“Each man‘s labor brings its own return.” Proverbs 12:14.
The job well planned and carefully completed always helps toward the good of the worker.

“If anyone loves me, my Father and I will abide in him.” John 14:23.
The mutual enduring love of God and man is an enduring permanent gift.

“The fool is sure his way is right, the wise man listens to advice.” Proverbs 12:15.
Do you ask a question sincerely, seeking the answer, or do you merely want an occasion to air your own views?

“My peace the world cannot give but I give.” John 14:27.
The world can give cessation from war; Jeus gives creative growth.

“The fool shows displeasure immediately; the wise man overlooks an insult.” Proverbs 12:16.
Angry words as an insult serve only to broadcast the insult further.

“My Father is the vinedresser.” John 15:1.
The vine will get superb care.

“Bitterness fills the heart of the schemer.“ Proverbs 12:20.
The schemer‘s eye is filled with suspicion, jealousy, anger, fear and unrest.

“Joy is the lot of those who counsel peace.” Proverbs 12:20.
The joy of the peacemaker is seen in calmness, harmony, friendship, cooperation and sensitivity.

“To the diligent hand goes authority: to the slack hand, slave labor.” Proverbs 12:24.
Diligence is composed of the ambition, clear thinking, planning, constancy and courage needed in a leader.

“A branch cannot bear fruit by itself.” John 15:14.
Cut off from the stalk, a branch is fruitless and withers and dies.

“Worry makes a person‘s heart heavy; a kind word makes it glad.” Proverbs 12:25.
Kind words are like magic wands to smooth the worried brow and calm the anxious heart.

“Whoever remains in me and I in them bears great fruit.” John 15:5.
There is no limit to the greatness we can achieve through sincere effort.

“An impartial judge is his own best friend.” Proverbs 12:26.
The honest, fair, principled person is always at peace with his conscience.

“If you remain in me, my words remain in you.” John 15:17.
Unity in Christ is obtained through sincere obedience to his teachings.

“Diligence is the quality that assures the best use of all one‘s talents.” Proverbs 12:27.
Diligence is needed to develop talent and to complete routine tasks.

“If you keep my commands, you remain in my love.” John 15:10.
The one condition in Christ’s love is our obedience to his commands.

“The person who guards his mouth keeps his life.” Proverbs 13:33.
An angry word once spoken cannot be recalled but goes its way of anger and violence.

“The idler yearns but there is no food for him; hard workers get their full.” Proverbs 13:4.
A need, a wish, a plan, and action fill the larder. But idle wishes leave the cupboard bare.

“You do not choose me; I chose you.” John 15:16.
Christian ideals are handed on by example. This good example is Christ choosing.

“Some people with nothing pretend to be rich; some wealthy people pretend to be poor.” Proverbs 13:7.
Pretense is a form of sham that bespeaks the pretender’s discontent and maladjustment.

“Abide in me as I abide in you.” John 15:4.
The teaching of Jesus must be a part of our daily thoughts and plans.

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick.” Proverbs 13:312.
Consider all promises carefully...but when made, carry out your promises.

“I am the vine stalk; you are the branches.” John 15:5.
Life and strength come from God but fruitfulness comes from Jesus.

“The man who rejects discipline will see only poverty and disgrace.” Proverbs 13:18.
Self-knowledge and self-mastery alone give the work habits necessary to live and cooperate with others.

“It is to the glory of the Father that you bear much fruit.” John 15:8.
Our daily good works, in Christ, establish the brotherhood of man.

“Be companions of the wise and you grow wise yourself.” Proverbs 13:20.
The habits of knowledge, understanding, and insight are contagious to those who respond.

“May my joy be in you and your joy be complete.” John 15:11.
A Christian is to lead a joyful life; a sad Christian is a contradiction.

“In vain the mocker looks for wisdom.” Proverbs 14:6.
Wisdom is to be achieved by sincere interest in understanding and insight.

“I call you friends because I have made known to you everything I learned from the Father.” John 15:13.
Everything about the Christian ideal is revealed and easily understood by all.

“The heart knows its own grief best; nor can a stranger share its joy.” Proverbs 14:10.
Friendship must precede, accompany and grow from sharing with others.

“I commissioned you to go out and bear fruit that will endure.” John 15:16.
Today each action is the opportunity to bear fruit that will last forever.

“Hard work always yields its profit: idle talk brings only want.” Proverbs 14:23.
Diligence always benefits the worker; idleness spends its time excusing failure.

“Ask and you will receive and your joy will be complete.” John 16:24.
True prayer, confidently made, gives rise to satisfaction and joy.

“A tranquil heart gives life but envy is a cancer to the bone.” Proverbs 14:30.
Envy is not pleased with self and yet continually tears down the neighbor.

“This is eternal life: to know you, the only true God and Jesus whom you have sent.” John 17:13.
Informed understanding and searching -- such is the faith Jesus offers and asks for.

“A gentle answer turns away wrath.” Proverbs 15:1.
Like a cool hand on a fevered brow is a gentle word in the face of anger.

“Holy Father, keep them ... so that they may be one like us.” John 17:11.
Jesus wants a true unity - not a mere uniformity.

“Sharp retorts fire the anger yet more.” Proverbs 15:1.
Like the breath of the bellows on the smithy’s fire is the angry reply to an angry person.

“Protect them from evil.” John 17:15.
Every Christian needs help to overcome the evil around him.

“The tongue that soothes and comforts is the tree of life.” Proverbs 15:3.
A gentle word calms ruffled feelings and then discussion can continue.

“Father, may they be one in us ... so that the world may believe it was you who sent me.” John 17:21.
True unity among Christians it the only evidence accepted by Christ and his mission.

“Glad heart means a happy face.” Proverbs 15:13.
Joy is effervescent and shows itself in looks, words and actions.

“Father, you loved me before the foundation of the world.” John 17:24.
Jesus is fully convinced that he fulfills the ideal of the Father’s plan.

“Where the heart is sad, the spirit is broken.” Proverbs 15:13.
Work becomes drudgery unless it is done with a spirit of joy and hope of success.

“I have told you about the difficulties so that your faith may not be shaken.” John 16:1.
Jesus does not invite us to a false Utopia but to a creative rewarding life.

“The quick-tempered man stirs up quarrels.” Proverbs 15:18.
A quick temper is a lighted torch ever ready to ignore anything its path.

“I have conquered the world.” John 16:33.
Jesus faced all opposition squarely and came off the victor.

“The even-tempered man calms many a troubled heart.” Proverbs 15:18.
The calm collected words, quietly spoken take the sting out of many a remark.

“For I have given them the teaching you gave me.” John 17:7.
Jesus is firmly convinced his teaching is from God and is the whole plan.

“The road of the lazy person is strewn with thorns.” Proverbs 15:19.
Even the least exertion seems insurmountable to the lazy person.

“I am not asking you to remove them from the world.” John 17:15.
The plan of Jesus is viable in the midst of a world that is totally opposited to it.