Welcome back John from his visit to Greece and Turkey.

I wish I could show you the sliding show that he showed us, but you can see it for yourself if you check out bcbc.org and look at past sermons.

Todays is based on Proverbs 17:1-28

These Proverbs have several themes, but the main point is peace and equilibrium, which is what people crave, not confrontation.

Myself, I crave silence because the noise of the world just drives me mad. That is not to say I sit around with no TV or anything, but I silence the ads, the same ads over and over until I think I’ll lose my mind.

My favorite time is morning, when I’m doing my Bible study with no noise other than the Verse by Verse ministry in my ears. After I read the passage, of course. Then, I sit with it a few minutes and add my own prayers.

We need financial, relational, and inner peace. All of these Proverbs deal with these themes.

1. Financial Peace Comes From A Pattern of Wise Decisions. (17: 8, 16, 18, 23)

These unfortunately remind me of my children. Three boys that somehow did not learn through us or schooling how to deal with money. Two, my oldest and the middle son would rather whine about their lot in life rather than do something (like work hard) about it.

My youngest, has it but has demons, therefore, he has nothing to show for all his hard work.

Yet, Pastor John also said that we should not be conflicted about the decisions our adult children make.

Im lucky that I have a husband who keeps the peace on the financial front. He knows how to handle money, because his job required that he budget for big city decisions.

We didn’t jump into the lifestyle we chose without seeing to our finances first. Once he retired, we already had a team of people watching our money and advising us on the best way to invest it. So we understand this well.

Relationship peace is a different story. I don’t like conflict, so I am the one who tries to keep the peace in our relay with each other. I feel the same when watching my grown friends in their relationships. If they are playing around (like they’re mad at each other) that’s easily recognized but I will try to keep peace between theme if things look like they are heating up.

What I struggle with sometimes is holding my tongue when I should. I need to think of these Proverbs beforehand, because I don’t want to be taken for a fool. Read them and you’ll see what I mean.

Our relationships with our children are different once they are grown. It is sad when we have children who are a disappointment to us and we can’t do anything about it. Proverbs 23 really upset me but it’s because its so true.

To have a child who is a fool brings grief; there is no joy to the parent of a godless fool.

I won’t elaborate, but just know I pray about him a lot.

2. Relational Peace Comes From Orhercenteredness and Mature Behaviors. (17: 1-2, 5-7, 9-10,

Then there is the struggle for inner peace.

Proverbs 22 says: A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

At first, I immediately thought of my husband. He really needs to get back in church because he has become so clinical and negative. I have to remind him every once in a while that he needs to get GOD back at his center, and I tease him about his negativity hoping to get him to check it himself.

But then I thought of myself as well. About my health issues and how a positive outlook makes me feel so much better than feeling sorry for myself and giving in to the pain. I literally pick a time of the day at random and go into a space by myself and make myself stretch and do my indoor walk.

Just a note here – I have become too unsteady to go walk by myself. It is safer for me to walk inside.

I also need to be more mature -think about what I’m saying before I say it. We hurt each other so much and so easily with our words if we aren’t careful. Use your filter. Use self control. Treat each other’s hearts with respect and love.

3. Inner Peace Is Enhanced By a Pattern of Wise Choices. (17: 3-4, 19-20, 22, 24, 27)

4. Certain Personalities damage Peace.

Avoid toxic people. Don’t let them in your life.

Ephesians 4:32 says “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ God forgave you.