Proverb for the Day April 28,2017

Proverb for the Day:

"It is the blessing of the Lord that makes rich, and He adds no sorrow to it."

God's blessing is always accompanied with a deep rich joy.

Proverb for the Day April 27. 2017

Proverb for the Day:

"Do not reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you, reprove a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser, teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." (9:8-10)

We identify ourselves by how we respond to reproof. The wise man has a teachable spirit and understands how much he still needs to learn. And he understands that all wisdom and insight comes from a deeper understanding of the majesty of His Lord's character. I cannot know what Jesus would do if I do not understand who He is--The Lord. The Holy One.

Proverb for the Day April 26, 2017

Proverb for the Day:

"Take my instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than gold. For wisdom is better than jewels; and all desirable things can not compare to her." (8:10-11)

How rich are you? How much time do you spend in the Word?

Proverb for the Day April 24, 2017

Proverb for the Day:

"My son, keep my words, and treasure my commandments within you. Keep my commandments and live, and my teaching as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablets of your heart." (7:1-2)

Are His words, your words?
Are His words, your heart's treasure?
Are His words, the power of your life?
Are His words, the focus of your vision?
Are His words, the gentleness in your touch?
Are His words, inscribed upon your heart?

If so, they will be a light to your path, a protection against wandering from the way, a delight to your soul.

"Forever, O Lord, Thy Word is settled in heaven."

Proverb for the Day April 23, 2017

Proverb for the Day:

"There are six things which the Lord hates, yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil, a false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers." (6:16-19)

What then does God love?

A humble spirit
Truth-tellers
Those who strive to save the lives of the innocent--preservers of life
A heart that consciously makes plans to do what is right
Feet that race to do good
A true witness
A peacemaker

Which list describes our culture?

Which list describes me?

Proverb for the Day April 21, 2017

Proverb for the Day:

"And you say, 'How I have hated instruction! And my heart spurned reproof! And I have not listened to my teachers, nor inclined my ear to my instructors!' " (5:12-13)

The testimony of those on the road to utter ruin.

Proverb for the Day April 20, 2017

Proverb for the Day:

"She (wisdom) will place on your head a garland of grace; she will present you with a crown of beauty." (4:9)
Beauty flows from the inside out. There's nothing you can put on that will make you beautiful. Want to be beautiful--to live a beautiful life? Pursue wisdom with your whole heart. How do you do that? Embrace obedience as our Savior did. "I do always those things that please Him." No one is beautiful whose life does not radiate the grace that springs from the soil of the obedient heart. Be a "beauty queen."

Proverb for the Day April 19, 2017

Proverb for the Day:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding."

Because I know Him--the God of infinite love and infinite wisdom--I do not need to know the why of my circumstances. I, try as I might, may never understand why things happen, but I can trust fully that He does. And that working behind it all--whether I can "figure it out" or not--is the love and wisdom of God my Savior. "Trust and obey for there's no other way."

Proverb for the Day April 18. 2017

Proverb for the day:

"He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice, and He preserves the way of His godly ones." (2:7-8)

God's work in the hearts of His godly ones--He stores up wisdom, He shields them, He guards their paths, He preserves their ways.
And who are His "godly ones"? Those whose actions reveal their hearts' desire to not grieve His heart through acts of disobedience. Walk with God--secure in His promised provision for your every step. "It is glory just to walk with Him, He will guide my steps aright, through the vale and o'er the height; it is glory just to walk with Him."

Proverb for the Day April 17, 2017

Proverb for the day:
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction." (1:7)

You cannot separate obedience from wisdom. And remember when the foolish man's house comes crashing down those he loves--claims to love--are invariably in the house, too.

What Were They Thinking?

What were they thinking?

Mary, the deep sadness of a mother who has buried a son . . .
The disciples--confusion, fear, guilt . . .
Nicodemus and Joseph--what will we do now, having declared our loyalty to Him--and He is gone . .
The women--do we have all we need to anoint His body at dawn? Will the Roman soldiers help us? We have lost Him . . .
Pilate--He said His kingdom was not of this realm; He was an innocent man; they said He claimed to be the Son of God--and I condemned Him to crucifixion
Soldiers--when He spoke we all fell to the ground helpless; when He died the sun turned dark and the earth quaked; now, they tell us to guard the tomb of this dead Jew; what is actually going on here . . .
The Jewish leaders--well, that's over with; justifiable lies are necessary to save our power and influence. Though we do need to do something about that promise He made--to rise from the dead in three days . . .
The people of Jerusalem--deep darkness in the middle of the day; an earthquake; did you hear about the things He said from the cross; two of our respected leaders buried Him--one in his own tomb .
And in the morning, their world would change.
Would Mary again cry out thanks to the "God of my salvation."
The disciples rushing to the tomb--in time He would stand in their midst, lovingly forgive their doubts and betrayals; send them into the world with the message of redemption--unafraid of any earthly power; sure in the power of the resurrection--so sure that they would gladly die for Him. And they did.
Would Nicodemus and Joseph be among those who joined with the disciples to wait for the Spirit; were they among those who sold all that they had to help meet the needs of the early church in Jerusalem?
The women would run from the empty tomb to declare the message of angels to the disciples; Mary Magdalene would rejoice that He had found her in the garden. Not lost; no, He had not been lost. They had been found.
Pilate, the soldiers, the Jewish leaders--time to make up more lies and wonder at more mysteries--the veil was ripped--yes, from top to bottom; "Something" opened the tomb, and His body is gone." Is it no wonder that some of the priests believed?!
The people. What was going through their minds? How many hearts were stirred--prepared for Pentecost morning and the undeniable truth--"You delivered Him up; But God delivered Him up from the grave. What must you do? Repent! Believe! He is eager to forgive you!"
We need not mourn. We need not doubt. We were lost, but have been found. We must with confidence identify ourselves with Him and the needs of His church. The world's lies have no explanation--the truth condemns them. Who can darken the sun and shake the earth? Who can rip the veil and provide access to the Holy of Holies for all men? Who can defeat death? God and God alone. The God of my salvation! We must proclaim the message: The tomb is empty. The Savior lives! His heart's desire is that all believe and receive the forgiveness of sin.

Because He lives, you can live forever. Forgiven--forever. Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift--for the victory that is in Christ Jesus, our Lord!

Surely

"Do not fear; I am a shield to you."

"Do not fear for I have redeemed you."

"Do not fear, I have called you by name, you are mine!"

"Do not fear, the Lord will fight for you."

"Do not tremble or be dismayed for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

"Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."

"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defender of my life; whom shall I dread?"

Have a fearless day! Your Shield, your Redeemer, your Strength, your Light, your Salvation, your Defender, the One who calls you by name, upholds you in His righteous hand, and fights for you is with you every moment of your day. Surely!

Anxiety

Anxiety is a human condition--the worry and fear and sometimes the resultant self-pity have been experienced by everyone. It is the absence of peace. Paul states that anxiety is the enemy of contentment, and contentment is necessary to gaining "access" to Christ's strength and our subsequent confidence in His promise to provide our every need.
How does Paul say we should deal with our anxiety? The beginning defense is a heart of gratitude--not for the situation that brings on the anxiety--but for the relationship we have with Christ--the one who encourages us to be of "good cheer" because He has overcome the world, and because we can do so as well through faith. That relationship can never be severed. He loves us even in our anxiety. So, rejoice, Paul says. The next instruction is to focus on the needs of those around us--to get actively involved in helping others. That focus takes our thoughts off ourselves and redirects them--centers them on others. Their needs become more important than our own. Finally, He says that we need to be communicating with God by praying to Him about our struggles--honestly. Peter uses the words "cast your care on Him because He cares for you." These steps--praise, compassion for others, and prayer--as simple and yet as difficult as they are--always result in one sensing the peace of God. And that peace is beyond human comprehension. The situation that is the source of my anxiety and fear may not have changed at all, but the sense of His presence overcomes those struggles. And it is an everyday struggle--a learned attitude. It is our nature to focus on ourselves--natural. God's peace is a supernatural gift that He promises to those who take their eyes off themselves and rejoice in Him, show compassion to others, and give their anxieties to the One who cares for them--anxiety and all.

Cannots

You cannot love unconditionally without being hurt.
You cannot have a servant's heart and crave applause and recognition.
You cannot have a heart of joy and refuse to take up your cross and follow Him.
You cannot have the patience of Job without acknowledging your lack of understanding and humbly praying for your friends who fail to understand.
You cannot know God deeply without practicing stillness.
You cannot gain the victory without total reliance and obedience to the Captain's commands.
You cannot be "anxious for nothing" until all your cares are cast on Him.
You cannot be willing to lay down your life for Him if you are not now willing to live for Him.
You cannot be truly concerned for the needs of others until their needs have access to your bank account.
You cannot have faith and demand to see what He is doing in your life and the lives of those you love.
You cannot walk in fellowship with Him without walking in fellowship with His other children.
You cannot be a teacher of others and not have a teachable spirit.
You cannot become a comforter without experiencing loss.

Reflections for April, 2017

When my focus is on pleasing myself, making myself happy, invariably I end up discontent, dissatisfied with life--dare I say, miserable, wallowing in self-pity. When I focus on the needs and happiness of others, invariably I find peace, contentment, joy.
__________

The Christian life is a walk--not a sprint.
__________

The Lord helps those who help themselves because no one else can get them out the mess that they've created.
_______

To walk in the light as He is in the light requires daily confession.
_________

Shared truth must always be followed up with intercessory prayer.
 _________

 God doesn't discipline His children to drive them away from Him but to draw them into His embrace

Testimony Time

Testimony Time:

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua)

Against You, and You only have I sinned and done this evil in Your sight. Yet, I know, that a broken and a contrite heart You will not despise. (David)

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith. (Paul)

Do with me exactly as You wish, Lord. (Mary)

Here I am, Lord. Send me! (Isaiah)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made by Him, and without Him was not one thing made that was made. (John)

Your God will be my God. (Ruth)

We have heard of your God and been afraid. I know that He will give you the victory. (Rahab)

You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good. (Joseph)

May the words of my mouth be acceptable in Your sight, O God, my Rock, and my Redeemer