Marketplace Proverbs and Coffee with Ernie

Ernie Lansford

Daily podcast of verses from the Chapter of Proverbs matching the day of the month with applicable actions to build deep, meaningful relationships at work and home. marketplaceproverbs.substack.com

  1. 2d ago

    Marketplace Proverbs & Coffee With Ernie

    At first, the sound was sweet — until the distortion started. That’s how deception works. Proverbs 5 isn’t just about adultery; it’s about seduction by counterfeit clarity. The enemy never sells obvious lies. He tweaks truth slightly off frequency — enough to please the ear but pollute the message. In the marketplace, we hear it through promises of shortcuts, inflated numbers, or clever spin. It’s the temptation to “sweeten the mix” until it pleases the crowd but no longer honors the source. Audio engineers know that artificial brightness can impress for a moment but fatigues the listener over time. The same happens when we trade authenticity for approval. The short-term applause is sweet, but the long-term damage dulls integrity. God’s Word is the reference track — always in tune, always true. Measure everything you say and hear against His frequency, not the marketplace’s echo. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marketplaceproverbs.substack.com

    11 min

  2. 3d ago

    Marketplace Proverbs & Coffee With Ernie

    Allow me to ask you something. Have you ever met someone who seemed energized by cutting corners, almost driven to push the line? Well, proverbs: don't even step onto that path; avoid it, turn away, pass on. That's not subtle, because some roads in business don't just damage our reputation. They rob our peace. And there are people who can't sleep unless they've stirred up trouble. So today, which path are you walking? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marketplaceproverbs.substack.com

    12 min

  3. 4d ago

    Marketplace Proverbs & Coffee With Ernie

    “Today’s conversation takes us straight to the heart of Proverbs 3:9–10, a passage that teaches us to honor the Lord with our first fruits—the very best of what He’s entrusted to us. Now, most people hear that and think about money or tithing. But I’ve learned over the years that God isn’t after our stuff… He’s after our stance. When we give God our first and our best, we’re not ‘giving to get.’ We’re not negotiating with Heaven. We’re simply saying, ‘Lord, everything I have comes from You, and I get to give back what was never mine to begin with.’ And that posture—humility, gratitude, and trust—opens us to a life that’s full, overflowing, and anchored in His provision. And today, we’re joined by someone who lives this out in real time. Husband, father of four, and the creator of the daily devotional ‘Just Abide Daily,’ my friend Cory Patton is here. And together, we’re going to unpack what it really means to honor God first… in our homes, our work, our generosity, and our everyday life.” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marketplaceproverbs.substack.com

    13 min
  4. Marketplace Proverbs & Coffee With Ernie

    5d ago

    Marketplace Proverbs & Coffee With Ernie

    In today’s episode, I reference, with permission, Marty Stubblefield’s devotional on WORK from his Lazy Dog Newsletter. Marty writes: Scripture tells us the first person recorded as “filled with the Spirit” wasn’t a pastor, but a craftsman, a worker. An artist trusted to build something well. Marty quotes Jesus: “We must do the work of Him who sent me, as long as it is day.”—John 9:4 In the New Testament…Of the 132 public appearances that Jesus made, 122 were in the marketplace. Of the 52 parables that Jesus told, 45 had a workplace context. Of the 40 miracles in the Book of Acts, 39 were in the marketplace. Our WORK isn’t just a J.O.B. (Just over Broke). Our WORK is sacred when we know who we work for. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marketplaceproverbs.substack.com

    14 min

  5. 6d ago

    Marketplace Proverbs & Coffee With Ernie

    “When they say, “Come on! Let's gang up and kill somebody, just for the fun of it! Don't follow anyone like that or do what they do. They are in a big hurry to commit some crime, perhaps even murder. But if you listen to me, you will be safe and secure without fear of disaster.”—Proverbs 1:11, 15-16, 33 CEV Proverbs 1 warns us about people who run toward trouble, manipulation, and quick-hit gains. Their feet “run to evil”—meaning they rush into conflict, deception, and shortcuts. But wisdom calls us to something very different: To hold back our foot. To decline the invitation to strife. To refuse the path of haste and pressure. To choose the way of peace. Wisdom promises that if we listen, really listen, we will “dwell securely and be at ease.” That’s the posture of a Peacemaker. MARKETPLACE APPLICATION “Running to evil” doesn’t always look like crime. In the marketplace, it shows up as: • Rushing to win at any cost. Cutting corners, exaggerating capabilities, forcing a deal through because we’re 2/3 through the quarter. • Zero-sum thinking. Believing the only way to win is for the customer to lose. • Reacting instead of responding. Sending the angry email, escalating tension, and matching someone else’s hostility. That path destroys peace, our peace. We lose sleep, we live with dread. We wonder what’s going to blow up next. But the Peacemaker takes a different path: Holding back the foot. • We don’t join someone else’s drama. • We don’t match a competitor’s shady tactics. • We don’t let emotion dictate our response. We slow down, we listen, we choose the next right step, not the fastest. And the reward? Jesus says it best: “God blesses those people who make peace. They will be called his children!”—Matthew 5:9 A career and a life marked by security and peace. We sleep well because our integrity supports us. Our accounts are solid because our commitments are real. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marketplaceproverbs.substack.com

    11 min

  6. May 29

    Marketplace Proverbs & Coffee With Ernie

    How often have you sent an invitation only to receive the response: “I’ll pray about it,” followed by silence? No confirmation, no rejection—just ambiguity. This episode is very personal. I recently asked someone I respect to join me on this podcast, and he replied, “That’s an interesting concept. I’ll pray about it.” That was over 45 days ago. During this silence, I wondered: Is this a gentle Christian way of saying no? And deeper still: does my work—my writing, my podcast—lack importance? Today, I want to share some of my inner thoughts. Not seeking sympathy. No pity party here. But because I believe many of us face the same challenge: how to handle silence without letting it damage our sense of self. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marketplaceproverbs.substack.com

    11 min

  7. May 28

    Marketplace Proverbs & Coffee With Ernie

    Let me challenge your thinking on the definition of leadership. What if leadership isn’t about recognition, position, or even results? What if leadership is about something much quieter and much more powerful? Proverbs 28 points us toward influence that’s rooted in doing good, not being seen. And when I think about that, I think about Barnabas in the New Testament. A man who didn’t need the spotlight, but changed lives anyway. So here’s the question: Are you trying to be noticed, or are you committed to adding significance to others? Leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less, INFLUENCE! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marketplaceproverbs.substack.com

    10 min

  8. May 27

    Marketplace Proverbs & Coffee With Ernie

    We say it all the time…“I’m just waiting on the right time.” “I’m waiting on the Lord.” And sometimes that’s true. But what if the delay isn’t about timing? What if it’s about preparation or lack thereof? I had a moment in my own life where that hit me hard. The opportunity wasn’t the issue. Readiness was. Proverbs 27:1 reminds us that we don’t control tomorrow. So here’s the real question: While you’re waiting, what are you actually doing to get ready? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marketplaceproverbs.substack.com

    12 min
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Daily podcast of verses from the Chapter of Proverbs matching the day of the month with applicable actions to build deep, meaningful relationships at work and home. marketplaceproverbs.substack.com

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