Word to the Wise: A Yearlong Daily Devotional

By Dr. Al P. Cabrera

Ignorance, like cancer that creeps silently, is lethal. The downside to this generation of instant information is the trivialization of knowledge at the expense of reflection and introspection. We must reverse the influences of the force that causes us to think less and less.

There is a nugget of wisdom in everything, every event, every time. Indeed like scavengers, let us pick these up, store them up in the banks of our beings. Wisdom makes life bearable, survivable, if not altogether beautiful. Surely, you and I will have use for these sooner, later, if not now.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Aug 8, 2016
• ISBN: 9781512701142

Dr. Al P. Cabrera

Dr. Al P. Cabrera is the Senior Pastor at Willow River Church and a chaplain at the Texas Children’s Hospital – West Campus, both in Houston, Texas.  He received his theological education at the Philippine Baptist Theological Seminary and Asia Baptist Graduate Theological Seminary, and Clinical Pastoral Education at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. Prior to seminary training, he studied Architecture at the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines and practiced architecture for years. He was Dean of Students and professor in Pastoral Care and Counseling, Psychology of Religion, and Mi nisterial Leadership. He is a practicing pastoral counselor and educator. He served as Pastor for Greenhills Christian Fellowship East, Director of Pastoral Care and Counseling at GCF Center, and pastor for Trinidad Baptist C hurch, Calvary Baptist Church, and Hillside Baptist Church. He is married to Mary Joy and they have three children – Laurice, Luisa, and Amos

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Copyright © 2016 Dr. Al P. Cabrera.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Cover Photography by Anna Luisa Cabrera

Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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ISBN: 978-1-5127-0113-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-0114-2 (e)

WestBow Press rev. date: 08/03/2016

Contents

Foreword

Introduction

Jan 1

WORSHIP

Jan 2

HAPPY

Jan 3

CHANGE

Jan 4

FRIENDSHIP

Jan 5

TRIANGLING

Jan 6

CREDIBILITY

Jan 7

INNER DRIVES

Jan 8

DISCERNMENT

Jan 9

SIMPLICITY

Jan 10

CHURCH

Jan 11

CHILDREN

Jan 12

TODDLER

Jan 13

LISTEN

Jan 14

PRAYER

Jan 15

TWISTERS

Jan 16

EMOTIONAL TRIANGLE

Jan 17

BE STRONG

Jan 18

COMPENSATION

Jan 19

GRACE

Jan 20

RESET

Jan 21

PLEASANT

Jan 22

SPONTANEOUS

Jan 23

ACCEPTANCE

Jan 24

LAST DAYS

Jan 25

PEOPLE

Jan 26

GOODNESS

Jan 27

MALADY

Jan 28

MODELS

Jan 29

FULFILMENT

Jan 30

SERVING

Jan 31

DEPENDABLE

Feb 1

VALUES

Feb 2

TEMPERANCE

Feb 3

AT EASE

Feb 4

COUNTRY

Feb 5

LIGHTNESS

Feb 6

FORCES

Feb 7

PROPHETIC LEADERSHIP

Feb 8

ADVERSARY

Feb 9

ASPIRATION

Feb 10

MOTIVES

Feb 11

INTEGRITY

Feb 12

WATERED DOWN

Feb 13

LIGHT

Feb 14

LOVE

Feb 15

LEADERSHIP

Feb 16

INSIDE OUT

Feb 17

WALK AWAY

Feb 18

TRUTHING

Feb 19

SIMPLICITY

Feb 20

HOPE

Feb 21

HOOKS

Feb 22

OPEN HEART

Feb 23

LEADERSHIP

Feb 24

SERVANT-LEADER

Feb 25

REST

Feb 26

GENEROUS

Feb 27

FAITH

Feb 28

SERVICE

Feb 29

LEAP OF FAITH

Mar 1

POSITIVE

Mar 2

FACEBOOK

Mar 3

THE STRUGGLE

Mar 4

PLEASANT

Mar 5

CIVILITY

Mar 6

HARMONY

Mar 7

THE CROSS

Mar 8

DYNAMICS OF EVIL

Mar 9

HOPELESS AUDACITY

Mar 10

TEACH

Mar 11

TRANSFERENCE

Mar 12

ARTIST

Mar 13

SOLVERS

Mar 14

DISCERMENT

Mar 15

WORDS

Mar 16

FAITH

Mar 17

CALM

Mar 18

OPTIMUM

Mar 19

SECRETS

Mar 20

CALLING

Mar 21

SATISFACTION

Mar 22

WINNING

Mar 23

OBEDIENCE

Mar 24

HUMILITY

Mar 25

GLORY

Mar 26

DILEMMA

Mar 27

FORMATION

Mar 28

COMMUNICATION

Mar 29

KINDNESS

Mar 30

DARK INTERVAL

Mar 31

RISEN

Apr 1

BE STRONG

Apr 2

LEADER

Apr 3

COUNSELOR

Apr 4

DEPRESSION

Apr 5

SILENCE

Apr 6

SURVIVING

Apr 7

CONSEQUENCES

Apr 8

WORSHIP

Apr 9

DUTY

Apr 10

CRUTCH

Apr 11

TRANSCEND

Apr 12

BEWARE

Apr 13

TEACHABLE

Apr 14

GRACIOUS

Apr 15

ANXIETY

Apr 16

JUSTICE

Apr 17

INNER DRIVES

Apr 18

MINISTRY

Apr 19

REORGANIZE

Apr 20

VOICES

Apr 21

EMOTIONS

Apr 22

ETHICS

Apr 23

INSPIRATION

Apr 24

CONFIDENCE

Apr 25

SILENCE

Apr 26

DREAM

Apr 27

MEMES

Apr 28

MISSION

Apr 29

BLOOM

Apr 30

RESILIENCE

May 1

GROWTH

May 2

DISCIPLINE

May 3

FORGIVENESS

May 4

PROGRESS

May 5

TIME

May 6

CHILDREN

May 7

HEART

May 8

SENSATIONALISM

May 9

GIFT

May 10

RISE ABOVE

May 11

SOVEREIGN

May 12

MOTHER

May 13

SERVE

May 14

EXPERIENCE

May 15

HOPE

May 16

STURDY

May 17

UNLOAD

May 18

UNITY

May 19

CONVICTION

May 20

WELLBEING

May 21

TRUST

May 22

EQUILIBRIUM

May 23

TIME

May 24

PRIVILEGE

May 25

DUTY

May 26

RELATIONSHIPS

May 27

NETWORK

May 28

SELF-CONTROL

May 29

DILIGENCE

May 30

LEARN

May 31

GENEROSITY

Jun 1

PERSONALITY

Jun 2

SAVED

Jun 3

TESTIMONY OF GRACE

Jun 4

PRIORITIES

Jun 5

DECISIONS

Jun 6

INCLUSIVE

Jun 7

SANITY

Jun 8

RETREAT

Jun 9

DEVELOPMENT

Jun 10

HARDWORK

Jun 11

STEWARDSHIP

Jun 12

PROGRESS

Jun 13

PRODIGAL

Jun 14

GRATITUDE

Jun 15

MATURE

Jun 16

FATHERS

Jun 17

FAITH

Jun 18

PROJECTION

Jun 19

LISTEN

Jun 20

MERCY

Jun 21

DECENT

Jun 22

ATTACHMENT

Jun 23

COUNSELING

Jun 24

ALONE

Jun 25

GRACE

Jun 26

DEDICATION

Jun 27

HEART

Jun 28

PRESCRIPTIONS

Jun 29

CALMNESS

Jun 30

MATURITY

Jul 1

STORMS

Jul 2

RESURRECTION

Jul 3

EMPATHY

Jul 4

FREEDOM

Jul 5

TACT

Jul 6

FAITH

Jul 7

WORSHIP

Jul 8

MATURITY

Jul 9

PRAY

Jul 10

COFFEE

Jul 11

LEARNER

Jul 12

RELIABILITY

Jul 13

DISENGAGE

Jul 14

CHANGE

Jul 15

SCAPEGOAT

Jul 16

FRIENDS

Jul 17

EDUCATE

Jul 18

BRIDGES

Jul 19

CHURCH

Jul 20

SEEKERS

Jul 21

STEADFAST

Jul 22

SUCCESS

Jul 23

LEADERSHIP

Jul 24

MISSION

Jul 25

ASSURANCE

Jul 26

INTROVERT

Jul 27

COURAGE

Jul 28

PRIORITY

Jul 29

TIME

Jul 30

SERVING

Jul 31

HELP

Aug 1

SOVEREIGN

Aug 2

DIVERSITY

Aug 3

MINISTER

Aug 4

PATIENCE

Aug 5

FREEDOM

Aug 6

COMPLIMENTS

Aug 7

PEACE

Aug 8

WEALTH

Aug 9

EXCELLENCE

Aug 10

EXCUSES

Aug 11

FOLLOWER

Aug 12

DOERS

Aug 13

COMMITMENT

Aug 14

DISCIPLE

Aug 15

SERVANTS

Aug 16

TRIALS

Aug 17

TEACHER

Aug 18

EXCELLENCE

Aug 19

TEACH

Aug 20

GEARS SHIFT

Aug 21

PASSION

Aug 22

SOLUTIONS

Aug 23

SHEPHERD

Aug 24

THRESHOLD

Aug 25

RITES

Aug 26

FIREFIGHTERS

Aug 27

TEAMWORK

Aug 28

GOALS

Aug 29

GOSPEL

Aug 30

CALMNESS

Aug 31

GIVER

Sep 1

TRUSTWORTHY

Sep 2

SERVANT

Sep 3

ADORATION

Sep 4

SIMPLIFY

Sep 5

CONVERSION

Sep 6

ARCHITECT

Sep 7

STRENGTH

Sep 8

PATIENCE

Sep 9

STABLE

Sep 10

CHARACTER

Sep 11

BRAVE

Sep 12

SENSITIVITY

Sep 13

SPEECH

Sep 14

MONEY

Sep 15

LEADER

Sep 16

RULES

Sep 17

GENUINE

Sep 18

FIXATION

Sep 19

GRACE

Sep 20

BLESS

Sep 21

RESTRAINT

Sep 22

GENEROUS

Sep 23

FOCUS

Sep 24

SERVANT-LEADER

Sep 25

DREAM

Sep 26

SACRIFICE

Sep 27

MANLY

Sep 28

BLESSED

Sep 29

IMMATURITY

Sep 30

DELIGHT

Oct 1

LOSSES

Oct 2

MOTIVATION

Oct 3

PLEASANT

Oct 4

DISCERN

Oct 5

SMOKESCREEN

Oct 6

OFFERING

Oct 7

SERVE

Oct 8

SKEPTIC

Oct 9

JUDGING

Oct 10

WORD

Oct 11

BELIEVE

Oct 12

VANITY

Oct 13

TEACHABLE

Oct 14

DISCERNMENT

Oct 15

MEANING

Oct 16

RUST

Oct 17

SERVING GOD

Oct 18

FOOTBALL

Oct 19

LEAD

Oct 20

SAVED

Oct 21

WISDOM

Oct 22

PLEASANT

Oct 23

BEWARE

Oct 24

ORGANIZE

Oct 25

FORCES

Oct 26

MISSIONS

Oct 27

DETOURS

Oct 28

BULLIES

Oct 29

LEADERSHIP

Oct 30

LEGACY

Oct 31

GRATITUDE

Nov 1

ATHEISTS

Nov 2

MISSION

Nov 3

DEDICATION

Nov 4

COMPLEXITY

Nov 5

WINNING

Nov 6

VENEER

Nov 7

SERVANT

Nov 8

LOYALTY

Nov 9

LIFE

Nov 10

GROWTH

Nov 11

WOUNDED

Nov 12

LET GOD

Nov 13

LET GO

Nov 14

PREJUDICE

Nov 15

CALLING

Nov 16

CULTURE

Nov 17

CHURCH

Nov 18

AGENDA

Nov 19

LOVING

Nov 20

FELLOWSHIP

Nov 21

EQUIP

Nov 22

TEMPERANCE

Nov 23

LIGHTLY

Nov 24

SILENCE

Nov 25

LOUD

Nov 26

COMMUNITY

Nov 27

CONTEMPLATION

Nov 28

JUDGMENT

Nov 29

BUSINESS

Nov 30

DETTACHMENT

Dec 1

CARING

Dec 2

HELPING

Dec 3

LEMON

Dec 4

ELEVATE

Dec 5

DISSONANCE

Dec 6

RANDOM LOSSES

Dec 7

MOTHER

Dec 8

KEEP ON

Dec 9

LOVE

Dec 10

FAITH

Dec 11

NOT ENOUGH

Dec 12

ECONOMICS

Dec 13

MARRIAGE

Dec 14

SELF-ACCEPTANCE

Dec 15

INTELLECTION

Dec 16

IMPERFECT

Dec 17

PRAYER

Dec 18

IMAGINE

Dec 19

TESTINGS

Dec 20

LEADERS

Dec 21

PRAY

Dec 22

WORSHIP

Dec 23

GLORY

Dec 24

FEAR NOT

Dec 25

SAVIOR

Dec 26

PEACEMAKING

Dec 27

DIFFERENT

Dec 28

RESOLUTION

Dec 29

LAST DAYS

Dec 30

THANKFUL

Dec 31

CLOSURE

Foreword

It started about four years ago a few days after my daughter Luisa said I should create a facebook account. I did not have a clear picture of what I wanted to do with it but to simply write down and post my daily reflections the way it was done by Doogie Howser, the sixteen year old medical doctor in the television show that aired in 1989 until 1993. I gave it the title Our Daily Tweet, fashioned after the Christian classic Our Daily Bread, and the Daily Dimsum, the year-long devotional to which I contributed during my ministry at Greenhills Christian Fellowship (GCF). The entries eventually included headings or titles and Bible verses that support the thoughts. The brevity of the entries was not intentional, rather it was the most I could write with the four hundred and twenty characters that facebook allowed at the time.

Then the staff at Willow River Church began using the daily entries on a new format to be sent out through email as part of the church’s ministry. Positive feedbacks started coming in after a few weeks, and after a few months, colleagues, former seminary professors, and friends began encouraging me to publish the thoughts in book form. Dr. Grover Tyner, Jr. and Dr. Joyce Abugan, former presidents of the Philippine Baptist Theological Seminary (PBTS) respectively, Dr. James Moorhead, former academic dean of the same seminary, and the late Dr. Luis Pantoja, Jr., former senior pastor of GCF were among those who gave encouragement to publish. Admittedly, that was kind of flattering – the kind that makes you scared. However, realizing that the scare was coming from fear of failure, and therefore it is pride, I decided to make the leap. I pray that this book will float and find its way on your desk, shelf, and coffee table. The size of this book will not take much space in your computer bag or handbag, so you can carry it with you at coffee shops, as well as that special place where God meets with you every day.

For this second edition, appreciation is due to Ms. Kelly Smalley, a co-worker at Texas Children’s Hospital – West Campus, whose keen eyes caught the needed corrections.

Introduction

A former colleague observed that the title "Word to the Wise should have been Word from the Wise since the writer is the one issuing the statements for others’ consumption. I could not agree since the essence of the statements does not really come from me as it does from the Bible. Also, the title he suggested goes beyond what my ego can handle as it sounds even more presumptuous on the part of the writer than it is already. Word to the Wise is obviously not an original quip by me. I first heard it from my preaching professor who, upon giving instructions, would add A word to the wise is sufficient; a word to the sufficient is wise." Those words stuck with me and its inspiration came in handy for this year-long daily devotional.

The messages come from observations about daily life situations of which upon reflection yields truism that correspond to biblical truths. Like Christ’s parables such truths can escape the attention of unintentional readers. They, however, jump out straight on to those who seek wisdom. I see the value of the briefness of each entry. The easy reading is compatible with the busy lifestyle of people who do not have the luxury of time to read long messages. You will note that the messages are to the point and often do not include explanations. They leave room for reflection or even challenge. The title Word to the Wise means to receive counsel makes a person wise, and to do so confirms his being wise. I