Betty Owens Geary; member Gene Decker Study Class, past chair Board of Stewards  Proverbs 11:24-25, 28; CEB 24 Those who give generously receive more,     but those who are stingy with what is appropriate will grow needy. 25 Generous persons will prosper;     those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. …. 28 Those who trust in their wealth will wither,     but the righteous will thrive like leafy trees. Reflection: How much is enough?  Some years ago, the two famous authors, Kurt Vonnegut and Joseph Heller, were attending a party given by a billionaire in Long Island. Vonnegut told Heller that [...]

Martha Hill Jamison, member since 1985 Proverbs 26:20  Without wood a fire goes out;    without a gossip a quarrel dies down. During the 2019 California wildfire season, one inferno, the so-called “Easy Fire,” burned through 1800 acres near the Simi Valley. The fire almost completely surrounded the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum. However, the library was spared by a firebreak created by 500 goats deployed months earlier to eat thirteen acres of brush on the property, enabling firefighters to gain control of the Easy Fire.             As Proverbs 26:20 says, “without wood, a fire goes out.” Shout out to [...]

Pat Deckert, Member 32 years, Good Will Sunday school class Proverbs 12:22 (The Jerusalem Bible) “Lips that lie are abhorrent to Yahweh; dear to him those who speak the truth.”   Proverbs 12:25 (The Jerusalem Bible) “Worry makes a man’s heart heavy, a kindly word makes it glad.”    Proverbs 12:15 (New King James Version) “In the eyes of a fool, the way he goes is right, the wise man listens to advice.”  Reflection: Solomon, the wise King and the author/compiler of the Book of Proverbs, saw people as wise or foolish and compiled a practical guidebook of rules for daily [...]

Nancy Walker Proverbs 3:5-6 (King James Translation) Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy path. Reflection: My grandmother, Aubrey Caudle Ivey, was one of the greatest Christians I will ever know. Proverbs 3:5-6 was her motto, and she tried to live these instructions every day. She filled so many roles in her family: devoted daughter, beloved wife, supportive mother, cherished grandmother! (Each one of her nine grandchildren thought they were her favorite grandchild!)  She was attentive to her family and [...]

JoBeth Hawkins, Small Group Leader Proverbs 11:2 “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” Reflection: I love an underdog! The heroine of a Hallmark movie who is about to lose her family business, the “walk-on” player vying to make his college football team roster, the runt of a litter of newborn puppies, and the unhoused child who grows up to be a renowned physician, all tug at my heartstrings. In her book, Hindsight, Dr. Sheryl Recinos describes her early life as a child from a dysfunctional family who is put into foster care, finds herself [...]

Charity Autry, Member since 2008, Families in Faith Sunday School Leader, Starting Point Leader, VBS Chair (Children’s Ministry Council) Proverbs 17:17 (New International Version) 17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. Reflection: Simple, easy, “A friend loves at all times.”  It is easy to say, harder to do. What kind of friend are you?   Are you a true friend that is always present or are you an only “at my convenience friend”?  Being a friend is needed when someone is going through adversity, but you are also called [...]

Karen Limmer, St. Luke’s member for 11 years, Outreach Team member Proverbs 27:6, 9-10, 17 (NIV) 6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. 9 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice. 10 Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family, and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster strikes you— better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away. 17 As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Reflection: My favorite verse here is Proverbs [...]

Cindy Donaldson, St. Luke’s member since 2012 Proverbs 30:8-9 (The Voice) Eliminate any hint of worthless and deceitful words from my lips. Do not make me rich or poor, but give me each day what I need; 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 and thus dishonor the good name of my God.  Reflection: My grandfather was an Episcopal priest, and his pearls of Christian wisdom come to me in [...]