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
Sunday, January 11, 2009
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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