God's Inspection and Review, Proverbs 25

"It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of Kings."

Proverbs 25:1 (NIV)

I have written about this subject before. About the yearning within each of us to discover and create. We will persist until we discover. Yet many will quit on their journey. The challenges become too great to bear.

How do Christians learn to perservere to the very end? I submit that it is through prayer. We must pray daily, unceasingly as the bible commands, so that we will be ready to act when the Lord leads and directs. What is God hiding just for you? He has something perfect in mind, but he isn't just going to give it you to squander. He wants you to seek it out, then will it have the value and impact he is commanding. Journey with him, seek out his daily signs, become familiar with his ways and you will accomplish his plan for your life. You and I are so close to greatness, because we serve a great God who is mindful of us. Not some fairy tale.


"Diligence, Integrity, and Patience"

Proverbs 25:6-7 - "Don't work yourself into the spotlight; don't push your way into the place of prominence. It's better to be promoted to a place of honor than face humiliation by being demoted."

I love the idea of daily diligence. "Inch by inch it's a cinch" says Zig Ziglar. Sometimes we get overwhelmed with the tasks and the dream before us. It is best to hack at it everyday, take a rest, and back at it again. There are no short cuts. Take time to sharpen the ax. Ask God for direction and cut through the circumstances that are blocking you from God's vision. As you grow closer to him, he reveals the "crud" in your life, those things that are displeasing or repel him. Don't fear or give up, shed those things and walk closer still. He is dangerous, he is fierce, he is excellent, and he expects the same from his people. Be diligent.

On Mission, On Assignment, and in the ZONE!

Andy Valadez
e-mail: Andy@TeamMarketingDynamics.com

1.25.09 Misunderstood, Proverbs 25

"Don't jump to conclusions—there may be a perfectly good explanation for what you just saw."

Proverbs 25:8
Have you ever been misunderstood? If you haven't, you may be doing something wrong. I have developed a saying over the years "Your motives will always be questioned, but do good anyway." It hurts when people think something about you that isn't true. The hardest thing for people to do is change their mind, so in most cases you don't even want to try. Let God be the judge and let him fight your "public relations" battles. You will be the victor soon enough. Then everyone will understand.


"Prepare for Rain" scene in Facing the Giants

Proverbs 25:14 - "Like billowing clouds that bring no rain is the person who talks big but never produces."

Are you a rainmaker or a storm cloud? My family and my clients are counting on me to make it rain. When it comes to producing, the big lesson I have learned is you don't stop until it rains. I have had many clients quit on me before I quit on them, but that doesn't change the situation. The Lord has taught me to move past the setbacks, the disappoinments, and connect with the clients who think the same way. They realize that to do something great doesn't happen over night, we must prepare for rain and that takes work and planning.

On Mission, On Assignment, and in the ZONE!

Andy Valadez
e-mail: andy@marketingdynamics.org

11.25.08 A Hidden Thing, Proverbs 25

"It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings."

Proverbs 25:2

Henry Ford with his V-8 Engine (one-piece engine block)

Henry Ford commissioned his engineers to design and build a V-8 block made in one piece (the foundation of his engine). His engineers said it was impossible, but he would hear none of it. He told them to go do it and he didn't care how long it took. The team continued to come back saying it was impossible; however, one day they had great news and the rest is history. Henry Ford then made it possible for Americans to own an automobile and spark the industrial revolution through the organization and distribution of labor.

We live in an era where information is available at our fingertips. Our forefathers didn't have this luxury. What thing is in your mind that you know God wants you to discover? What are you prepared to do to search it out? Ironically, the auto industry is in trouble and many of the leadership have managed to take the matter to congress to solve their dilemma. I submit that they may be searching in the wrong places.


History in the Making, "The Little Old Ford Rambled Right Along"

Proverbs 25:25 - "Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land."

Do you need good news from a distant land? Are you weary? A distant land in times of old probably wasn't that far in today's standards. What kind of good news do you need? Are there any weary souls nearby that could use some good news from you? Good news to a weary soul is great news. When we are weary, we just need that extra ray of hope. It will get us further on our journey, no matter the distance.

On Mission, On Assignment, and in the ZONE!

Andy Valadez
e-mail: andy@marketingdynamics.org

10.25.08 The Flight of the Arrow, Proverbs 25

Razor-sharp Arrowheads

One of my favorite past-times as a kid was shooting my homemade bow (made from a tree branch and heavy-duty nylon string). My father had purchased a nice stack of arrows at a garage sale that had a variety of arrow heads for hunting, fishing, and target practice. He made me a bow and shared with me how he would hunt for game and spend hours in the woods on the hunt.

He let me shoot those arrows in a nearby empty field. Before he turned me loose, he gave me plenty of saftey instructions on how to hold the bow, guide the arrow, and avoid injury to others, etc. I used to love to point my arrows high in the sky to see how far I could let them fly. Finding them in the thick grass was a challenge and part of the fun. I would occasionally scare up a rabbit or a bird and had reason to take aim at my fleeing prey.

I enjoyed shooting arrows for many years, once taking archery in college, and practicing on a bail of hay in the back yard. The invention of the bow and arrow has a deep history in service to mankind. The bible gives plenty of warning about our words and how they pierce.

Music video: "Cry Out to Jesus" by Third Day

Proverbs 25:11 - "A word is aptly spoken is like apples of gold in setting of silver."

I found a photo of apples in a silver bowl. The apples looked very inviting and the nicely polished bowl, set for a special occasion, hightened the intrigue. It looked like like luxury. Are you due for a great word?

I think about my cousin Richard (41) who is on a waiting list for a heart transplant. He has been on a 30-day waiting list and word of a heart would be great news to his family and to ours.

Are you withholding a blessing by your words? How can you present a word to someone that will be received as a special arrangement just for them?

Proverbs 25:18 - "Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is the man who gives false testimony against his neighbor."

Who is our neighbor? With the advent of the internet, our neighbor is literally anyone around the world. A false word can impact someone's livelihood or prevent a blessing. A false testimony is any untrue statement - either to embellish or to tear down. A club requires little aim and up close delivery (sometimes concealed and brutal), a sword requires more skill and further distance, and an arrow even greater aim, distance, and skill. Have you ever been harmed by someone's lie?

On Mission, On Assignment, and in the ZONE!

Andy Valadez
e-mail: andy@marketingdynamics.org