It's actually a privilege to answer your questions! I think Romans 8:28-30 answers this question very clearly by saying that God knew in advance who would accept him, and chose them in advance for the following sequence of events: He knew in advance who would come to him, so he called them to come, and then he forgave their sins, and then he raised them up to sit with him in his glory. We can't come to him if we don't have free will--so we do have it. Here's verses 28-30:
Romans 8:28-30
Today's New International Bible

8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[k] have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Footnote:
k.Romans 8:28 Or that all things work together for good to those who love God, who; or that in all things God works together with those who love him to bring about what is good—with those who

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%208&version=TNIV

Next question!

Sorry, about the delay

And, if God has this predestined group does he also preordain our actions or is that part free will?

i dont' kno where mujus stands on this, but personally, i believe it's free will. God never predestined anybody's fate for eternity. that passage says "He knew in advance who would come to Him" because God is all-knowing. and if He wasn't all-knowing, He woudlnt' really be a God at all, would he? just because God knows what individuals are going to choose, doesn't mean that He controls their choice, and that means everything, not just the Heaven/Hell stuff that's most often told. For example, He knows what you are going to eat tomorrow, but that doesn't mean He controls it. i believe that God gives us humans free will to decide because He created us with a desire to have a personal relationship with us, through prayer, reading the Bible to get to know Him better, things like that. Basically, He loves us a lot. And there is no true love without the freedom to choose. if He forced everybody to believe in Him we'd all be robotic..and what kind of love exists in that relationship? not the kind that God wants.

I find it tough to say free will exists if God knows we are going to do it. If we are going to do it the way God "knows" we are going to do it then we have no free will. It is very similar to the Andromeda paradox AKA Rietdijk-Putnam paradox.

Also, just from a bible stand point. Why does God ever test someone? Is it solely so that someone knows they have faith or is it for God's benefit? If God knew Abraham would slay his own son then there was no need for God to affirm that through a test.

well, i guess to me, i see God knowing something different than God forcing us to do it.

as for ur second question about God testing people, honestly, i dont' know. i'm not the Bible expert that mujus seems to be, sorry :P
if i were to take a guess tho, i'd say that maybe He tests people for the people's benefit. Like, Abraham's relationship with God, epsecially in terms of trust, and his faith grew stronger as a result of this, and maybe it's also to set an example for others to follow, or something. i may be wrong, we'll have to wait on Mujus' reply to this.

i also believe that an important part of God that is often overlooked is that He is a mystery to us, and that is how it's supposed to be. there are so many things that happen (usually bad), that we cannot explain, and always, we hear "oh, it's for the glory of God's kingdom, and He will make good come out of this situation". but we ourselves can see no way that good can come out of it..after all, how can any good possibly come out of a loved one dying of cancer? but God has his purposes, and in the Bible it says that nothing happens that doens't escape His notice, and also that God is in control of things, even when it may seem like just the opposite. I am not God, and, smcbride, you most likely aren't God either, so it makes sense then, at least that's how i see it, that there are things that God is going to allow to happen, and things that He will do, that we humans cannot explain, and that should be just fine because if you or i could completely figure God out and kno His reasons for everything that He does, then He wouldn't be a God, since imperfect humans figured Him out

wow sorry that last sentence is waayy too long

I assure you that I am not God. Thanks for your time.

Run on sentences are hard to interpret sometimes but I think I got your point.

yea my bad. but if u got my point then, it worked i guess lol. and no problem! like Mujus said, it is a privelege to answer ur questions

Fun qustions, smc!
I appreciate the passage from Romans that Mujus shared. Here's my take on it: when we think about the foreknowledge of God we get a bit hung up on knowledge in an academic sense. We tend to think about God knowing all the information, past-present-future. And while that may well be, I think it kind of misses the relational aspect of what God wants. Let me explain. In the Hebrew scriptures the word "know" can mean knowledge of the academic kind we think of, but it can also mean a deep relational knowing. A classic example would be Genesis 4:1, "Now the man knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain...." Clearly we're talking about a deeper relational knowing than Adam saying, "Oh, yeah, I know Eve, that lady from down the street....she's about 5'4", brown eyes..." Adam KNEW Eve, and the result was life-giving.
Psalm 139:1-2 expresses the thought that God knows us with that same sense of depth and intimacy: "O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away." And Hosea 6:3 encourages us to know God with that kind of relational depth: "Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord; his appearing is as sure as the dawn; he will come to us like the showers, like the spring rains that water the earth."

So, just my two cents worth, when Romans 8 talks about the foreknowledge of God I suspect that what is being referred to is less academic knowledge and more of a deep, intimate knowing. So, based on his total knowledge of us, God predestines us - that is, gives us a destiny. Will you and I choose the destiny God has planned for us, or will we choose something different? That's where choice comes in.

McBride, I think Peregrine and FGem gave great answers to both your questions--1) That knowing in advance which choice you will make does not in any way limit your free will, and 2) That testing us has two purposes: First, to purify us just as silver ore is melted down and the dross removed, an image also in the Bible; to force us to stretch and develop patience, for example; and second, to teach us and/or other people lessons about God and about ourselves. It's not at all comfortable to be melted down and purified, but God will do it as we choose to let him. That's why people say half-jokingly not to pray for patience--because the process means going through tough times!!! Another great point that Peregrine brought up is that yes, God is God, and we're not--meaning that we're trying to wrap our 2 and a half pounds of brain around the immense God of the universe, and we won't fully understand him in this life--but as FGem pointed out, it's a relationship, which means that it continues to grow and get better with time. The Christian life is filled with normal daily hassles just like everyone else's life, but we have the very real God to share it with, which is absolutely amazing. And if you're interested, no one can earn that--It's a free gift (!) and all you need to do is confess to God that you're a sinner, make the decision reject your sins against God instead of embracing them, and then accept Jesus' death as payment for your sins. It doesn't matter what kind of church you attend, as long as God's word is being preached there and you are gaining in knowledge and maturity in the Christian walk with Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

Apologies for missing a couple of days--I don't know how they slipped past me. My mother-in-law has now turned the corner and is on the way to recovery after a series of terrible events in the hospital.

The Bible reading for November 27, 28, and 29 is Proverbs 21.
New Living Translation (NLT)

21:1 The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord;
he guides it wherever he pleases.

2 People may be right in their own eyes,
but the Lord examines their heart.

3 The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just
than when we offer him sacrifices.

4 Haughty eyes, a proud heart,
and evil actions are all sin.

5 Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity,
but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.

6 Wealth created by a lying tongue
is a vanishing mist and a deadly trap.[a]

7 The violence of the wicked sweeps them away,
because they refuse to do what is just.

8 The guilty walk a crooked path;
the innocent travel a straight road.

9 It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic
than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home.

10 Evil people desire evil;
their neighbors get no mercy from them.

11 If you punish a mocker, the simpleminded become wise;
if you instruct the wise, they will be all the wiser.

12 The Righteous One[b] knows what is going on in the homes of the wicked;
he will bring disaster on them.

13 Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor
will be ignored in their own time of need.

14 A secret gift calms anger;
a bribe under the table pacifies fury.

15 Justice is a joy to the godly,
but it terrifies evildoers.

16 The person who strays from common sense
will end up in the company of the dead.

17 Those who love pleasure become poor;
those who love wine and luxury will never be rich.

18 The wicked are punished in place of the godly,
and traitors in place of the honest.

19 It’s better to live alone in the desert
than with a quarrelsome, complaining wife.

20 The wise have wealth and luxury,
but fools spend whatever they get.

21 Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love
will find life, righteousness, and honor.

22 The wise conquer the city of the strong
and level the fortress in which they trust.

23 Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut,
and you will stay out of trouble.

24 Mockers are proud and haughty;
they act with boundless arrogance.

25 Despite their desires, the lazy will come to ruin,
for their hands refuse to work.

26 Some people are always greedy for more,
but the godly love to give!

27 The sacrifice of an evil person is detestable,
especially when it is offered with wrong motives.

28 A false witness will be cut off,
but a credible witness will be allowed to speak.

29 The wicked bluff their way through, but the virtuous think before they act.

30 No human wisdom or understanding or plan
can stand against the Lord.

31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle,
but the victory belongs to the Lord.

Footnotes:
a.Proverbs 21:6 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads mist for those who seek death.
b.Proverbs 21:12 Or The righteous man.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=proverbs%2021&version=NLT

Proverbs 22 is the Bible reading for 11-30-2012.
New Living Translation (NLT)

22:1 Choose a good reputation over great riches;
being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold.

2 The rich and poor have this in common:
The Lord made them both.

3 A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions.
The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.

4 True humility and fear of the Lord
lead to riches, honor, and long life.

5 Corrupt people walk a thorny, treacherous road;
whoever values life will avoid it.

6 Direct your children onto the right path,
and when they are older, they will not leave it.

7 Just as the rich rule the poor,
so the borrower is servant to the lender.

8 Those who plant injustice will harvest disaster,
and their reign of terror will come to an end.[a]

9 Blessed are those who are generous,
because they feed the poor.

10 Throw out the mocker, and fighting goes, too.
Quarrels and insults will disappear.

11 Whoever loves a pure heart and gracious speech
will have the king as a friend.

12 The Lord preserves those with knowledge,
but he ruins the plans of the treacherous.

13 The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion out there!
If I go outside, I might be killed!”

14 The mouth of an immoral woman is a dangerous trap;
those who make the Lord angry will fall into it.

15 A youngster’s heart is filled with foolishness,
but physical discipline will drive it far away.

16 A person who gets ahead by oppressing the poor
or by showering gifts on the rich will end in poverty.

Sayings of the Wise

17 Listen to the words of the wise;
apply your heart to my instruction.
18 For it is good to keep these sayings in your heart
and always ready on your lips.
19 I am teaching you today—yes, you—
so you will trust in the Lord.
20 I have written thirty sayings[b] for you,
filled with advice and knowledge.
21 In this way, you may know the truth
and take an accurate report to those who sent you.

22 Don’t rob the poor just because you can,
or exploit the needy in court.
23 For the Lord is their defender.
He will ruin anyone who ruins them.

24 Don’t befriend angry people
or associate with hot-tempered people,
25 or you will learn to be like them
and endanger your soul.

26 Don’t agree to guarantee another person’s debt
or put up security for someone else.27 If you can’t pay it,
even your bed will be snatched from under you.

28 Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers
set up by previous generations.

29 Do you see any truly competent workers?
They will serve kings
rather than working for ordinary people.

Footnotes:
a.Proverbs 22:8 The Greek version includes an additional proverb: God blesses a man who gives cheerfully, / but his worthless deeds will come to an end. Compare 2 Cor 9:7.
b.Proverbs 22:20 Or excellent sayings; the meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=proverbs%2022&version=NLT

Proverbs 23 is the Bible reading for Dec. 1 and 2, 2012.
New Living Translation (NLT)

23:1 While dining with a ruler,
pay attention to what is put before you.
2 If you are a big eater,
put a knife to your throat;
3 don’t desire all the delicacies,
for he might be trying to trick you.
4 Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich.
Be wise enough to know when to quit.
5 In the blink of an eye wealth disappears,
for it will sprout wings
and fly away like an eagle.
6 Don’t eat with people who are stingy;
don’t desire their delicacies.
7 They are always thinking about how much it costs.[a]
“Eat and drink,” they say, but they don’t mean it.
8 You will throw up what little you’ve eaten,
and your compliments will be wasted.
9 Don’t waste your breath on fools,
for they will despise the wisest advice.
10 Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers;
don’t take the land of defenseless orphans.
11 For their Redeemer[b] is strong;
he himself will bring their charges against you.
12 Commit yourself to instruction;
listen carefully to words of knowledge.
13 Don’t fail to discipline your children.
They won’t die if you spank them.
14 Physical discipline
may well save them from death.[c]
15 My child,[d] if your heart is wise,
my own heart will rejoice!
16 Everything in me will celebrate
when you speak what is right.
17 Don’t envy sinners,
but always continue to fear the Lord.
18 You will be rewarded for this;
your hope will not be disappointed.
19 My child, listen and be wise:
Keep your heart on the right course.
20 Do not carouse with drunkards
or feast with gluttons,
21 for they are on their way to poverty,
and too much sleep clothes them in rags.
22 Listen to your father, who gave you life,
and don’t despise your mother when she is old.
23 Get the truth and never sell it;
also get wisdom, discipline, and good judgment.
24 The father of godly children has cause for joy.
What a pleasure to have children who are wise.[e]
25 So give your father and mother joy!
May she who gave you birth be happy.
26 O my son, give me your heart.
May your eyes take delight in following my ways.
27 A prostitute is a dangerous trap;
a promiscuous woman is as dangerous as falling into a narrow well.
28 She hides and waits like a robber,
eager to make more men unfaithful.
29 Who has anguish? Who has sorrow?
Who is always fighting? Who is always complaining?
Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 It is the one who spends long hours in the taverns,
trying out new drinks.
31 Don’t gaze at the wine, seeing how red it is,
how it sparkles in the cup, how smoothly it goes down.
32 For in the end it bites like a poisonous snake;
it stings like a viper.
33 You will see hallucinations,
and you will say crazy things.
34 You will stagger like a sailor tossed at sea,
clinging to a swaying mast.
35 And you will say, “They hit me, but I didn’t feel it.
I didn’t even know it when they beat me up.
When will I wake up
so I can look for another drink?”

Footnotes:
Proverbs 23:7 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
Proverbs 23:11 Or redeemer.
Proverbs 23:14 Hebrew from Sheol.
Proverbs 23:15 Hebrew My son; also in 23:19.
Proverbs 23:24 Hebrew to have a wise son.

Proverbs 24 is the Bible reading for 12/3/2012.
New Living Translation (NLT)

24:1 Don’t envy evil people
or desire their company.
2 For their hearts plot violence,
and their words always stir up trouble.

3 A house is built by wisdom
and becomes strong through good sense.
4 Through knowledge its rooms are filled
with all sorts of precious riches and valuables.

5 The wise are mightier than the strong,[a]
and those with knowledge grow stronger and stronger.
6 So don’t go to war without wise guidance;
victory depends on having many advisers.

7 Wisdom is too lofty for fools.
Among leaders at the city gate, they have nothing to say.

8 A person who plans evil
will get a reputation as a troublemaker.
9 The schemes of a fool are sinful;
everyone detests a mocker.

10 If you fail under pressure,
your strength is too small.

11 Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to die;
save them as they stagger to their death.
12 Don’t excuse yourself by saying, “Look, we didn’t know.”
For God understands all hearts, and he sees you.
He who guards your soul knows you knew.
He will repay all people as their actions deserve.

13 My child,[b] eat honey, for it is good,
and the honeycomb is sweet to the taste.
14 In the same way, wisdom is sweet to your soul.
If you find it, you will have a bright future,
and your hopes will not be cut short.

15 Don’t wait in ambush at the home of the godly,
and don’t raid the house where the godly live.
16 The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again.
But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.

17 Don’t rejoice when your enemies fall;
don’t be happy when they stumble.
18 For the Lord will be displeased with you
and will turn his anger away from them.

19 Don’t fret because of evildoers;
don’t envy the wicked.
20 For evil people have no future;
the light of the wicked will be snuffed out.

21 My child, fear the Lord and the king.
Don’t associate with rebels,
22 for disaster will hit them suddenly.
Who knows what punishment will come
from the Lord and the king?

More Sayings of the Wise
23 Here are some further sayings of the wise:

It is wrong to show favoritism when passing judgment.
24 A judge who says to the wicked, “You are innocent,”
will be cursed by many people and denounced by the nations.
25 But it will go well for those who convict the guilty;
rich blessings will be showered on them.

26 An honest answer
is like a kiss of friendship.

27 Do your planning and prepare your fields
before building your house.

28 Don’t testify against your neighbors without cause;
don’t lie about them.
29 And don’t say, “Now I can pay them back for what they’ve done to me!
I’ll get even with them!”

30 I walked by the field of a lazy person,
the vineyard of one with no common sense.
31 I saw that it was overgrown with nettles.
It was covered with weeds,
and its walls were broken down.
32 Then, as I looked and thought about it,
I learned this lesson:
33 A little extra sleep, a little more slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest—
34 then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit;
scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.

Footnotes:
a.Proverbs 24:5 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads A wise man is strength.
b.Proverbs 24:13 Hebrew My son; also in 24:21.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=proverbs%2024&version=NLT

Proverbs 25 is the Bible reading for 12-4-2012.
New Living Translation (NLT)
More Proverbs of Solomon

25:1 These are more proverbs of Solomon, collected by the advisers of King Hezekiah of Judah.

2 It is God’s privilege to conceal things
and the king’s privilege to discover them.
3 No one can comprehend the height of heaven, the depth of the earth,
or all that goes on in the king’s mind!
4 Remove the impurities from silver,
and the sterling will be ready for the silversmith.
5 Remove the wicked from the king’s court,
and his reign will be made secure by justice.
6 Don’t demand an audience with the king
or push for a place among the great.
7 It’s better to wait for an invitation to the head table
than to be sent away in public disgrace.
Just because you’ve seen something,
8 don’t be in a hurry to go to court.
For what will you do in the end
if your neighbor deals you a shameful defeat?
9 When arguing with your neighbor,
don’t betray another person’s secret.
10 Others may accuse you of gossip,
and you will never regain your good reputation.
11 Timely advice is lovely,
like golden apples in a silver basket.
12 To one who listens, valid criticism
is like a gold earring or other gold jewelry.
13 Trustworthy messengers refresh like snow in summer.
They revive the spirit of their employer.
14 A person who promises a gift but doesn’t give it
is like clouds and wind that bring no rain.
15 Patience can persuade a prince,
and soft speech can break bones.
16 Do you like honey?
Don’t eat too much, or it will make you sick!
17 Don’t visit your neighbors too often,
or you will wear out your welcome.
18 Telling lies about others
is as harmful as hitting them with an ax,
wounding them with a sword,
or shooting them with a sharp arrow.
19 Putting confidence in an unreliable person in times of trouble
is like chewing with a broken tooth or walking on a lame foot.
20 Singing cheerful songs to a person with a heavy heart
is like taking someone’s coat in cold weather
or pouring vinegar in a wound.[a]
21 If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat.
If they are thirsty, give them water to drink.
22 You will heap burning coals of shame on their heads,
and the Lord will reward you.
23 As surely as a north wind brings rain,
so a gossiping tongue causes anger!
24 It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic
than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home.
25 Good news from far away
is like cold water to the thirsty.
26 If the godly give in to the wicked,
it’s like polluting a fountain or muddying a spring.
27 It’s not good to eat too much honey,
and it’s not good to seek honors for yourself.
28 A person without self-control
is like a city with broken-down walls.

Footnotes:
a. Proverbs 25:20 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads pouring vinegar on soda.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2025&version=NLT

Proverbs 26 is the Bible reading for 12-5-2012.
New Living Translation (NLT)

26:1 Honor is no more associated with fools
than snow with summer or rain with harvest.

2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,
an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim.

3 Guide a horse with a whip, a donkey with a bridle,
and a fool with a rod to his back!

4 Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools,
or you will become as foolish as they are.

5 Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools,
or they will become wise in their own estimation.

6 Trusting a fool to convey a message
is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison!

7 A proverb in the mouth of a fool
is as useless as a paralyzed leg.

8 Honoring a fool
is as foolish as tying a stone to a slingshot.

9 A proverb in the mouth of a fool
is like a thorny branch brandished by a drunk.

10 An employer who hires a fool or a bystander
is like an archer who shoots at random.

11 As a dog returns to its vomit,
so a fool repeats his foolishness.

12 There is more hope for fools
than for people who think they are wise.

13 The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion on the road!
Yes, I’m sure there’s a lion out there!”

14 As a door swings back and forth on its hinges,
so the lazy person turns over in bed.

15 Lazy people take food in their hand
but don’t even lift it to their mouth.

16 Lazy people consider themselves smarter
than seven wise counselors.

17 Interfering in someone else’s argument
is as foolish as yanking a dog’s ears.

18 Just as damaging
as a madman shooting a deadly weapon
19 is someone who lies to a friend
and then says, “I was only joking.”

20 Fire goes out without wood,
and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.

21 A quarrelsome person starts fights
as easily as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights wood.

22 Rumors are dainty morsels
that sink deep into one’s heart.

23 Smooth[a] words may hide a wicked heart,
just as a pretty glaze covers a clay pot.

24 People may cover their hatred with pleasant words,
but they’re deceiving you.
25 They pretend to be kind, but don’t believe them.
Their hearts are full of many evils.[b]
26 While their hatred may be concealed by trickery,
their wrongdoing will be exposed in public.

27 If you set a trap for others,
you will get caught in it yourself.
If you roll a boulder down on others,
it will crush you instead.

28 A lying tongue hates its victims,
and flattering words cause ruin.

Footnotes:
a.Proverbs 26:23 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads Burning.
b.Proverbs 26:25 Hebrew seven evils.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=proverbs%2026&version=NLT

Proverbs 27 is the Bible reading for Tuesday, December 6, 2012.
New Living Translation (NLT)

27:1 Don’t brag about tomorrow,
since you don’t know what the day will bring.
2 Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth—
a stranger, not your own lips.
3 A stone is heavy and sand is weighty,
but the resentment caused by a fool is even heavier.
4 Anger is cruel, and wrath is like a flood,
but jealousy is even more dangerous.
5 An open rebuke
is better than hidden love!
6 Wounds from a sincere friend
are better than many kisses from an enemy.
7 A person who is full refuses honey,
but even bitter food tastes sweet to the hungry.
8 A person who strays from home
is like a bird that strays from its nest.
9 The heartfelt counsel of a friend
is as sweet as perfume and incense.
10 Never abandon a friend—
either yours or your father’s.
When disaster strikes, you won’t have to ask your brother for assistance.
It’s better to go to a neighbor than to a brother who lives far away.
11 Be wise, my child,[a] and make my heart glad.
Then I will be able to answer my critics.
12 A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions.
The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.
13 Get security from someone who guarantees a stranger’s debt.
Get a deposit if he does it for foreigners.[b]
14 A loud and cheerful greeting early in the morning
will be taken as a curse!
15 A quarrelsome wife is as annoying
as constant dripping on a rainy day.
16 Stopping her complaints is like trying to stop the wind
or trying to hold something with greased hands.
17 As iron sharpens iron,
so a friend sharpens a friend.
18 As workers who tend a fig tree are allowed to eat the fruit,
so workers who protect their employer’s interests will be rewarded.
19 As a face is reflected in water,
so the heart reflects the real person.
20 Just as Death and Destruction[c] are never satisfied,
so human desire is never satisfied.
21 Fire tests the purity of silver and gold,
but a person is tested by being praised.[d]
22 You cannot separate fools from their foolishness,
even though you grind them like grain with mortar and pestle.
23 Know the state of your flocks,
and put your heart into caring for your herds,
24 for riches don’t last forever,
and the crown might not be passed to the next generation.
25 After the hay is harvested and the new crop appears
and the mountain grasses are gathered in,
26 your sheep will provide wool for clothing,
and your goats will provide the price of a field.
27 And you will have enough goats’ milk for yourself,
your family, and your servant girls.

Footnotes:
a. Proverbs 27:11 Hebrew my son.
b. Proverbs 27:13 As in Greek and Latin versions (see also 20:16); Hebrew reads for a promiscuous woman.
c. Proverbs 27:20 Hebrew Sheol and Abaddon.
d. Proverbs 27:21 Or by flattery.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+27&version=NLT

thanks Mujus, this chapter is one of my favorites in the book. a lot of these pithy verses strike home for me.

Yeah! I have to stop after each verse to let it sink in, before moving on to the next.

And heartfelt congrats on your new little on, btw. She's a big one, although I'm not sure you should have called her huge. My girls cried when I told my wife in their hearing that I was glad we had sturdy kids. I learned that in girl-speak, "sturdy" is the opposite of "delicate," and I still hear about that from time to time. ;-)

Thanks for the tip there, I have three girls now, I'll be sure to avoid describing them as sturdy :-)

Hey, one more and you'll be up with me. :-)

I do have a son too, so four total.

Well it's ok to call a son "sturdy," just not a daughter. *sigh*