1.  Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife.
2. A wise servant takes charge of an unruly child, and is honored as one of the family.
3.  The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, so the Lord tests the heart.
4.  Evil people relish malicious conversation; the ears of liars itch for dirty gossip.
5.  Whoever mocks the poor insults their Creator; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.

As I write this morning, I sense God "testing my heart" (v.3, and invite you to be open to His testing yours) with these questions:

A.  Am I contributing to peace and serenity in my home - or to strife?
B.  Do I relish malicious conversation and contribute to gossip, or am I intentional in stopping it when it comes to me?
C.  How do I view the poor - as Jesus did/does - with dignity-yielding respect - or in a less favorable way?

Pray with me, will you:  Dear God, in testing my heart, please shape my heart to become more like yours in how I live - in my home, in community and in solidarity with the poor.  Amen.