Okay I am back from Hiatus. Had family in town so it was tough to blog
4 Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit. 5 In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle.
Do you know people who are always trying to get rich? What their reasons? I know I have spent a lot of time and energy trying to get rich, but I hope mine are for the right reasons. I want to be able to do more for the Lord, to do more for my family and be there more for them without having to work and 8-? job. I don't want my job to control me I want to control my job, and control what I do and where I go every day. I believe those are all good reasons and I have tried hard. Thing is, I am an idea person. I have tons of ideas that would be extremely marketable and profitable. I try to keep most of those ideas so that they would honor God. Problem is, ideas are just ideas without a plan to make them reality. It takes money to make money. It is a quandary that many people I know are in.
I am about to the point where I am just going to stop fretting about it and just let it lie. If it is meant to happen God will make it happen. If not I accept what God has in store for me. Jesus said not to lay up for yourself treasures that moth and rust can destroy, or thieves can steal, but to lay up for yourself treasures in heaven. That has been my focus lately and for quite a while. I could write a book on the bad things I have done in my life and only a couple of chapters of the good. I want there to be volumes of good so that when I go before my heavenly Father, he will say, "Well done good and faithful servant"
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Friday, March 6, 2009
Proverbs 3 - Kill em with Kindness
3:3 Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Write them deep within your heart. 4 Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation.
Would you consider yourself loyal? How about kind? I feel that I am a very loyal person. Betraying some one's loyalty is the one thing I despise the most. I always have. From a very young age I realized how most people are not loyal. You cannot depend on them. Over the last 20 years this quality has all but disappeared from the general populace, even among Christians. This should not be so. If anyone can be depended on it should be a Christ-follower. After all wasn't Christ loyal to us? Loyal even unto death on the cross. It really pains me to see all the people that call themselves Christians yet the sleep around all over the place, the marry and divorce like changing their underwear, the gossip and slander their friends and neighbors. It is a really good thing I don't wield the power or I would zap a lot of people.
Which leads to the second quality. Kindness. Are you kind. I think I am sometimes. I know I am not at others. It is extremely hard to be kind all the time. I go out with the best intentions but those kindness killers are everywhere. They are rude, belligerent, obnoxious, and selfish. They step on you like a door mat and you tend to lose your ability to exude kindness. These are the times we need to remember Jesus and the cross. Even when He was beaten, scourged, spit on, mocked, and crucified, He prayed for His tormentors, He blessed thieves and sinners! What an awesome God we serve that He could still love us after all the things we do. God promises we will earn His favor, and a good reputation by continuing to be kind even when the kindness killers are all around. Stand your ground! Love with everything you are!
Tammy Trent "At the Foot of the Cross
Would you consider yourself loyal? How about kind? I feel that I am a very loyal person. Betraying some one's loyalty is the one thing I despise the most. I always have. From a very young age I realized how most people are not loyal. You cannot depend on them. Over the last 20 years this quality has all but disappeared from the general populace, even among Christians. This should not be so. If anyone can be depended on it should be a Christ-follower. After all wasn't Christ loyal to us? Loyal even unto death on the cross. It really pains me to see all the people that call themselves Christians yet the sleep around all over the place, the marry and divorce like changing their underwear, the gossip and slander their friends and neighbors. It is a really good thing I don't wield the power or I would zap a lot of people.
Which leads to the second quality. Kindness. Are you kind. I think I am sometimes. I know I am not at others. It is extremely hard to be kind all the time. I go out with the best intentions but those kindness killers are everywhere. They are rude, belligerent, obnoxious, and selfish. They step on you like a door mat and you tend to lose your ability to exude kindness. These are the times we need to remember Jesus and the cross. Even when He was beaten, scourged, spit on, mocked, and crucified, He prayed for His tormentors, He blessed thieves and sinners! What an awesome God we serve that He could still love us after all the things we do. God promises we will earn His favor, and a good reputation by continuing to be kind even when the kindness killers are all around. Stand your ground! Love with everything you are!
Tammy Trent "At the Foot of the Cross
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Proverbs 2 - Obamanation
2:12 Wisdom will save you from evil people, from those whose words are twisted. 13 These men turn from the right way to walk down dark paths. 14 They take pleasure in doing wrong, and they enjoy the twisted ways of evil. 15 Their actions are crooked, and their ways are wrong.
God grant us all wisdom and may we seek it earnestly in times like these.
Every blog I write from here on out will probably unfortunately have something about the Obamanation that is occurring in this country. This scripture is describing our government right now. We are at the most crucial and important time of all history. Not just on the economic front, although that is definitely on the forefront of every one's mind, but more so in the leadership of our country. We have a President who should not even be president. He has never provided proof to his citizenship requirements. He is a homicidal maniac. He is a communist and will be the death of capitalism and democracy. Everything this country has been founded on and stands for will be destroyed in a matter of 4-8 years if we allow this man to continue to run our country. Not just him, though, Congress as well. We have seen the creeping in of the "more government" agenda since the Reagan administration. We are consistently be taxed without representation. How many of us would have voted "Yes" for the stimulus plans that have been shoved down our throats and we will have to pay for?
God is the only one who can save us right now. I firmly believe that because I can't see people banding together, taking up arms, and taking our country back. That is what it will take. Unless the government starts taking military action against us, our citizens will continue to be apathetic and trusting. We need to wake up. We need a call to action. We need to move back towards, democratic, capitalistic, Godly principles or we will see the end of the US as we have come to know and love it to be
Alan Keyes on Obama
God grant us all wisdom and may we seek it earnestly in times like these.
Every blog I write from here on out will probably unfortunately have something about the Obamanation that is occurring in this country. This scripture is describing our government right now. We are at the most crucial and important time of all history. Not just on the economic front, although that is definitely on the forefront of every one's mind, but more so in the leadership of our country. We have a President who should not even be president. He has never provided proof to his citizenship requirements. He is a homicidal maniac. He is a communist and will be the death of capitalism and democracy. Everything this country has been founded on and stands for will be destroyed in a matter of 4-8 years if we allow this man to continue to run our country. Not just him, though, Congress as well. We have seen the creeping in of the "more government" agenda since the Reagan administration. We are consistently be taxed without representation. How many of us would have voted "Yes" for the stimulus plans that have been shoved down our throats and we will have to pay for?
God is the only one who can save us right now. I firmly believe that because I can't see people banding together, taking up arms, and taking our country back. That is what it will take. Unless the government starts taking military action against us, our citizens will continue to be apathetic and trusting. We need to wake up. We need a call to action. We need to move back towards, democratic, capitalistic, Godly principles or we will see the end of the US as we have come to know and love it to be
Alan Keyes on Obama
Monday, March 2, 2009
Proverbs 1 - The beginning and end of Wisdom
1:5 Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance 6 by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables, the words of the wise and their riddles.
If ever there were a true dichotomy in life and in God's word, this would be it. The beginning of Proverbs points clearly to what will happen if you heed God's word, if you seek knowledge and wisdom, and if you walk in integrity. You will find peace, you will prosper, you gain additional wisdom, you will be esteedmed by others, your children will gain favor with the Lord, etc. This list of blessings goes on and on. I wish that we would see parents, churches, youth groups, etc. place more emphasis on teaching this one principle.
On the other hand, it also warns what will happen if you choose to ignore God, His word, and His advice. He does not pull any punches in this scripture. God will laugh at you and mock you if you choose to ignore Him and reject His correction. Do you ever feel like you don't know God, don't hear God, or He doesn't hear you? Have you ever felt like God was laughing at you? How about having your prayers bounce off the walls and not go anywhere? Book knowledge will not suffice. A personal realtionship is required. That is something that everyone must have in order to come into communion with God.
1:25 You ignored my advice and rejected the correction I offered. 26 So I will laugh when you are in trouble! I will mock you when disaster overtakes you
Does this mean that God does not or will not love us if we turn back to Him. Absolutely not! I am living proof. Many years I ignored God, many times I did exactly the opposite of His will and His teaching. But God still pursued me
If ever there were a true dichotomy in life and in God's word, this would be it. The beginning of Proverbs points clearly to what will happen if you heed God's word, if you seek knowledge and wisdom, and if you walk in integrity. You will find peace, you will prosper, you gain additional wisdom, you will be esteedmed by others, your children will gain favor with the Lord, etc. This list of blessings goes on and on. I wish that we would see parents, churches, youth groups, etc. place more emphasis on teaching this one principle.
On the other hand, it also warns what will happen if you choose to ignore God, His word, and His advice. He does not pull any punches in this scripture. God will laugh at you and mock you if you choose to ignore Him and reject His correction. Do you ever feel like you don't know God, don't hear God, or He doesn't hear you? Have you ever felt like God was laughing at you? How about having your prayers bounce off the walls and not go anywhere? Book knowledge will not suffice. A personal realtionship is required. That is something that everyone must have in order to come into communion with God.
1:25 You ignored my advice and rejected the correction I offered. 26 So I will laugh when you are in trouble! I will mock you when disaster overtakes you
Does this mean that God does not or will not love us if we turn back to Him. Absolutely not! I am living proof. Many years I ignored God, many times I did exactly the opposite of His will and His teaching. But God still pursued me
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Proverbs 26 - Obamacide
26:8 Putting a fool in a place of honor is like setting a mud brick on a marble column.
26:12 See that man who thinks he's so smart? You can expect far more from a fool than from him
Many of the reasons that I am so adamantly against Obama is that he is committing what I would call Obamacide. That term has many meanings to me. 1 - he is destroying capitalism/democracy and replacing it with socialism; 2 - he is destroying our nation and instead of making our economy better he is going to spiral us into unfathomable debt that will be paid for by the middle class Americans; 3 - he is passing along this debt to our children and the generations to come; and 4 - well let me share with you something included in his economic stimulus bill that will totally shock you. As President Obama took office he signed executive orders releasing funds to pay for abortions, permission to fund human stem cell research, and federal funding for contraception. Obama and his political party are committed to the shedding of innocent blood. They do not represent me or the majority of Americans who believe that abortion is wrong and should no longer be legal. We are being taxed without representation which is the cornerstone of democracy.
Eventually I believe the term Obamacide will take on another meaning and there have already been stories in the news lately about this. People will and have committed suicide because of the economic condition. People have killed their entire families because of this situation. Sure that is crazy, sure it has happened before and much of this economic condition was here before Obama, but I believe it will get worse and there will be more of this in the future. It is a bleak outlook and I really don't like to think about it but we have to. The signs of the time are here. Keep looking to the heavens and be ready!
Obama and Pastor Rick Warren
26:12 See that man who thinks he's so smart? You can expect far more from a fool than from him
Many of the reasons that I am so adamantly against Obama is that he is committing what I would call Obamacide. That term has many meanings to me. 1 - he is destroying capitalism/democracy and replacing it with socialism; 2 - he is destroying our nation and instead of making our economy better he is going to spiral us into unfathomable debt that will be paid for by the middle class Americans; 3 - he is passing along this debt to our children and the generations to come; and 4 - well let me share with you something included in his economic stimulus bill that will totally shock you. As President Obama took office he signed executive orders releasing funds to pay for abortions, permission to fund human stem cell research, and federal funding for contraception. Obama and his political party are committed to the shedding of innocent blood. They do not represent me or the majority of Americans who believe that abortion is wrong and should no longer be legal. We are being taxed without representation which is the cornerstone of democracy.
Eventually I believe the term Obamacide will take on another meaning and there have already been stories in the news lately about this. People will and have committed suicide because of the economic condition. People have killed their entire families because of this situation. Sure that is crazy, sure it has happened before and much of this economic condition was here before Obama, but I believe it will get worse and there will be more of this in the future. It is a bleak outlook and I really don't like to think about it but we have to. The signs of the time are here. Keep looking to the heavens and be ready!
Obama and Pastor Rick Warren
Proverbs 25 - Our Deliverer
25:3 Like the horizons for breadth and the ocean for depth, the understanding of a good leader is broad and deep.
I don't know who you voted for but this much I can say about our current leadership in Congress, the Senate, and the White house; they don't have a clue and this verse is far from their understanding. They are throwing our money to the crooks who stole it from us in the first place. And we will pay for this for years to come. It is frightening times for people. Especially those who don't know the Lord and place their faith in our current leadership and in corporate America. God is the only one to place your trust and faith in. He will never let you down, nor leave you alone. No one who believes in Him will go without their daily needs, without their daily bread. God will open doors for us when all else seems hopeless. Sure we may struggle but we will survive and our hope is in Him and He will deliver us!
Mandisa "My Deliver"
I don't know who you voted for but this much I can say about our current leadership in Congress, the Senate, and the White house; they don't have a clue and this verse is far from their understanding. They are throwing our money to the crooks who stole it from us in the first place. And we will pay for this for years to come. It is frightening times for people. Especially those who don't know the Lord and place their faith in our current leadership and in corporate America. God is the only one to place your trust and faith in. He will never let you down, nor leave you alone. No one who believes in Him will go without their daily needs, without their daily bread. God will open doors for us when all else seems hopeless. Sure we may struggle but we will survive and our hope is in Him and He will deliver us!
Mandisa "My Deliver"
Proverbs 24 - The well built home
24:3 It takes wisdom to build a house, and understanding to set it on a firm foundation; 4: It takes knowledge to furnish its rooms with fine furniture and beautiful draperies.
How is your house? Is it in fine order? In order to build your house properly it must be built with the right materials and the proper construction methods. Especially when you are talking about building your house of the Lord or your temple which is the home of the Holy Spirit. No, I am not talking about a physical house, but your physical and spiritual body. Are you building your with the right materials. Feasting on the word of the Lord, allowing Him to live and love through you, giving glory to Him in everything you do, praying and spending time with Him in every moment of your day, and spreading the word and the reason for your joy in life. These are the things that build a strong home for the Holy Spirit. They are expensive, costly, and take a lot of your time. They don't come easy but they are so well worth it. I am constantly working on building my house stronger and stronger. I want to hear my Lord say, "well done good and faithful servant"
Audio Adrenaline "Father's House"
How is your house? Is it in fine order? In order to build your house properly it must be built with the right materials and the proper construction methods. Especially when you are talking about building your house of the Lord or your temple which is the home of the Holy Spirit. No, I am not talking about a physical house, but your physical and spiritual body. Are you building your with the right materials. Feasting on the word of the Lord, allowing Him to live and love through you, giving glory to Him in everything you do, praying and spending time with Him in every moment of your day, and spreading the word and the reason for your joy in life. These are the things that build a strong home for the Holy Spirit. They are expensive, costly, and take a lot of your time. They don't come easy but they are so well worth it. I am constantly working on building my house stronger and stronger. I want to hear my Lord say, "well done good and faithful servant"
Audio Adrenaline "Father's House"
Monday, February 23, 2009
Proverbs 23 - Easy Come, Easy Go
23:5 Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone,for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.
How quickly riches can be taken away. How many of us could survive without a job very long. We would quickly have to start liquidating assets just to make ends meet and put food on the table. Have you ever been in a position where you felt wealthy or that you had considerable wealth? What about having and then losing it all? I have done this. Trust me it takes a life time to earn it and a couple of years to lose it (if that long). I would love more than anything to have an abundance of wealth that would allow me to live without being subservient or employed by anyone (human that it). This is my true goal in life. Especially in the wake of the recent financial situation today. I don't want to be working for corporate America because working for corporate America is like working for the devil. You are owned by them. They dictate what you do, where you go, how you do it, and with whom. Then when you have fulfilled your commitment to them they rip you off and don't give/reward you what you deserve. Don't get me wrong, I am very grateful for the things God has given me. I just want my focus to be more on what is really important, like family, friends, love, and God's children. I want to be free to live my life for God in everything I do. Not spend 80% of it working for the man, 10% working for God, and 10% for me. I want to turn my whole life upside down.
How quickly riches can be taken away. How many of us could survive without a job very long. We would quickly have to start liquidating assets just to make ends meet and put food on the table. Have you ever been in a position where you felt wealthy or that you had considerable wealth? What about having and then losing it all? I have done this. Trust me it takes a life time to earn it and a couple of years to lose it (if that long). I would love more than anything to have an abundance of wealth that would allow me to live without being subservient or employed by anyone (human that it). This is my true goal in life. Especially in the wake of the recent financial situation today. I don't want to be working for corporate America because working for corporate America is like working for the devil. You are owned by them. They dictate what you do, where you go, how you do it, and with whom. Then when you have fulfilled your commitment to them they rip you off and don't give/reward you what you deserve. Don't get me wrong, I am very grateful for the things God has given me. I just want my focus to be more on what is really important, like family, friends, love, and God's children. I want to be free to live my life for God in everything I do. Not spend 80% of it working for the man, 10% working for God, and 10% for me. I want to turn my whole life upside down.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Proverbs 17 - Gentle Rebuke
17:10 A rebuke impresses a man of discernment more than a hundred lashes a fool.
How many times in my life do I wish that others would have given me rebuke when I needed it. Instead I have felt the lashes of a fool. I can only blame myself for some of this. I have lived my life on an island for quite some time. I pray that in the future my friends will speak up without fear of losing my friendship or hurting me. Their silence has done much more harm. It is very difficult to know when we should speak up and say things to our friends. Things they need to hear. To tell them when they need to change their behavior, their attitude, or their actions. We have to lean on the Holy Spirit to guide us with the right words, the right heart, and the right attitude. An attitude of love. Christ spoke truth into his disciples and followers lives no matter whether they liked it or not. He put them on the spot. Not out of spite but out of love for them. We need to do the same.
So this video has nothing to do with what I have just blogged but it is awesome
17:16 Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no desire to get wisdom
Okay, I will let this one speak for itself. The current economic conditions are a reflection of this verse. Obama is giving money to fools, and we will end up paying for it. Our life style will never be the same from this year forth. It is being burdened upon the generations to come. It is predicted that the latest stimulus package will cost each taxpayer at least $10,000 in the next few years and that is just to repay the interest. I write these things today as a free man, but our freedom is being sold. We will once again have to take up arms to win our independence from a government that was supposed to protect us. This is a cold dark time in history. Please write your congressman, write your president, get vocal, because it is about to get nasty. Lastly, Texas needs to secede from the US. It may be our only hope for short term and long term financial survival.
How many times in my life do I wish that others would have given me rebuke when I needed it. Instead I have felt the lashes of a fool. I can only blame myself for some of this. I have lived my life on an island for quite some time. I pray that in the future my friends will speak up without fear of losing my friendship or hurting me. Their silence has done much more harm. It is very difficult to know when we should speak up and say things to our friends. Things they need to hear. To tell them when they need to change their behavior, their attitude, or their actions. We have to lean on the Holy Spirit to guide us with the right words, the right heart, and the right attitude. An attitude of love. Christ spoke truth into his disciples and followers lives no matter whether they liked it or not. He put them on the spot. Not out of spite but out of love for them. We need to do the same.
So this video has nothing to do with what I have just blogged but it is awesome
17:16 Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no desire to get wisdom
Okay, I will let this one speak for itself. The current economic conditions are a reflection of this verse. Obama is giving money to fools, and we will end up paying for it. Our life style will never be the same from this year forth. It is being burdened upon the generations to come. It is predicted that the latest stimulus package will cost each taxpayer at least $10,000 in the next few years and that is just to repay the interest. I write these things today as a free man, but our freedom is being sold. We will once again have to take up arms to win our independence from a government that was supposed to protect us. This is a cold dark time in history. Please write your congressman, write your president, get vocal, because it is about to get nasty. Lastly, Texas needs to secede from the US. It may be our only hope for short term and long term financial survival.
Proverbs 16 - One Thing
16:9 In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
How many of us plan out our lives? We make plans, we chart our course and our destiny. We want to be in control of everything. It is good to make plans, it is good to have dreams. But only God chooses our destiny and our destination. No matter how well we lay things out if we have dedicated our lives to Him, He is going to direct us down the path He has chosen for us. If we fight it we are kicking against the goads as Paul said. How much easier would it be to be in His will. It sometimes seems so hard for us to know what God wants us to do, where He wants us to be, to serve, to spend our time. Especially as we get older and have so many responsbilities. How I long to be able just to serve God with everything I am. That being said, God brings us down these roads for a reason. One of my favorite lines in a move comes from City Slickers. It is the "one thing" line. In life only one thing is important, and that one thing is what we need to focus on. For us, God is that one thing. We need to focus on Him and let the riff-raff all around become so much less important.
Pillar "Father"
How many of us plan out our lives? We make plans, we chart our course and our destiny. We want to be in control of everything. It is good to make plans, it is good to have dreams. But only God chooses our destiny and our destination. No matter how well we lay things out if we have dedicated our lives to Him, He is going to direct us down the path He has chosen for us. If we fight it we are kicking against the goads as Paul said. How much easier would it be to be in His will. It sometimes seems so hard for us to know what God wants us to do, where He wants us to be, to serve, to spend our time. Especially as we get older and have so many responsbilities. How I long to be able just to serve God with everything I am. That being said, God brings us down these roads for a reason. One of my favorite lines in a move comes from City Slickers. It is the "one thing" line. In life only one thing is important, and that one thing is what we need to focus on. For us, God is that one thing. We need to focus on Him and let the riff-raff all around become so much less important.
Pillar "Father"
Proverbs 15 - The Narrow Path
15:10 Stern discipline awaits him who leaves the path
How many times have you left the path of God's will? I know I have. Every time God brings situations into my life that cause me to turn back to Him. Sometimes He can only work with us when we have no other choice but to depend on Him. When everything is going right and life seems to be good, for some reason we often turn away from God. We become arrogant in our own abilities and believe that we alone are responsible for our good fortune. It is in those times that we should be most thankful. If we don't give credit where credit is due we are setting ourselves up for the fall. God will bring trouble, hardship, calamity, and desperation into our lives to bring us back onto the right path. I have been there. I don't want to ever go there again. I want to always be mindful of the blessing God has given me and will continue to give me. I have always felt that I would rather have hardship and discipline than for everything to be going smoothly. Sure it is nice to have smooth sailing sometimes, but I know that God loves me when He disciplines me
How many times have you left the path of God's will? I know I have. Every time God brings situations into my life that cause me to turn back to Him. Sometimes He can only work with us when we have no other choice but to depend on Him. When everything is going right and life seems to be good, for some reason we often turn away from God. We become arrogant in our own abilities and believe that we alone are responsible for our good fortune. It is in those times that we should be most thankful. If we don't give credit where credit is due we are setting ourselves up for the fall. God will bring trouble, hardship, calamity, and desperation into our lives to bring us back onto the right path. I have been there. I don't want to ever go there again. I want to always be mindful of the blessing God has given me and will continue to give me. I have always felt that I would rather have hardship and discipline than for everything to be going smoothly. Sure it is nice to have smooth sailing sometimes, but I know that God loves me when He disciplines me
Monday, February 16, 2009
Proverbs 14 - the Lord's Protection
14:26 He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge.
The best gift I can give to my children is protection and I cannot always give them that. No matter how much I try to keep them from harm, keep them out of trouble, keep them from disease, or from getting their feeling hurt, I cannot always be there for them. But God can. This verse gives me an intense feeling of hope. God is always there, God is always around to protect my children. Even when I can't be, He can. Even when I am gone, He will still be. I know that if I trust in God, He will take care of and protect my children. Does that mean nothing will ever happen to them. No. But it means that God will work in their best interest on account of my faith in Him. He will draw them into His home, into his walls, into his protection, and unto Him.
Kutless " Strong Tower"
The best gift I can give to my children is protection and I cannot always give them that. No matter how much I try to keep them from harm, keep them out of trouble, keep them from disease, or from getting their feeling hurt, I cannot always be there for them. But God can. This verse gives me an intense feeling of hope. God is always there, God is always around to protect my children. Even when I can't be, He can. Even when I am gone, He will still be. I know that if I trust in God, He will take care of and protect my children. Does that mean nothing will ever happen to them. No. But it means that God will work in their best interest on account of my faith in Him. He will draw them into His home, into his walls, into his protection, and unto Him.
Kutless " Strong Tower"
Friday, February 13, 2009
Proverbs
13:7 A pretentious, showy life is an empty life; a plain and simple life is a full life.
Pretension comes in many forms. Most of us would take this verse and see it as those who buy, buy, buy. They have lots of toys, bling-bling, and all that stuff that is so much the world today. But pretension come be other things. Christians can be very pretentious. We like to make people think we are walking down the narrow path, that we a growing spiritually by spending time in the word, doing bible studies, blogging (oops), and so forth. Don't get me wrong, doing all those things is great, but doing them for the right reason is better. If we are doing them to earn points, to gain status, or earn our way into God's good graces, then they are pretentious. If we are doing them to get closer to Jesus, to show our love for Him by knowing Him, then they are more awesome than words can explain. I try to do things with the right intention, I fail often. Somehow, we all seem to get caught up in thinking by doing good things we ought to have good things in return. It does not work that way. God's is more concerned with our hearts and our character than he is with our comfort and our success. We can't earn anything with God, it is freely given. Knowledge is worthless without sincerity and love.
Toby Mac "Lose My Soul"
Pretension comes in many forms. Most of us would take this verse and see it as those who buy, buy, buy. They have lots of toys, bling-bling, and all that stuff that is so much the world today. But pretension come be other things. Christians can be very pretentious. We like to make people think we are walking down the narrow path, that we a growing spiritually by spending time in the word, doing bible studies, blogging (oops), and so forth. Don't get me wrong, doing all those things is great, but doing them for the right reason is better. If we are doing them to earn points, to gain status, or earn our way into God's good graces, then they are pretentious. If we are doing them to get closer to Jesus, to show our love for Him by knowing Him, then they are more awesome than words can explain. I try to do things with the right intention, I fail often. Somehow, we all seem to get caught up in thinking by doing good things we ought to have good things in return. It does not work that way. God's is more concerned with our hearts and our character than he is with our comfort and our success. We can't earn anything with God, it is freely given. Knowledge is worthless without sincerity and love.
Toby Mac "Lose My Soul"
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Proverbs 9 - Has my back
9:10 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding
This scripture backs up exactly what I said in my theological dissertation on the previous blog. Respecting and knowing the Lord is knowing wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One is wisdom
Short blog but "all I have to say about that" (Forrest Gump)
This scripture backs up exactly what I said in my theological dissertation on the previous blog. Respecting and knowing the Lord is knowing wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One is wisdom
Short blog but "all I have to say about that" (Forrest Gump)
Proverbs 8 - I finally understand
8:22 "The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; 23 I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began. 24 When there were no oceans, I was given birth, when there were no springs abounding with water; 25 before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth, 26 before he made the earth or its fields or any of the dust of the world. 27 I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep, 28 when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep, 29 when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth. 30 Then I was the craftsman at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence, 31 rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind. I promised I would finally understand the confusion about this scripture as to whether Wisdom and Christ were one during this creation. What I have found and the scripture backs it up, though it is contrary to what most theologians state. That, of course, Christ was the creator of all things, He was always there and therefore was not created but the creator (Colossians backs this up). Therefore my "expert" theological stand on this is that: the very first thing Christ created was Wisdom. Wisdom was beside Christ as He created and was witness to this creation. They are not one in creation, but one in existence. And yes Christ embellishes wisdom and the most important thing is that when we seek Christ we seek wisdom, when we seek wisdom, we seek Christ
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Proverbs 7 - The Seductress
I tried hard to pick out one scripture from this passage but at the moment cannot seem to. This whole passage is so important, so descriptive, and so dead on about not only a seductive woman, but the way the world seduces us in general. Everything this world has to offer is dressed to kill. Literally, and it is all a lie. Much of the advertisement and entertainment today uses seduction and sex to lure us into purchase or the world's way of thinking, but is mostly a lie from the evil one. Satan is a cunning, enticing, and crafty. We almost make it too easy for him. He uses power, fame, fortune, vanity, popularity, success, greed, pride, knowledge, etc. to lure us into believing these are the things we need. We deserve to have them. There is not one Christian who is not duped by Satan at one time or another during their Christian life. That is why it is so important to store God's word in our heart, in our minds, and constantly keep it in front of us. From the very beginning he has tricked us into believing his lies about God and God's word. He causes us to rationalize, to justify, and to compromise. I am by no means immune to his trickery. None of us are. I cannot count the number of times he has used some or all of his tricks to get me off the straight and narrow path. I pray that I have become wiser, I pray that I will become wiser still, and I pray that I will be forever immersed in God's word and truth to give me discernment and protection in the future. More tricks are up his sleeve. We need to be vigilant and on guard. If there is one thing I take away from this 2 year study, it will be Proverbs 7. I will use this passage to educate my children on the lure of the seductive world
Proverbs 6 - GPS
6:23 For sound advice is a beacon, good teaching is a light, moral discipline is a life path.Have you ever been out on the water in the dark of night, lost? There is nothing more frightening to be out in the middle of the ocean or a large lake with no navigational devices except your own wits, which frankly aren't much good on a cloudy dark night with no land or landmarks. You are basically in huge trouble. I have been there on a couple of occasions and those were probably the most frightening times in my life.
Life without God is a lot like this. No guiding markers, no destination, no boundaries or landscape by which to navigate. I cannot imagine how anyone can make it through this world without the Lord's guidance. There are times in my life when I have felt this way. Definitely before I became a Christian I wandered aimlessly. I was lost at sea. Even after becoming a Christian I have had many times where I could not find my way. Those were times when I was not spending time in the Word or listening to God's guidance. God's word is like a beacon in the dark, a lighthouse on the shore or rocks, beckoning us onto the proper path, or into the channel. Protecting us from the rocky shores or dangers of life. Sometimes the storms of life cloud our vision of God and we question where we are going or why. At those times we need to immerse ourselves in his word. He is our compass and our GPS. Without Him we are lost
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Proverbs 5 - Unknown Captivation
5:20 Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another man's wife?Why is it that people seem to be captivated by other people's spouses? What is it that makes the grass seem greener on the other side? The marriage covenant is the most sacred of covenants God has given us between human beings, yet it is marred and trampled on these days. The divorce rate is ridiculous and people trade spouses like they change underwear. Before I was a Christian I played around. I had my share of girl friends and loose women. I was no saint, but still something inside me told me not to mess around with another man's wife or girl friend for that matter. I have always had respect, if not for them then for myself. When you go after another person's spouse, you are going after another person's property. It is no different than stealing. In fact, it is probably worse. You are stealing the love right out of another person's heart. For all who have ever done this, you will be the recipient of the hurt and pain that you have caused another. What goes around comes around. Call it karma, call it biblical, call it cosmic justice. Whatever you call it, it does not matter. Do you think for one moment if that person could forsake their marriage covenant with their spouse, that they will not do the same to you!
Proverbs 4 - The Blessing of a Father
4:3 When I was a boy in my father's house, still tender, and an only child of my mother, 4 he taught me and said, "Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will liveFor the life of me I cannot remember 1 time when my father sat me down and told me anything of value. I know that he had to. I learned how to do a lot of things that only he could have taught me. Building things, yard work, fishing, golfing, bowling, sports, etc. I know that he taught me how to do all those things. But I never remember him ever sitting me down to talk to me about life and the important things. I don't think he knew how. I really feel very sorry for him. He did not know how to show his love when loving became difficult. It is easy to love someone when they are loving you, adoring you, idolizing you. It is very difficult when they are misbehaving, doing their own thing, being disrespectful, and dishonoring you. I think that God has taken me through the things in my life so I don't do this with my kids. Children are such a blessing from God. Even when they are difficult, they love you unconditionally. That is why God gives us children. So we can understand His love for us. Every time I hear my son or daughter tell me they love me. I hear God speaking. It is awesome. My son recorded him saying "I love you Daddy" on a little electronic recorded. I listen to that every time I feel alone, every time I need to hear God's voice, and feel God's love. I think I will go listen to it now!
Proverbs 3 - Hard times
3:9 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. This is a real test with the current economic situation today. It would be real easy to forget about the Lord, tithing, and giving. But anyone who has ever experienced the Lord's blessing of the tithe will not forget. God has promised us here by His word that He will fill our lives to overflowing. He promises again in Malachi to test Him on this. I can say that I have tested him on this before. I have gone years without tithing when I made lots of money, yet ended up with nothing. In fact those years were the hardest I have ever experienced. I have had other years where I didn't do so good financially, but I tithed and gave more than I could really afford. In those years I never wanted for anything. All my bills were taken care of, I didn't have to worry about anything, and it seems that everything was much less stressful. The truth of it is, everything belongs to God and He lets us use it. We need to look at things in this way. When we do it makes us much more appreciative of what we have. This country has been due for this downturn and market correction. Most people have been living high off the hog for years. I think what bothers me the most is that corporate America and our government has robbed the poor and the elderly to finance their way of life. Yet I see no one being brought to trial or prosecuted for it.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Proverbs 2 - Shield of Integrity
2:7 He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.How do yo feel when you are living right? I know I feel great. No matter what happens I know that God is in my corner, on my side, and protecting me. Things can happen yet they don't seem to bother me. I have always felt that integrity is the best virtue that anyone can have but it is also one of the toughest to live up to. There are many definitions of integrity but the 2 I typically use to measure my own integrity are a) to stand by your conviction when everyone else has forsaken theirs. b) who you are when no one is around. Both of these are probably the most difficult aspects of integrity. A) for instance. When everyone else has lied to you, cheated you, forsaken you, do you still stand by your word to them? Do you still follow through with your commitments and covenants? B) - who are you when no one else is around? Do you walk with integrity then or do you let your guard down and do or say things that undermine your integrity? Take a look at both of these the next time you try to measure your own integrity to see how you measure up
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Proverbs 29 -
29:5 A flattering neighbor is up to no good; he's probably planning to take advantage of you
Have you ever had a so-called friend or neighbor take advantage of you? Have you ever been betrayed by a friend? I had one several years ago that I thought was a true and dear friend. We had both been through the grinder together. Unfaithful spouses, deceived by the ones we loved, and basically treated like doormats. We were able to build a relationship based on the commonality of like suffering. In a way we both helped each other through our trauma. I placed a lot of faith and trust in this person only to be betrayed by them in the end. I have not spoken to them in over 4 years and probably never will again. I guess you could say that in some ways we took advantage of each other but there is a difference. I do not understand how friends can betray other friends. I can't even understand how anyone can betray another. I guess at least that is not in me. I have enough other faults to make up for it. I do however miss that friendship.
Michael W. Smith "Friends are Friends Forever"
Have you ever had a so-called friend or neighbor take advantage of you? Have you ever been betrayed by a friend? I had one several years ago that I thought was a true and dear friend. We had both been through the grinder together. Unfaithful spouses, deceived by the ones we loved, and basically treated like doormats. We were able to build a relationship based on the commonality of like suffering. In a way we both helped each other through our trauma. I placed a lot of faith and trust in this person only to be betrayed by them in the end. I have not spoken to them in over 4 years and probably never will again. I guess you could say that in some ways we took advantage of each other but there is a difference. I do not understand how friends can betray other friends. I can't even understand how anyone can betray another. I guess at least that is not in me. I have enough other faults to make up for it. I do however miss that friendship.
Michael W. Smith "Friends are Friends Forever"
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Proverbs 28 - The Writing on the Wall?
28:2 When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily. But wise and knowledgeable leaders bring stability.Stability. What is that? I would not say we have had stability in this country since the industrial revolution, definitely not since separation of church and state was used to ban prayer, McCollum vs. Board of Education which essentially removed the 10 commandments and slowly but surely any mention of God in public schools. Throw Roe v. Wade on top of that and the plethora of bad government rulings that have attempted to remove God from public life over the last century and you will understand why we are in the moral morass we are today. The results: the divorce rate, teen pregnancy rate, and sexual immorality are as prevalent among Christians as non-Christians. We now have the makings of a nation poised for revolution and reform. On top of all that Christians are seen as judgemental, intolerant, hypocritical rule makers. That needs to change if we are to have any chance at turning this country around. Now is the time for us to take this country back. To bring us back to our manifest destiny which is to spread the good news of Jesus Christ and bring glory to God. We cannot afford to go into hiding anymore.
Proverbs 27 - Eat Your Own Lunch
27:18 As workers who tend a fig tree are allowed to eat the fruit, so workers who protect their employer’s interests will be rewarded.
I am having a real hard time with this scripture. I consider myself to be one of the very fortunate, at least right now. I still have a job and my job still rewards me very well for performance. The problem is I see many examples in corporate America where people have been robbed. Of course the biggest one that comes to mind is Enron, but there are many more. Enron executives and employees that had nothing but their own (not their employer's) interest at heart robbed thousands of employees and retirees of their savings and retirement accounts. I was fortunate there as well I guess. I only lost $35,000. I know people who lost hundreds of thousands! We are seeing this every where today. I have to agree with what my friend has written. We need to return to a time when businesses were privately owned by mom and pop, families, and entrepreneurs. If we continue on the same old path, we will reap the same rewards. It is time for a paradigm shift in the business environment. Corporations are the dinosaurs of the past
I am having a real hard time with this scripture. I consider myself to be one of the very fortunate, at least right now. I still have a job and my job still rewards me very well for performance. The problem is I see many examples in corporate America where people have been robbed. Of course the biggest one that comes to mind is Enron, but there are many more. Enron executives and employees that had nothing but their own (not their employer's) interest at heart robbed thousands of employees and retirees of their savings and retirement accounts. I was fortunate there as well I guess. I only lost $35,000. I know people who lost hundreds of thousands! We are seeing this every where today. I have to agree with what my friend has written. We need to return to a time when businesses were privately owned by mom and pop, families, and entrepreneurs. If we continue on the same old path, we will reap the same rewards. It is time for a paradigm shift in the business environment. Corporations are the dinosaurs of the past
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Proverbs 26 - Rubber & Glue
26:2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim
Does anyone remember the old saying "I'm rubber and your glue, Whatever bounces off me sticks to you"? I used to love this as a kid because I was always being teased. At school or at home. My sisters picked on me relentlessly so I used this phrase a lot. I know it seems very childish but this phrase like the Proverbs verse is extremely true. I have had this experience with my daughter this week. She has been having trouble with one of her classmates calling her names and telling lies about her to the teacher. A kids first instinct is to retaliate and call names back. In fact, that is probably most of our first instinct! It gave me a golden opportunity to use this verse on the exact day she returned to school to face her accuser. No matter what, if you are not guilty, whenever someone lies about you it cannot harm who you are. Sure it could have some consequences on this earth, but who you are inside and who you are to Christ does not change. I hope that I was able to explain it to her effectively. The awesome thing was that she was able to go to school, hold her head up, and not fear her meeting with the teacher because she knew that whatever happened there, I supported her because she was being truthful
Does anyone remember the old saying "I'm rubber and your glue, Whatever bounces off me sticks to you"? I used to love this as a kid because I was always being teased. At school or at home. My sisters picked on me relentlessly so I used this phrase a lot. I know it seems very childish but this phrase like the Proverbs verse is extremely true. I have had this experience with my daughter this week. She has been having trouble with one of her classmates calling her names and telling lies about her to the teacher. A kids first instinct is to retaliate and call names back. In fact, that is probably most of our first instinct! It gave me a golden opportunity to use this verse on the exact day she returned to school to face her accuser. No matter what, if you are not guilty, whenever someone lies about you it cannot harm who you are. Sure it could have some consequences on this earth, but who you are inside and who you are to Christ does not change. I hope that I was able to explain it to her effectively. The awesome thing was that she was able to go to school, hold her head up, and not fear her meeting with the teacher because she knew that whatever happened there, I supported her because she was being truthful
Proverbs 25 - Hot Air
25:14 A person who promises a gift but doesn’t give it is like clouds and wind that bring no rain.
Have you ever been promised something only to see that whoever made the promise reneged? I think we all have. I have always told myself not to promise anything you cannot deliver. Especially when it comes to my kids or other kids. I got to witness this first hand this weekend where my neighbor told my son 3 times that he would come to his basketball game. Josiah was excited about it even though I told him not to get his hopes up. I hated to have to say that but I knew he would not make it to the game. Unfortunately kids do not know who to depend on most of the time. They depend on everybody and they believe what adults tell them. I later had to console Josiah when he did not make, rebuke my neighbor when he did not make, and try to make a bad situation good. I think as adults we forget what it was like to be completely trusting of other people. For most of us it was so long ago, so many betrayals and disappointments ago, that most of us tend to err on the side of caution and protection instead of believing people. This is a very sad commentary on the human condition.
Have you ever been promised something only to see that whoever made the promise reneged? I think we all have. I have always told myself not to promise anything you cannot deliver. Especially when it comes to my kids or other kids. I got to witness this first hand this weekend where my neighbor told my son 3 times that he would come to his basketball game. Josiah was excited about it even though I told him not to get his hopes up. I hated to have to say that but I knew he would not make it to the game. Unfortunately kids do not know who to depend on most of the time. They depend on everybody and they believe what adults tell them. I later had to console Josiah when he did not make, rebuke my neighbor when he did not make, and try to make a bad situation good. I think as adults we forget what it was like to be completely trusting of other people. For most of us it was so long ago, so many betrayals and disappointments ago, that most of us tend to err on the side of caution and protection instead of believing people. This is a very sad commentary on the human condition.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Proverbs 24 - Cauterize It
24:5-6 It's better to be wise than strong; intelligence outranks muscle any day. Strategic planning is the key to warfare; to win, you need a lot of good counsel
I have recently be taking Jujitsu. I always wanted to and finally got the opportunity. It is really very fun. The weird thing is I like getting thrown more than throwing someone else. I hopefully will get over that. It doesn't seem like a way to win the battle! The interesting thing about many of the martial arts is you don't have to be a big person to be effective. Sure size helps sometimes, but with Jujitsu, size is actually a hindrance. A masterful artist uses your weight against you. You have to learn the moves properly and it is amazing how you can make a person crawl with just the slightest pressure.
In our Christian walk our battles are spiritual and against the evil one and sin. When we try to rid our lives of some sin through our own strength, we will almost inevitably fail. Strength alone cannot defeat the evil one. Only Christ can do this for us. What we need to do is turn our lives over to him daily, hourly, and sometimes every minute so that He can work in us. We tend to rationalize and make excuses for our sin, comparing it to the rest of the world. "Oh, it's okay, I don't abuse it, or if I only do it this once, its not like its a habit, or look what everyone else is doing, this is nothing". If there is an excuse out there I have used it. If we really want sin removed from our lives we must give up on ourselves and give in to God. When God removes sin he tears it out. There is no weaning, or slowly removing it from your life like a nicotine patch. It is usually cold turkey and painful withdrawals. But when it is gone and you feel refreshed and anew, and ready to tell others of your triumph. Check out Isaiah 6:1-8. Isaiah was desperate about his sin in the face of a holy God and he cried out to the Lord confessing this uncleanliness. Not really sure what his sin was but he may have had bad language, or and unclean thought life. An angel of the Lord used a burning coal to cauterize his wound. Afterwards, Isaiah went through the countryside preaching the word of the Lord and telling everyone what God had done for him and what He would do for them. This is the kind of refreshment we all want in our Christian lives. We want IT - the obvious presence of the Holy Spirit in our heart and in our lives.
I have recently be taking Jujitsu. I always wanted to and finally got the opportunity. It is really very fun. The weird thing is I like getting thrown more than throwing someone else. I hopefully will get over that. It doesn't seem like a way to win the battle! The interesting thing about many of the martial arts is you don't have to be a big person to be effective. Sure size helps sometimes, but with Jujitsu, size is actually a hindrance. A masterful artist uses your weight against you. You have to learn the moves properly and it is amazing how you can make a person crawl with just the slightest pressure.
In our Christian walk our battles are spiritual and against the evil one and sin. When we try to rid our lives of some sin through our own strength, we will almost inevitably fail. Strength alone cannot defeat the evil one. Only Christ can do this for us. What we need to do is turn our lives over to him daily, hourly, and sometimes every minute so that He can work in us. We tend to rationalize and make excuses for our sin, comparing it to the rest of the world. "Oh, it's okay, I don't abuse it, or if I only do it this once, its not like its a habit, or look what everyone else is doing, this is nothing". If there is an excuse out there I have used it. If we really want sin removed from our lives we must give up on ourselves and give in to God. When God removes sin he tears it out. There is no weaning, or slowly removing it from your life like a nicotine patch. It is usually cold turkey and painful withdrawals. But when it is gone and you feel refreshed and anew, and ready to tell others of your triumph. Check out Isaiah 6:1-8. Isaiah was desperate about his sin in the face of a holy God and he cried out to the Lord confessing this uncleanliness. Not really sure what his sin was but he may have had bad language, or and unclean thought life. An angel of the Lord used a burning coal to cauterize his wound. Afterwards, Isaiah went through the countryside preaching the word of the Lord and telling everyone what God had done for him and what He would do for them. This is the kind of refreshment we all want in our Christian lives. We want IT - the obvious presence of the Holy Spirit in our heart and in our lives.
Proverbs 23 - Wise Children
15-16 Dear child, if you become wise, I'll be one happy parent. My heart will dance and sing to the tuneful truth you'll speak.
I can't imagine what it must be like to see your children become wise. The little joys you get from them now will be greatly magnified when they start truly using the intelligence God has given them, and on top of that when they start using Godly wisdom. I hope I am around to see that. I hope that my children will have a better head start and will choose Godly wisdom much sooner in life than I did. I pray that I will not reap in my life what I sowed as a child/teenager in mine. I am not sure my kids will survive it. I will always do my best to educate them and keep them from the dangers and roads that I went down.
I can't imagine what it must be like to see your children become wise. The little joys you get from them now will be greatly magnified when they start truly using the intelligence God has given them, and on top of that when they start using Godly wisdom. I hope I am around to see that. I hope that my children will have a better head start and will choose Godly wisdom much sooner in life than I did. I pray that I will not reap in my life what I sowed as a child/teenager in mine. I am not sure my kids will survive it. I will always do my best to educate them and keep them from the dangers and roads that I went down.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Proverbs 22 - Sound Advice
22:6 Point your kids in the right direction— when they're old they won't be lost
This is by far the simplest translation of this verse I have ever seen. I am new to reading "The Message" translation and though I like many of its translations some lose in the translation. This verse has much more meaning in the original scripture, but its simplicity is refreshing. If we put our kids on the right path, I firmly believe that God will see to it that they are drawn to Him. No one came come to God unless drawn by the Holy Spirit and though we cannot place the Holy Spirit in them, we can make them aware of His presence around us and in us. Never forget that your children are watching you. By educating our children about God, His word, His dealings with His people, and His continual involvement in our lives and love for us, I fully believe that they will seek Him. Whether that comes naturally or not, we, as parents, have the responsibility for honing that edge
22:29 Observe people who are good at their work— skilled workers are always in demand and admired;they don't take a backseat to anyone
This verse hits me really hard. I so often wish I had not chose the profession I am in. When I first started in IT, it was fairly simple. You had pretty much one environment and few programming languages. Now it is all over the board. I stopped trying to keep up with it years ago and have pretty much moved on to product/project management/design and not so much development. I do miss the development aspect as I feel I my skills have diminished in that area. I had more freedom as a developer and actually better pay. Of course, I was contracting. I wish I had become a carpenter. That skill really doesn't change much. Yes, there are better tools every day, but the basic principles stay the same. I guess the same could be said of IT, but the tools you have to learn to use are much more difficult.
This is by far the simplest translation of this verse I have ever seen. I am new to reading "The Message" translation and though I like many of its translations some lose in the translation. This verse has much more meaning in the original scripture, but its simplicity is refreshing. If we put our kids on the right path, I firmly believe that God will see to it that they are drawn to Him. No one came come to God unless drawn by the Holy Spirit and though we cannot place the Holy Spirit in them, we can make them aware of His presence around us and in us. Never forget that your children are watching you. By educating our children about God, His word, His dealings with His people, and His continual involvement in our lives and love for us, I fully believe that they will seek Him. Whether that comes naturally or not, we, as parents, have the responsibility for honing that edge
22:29 Observe people who are good at their work— skilled workers are always in demand and admired;they don't take a backseat to anyone
This verse hits me really hard. I so often wish I had not chose the profession I am in. When I first started in IT, it was fairly simple. You had pretty much one environment and few programming languages. Now it is all over the board. I stopped trying to keep up with it years ago and have pretty much moved on to product/project management/design and not so much development. I do miss the development aspect as I feel I my skills have diminished in that area. I had more freedom as a developer and actually better pay. Of course, I was contracting. I wish I had become a carpenter. That skill really doesn't change much. Yes, there are better tools every day, but the basic principles stay the same. I guess the same could be said of IT, but the tools you have to learn to use are much more difficult.
Proverbs 21 - Book Ends
21:1 Good leadership is a channel of water controlled by God; he directs it to whatever ends he chooses
Good leadership is wholly directed by God. I love this analogy because living on a tidal fed river I understand what a river is like. There are low tides and high tides, times of feast and times of famine. The river never runs straight but goes all over the place. Just when you think you have it figured out, it meanders or changes its course. Sometimes the river is warm and abundant with life. Other times it is cold and dead. But in the end the river always has a destination. To return to the sea, the very beginning of life! This is so much like our lives. When we embark on our journey with God, there is never a straight path, it is sometimes crazy, painful, and all over the place. There are times of great progress and times of spiritual deadness. There are times when are lives are rich and full, and others when our lives are dry and meaningless. But in the end we are heading towards our purpose. To return to our maker the beginning of life. Once we come on board God will direct our paths. It is our attitude that determines the journey.
21:31 Do your best, prepare for the worst— then trust God to bring victory
The reason I called this blog "book ends" was that not only did I excerpt the first and last verse, but they are directly correlated. When we come on board as a Christian, God has promised to complete in us the work he begins (Phil 1:6). He is always with us, guiding out path, correcting us when we get out of line, and rejoicing with us in victory. Our responsibility is just to get on board the ship and let God direct it where He may. We need to prepare by reading God's word, praying constantly, and depending on God for everything. Above all we need to be flexible and not get to frustrated by life. Life is hard and we are fighting against the principalities of darkness. Prepare, do our very best, but let God fight the battles.
Good leadership is wholly directed by God. I love this analogy because living on a tidal fed river I understand what a river is like. There are low tides and high tides, times of feast and times of famine. The river never runs straight but goes all over the place. Just when you think you have it figured out, it meanders or changes its course. Sometimes the river is warm and abundant with life. Other times it is cold and dead. But in the end the river always has a destination. To return to the sea, the very beginning of life! This is so much like our lives. When we embark on our journey with God, there is never a straight path, it is sometimes crazy, painful, and all over the place. There are times of great progress and times of spiritual deadness. There are times when are lives are rich and full, and others when our lives are dry and meaningless. But in the end we are heading towards our purpose. To return to our maker the beginning of life. Once we come on board God will direct our paths. It is our attitude that determines the journey.
21:31 Do your best, prepare for the worst— then trust God to bring victory
The reason I called this blog "book ends" was that not only did I excerpt the first and last verse, but they are directly correlated. When we come on board as a Christian, God has promised to complete in us the work he begins (Phil 1:6). He is always with us, guiding out path, correcting us when we get out of line, and rejoicing with us in victory. Our responsibility is just to get on board the ship and let God direct it where He may. We need to prepare by reading God's word, praying constantly, and depending on God for everything. Above all we need to be flexible and not get to frustrated by life. Life is hard and we are fighting against the principalities of darkness. Prepare, do our very best, but let God fight the battles.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Proverbs 20 - Inauguration Day
20:18 Form your purpose by asking for counsel, then carry it out using all the help you can get. 20:28 Love and truth form a good leader; sound leadership is founded on loving integrity.
With today being inauguration day, I thought that these verses out of Chapter 20 were very appropriate. I did not vote for Barack Obama. Surprise, I know. But in a way I did vote for him. I did not vote for McCain so anyone who did not vote for McCain voted for Obama indirectly. Unfortunately, that is the way our election process works. I am not sure if I will see it changed in my life time.
I do believe that Obama will try to be a good president. I believe he has good intentions, that he is a very strong person. He may not hold to some of the beliefs that we all have, but I do believe he wants what is best for this country. I feel very sorry for him because I don't believe he will succeed. This country will not turn unless there is a revolution. A revolution in every sense of the word. We need to remove Congress, we need change about 50 years of bad policy, bad decision-making, etc. We need a revolution of spirit. This country needs to get back to God in every area. We need God in our schools, in our court system, in our restaurants, in our sports, etc. We cannot continue without God. That is why I believe he will fail. I will always pray for him and our country but I believe we are on the precipice of time where Jesus is getting ready to make his triumphant return.
Proverbs 19 - True Friends
19:7 When you're down on your luck, even your family avoids you— yes, even your best friends wish you'd get lost. If they see you coming, they look the other way— out of sight, out of mind.
Wow, this is powerful and very true. I have experienced how friends will turn their backs on you, they even become condescending of you. Look at Job. His friends, who had known him all his life, turned on him and accused him of being unfaithful, sinful, and wretched. I know in the last 10 years I have seen my friends go from many to few. I can count my true friends on one hand. I wish I had more, but I never want the kind of friends that will turn their backs on you in time of trouble. Why is this? Aren't true friends supposed to be there through thick and thin? Most are not but if you do find one who is, then you need to cherish and hang onto that friend forever. Maybe this has to do with the kind of friend you/I are/am. We also need to be the kind of friend who is there through thick and thin. Have you ever turned your back on a friend? Do you have any friends out there right now who need you?
Proverbs 18 - The Power of Words
18:20 Words satisfy the mind as much as fruit does the stomach; good talk is as gratifying as a good harvest. 21 Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit—you choose.
The tongue is a mighty and powerful tool. It can either give life or take it away. Not so much in the physical sense but in the emotional sense. The book of James is very poignant on the power of the tongue. Do you have a problem with yours? I know I have, and at times I still do. I am learning much through this study about using words. There is nothing wrong with talking, it just needs to be at the right time and with the right thing to say. Much more is accomplished by a loving rebuke, or encouragement than can ever be accomplished by flattery, or condescension. With kids it can be hard to identify the difference. We have to put ourselves in the shoes of the other person and ask "what would I want someone to say to me in this situation and how should they say it". If you take time to ask and answer that question, the response is usually out of love more than reaction. I pray that I will lean on God for the right things to say at the right time, always.
The tongue is a mighty and powerful tool. It can either give life or take it away. Not so much in the physical sense but in the emotional sense. The book of James is very poignant on the power of the tongue. Do you have a problem with yours? I know I have, and at times I still do. I am learning much through this study about using words. There is nothing wrong with talking, it just needs to be at the right time and with the right thing to say. Much more is accomplished by a loving rebuke, or encouragement than can ever be accomplished by flattery, or condescension. With kids it can be hard to identify the difference. We have to put ourselves in the shoes of the other person and ask "what would I want someone to say to me in this situation and how should they say it". If you take time to ask and answer that question, the response is usually out of love more than reaction. I pray that I will lean on God for the right things to say at the right time, always.
Just a short note to say that just because I don't blog a particular chapter on a particular day does not mean I have not read that chapter on the prescribed day. I am reading my chapters every day, but I may not blog them that day, or I may not blog them at all sometimes. I am starting a 40 day dedication (fasting, memorizing, studying, journaling, etc) where I spend a minimum of 1 hour per day. I am using a book called "A Call to Die". This may preclude my blogging sometimes and will likely make my blogging shorter and less robust. I may not have time to search for videos, pictures, or other A/V tools to illustrate my text.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Proverbs 15 - One Chance
15:9 A life frittered away disgusts God; he loves those who run straight for the finish line.
We only get one time around, only one chance. We need to make the most of it. We need to make sure we run the race as if we are striving to win the race as Paul says. We need to give it our all. I have been extremely guilty of wasting so much of my life and it saddens me to know that there are times when God has been disgusted for what I have wasted. Praise Him for His grace.
I do my best to keep this in mind every day. Life is lived in the individual moments we are given. Each encounter, every situation, is defined by a split second, a moment in time. The people you meet, the time you spend with family and friends, your opportunities to minister to others. All these things are all too brief and we need to take full advantage of every opportunity
33 Miles - One Live to Love
We only get one time around, only one chance. We need to make the most of it. We need to make sure we run the race as if we are striving to win the race as Paul says. We need to give it our all. I have been extremely guilty of wasting so much of my life and it saddens me to know that there are times when God has been disgusted for what I have wasted. Praise Him for His grace.
I do my best to keep this in mind every day. Life is lived in the individual moments we are given. Each encounter, every situation, is defined by a split second, a moment in time. The people you meet, the time you spend with family and friends, your opportunities to minister to others. All these things are all too brief and we need to take full advantage of every opportunity
33 Miles - One Live to Love
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Proverbs 14 - Rules of the Road
14:14 A mean person gets paid back in meanness, a gracious person in grace.
How much have I been living this lately. It is a vicious circle. This one particular person in my life that I love very much is downright mean. Always has been, at least as long as I can remember. I want to say it is part of their DNA, inherited so to speak, but as the years have gone by she has just gotten meaner, more selfish, more unaware of the way she treats people. In making this observation, I also have to look to myself to ensure I behave with grace and love. It is very difficult but I am called to do so.
14:31 You insult your Maker when you exploit the powerless; when you're kind to the poor, you honor God.
Another statement as to why our country is in its current state of affairs. How long has our court system, our government, etc. exploited the powerless. We have a system that is supposed to represent the people, but instead it represents the corporations, the lobby groups, and political action committees. There has to be an end to this. I pray that God will produce leaders of the type that this country was founded upon. Leaders who are willing to lay down their lives for their constituents and buck the status quo. It is time for a paradigm shift in our ruling body.
14:34 God-devotion makes a country strong; God-avoidance leaves people weak.
We have removed God from the schools, God from our courtrooms, God from our politics, and God from our daily lives. We all have a responsibility in this and a responsibility to do more. Our nation is dying, it is on a slow spiral to hell. I know that the Christian body is frustrated and in some ways feels very powerless to change the current direction. Only in prayer and through removing our self-dependence can we achieve this goal
How much have I been living this lately. It is a vicious circle. This one particular person in my life that I love very much is downright mean. Always has been, at least as long as I can remember. I want to say it is part of their DNA, inherited so to speak, but as the years have gone by she has just gotten meaner, more selfish, more unaware of the way she treats people. In making this observation, I also have to look to myself to ensure I behave with grace and love. It is very difficult but I am called to do so.
14:31 You insult your Maker when you exploit the powerless; when you're kind to the poor, you honor God.
Another statement as to why our country is in its current state of affairs. How long has our court system, our government, etc. exploited the powerless. We have a system that is supposed to represent the people, but instead it represents the corporations, the lobby groups, and political action committees. There has to be an end to this. I pray that God will produce leaders of the type that this country was founded upon. Leaders who are willing to lay down their lives for their constituents and buck the status quo. It is time for a paradigm shift in our ruling body.
14:34 God-devotion makes a country strong; God-avoidance leaves people weak.
We have removed God from the schools, God from our courtrooms, God from our politics, and God from our daily lives. We all have a responsibility in this and a responsibility to do more. Our nation is dying, it is on a slow spiral to hell. I know that the Christian body is frustrated and in some ways feels very powerless to change the current direction. Only in prayer and through removing our self-dependence can we achieve this goal
Promise Keepers Rally in Washington DC
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Proverbs 13 - Truth of Today
13:23 A poor person’s farm may produce much food, but injustice sweeps it all away.
Who will stand up for us in this day? This very thing is happening all around us. Corporate America, financial greed, and our government have stripped most of us of everything we have worked for. The current financial problems with this country stem from greed in the marketplace. Banks, brokers, financiers, mortgage companies, and our government have all been a part of this raping of America. And what do they do? After robbing us blind, they rob us again through financial bailout of these industries who have stolen from the people. It will not stand and it will not prevail. Everything that is being done to prop up the economy will fail. God will see to this. Another sign of the times that the end is coming soon
Larry Norman - "The Great American Novel"
Who will stand up for us in this day? This very thing is happening all around us. Corporate America, financial greed, and our government have stripped most of us of everything we have worked for. The current financial problems with this country stem from greed in the marketplace. Banks, brokers, financiers, mortgage companies, and our government have all been a part of this raping of America. And what do they do? After robbing us blind, they rob us again through financial bailout of these industries who have stolen from the people. It will not stand and it will not prevail. Everything that is being done to prop up the economy will fail. God will see to this. Another sign of the times that the end is coming soon
Larry Norman - "The Great American Novel"
Proverbs 12 - The Beauty of Discipline
12:1 If you love learning, you love the discipline that goes with it— how shortsighted to refuse correction!
How good are we if we don't put our learning into action. I have had the joy of experiencing this over the last few days. Learning so often comes in the form of discipline. God will test us to find out if what we are learning has really become part of our lives. We need to always be conscious of this because it will come and often quickly. It stinks when you miss the opportunity and look back and say "I just read about that a few days ago and yet I missed the boat". I think we all have a tendency to avoid correction. Correction is a great and wonderful thing when it comes from our Father. It is His greatest display of His love for us. What we need to do is realize that in our discipline, in our deepest and darkest moment, in our despair, and anywhere we are we are never alone!
"You're Not Alone" - Meredith Andrews
9 Better to be ordinary and work for a living than act important and starve in the process.
I wonder if this is why I sometimes just stay where I am, work wise and ministry wise. I have never had the need to feel or be important. Significance, yes, importance no. I want to make a difference in God's kingdom, for His people, for my children, but importance is not my driving force. I do want God to expand my horizons and I pray for this every day. I want to live my life for Him but I have yet to figure out how to do this and leave my current job. Until then I will bloom where I am
How good are we if we don't put our learning into action. I have had the joy of experiencing this over the last few days. Learning so often comes in the form of discipline. God will test us to find out if what we are learning has really become part of our lives. We need to always be conscious of this because it will come and often quickly. It stinks when you miss the opportunity and look back and say "I just read about that a few days ago and yet I missed the boat". I think we all have a tendency to avoid correction. Correction is a great and wonderful thing when it comes from our Father. It is His greatest display of His love for us. What we need to do is realize that in our discipline, in our deepest and darkest moment, in our despair, and anywhere we are we are never alone!
"You're Not Alone" - Meredith Andrews
9 Better to be ordinary and work for a living than act important and starve in the process.
I wonder if this is why I sometimes just stay where I am, work wise and ministry wise. I have never had the need to feel or be important. Significance, yes, importance no. I want to make a difference in God's kingdom, for His people, for my children, but importance is not my driving force. I do want God to expand my horizons and I pray for this every day. I want to live my life for Him but I have yet to figure out how to do this and leave my current job. Until then I will bloom where I am
Proverbs 11 - Venting
11:29 Exploit or abuse your family, and end up with a fistful of air; common sense tells you it's a stupid way to live.
I have had a really interesting week. I have had to put into practice many of the control mechanisms I have been learning lately. My family has pushed me to my wits end. My mom wrecked my 4 day old car so I have been praying and asking God to give me wisdom, strength, ability to forgive, and humble character. I realize it was an accident, and it was blessedly with the basketball goal, but it has really been nagging at me. It is not forgiveness for the accident but seems to have a much bigger scope which kind of goes back to verse 4 of this same chapter
11:4 A thick bankroll is no help when life falls apart, but a principled life can stand up to the worst.
Even though she offered to pay to fix the damages, sometimes in life it is not about the physical damage or in this case the property damage. There are much deeper issues. With this instance, for me, it is about respect. For a long time I have felt that I do not get any respect from her and never have. She has always just thrown money at situations and that does not solve anything. Though the car may not have been brand new (2005 Accord with 82K miles), it was new to me. She has backed out of the same spot in my other car thousands of times and nothing has changed. The basketball goal has always been where it is so it basically just boils down to not paying attention. As I write this I see how frugal and pointless my attitude is. It is what it is, just let it go and move on. I will be grateful for the positives in this. She did not have a wreck that hurt her, my children, or anyone else. Sometimes its good to vent
I have had a really interesting week. I have had to put into practice many of the control mechanisms I have been learning lately. My family has pushed me to my wits end. My mom wrecked my 4 day old car so I have been praying and asking God to give me wisdom, strength, ability to forgive, and humble character. I realize it was an accident, and it was blessedly with the basketball goal, but it has really been nagging at me. It is not forgiveness for the accident but seems to have a much bigger scope which kind of goes back to verse 4 of this same chapter
11:4 A thick bankroll is no help when life falls apart, but a principled life can stand up to the worst.
Even though she offered to pay to fix the damages, sometimes in life it is not about the physical damage or in this case the property damage. There are much deeper issues. With this instance, for me, it is about respect. For a long time I have felt that I do not get any respect from her and never have. She has always just thrown money at situations and that does not solve anything. Though the car may not have been brand new (2005 Accord with 82K miles), it was new to me. She has backed out of the same spot in my other car thousands of times and nothing has changed. The basketball goal has always been where it is so it basically just boils down to not paying attention. As I write this I see how frugal and pointless my attitude is. It is what it is, just let it go and move on. I will be grateful for the positives in this. She did not have a wreck that hurt her, my children, or anyone else. Sometimes its good to vent
Monday, January 12, 2009
Proverbs 10 - Silence is Golden?
10:19 The more talk, the less truth; the wise measure their words.
I found this video clip. It is for Proverbs 18:20 but the same principal holds true. Sometimes when you take the time to carefully choose your words, you may find that what you were about to say had no value or merit. What you are more likely to find is that taking time to "hear" in your head what you were about to say, may not be what you really want to say at all. Especially with those who are around you most. We tend to treat our loved ones worse that we would strangers. Why? Because we can get away with it, because they know us, and they will usually tolerate our behavior. It should not be this way. We need to take more care with those we love around us. I want to be a man of few words, but I also want those few words to be valuable, edifying, encouraging, correcting, and peaceful. I don't want to be rude, self-righteous, or in a bad mood. I just want what I say to make a difference. A difference to the listeners and a difference to me.
I found this video clip. It is for Proverbs 18:20 but the same principal holds true. Sometimes when you take the time to carefully choose your words, you may find that what you were about to say had no value or merit. What you are more likely to find is that taking time to "hear" in your head what you were about to say, may not be what you really want to say at all. Especially with those who are around you most. We tend to treat our loved ones worse that we would strangers. Why? Because we can get away with it, because they know us, and they will usually tolerate our behavior. It should not be this way. We need to take more care with those we love around us. I want to be a man of few words, but I also want those few words to be valuable, edifying, encouraging, correcting, and peaceful. I don't want to be rude, self-righteous, or in a bad mood. I just want what I say to make a difference. A difference to the listeners and a difference to me.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Proverbs 9 - Don't Waste your time on the Wasted
9:7 If you reason with an arrogant cynic, you'll get slapped in the face; confront bad behavior and get a kick in the shins.8 So don't waste your time on a scoffer; all you'll get for your pains is abuse
How many times I have dealt with this. I have tried many times to speak the truth of God to those who are completely cynical, to those who want to make God out to who they want him to be. They don't accept God's word as relevant, or completely true. They find fault with the fact that it has been written by man, translated down through they centuries, and can't even comprehend our way of living. I have learned to not even waste my breath and time on them. I will always continue to pray for them, but will no longer speak the truth until they have been led by circumstances or the spirit of God to accept the truth and God's word are true. Maybe that is being hard. It does not mean that I don't still care about these people or love these people. They just don't want to hear. As Jesus so often said, "let those who have ears, hear".
How many times I have dealt with this. I have tried many times to speak the truth of God to those who are completely cynical, to those who want to make God out to who they want him to be. They don't accept God's word as relevant, or completely true. They find fault with the fact that it has been written by man, translated down through they centuries, and can't even comprehend our way of living. I have learned to not even waste my breath and time on them. I will always continue to pray for them, but will no longer speak the truth until they have been led by circumstances or the spirit of God to accept the truth and God's word are true. Maybe that is being hard. It does not mean that I don't still care about these people or love these people. They just don't want to hear. As Jesus so often said, "let those who have ears, hear".
Proverbs 8 - The Right, Rewarding Path
8:10 Prefer my life-disciplines over chasing after money,and God-knowledge over a lucrative career. 11 For Wisdom is better than all the trappings of wealth; nothing you could wish for holds a candle to her
8:19 My benefits are worth more than a big salary, even a very big salary; 20 the returns on me exceed any imaginable bonus.
Boy, does this emphasize what I was saying in one of my last 2 blogs. Knowing God, wisdom, and that relationship is worth more than any salary or money-making career. I have so long be caught in this trapping, and so long wanted to get out of it. And what is so great is that here is the promise that the benefits of this relationship will not only provide for me but exceed anything I can obtain in a worldly career. I need to trust that God will assist me to make these changes as they are my hearts desire, and God's heart desire for me.
8:22 "God sovereignly made me—the first, the basic—before he did anything else. 23 I was brought into being a long time ago,well before Earth got its start.
It is obvious that the first thing that Christ brought into existence is Wisdom. Colossians states that nothing came into existence but through Christ. So if Wisdom was there, and as this scripture states, Wisdom was the first created entity
8:19 My benefits are worth more than a big salary, even a very big salary; 20 the returns on me exceed any imaginable bonus.
Boy, does this emphasize what I was saying in one of my last 2 blogs. Knowing God, wisdom, and that relationship is worth more than any salary or money-making career. I have so long be caught in this trapping, and so long wanted to get out of it. And what is so great is that here is the promise that the benefits of this relationship will not only provide for me but exceed anything I can obtain in a worldly career. I need to trust that God will assist me to make these changes as they are my hearts desire, and God's heart desire for me.
8:22 "God sovereignly made me—the first, the basic—before he did anything else. 23 I was brought into being a long time ago,well before Earth got its start.
It is obvious that the first thing that Christ brought into existence is Wisdom. Colossians states that nothing came into existence but through Christ. So if Wisdom was there, and as this scripture states, Wisdom was the first created entity
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Proverbs 7 - Loud Mouth of Temptation
7:11 She is loud and defiant, her feet never stay at home; 12 now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.Temptation as does wisdom is waiting for you at every turn and every corner. Temptation is everywhere, especially these days. There is so much immorality in our society, it is often hard to spot the good from the bad. Where as the adulteress and the fornicator used to hide behind closed doors, curtains, and in shady areas, it is on display proudly among the public. Lewdness, filth, debauchery, ill-repute, are on full display, and at your finger tips. The Internet, though a wonderful communications tool, is also one of the most horrific tools of man's (and woman's) sin. The pornography business is booming due to the Internet. It is the single most profitable business on the Internet. And it is not in disguise. Accidentally type the wrong URL and you can end up at a porn site. Open your email and look at the filth and spam that comes in. On TV, in magazines, and every where are ads for erectile dysfunction, penis enhancers, sexual devices, etc. It has gotten ridiculous. I do not understand why God does not wipe the slate clean. I have been watching Armageddon week on the history channel. The first day was a show about how multiple ancient societies and prophets have predicted that the end of days will come in 2012. I normally do not pay much heed to this type of speculation because no one knows the day and the time, but there is some credence to it. With everything going on around us, how long will God wait? The signs of the end times are here. Wars, famine, pestilence, plagues, destruction, calamities, etc. You name it, they are all around. How much longer do we have? I don't believe it will be long. We need to live like the days are short because in the blink of an eye Christ will return and call us home. Oh how sweet the day!
DC Talk - I Wish We'd All Been Ready
Monday, January 5, 2009
Proverbs 6 - Not unaffected
6:27 Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned? 28 Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched?
Though this scripture is in the context about what will happen to you if you commit adultery, it also says a lot about those that have had adultery committed against them. Anytime there some one steps outside the confines of God's intention for marriage no one is left unaffected. Not the adulterer, adulteree, the children, the families, society, etc. This has to be the one of the most heinous crimes next to murder and rape. The punishment for adultery was as severe in OT times. Today, there is no legal punishment. In fact, it is not even a good custody point in divorce court. My life has been thrown into upheaval because of 2 adulterous women. One BC, the ather AC. The latter was a wolf in sheep's clothing whom I thought loved the Lord and valued the sanctity of marriage. I can tell you there is no mercy from an scorned spouse over adultery. I am not sure how marriages ever survive it.
12 Stones, "Broken"
To put this in perspective of Christ and His bride makes my heart break for the pain I have caused Him. Every time I put someone else or something else before Him, I have committed adultery against Him. Being a man (therefore the bridegroom), in order to put this into perspective you have to understand how your wife would feel if you cheated on her. I know that He forgives me, but I so want to do what is right all the time. There are so many things that happened this year, and so many more to come, I think this may be a year of decision for me. I don't want to live life the way I have been, I want to be out on the front lines, fighting the war. I am tired or corporate bull and the way things are in this country. I want ot be an agent of change and go out swinging.
Though this scripture is in the context about what will happen to you if you commit adultery, it also says a lot about those that have had adultery committed against them. Anytime there some one steps outside the confines of God's intention for marriage no one is left unaffected. Not the adulterer, adulteree, the children, the families, society, etc. This has to be the one of the most heinous crimes next to murder and rape. The punishment for adultery was as severe in OT times. Today, there is no legal punishment. In fact, it is not even a good custody point in divorce court. My life has been thrown into upheaval because of 2 adulterous women. One BC, the ather AC. The latter was a wolf in sheep's clothing whom I thought loved the Lord and valued the sanctity of marriage. I can tell you there is no mercy from an scorned spouse over adultery. I am not sure how marriages ever survive it.
12 Stones, "Broken"
To put this in perspective of Christ and His bride makes my heart break for the pain I have caused Him. Every time I put someone else or something else before Him, I have committed adultery against Him. Being a man (therefore the bridegroom), in order to put this into perspective you have to understand how your wife would feel if you cheated on her. I know that He forgives me, but I so want to do what is right all the time. There are so many things that happened this year, and so many more to come, I think this may be a year of decision for me. I don't want to live life the way I have been, I want to be out on the front lines, fighting the war. I am tired or corporate bull and the way things are in this country. I want ot be an agent of change and go out swinging.
Proverbs 5 - Ambivalence
Okay so I have been out of pocket for part of the holiday's and though I was originally going to play catch up, I have done enough of that this holiday season. I am just going to pick up with today's Proverb
5:6 She gives no thought to the way of life; her paths are crooked, but she knows it not.
Most people today, even those who claim Christianity, live and sleep with each other before marriage and they do not see this as sin. Even if they view it as sin, they are not going to change their ways. They look at the divorce rate and broken families all around them and would rather test drive the car before buying it. In many ways it is hard to argue with them because of the divorce rate. We, as Christians, have ripped the rug right out from under us. Our divorce rate is just as high as non-Christians. Still this does not make it right according to God's word. We profess one thing but do another. How are our children going to view this? When children see hypocrisy in part of our lives, they tend to view the rest of it through those glasses. I am doing my best to make sure that my kids do not see me as a hypocrite, but just as a person, who makes mistakes and learns from them.
One other thing that I want to add. This chapter is always very difficult because I have lived on the painful side of cheating too many times. Significantly, 21 years ago, I was cheated on by my fiance (of whom I lived with for 4 years), and my best friend (or so I thought). Also, for all that know me, I was cheated on by my wife several years ago. I cannot tell you how much pain this causes. It never goes away. You learn to live with it and get past it, but the reality of it is still there. It is like your father or mother dying. 21 years ago and I still remember the pain, I still feel like I was robbed, I still have to forgive. I am not sure I realized that until I ran across this ex-fiance's myspace page by accident. I had to do some re-examination and this Proverb came to mind. 21 years! This 1 incident has had an effect on all relationships I have ever had since then. After that first instance, I was very afraid of commitment for a long time afterward. By the time I finally did commit, it happened again. Where that leaves me now is a very difficult place. I have found that I am not willing to open my heart to anyone and I have pretty much shut out the world. I only have room for my kids and they will eventually leave.
5:6 She gives no thought to the way of life; her paths are crooked, but she knows it not.
Most people today, even those who claim Christianity, live and sleep with each other before marriage and they do not see this as sin. Even if they view it as sin, they are not going to change their ways. They look at the divorce rate and broken families all around them and would rather test drive the car before buying it. In many ways it is hard to argue with them because of the divorce rate. We, as Christians, have ripped the rug right out from under us. Our divorce rate is just as high as non-Christians. Still this does not make it right according to God's word. We profess one thing but do another. How are our children going to view this? When children see hypocrisy in part of our lives, they tend to view the rest of it through those glasses. I am doing my best to make sure that my kids do not see me as a hypocrite, but just as a person, who makes mistakes and learns from them.One other thing that I want to add. This chapter is always very difficult because I have lived on the painful side of cheating too many times. Significantly, 21 years ago, I was cheated on by my fiance (of whom I lived with for 4 years), and my best friend (or so I thought). Also, for all that know me, I was cheated on by my wife several years ago. I cannot tell you how much pain this causes. It never goes away. You learn to live with it and get past it, but the reality of it is still there. It is like your father or mother dying. 21 years ago and I still remember the pain, I still feel like I was robbed, I still have to forgive. I am not sure I realized that until I ran across this ex-fiance's myspace page by accident. I had to do some re-examination and this Proverb came to mind. 21 years! This 1 incident has had an effect on all relationships I have ever had since then. After that first instance, I was very afraid of commitment for a long time afterward. By the time I finally did commit, it happened again. Where that leaves me now is a very difficult place. I have found that I am not willing to open my heart to anyone and I have pretty much shut out the world. I only have room for my kids and they will eventually leave.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Proverbs 30 - Just enough
30:7 O God, I beg two favors from you; let me have them before I die. 8 First, help me never to tell a lie. Second, give me neither poverty nor riches! 8 Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. 9 For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name.
Most of us would love to be rich. We look for things that we can invent, design, buy/sell, or write that will bring us fortune. We play the lottery and dream. But we also have heard the many horror stories about those who have become rich and it lead to their demise. Most people are not able to handle wealth. It handles them. How many times have you asked God to just give you the opportunity and you would do great things with the money when you get it? I know I have. Don't you think He would give it to you if it would be for your better? I know that I would do a lot of good things with a lot of money if I had it. What God wants is for me to do as many good things with what I have as I can. When I consistently do this, He gives me more. It is a trust factor just like with your kids. You don't hand your children your credit cards and turn them loose in a toy store. When they have developed the ability to be wise and spend wisely, then you allow them greater financial freedom. This is what I ask of God. Give me the ability to be financially wise, have more financial freedom and to give more from that financial freedom
Most of us would love to be rich. We look for things that we can invent, design, buy/sell, or write that will bring us fortune. We play the lottery and dream. But we also have heard the many horror stories about those who have become rich and it lead to their demise. Most people are not able to handle wealth. It handles them. How many times have you asked God to just give you the opportunity and you would do great things with the money when you get it? I know I have. Don't you think He would give it to you if it would be for your better? I know that I would do a lot of good things with a lot of money if I had it. What God wants is for me to do as many good things with what I have as I can. When I consistently do this, He gives me more. It is a trust factor just like with your kids. You don't hand your children your credit cards and turn them loose in a toy store. When they have developed the ability to be wise and spend wisely, then you allow them greater financial freedom. This is what I ask of God. Give me the ability to be financially wise, have more financial freedom and to give more from that financial freedom
Proverbs 29 - Anger
29:22 An angry person starts fights; a hot-tempered person commits all kinds of sin.
Have you ever noticed how some people seem to not be able to go through life without causing conflict? Well here is the answer. Anger. They are angry people. They don't necessarily even know they are angry or what they may be angry about. I know I have been this way in my life and when I usually find myself picking arguments, then I realize that I need to examine myself and find out what I am truly angry about. Part of that is inherited behavior. I see this in my mother. I love my mom, but I know why I left home! When she comes to visit, things are always tense. She is constantly complaining, starting arguments, expecting every one and everything to just come to her or work the way she thinks it should work. Don't even get me started about computers and cell phones! You would think that someone with a Masters degree could work a cell phone. Anyway, the bottom line of this is that she is angry, and has been for years. She is angry because my father died and left her alone. This anger has destroyed her. It robbed her of he intelligence, her snap, her joy. I have long since given up on trying to "fix" her. She does not see anything wrong. I have let this be a lesson to me though. First, that most of our behavior is learned from those who were most influential to us. Our parents. My dad was hot-tempered, and my mother harbors anger. I learned and have had to unlearn both. Mostly, I never want to be like that. Anger needs to be let go. Being hot-tempered does not resolve anything, ever. It does nothing but hurt yourself. Lastly, since behavior is learned, then I need to be careful what I am teaching.
Have you ever noticed how some people seem to not be able to go through life without causing conflict? Well here is the answer. Anger. They are angry people. They don't necessarily even know they are angry or what they may be angry about. I know I have been this way in my life and when I usually find myself picking arguments, then I realize that I need to examine myself and find out what I am truly angry about. Part of that is inherited behavior. I see this in my mother. I love my mom, but I know why I left home! When she comes to visit, things are always tense. She is constantly complaining, starting arguments, expecting every one and everything to just come to her or work the way she thinks it should work. Don't even get me started about computers and cell phones! You would think that someone with a Masters degree could work a cell phone. Anyway, the bottom line of this is that she is angry, and has been for years. She is angry because my father died and left her alone. This anger has destroyed her. It robbed her of he intelligence, her snap, her joy. I have long since given up on trying to "fix" her. She does not see anything wrong. I have let this be a lesson to me though. First, that most of our behavior is learned from those who were most influential to us. Our parents. My dad was hot-tempered, and my mother harbors anger. I learned and have had to unlearn both. Mostly, I never want to be like that. Anger needs to be let go. Being hot-tempered does not resolve anything, ever. It does nothing but hurt yourself. Lastly, since behavior is learned, then I need to be careful what I am teaching.
Proverbs 28 - Transparency
28:13 People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.
Do you have sins that you conceal or things that you hide from others? Nothing is hidden from God. It seems easy to think that if no one else knows that it is okay, or if it doesn't hurt anyone else than it is okay. But God demands obedience in solitude as well as in public. He searches the heart and mind. He knows our motives, our secret thoughts. We are transparent to God whether we like it or not. We need to be transparent in all areas or life so that God shines through us. When we have sin, either on display or in secret, that clouds the transparency and God cannot be seen through or in us.
24 Anyone who steals from his father and mother and says, “What’s wrong with that?” is no better than a murderer.
Seeing this scripture today reminds me of when I was in high school and I took some money from my father's wallet. Though I did not get caught in the act, he knew it, and I got in huge trouble. I thought it was okay, no big deal, because he had plenty of money, why would he miss a $20. This was a sin I had totally forgotten about since it was so long ago. I thank God for showing me the many things that need to be confessed and also allowing me a window into the past so I can always be mindful of the forgiveness and grace of God. Since my father is not around now, I cannot ask his forgiveness, but I can get closure through the Lord. Thank you God for your mercy, grace, and patience.
Do you have sins that you conceal or things that you hide from others? Nothing is hidden from God. It seems easy to think that if no one else knows that it is okay, or if it doesn't hurt anyone else than it is okay. But God demands obedience in solitude as well as in public. He searches the heart and mind. He knows our motives, our secret thoughts. We are transparent to God whether we like it or not. We need to be transparent in all areas or life so that God shines through us. When we have sin, either on display or in secret, that clouds the transparency and God cannot be seen through or in us.
24 Anyone who steals from his father and mother and says, “What’s wrong with that?” is no better than a murderer.
Seeing this scripture today reminds me of when I was in high school and I took some money from my father's wallet. Though I did not get caught in the act, he knew it, and I got in huge trouble. I thought it was okay, no big deal, because he had plenty of money, why would he miss a $20. This was a sin I had totally forgotten about since it was so long ago. I thank God for showing me the many things that need to be confessed and also allowing me a window into the past so I can always be mindful of the forgiveness and grace of God. Since my father is not around now, I cannot ask his forgiveness, but I can get closure through the Lord. Thank you God for your mercy, grace, and patience.
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