Papa Pat Tiny Devotionals

 A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who may have dropped in, if someone doesn’t get out of bed in the next three minutes, I’m gonna go splash it. Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Do not add to His words Or He will rebuke you, and you will be proved a liar. Proverbs 30: 5-6, NASB (SPLASH!) Either verse could be taken alone and would profit us. However, they are paired in this translation, for Bible Expert reasons. That’s good! Here’s why: V. 4 assures us that God’s words are a pure, strong fortress (storm cellar, fallout shelter, whatever). You may depend on them; they will take care of you. V. 5 warns us of consequences, when we keep talking after our knowledge runs out; as our Mother Eve did: You shall not eat from it OR TOUCH IT , or you will die. (Genesis 3:3b, NASB) What consequence will you and I face when WE fail to end our words, when we have exhausted our wisdom? We get reb...

 A great GOOD MORNING! To all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, God’s messengers are with us. Gentle Reader, the 29th is one of those days I hope to be able to repeat for years, because there is SO much wisdom to share in this chapter! If a king judges the poor with truth, His throne will be established forever. Proverbs 29:14, NASB Since the USA has disposed of kings, I’ll use “government” as the applicable term.   What is the truth about the poor?  Some would have you believe that they are worthless and lazy, welfare queens driving Cadillacs. Others say they are noble victims of an evil system, needing only a new aid program to emerge into victory. The righteous government sees individuals, AND systems, and seeks answers for both. It pursues those answers with a whole heart, and allows no other consideration to interfere. The unrighteous government seeks an established throne, and uses the poor as a tool to be man...

A great good morning to my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, I hope you have had the right amounts of food, company and rest. One who conceals his wrongdoings will not prosper, But one who confesses and abandons them will find compassion. Proverbs 28:13, NASB You can find goodness in all sorts of things; this morning, I dropped my pie on the floor, and, after I muttered, I was GLAD the floor was clean. Yes, I ate the pie. Some goodness is better than others. The goodness I’ve found in confessing and abandoning my wrong-doing is nothing short of magnificent.  If this was an autobiography of more than 300 words, I could provide many examples, but let me just give one from this week. Tuesday morning, we went for our drive-through  COVID-19 tests. It was COLD and windy, but we stayed in the truck. A young lady came to record our info; I provided mine, but when she asked 16-year-old Kenneth for his, he had spaced out. I smacked him u...

A great good UGA ( RED and BLACK ) Friday to all my friends and neighbors out there in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, GO YELLOW JACKETS! One who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning, It will be considered a curse to him. Proverbs 27:14, NASB Startled Awake Meditate on this verse. If you don’t see both humor and wisdom, meditate some more.  If a proverb is funny AND wise, how do you apply it? On a cherished spiritual-renewal retreat, it is a tradition that workers wake participants on Sunday  by parading through the sleeping areas, singing loudly.  I am not a person who wakes up sweetly. I didn’t like the tradition when I was a participant; I didn’t like it on those occasions when I was blessed to serve as a worker.  I murmured mild protest, until a retreat in April of 2001, when I was vociferous in my criticism of the practice.  The leaders didn’t comprehend my objection, even after I cited this verse, but told me...

A HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, we have four home-made sweet potato pies, and if I had these when I was little, I never would have looked at pumpkin pie. Do not answer a fool according to his foolishness, Or you will also be like him. Answer a fool as his foolishness deserves, So that he will not be wise in his own eyes. Proverbs 26:4-5, NASB Concerning questions and answers: Some questions are traps, often more sinister than “Have you stopped beating your wife?” Example: “Does this dress make me look fat?”  Gentlemen, the best response to that question is to fake a heart attack. Or actually have one, if you can’t fake it, but that may be taking it a bit too far. It’s up to you. Questions that are asked by people who are really seeking answers deserve the best you have. Sometimes, the best you have is “I don’t know.” If you can refer the person to someone who MIGHT know, do that. Fools ask qu...

A great GOOD MORNING BEFORE THANKSGIVING DAY to all my friends and neighbors out there in Internet Land! And, to family members who have dropped by, the feast will be prepared.  Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on soda, Is one who sings songs to a troubled heart. Proverbs 25:20, NASB Shocking wisdom! Utterly contrary to popular culture, for the VAST majority of my life. In approximate order, the wisdom of my age is: Make love, not war. Give peace a chance. Everybody get together, try to love one another. Have a nice day. Have a Coke and a smile! I’m okay, you’re okay. Don’t worry, be happy. Movies and TV programs condensed great tales of loss and passion into a few moments, so that the hero could love, lose, and love again, presented in bite-sized chunks interposed between Words From Our Sponsor.  In reaction to the cliché of years spent in psychoanalysis, pop psychology emerged. It popped. A few decades later , insurance companies clamped down o...

A great good morning to my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by: we got our COVID test this morning. Prepare your work outside, And make it ready for yourself in the field; Afterward, then, build your house. Proverb 24:27, NASB The proverb speaks of fields and outside work, but it translates perfectly to a day in which few of us make our living via agriculture. I was programmed by my family to go to college, which was a pretty lofty goal for a child of a single mom, living on a dirt road in the 1950s. It’s might be their second greatest gift, only surpassed by the examples they set of a Christian life.  I don’t know that I ever seriously considered entering the world of work right out of high school. I worked, of course, starting at age 13, shining shoes in a barber shop. At first, it was a fun diversion from homework, but it was mandatory after my 16th birthday, for reasons (third greatest gift?). But always, I knew that whatever my car...

A great good morning to my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped in, thanks for teaching me to mind my own business. Give me your heart, my son, And let your eyes delight in my ways. Proverbs 23:26, NASB A First-born Son and His First-Born Son  All of Proverbs 23 may be regarded as parental advice. In at least TEN verses, that’s made explicit by talking about fathers, mothers, and children. It’s GOOD advice! (Take as directed; do not exceed dosage, etc.) I LOVE verse 26 the best. I actually blogged on it, 2771 days ago.  The reason for my affection comes from one of the WORST, but well-intentioned, phrases I heard as a child. Are you ready for this? “Do as I say, not as I do.” I would give much to be able to sit down and have an adult conversation with my father and step-father (separately, of course) about this phrase, and about another that is possibly related: “I don’t want you to make the same mistakes I did.” I don’t think the seco...

A great good morning to my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped in, we’ve made it this far; what else can we can do? Do you see a person skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure people. Proverbs 22:29, NASB Jack and Ralph I love this verse. I love it so much, that every time I am given the privilege of observing a craftsman, I want to present them with a gift to honor them.  Robert repaired a long-standing septic tank problem I had last year. Perhaps only home owners who have experienced similar problems will be able to appreciate the gift Robert made to my family. I got a bad haircut in 1978, and it changed my outlook on the craft of people in that profession. One of the reasons I grew my hair down to my waist a couple of times was that I had a hard time finding someone I trusted. Deb and Jeff , THANK YOU! My stepdad, Ralph , was a craftsman in at least three areas: carpenter, electrician, and pi...

A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, PLEASE stay healthy. The horse is prepared for the day of battle,  But the victory belongs to the Lord.  Proverbs 21: 31, NASB  One of my main rules for living is: Do the next right thing.  It has never failed me, although there have been a VERY few occasions, perhaps as many as two in the past 30 years, in which I couldn’t PROMPTLY see what that right thing was.  I’m experiencing the second one right now.  Behold, I shall hide nothing from you: it’s related to the political crisis the country is facing at the moment, but ONLY with respect to the spiritual implications, those which impact the Body of Christ.  I’m seeing advocates for this side, or the other;  I see no outcome that doesn’t (figuratively) leave me as a double amputee. Caveat:  I stopped following the news some years ago, finding it to produce much heat and little li...

 A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors out there in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, Remember Everyone Deployed. Wine is a mocker, intoxicating drink a brawler, And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise. Proverbs 20:1, NASB Wine is also a wonderful gift God gave us, for comfort and refreshment. However, because of my reckless abuse of the gift in younger years, it is a comfort denied to me on this side of the Jordan River. My first coherent act this morning was to respond to a contact by someone with a similar history. It initiated a rich conversation, and in the course of it, it occurred to me: Do I owe more to my children, or do they owe more to me? Money only enters that equation as a trivial facet of the true indebtedness, debts of love. In fact, a person who owes only money HAS no real debt, but is incredibly poor.  It is our indebtedness to others that makes us rich; it reflects the wealth we really possess. Yeah, I said it. Rol...

 A great good day to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who dropped by, celebrate November in any way that’s appropriate. A foolish son is destruction to his father, And the quarrels of a wife are a constant dripping. Proverbs 19:13, NASB It’s not the fashion for fathers to complain about children and wives, unless they are stand-up comedians. Then, they can get away with it, as long as they make themselves the butt of the jokes.  Otherwise, when fathers complain about their kids, and husbands complain about their wives, their friends roll their eyes behind the complainer’s back. THEY knew the wife was a whiner from the beginning; they may have even cautioned their love-struck buddy against the marriage. And they also know that the reason the kids are acting up is because the father didn’t provide a good example, or set appropriate boundaries, when the kids were younger. At least 70% of the time, the friends are right. It’s a leadership failur...

When I wish a great good morning to friends and neighbors in Internet Land, I am not making a statement of fact. I am expressing a wish, that you HAVE a great good morning. Similarly, when I speak to family members who may drop by, I often make a trivial statement not bordering on reality. Today, I am without energy, enthusiasm, motivation. I am ill with some gut sickness, and in a medication transition period. So, I thought, “Why bother trying to write a Tiny Devotion today? You really don’t have anything to offer.” And then I tried other diversions in the form of reading, and old movies, but they were tasteless as well. “No problem,” I thought.  “I’ll just sit here, and not engage.” However, I had to look at my blog, so I could moderate the comments submitted, a thing I do to keep the scammers out. And I thought, “Perhaps I ought to look a the daily proverb anyway. I might find some encouragement there.” Didn’t have to look far. Not for encouragement, exactly; more along the line...

 A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who dropped by, I feel turribul. In fact, I’m looking for a proverb about being sick. A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22, NASB I’m not gonna lie: the only way my heart becomes good medicine today is to look closely at the definition of ‘joyful.’ First, my heart has to deal with all the rumblings in my tummy. Without going into detail, you know whereof I speak.  Second, I spent all of yesterday preparing to review a book that had a very grim premise. It was intended as an alternative history, but then the baseline events actually came true, so we must grimly await to see if the rest of it happens. So: can a heart be joyful with physical stress and social unrest? Well, YES. Too weary to give the references, but they exist. Paul & Silas in prison, for example. But: can MY heart be joyful? Well, YES. I’ve done it before. But: WIL...

 A great GOOD MORNING to all my friends and neighbors out there in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by: I hope you slept well last night. The Lord has made everything for its own purpose, Even the wicked for the day of evil. Proverbs 16:4, NASB A 300 word Tiny Devotional is NOT the place for me to wax theological, but I want to address God making the wicked for the day of evil. When I was a brand-new Christian in 1973, I believed that God was the IMMEDIATE cause of EVERYTHING.  I was in the Army, stationed in Germany, and I spent all my free time with a CLOSE group of other believers. The car won’t crank first time? That means God doesn’t want us to go. They ignored me; we went anyway. The good aspect: I was thinking about God all the time, instead of thinking about how I could get high. The bad aspect: Because everything was a sign from God, I spent ALL my time trying to interpret signs, and very little time in action. (It made me a bit crazy, but I didn’...

A great GOOD MORNING to all my friends and neighbors out there in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by: none of us knows tomorrow, but we have had some interesting yesterdays, haven’t we? A hot-tempered person stirs up strife, But the slow to anger calms a dispute. Proverbs 15:18, NASB My friend Hona was a hot-tempered man, but I didn’t know that when I met him. He and I had interests in common: Christianity, motorcycles. It drew us together; we wanted to form Believers on Bikes, with other motorcycle-riding Christians, and go on rides together. Over the course of a couple of months, Hona taught me that a hot-tempered person wants:   EXACTLY what he wants;  RIGHT NOW;  because it is the RIGHT thing! And anyone who was not actively involved in supporting Hona was, at least, an obstacle; more probably the ENEMY! No discussion was needed, because Hona already had The Right Answer. And, because Hona’s authority was God, then to offer an alternative me...

A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors out there in Internet Land! And to family members who dropped by, coffee and a banana, and leftovers if you like. Leave the presence of a fool, Or you will not discern words of knowledge. Proverbs 14:7, NASB Discernment Issues I’m sitting here this morning, wondering at the marvelous complexity of these words. I’m also contemplating the times that I have been in extended contact with fools. I’m also contemplating Kenneth; it’s his 16th birthday, and he’s really playing it low-key. But, with respect to THIS verse, I’m thinking about the fact that every day we send our kids off to school, and there they encounter fools, and they CAN’T leave their presence. Notice that the outcome statement is not “or you will get into trouble.” That would specifically address consequences of behavior; and yes, sometimes the innocent are caught in the wrong place, so that formulation also has value.  However, this verse says something inside YOU cha...

 A great good morning to my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, left-overs make a great breakfast. A good person leaves an inheritance to his grandchildren, And the wealth of a sinner is stored up for the righteous. Proverbs 13:22, NASB Some long time ago, I was listening to a prominent financial teacher speaking of Biblical financial concepts. He spoke of this verse, in the context of tax benefits that apply, and up until five minutes ago, THAT’S what this Tiny Devotional was going to address. Five (+) minutes ago, Alicia Ann came downstairs and asked me for two dollars.  “Sure,” I said, and pointed to my desktop. “Do you see my wallet?” She didn’t see my wallet. “Well, go look on my bedside table.” Those are the ONLY places my wallet goes, by the way. It wasn’t there, either. So I looked. Not there. Not here. I looked with a flashlight. Not there. Not here. I looked in the car. Nope. I looked in the pants I wore, and even in the...

A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors out there in Internet Land! And to family members who dropped by, it’s a lovely day for a clear eye, a clear head, and clear sinuses; hoping for at least 1 out of 3. The words of the wicked wait in ambush for blood, But the mouth of the upright will rescue them. Proverbs 12:6 NASB   A Rescuer Gentle Reader, I am longing for many years of life at this moment, because there is SO MUCH excellent wisdom compressed into this chapter. I want to know it all, and share it all. Some selfish reasons, there. My youngest bio-son, the Moose, asked me if I had ever considered a different sign-off, one that I had shared with him (and others) for some years: Feeling bad doesn’t mean doing bad. I’m POSITIVE I picked up the spirit of that aphorism elsewhere, but I don’t recall seeing it in that form, so perhaps it is TECHNICALLY original with me. It’s definitely got more redneck in it than I would expect to come from the lips of Jesus, King Solomo...

A great GOOD MORNING to all my friends and neighbors out there in Internet Land! And to family members who dropped by, honor a veteran today; with as many in our family who served, it should not be hard to find one. By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, But by the mouth of the wicked, it is torn down. Proverbs 11: 11. NASB We have designated this day in the US as Veterans Day. I encourage you to read THIS , as good a history of the day as I’ve found. It took a long time to reach its’ current status, with glitches along the way.  The Blessing of the Upright. Not every member of the armed forces has been upright, but that term is as good as any to define the role veterans have played in our country. We swore an oath, you see; it has no expiration date. I won’t quote the entire oath (300 word limit!); here’s the first part: I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic;...

A great good morning to my friends and neighbors out there in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, may your grits always have bacon and cheese! Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all offenses. Proverbs 10: 12, NASB What are you looking for today? I guarantee this: you will find it. Let me clarify, so as to avoid confusion: I’m not talking about the THING you are looking for. I’m talking about the reason you are looking for it. To break it down with an example:  Let’s imagine I’m looking for cat food.  I’ve got Daniel San and Pitty Sing screaming at me, and running into my man cave, staring at me with accusing cat eyes, running back to their empty bowls. So, I go looking for cat food. Outcome 1. TA-DA! I open the pantry, and find a 20 pound bag of Kitty-Kat’s Favorite brand cat food. “AHA,” I think, “there it is!” And then I leave it there, and return to my man cave, secure in the discovery of cat food. Nope! Outcome 2. Uh-oh. I scour the house from ...

 A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, the cats are asking for Miss Evelyn. “Whoever is naive, let him turn in here!” To him who lacks understanding she says, “Come, eat of my food And drink of the wine I have mixed.” “Whoever is naive, let him turn in here,” And to him who lacks understanding she says, “Stolen water is sweet; And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.” Proverbs 9: 4-5,16-17 Gentle reader, this is the last day in which we hear the direct voice of Wisdom and Folly, as the main item on the menu. After this, it’s specific recipes for living, all the way down. The first pair of verses come from Wisdom; the second pair, from Folly. Do you see how the opening words are identical, calling to the naive? It’s only the last verse in each pair that tells us whether the offer brings help or harm. This morning, I’m thinking that even the naive, at some point, recognize their lack, and are looking for...some...

 A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And, to family members who have dropped by, do the next right thing; it works. For my mouth will proclaim truth; And wickedness is an abomination to my lips. Proverbs 8:7 NASB  A few times each month, I get asked to show my identification. Some of the medications I take are controlled substances, and that requires an ID. I’ve made a couple of bank trips recently; the receptionists at the doctors’ offices want a picture ID (along with my insurance card); I had to show ID when voting. It doesn’t bother me.  I still smile, remembering a cashier at a grocery store in Chapel Hill who TWICE asked to see my ID when I bought a bottle of wine there; I was 34 at the time. It didn’t bother me! (I was a bit flattered, actually!) Presenting ID doesn’t bother me, because I know I qualify. If I was concerned I might get caught, or refused, because I was trying to get away with something, THAT would bother me. But, s...

 A great good morning to all my Internet friends and neighbors! And to family members who may have dropped in: did Bessie ever serve us cheese on cinnamon toast? And I saw among the naive, And discerned among the youths A young man lacking sense, Passing through the street near her corner; And he walks along the way to her house, In the twilight, in the evening, In the middle of the night and the darkness. Proverbs 7:7-9, NASB This morning I asked the Chattahoochee Patterson Ladies what distinguished THIS young man from the others. All were, after all, YOUNG and NAIVE. So, what set him apart? He’s in the wrong place at the wrong time, they said. Naive doesn’t mean stupid. It just means that you don’t know the rules, or maybe you don’t even know that there are rules. It’s not a bad thing; it’s a stage in our development, all of us. We learn, we go from naive to wise. It’s a win. But this young man was lacking sense. Still, that in itself is not lethal. If he had stayed at home, he w...

A great good RED  ( R emember E veryone D eployed )   FRIDAY morning, to my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who came here: Miss Evelyn still has all her finger-and-toe nails. And then some. There are six things that the Lord hates, Seven that are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, A false witness who declares lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers. Proverbs 6: 16-19, NASB Don’t get distracted by the six-seven thing; it’s just a rhetorical tool to emphasize importance. It’s similar to saying “I’ve been doing this for a minute,” meaning a long time. Between them, the Democrats and Republicans have committed all seven abominations. I know some will be offended by this post, and for that, I AM sorry. In the past, I have avoided making  statements about political issues, not because I was striving to be non-partisan, b...

 A great GOOD MORNING to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land. And to any family members who have appeared, every day is Thanksgiving! For the lips of an adulteress drip honey, And her speech is smoother than oil; But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword. Proverbs 5:3-4, NASB The narrator in Proverbs 1-9 swaps, I believe, between Wisdom and the Godly Father. I could be wrong, because I’m not a text analyst; it might be Wisdom speaking all the way. The Young Man is the stand-in figure for you and me, regardless of our plumbing, so don’t bug me about that. This morning, for the first time I am considering that the Adulteress is not only a human female, drawing us away from the right path, toward a location where arrows fly into our liver, but also is another reference to the Foolish Woman. If so, we are not only committing adultery when we defile the marriage bed, but when we turn away from Wisdom and accept the seduction of foolishness. It’s fool...

 A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to any family members who have dropped by, remember: we have Wisdom. Do not abandon her, and she will guard you; Love her, and she will watch over you. Proverbs 4:6, NASB The circumstances as I write this are as follows: it’s the day after a national election, and as of the time of this writing, the results are not yet clear. What IS clear is this: rhetoric coming from the parties of the two main candidates has been assuring us that the end of our way of life is nigh, unless we vote for them. To these political parties I say: NO. You are both emphatically wrong, and you should be ashamed of yourselves for permitting such words to be spread to further your cause. Go home; you are drunk on power. For all of the rest of us, I say: maybe we can’t dance, and are too fat to fly, BUT we have Wisdom. Let us not abandon Her. Let us love Her. She has our back, and She has our front and sides as well. Today, Gentle Re...

A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors out there in Internet Land! And to family members who may have dropped by: toasted bread with honey and a slice of cheese. My son, do not forget my teaching, But have your heart comply with my commandments; For length of days and years of life And peace they will add to you. Proverbs 3:1-2, NASB I was 10 years old when I concluded that a normal human lifespan wasn’t going to be enough. I needed at least a thousand years, but preferably a forever lifespan, and also I needed a completely functional body for all that time. I was a reader of Golden Age science fiction, you see.  Twenty years later, I became a father for the first time, and immediately after that, I bought my first life insurance policy. It was the first time I gave (fleeting) serious thought to my own mortality. Incredible bummer statement follows! An unspecified number of years later, and I’m presented with a diagnosis of a genetic condition producing chronic pain, ...

 A great good morning to all my Friends and Neighbors out there in Internet Land! And, to any family members who dropped by: aren’t midnight left-overs wonderful? Today, approaching a semi-difficult concept: understanding the fear of the Lord. And whereas this specific case involved a father and his sons, it applies to everybody. If you seek her (Wisdom) as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, And discover the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2: 4-5, NASB Gerald’s father Rupert was harsh, argumentative, and hostile to Gerald and his older brothers.  That didn’t teach them how to be successful as adults; that taught them how to be harsh, argumentative, and hostile. It also taught them to avoid and resist RUPERT (and by extension, all authority). He justified his treatment of them by saying “It’s a tough world out there, so I had to ride them hard to toughen them up. “ MALARKEY!  He rode them hard because he was mean! A...

A great good All Saints’ Day to all my Friends and Neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, a question: bacon, or patty sausage? Turn to my rebuke, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. Proverbs 1:23, NASB It's a fine, fine morning in at the Chattahoochee Pattersons. I’m enjoying watching grandson Tre play with the cat, and my gift-from-God, happily-ever-after trophy wife Vanessa, the elegant, foxy, praying black grandmother of Woodstock, GA, is performing breakfast music in the kitchen. Other things are happening as well.  It occurs to me that I was gifted at birth with the CAPACITY to enjoy all of this, in that I was equipped with the needed senses. It took more development and learning to appreciate it; for example, I was fully an adult before realizing the essential and delightful nature of coffee. Truly astounding, though, is how much of my joy comes as a result of turning to Wisdom’s rebuke. When I was a you...