“
If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far go together", African Proverb
”
”
Paul Oberschneider (Why Sell Tacos in Africa?: 16 life-changing business strategies you can use anywhere, from the man who turned $400 into $200 million)
“
When the wind of change blows, some people build walls, others build windmills.
”
”
Chinese Proverb
“
All cats are the same in the dark, says the proverb. But it certainly did not apply to people, with them it was just the opposite. During the day they were all alike, running in their well-defined ways. At night they changed beyond recognition.
”
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Jerzy Kosiński (The Painted Bird)
“
Every man’s personal proverb about himself is: “Whatever is, is right, in the best of all possible people.” The
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”
Luke Rhinehart (The Dice Man: This book will change your life.)
“
That the birds of worry and care fly over you head, this you cannot change, but that they build nests in your hair, this you can prevent." - Chinese Proverb
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”
Anonymous
“
It was an old kender proverb—Don’t change color to match the walls. Look like you belong and the walls will change color to match you.
”
”
Margaret Weis (Time of the Twins (Dragonlance: Legends, #1))
“
A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing personal opinion. —PROVERBS 18:2
”
”
William R. Miller (Motivational Interviewing: Helping People Change (Applications of Motivational Interviewing))
“
There’s a wonderful Chinese proverb that says: “When the winds of change rage, some build shelters while others build windmills.
”
”
Tasha Eurich (Insight: Why We Are Less Self-Aware Than We Think—and What to Do About It)
“
You retain your health only so long as you are willing to forgive your stresses, shrug off adversity and adapt to new situations. Resistance to change always impedes the workings of your immunity. An old Sanskrit proverb tells us kshama chajanani: the essence of motherly love is forgiveness. Damage to the ahamkara-mother predisposes us to disease by weakening our innate forgiveness.
”
”
Robert E. Svoboda (Prakriti: Your Ayurvedic Constitution (Your Ayurvedic Constitution Revised Enlarged Second Edition))
“
There is a Turkish proverb that says, “No matter how far you have gone down a wrong road, turn back,” and that is exactly what I did. It was painful, but also one of the most beautiful things I have ever experienced.
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Baron Baptiste (40 Days to Personal Revolution: A Breakthrough Program to Radically Change Your Body and Awaken the Sacred Within Your Soul)
“
When you pray, move your feet. —AFRICAN PROVERB
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”
John Lewis (Across That Bridge: Life Lessons and a Vision for Change)
“
Everything changes, everything passes, every thing finds its place.
”
”
French proverb
“
If we don’t change the direction we are headed, we will end up where we are going. – Chinese proverb
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”
Jodi Picoult (Nineteen Minutes)
“
When the winds of change blow, some people build walls, and others build windmills. chinese proverb
”
”
Anonymous
“
Life was like being dragged through concrete in circles, wet and setting concrete that dried with each rotation of my unwilling body. As a child, I was light. It didn’t matter too much; I slid through it, and maybe it even felt like a game, like I was just playing in mud, like nothing about that slipperiness would ever change, not really. But then I got bigger and it started drying on me and eventually I turned into an uneven block, chipping and sparking on the hard ground, tearing off into painful chunks. I wanted to stay empty, like the eagle in the proverb, left to perch, my bones filled with air pockets, but heaviness found me and I couldn’t do anything about it. I couldn’t shake it off; I couldn’t transform it, evaporate or melt it. It was distinct from me, but it hooked itself into my body like a parasite. I couldn’t figure out if something was wrong with me or if this was just my life—if this was just how people felt, like concrete was dragging their flesh off their bones.
”
”
Akwaeke Emezi (The Death of Vivek Oji)
“
If we don’t change the direction we are headed, we will end up where we are going. —CHINESE PROVERB
”
”
Jodi Picoult (Nineteen Minutes)
“
Routine ruins the life, variety vitalise the life.
”
”
Amit Kalantri (Wealth of Words)
“
I want to invent a new kind of revolution. A revolution of the human soul. Society changes without a single drop of spilt blood
”
”
Bruce Burk (Zealous Blurbs and Proverbs)
“
When the wind of change blows, some build walls, others build windmills.” - Chinese Proverb.
”
”
Tony Seba (Clean Disruption of Energy and Transportation: How Silicon Valley Will Make Oil, Nuclear, Natural Gas, Coal, Electric Utilities and Conventional Cars Obsolete by 2030)
“
Be not afraid of going slowly. Be afraid only of standing still." ―CHINESE PROVERB
”
”
Jesse Tevelow (Hustle: The Life Changing Effects of Constant Motion)
“
If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together" African Proverb
”
”
Paul Oberschneider (Why Sell Tacos in Africa?: 16 life-changing business strategies you can use anywhere, from the man who turned $400 into $200 million)
“
The ability to analyze a situation, realize a solution and actualize a change distinguishes the mature from the miniature minded.
”
”
Vincent Okay Nwachukwu (Weighty 'n' Worthy African Proverbs - Volume 1)
“
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice. (Proverbs 31:8–9, NLT)
”
”
Lisa Bevere (Lioness Arising: Wake Up and Change Your World)
“
Why do people persist in an unsatisfying relationship, unwilling either to work toward solutions or end it and move on? It’s because they know changing will lead to the unknown, and most people believe that the unknown will be much more painful than what they’re already experiencing. It’s like the old proverbs say: “Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t know,
”
”
Anthony Robbins (Awaken the Giant Within: How to Take Immediate Control of Your Mental, Emotional, Physical and Financial Destiny!)
“
PROLOGUE
Have you ever had the feeling that someone was playing with your destiny? If so, this book is for you!
Destiny is certainly something people like to talk about. Wherever we go, we hear it mentioned in conversations or proverbs that seek to lay bare its mysteries.
If we analyse people’s attitude towards destiny a little, we find straight away that at one extreme are those who believe that everything in life is planned by a higher power and that therefore things always happen for a reason, even though our limited human understanding cannot comprehend why.
In this perspective, everything is preordained, regardless of what we do or don’t do.
At the other extreme we find the I can do it! believers. These focus on themselves: anything is possible if done with conviction, as part of the plan that they have drawn up themselves as the architects of their own Destiny.
We can safely say that everything happens for a reason. Whether it’s because of decisions we take or simply because circumstances determine it, there is always more causation than coincidence in life. But sometimes such strange things happen! The most insignificant occurrence or decision can give way to the most unexpected futures.
Indeed, such twists of fate may well be the reason why you are reading my book now. Do you have any idea of the number of events, circumstances and decisions that had to conspire for me to write this and for you to be reading it now? There are so many coincidences that had to come together that it might almost seem a whim of destiny that today we are connected by these words. One infinitesimal change in that bunch of circumstances and everything would have been quite different…
All these fascinating issues are to be found in Equinox.
I enjoy fantasy literature very much because of all the reality it involves. As a reader you’re relaxed, your defences down, trying to enjoy an loosely-structured adventure. This is the ideal space for you to allow yourself to be carried away to an imaginary world that, paradoxically, will leave you reflecting on real life questions that have little to do with fiction, although we may not understand them completely.
”
”
Gonzalo Guma (Equinoccio. Susurros del destino)
“
Failure to put the relationship on a slower timetable may result in an act that was never intended in the first place. Another important principle is to avoid the circumstances where compromise is likely. A girl who wants to preserve her virginity should not find herself in a house or dorm room alone with someone to whom she is attracted. Nor should she single-date with someone she has reason not to trust. A guy who wants to be moral should stay away from the girl he knows would go to bed with him. Remember the words of Solomon to his son, “Keep to a path far from her, do not go near the door of her house” (Proverbs 5:8). I know this advice sounds very narrow in a day when virginity is mocked and chastity is considered old-fashioned. But I don’t apologize for it. The Scriptures are eternal, and God’s standards of right and wrong do not change with the whims of culture. He will honor and help those who are trying to follow His commandments. In fact, the apostle Paul said, “He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear” (1Corinthians 10:13). Hold that promise and continue to use your head. You’ll be glad you did.
”
”
James C. Dobson (Life on the Edge: The Next Generation's Guide to a Meaningful Future)
“
If we don’t change the direction we’re going, we’re likely to end up where we’re headed. Ancient Chinese proverb
”
”
Stacey Hall (Attracting Perfect Customers: The Power of Strategic Synchronicity)
“
Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins.” Proverbs 10:12
”
”
Adam Houge (If You Change Your Words It Will Transform Your Life)
“
Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors. —African proverb
”
”
Eugene Cho (Overrated: Are We More in Love with the Idea of Changing the World Than Actually Changing the World?)
“
Do not humiliate or ridicule a person in order to persuade him to change
”
”
Barbara Ann Kipfer (8,789 Words of Wisdom: Proverbs, Precepts, Maxims, Adages, and Axioms to Live By)
“
Tell me the facts and I’ll learn. Tell me the truth and I’ll believe. But tell me a story and it will live in my heart forever. — Ancient proverb
”
”
Matthew Dicks (Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling)
“
Success is the ability to make sacrifices now for a future reality.
”
”
Bo Sánchez (Nothing Much Has Changed (7 Success Principles from the Ancient Book of Proverbs for Your Money, Work, and Life)
“
Declare this daily: Blessings are chasing after me.
”
”
Bo Sánchez (Nothing Much Has Changed (7 Success Principles from the Ancient Book of Proverbs for Your Money, Work, and Life)
“
When the winds of change blow, some people build walls, while others build windmills. Chinese Proverb
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”
Tim Elmore (Marching Off the Map: Inspire Students to Navigate a Brand New World)
“
Lord, to live as a rugged individualist is not your will for me, and it leaves me vulnerable. Change my heart and strengthen the church so we, your people, can truly be members of one another. Amen.
”
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Timothy J. Keller (God's Wisdom for Navigating Life: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Book of Proverbs)
“
Every day of your life, you are faced with opportunities. Unfortunately, the choices that face you are not heroic choices. They are bamboo tree choices. They are small, but progressive choices that steer you in a positive direction and over time you're bound to meet success. For most of us, we spend all our lives waiting for that life changing moment that will change the course of our lives and make us successful. Unfortunately, the clock is ticking. Every day, we choose not to tend to our bamboo tree, a choice is made for us and by the time we realize it, the seasons have passed and we have nothing to show for it.
”
”
Mary Maina (The Proverbs 31 Lady: Unveiling Her Timetested Success Secrets Before Saying I Do)
“
The Book of Proverbs contains a warning that speaks to us in our uncertain state: “Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”14 Those who believe they are changing the world, or saving the planet, or transforming the human race, are intoxicated with self-aggrandizing pride. As secular “redeemers,” a haughty spirit is their second nature. Consequently, they are deaf to this biblical wisdom.
”
”
David Horowitz (Dark Agenda: The War to Destroy Christian America)
“
Faites comme l’arbre, changez vos feuilles et gardez vos racines … Changez vos idées et gardez vos principes !
Be like the tree, change your leaves and keep your roots... Change your ideas and keep your principles!
”
”
Tibetan proverb
“
There’s an old proverb that money doesn’t change people, it just makes them more of who they are. Robert Caro has written that “power doesn’t corrupt, it reveals.” In some ways, prosperity—financial and personal—is the same way.
”
”
Ryan Holiday (The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living)
“
In order to know something, you must go back to the source. You have to be critical and wise what are the original roots and not the corrupted outcome but in order to know the truth, you have to examine all angles, all sides, all possible traces of deception, the fortress of protection of hidden elements camouflaged with what it seemed overlapping masks along a river of clear or dirty water. The water flows in varying speed depending on the atmospheric factors and men’s interventions in using the flowing water however, the stone remains.
Think of the truth: many would hide it, distort it, change it, bury it, or even destroy it but the uncorrupted truth, the unparalleled truth shall always come out.
How do you seek the truth?
When you seek for the truth, are you guided with an honest heart?
Why do you seek the truth?
Or, are you among those folks who prefer to hide or bury the truth thinking that the majority won’t find it out?
If and when the truth comes out, are you among those persons who will target sacrificial lambs for scapegoats?
It is wise to remember that the truth however hidden shall eventually come out.
A Cameroonian proverb says, "Water always finds a way out."
The same thing I can say about the truth:
the truth however hidden shall eventually come out.
The water flows, the stones remain.
The lies flow, the truth remains.
The truth thrives forever."
~ Angelica Hopes, an excerpt from K.H. Trilogy
”
”
Angelica Hopes
“
It is Never Too Late to Mend."
Since it can never be too late
To change your life, or else renew it,
Let the unpleasant process wait
Until you are compelled to do it.
The State provides (and gratis too)
Establishments for such as you.
Remember this, and pluck up heart,
That, be you publican or parson,
Your ev'ry art must have a start,
From petty larceny to arson;
And even in the burglar's trade,
The cracksman is not born, but made.
So, if in your career of crime,
You fail to carry out some "coup",
Then try again a second time,
And yet again, until you do;
And don't despair, or fear the worst,
Because you get found out at first.
Perhaps the battle will not go,
On all occasions, to the strongest;
You may be fairly certain tho'
That He Laughs Last who laughs the Longest.
So keep a good reserve of laughter,
Which may be found of use hereafter.
Believe me that, howe'er well meant,
A Good Resolve is always brief;
Don't let your precious hours be spent
In turning over a new leaf.
Such leaves, like Nature's, soon decay,
And then are only in the way.
The Road to—-well, a certain spot,
(A Road of very fair dimensions),
Has, so the proverb tells us, got
A parquet-floor of Good Intentions.
Take care, in your desire to please,
You do not add a brick to these.
For there may come a moment when
You shall be mended willy-nilly,
With many more misguided men,
Whose skill is undermined with skilly.
Till then procrastinate, my friend;
"It Never is Too Late to Mend!
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”
Harry Graham (Perverted Proverbs: A Manual of Immorals for the Many)
“
When it comes to yourself, follow God's formula-
deny yourself of overindulgence (Proverbs 23:2 and 30:8),
examine yourself for any sinful habits (1 Corinthians 11:28),
% exercise yourself to godliness (1 Timothy 4:7), and
IK- develop self-control (Galatians 5:23).
”
”
Elizabeth George (Small Changes for a Better Life: Daily Steps to Living Gods Plan for You)
“
Qui n’avance pas, recule.” A French proverb, one of Connor’s favorites. Who does not move forward, recedes. The proverb meant that life offers us the choice to evolve and accept the changes that inevitably come. Resist those changes, and we devolve into something less—a mere shadow of our true potential.
”
”
Christine Nolfi (The Passing Storm)
“
No worries" is the best thing to happen to sullen teenagers since I was one - even better than vampire sexting, GTL, or Call of Duty. When I was a sullen teenager, we had to make do wtih the vastly inferior "whatever".
"No worries" beats "whatever" six ways to Sunday. I'ts a vaguely mystical way of saying "I hear your mouth make noise, saying something that I plan to ignore." It has a noble Rasta-man vibe, as if you're quoting some sort of timeless yet meaningless proverb on the nature of change - "Soon come," or "As the cloud is slow, the wind is quick." In terms of ignoring provocation, "no worries" is just about perfect.
”
”
Rob Sheffield (Talking to Girls About Duran Duran)
“
PROLOGUE Equinox: Whispers of Destiny
Have you ever had the feeling that someone was playing with your destiny? If so, this book is for you.
Destiny is certainly a topic people like to talk about. Wherever we go, we hear it mentioned in conversations or proverbs that seek to lay bare its mysteries.
If we analyze people’s attitude towards destiny a little, we find straight away that at one extreme there are those who believe that everything in life is planned by a higher power and that therefore things always happen for a reason, even though our limited human understanding cannot comprehend why. In that perspective, everything is preordained, regardless of what we do or don’t do.
At the other extreme we find the I can do it! Believers. These focus on themselves: anything is possible if done with conviction, as part of the plan that they have drawn up themselves as the architects of their own destiny.
We can safely say that everything happens for a reason. Whether it’s because of decisions we take or simply because circumstances determine it, there is always more causation than coincidence in life. But sometimes such strange things happen. The most insignificant occurrence or decision can give way to the most unexpected futures.
Indeed, such twists of fate may well be the reason why you are reading my book now. Do you have any idea of the number of events, circumstances and decisions that had to conspire for me to write this and for you to be reading it now? There are so many coincidences that had to come together that it might almost seem a whim of destiny that today we are connected by these words. One infinitesimal change in that set of circumstances and everything would have been quite different…
All these fascinating ideas are to be found in Equinox.
I am drawn to fantasy literature because of all the coincidences to reality. As a reader you’re relaxed, your defenses down, trusting the writer to take you on an adventure. This is the ideal space for you to allow yourself to be carried away to an imaginary world that, paradoxically, will leave you reflecting on life questions that have little to do with fiction, but I ask you that perhaps maybe they do.
Gonzalo Guma
”
”
Gonzalo Guma (Equinoccio. Susurros del destino)
“
The younger sister was piqued, and in turn disparaged the life of a tradesman, and stood up for that of a peasant.
“I would not change my way of life for yours,” said she. “We may live roughly, but at least we are free from anxiety. You live in better style than we do, but though you often earn more than you need, you are very likely to lose all you have. You know the proverb, ‘Loss and gain are brothers twain.’ It often happens that people who are wealthy one day are begging their bread the next. Our way is safer. Though a peasant’s life is not a fat one, it is a long one. We shall never grow rich, but we shall always have enough to eat.”
The elder sister said sneeringly:
“Enough? Yes, if you like to share with the pigs and the calves! What do you know of elegance or manners! However much your good man may slave, you will die as you are living-on a dung heap-and your children the same.”
“Well, what of that?” replied the younger. “Of course our work is rough and coarse. But, on the other hand, it is sure; and we need not bow to any one. But you, in your towns, are surrounded by temptations; today all may be right, but tomorrow the Evil One may tempt your husband with cards, wine, or women, and all will go to ruin. Don’t such things happen often enough?
”
”
Leo Tolstoy (How Much Land Does a Man Need? and Other Stories)
“
What about The Palest Ink? It goes with the proverb that ‘the palest ink is better than the best memory.’” “What’s that mean?” Pony Boy asked. Zu Wren bounced on the seat, obviously excited. “It means that people’s memories change over time, but if there’s a written account, then it will be more accurately remembered.
”
”
Kay Bratt (The Palest Ink (Tales of the Scavenger's Daughters #0))
“
Wedding Superstitions
The Bridal Gown
White - You have chosen right.
Grey - You'll go far away.
Black - You'll wish yourself back.
Red - You'll wish yourself dead.
Green - Ashamed to be seen.
Blue - You'll always be true.
Pearl - You'll live in a whirl.
Peach - A love out of reach.
Yellow - Ashamed of your fellow.
Pink - Your Spirits will sink.
The Wedding Day
Monday for health, Tuesday for wealth,
Wednesday best of all,
Thursday for losses, Friday for crosses,
Saturday for no luck at all.
The Wedding Month
Marry in May, and you'll rue the day,
Marry in Lent, you'll live to repent.
Married when the year is new,
He'll be loving, kind and true.
When February birds do mate,
You wed nor dread your fate.
If you wed when March winds blow,
Joy and sorrow both you'll know.
Marry in April when you can,
Joy for maiden and the man.
Marry in the month of May,
And you'll surely rue the day.
Marry when the June roses grow,
Over land and sea you'll go.
Those who in July do wed,
Must labour for their daily bread.
Whoever wed in August be,
Many a change is sure to see.
Marry in September's shine,
Your living will be rich and fine.
If in October you do marry,
Love will come, but riches tarry.
If you wed in bleak November,
Only joys will come, remember,
When December's snows fall fast,
Marry and true love will last.
Married in January's roar and rime,
Widowed you'll be before your prime.
Married in February's sleepy weather,
Life you'll tread in time together.
Married when March winds shrill and roar,
Your home will lie on a distant shore.
Married 'neath April's changeful skies,
A checkered path before you lies.
Married when bees o'er May blossoms flit,
Strangers around your board will sit.
Married in month of roses June,
Life will be one long honeymoon.
Married in July with flowers ablaze,
Bitter-sweet memories in after days.
Married in August's heat and drowse,
Lover and friend in your chosen spouse.
Married in September's golden glow,
Smooth and serene your life will go.
Married when leaves in October thin,
Toil and hardships for you begin.
Married in veils of November mist,
Fortune your wedding ring has kissed.
Married in days of December's cheer,
Love's star shines brighter from year to year
”
”
New Zealand Proverb
“
Az men krigt zikh miten rov, muz men sholem zein miten shainker,” Avi had said when he first put the rifle in Jacob’s hands. The old Yiddish proverb could be roughly translated as, “If you’re at odds with your rabbi, make peace with your bartender.” His uncle offered no explanation, but as Jacob had chewed on its meaning, he had concluded that Avi meant something like, “Always be prepared” or “Have a plan B.” The problem was, Jacob didn’t want a plan B. He didn’t want life to change. He wanted things to be the way they had always been.
”
”
Joel C. Rosenberg (The Auschwitz Escape)
“
The Wisdom tradition had originally little connection with Moses and Sinai but was associated with King Solomon, who had a reputation for this type of acumen16 and three of the Kethuvim were attributed to him: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and the Song of Songs. Proverbs was a collection of common-sense aphorisms, similar to the two quoted above. Ecclesiastes, a flagrantly cynical meditation, saw all things as ‘vanity’, and appeared to undermine the entire Torah tradition, while the Song of Songs was an erotic poem with no apparent spiritual content.
”
”
Karen Armstrong (The Bible: A Biography (Books That Changed the World))
“
Nothing is perfect, final, or fixed in this material world. As soon as we are tempted to believe it is, we’ve probably set ourselves up for disappointment. What we’re truly striving for is the permanence that we can count on, amid all the change and flux. And the most permanent, secure, and stable thing we can possess is a foolproof way to deal with impermanence, insecurity, and surprise. A real connection with some greater awareness of the wellspring of our being and our universe will always provide the ultimate relief and resolution. But, as an Arab proverb so appropriately counsels: Trust in Allah, and tie your camel.
”
”
David Allen (Making It All Work: Winning At The Game Of Work And The Business Of Life)
“
There’s a force that can be equally as damaging as a gun because it means life or death not just to the body but to the soul, and every human being is issued one at birth. It’s called the mouth. Proverbs says, “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Prov. 18:21 NIV). Words are powerful. So much of our baggage—self-esteem, pride, trust, and envy—has been planted in our souls by the words that important people in our life used. With words self-esteems are shaped. Wars started. Murders initiated. Divorces sealed. Children crushed. And while we are sensitive about the words that come to us, we are often careless about what comes out.
”
”
Pete Wilson (Let Hope In: 4 Choices That Will Change Your Life Forever)
“
42. Your process of thinking should change as you get older. If it doesn’t, then you haven’t grown up. If you still have the same mindset and perception of life that you had 10 plus years ago, then you are still a child. And this is the problem with many black communities today; we are grown up children, still looking, talking, and acting like we did when we were kids. Back in the day, you could tell a man from a boy or a woman from a girl by the way he/she dressed and talked. But today, you have to see someone drivers license in order to tell their age. This is a sign that we as a people are still stuck in our youth. And until our way of thinking matures, our circumstances will remain the same.
”
”
Maurice W. Lindsay (Wake Up To Your True Identity: 144 Empowering Proverbs For People of The African Diaspora)
“
An elder sister came from the town to visit her younger sister in the country. This elder sister was married to a merchant and the younger to a peasant in the village. The two sisters sat down for a talk over a cup of tea and the elder started boasting about the superiority of town life, with all its comforts, the fine clothes her children wore, the exquisite food and drink, parties and visits to the theatre.
The younger sister resented this and in turn scoffed at the life of a merchant's wife and sang the praise of her own life as a peasant.
'I wouldn't care to change my life for yours,' she said. 'I admit mine is dull, but at least we have no worries. You live in grander style, but you must do a great deal of business or you'll be ruined. You know the proverb, "Loss is Gain's elder brother." One day you are rich and the next you might find yourself out in the street. Here in the country we don't have these ups and downs. A peasant's life may be poor, but it's long. Although we may never be rich, we'll always have enough to eat.'
Then the elder sister said her piece.
'Enough to eat but nothing but those filthy pigs and calves! What do you know about nice clothes and good manners! However hard your good husband slaves away you'll spend your lives in the muck and that's where you'll die. And the same goes for your children.'
'Well, what of it?' the younger answered. 'That's how it is here. But at least we know where we are. We don't have to crawl to anyone and we're afraid of no one. But you in town are surrounded by temptations. All may be well one day, the next the Devil comes along and tempts your husband with cards, women and drink. And then you're ruined. It does happen, doesn't it?
”
”
Leo Tolstoy (How Much Land Does a Man Need?)
“
Preparations for war, which the most false of all proverbs recommends as a way of ensuring peace, in fact create the belief in each of the adversaries that the other wants to break off relations, a belief which brings about that very breakdown, and then, once it has taken place, the further belief on each side that it was the other side who wanted it. Even if the threat was not sincere, its success encourages its repetition. But the exact limits of successful bluffing are difficult to determine; if one party goes too far, the other, which up to that point had been retreating, begins to advance; the first, unable to change its methods, accustomed now to the idea that the best way to avoid a breakdown is to seem not to fear it (as I had done this evening with Albertine), and, in its pride, preferring defeat to surrender, continues its threats up to the point where neither party can any longer retreat.
”
”
Marcel Proust (The Prisoner: In Search of Lost Time, Volume 5 (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition))
“
MAY 31 The Power of Your Words Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. PROVERBS 18:21 NASB OUR WORDS have tremendous power and are similar to seeds. By speaking them aloud, they are planted in our subconscious minds, take root, grow, and produce fruit of the same kind. Whether we speak positive or negative words, we will reap exactly what we sow. That’s why we need to be extremely careful what we think and say. The Bible compares the tongue to the small rudder of a huge ship, which controls the ship’s direction (see James 3:4). Similarly, your tongue will control the direction of your life. You create an environment for either good or evil with your words, and if you’re always murmuring, complaining, and talking about how bad life is treating you, you’re going to live in a pretty miserable world. Use your words to change your negative situations and fill them with life.
”
”
Joel Osteen (Your Best Life Begins Each Morning: Devotions to Start Every New Day of the Year)
“
My own theological views are those of an agnostic—one who doesn’t know. I do not know whether there is a Divine designer or not. As an agnostic, what impresses me first of all is the woeful limits of our human knowledge. I respect the power of reason, but I also respect those aspects of religious faith that are compassionate and consoling. Many people could not live their lives without the consolation of faith. The virtues of religion should not be dismissed lightly. The Christian testament has a beautiful phrase for our limited human understanding: “For now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”13 Believers trust the biblical promise that all our questions will be answered when we meet God face-to-face in eternity. That promise is the heart of religious faith. For an agnostic, that promise is a reminder that our knowledge in this life is incomplete. We are well into the twenty-first century, and we marvel at the spectacular achievements of science. But science still does not know how the universe was created or how life began. The Book of Proverbs contains a warning that speaks to us in our uncertain state: “Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”14 Those who believe they are changing the world, or saving the planet, or transforming the human race, are intoxicated with self-aggrandizing pride. As secular “redeemers,” a haughty spirit is their second nature. Consequently, they are deaf to this biblical wisdom. The secularists are confident that the nonexistence of God is a self-evident fact. It infuriates them that religionists (or “irrationalists,” as Bill Maher calls them) resist what they think is obviously, indisputably true. Believing they know a truth that cannot be known, and that others resist, they are prepared to use any means necessary to silence their opponents and achieve their goals.
”
”
David Horowitz (Dark Agenda: The War to Destroy Christian America)
“
Muhammad once was talking to a crowd
of chieftains, princes with great influence,
when a poor blind man interrupted him.
Muhammad frowned and said to the man,
"Let me attend to these visitors.
This is a rare chance,
whereas you are already my friend.
We'll have ample time."
Then somebody nearby said, "That blind man
may be worth a hundred kings. Remember the proverb, Human beings are mines."
World-power means nothing. Only the unsayable, jeweled inner life matters.
Muhammad replied, "Do not think that I'm concerned with being acknowledged by these authorities.
If a beetle moves toward rosewater, it proves
that the solution is diluted. Beetles
love dung, not rose essence.
If a coin is eager to be tested
by the touchstone, that coin
itself may be a touchstone.
A thief loves the night.
I am day. I reveal essences.
A calf thinks God is a cow.
A donkey's theology changes
when someone new pets it
and gives it what it wants.
I am not a cow, or thistles for camels
to browse on. People who insult me
are only polishing the mirror
”
”
Jalal ad-Din Muhammad ar-Rumi (The Essential Rumi)
“
Alexander never did what he said, Cesare never said what he did.
Italian Proverb.
Therefore it is unnecessary for a prince to have all the good qualities I have enumerated, but it is very necessary to appear to have them. And I shall dare to say this also, that to have them and always to observe them is injurious, and that to appear to have them is useful; to appear merciful, faithful, humane, religious, upright, and to be so, but with a mind so framed that should you require not to be so, you may be able and know how to change to the opposite.
And you have to understand this, that a prince, especially a new one, cannot observe all those things for which men are esteemed, being often forced, in order to maintain the state, to act contrary to fidelity, friendship, humanity, and religion. Therefore it is necessary for him to have a mind ready to turn itself accordingly as
the winds and variations of fortune force it, yet, as I have said above, not to diverge from the good if he can avoid doing so, but, if compelled, then to know how to set about it.
”
”
Niccolò Machiavelli (Niccolo Machiavelli The Prince)
“
If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem,” or Martin Luther King’s statement that “our scientific power has outgrown our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men,” or Malcolm’s “We can work together with all other leaders and organizations, in harmony and unity, to eliminate evil in our community.” The saying “It takes a whole village to raise a child” (which I had seen in a little newsletter identifying it as an African proverb) really caught on. After about a year organizations all over the country began using it, and Hillary Rodham Clinton recently adapted it for the title of her book. Jimmy also began writing a regular column for the newsletter, raising all sorts of questions, such as, “Why are we at war with one another.?” “How will we make a living?” “What Time is it in Detroit and the World?”1 Clementine’s deeply felt appeals, Jimmy’s challenging questions, and my inclusion of news of community-building activities all helped to create the image of SOSAD as not just another organization but the spearhead of a new movement.
”
”
Grace Lee Boggs (Living for Change: An Autobiography)
“
Lying there in silence, Elim thought about how quickly a person’s fate could change, how precious life and health are. He had walked into this very room two days ago as a practicing physician, a man in control, with the power to heal, looking down on the sick American on the same bed where he himself now lay. He had never known just how different the world looked from the other side.
He vowed that if he became well, he would cherish every day. And although he had never wished ill health on another person, there and then he wondered if every physician might benefit from being sick—really sick—just once. He wondered if it would make them all care a little more, or work a little harder, to have been on the other side for a while—to have placed their life and livelihood in the hands of a stranger, even if for only a short period. He had considered himself a very conscientious physician before this, but he imagined that if he lived, he would be even more dedicated to his patients.
Staring at the ceiling, he was reminded of an old Indian proverb: A healthy person has a hundred wishes, but a sick person has only one.
”
”
A.G. Riddle (Pandemic (The Extinction Files, #1))
“
MORE FROM GOD’S WORD A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord determines his steps. Proverbs 16:9 HCSB For everything created by God is good, and nothing should be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving. 1 Timothy 4:4 HCSB Should we accept only good from God and not adversity? Job 2:10 HCSB He is the Lord. Let him do what he thinks is best. 1 Samuel 3:18 NCV Sheathe your sword! Should I not drink the cup that the Father has given Me? John 18:11 HCSB Can you understand the secrets of God? His limits are higher than the heavens; you cannot reach them! They are deeper than the grave; you cannot understand them! His limits are longer than the earth and wider than the sea. Job 11:7-9 NCV Human plans, no matter how wise or well advised, cannot stand against the LORD. Proverbs 21:30 NLT SHADES OF GRACE The grace of God means something like: Here is your life. You might never have been, but you are because the party wouldn’t have been complete without you. Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don’t be afraid. I am with you. Nothing can ever separate us. It’s for you I created the universe. I love you. Frederick Buechner A PRAYER FOR TODAY Lord, when I am discouraged, give me hope. When I am impatient, give me peace. When I face circumstances that I cannot change, give me a spirit of acceptance. In all things great and small, let me trust in You, Dear Lord, knowing that You are the Giver of life and the Giver of all things good, today and forever. Amen
”
”
Freeman Smith (Fifty Shades of Grace: Devotions Celebrating God's Unlimited Gift)
“
How I Got That Name
Marilyn Chin
an essay on assimilation
I am Marilyn Mei Ling Chin
Oh, how I love the resoluteness
of that first person singular
followed by that stalwart indicative
of “be," without the uncertain i-n-g
of “becoming.” Of course,
the name had been changed
somewhere between Angel Island and the sea,
when my father the paperson
in the late 1950s
obsessed with a bombshell blond
transliterated “Mei Ling” to “Marilyn.”
And nobody dared question
his initial impulse—for we all know
lust drove men to greatness,
not goodness, not decency.
And there I was, a wayward pink baby,
named after some tragic white woman
swollen with gin and Nembutal.
My mother couldn’t pronounce the “r.”
She dubbed me “Numba one female offshoot”
for brevity: henceforth, she will live and die
in sublime ignorance, flanked
by loving children and the “kitchen deity.”
While my father dithers,
a tomcat in Hong Kong trash—
a gambler, a petty thug,
who bought a chain of chopsuey joints
in Piss River, Oregon,
with bootlegged Gucci cash.
Nobody dared question his integrity given
his nice, devout daughters
and his bright, industrious sons
as if filial piety were the standard
by which all earthly men are measured.
*
Oh, how trustworthy our daughters,
how thrifty our sons!
How we’ve managed to fool the experts
in education, statistic and demography—
We’re not very creative but not adverse to rote-learning.
Indeed, they can use us.
But the “Model Minority” is a tease.
We know you are watching now,
so we refuse to give you any!
Oh, bamboo shoots, bamboo shoots!
The further west we go, we’ll hit east;
the deeper down we dig, we’ll find China.
History has turned its stomach
on a black polluted beach—
where life doesn’t hinge
on that red, red wheelbarrow,
but whether or not our new lover
in the final episode of “Santa Barbara”
will lean over a scented candle
and call us a “bitch.”
Oh God, where have we gone wrong?
We have no inner resources!
*
Then, one redolent spring morning
the Great Patriarch Chin
peered down from his kiosk in heaven
and saw that his descendants were ugly.
One had a squarish head and a nose without a bridge
Another’s profile—long and knobbed as a gourd.
A third, the sad, brutish one
may never, never marry.
And I, his least favorite—
“not quite boiled, not quite cooked,"
a plump pomfret simmering in my juices—
too listless to fight for my people’s destiny.
“To kill without resistance is not slaughter”
says the proverb. So, I wait for imminent death.
The fact that this death is also metaphorical
is testament to my lethargy.
*
So here lies Marilyn Mei Ling Chin,
married once, twice to so-and-so, a Lee and a Wong,
granddaughter of Jack “the patriarch”
and the brooding Suilin Fong,
daughter of the virtuous Yuet Kuen Wong
and G.G. Chin the infamous,
sister of a dozen, cousin of a million,
survived by everbody and forgotten by all.
She was neither black nor white,
neither cherished nor vanquished,
just another squatter in her own bamboo grove
minding her poetry—
when one day heaven was unmerciful,
and a chasm opened where she stood.
Like the jowls of a mighty white whale,
or the jaws of a metaphysical Godzilla,
it swallowed her whole.
She did not flinch nor writhe,
nor fret about the afterlife,
but stayed! Solid as wood, happily
a little gnawed, tattered, mesmerized
by all that was lavished upon her
and all that was taken away!
”
”
Marilyn Chin
“
Lfr Jp tZ~ LLtI~
A righteous [woman] who walks in [her] integrity-how blessed are [her] sons after [her].
-PROVERBS 20:7
My Bob often says, "Just do what you say you are going to do!" This has been our battle cry for more than 25 years. People get into relational problems because they forget to keep their promises. It's so easy to make a verbal promise for the moment and then grapple with the execution of that promise later.
Sometimes we underestimate the consequences of not keeping the promise flippantly made in a moment of haste. Many times we aren't even aware we have made a promise. Someone says, "I'll call you at 7:00 tonight"; "I'll drop by before noon"; or "I'll call you to set up a breakfast meeting on Wednesday." Then the weak excuses begin to follow. "I called but no one answered" (even though you have voice mail and no message was left). "I got tied up and forgot." "I was too tired."
I suggest that we don't make promises if we aren't going to keep them. The person on the other end would prefer not hearing a promise that isn't going to be kept.
Yes, there will be times when the execution of a promise will have to be rescheduled, but be up front with the person when you call to change the time. We aren't perfect, but we can mentor proper relationship skills to our friends and family by exhibiting accountability in our words of promise. We teach people that we are trustworthy-and how they can be trusted too.
You'll be pleased at how people will pleasantly be surprised when you keep your promises. As my friend Florence Littauer says, "It takes so little to be above average." When you develop a reputation for being a woman who does what she says, your life will have more meaning and people will enjoy being around you.
”
”
Emilie Barnes (The Tea Lover's Devotional)
“
If we take God’s Word seriously, we should avoid debt when possible. In those rare cases where we go into debt, we should make every effort to get out as soon as we can. We should never undertake debt without prayerful consideration and wise counsel. Our questions should be, Why go into debt? Is the risk called for? Will the benefits of becoming servants to the lender really outweigh the costs? What should we ask ourselves before going into debt? Before we incur debt, we should ask ourselves some basic spiritual questions: Is the fact that I don’t have enough resources to pay cash for something God’s way of telling me it isn’t his will for me to buy it? Or is it possible that this thing may have been God’s will but poor choices put me in a position where I can’t afford to buy it? Wouldn’t I do better to learn God’s lesson by foregoing it until—by his provision and my diligence—I save enough money to buy it? What I would call the “debt mentality” is a distorted perspective that involves invalid assumptions: • We need more than God has given us. • God doesn’t know best what our needs are. • God has failed to provide for our needs, forcing us to take matters into our own hands. • If God doesn’t come through the way we think he should, we can find another way. • Just because today’s income is sufficient to make our debt payments, tomorrow’s will be too (i.e., our circumstances won’t change). Those with convictions against borrowing will normally find ways to avoid it. Those without a firm conviction against going into debt will inevitably find the “need” to borrow. The best credit risks are those who won’t borrow in the first place. The more you’re inclined to go into debt, the more probable it is that you shouldn’t. Ask yourself, “Is the money I’ll be obligated to repay worth the value I’ll receive by getting the money or possessions now? When it comes time for me to repay my debt, what new needs will I have that my debt will keep me from meeting? Or what new wants will I have that will tempt me to go further into debt?” Consider these statements of God’s Word: • “True godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content” (1 Timothy 6:6-8). • “Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness!” (Ecclesiastes 5:10). • “My child, don’t lose sight of common sense and discernment. Hang on to them, for they will refresh your soul. They are like jewels on a necklace. They keep you safe on your way, and your feet will not stumble. You can go to bed without fear; you will lie down and sleep soundly. You need not be afraid of sudden disaster or the destruction that comes upon the wicked, for the LORD is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap” (Proverbs 3:21-26). • “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect” (Romans 12:2).
”
”
Randy Alcorn (Managing God's Money: A Biblical Guide)
“
God Will Change You Many plans are in a man’s mind, but it is the Lord’s purpose for him that will stand. PROVERBS 19:21 Even though you may still be operating in old habits, you still have hope of change, but you can’t change yourself. God will change you, if you seek Him with your whole heart. Don’t be in a hurry for God to finish working in your life. We want everything to be done instantly, but God is not interested in our schedule. The enemy may thwart your plans, but God’s plans don’t get thwarted, and He has a unique plan for you. Seek God’s plan for your life. Stay on fire, red hot, zealous. Pursue His purpose for you with every ounce of energy you have. There is nothing in this world that is worth seeking more.
”
”
Joyce Meyer (Starting Your Day Right: Devotions for Each Morning of the Year)
“
If your caravan mixed to the imitators caravan, change the path of your caravan, because the consequence of imitators caravan is trouble and pain.
”
”
Kamaran Ihsan Salih
“
Change my heart so I can walk in your footsteps. Amen.
”
”
Timothy J. Keller (God's Wisdom for Navigating Life: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Book of Proverbs)
“
Lord Jesus, you answered your opponents wisely and brilliantly but patiently and constantly. How I want to give back to my critics—with verve—the same disdain they show me. But I want to be like you, not them. Change my heart to make it so. Amen.
”
”
Timothy J. Keller (God's Wisdom for Navigating Life: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Book of Proverbs)
“
As beings, we should not thrive to change the world but change ourselves. For if we changed ourselves all things are possible.
”
”
Henry Johnson Jr
“
The Rules of Marriage hasn't changed since Adam. Break the Rules and Break your Marriage
”
”
Samuel Asumadu-Sarkodie
“
Like my heart’s pain that has long missed its meaning,
the sun’s rays robed in dark hide themselves under the ground.
Like my heart’s pain at love’s sudden touch,
they change their veil at the spring’s call
and come out in the carnival of colors,
in flowers and leaves.
”
”
Rabindranath Tagore (Fireflies: a collection of proverbs, aphorisms and maxims (Golden Thread Series))
“
The world is the ever-changing foam that floats on the surface of a sea of silence.
”
”
Rabindranath Tagore (Fireflies: a collection of proverbs, aphorisms and maxims (Golden Thread Series))
“
I drifted over to the bulletin board and read '"Don't think there are no crocodiles just because the water is calm" - Malayan Proverb.'
Just beside that was, "' If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the results of a hundred battles," - Sun Tzu."
It made me a little sad. In the good old days, Rachel would have had a bunch of quotes about being a good person or whatever. It just showed how much our lives had changed. In a very short time we had all grown accustomed to a world of fear and danger. We had arrived at Rachel's house separately. We had each checked to make sure we weren't being followed. We had planed the afternoon in advance to be sure that Rachel's mom and her two sisters would be out. We had even had Tobias fly over the area looking for anything unusual.
That's what our lives had become. That and quotations full of paranoia and battle.
-Animorphs #4, The Message page 10
”
”
K.A. Applegate
“
Yes, that’s right. Not wanting to be disliked is probably my task, but whether or not so-and-so dislikes me is the other person’s task. Even if there is a person who doesn’t think well of me, I cannot intervene in that. To borrow from the proverb I mentioned earlier, naturally one would make the effort to lead someone to water, but whether he drinks or not is that person’s task.
”
”
Ichiro Kishimi (The Courage to Be Disliked: The Japanese Phenomenon That Shows You How to Change Your Life and Achieve Real Happiness)
“
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5 NIV
”
”
Alfred Ells (The Resilient Leader: How Adversity Can Change You and Your Ministry for the Better)
“
He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city. Proverbs 16:32
”
”
Alfred Ells (The Resilient Leader: How Adversity Can Change You and Your Ministry for the Better)
“
Then spend some time thinking about Scriptures that are joy-filled (for example, Romans 15:13, Philippians 4:4, Romans 14:17, Psalm 16:9, Proverbs 10:28, 1 Thessalonians 5:16). If you change
”
”
Joyce Meyer (Overload: How to Unplug, Unwind, and Unleash Yourself from the Pressure of Stress)
“
Thus arose that silent conflict and that smouldering mutual enmity which almost always result from the contact of the Teuton with the Slav. The serfs instinctively regretted the good old times, when they lived under the rough-and-ready patriarchal rule of their masters, assisted by a native "burmister," or overseer, who was one of themselves. The burmister had not always been honest in his dealings with them, and the master had often, when in anger, ordered severe punishments to be inflicted; but the burmister had not attempted to make them change their old habits, and had shut his eyes to many little sins of emission and commission, whilst the master was always ready to assist them in difficulties, and commonly treated them in a kindly, familiar way. As the old Russian proverb has it, "Where danger is, there too is kindly forgiveness." Karl Karl'itch, on the contrary, was the personification of uncompassionate, inflexible law. Blind rage and compassionate kindliness were alike foreign to his system of government. If he had any feeling towards the serfs, it was one of chronic contempt. The word durak (blockhead) was constantly on his lips, and when any bit of work was well done, he took it as a matter of course, and never thought of giving a word of approval or encouragement.
”
”
Donald Mackenzie Wallace (Russia)
“
There is old Chinese proverb: ‘cannot change your fate, only change your attitude’—so have to accept life and continue in best way.
”
”
H.Y. Hanna (Wrongfully Infused (Oxford Tearoom Mysteries, #11))
“
Anger in Parents A fool gives full vent to his anger. (Proverbs 29:11 CSB) Anger in parents is a grace killer in your home. Anger in parenting can stem from a variety of personal agendas, when parents seek compliance, obedience, personal comfort, respect, the good opinion of others, reputation, etc. What we know is that angry responses in parenting are never about a love and concern for a child. Here are some things that anger does in parenting: Anger instills in a child a fear of a person rather than a fear of God. It incites animosity rather than trust. Anger teaches children that any sin and failure will cause hostility from God. They worry that God responds to them in similar ways. Anger crushes your children’s spirit. They feel shame and worldly guilt instead of life-giving faith that produces change. It produces condemnation, not conviction. Anger embitters your children and alienates them from you and possibly other adults. You can combat this by reining in your own emotions so that anger, fear, and frustration do not control your discipline. Don’t be easily offended. Though it is right for kids to know that their words can impact you, we do not want to hold them hostage to our emotional irregularities or insecurity. Invite feedback and critiques from your children. Let them say the hard things they need to say to you. Ask how things felt to them. Ask what you could have said or done to help them in the moment. Pray with them and for them. We should pray that we are not a stumbling block to our children, but a pathway to hope and the good news.
”
”
Julie Lowe (Child Proof: Parenting By Faith, Not Formula)
“
What science is showing us today is what God told us through Solomon almost three thousand years ago: “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7 NKJV). So if both the Bible and modern science teach us that our lives are moving in the direction of our strongest thoughts, then we need to make time for introspection and ask ourselves, “Do I like the direction my thoughts are taking me?
”
”
Craig Groeschel (Winning the War in Your Mind for Teens: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life)
“
Without trust, we cannot come to God with our hearts, and He cannot change us and renew us. When we put our trust in Him, He transforms us, making us able to trust others and allowing others to trust us, too.
”
”
Jessica Mathisen (Proverbs 31: A Life of Truth and Grace)
“
If I choose to be generous even when I don't feel generous, God is able to work through me and change others in ways that I would never have expected. God needs me to be open to anything he puts in my path, and I have to be willing and bold enough to take part in what He is doing.-Hannah Hussain
”
”
Jessica Mathisen (Proverbs 31: A Life of Truth and Grace)
“
Test the other person. See how he responds to you when you don't give him what he wants. If you don't see consistent changes in the way he thinks, acts, and interacts with you and others, don't for a minute believe his words or his profuse tears. (Proverbs 26:23-24) Jesus said, "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance." (Matthew 3:8.)
”
”
Leslie Vernick (The Emotionally Destructive Relationship: Seeing It, Stopping It, Surviving It)
“
Through intentional steps, those who follow paths of recovery discover their neediness and weakness and release their shame and their failed efforts to a path made straight (Proverbs 3:6). They are more self-aware, more reflective, and more able to dig into their personal stories, memories, thoughts, and emotions. They pursue ongoing change through the power of the Holy Spirit. They are sinners who get up when they fall (Proverbs 24:16) and cling to the hope and knowledge of Christ’s sanctifying work in their lives. They are dangerous to the status quo. Having awakened, they pursue others. They give away the hope and life they received. Knowing what prison feels like, they are patient and kind, but also skilled in helping others find the keys to unlock shackles.
”
”
Sam Black (The Healing Church: What Churches Get Wrong about Pornography and How to Fix It)
“
Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go; lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.” (Proverbs 22:34–35) “But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.” (1 Corinthians 5:13) “Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character.” (1 Corinthians 15:33) “A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty; rescue them, and you will have to do it again.” (Proverbs 19:19) As you can see from the above scriptures, God is direct with us. He doesn’t feel your spirituality can sufficiently grow in an abusive relationship. If you want to live in peace, then you are the one who needs to make the changes to have peace. However, Satan knows this and will do everything he can to keep you in an abusive relationship or thinking about your abuser long after you have been discarded.
”
”
Shannon L. Alder (The Narcissistic Abuse Recovery Bible: Spiritual Recovery from Narcissistic and Emotional Abuse)
“
Be teachable. You’re not always right." (@ML_Philosophy)
"The tombstone of capitalism will later say: too much was not enough." (Volker Pispers)
"Smiling mobilizes 15 muscles, but sulking requires 40. Rest: smile!" (Christophe André)
"Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. And today? Today is a gift that"s why they call it the present." - (@TheWordicle)
"When you realize how precious and fragile life is, it changes your whole perspective." (Ryan O’Donnell)
"A kind word can warm up to three months of winter" - Japanese proverb
"It’s better to walk alone than with a crowd going in the wrong direction." (@wise_chimp)
"The truth is not always beautiful, nor beautiful words the truth." - Lao Tzu
"... We get old too soon, and wise too late." (@_AhmadHijazi)
"Nothing in the world is worth turning away from what we love" - Albert Camus
"I am allowed to say NO to others and YES to myself." (@Lenka49044040)
"You can only live forwards, understand life only backwards." (Søren Kierkegaard)
"Write your life - Or they'll wait till you're dead to write the lie" ... (@spectraspeaks)
”
”
dali48
“
For example, if you need a job, you can go look for one. That is something that you can do, and if you do it, then God will help you get the right job. You cannot make a company hire you, but God can change the heart of the king (those in charge) even as He changes the course of the water flowing in rivers (Proverbs 21:1).
”
”
Joyce Meyer (Overload: How to Unplug, Unwind, and Unleash Yourself from the Pressure of Stress)
“
True change, however, requires humility—a relinquishing of our rights that we might embrace His (Psalm 25:9; Proverbs 10:12).
”
”
Our Daily Bread Ministries (God Hears Her: 365 Devotions for Women by Women)
“
Note that the Bible talks a lot about money.
And a lot of those verses are warnings against the temptations of wealth—how the love of money can corrupt our hearts and destroy our lives. Those warnings are very serious, and we must listen and obey.
Money, like anything good in this world, can pulls us away from God and His way.
The other day, I was reading a sad report on giving. According to the study, when people's income increases, their giving decreases. Sadly, the poor outgive the rich.
Because money can become an idol that we worship.
And I'll be the first one to tell you to prioritize peace over prosperity any time of the day. God must be the center of every area of our life, especially our financial life. At the end of the day, only God can satisfy the deepest longings of your life.
Very Important Point: As much as there are Success Principles in the Bible, its core message is not how to succeed in your work or finances but in following Jesus and building His Kingdom in this world.
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Bo Sánchez (Nothing Much Has Changed (7 Success Principles from the Ancient Book of Proverbs for Your Money, Work, and Life)
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I've been reading Proverbs for decades now, but I'm still blown away how a three-thousand-year-old text can impact our modern financial life today.
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Bo Sánchez (Nothing Much Has Changed (7 Success Principles from the Ancient Book of Proverbs for Your Money, Work, and Life)
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Four Farmers
Once upon a time, there were four farmers who lived beside each other: Farmer Fraidy, Farmer Flaky, Farmer Fancy, and Farmer Focused.
Out of all these Farmers, only Farmer Focused had a huge harvest every year. Fraidy, Flaky, and Fancy always had very tiny harvests. Let me tell you why.
Farmer Fraidy
Farmer Fraidy doesn't plant too many seeds. Why? He's filled with fear. He's afraid that the seeds won't grow. Or if they grow, they won't bear fruit. Or if they bear fruit, no one will buy the fruit. He imagines the worst scenario. He's paralyzed by the question, "What if?" Such as, "What if there's a storm that will destroy my crops? What if there's a bug infestation? What if there's an alien invasion?"
He entertains his fears so much, he plants very little seeds. Because of that, he has very little harvest.
Farmer Flaky
On the other hand, Farmer Flaky plants a lot of seeds but he's distracted. He goofs off in the middle of the season. He spends a lot of time on Facebook. He plays video games. He watches all kinds of telenovelas—Filipino, Korean, Mexican, and Martian. He goes off to Hong Kong to eat xiao long bao. In short, he neglects the farm. Many of the crops don't grow.
Farmer Fancy
This guy farms in the wrong way. He chooses the wrong seed, tills the soil in the wrong way, and harvests them in the wrong way, too. When other farmers give him suggestions on how to improve, he doesn't listen. He's simply too proud. And that's why his harvest is very small.
These three Farmers are connected to the first Success Principle from Proverbs.
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Bo Sánchez (Nothing Much Has Changed (7 Success Principles from the Ancient Book of Proverbs for Your Money, Work, and Life)
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The lazy man won't go out and work. 'There might be a lion outside!' he says. He sticks to his bed like a door to its hinges! He is too tired even to lift his food from his dish to his mouth! Yet in his own opinion he is smarter than seven wise men" (Proverbs 26:13-16 TLB).
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Bo Sánchez (Nothing Much Has Changed (7 Success Principles from the Ancient Book of Proverbs for Your Money, Work, and Life)
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Reason 1: Fear
The first part says, "The lazy man won't go out and work. 'There might be a lion outside!' he says" (Proverbs 26:13, TLB).
Fear grips Farmer Fraidy.
Laziness is already mentioned, but the example given was about fear. It says that he doesn't want to go out because of a lion. We all have an imaginary lion in our lives.
From my experience, I believe it's uncertainty. All change is terrifying because it's unfamiliar. This is the chilling truth: Some people would prefer the certainty of their present poverty rather than the uncertainty of their future prosperity. Sad but real.
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Bo Sánchez (Nothing Much Has Changed (7 Success Principles from the Ancient Book of Proverbs for Your Money, Work, and Life)
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Reason 2: Laziness
Farmer Flaky is imprisoned by laziness.
The next verse describe this paralysis: "He sticks to his bed like a door to its hinges! He is too tired even to lift his food from his dish to his mouth!" (Proverbs 26:14-15, TLB).
Who says the Bible is boring? This verse is so funny. It gives you the height of laziness: There's already food on his plate, yet he's too tired to lift his spoon to his mouth. Absurd? Not really. Look around you. So many are surrounded by wonderful opportunities to grow themselves. Yet they don't life their spoon. Instead, they want to be spoon-fed like babies.
But we live in different times.
When my son was fourteen years old, he learned how to play the drums, how to edit videos, how to arrange songs, how to make websites. How? By watching YouTube videos. He also learned enough fashion sense to be my fashion stylist, so he can tell me what to wear on stage so I don't look like Mr. Bean. That's the kind of universe we live in. Because of the Internet, all the libraries of the world are now in your bedroom and you can access them by just one press of a button.
Yet people remain immobilized. Stuck. Frozen.
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Bo Sánchez (Nothing Much Has Changed (7 Success Principles from the Ancient Book of Proverbs for Your Money, Work, and Life)
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Reason 3: Pride
The next verse gives us the third reason for lack: "Yet in his own opinion he is smarter than seven wise men" (Proverbs 26:16, TLB).
This is Farmer Fancy.
I see this all the time. Proud people will never succeed because they're unteachable. They don't want to fail because they'll look bad. And they won't serve anyone. It's a perfect recipe for disaster.
Humility is so underrated. I believe humility is the mother of all virtues—and the mother of all real success.
And from experience, pride is rooted in insecurity.
What is the solution?
Practice the 7 Success Principles of the Book of Proverbs. And that is where fourth guy, Farmer Focused, comes in. He's the only one who has a huge harvest because he practices all of them.
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Bo Sánchez (Nothing Much Has Changed (7 Success Principles from the Ancient Book of Proverbs for Your Money, Work, and Life)
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Farmer Focused
One day, the four farmers had lunch together.
Farmer Fraidy was the first one to speak. He asked, "Farmer Focused, you planted a lot of seeds. I didn't because of my fears. How do you get rid of your fears? I'm overwhelmed with my fears, I end up paralyzed."
Farmer Focused said, "Who says I got rid of my fears? My motto in life has always been, "Do it afraid.'"
He was talking of Success Principle number two...Execution.
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Bo Sánchez (Nothing Much Has Changed (7 Success Principles from the Ancient Book of Proverbs for Your Money, Work, and Life)
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7 Success Principles:
1. Evaluation
2. Execution
3. Endurance
4. Education
5. Envision
6. Emptiness
7. Expectation
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Bo Sánchez (Nothing Much Has Changed (7 Success Principles from the Ancient Book of Proverbs for Your Money, Work, and Life)
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Naturally, immunity is a natural physician that fends off all invading bacteria and viruses, whereas food becomes its medicine or trouble since that appears to increase or decrease your immune system; thus, choose the right and healthy food, and adopt this proverb: Eat to be alive, not live to eat.
Experienced and qualified doctors understand the side effects of medicines before the prescription. Indeed, the majority of doctors hold a professional degree and certificate, whereas virtually none of them has the latest and accurate knowledge; as a result, it executes no difference between such doctors and a robot.
When naturopathy experts and spiritual figures predict with significant certainty that you have no cancer or whatever other sickness, it confuses, surprises, and creates suspicious feelings in your mind, whereas doctors have diagnosed metastatic cancer.
What should one believe and what not? However, one’s enemies are still awaiting its death. One breathes, expecting and waiting for the miracle of God; it will soon happen if one believes.
You neither feel trust in your family doctor and specialists nor feel satisfaction with their treatment. You always realize that they do not tell the truth about how risky your disease is, and they never discuss it.
If doctors fail to meet your sufferings of mucus, shortness of breath, and swallowing difficulties because of medication’s side effects, they will indeed put you on medical victimization, ignoring the better quality of life that the medical system promises.
Most doctors work for the insurance companies instead of caring for patients. It is factually a medical crime that doctors, hospitals, or insurance providers put patients at high risk.
Many doctors do not respect patients’ requests to fulfill it because patients want treatment according to international medical guidelines. Such refusal results in the spreading of their suffering. It saddens patients that the doctors only think about the insurance provider and not the patient.
Indeed, such a situation can put one on the track in a dilemma. However, one’s experience and others may prove that none of the medicines give patients a good quality of life, whether homeopathy, allopathy, naturopathy, or even a spiritual one.
If your fate stands as a barrier in front of you, no one sees or realizes what you have faced and is still facing worries about your health.
Factually, robot doctors cannot provide significant information that may help to ease patients’ suffering; there is only one way to change lifestyle and stay strict on diet; it will have a better result than medicine, which is full of toxins that damage patients’ health instead of curing it.
One can think or predict that the medical world has become a medical trade in which one cannot exclude the medical mafia. Is it a valid context that requires an authentic answer?
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Ehsan Sehgal