The Pursuit of Happiness

The Declaration of Independence: A TranscriptionIN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness…

These men were standing together against tyranny and against a form of government that no longer cared about the inalienable rights of individuals as highlighted in red above.  They stood together against a far superior force and military that for any other reason would be overwhelmed if it had not been for God allowing these men to form a nation:  The United States of America.

This post is not about the rich culture of American History and the men that made this such a great nation.  Not every founding father was a professing christian and had a relationship with Jesus Christ, but we read in Romans 8, that that doesn't matter because God will use who He chooses to use for His good and purpose.  I am so thankful to be a part of this country and to be able to be free to speak and to worship and to read the Bible in public venues without fear of persecution or condemnation.  Clearly, some of you may be thinking that this government is so far away from the original statements laid before in this wonderful Declaration, but we have seen this before.  Communists trying overthrow our government through media channels, Nazis infiltrating very aspects of our society and some other modern day Governments that so desperately crave to destroy the very essence of Freedom.

There is a lot that is wrong with this world and even in our country, but remember this, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" Romans 3.  No matter how we hope that legislators and rulers and bosses and so on can get the very essence of God's word to promote justice and freedom and the belief for each and everyone of us to pursue life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, we will always find those that want to stunt this thought and have plans of their own.  Plans that our contrary to the word of God and to the very statutes of our creator.

These founding fathers understood the most important lesson in life:  There is a Creator and every knee will bow and tongue will confess.  So what does that mean for you and I?  Simply put, why should each one of us act differently then the world?  Why should we be humble, teachable and respectful of others?  Why should we love the Lord God with all of our heart, mind, body and soul and secondly why should we love our neighbor as ourselves?  Because Jesus told us that these are the two most important commands to follow (because all the others hinge on this).

What rights do we have as legacy dads:

• To love God
• To read his word daily
• To pray often
• To be loved by Him
• To love our wives unconditionally (Read 1 Peter 3:7)
• To love our children unconditionally
• To pursue our happiness (honoring God all the way)
• To be humble in all circumstances
• To trust and obey (for there is no other way)
• To Submit to God's will for our lives (this brings us His plans and His freedoms for our lives)

What if these are not the case in my life?  What if my life is bearing more sinful nature stuff then the fruit of the Spirit? What should I do, Dante? Lance?  Where can I turn?  How can I right this wrong?  How can I turn this ship around?  How can I take this dead marriage back to life?  YOU CAN'T, BUT  GOD CAN MAKE NEW THINGS AND RAISE THE DEAD TO LIFE!!!

Right now, if this speaks to you:

• Pray, ask God to reveal His will for your life (note:  If you are not reading the Bible, then you will not get this request)
• Get involved with other men (in a bible study, in an accountability group - true accountability)
• Love unconditionally
• If there is more deeper issues (scars, hurts, wrongs) get profession biblical help

Wait on God & Trust Him.

Blessings,

Dante

TOP 10 THINGS THAT YOU CAN'T CONTROL

As I continue to get older (and older) I have come to the realization that most older people (those that learn from their lives and continue to learn) have a wealth of knowledge if we could just take the time to engage them and chat with them and build relationship with them.  A dear old friend of mine used to say to me that there is only two things in life that we can control and that is: 1) Our attitudes and 2) how we handle the situation that God brings to us.This brings me to my top 10 list of things that you can't control:

1. Those around us - We cannot force our will on others nor control them for the outlook that we want
2. The way that God made us - Each of us have been faithfully and wonderfully made.  God loves us all and has made each one of us unique in our own special ways
3. Our family - We get to choose our friends (not our family) but God calls us to love our family and to show them the love of Christ
4. Those who we work with and work for - (obviously if you are a boss, or company owner you have influence) if you yield to scripture and follow its teaching, whether you are an owner, a peon or somewhere in the middle or upper middle, you cannot control those around you nor the situations that they present you with
5. The choices we have made (in the past) - we are accountable to decisions and actions that we have taken and we cannot control the outcome of those decisions if we made decisions that are contrary to God's will for our lives
6. The consequences of our past - God's way brings the abundant life, the world's way brings consequences to sin (as for me and my house we will choose to serve the Lord)
7. What other people know that we don't - unless they want to share with us, we cannot control what they want to share or don't want to share
8. What the future will bring (or won't) - Read Roman's 8 (God is in control)
9. What others think of us - Who is your identity in? The world or in Christ?
10. Whether or not others like us (or want to love us) - this is huge, because this impacts #1 through #9 and how we are around others.  If you have lived long enough on this earth you will find that not everyone will like you (people are different) and you will find that some may even hate you.  Is your identity in them or in Christ?

What we can control:

Our attitudes - how we react to positive and negative influences (and people) in our lives

How we handle the situation that God brings to us - From James 1 (NIV) 1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.

Trials and Temptations

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. 9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business. 12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.  13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. 16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

Listening and Doing

19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.  26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Don't just hear the words (of the Bible) do what they say (as we are required to do as disciples of Christ).

Blessings,

Dante

Which way are you running dad?

Dear Dad,As I watch you in your older years, it is difficult for me to watch your body and brain succumb to the ages of life (Parkinson's, Dementia and your health along the way).  You are my dad and a man who has taught me so much and continues to do so in your elderly years.  You have always impressed upon me the importance of hard work, of finishing the job, of commitment, of being a man (even though you were not yet a Christian at this time of training - you paved the legacy for me to connect the dots).  I want to thank you for making me into the husband and father that you have worked so hard to do.

Do I always get that right?  No.  Am I selfish and sometimes fail to find the lessons in your many years of training? Yes.  But I strive to be the man who you want me to be and the husband and father that you so drove into me.  If it were in my power not to work, not to raise my kids and not to be the husband that you want me to be, I would quit everything and bring you with me and listen to you and hold you and comfort you without mom.  You taught me the importance of marriage and to avoid the temptations of life.  You quoted Shakespeare to me in ways to avoid debt and to be raised right.

The one thing that I am so grateful for is after all the years of me trying to lead you to Jesus Christ that you never heeded those words, that is, until the day that I had a son.  Thanks to a dear church friend of mine that told me to be real in my faith and to share my heart with you, which lead me to talk about the love of my son (your grandson).  I said to you that if the world required that I sacrifice my son to save the world that I would tell the world to go to hell.  I caught that moment of toughness turned to weakness in you, when you exhaled and held a tear back and said to me, 'That is how I feel about you" and then to watch your expression melt when I shared what God did with His son for you and me and my son.

I am so grateful to you that was the day that the Lord called you to be his.  This is the legacy that I want from my son, dad.  Yes, I want him to understand the gifts of life that we are given:

• The gift of work
• The gift of money
• The gift of friends
• The gift of learning
• The gift of problems
• The gift of family
• The gift of laughter
• The gift of dreams
• The gift of Giving
• The gift of Gratitude
• The gift of a day
• The gift of Love

But what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul?  It doesn't!  "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us," Hebrews 12:1

Dad,  thank you for instilling in me the importance of being a man of God.  At the time of your training, you didn't know Jesus Christ as Savior (yet), but he was preparing you for what lies ahead.  Thank you for always being there for me and I want to especially thank you for standing your ground and giving me boundaries and allowing me to fail within that framework.  You have taught me a lot - how to be a man.  For that, I am eternally grateful.  Thank you for hearing God's call to accept His Son as Savior.  I cannot wait for you and mom to be re-united.  In the meantime, please have patience with me as I learn again and again to be patient with you and pray that you will be the patient with me as we both age.

I love you!

Love,

Dante

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Dear Legacy dads,

Lance and I want to encourage you in your walks.  No matter the past, no matter where you are in the present, trust in the Lord and lean not on your own understanding.  Acknowledge him in all of your ways and He will make your paths straight.  The question that was asked to all of you in the beginning was, "Which way are you running, dad?"  This is an epic question and one that deserves to be answered by all of our legacy dads and moms out there.

Ask yourselves these following questions:

• By my activities and those that I/we have our children involved in, am I doing the best at what God calls us to do as dads (moms/parents)?
• Would my checkbook affirm that I am a disciple of Christ
• Would my activities and habits and daily doings show that?
• How can I take the idols out of my life (sports, activities, hobbies that take me away from serving God)?
• How do I find God's will in my life?
• How do I get in the relationship with God in such a way that He speaks to me?
• Am I/are we doing what God calls us to do?
• If not, why not?

It's never to late to leave the legacy that God wants you to lead.  Surrender and Obey...do not just read His words, do what they say.

Blessings,

Dante

Lessons of Faith, Part 1

1 Kings 17 New International Version (NIV)Elijah Announces a Great Drought

17 Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe[a] in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.”

Elijah Fed by Ravens

2 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah: 3 “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. 4 You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.”  5 So he did what the Lord had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. 6 The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.

Elijah and the Widow at Zarephath

7 Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. 8 Then the word of the Lord came to him: 9 “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.” 10 So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” 11 As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.” 12 “As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.” 13 Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. 14 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’”  15 She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. 16 For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah. 17 Some time later the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. He grew worse and worse, and finally stopped breathing. 18 She said to Elijah, “What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?” 19 “Give me your son,” Elijah replied. He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his bed. 20 Then he cried out to the Lord, “Lord my God, have you brought tragedy even on this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to die?” 21 Then he stretched himself out on the boy three times and cried out to the Lord, “Lord my God, let this boy’s life return to him!”  22 The Lord heard Elijah’s cry, and the boy’s life returned to him, and he lived. 23 Elijah picked up the child and carried him down from the room into the house. He gave him to his mother and said, “Look, your son is alive!”  24 Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth.”

This life event happened for you and I to believe.   This story sums up some truth that we, as Christians, can hold on to for dear life.  I love the word of God and believe that it has a wealth of information and truth that can grow us into the disciples that God wants us to be.

Points to take from this Story:

• God is in control - two critical times in Elijah's timeline, God has said, "I have directed"  He is in control ALWAYS
• Faith without works is dead - God brought His prophet and this widow together.  God had ordained this very meeting.  One person (Elijah) was mature in God's word and Spirit and believed and acted on his faith in God.  The other person, a widow with a son, was hell bent on giving her and her son one last meal before they surely died - She was hopeless.  Yet, she let God lead her to this Holy man, God's Prophet, and trusted the words.  Even though, she still thought they were doomed and probably said in her heart, "yes, okay, sure, I will give you my son and I's last meal" but then realized that she was talking to God's prophet and she acted.  She took the step of faith - she gave it all knowing the cost could surely be death (she trusted).
• She went away - she went away to do the man of God's will (to cook for him) she trusted him and she went away IN FAITH and believed
• Even in Hopeless times - No matter how hopeless and desperate times seem - God makes the impossible possible.  God fed Elijah, the woman and her son.  God rose her son from the dead.  He is an Awesome God.

How many of us put God in a box and pull him out only when we need Him or only when the situations are too grave for just our little 'ol selves to handle?  How many of us fear God, yet fail to grow our relationship with him?  (We know that He is in Heaven and in control) yet we forget that He wants a relationship with us.

How many of us are afraid to give it all to God?  Our jobs, our families, our divorce, our singleness, our broken dreams and our money?  Is God in Control?  Is He over it all?  Then why do we limit God's blessings in our life.  Take a step toward relationship and trust and in obedience to Him see what He has in store for you.

Blessings,

Dante

The Ultimate Gifts

Both Lance and I have posted on the Movie, The Ultimate Gift, back in 2007 and 2011, and I decided to have my family watch that movie last night.  My three kids (ages 10, 9 and 7) all thoroughly enjoyed the movie and were saddened with tears through parts of the movie.  I learned a lot about my kids (more teachable moments) in that was both my intention and my hope that they would connect to a life lesson that I was trying to bring them.  The theme of the movie is in its title:  The Ultimate Gift and my family and I were not let down.There are gifts that the main character has to learn throughout the movie (that are applicable to life)

• The Gift of Work - if you can appreciate this gift and learn to love the gift you can accomplish anything in life
• The Gift of Money - when you realize good stewardship and that its all God's, then you can appreciate what He has given you
• The Gift of Friends - when hard times hit, you know who you true friends truly are
• The Gift of Learning - you will never be old enough to continue to learn, appreciate the learning times
• The Gift of Problems - Read James 1 (life will not be easy, it's how you embrace them that can carry you through)
• The Gift of Family - No matter what, family (both biological and church) should always be close to you (and your heart)
• The Gift of Laughter - Life is too serious, enjoy these precious moments of laughter
• The Gift of Dreams - Set the curve high and reach for God's best in your life
• The Gift of Giving - to give is truly better than to receive, for the blessing lies in this
• The Gift of Gratitude - appreciate these moments that others do for you no matter how significant or insignificant
• The Gift of a Day - life, as it is said, is way too short, so appreciate the days that the Lord has given you
• The Gift of Love - the Ultimate Gift!  In one of my favorite musicals (Les Miserables) there is a line that says, "to love another person is to see the Face of God"...

What I really liked about this movie is:  Everything!  What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul (answer:  nothing!).  This movie encapsulates a road to discipleship that is biblical and that it truly tells you that giving is better than receiving.  This is completely counter-culturual in that it shows you that when you give without expectation (letting the right hand not know what the left hand is doing) God's blessing is so much better than what we possibly could think.

This movie aloud me the privilege to share a beautiful teaching moment with my family - What really matters in life.  I taught about God's love for us and what he calls us to do in return.  My youngest (7) was hit hard with the realization of death and that one day mom and dad will be gone (be sensitive to this), but what the tears aloud us to do was to connect on so many different levels.  I learned not to be afraid to share bitter truths in life with our kids.  The reality and frailty of this conversation led to a much bigger theme:  The Gift of Family and the Gift of Love (God's love for us).  When we put these things in our life and move towards God's path for us, then we find the abundant life that He promises us.

I would love to see a follow-up movie on this.  My theme in this would be a man who used to be a trust-fund brat and totally of this world, moving to a true disciple of Jesus Christ making a difference in the world.  Looking like something Job quotes in his book: Job 29.

Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  In all of your ways acknowledge him and He will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3).

Blessings,

Dante

PS - there is a sequel/prequel called the ultimate life (movie preview to follow once it is viewed)

Twas the night before Christmas, by Legacydad

"The Night Before Christmas" by Legacy Dad'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a child was screening a IPad nor even an IPhone.  The parents were working hard to finish the packing and even wrapping the last minute deliveries.  A movie just ended about a sad story, but not to fear, it all works out through the evening.

The children were wrestling and wondering, could this man called Saint Nicholas be for real.  Some doubted and reasoned while yet others were hoping that maybe just maybe Norad Santa Tracker could be for real, then the morning would truly bring their hearts’ desires.

As mom and dad prayed for just a few more hours, hoping that children would sleep way past their wake up hours, a sound arose from their hearts, yes a sound, the spirit of Christmas.

A long time ago, in a town called Bethlehem, a child was born of a virgin.  Fulfilling age old prophecies, one child named Jesus would prove them all true.  His dad, our God, sent him to us, as a gift of mercy and love for all of us.

Mom and dad decided to read that old Bible, Luke 2 it was , with all of its mercy.  A boy was born and was visited by wise men, bearing gifts to this king – gold, frankincense and myrrh.  Some odd gifts they were, but true telling of the young lad:  A king, a prince, who would die a death for us – for love and mercy.

When tomorrow morning comes, inside all the fury, we, parents need to remember the birthday celebration:  Christ the child was born for us, our sins he covered with his death.  Let us remember to give God the glory.  In all we do, in words and action, Christmas is the day for us to begin anew, to be his disciples.

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"

Best wishes,

Dante & Lance

Discipleship Part 2: The lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the Pride of Life

Do Not Love the World1 JOHN 2: 15Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

When you think about these words, they are really tough to handle as a disciple of Jesus Christ.  Tough to handle in the way that our old self (dead to sin) is still at war with our new self born again in Jesus Christ.  We are no longer owned by death, as death has lost its hold on those who profess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  The problem is when we entertain lust in our lives.  Lust is defined as, "intense sexual desire or appetite".  There are three things that can pull us away from what God's perfect plan for us is:

Lust of the eyes:

• Beauty (desiring what we see, but cannot have)
• Nudity
• Sexual appetite
• Desire
• Want
• Greed

Lust of the Flesh

• Acting on that which we desire by sight
• Giving in to the temptation of the eyes
• Gratifying our desires via the flesh
• Gluttony
• Overdoing
• Insatiable Appetite (nothing can fill it)
• Addictions (drugs, alcohol, sex) and giving in to them

Pride of life

• Putting our needs before God's will
• Succoming to our desires, thereby following the worlds path instead of God's
• Becoming god-like without the power to save (we did it our way NOT God's way)
• Selfishness
• Arrogance
• Un-repentance

How to equip yourself for these 3 major battles:

• Put on the new self
• Holy Living (click here)
• Become a living sacrifice (click here)
• Renew your mind (daily and for some minute by minute)
• Confess and Repent
• Turn away from (in simple terms: RUN)

Next up, running the race:  Equip, Prepare, FightBlessings,

Dante

Trust in the Lord - a time of reflection

Proverbs 3 New International Version (NIV)Wisdom Bestows Well-Being

• 1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,
• 2 for they will prolong your life many years  and bring you peace and
• prosperity.  3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck,
• write them on the tablet of your heart.  4 Then you will win favor and a good name
• in the sight of God and man.  5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart  
• and lean not on your own understanding;6 in all your ways submit to him,
•     and he will make your paths straight.[a]
• 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;  fear the Lord and shun evil.
• 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
• 9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;
• 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing,  and your vats will brim over with new wine.
• 11 My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke,
• 12 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.[b]
• 13 Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding,
• 14 for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.
• 15 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.
• 16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
• 17 Her ways are pleasant ways,  and all her paths are peace.
• 18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed.
• 19 By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place;
• 20 by his knowledge the watery depths were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew.
• 21 My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,
• preserve sound judgment and discretion;
• 22 they will be life for you,
• an ornament to grace your neck.
• 23 Then you will go on your way in safety,
• and your foot will not stumble.
• 24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
• when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
• 25 Have no fear of sudden disaster
• or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
• 26 for the Lord will be at your side
• and will keep your foot from being snared.
•  27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,     when it is in your power to act.
• 28 Do not say to your neighbor,
•     “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—
•     when you already have it with you.
• 29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor,
• who lives trustfully near you.
• 30 Do not accuse anyone for no reason—
• when they have done you no harm.
• 31 Do not envy the violent  or choose any of their ways.
• 32 For the Lord detests the perverse but takes the upright into his confidence.
• 33 The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous.
• 34 He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.
• 35 The wise inherit honor, but fools get only shame

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Some take-a-ways from Proverbs 3:

• Read His word daily (keep His commandments and repent when you don't)
• Work out your salvation daily (with fear and trembling of God's AWEsomeness)
• Let Love and Faithfulness abound in you daily (and in your daily walk)
• Fear the Lord and do not entertain anything perverse/evil
• Do not hate His discipline, but understand that He is treating us as a loving father would treat his son
• Do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight (keep the word close to you and your heart)
• Honor the Lord with your wealth (tithe).  This is the only time that we can test the Lord (Malachi 3:10-11)
• Try and out give God in doing good (see what He does for you)
• Do not withhold good and charity from others when it is in your power to act (this will be a great sin against the saints, so repent if you do and ask for his path the next time)
• Do not envy the violent or worldly individuals (their wealth and prosperity is fleeting if their hope is not in the Lord)
• Do not choose their ways of living (worldly) for this does not prosper us, nor does it make our Father (in Heaven) happy
• Do not grieve the Holy Spirit that is in each of us that profess the name of Christ
• Finally, Trust in the Lord with all of your heart
• Lean not on your understanding
• In all of your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.

Blessings,Dante