Wisdom-Trek ©

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 714 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

Persistence Fuels Success – Mindshift Monday

Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is Day 714 of our trek, and it is time for our Mindshift Monday series. Wisdom-Trek’s primary focus is to assist you in creating your living legacy.

Creating your living legacy can only be accomplished by gaining wisdom in many areas of life. You can only gain wisdom by changing what you allow to go into your mind, which is a result of changing the way you think. In other words, to create your living legacy you must choose to be in a continual mode of Mindshift. It is easy to get stuck in a mindset that your current circumstances cannot be changed. This is not true, but you must understand this fundamental principle, “In order to change your life, you must change how you think and what you think about.”  Our Mindshift Monday podcast and journal will provide you practical ways to make a mind-shift to a rich and satisfying life. 

We are broadcasting from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. When this episode originally airs I will be back in Arizona working with our partners on our townhome project. Phase II should begin this week, and we are excited to move forward with it. With several other smaller projects that need to be finished up during this month, it remains a challenge to stay on top of everything and still keep a positive cash flow. It is so easy to become overwhelmed and weary, but it is very crucial that we remain persistent to bring it all together. It takes a continual mindshift to continue on, even on those days where we don’t really feel like it. We do so because we know and understand that over the long term…

Persistence Fuels Success

We all need to understand that success does not usually go to the most skilled or qualified. Success usually results by those who are most persistence, even in the face of adversity.

Regardless of how you define success, a persistent effort is one of the most important ingredients for personal, or organizational success. Numerous studies back up the fact that the one indispensable ingredient common to everyone who is ultimately successful is persistence.

Even if these same individuals had numerous failures and setbacks, they were in a continual mode of mindshift to remain persistent in their effort. In fact, the stories of greatest successes are completed by people who overcome incredible obstacles and great discouragement. Success is achieved and maintained by those who keep trying. Indeed persistence fuels success.

So my question for today is, if persistence is so rewarding, why are there so many people who become discouraged and give up? We could go on for days with reasons, I am sure, but today let’s explore five reasons why people stop progress towards the summit on their trek of life.

1. People do not persist because they are uncertain of what they really desire.

Here is an example…Say you decide to learn a foreign language, study music, begin a new career, or train yourself physically. Will your efforts succeed or meet with failure? It depends on how much effort you are willing to put behind your decision. It requires confidence that nothing can stop or overcome your decision. That nothing will distract you from success in your decision. If you are not committed and certain of your decision, you will find yourself wandering off the trail instead of overcoming the obstacles.

2. People sometimes quit because they don’t feel qualified.

One of the most common barriers to success is to have the mindset that success requires some genius or some magic formula. Nothing is farther from the truth.

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 713 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

Be of Good Courage

Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is Day 713 of our trek, and it is time for our Philosophy Friday series. Each Friday we will ponder some of the basic truths and mysteries of life and how they can impact us in creating our living legacy.

We are focusing on how to live with less fear. We are exploring the trails on our trek of life that will help us to be fearless. This does not imply that we will reach the point where we are completely without any fear, for that is not only impossible, but also not wise. There is a time and a place for an appropriate level of fear, but most fear that we experience on a daily basis has no grounding and can be eliminated as we grow in wisdom, insight, and understanding. So our objective is to experience a FearLess Friday on our trek of life.

We are broadcasting from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. This year has been a trying time for our family and many others. With our granddaughter Hazel’s leukemia, my broken femur in a fall from a ladder, employment issues, and death of close family members, it is a time when we have needed courage to get through.

With recent hurricanes, fires, and shootings impacting our country, many thousands of people need courage to carry on with their trek of life. With these thoughts in mind, today on our trek we will explore how we need to…

Be of Good Courage

We will start out with a couple humorous stories, where fear was not as significant as what many have faced this year. I read a story about the man who bragged about how brave he was because he had cut off the tail of a ferocious man-eating lion with his pocket knife. When asked why he hadn’t cut off the lion’s head, the man replied, “Someone else had already done that.”

There is another story of the little boy having trouble sleeping during a storm. You know what this is like; most of us have been there. After his Mother tucked him in bed, and as she was about to turn off the light, he asked with a tremor in his voice, “Mommy, will you sleep with me tonight?” The mother smiled and gave him a reassuring hug. “I can’t, Dear,” she said, “I have to sleep with Daddy.” A long silence was broken at last by a shaken little voice saying, “The big sissy.”

"Do not fear" or “Fear not” is a common phrase found throughout the Bible. In fact, we are warned about being fearful over 360 times from Genesis to Revelation! Therefore, I believe it must be important!

Our Scripture reference is from the Old Testament Book of Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy was written by Moses 1400 years before the birth of Jesus Christ. It is the fifth of five books penned by Moses, the first five books are known as the Pentateuch (Penta – five; Teuch – book, or vessel).

It is a wonderful book written over the span of only a month. It is a compilation of speeches from Moses who lived to be 120 years old. At the end of his life, God appointed Joshua as his successor and our specific Scriptures are words of encouragement from Moses to the Nation of Israel and words of encouragement from Moses to Joshua.

Let’s read Deuteronomy 31: 6-8.

"'So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.' Then Moses called for Joshua, and as all Israel watched, he said to him, 'Be strong and courageous! For you will lead these people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors he would give them. You are the one who will divide it among them as their grants of land. Do not be afraid or discouraged,

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 712 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

Wisdom Starts with Humility – Wisdom Unplugged

Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is Day 712 of our trek, and it is time for a 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 for today. So let’s jump right in with today’s nugget.

Today’s quote is from an unknown author, and it is, "Wisdom is, and starts with, the humility to accept the fact that you don't have all the right answers, and the courage to learn to ask the right questions."

Wisdom Starts With Humility

A person who thinks that he knows it all, or thinks he has a great grasp of wisdom, is actually a fool. It takes real humility to know and understand, that no matter how much knowledge and wisdom that you possess, it is just like a drop in the ocean of how much more there is to learn and how much wisdom there is yet to gain.

It is impossible to gain vast amounts of knowledge in a short period of time, and it is also impossible to gain true wisdom quickly. It takes years of humiliating experiences, study, failures, and lessons learned to gain any significant amount of wisdom. Even then it is just a small percentage of the wisdom yet to be gained.

I have studied wisdom and more specifically the book of Proverbs continually for my entire adult life, and yet at the age of 61, I still feel that I have barely scratched the surface of the wisdom yet to be gained. It truly does take studying continually, asking the right questions to those that are wise, and being in a continual mode of learning with a humble spirit. Maybe by the time I am 125, I may feel a bit wiser, but I suspect, even then there will be much wisdom yet to obtain.As we are told in Proverbs 1:5, "Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance," and Proverbs 9:9, "Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser. Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more."That’s a wrap for today’s Wisdom Unplugged. If you enjoy these quotes, I have created and published a searchable database of over 10,000 quotes that I have collected for many years. If you would like free access to my database of inspirational quotes, the link is available on the main page of Wisdom-Trek.com.

As you enjoy these nuggets of wisdom, please encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

If you would like to listen to any of the past daily treks or read the associated journals, they are all available at Wisdom-Trek.com. You can also subscribe through iTunes or Google Play so that each day’s trek will be downloaded 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 of life together, let us always:

Live Abundantly (Fully)

Love Unconditionally

Listen Intentionally

Learn Continuously

Lend to others Generously

Lead with Integrity

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 FearLess Friday!

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 711 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

I am Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

Riddles of the Wise - Proverbs 30

Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. Today is Day 711 of our trek, and it 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 Proverbs 30 from The Voice Translation, which will give us a fresh perspective on this book of timeless wisdom.

We are broadcasting from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. I tend to relate to practical everyday advice and wisdom and strive to share that same practical wisdom with each listener of Wisdom-Trek. The practical advice and wisdom in today’s passage is that same type of wisdom. Wisdom can be shared in many different ways and in Proverbs 30 we read the…

Riddles of the Wise

Chapters 30 and 31 are the final parts of this ancient book of biblical wisdom. Interestingly, each chapter contains poems attributed to non-Israelite authors named Agur and Lemuel. Agur is a commoner, while Lemuel is a king. According to the superscriptions, both are referred to as sons — a fitting conclusion to a book devoted to sons acquiring wisdom.

In Chapter 30 we hear from the first wise son, Agur. There’s a mini-autobiography in verses 1-9, followed by a collection of fascinating riddles (verses 10-33). Most of these riddles explore things in life that you should avoid: slander, cursing, hate, deception, mockery, adultery, pride, and evil. As bad as these things sound, Agur’s sayings reveal that those who do such things often consider themselves innocent.

Some of these riddles are not about virtue or morality, but are simply observations about nature or relationships. Their structure consists of three observations. The first two are observations about how the world works. The third shows how the first two relate to how wisdom works.

“For as churning cream produces butter” (observation 1), and “as twisting the nose produces blood” (observation 2), “so stirring up anger produces strife” (observation 3).

The riddles, along with the autobiography, are asking us to consider the outcomes of our choices and actions. What do you need to pay most attention to as you go into your day?

Listen intently as I read Proverbs 30.

1 These are the words of Agur, son of Jakeh. An oracle of wisdom.

He says, “I am weary, God.

I am weary and spent, O God.”[a]

2 Certainly I am a stupid man, as dumb as an ox.

I don’t understand the way that most people do.

3 I have never learned wisdom,

and I have no knowledge at all of the Holy One.

4 Who has ascended into the heavens and then come back down?

Who has collected the winds in the palm of His hand?

Who has wrapped up the vast oceans in His coat?

Who has plotted the ends of the earth and then fashioned them?

What is His name?

What is His son’s name?

Do you know? Indeed, you do.

5 Every word of God will be put to the test and proven true;

He is a defense for those who trust in Him.

6 Take care. Add nothing to what He has said;

for if you do, He will correct you and expose you as a liar.

7 Two things I ask, O God.

Sometime before I die, grant these humble requests:

8 Eliminate any hint of worthless and deceitful words from my lips.

Do not make me poor or rich,

but give me each day what I need;

9 For if I have too much, I might forget You are the One who provides,

saying, “Who is the Eternal One?”

Or if I do not have enough, I might become hungry and turn to stealing

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 710 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

Wisdom Is Health to the Soul – Wisdom Unplugged

Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is Day 710 of our trek, and it is time for a 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 for today. So let’s jump right in with today’s nugget...

Wisdom Is Health to the Soul

Today’s quote is from César Vichard de Saint-Réal, and it is, "Wisdom is to the soul what health is to the body."Although we do not always practice it, it is vitally important that we keep our bodies in good physical shape by eating properly, exercising regularly, and getting an adequate amount of sleep. If we practice these habits, it will prolong our lives, and our quality of life will be better physically, emotionally, and mentally.

We often neglect the spiritual aspect of our lives, which is our soul. This is who we truly are at our core. Just like a healthy body is required for a quality life, so our soul is strengthened by daily infusing it with wisdom, insight, and understanding. When we invest into our soul the daily input of wisdom, we are strengthened in all other areas of life.

Too often we neglect that which is most important to our long-term spiritual and physical health, but it is to our own detriment. We need to establish healthy habits for our body and our soul. God’s Word is an excellent source of wisdom for your soul. Of course, Proverbs is referred to as the book of Wisdom, but wisdom is found throughout the entirety of God’s Word. As Psalm 19:7 says, "The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple."That’s a wrap for today’s Wisdom Unplugged quote. If you would like free access to my database of over 10,000 inspirational quotes, the link is available on the main page of Wisdom-Trek.com. As you enjoy these nuggets of wisdom, encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.If you would like to listen to any of our past treks or read the Wisdom Journal, they are available at Wisdom-Trek.com. You can also subscribe on iTunes or Google play so that each day’s trek will be downloaded automatically.

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

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

Live Abundantly (Fully)

Love Unconditionally

Listen Intentionally

Learn Continuously

Lend to others Generously

Lead with Integrity

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!

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 709 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

Opportunity Comes More Than Once – Mindshift Monday

Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is Day 709 of our trek, and it is time for our Mindshift Monday series. Wisdom-Trek’s primary focus is to assist you in creating your living legacy. Creating your living legacy can only be accomplished by gaining wisdom in many areas of life.

You can only gain wisdom by changing what you allow to go into your mind, which is a result of changing the way you think. In other words, to create your living legacy you must choose to be in a continual mode of mindshift. It is easy to get stuck in a mindset that your current circumstances cannot be changed. This is not true, but you must understand this fundamental principle: In order to change your life, you must change how you think and what you think about. Our Mindshift Monday podcast and journal provide you practical ways to make a mindshift to a rich and satisfying life.

We are broadcasting from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. Each day we have opportunities that are presented to us, and we make choices to capitalize on those opportunities or not too. In much of the motivational rhetoric that we hear today, it would seem that opportunity only knocks once, and if we miss it, then we will never have that opportunity again.

In most situations in life, this is just not true. We need to realize that our lives are made up of different seasons, and we may have to pass up opportunities in life that are just not suited for the season of life that we are currently in. While I don’t promote procrastination or putting off something that we should do now, if an opportunity is not quite right for now, or if you are not prepared for it now, then the same, or maybe even a better opportunity will come your way in another season of life. We need to have a mindshift and be prepared when the time is right.

Let’s look at it this way. I am now 61, and in the past, that would be considered nearing retirement and winding down my activities. With today’s medical breakthroughs and staying in good physical, mental, and spiritual shape, I could easily live another 60 plus years. That being said, I look forward with anticipation to the opportunities that will come my way because of my experience, wisdom, time availability, and financial situation, which I was unable to capitalize on in the past. Instead of being of the mindset that we will lose opportunities if we don’t take them now, it is time for a mindshift to realize that…

Opportunity Comes More Than Once

In the days before modern harbors, a ship would sometimes have to wait until flood tide before it could make it into port. The Latin for this was “ob porter,” which signifies a ship standing over against the port waiting for the moment when it can ride the turn of the tide into the harbor.

The English word “opportunity” is derived from this original meaning. The captain and the crew were ready and waiting for that one moment, for they realized that if they missed it, they would have to wait for another tide to come in. We cannot lose sight in this situation that there would always be another tide, maybe at a more convenient or proper time.

All is not lost if we allow an opportunity to pass us by without seizing it. It may not be the proper time, or you may not have the proper resources, or you may not prepared in some other way to capitalize on the opportunity today. Opportunities, like tides, will come again and give you another chance, when the time is more appropriate. Below are four scenarios where opportunity comes more than once.

1. Opportunity comes more than once if we are patient.

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 708 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

The Power to Overcome Fear - 2

Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is Day 708 of our trek, and it is time for our Philosophy Friday series. Each Friday we ponder some of the basic truths and mysteries of life and how they can impact us in creating our living legacy.

We are focusing on how to live with less fear. We are exploring the trails on our trek of life that will help us to be fearless. This does not imply that we will reach the point where we are completely without any fear, for that is not only impossible, but also not wise. There is a time and a place for an appropriate level of fear, but most fear that we experience on a daily basis has no grounding and can be eliminated as we grow in wisdom, insight, and understanding. So our objective is to experience a FearLess Friday on our trek of life.

We are broadcasting from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. As we continue our lesson from last week, we pick up the story of Naaman from 2 Kings 5:1-17 where Elisha had told Naaman to dip seven times in the Jordan River to be cured of his leprosy. If you missed last Friday’s lesson, it can be found at wisdom-trek.com/day-703. Overcoming fear does not have to be some grand feat, but the small miracle of trusting God and His Word. Today on our trek, we will continue to explore how we need to be in a continual Mindshift mode, so we can have…

The Power to Overcome Fear (Part 2)

When General Naaman approached Elisha for the cure, Elisha didn’t even bother to come out and meet with him. Instead, he sent a servant out with orders from God. This infuriated Naaman.

He was the commander of the entire Syrian army, which comprised thousands of soldiers.  He was certainly used to being shown a high level of respect. His money, power, and position had given him a great amount of prestige.  The fact that Elisha did not even come to the door to greet Naaman was an insult.

Naaman’s pride got in the way of his cure. He wanted to be cured, but on his terms and not in obedience to God’s Word. He almost turned his back on God, but his officers talked him into at least trying to do what Elisha had said. He had already traveled a far distance, and they told him he had nothing to lose. This caused Naaman to have a change of heart, however reluctantly. God used Naaman’s obedience to show the world that there is power in God’s Word, even if it does not always fit societal norms.

We need to realize that in the times of deepest fears God can use these opportunities to strengthen our faith. Naaman had money, power, and prestige, but none of these could overcome his fear of leprosy. The immediate cure Naaman gained through obedience was even more miraculous because it could not be bought for any price. Using his weakness and fear, God was teaching Naaman that relief only came through obedience. Our fears can also be used to stretch and strengthen our faith when we overcome it through obedience.

Naaman found the thought of washing in a dirty river embarrassing. Just as this command was unique to Naaman, God’s call on our lives is personal. Fearing what people think of us is the opposite of fearing God. Whose approval do we fear losing? Our friends? Our family? Our leaders? Or is it God?

Oswald Chambers said, “The remarkable thing about God is that when you fear and respect God, you fear nothing else, whereas if you don’t fear and respect God, you fear everything else.”Pride is the first enemy we have to battle when faced with our fear. Anger usually soon follows. Naaman was prideful and then angry with Elisha because it hurt his pride.

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 707 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

Listening or Talking – Wisdom Unplugged

Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is Day 707 of our trek, and it is time for our 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 for today. So let’s jump right in with today’s nugget.

Today’s quote is from Doug Larson, and it is, "Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you'd have preferred to talk."

Listening or Talking

Very little or no wisdom can be gained when we are talking. Wisdom is the reward when we restrict the urge to share our knowledge and wisdom with others, and instead actively listen to others as they are speaking. Not everyone who speaks will have wisdom and knowledgeable words, but as we listen throughout our lives, we will gain and glean  bits of wisdom from conversations that, when connected together, will enrich our lives.

It is this slow accumulation of wisdom that will become integrated into the very fabric of our lives that will be the foundation of who we are. It is so difficult to intently listen in order to learn instead of listening to respond. The less we speak, the wiser we will become. Listening can also be through studying books of wisdom as Proverbs 1:5 tells us, "Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance."

Wisdom truly is the reward for a life invested listening more than speaking.  Proverbs 12:15 says, "Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others."

In fact, too much speaking is actually detrimental to our lives as we learn from, Proverbs 10:19, "Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut."

This is finalized with Ecclesiastes 6:11, "The more words you speak, the less they mean. So what good are they?"That’s a wrap for today’s Wisdom Unplugged. If you enjoy these quotes, I have created and published a searchable database of over 10,000 quotes that I have collected for many years. If you would like free access to my database of inspirational quotes, the link is available on the main page of Wisdom-Trek.com.

As you enjoy these nuggets of wisdom, please encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.If you would like to listen to any of our past treks or read the Wisdom Journal, they are available at Wisdom-Trek.com.

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:

Live Abundantly (Fully)

Love Unconditionally

Listen Intentionally

Learn Continuously

Lend to others Generously

Lead with Integrity

Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you tomorrow for FearLess Friday!

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 706 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

I am Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

Self-Controlled Wisdom - Proverbs 29

Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. Today is Day 706 of our trek, and it 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 Proverbs 29 from The Voice Translation, which will give us a fresh perspective on this book of timeless wisdom.

We are broadcasting from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. I am blessed to have a close relationship with our grown children, and we have many opportunities to discuss issues, challenges, and struggles that we are all facing in life. I am privileged to be a mentor and provide them with counsel.

Recently I was discussing with one of our sons who works from home as a sales rep providing industrial coatings for commercial businesses about the difficulty of self-discipline and focus in work. It takes real self-control, consistency, and persistence to be successful. To successfully gain wisdom also requires long-term self-control as we will explore today from Proverbs 29 about…

Self-Controlled Wisdom

This is the last installment of wise sayings assembled by the men of Hezekiah. This chapter begins with a lesson on teachability— one of the greatest values of the wise. The wise must be able to listen and receive correction (see verse 1). Look ahead at how the collection ends. We are told to fear the Lord above any other human because it is from Him that all justice truly comes (verses 25-26). Teachability and trusting God: these two values frame everything in this chapter.

Between these opening and closing proverbs is a strong emphasis on self-control. A wise leader must be able to lead themselves if they want to lead others. Leading those under our authority (particularly children) is not an option; it is a requirement to enjoy the sweet fruit of wisdom (verses 15 and 17). Consider these three virtues: teachability, restraint, and trust in God. What theme is the Lord asking you to pay more attention to?

Listen intently as I read Proverbs 29.

1 The one who remains defiant after repeated reprimands

will suddenly be shattered, and there will be no remedy for him.

2 When just leaders are in power, the citizens celebrate;

but when evil people gain control, their joys become moans.

3 An adult who loves wisdom and follows its ways gives his parents joy,

but one who hangs out with women of the street will lose everything.

4 A king brings stability to a land with his justice,

but one who makes unjust demands brings it to ruin.

5 The one who flatters his friend

is laying a trap that will catch his friend’s feet.

6 An evil person is sure to be trapped by his sin,

but a man who lives right is free to sing and be glad.

7 The just get involved with the poor and know their issues,

but the wicked cannot comprehend such concerns.

8 Mockers stir up a city and inflame passions,

but the wise know how to put out the fire and ease tensions.

9 When the wise go to court against a fool,

there will be ranting and raving but no resolution.

10 Bloodthirsty men despise those who are honest,

but the just find a way to help them.

11 A fool does not think before he unleashes his temper,

but a wise man holds back and remains quiet.

12 When it is known that a ruler listens to the words of liars,

soon he will have only scoundrels for advisors.

13 A poor man and his oppressor have this in common:

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 705 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

Wisdom Is A Lifelong Pursuit – Wisdom Unplugged

Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is Day 705 of our trek, and it is time for a 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 for today. So let’s jump right in with today’s nugget.

Today’s quote is from Albert Einstein, and it is, "Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it."

Wisdom Is A Lifelong Pursuit

Learning and gaining knowledge is essential to function in this ever-changing, technology-driven world, but knowledge in and of itself does not result in wisdom. It is what we learn about life as we gain knowledge that results in true wisdom. This does not happen overnight nor within a matter of a few years. Wisdom is gained through a lifelong pursuit and acquisition of knowledge and applying that knowledge practically to our trek of life.

The knowledge that is gained is only a by-product of the lessons that are acquired through perseverance. Continual persistence is required to continually grow in wisdom, insight, and knowledge.  We need to seek for wisdom as if our lives depend on it.

Indeed, if we truly desire to gain wisdom, then our lives do depend on it. We need to be ever learning and through that learning allow it to change the way we think so we are learning the lessons that also bring wisdom. Wisdom and knowledge are like a hand in a glove. Knowledge that is enveloped within wisdom allows a person to be truly wise in many areas of life.

The wisest man to ever live, King Solomon, knew to ask God for the dynamic duo of wisdom and knowledge as we read in, 2 Chronicles 1:10, "Give me the wisdom and knowledge to lead them properly, for who could possibly govern this great people of yours?"

Later in his life, Solomon wrote in Proverbs 8:12, "I, Wisdom, live together with good judgment. I know where to discover knowledge and discernment."

That’s a wrap for today’s Wisdom Unplugged quote. If you would like free access to my database of over 10,000 inspirational quotes, the link is available on the main page of Wisdom-Trek.com. As you enjoy these nuggets of wisdom, encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.If you would like to listen to any of our past treks or read the Wisdom Journal, they are available at Wisdom-Trek.com. You can also subscribe on iTunes or Google play so that each day’s trek will be downloaded automatically.

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:

Live Abundantly (Fully)

Love Unconditionally

Listen Intentionally

Learn Continuously

Lend to others Generously

Lead with Integrity

Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you tomorrow for Wisdom Wednesday!