Papa Pat Tiny Devotionals

 A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family member who have dropped by, garlic butter and pizza crusts rock. The words of King Lemuel, the pronouncement which his mother taught him: What, my son? And what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows? Proverbs 31:1-2, NASB Almost all of the attention given to Proverbs 31 goes to the Excellent Wife verses, 10-31. You might hear, occasionally, about why intoxicants aren’t for kings, but for those who have the miseries.  However, if ever I’ve heard about the authority of the source of these words, I’ve forgotten it.  First: who is Lemuel? I’m going to condense extensive research here: it’s Solomon.  Second: Therefore, the speaker is Bathsheba. Third: She birthed him with her body, and  Fourth: She birthed him with her vows (covenant/design/purpose/commitment). It’s that last point that really makes the difference, isn’t it?  “Having a baby” has the same relationship to “ra...

 A great good afternoon to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family member who have dropped by, stir your coffee. A slave will not be instructed by words alone; For though he understands, there will be no response. Proverbs 29: 19, NASB So: “You have to beat your slaves” is the message for today? Not on THIS blog. This DOES make a significant point about a slave culture, but I’m going to illustrate it with a much better and common practice: child rearing. A newborn is UTTERLY dependent on others for everything, except breathing. They can’t get what they need; they can’t ask for what they need; they don’t even KNOW what they need. However, they ARE receiving instruction. It’s perhaps the most significant instruction they will ever get, and it comes through the cuddles, feeding, and changing that are a part of the bonding process. The instruction progression looks something like this; ages VERY approximate; YMMV: 0 – 18 months: Doesn’t understand instruction. 18 m...

 A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, LOTS of leftovers! And there will be enough goats’ milk for your food, For the food of your household, And sustenance for your attendants. Proverbs 27:27, NASB. Let’s hear it for the goats! (Don’t expect anything profound today; I’m not feeling it.)  (This post might border on amusing, but that’s all.) I actually bought a goat once, to eat the overgrown back yard. That turned out to be a bad decision, as impulse buys often are.  The Beauti- fuful Princess Bess and the Moose were with me; I’m guessing Bess was about 11 or 12, which would mean Moose was 8 or 9.  We passed a place that advertised pygmy goats for sale. So, we stopped, and WITH THE FULL ENDORSEMENT OF THE CHILDREN (remember that!), I bought a goat.  Bess named it Gilmer. The kids rode in the back of the car with Gilmer Goat Patterson. We were all happy! Joyous! In a celebratory mood! Un...

 A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who dropped by,  MO Coffee! Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest, So honor is not fitting for a fool. Proverbs 26:1, NASB “The Peter Principle” described one way in which undeserved honor goes to a fool: they are good at one job, so they get promoted to the next. That process continues until they get promoted into a position they can’t handle. And they stay there, being incompetent. I have seen this in action, in organizations that use a college degree to award employment: educators, and some military officers. The honor of those positions is not fitting for one who doesn’t know, and won’t, or can’t, learn. “Papa” is the highest honor and title I’ve received. It’s my job: husband, father, grandfather.  I’m pretty good at it. Took a long time to get there, though; I was just shy of 30 before my firstborn came along. I’ve been refining my game ever since, for almost 38 year...

 A great good CHRISTMAS MORNING to all my friends and neighbors out there in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, I love you. It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter. Proverbs 25:2, NASB I used to wonder “Why did Jesus use those parables all the time? Why not just say things plainly?” The disciples wondered that as well.  In our super-modern brilliance, we believe we understand everything. Maybe so. On Christmas morning, though, I’m not so sure that we are QUITE as smart as we we think. Concealing a matter: is there any better camouflage than a baby, for a divine entry into the lives of people on Earth?  And not a royal baby, either; a Nobody Special baby. A baby of questionable parentage: a young woman claims she is with child, but has never known a man. Her betrothed, a skilled craftsman, has a good heart. He doesn’t want to shame her publicly, but let her slip away quietly.  It takes an ange...

 A great good Christmas Eve morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, use nails, not just care, to hang those stockings. By wisdom a house is built, And by understanding it is established; And by knowledge the rooms are filled   With all precious and pleasant riches. Proverbs 24:3-4, NASB Houses protect us from the elements, right? So, do you wait until the tornado/blizzard hits to start construction? This morning, I remembered some great kindness an old friend showed me, and I sent him a small thank-you note. He was a great help during the worm-eaten years of 2007-2010, when, in rapid succession, I lost my health, my career, my marriage, and was one miracle away from losing my house.  I didn’t lose my three children. They provided a solid reason to live, as well as the means for doing it.  I didn’t lose my church family.  The good brother I texted this morning supported my tottering steps, as I tried to...

 A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to those family members who have dropped by, we have lamb chops for lunch. Do not weary yourself to gain wealth; Stop dwelling on it. When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings Like an eagle that flies toward the heavens. Proverbs 23:4-5, NASB I ALMOST decided to use verse 4 only as my text today; it has such PUNCH!  “Stop dwelling on it.” Not a whole lot of wiggle room in THAT, is there? The ONLY way I have been able to accumulate wealth has been to buy a house. I bought one in 1982, sold it in 1987 for a profit. With that nest egg,  I took a sales job, brokering IBM mainframe components.  I took that job  because business was booming, and  I couldn’t WAIT to make scads of cash! Well, I waited. Then waited some more. and that industry collapsed, for reasons. And month by month, my nest egg took wings like an eagle, and flew off; and then, it w...