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Friday!
Proverbs!
Religious performance by the wicked stinks; 
it's even worse when they use it to get ahead.
Proverbs 21:27 MSG
Sometimes you've just got to love The Message version...
Whether it's civic leaders or politicians or the ordinary hypocrite who uses the church, God's name, prayer, even giving as some kind of self promotion or in a way that helps them.
It stinks.
But when I examine my own heart, there's been days when I have not given with a happy heart, not served willingly, taken communion when my heart is far from being in tune with God...
Proverbs are about seeing the world as it is, and about helping me see my heart for what it is sometimes.
The bad news is that there are days when I am the person in this proverb. 
The good news is that even on those days I am loved by our gracious and forgiving heavenly Father.
He is patient.
Kind.
He believes in me.

He believes in you. 

And asks us to follow His lead into the world with patience, with kindness, to speak life, hope, & love into the lives of others. 
And that is a beautiful aroma.
#proverbs
#wisdom
#somethingtochewon
#itsaheartthing
#dearlyloved
#childrenofGod
#grace

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