2016 picture of Ray Sparre

Insightful Musings on theScriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67



These devotional messages are personalized as messages to Ray's granddaughter, Samara.

10 February 2017

Good morning, Samara.

Let me quote here how far I got yesterday with the devotional: “Proverbs 9 Focus:” That’s it! That’s all I achieved! The day just became too congested. I can’t be sure how this one will play out either. At least I’m getting something off for today.

Stay warm and dry. Please don’t go out in the rain and cold with your computer to do your schoolwork just to see if you can do it. (Smile) I guarantee it won’t go well.

Hope you have a good one.

Love, Tua.


Proverbs 10
Focus: “The memory of the righteous will be a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.” Proverbs 10:7.

An overview of this chapter impresses me this time with an outstanding theme. It has to do with how one uses their mouth. I took a highlighter pen and marked 16 references to that theme in its various forms. Maybe this is a good challenge for you, Samara—see if you can spot those references.

Here’s how I’m connecting dots so as to relate to the FOCUS VERSE. Firstly, we already know that the condition and management of the HEART is what controls the output of the MOUTH. And how the mouth is used (along with its accompanying lifestyle) actually generates the quality of one’s MEMORY—that which remains when one doesn’t—whether it be a general BLESSING, or generally ROTTEN. So maybe I could put the equation like this: H+M=MM. In other words, one’s HEART condition along with how one’s MOUTH speaks produces the quality of one’s MEMORY.

Here’s another good suggestion, Samara: Read some good biographies of some good people who are no longer living. The good that can be gleaned from such good lives can be a real blessing.

It seems reasonable to follow up on these ideas with a personal question: WHAT QUALITY OF MEMORY DO I WANT TO LEAVE BEHIND AFTER I’M GONE? After all, how can anyone who lives avoid leaving a MEMORY?

“The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.”

~ Proverbs 10:11 ~