Jackson Brown - Lifes Little Instructions from the Bible: Ancient and Contemporary Wisdom to Fuel Your Faith and Empower Your Life

Copyright 2000 by H. Jackson Brown, Jr. All rights reserved. Written permission must be secured from the publisher to use or reproduce any part of this book, except for brief quotations in critical reviews and articles. Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Used by permission. Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Published by Rutledge Hill Press, a Thomas Nelson Company, P.O.

Box 141000, Nashville, Tennessee 37214. Visit the Publishers website at www.rutledgehillpress.com and the Authors website at www.Instructionbook.com. Design by Gore Studio. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Brown, H. Jackson, 1940
Lifes little instructions from the Bible : ancient and contemporary wisdom to fuel your faith and empower your life / H. and Rosemary C. and Rosemary C.

Brown.
p. cm.
ISBN 1-55853-831-3 (pbk.)
1. Christian lifeBiblical teaching. I. Brown, Rosemary, 1945- II. Title.
BS680.C47 B77 2000
170.44dc21 00-055262 Printed in the United States of America
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 05 04 03 02 01 00 INTRODUCTION IT NOW SEEMS INEVITABLE that my words of encouragement and fatherly advice that became the Lifes Little Instruction Book series would someday inspire a book that my wife, Rosemary, and I would work on together.

As I continued to write books that offered what I knew about living wisely and well, Rosemary was busy studying and writing about lifes original instruction book, the Bible. For more than thirty years she has greeted almost every new day in reverent Bible study and prayer. I dont know anyone who loves the Scriptures more or who has read them more devotedly. Her depth of knowledge made our idea of matching Bible verses with my little instructions an easy and inspiring exercise. And in the process we discovered something unexpected: when you read the fatherly, homespun advice alongside the correlating biblical truths, the former somehow becomes more personal and profound. But we shouldnt have been surprised.

The Bible transforms mightily everyone and everything it touches! Compiling this little book has blessed both of our lives. May you find something valuable here too, as you live your faith and love your God. H. Jackson Brown, Jr. For our son, Adam 1. Compliment three people every day.A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. Proverbs 25:112.

Overtip breakfast waitresses.A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. Proverbs 11:253. Say thank you a lot.In everything give thanks. 1 Thessalonians 5:184. Never decide to do nothing just because you can only do a little. 2 Corinthians 8:12 5. 2 Corinthians 8:12 5.

Learn to play a musical instrument.Then David spoke to the leaders of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers accompanied by instruments of music, stringed instruments, harps, and Cymbals. 1 Chronicles 15:166. Sing in the shower.But I will sing of Your power; yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; for You have been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble. Psalm 59:167. Choose your lifes mate carefully. From this one decision will come ninety percent of all your happiness or misery.Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies.

The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life. Proverbs 31:10-128. Live beneath your means.In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has. Proverbs 21:209. Take along a small gift for the host or hostess when youre a dinner guest.

A book is a good choice.A mans gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men. Proverbs 18:1610. Become the most positive and optimistic person you know.I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:1311. Return all the things you borrow.The wicked borrows and does not repay, but the righteous shows mercy and gives. Psalm 37.2112.

Teach some kind of class.And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 2 Timothy 2:213. Decide to get up thirty minutes earlier. Do this for a year, and you will add seven and one-half days to your waking world.I rise before the dawning of the morning, and cry for help; I hope in Your word. Psalm 119:14714. Worry makes for a hard pillow.

When somethings troubling you, before going to sleep, jot down three things you can do the next day to help solve the problem.Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-715. Keep secrets.A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much. Proverbs 20:1916. Be better prepared than you think you need to be.He said to them, But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you dont have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. Luke 22:3617.

Dont be thin-skinned. Take criticism as well as praise with equal grace.Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but grievous; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:1118. Keep a tight rein on your temper.A patient man has great understanding, but a quicktempered man displays folly. Proverbs 14:2919. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 20. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 20.

Learn to bake bread.So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. Quick, he said, get three seahs of fine flour and knead it and bake some bread, Genesis 18:621. Make the best of bad situations.And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.