May 21 Update:

This week we covered Proverbs chapter 10.  

1)  It has been enjoyable noticing the way our different versions read:

10:10 NIV "winks maliciously"....Sara, we thought of you and those eyelashes!  (Proverbs 6:25 AMP - Amplified Bible "Do not desire (lust after) her beauty in your heart, nor let her capture you with her eyelashes.) 

10:14 MSG (The Message Version) refers to fools as "know it alls"

10:17 MSG "The road to life is a disciplined life."

10:19 MSG "The more talk, the less truth" and NLT (New Living Translation) "Be sensible and keep your mouth shut."

2). Prospering and prosperity just keeps coming up in Proverbs.  Google gave us a good definition:  True biblical prosperity is defined as being in alignment with God's will and having the resources to fulfil your purpose and help others.

- Spiritual thriving:  Growing in faith, wisdom and a close relationship with God is the ultimate form of prosperity (Psalm 1:2-3)

- Physical health:  Well-being and strength to accomplish God's purposes (3 John 1:2)

- Material provision:  Having enoug to meet your needs and to bless others.  Focus is on faithful stewardship rather than hoarding wealth for self indulgence (2 Corinthians 9:10)

In the Old Testament, the word translated as "prosper," Hebrew tsalach often means to push forward, advance or succeed in an endeavor. 

The New Testament word for "prosper" is euodoo which literally translates to having a good journey or being helped along the way. 

3) Linn noticed that many times in a single verse, the first line is something positive or good and the second line is something bad or evil.  We learned that this is called "Antithetical Paralellism."  Antithetical parallelism is a hallmark literary device in biblical wisdom literature.  It presents two lines where the first line affirms something that is "good" (righteousness, wisdom, diligence, or blessing) and the second line introduces a conjunction (usually "but") to contrast it with something "bad" (wickedness, foolishness, laziness or judgement). 

In the book of Proverbs there are exactly 99 verses that use the poetic structure called antithetical parallelism.

Prayer requests this week:

Linn - has a friend named Robin who she played soccer with years ago.  She has brain cancer and her husband just died. 

Linn - continued prayers for peace for Shana and Danny whose little daughter Joanna Grace lived for 7 hours and then went home to be with the LORD on May 7, 2026.

Kim - Her mom Betty has pneumonia and is not breathing well.  Dad is hanging in there but worn out from caregiving. 

Thabitha - Dad's mom died Sunday in India.  Mom and dad are the only Christians in the family so the family is not allowing them to attend the funeral.  

Thabitha - was accepted into a PHD program in Kentucky.  Visa expires in September.  Pray the LORD's will be done in providing provision for her and Mokshith to stay in the country and for her to continue her education. 

Chyla - continued prayers for healing. 

Cathy - Healing for her own body and for her little dog Kendall who is having serious health concerns