prosper!

Solomon is not condoning bribery in this verse. He is just stating a fact. While we do not experience bribery as blatantly in the USA as we hear about in some other countries, as you think about all of the lobbyists that influence the making of our laws, it is evident that it does flourish. The person who accepts the bribe enriches himself, and the person giving the bribe received what they intended.

9 Love prospers when a fault is forgiven,

but dwelling on it separates close friends.

It is so much better to forgive when someone does wrong to us. When we are willing to forgive and love, then the friendship will prosper. If we choose not to, we will separate and both be miserable. This is true in marriages and close friendships. Be willing to forgive the faults of others.

10 A single rebuke does more for a person of understanding

than a hundred lashes on the back of a fool.

A person who is willing and receptive to learning is a person of understanding. It does not take strong instruction for them to continue to learn because they know that is how they become wise and gain knowledge. Contrary to this is the fool who is not easily persuaded. They could be severely reprimanded but will feel it is someone else’s fault.

11 Evil people are eager for rebellion,

but they will be severely punished.

A person with wicked and evil intents also have a rebellious nature to them. They are more interested in themselves than others. If they continue on this path, selfishness and pride will eventually be their downfall.

12 It is safer to meet a bear robbed of her cubs

than to confront a fool caught in foolishness.

One of the most dangerous creatures that you can confront is a mother bear whose cubs have been taken from her. She is very protective and will fight off any humans or animals to preserve her cubs. Even in a situation that is so dangerous, Solomon tells us that a fool that is found out is worse than that mother bear.

13 If you repay good with evil,

evil will never leave your house.

This verse once again goes back to the principle of planting and harvesting. If you plant evil, especially as a repayment for good, then you will harvest continual evil.

14 Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate,

so stop before a dispute breaks out.

It is never wise to start a quarrel. There is just no good result that can come from it. It is like adding gasoline to a fire. It won’t put the fire out but will cause it to grow and spread. When you find yourself in a volatile situation, keep your mouth closed and listen to the other person. There are no winners in an argument. Everyone loses.

The nuggets of wisdom that we gathered in these 14 verses of Proverbs 17 provide more tasty morsels of wisdom, insight, and understanding. Take them and plant them in your heart so that you will reap a harvest of goodness.

Tomorrow we will hike another short trail of Wisdom Unplugged where we will discover an inspirational wisdom quote. So encourage your friends and family to join us, and then come along with us tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

That will finish our trek for today. Just as you enjoy your daily dose of wisdom, we ask you to help us grow Wisdom-Trek by sharing with your family and friends through email, Facebook, Twitter, or in person and inviting them to come along with us each day. If you would like to listen to any of the past daily treks, they are available at Wisdom-Trek.com. Don’t forget to subscribe to Wisdom-Trek, so each trek will be downloaded to you automatically.

Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most of all your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal.

As we take this trek together, let us always:

1. Live Abundantly (Fully)
2. Love Unconditionally
3. Listen Intentionally
4. Learn Continuously
5. Lend to others Generously
6. Lead with Integrity
7. Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

This is Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Every Day! See you tomorrow!

Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is day 415 of our trek, and it is Tuesday and time for our 2-3 minute mini-trek called Wisdom Unplugged. This short nugget of wisdom includes an inspirational quote with a little additional content for today’s trek. Consider this your vitamin supplement of wisdom on each Tuesday & Thursday. So, let’s jump right in with today’s nugget.

Today’s quote is from an unknown author and says, “A word to the wise is sufficient. A word to the unwise is resented.”

It is interesting that those individuals who are receptive to learning and gaining wisdom are usually considered wise already. They realize that they need to continually gain knowledge, understanding, insight, and wisdom if they are going to continue to improve. A wise person has a continual thirst for knowledge and wisdom. They are willing to adapt and change as needed, regardless of their age. That is one of the reasons they are wise. As Proverbs 9:9 puts it, “Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser. Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more.” Contrary to this are those who think they are wise and know it all. They resent being instructed by others because they are already full of themselves. All of us should examine ourselves to determine which category we are in. Seek wisdom each day, and then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go.Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most importantly your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal each day.

As we take this trek of life together, let us always:

1. Live Abundantly (Fully)
2. Love Unconditionally
3. Listen Intentionally
4. Learn Continuously
5. Lend to others Generously
6. Lead with Integrity
7. Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

This is Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Every Day! See you tomorrow for Wisdom Wednesday!

Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is Day 414 of our trek, and today is Motivation Monday. Every Monday we hike the trails of life that will encourage and motivate you to live a rich and satisfying life this week. Today we will explore the 10 obstacles that destroy motivation on life’s trek and how to avoid them.

We are broadcasting from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. When this episode airs we will be back at The Big House for about 10 days. We have a good bit of traveling between Marietta and Charlotte through the remainder of this year, plus at least one more trip to Arizona planned. So, life does not appear to be slowing down much in the foreseeable future. Different seasons of life require different focus. We are thankful to be in good health and have the opportunities to continue to grow, learn, and enjoy life.

Enjoying life even with its trials and tribulations is a choice that we make each day. No one that I know of is immune to the challenges in life, and many of the people that appear to “have it all together” may just be dealing with their issues from a different perspective. Managing the challenges of life with the proper motivation and attitude makes all the difference. We are certainly not immune to economic upheavals, interpersonal issues, family trials, balancing life, and managing expectations. It boils down to consistent persistence and preserving when others would give up. We are quite ordinary folks and are proof that great things can happen to ordinary people if they work hard and never give up.

On our trek for today, let us explore how to overcome…

As we go through our trek of life each day, we come across obstacles that can take the wind out of our sails, which can cause us to lose our motivation. Preparing for these obstacles ahead of time and knowing how to combat them can help us to keep moving forward. Here are the 10 common obstacles that you might face.

Worry is the most unproductive of all human activities. Although all of us have concerns about a variety of issues throughout each day, but when it crosses the line to worry, then it becomes troubling. Worry will stifle you. Most worry is unfounded and is about situations that we have no control over. Ask yourself this question when you find yourself beginning to worry. Do I have any control over this situation? If you do, then come up with a solution. If you do not, then there is nothing you can do about it, so stop worrying. Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:25, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?”

Closely tied to worry is fear. I like the acronym for fear that helps to keep it in perspective, which is False Evidence Appearing Real. Unless it is a situation where we will lose life or limb, there is no reason to be fearful. Fear is a state of mind, and most of what we fear will never come to pass. Many times what we fear is based on ego and pride. Fear can shut you down from moving forward, and it can destroy a life of abundance. The Apostle Paul told his apprentice Timothy in his 2nd letter to him, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” So do not fear, instead be motivated to move confidently forward with power, love, and self-discipline.

Although it is good to plan and prepare, your life is still fluid in this fast paced technology driven world. Don’t attempt to cross bridges that you have not come to yet. With the trails of life constantly changing, you really don’t know what bridges you will come upon in the future. When you do come to a bridge, you will have the appropriate wisdom and insight to cross it at that time. If not, then it is a learning experience for you, and you will gain the needed skills to cross the bridge at that time. After all, you can only cross one bridge at a time.

No one has the capability to multi-task. It is impossible. Even computers can only handle one command at a time. You may be faster or slower than others in handling the tasks of life, but you still can only complete them one at a time. Don’t try to solve all of your problems at once, take them in a logical order, and continue forward, motivated that you will handle them all. The age old question of “How do you eat an elephant?” is always answered, “One bite at a time.” And so it is with issues in life. Take them one at a time without losing your forward motion.

Problems make poor bedfellows. At the end of each day, set any remaining problems aside. Never take them to bed with you. If they are important, they will still be there the next day. Problems have a way of shrinking during the night. So leave them alone, and if the problems are truly important, they will still be there the next day, and you can be motivated to handle them once you are well rested and full of energy. With your mind at rest, you may have the solution needed by the next day.

You likely have enough of your own issues to deal with, don’t take on the problems of others. They are best suited to handle their own issues. Too many times we take on the problems of others when we have not even dealt with our own. If another person attempts to put their monkeys on your back, don’t let them. You have your own circus to deal with. Once you have completed all of your pressing issues, then choose wisely on helping others. They may need to go through their own problems if they are going to grow and mature.

Do not relive yesterday, for good or ill. It is forever gone. Concentrate on what is happening today. Live today to the fullest, and focus on making an impact today. You may not be where you want to be yet, but you are one-day closer. As the Apostle Paul told the Philippian church in Chapter 4:13-14, “No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”

Only when you listen, do you hear ideas different than you own. It is hard to learn something new when you are talking, and some people do know more than you do. I am not sure about you, but I have learned very little when I am talking. Listening and learning from others can spur you on with new ideas and new action plans. Yes, make sure you are listening to wise and positive people, but be willing to listen and learn. As Proverbs 21:23 tells us, “Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, and you will stay out of trouble.”

Do not become “bogged down” by frustration, for 90% of it is rooted in self-pity and will only interfere with positive action. When you find yourself becoming frustrated, you have two choices. Either come up with a solution to overcome what is frustrating you and put the plan into action, or drop it and move on. If you have no control over the source of frustration, then there is no reason to allow it to continue to frustrate you. Move on and move forward.

There are blessings in every situation you face, no matter how difficult it may appear. Never overlook even the smallest of blessings, for a lot of small blessings add up to big ones. We all have so much to be thankful for. Make it a habit of praying this simple prayer each morning, “Dear God, Today I woke up. I am alive. I am healthy. Can’t ask for more. Thank you.”

Today on our trek we explored 10 obstacles that we all face on life’s trek that can destroy our motivation. When you find your motivation for life waning, come back to this list and read through it again and set out on your trek with a new resolve. It is always worth it.

Tomorrow’s short trek is part of our Wisdom Unplugged series that we are now hiking on Tuesdays and Thursdays. These 2-3 minute wisdom supplements will assist you in becoming healthy, wealthy, and wise throughout the entire week. So, encourage your friends and family to join us, and then come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

That will finish our trek for today. Just as you enjoy these daily doses of wisdom, we ask you to help us grow Wisdom-Trek by sharing with your family and friends through email, Facebook, Twitter, or in person and inviting them to come along with us each day. If you would like to listen to any of the past daily treks, they are available at Wisdom-Trek.com. Don’t forget to subscribe to Wisdom-Trek so each trek will be downloaded to you automatically.

Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most of all your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal.

As we take this trek together, let us always:

This is Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Every Day! See you tomorrow!

Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy podcast. This is Day 413 of our trek, and today is Philosophy Friday. Every Friday we will ponder some of the basic truths and mysteries of life and how they can impact us in creating our living legacy. Along our trek today, we will discover some practical guidelines that will assist you in preparing for and living each season of life to the fullest so that you will succeed even through the winters of life.

We are broadcasting from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. It continues to be a warm summer here in the Charlotte area, and it has also been warmer than usual in Ohio and Arizona. So, it is nice to be able to work indoors most of the time. It has been a busy week of work activities, but this evening three of our children will be over for dinner. So, that should be a great time together. As we get together, it is a time for sharing and learning more about life’s lessons. On our trek for today we will explore some of those lessons on the trail called… 

Here are a few practical principles and guidelines that will help you to maximize each season of life. They are not in any particular order, but are all gems that will make a huge difference in your seasons of life long-term:

The older and wiser I become, the more this poem means to me. Yes, I still work hard and enjoy my work, but I do try to take the time to listen to the babbling brooks and the singing birds, to enjoy our grown children and grandchildren, to enjoy life and its journey regardless of how rough the trail is at times, and to be prepared for each season of life, the times of working hard, and the times of leisure.

Today we have discovered several guidelines that will help us to more effectively navigate the cycles and seasons of life. Next Philosophy Friday we will begin to explore some of the lessons from Jim Rohn’s book titled The Five Major Pieces to the Life Puzzle. I think you will find his insights interesting.

Our next trek will be Motivation Monday where we explore more trails of how to get and stay motivated to bring value to your world. So, encourage your friends and family to join us, and then come along on Monday for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

That will finish our trek for today. As you enjoy your daily dose of wisdom, we ask you to help us grow Wisdom-Trek by sharing with your family and friends through email, Facebook, Twitter, or in person and invite them to come along with us each day. If you would like to listen to any of the past daily treks, they are available at Wisdom-Trek.com. Don’t forget to subscribe to Wisdom-Trek, so each trek will be downloaded to you automatically. I would also appreciate it if you would rate and review us on iTunes or Google Play so that others will find out about Wisdom-Trek and join us.

Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most of all your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal.

As we take this trek together, let us always:

This is Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Every Day! See you on Monday!

Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is day 412 of our trek, and it is Thursday and time for our 2-3 minute mini-trek called Wisdom Unplugged. This short nugget of wisdom includes an inspirational quote with a little additional content for today’s trek. Consider this your vitamin supplement of wisdom on Tuesday & Thursday. So let’s jump right in with today’s nugget.

Today’s quote is from an unknown author, but it does have a Biblical inference to it, “A wise person sets his earthly goals on heavenly gains.”

My entire premise for focusing on creating a living legacy each day springs from this wisdom concept. We all have a limited time here on earth, whether that is a few years or over one hundred years. Our lives are like the morning fog. We are here for a little while, and then we are gone, especially when considering eternity. So, the only way we can extend our impact on earth is through the impact that we have on the lives of others each day. That impact is not just on the people that we directly affect but everyone they impact throughout their lives. It goes on and on through many generations.

Just like you have been impacted by the generations that preceded you, so will your impact be felt throughout all eternity in the generations to come. Accumulating material wealth will only be of value if it is used to positively impact the lives of others for the generations that follow. As Jesus taught us in Matthew 6:19-21, “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” Choose to create and live your legacy each day and have that lasting positive impact on eternity.

Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most importantly your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal each day.

As we take this trek of life together, let us always:

This is Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Every Day! See you tomorrow for Philosophy Friday!

Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is Day 411 of our trek, and today is Wisdom Wednesday. Every Wednesday along life’s trails we dig for the nuggets of wisdom that are found within the book of Proverbs. Today we will explore the 2nd half of Chapter 16.

We are broadcasting from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. We returned from Arizona on the red eye flight very early Monday and then drove from Atlanta to Charlotte arriving back early afternoon. We had a productive and encouraging few days finalizing some needed company forms, reviewing the progress on the major construction project, and setting processes in place to move forward more efficiently. There is a lot of potential for good projects in the Phoenix area over the next few years. It will require a significant amount of patience, planning, and perseverance on our part as we plant the seeds and wait to see the harvest that God brings to fruition.

Let’s start in with verse 17…

17 The path of the virtuous leads away from evil;

Your life is a trek, and you choose which paths that you will take. If you take the path of virtue and integrity, it will lead you away from that which is harmful or evil and provide a safe trail for your life. If you choose the opposite, you will find yourself on a path that is not good or safe.

18 Pride goes before destruction,

Pride is at the heart of nearly all wrong choices that we make in life. It may be disguised as something else, but inherently pride is at the core. When you allow pride to take over your life, it will lead to your destruction and ultimate downfall. Each day all of us must work at becoming humbler and putting aside our pride.

19 Better to live humbly with the poor

Somewhat connected to the previous verse, we see that Solomon proclaims that it is better to be humble, even if it does not provide you with financial prosperity. If you become wealthy but have a spirit of pride in obtaining that wealth, then it does not bring lasting value.

20 Those who listen to instruction will prosper;

One of the best ways to gain financial freedom and prosper is by being open to the instruction of those who have already obtained wealth. Listening to the wise advice of others is not limited to financial gain, but also to being prosperous in all areas of life. Even if you are successful in obtaining wealth, realize that wealth will never provide joy in your life. The only way to obtain and have a growing joy in your life is to trust that God is in control, and He will provide for all of your needs.

21 The wise are known for their understanding,

If a person is wise, it will be evident to everyone they come in contact with because they will exude a spirit of understanding. This same person has learned and understands that pleasant words are much more persuasive than harsh and negative commands.

22 Discretion is a life-giving fountain to those who possess it,

A person of discretion knows when to speak and when not to. They also know what to say and what not to say. This type of person is refreshing to be around. It is like a cold fountain in a hot and dry desert. The opposite of this is a person who is unwilling or unable to accept discipline or correction. Attempting to disciple a foolish person is a waste of time and energy.

23 From a wise mind comes wise speech;

Similar to verse 21, a person who is wise based on a wise mind will also be wise in speech. This person’s words will radiate wisdom, and his speech will be very persuasive.

24 Kind words are like honey—

Kind words are easy to share with everyone, and they do not cost anything. It provides strength and health to those to who we are kind. The analogy is that kindness is as beneficial to the soul as God’s natural sweetener honey is to the body.

25 There is a path before each person that seems right,

When we choose our own path for life, it may seem like the right path, but if it leads us in ways that are contrary to God’s precepts and commands, then it will ultimately lead to our destruction and death.

26 It is good for workers to have an appetite;

In any occupation, the best workers are those that have a passion, need, and purpose for what they are doing. This appetite creates a great desire to do well because they are hungry for results.

27 Scoundrels create trouble;

Individuals who lack personal integrity and concern for others are proud and selfish. Because of this, they are always creating trouble for others. They leave a path of carnage wherever they go.

28 A troublemaker plants seeds of strife;

We have often referred to the law of planting and harvesting and in this verse, we see that it is the troublemaker who plants seeds of strife. One of the primary ways this occurs is through the spreading of gossip. Gossip will separate friendships and cause factions. This will result in broken relationships.

29 Violent people mislead their companions,

Individuals who are selfish and prideful are also deceptive, and their actions are violent toward others. If you are a friend or companion of this type of person, you will easily be misled into activities that are harmful. We all need to be careful not to associate closely with this type of person.

 30 With narrowed eyes, people plot evil;

You can tell a lot about a person by observing him or her, even in facial expressions. There are certain character traits that are hard to hide from one’s facial expressions. This verse refers to two – the narrowed eyes and the smirk. Both are indications of plotting evil and planning mischief. If they are used together, it is a double indication of a person you need to be careful of.

 31 Gray hair is a crown of glory;

While this verse is not implying that everyone with gray hair has lived a godly life, it does indicate that those who live long lives usually make wise and prudent choices in their lives. Gray hair is a sign of honor. It indicates that a person understands how important it is to take care of themselves physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. As a person grows older, he or she is more likely to realize that God is in control of all things. Unless God allows a person to die younger, those individuals that follow God’s Word throughout their lives will be more likely to grow older and also live a godly life.

 32 Better to be patient than powerful;

better to have self-control than to conquer a city.

When we think of a patient person, most of us will not equate that person as also powerful. There is a direct correlation between how patient a person is and how truly powerful he or she is. It takes great self-control and power to show restraint and patience in life. Patience and self-control go hand-in-hand. A patient person will display a great deal of self-control. They realize that is where the seeds of true power reside. If you plant seeds of patience on a daily basis, you will reap a harvest of self-control which is truly powerful.

33 We may throw the dice,

You can take chances in your life or make detailed and structured plans, but God will ultimately decide the fate for each of us according to His will and purpose for our lives. This verse doesn’t imply that we should not make plans or occasionally take chances as both have their place in certain situations. In fact, in many verses within God’s Word, we are encouraged to make plans and prepare. There are also times where we need to take chances without all of the details. Either way, we need to follow God’s precepts and instructions and trust God to determine and then show us the path to take.

The nuggets of wisdom that we gathered in these 17 verses of Proverbs 16 provide the stepping stones that we need on our daily trek to grow emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Making plans based on God’s guidelines while keeping the proper perspective on what is really important will allow us to grow wiser each day.

That will finish our trek for today. As you enjoy your daily dose of wisdom, we ask you to help us grow Wisdom-Trek by sharing with your family and friends through email, Facebook, Twitter, or in person when you meet with them and invite them to come along with us each day. If you would like to listen to any of the past daily treks, they are available at Wisdom-Trek.com. Don’t forget to subscribe to Wisdom-Trek so each trek will be downloaded to you automatically.

Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is day 410 of our trek, and it is Tuesday and time for our 2-3 minute mini-trek called Wisdom Unplugged. This short nugget of wisdom includes an inspirational quote with a little additional content for today’s trek. Consider this your vitamin supplement of wisdom on Tuesday & Thursday. So let’s jump right in with today’s nugget.

Today’s quote is from Francis Bacon who says, “A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds.”

There are people who see problems with every opportunity handed to them, while others see opportunities in every problem they face. It really does boil down to your mindset. You can perceive the world as one of scarcity where there is a finite amount of opportunities and resources, and the more people going after them, the less chance that you will have…or you can perceive the world from an abundance mindset where more opportunities and resources will be generated by those that are consuming them.

I firmly believe the old adage “a rising tide lifts all boats.” Think of the miracle of Christ when feeding the five thousand. The more times He broke the fish and the bread, the more there was for others to consume. By the end of the evening not only were all 5,000 fed completely, but there were 12 full baskets left over – a take home meal for each of his 12 disciples. As opportunities are presented to you, be wise and create more opportunities for others. Then not only will you be full and have all that you need, but there will be plenty of leftovers for others. Go out and feed your 5,000 today. Now that is a wisdom nugget that all of us can consume.

Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most of all your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal.

As we take this trek together, let us always:

This is Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Every Day! See you tomorrow!

Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is Day 409 of our trek, and today is Motivation Monday. Every Monday we hike the trails of life that will encourage and motivate us to live rich and satisfying lives this week. Today we will explore how to find success through humility.

We are broadcasting from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. When this daily trek airs, we should be driving back from Atlanta after investing several days with our construction project in Mesa, Arizona. I will have an update in our Wisdom Wednesday session this week since I should be creating that once we return.

Some people may look at our lives and think, “Wow! They have a lot, and they get to travel and do a lot of neat and exciting things.” While this season of life is busy for us, as I look back, every season of our life has been very busy. While we have had some success and do have some opportunities that others may not have, it also requires a lot of work, energy, time, and sacrifice in order for it to happen. As I grow older and hopefully wiser, it is much more important to move from success to significance and from income to impact.

We still struggle with life as much as anyone does, and the grass always appears greener on the other side – none of us are exempt from those thoughts. Through the seasons of life, though, I have come to discover that actually, the grass is greener when it is watered. So, water your grass where you are today, and who knows. Maybe your lawn will grow to be larger as a result. If that is the case, then an exhortation that I would like to extend is, “Don’t let success go to your head. Always remain humble, and be kind to others.”

On our trek for today, let us explore the trail of…

The stories are all too common. After years of hard work pursuing their life dreams, these self-motivated, high achievers reach the pinnacle of success that they feel is so richly deserved. But, what comes next? You guessed it. They let success go to their heads. Whatever happened to being humble?

Unfortunately many people that reach a level of what the world considers success start to think they’re special. They buy expensive “toys” to show how successful they’ve become, and they push aside colleagues who’ve helped them achieve success. They abandon the values and principles that have made them successful. Worse yet, because they’re successful in one area of their life, which is usually thought of as financial success, they come to think they’re experts in everything.

The sad fact is that many who have obtained financial success have done so at the expense of their families, friends, integrity, and health. I struggle with considering this success because the most important aspects of life are something that no amount of money or resources can purchase. I am not opposed to anyone obtaining financial success because the impact that you can have on your world grows exponentially when you have additional resources.  An interesting aspect, though, is that if you are unwilling to help others when you have limited resources, it usually does not change when you have more.

The simple truth is that not everyone treats success the same. Some people who achieve success remain humble, never forgetting who they are nor from where they came. The others? Well, we can learn from their mistakes. Unless you were born into wealth, you probably came from humble beginnings, so here are a few tips to assist on your journey to success in any aspect of life.

Many of us come from humble beginnings. I grew up in a family of 12 in an old farm house on an apple orchard.  We were poor, but I didn’t realize it because our lives were full of love and hard work.  I would not wish it any other way.

You can make something of yourself through the pursuit of knowledge, integrity, hard work, wisdom, following the principles of planting and harvesting, and by God’s grace. Yes, you can be thankful for the success that they’ve earned. But realize that ultimately it is by God’s grace, and that doesn’t give anyone the right to be rude or disrespectful to others.

The unfortunate reality is that some people get a big thrill from boasting about their accomplishments or showing off their possessions. They’ve convinced themselves that they’re better than others are. The fact is, some people let success go to their heads, and they gain a weird satisfaction from pushing people around. That’s wrong and should be avoided. On the other hand, just as it’s disgusting for the “haves” to look down on others, it’s equally disdainful for “have-nots” to resent those who’ve worked hard and have rightfully earned their success. For many humble people have become successful through much sacrifice, heartache, and struggle. You never know what others have had to go through in their pursuit of success, so be careful not to judge.

The truth is, all the money in the world doesn’t make you a better person. It simply means that you have more money. Real wealth is achieved by appreciating what you already have in life. After all, money can’t buy everything. It can’t buy a close-knit family, good friends, a clear conscience, work-life balance, a happy home, a second chance in life, or future success, among other things.

So, don’t let success go to your head. Be humble. Humility is a sign of strength, not weakness. People with humility possess an inner peace. They’re modest about their achievements, grounded in their values, and they have nothing to prove to others. They’re down to earth, comfortable in their own skin, and quietly proud. Humble people shift their focus from taking to giving, from talking about themselves to listening to others, from hoarding the credit to deflecting the praise, and from being a “know-it-all” to knowing there’s so much more in life worth learning. There’s no ego, no pretense, and certainly no gamesmanship. Humble people are authentic. As C.S. Lewis said, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.”

Here are a few verses from Proverbs that teaches us a bit more about humility.

Proverbs 11:2 – Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

Proverbs 15:33 – Fear of the Lord teaches wisdom; humility precedes honor.

Proverbs 18:12 – Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honor.

Proverbs 22:4 – True humility and fear of the Lord lead to riches, honor, and long life.

Proverbs 29:23 – Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor.

Today on our trek we hiked the trail of success and learned that it passes through the valley of humility. We should seek our success in all aspects of life. To do less would be to not fulfill your God-given calling. In doing so, though, remember that it is by God’s grace and “…in him we live and move and exist.”

Tomorrow’s short trek is part of our Wisdom Unplugged series that we are now hiking on Tuesdays and Thursdays. These 2-3 minute wisdom supplements will assist you in becoming healthy, wealthy, and wise throughout the entire week. So, encourage your friends and family to join us, and then come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

That will finish our trek for today. As you enjoy these daily doses of wisdom, we ask you to help us grow Wisdom-Trek by sharing with your family and friends through email, Facebook, Twitter, or in person when you meet with them and invite them to come along with us each day. If you would like to listen to any of the past daily treks, they are available at Wisdom-Trek.com. Don’t forget to subscribe to Wisdom-Trek, so each trek will be downloaded to you automatically.

Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most of all your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal.

As we take this trek together, let us always:

This is Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Every Day! See you tomorrow!

Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy podcast. This is Day 408 of our trek, and today is Philosophy Friday. Every Friday we will ponder some of the basic truths and mysteries of life, and how they can impact us in creating our living legacy. Today we will review the concept of the cycles and seasons of life as we look at the concept of A Time for Everything.

We are broadcasting from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. When this trek originally airs, we will be in Scottsdale and Mesa, Arizona working with our partners Charles and Alison Mecom and Tim Guernsey. The five of us are members of Arizona Development Company, and we are the General Contractor for a funding group that is building a combination of townhomes and retail space in Mesa, Arizona. We also provide repairs, remodeling, and maintenance for this same funding group who manages several multi-family housing units in the Phoenix area.

Our focus this trip will be to streamline some of the accounting processes and review the progress being made on our current major project. As we progress through the phases of the project, it is similar to life. There is a time for everything that goes into a construction project, and a time for everything that happens in our lives. Rarely does a construction project or our lives run as smoothly as planned or hoped for. With both, we need to make adjustments and changes for the various cycles and seasons. Sometimes events and situations happen that we did not anticipate, and we have to adapt. Sometimes we make mistakes and fail in some manner, and we have to learn the lessons and continue on. So on our trek for today, we will hike the trail called…

When you consider the entirety of life, we all pass through the four seasons, which most of us understand. What you may not grasp though is that you are constantly going through the cycles and seasons of life on a continual basis and in different areas of your life. The principles of planting and harvesting apply to everything that you do so that you have to be continually ready for each of the seasons. If you are prepared for the current season, you will come to understand that each season of life will have its joys and sorrows. The magnitude or intensity of those joys and sorrows will be based on how well you managed and took advantage of the opportunities of the previous season.

You cannot expect a time of harvesting in the spring or a time of planting in the fall. There is a proper time for everything, and if you are wise, you will understand that timing. The core focus on today’s trek is based on Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. This passage was also the basis for a popular song written by Peter Seeger in the late 1950s and then popularized by the Byrds in the mid-60s under the title Turn, Turn, Turn. The original motivation of the song was a plea for peace in the world during a very tumultuous time.

If you desire to gain wisdom and become wise, then you will come to realize that there is a time and season for everything that happens in your life. How joyful or sorrowful you are during each of those seasons will largely depend on your actions and attitudes of the previous season. It is not the season of life that you are in that matters but how prepared you are for that season that makes all the difference. Let us read through the first 8 verses of Ecclesiastes to learn the wisdom of King Solomon who penned this book.

1 For everything there is a season,

Until you grasp and come to a full understanding of this passage, you will be continually plagued by the struggles and disappointments of every changing season of life. Preparation and faith are the two requirements to live the rich and satisfying life that Jesus promised us in John [10:10]. For everything, there is a season and a time for every activity under heaven.

While you will not be able to control every situation that happens to you in life, the more prepared you are and the closer you follow the basic principles found in God’s Word, the more joyful each season in life will be, regardless of the difficulties that you must face. You will never understand everything that happens to you, but to understand this concept more fully on our trek today, let us continue with this passage in Ecclesiastes 3 verses 9-13.

9 What do people really get for all their hard work? 10 I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. 11 Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. 12 So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. 13 And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God. 

You need to be astute and follow God’s principles so that each season of life will be an abundant season for you, even with its difficulties. Choose to be happy and to enjoy the fruit of your labor because these are truly gifts from God.

Today on our trek we have come to the understanding that there is a time for everything. We would do well not to rush through life and miss what is important because God does make everything beautiful in its own time. Let us be prepared in each season of life so that it is a joyful season even in the midst of difficulties. Let us take the time to enjoy the fruit of our labor but not miss the opportunities of preparation that we need for the next season.

On our next Philosophy Friday, we will trek through some practical principles and guidelines that can help you through all of life’s seasons. Our next trek will be Motivation Monday where we will explore how true success requires humility, which will allow you to stay motivated and bring value to your world. So, encourage your friends and family to join us, and then come along on Monday for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

That will finish our trek for today. As you enjoy your daily dose of wisdom, we ask you to help us grow Wisdom-Trek by sharing with your family and friends through email, Facebook, Twitter, or in person when you meet with them and invite them to come along with us each day.

If you would like to listen to any of the past daily treks, they are available at Wisdom-Trek.com. Don’t forget to subscribe to Wisdom-Trek, so each trek will be downloaded to you automatically. I would also appreciate it if you would rate and review us on iTunes or Google Play so that others will find out about Wisdom-Trek and join us.

Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most of all your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal.

As we take this trek together, let us always:

This is Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Every Day! See you on Monday!

Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is day 407 of our trek, and it is Thursday and time for our 2-3 minute mini-trek called Wisdom Unplugged. This short nugget of wisdom includes an inspirational quote with a little additional content for today’s trek. Consider this your vitamin supplement of wisdom on Tuesday & Thursday. So let’s jump right in with today’s nugget…

Today’s quote is from Larry Burkett, who tells us, “A wise man seeks much counsel…a fool listens to all of it.”

A truly wise person will seek out the counsel of others, especially for the major decisions of life. This is an advisable practice. The wisest man who ever lived, King Solomon, agreed with this when he wrote, “Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success.”  Whenever possible you should have a trusted group of peers or associates within a small group or mastermind whom you can confer with about various areas of life, such as relationships, family issues, child rearing, business, health, and life planning. There is a wealth of wisdom and knowledge that you can gain through others that have more experience in certain areas of life. A word of caution though, not everyone you get advice from is qualified in all aspects that you seek guidance. Also, no one else on earth has the exact same circumstances that you do. What may have been good counsel a few years ago, may not be today, the world and times do change. So while you seek counsel from others, proceed with caution and apply only that which is applicable to you…and always compare it to the principles found in God’s Word. That’s a wrap of our Wisdom Unplugged for today.

Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most importantly your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal each day.

As we take this trek of life together, let us always:

This is Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Every Day! See you tomorrow for Philosophy Friday!