Tola & Jair - the 7th and 8th Judges

Tola and Jair - Not much is written about them but much can be learned from them. The first was known for his heritage - Tola from the line of Issachar (Genesis 46:13) the second was conspicuous for his wealth - Jair who had 30 sons, who each rode around on their donkeys and they owned 30 towns. They both ruled for approximately the same time - Tola 23 years and Jair 22 years. (Judges 10:1-5) God used both of them to lead Israel and provide peace. It was much-needed peace because they had just survived the rulership of Abimelech.

These two judges don't have asterisks next to their names instead, they both had stable leadership, they both had long tenure, they both seemed to be solid good leaders because after they died, the stability was gone.These were two of the few that were noble and prosperous when they were called, but not all need to be noble or prosperous. In addition to being who they were, they had the Godly character necessary for leadership.

They did their part during their lifetime and when they died the Israelites, left to their own devices, did evil again.

Tola and Jair

Jim and Bob

Andrea and Michelle

Nick and Larry

Sheila and Lisa

You and Me - we all have the opportunity to be used as deliverers; to be used to lead based on our desire to serve and honor God. We can be deliverers to our families, our friends, our co-workers or whatever sphere of influence God has placed us in. And like the Israelites, we may have influence while we are there and then as soon as we are gone, that circle reverts back to their old ways.

After they both died; after 45 years the people did evil again; they abandoned the Lord and no longer served Him so they were oppressed by the Philistines and the Ammonites for eighteen years. They served other gods and when they could take it no more cried out to God. Those gods could not do what God could. Those gods couldn't comfort them, couldn't provide them, did not reward faithfulness- because those gods were powerless. God said, did I not rescue you from all of your enemies (the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines, the Sidonians, the Amalekites, and the Maonites), for you to abandon me. Let your gods rescue you. Judges 10: 6-17

Just typing this breaks my heart!  Because at some point I want the children of Israel to get it just like a parent wants their children to be obedient. Like a human parent, the Lord was grieved for the misery of Israel, yet God was still benevolent towards the children of Israel even though they constantly disobeyed.

God didn't give up on the Israelites and he won't give up on you, no matter how many times you mess up. Be willing to listen to who God has placed in your path to lead and to help you - people like Tola and Jair. Tola and Jair did their part - and that's what we're called to do - our part.

Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29

Do you feel God's calling on your life? How do you influence your circle?
--Nylse

Thanks for reading. Please take a moment to share using the buttons below and also please like my Facebook Page. Stay Encouraged!

A Chapter A Day - Proverbs 11

Proverbs 11 like the previous chapter contains a wealth of information that can be used in our daily interactions with our neighbors, co-workers, random people we meet, or our families.

Before we go further, I like the analogy of distance running when it comes to doing this challenge. When you initially start running, a few minutes in you may feel like stopping, but you tell yourself to press on. Your legs are a bit sore and your feet feel like lead, but the longer you run, that feeling disappears. We're at that point.

Today, I've provided my thoughts on a few verses that resonated for me.

Highlights and Observations
The integrity of the upright shall guide them, but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.(v3) Integrity is the quality of  being honest and having strong moral principles. A person of integrity usually does not shift their views based on the circumstance but rather their moral compass allows them to handle any circumstance appropriately. Having strong moral principles will always guide you in the right direction. Something isn't right because it feels right, it's right because you have a guide of right and wrong and you know what right is.

When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy. (v10, 21) A note about the joy - we're not joyful to see another person's demise; it's more of an acknowledgement of what we always knew but they refused to see. We shouldn't get too cocky about being right, or a person's downfall either.

A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret. (v13) People who talk freely about others to you in a slanderous way, will talk about you the same way to others. This makes you not able to trust them. A trustworthy person does not betray trust.

Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion (v22). My immediate thought today is Kim K and her latest antics. Your beauty is priceless, something to be treasured, not thrown around or flaunted in the mud until it is tattered and unrecognizable because it is co-mingled with the filth of the pig sty. Think of the imagery of a gold ring in a pig's snout the next time you wish to recklessly flaunt what you have been given. Instead, be discreet; you're still beautiful.

The liberal soul shall be made fat...(v25) Be generous; you have nothing to lose by doing so. It is God who has blessed us, so liberally share his blessing with others as you will be blessed also. This may be your time our resources.

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he that wins souls is wise...(v30) The fruit of a believer's life is attractive, appealing and inviting. Our righteous living speaks for itself and others are influenced to follow Christ by our example.

Keep reading. What verses/proverbs stood out for you?

A Chapter A Day - Proverbs 10

The more I feed myself with spiritual food, the easier it is to not give into my flaws. So I spend daily time in the Word. The other reason is because I truly want to become the person God wants me to be. I want to be salt and light to those around me without being super spiritual - I want to be a witness through my life, my actions, my words.

Proverbs 10 - there's so many nuggets here, I'll just pick a few that stand out to me.


Observations and Highlights

A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother (v1). Parents ache when they children don't turn out the way we expect them to, based on all that was poured into them. Material things don't make a child wise - you must spend time with your children teaching and modeling morals, values, etc. - principles that start in scripture.

The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked (v3). So simple yet profound. If you trust in the Lord and believe the promises in His Word, you will come to find out the truth of all of His word. You may lose your job but you won't go hungry - friends may provide, the church may step in, you may become more creative or He will send manna from heaven. When the trial is over and you look back you will marvel that what you thought was important was not and greater still you will realize that you and yours were provided for. But it started with trusting and believing what God says about you. You can't call yourself righteous and live otherwise; you have to be righteous - a child of the King.

Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth (v4). Don't be afraid of hard work.

Whoever walks in integrity, walks securely (v9) - What is integrity? Doing the right thing even when no one is looking; no need to second guess yourself if you do the right thing.

Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers all wrongs (v12) - learn to get along and be at peace with everyone.

The lips of the righteous nourish many (v 21) - If people know you always speak truth in a way that ministers to them, they seek you out; they want to be around you.

The blessing of the Lord maketh rich and addeth no sorrow... (v 22). This is one of my favorite verses. It doesn't mean that I will become filthy rich or I won't ever be sad, but it means that in His plans He is guiding and directing everything in a way that we cannot comprehend, that ultimately makes sense for us. I held on to this promise as we moved cross country and I hold on to it now as my children are embarking on various stages of their lives.

The fear of the Lord adds length to life (v 27). Godly living enhances the quality of your life. We are all promised 70 years; some of us make it and feel like we have 70 more years and some of us wish that it would all come to an end. Getting old is inevitable and challenging.

From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom (v31). - You're more inclined to listen to a morally upright person, than not - why is that? Because the fruits of their life indicate that they just may be on to something - and you want to know what their "secret" is.

As you embed these proverbs in your heart, realize that they are promises that you can hold to through the many stages of life.

Read on. I really would love to hear your thoughts on some of these Proverbs. Are you familiar with any of them? Did your parents quote them to you? If you have children, are you unwittingly teaching some of these principles to your children? How have these helped you?

College's Unwritten Curriculum

I am now a mother of children who have attended college. To date, two have graduated from college. While I am happy about this, there are somethings that I have come face to face with that have been jarring to my spirit.

One of the few things I like to read in the newspaper besides the comics, is the advice column. This  recent letter was in the "Ask Amy" column and it shares a student's perspective of dealing with pressures at college:

DEAR AMY: I am a college student who doesn't drink. I was raised in a religious family, and it was instilled in me not to drink until I turn 21. My roommate drinks and pressures me to drink.
She and my friends never invite me out because they think I will be no fun. One night I gave in and had a few sips of alcohol.
All of a sudden, my roommate was inviting me to parties. When I went I felt uncomfortable, yet at the same time, people were accepting me. A few people came up to me and told me that until that night they didn't want to hang out with me because they thought I was too uptight.
Is it wrong to change what I believe in so that I can have a common bond with my new friends? Do I drink occasionally and have some friends, or stick to what I believe in and sit in my dorm room alone? What should I do?
Torn

This letter exemplifies what many of our children go through once they leave for college. As a matter of fact in the above letter you can replace drinking with sex, drugs, partying or any other vice that seems so prevalent during the college years. And unfortunately though many of our children were raised as Christian and some are Christians the situation above is more typical than we can imagine. Though we pray for our children and instill in them morals and values, the rubber meets the road when children are away from home with no parental authority in sight.

When children go away or leave for college they no longer have the umbrella of parental authority. Parental authority provides love, discipline and accountability. While many want to get out from under it, they sometimes initially don't know how to handle themselves when the umbrella is gone.

Also note that bad company corrupts good character 1 Cor 15:33;  why this is so I do not know, but this is the case time and time again. (I sometimes call it the law of gravity). It would be foolish of us as parents to think our children will go to college and not be affected by all that is happening around them.  (I used to feel this way.)

Here's the advice the columnist gave:

DEAR TORN: The job of the older teen/young adult is to try to answer these questions: Who am I? What do I want? The most important guiding principle is that you cannot let other people define you.
True friendships are all about authenticity and the possibility of being accepted for your true self.
Go to parties and have fun without drinking. I assure you, as your friends get more drunk, you will either seem more hilarious, or they will become more belligerent and bullying. Your sobriety will put you at an advantage because you will possess the ability to discern the difference. Many universities now offer "clean living" dorms/communities. You should apply for a slot. You may not form friendships with every sober person you meet, but at the least you will not be judged for having the integrity to live according to your values.

Here's what I suggest:

• Pray for wisdom - Solomon the wisest man in the world prayed for wisdom and received it. 2  Chronicles 1: 7-12;  you can too  James 1:5
• Don't be afraid to set boundaries and stick to them - Matthew 5:37
• Don't be afraid to do what's right - Matthew 10:16
• It's OK if people don't like you; everyone can't and usually it is their problem not yours
• Surround yourself with like minded people - Matthew 26:38
• Nurture your spirit; meditate on God's word so that you can recall it - Psalm 119:11
• Go back to your foundation - what does the Bible say? What have my parents taught me? Do the two contradict each other? 1 Thessalonians 5:21-23
• If you were raised in a Christian household, but never believed what you were taught this will also be a time of self discovery for you. Hopefully, in seeking you will find the truth. Matthew 7:7

College is a time for learning who you are. Clean living does not start with a set of buildings, it starts with your internal values; a college's definition of clean may not line up with yours. Also know that there are consequences for every action. Life is not a series of rules where you can't have fun, but rather a series of experiences that are constantly shaping us. You will have to define what is fun for you; it's OK if you don't think all vices are fun. It's strikes me that what most people call fun is shallow, empty and short lived pleasure.

Don't be a wimp about this - there's no need to feel torn as this may be a test for bigger issues you may have to deal with.

Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12
Are you familiar with the unwritten curriculum? How can you help a young person today?