The devotional - 117 - The honorable and the foolish

Thought for the Day – 117 – The honorable and the foolish

Proverbs 20-3 – This trait is visible in people daily; the grouping of the gripers in the workplace and the lonely worker at their assigned position. Less striving and more production is honorable, those involved in a quarrelsome moment are branded by the Living Word of God as foolish, so STOP IT!

 

Comments and challenges

If you have spent any time on the oceans of the world you know about the weather; calm and rough seas are within the top ten experiences of life on this planet. During the fourth watch of the night (3am to 6am) is a time for some of the calmest waters for men in a small boat on their way to the other side of a small sea to experience. In the days of the ministry of the LORD Jesus the only way to forecast calm seas was to watch the sunset. Red sunsets are a delight to all sailors, even in today’s technological quagmire. Matthew 16:2-3

Large ocean storms are very dangerous, a small boat would have a better chance of surviving one these, than a small boat on a small sea. The same amount of wind and rain on a small sea causes waves to densely populate and be very high, as the storm approaches and danger intensifies anyone in a small boat; even the seasoned sailor will give in to fear. So this is the scene we find in Mark 6:45:52. Jesus sent his disciples from Capernaum to Bethsaida across the sea a distance of four or five miles.

No one in the boat complained of the sunset of the night before so everyone was expecting a peaceful and pleasant journey. By the will of the LORD the sea was all but calm, the men were not rowing the boat to get to shore; they were rowing against the wind to maintain stability in the water, the shore was just and after though, like I wish we had never left it. Mark 6:48. The imagination runs wild in the midst of a storm as the wind and the water form monstrous images, made up of white foam and water mist, but still to the finite mind these elements are enough to cause great fear. Mark 6:49

Can you imagine the moment? One might have said; “I see a ghost” while another said; “no, but it is a person” and another; “this cannot be!” and lastly; O but look, it is JESUS. (for me writing this, this is the best part of the message) bringing wonderful tears to my eyes… O but look, it is JESUS because in Mark 6:50 it says for they ALL saw Him. I don’t know how you perceive this moment in time for the life of those disciples but for me, these men went from fear to being troubled.

This is a step in the right direction; from fear and panic to just being troubled about the scene unfolding in front of them now. Jesus walking on troubled waters. Now as the LORD sees that all eyes are on Him, He says: “Be (or Take courage) of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid. Where Jesus is, it is always joyful and calm, notice that when He stepped into the boat the wind ceased. Is this not the way it is when we allow Jesus to step into our life?

The future of the United States of America is high seas and unpredictable winds. While the liberal and socialistic predictions are pleasant sunsets of red, the fourth watch of the night is approaching. Believers in JESUS today are in a small boat; yes we will see Him and He will calm our hearts; the question is: have we; that is, before the storm hits… answered the call of the LORD to feed the thousands, or is our heart hardened to the point of failing to understand and share with the lost the gospel of the grace of God.

The Devotional - 116 - Discipline

Thought for the Day – 116 – Discipline

Proverbs 19:18 – When was the last time you chasten your child? (Failure in these matters is found written in one’s eyes so don’t look too deeply into mine.) If the first time of chastening was after six months of age; you failed. Also proper chastening is not destruction, but builds love and constructs good character. Proverbs 22:6

 

Comments and challenges

When I worked for a ship builder after retiring from the military I was assigned to a training department. There I learned a logistics program, wrote a study plan and implemented it to train civilian employees who worked for the U.S. Navy in various parts of the country from Georgia to Washington state and points in between. My assistant and I traveled together; I got to know him very well. He came from India a religious Hindu and a professing vegetarian who loved pizza. I am not sure how he got around the “cheese and pepperoni” he sometimes had but what interested me most was the little red string he had tied around his wrist.

He went NOWHERE without the string as it warded off all “evil spirits” and kept him safe while we traveled. I would say to him; “I do not wear a string like that and I bet if you checked it out, no one else on the plane wears a red string on their wrist and we are all safe, doesn’t this pose a problem for you?” “No, not at all since I am protecting all of us” Well, I said; “you are not protecting anyone and if there is any power in the little red string, it is the STRING and not YOU, what if I cut the string and it falls on the floor, will it still have the power?” This would frustrate him and he had no answer.

I did have limited opportunity to talk with him about God, but he and his wife were very religious; once my wife and I visited his home in North Stonington and he explained a rug on the floor that told a story about their religious beliefs all of which is a systems of works related to ancestors and family traditions. He has two daughters and as he puts it; they are more liberal with their beliefs than the parents simply because they are raised in the United States and go to school where the influence to pull them away from their religion is very strong.

Cultures, religions and traditions are strong influences in all of us; we cling to our roots so to speak. My grandfather would say to me; “be thankful to God that you are born in the United States, that you are a free man and that your parents are good people” as a young person I treasured that thought and when I learned that my family did not live up to my grandfather’s statement. I assumed that it was no longer necessary to be good and evil prevailed. Now was it because I failed to wear a little red string around my wrist?

Absolutely NOT, even if the little red string was powerful enough to ward off evil (NOT!) the string has no power over SIN. Sin is not in the vocabulary of Hinduism, it is all about evil spirits. So what might be the point of all of this? We live in a complicated world of deception; practices and beliefs that control our lives and lead us to an eternity void of God. There is but ONE God, there is NONE other than HE so idolatry is FOOLISHNESS.

Now please take the moment and read Isaiah 44:9-20; the workman, the craftsman and the common laborer foolishly use the materials of creation to feed themselves, clothe themselves, protect themselves and then with what is left over they create an idol and worship the wood, the hay and the waste to be their god, in other words these idolatrous people are willing to fall down and worship a block of wood that cannot deliver their soul, nor can the block of wood reveal the lie in idolaters right hand. A pity? Yes a pity!

Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life; He is not a stick or a figment of the image of God, Jesus is God; notice John 11:17-27 and that Jesus has a better ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, with better promises, better sacrifices and a better and enduring possession for those who believe in Him because HE is RISEN from the dead and seated alive in heaven. Hebrews 9:23-28 is the answer to all of the religions of the world, including modern Judaism.

The Devotional - 113 - Who are the POOR?

Thought for the Day – 113 – Who are the POOR?

 

Proverbs 14:25 – There is a true witness and there is a false witness, do you know who these are? One is a “Life Giver” the other a “life taker” John 10:7-18

 

Comments and challenges

In our devotions this morning we were discussing the rich and the poor and there is much said about both standards of life throughout the Living Word of God. The one verse that sticks out for me at this moment is “the rich and the poor have this in common; the LORD is the Maker them all” – Proverbs 22:2. Again the quick observation of this verse will not render a full appreciation of what Solomon is saying. Notice the last two words… “them all” wow; so how can anyone say; I am a self-made rich or poor man?

One of the ways is to assume that the only thought of Solomon here in Proverbs 22:2 is that God is our Creator and has nothing to do with the individuality of being rich or poor. Yet I am convinced that Solomon took into account the dream he had as a young man and King of Israel, read 1 Kings 3:1-5. Also as your read through 1 Kings there are other events that explain why God declares the commonality of the rich and the poor; note 1 Kings 17:8-24.

These events in history Glorify God and we should always seek to understand this rather than to rationalize, to do so is to miss the intended blessing. God has a plan and His plan is perfect for all of human life and when we decide to control our own destiny and/or tend to believe that we are in control; the earth opens up and swallows up all that we value. “Sink holes” are on the increase these days… have you not noticed?

There is though another current definition that is being formed in our society today for “poor people”. The definition is; kinda-sorta sickening I believe. This definition is applied to people who live on welfare, who knowingly bleed the federal and state government treasuries dry. These people qualify for state and federal aid by refusing to biblically marry as in Psalm 127:1-5. These people also of a minority ranking refuse to marry someone of the opposite sex as revealed in Romans 1:27-32.

Also, just to add one more category, but I know there are several more. What about illegal people in the United States of America. Now don’t get it wrong here; I am not talking about people who desire to be citizens of the United States of America who may not have all of their “t’s” crossed or their “I’s” dotted. I am talking about those thugs, thieves, murders and terrorists who aggressively walk our streets looking for a handout, or a federal loop hole and a weakened state government to set up their dangerous agendas.

So don’t as a Citizen of the United States of America go walking hand in hand with any of these folks singing songs like; “give me your poor and needy” or God bless America once more” I know God is long suffering; but I have had enough of this. It is time Citizens like you and me to fall flat on our face and weep and mourn over the condition of our country. Our relationship to God as a nation is nearly non-existent, our children are growing up to accept everything and everybody and I could go on and on.

Let us stop now and weep and mourn in prayer that God would simply not bless America once more; but that He would have MERCY on our sinful way of life today and restore the rich and the poor to a biblical definition, rather than the one that is crushing our present FREEDOM. Yes I am saying that the battle is the LORD’s but it is time too, to look at our Forefathers who fought a good fight, who kept the faith for the freedoms we have experienced and the freedoms to worship as we have, that are now TODAY being stolen by the POOR in politics, the POOR in country and the POOR on the street corner. Have a pleasant DAY.

 

The Devotional - 111 - Ignorantly Ignorant?

Thought for the Day – 111 – Ignorantly Ignorant?

 

Proverbs 12:2 – This verse of scripture causes me to reflect on my conduct. I am not good, oh don’t get me wrong I strike out each day to be good and here I am at seventy three. I cannot recall but a few days on this planet that I can say that was a day without sin; that’s not good! Still I have obtained favor from the LORD, OH! Be still my soul, this joyful thought is overwhelming as I meditate on the mercy He has given and favor (grace) He provides daily. Matthew 9:13

 

Comments and challenges

Just a quick note on my email address, I am seeking to return to my “yahoo” email address since I am very comfortable using yahoo. This will be a test and if it does not work out then I will continue to use the AOL address.

I was looking through Romans recently and thinking about the flesh “the old man” and the spirit “the new man” and how all of this works for you and me, that is assuming that I am talking to those who are under the power of God because we are buried with Him (Jesus) through baptism (Spiritual) into Christ Jesus and in a like manner were baptized (Spiritual) into His death. Romans 6:3-4. The apostle is not relating to a water baptism in these passages.

No do not get all weighted down on water baptism, these verses are talking about a total spiritual immersion we have when we believe in Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God. Simply, there is no mention of water in the text and shame on you if you try to sprinkle in a few drops. In other words, God provides through the Holy Spirit all that you and I will ever need to enter eternity at the point in time when you say to God through the response of your soul (heart) that you believe that Jesus Christ as your only hope of Salvation. Romans 10:8-13.

Many spiritual things happen to a person when they believe in Jesus Christ, but there are two on my list of many that stand out among the others and here these are. (1) we are no longer “ignorant of God” Jesus in Prayer to His Father, just before His Death and Resurrection spoke to His Father and said as recorded in John 17:3 “and this is eternal life, that they may KNOW You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent”. So far the first time in our lives when we believe in Jesus we come to know God.

It gets better so hang on to your hat, if you have it on; if not go get one! When we believe in Jesus at that moment in time we receive the indwelling Holy Spirit of God so we now have what I would like to call the SAVING knowledge of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit abiding in our heart (soul). At the point of being saved the full knowledge of the Godhead is revealed. John 14:7-11, also for the first time we feel the effects of the love of God; Romans 5:6-11 because we know and understand that Christ has placed Himself in our place.

Now I can spend hours in these thoughts, but I have less than an hour to finish. Jesus died as the sacrificial LAMB OF GOD THE FATHER because of the SIN OF THE WORLD which according to scripture is ignorance of God. Now do not take that lightly, behind that curtain of ignorance stands the devil and all of his army of fornicators, homosexuals, sodomites, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, extortioners and everyone else who is ignorant or who ignores God and His Son Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.

Notice that I used ignorant and ignoring in the chapter above and the thought that can creep into one’s mind is how can I ignore what I am ignorant of? Good question; the way for me to explain this is that if you are standing on any freeway at rush hour in the middle of traffic and put on a blindfold; then you are knowingly ignorant of the danger that you have chosen to ignore. Romans 1:18-32 explains Satan’s trafficking and the blindfold of ignoring the rush of sin that men and women put on and are destroyed because they chose to be wrapped up in this ignorance of God. Did you get the picture?

We often talk about “choice” the choice of accepting God at His Word and the “choice” of rejecting God at His Word. Believing in Jesus Christ is accepting His Word; John 1:14 and speaking of Jesus who is coming again, He is identified in Revelation as the Word of God in Revelation 19:11-15. So this I see; it is prime time for believing in Jesus the Word of the Living God; there will be more that I have to say about this, so keep your hat close.

The Devotional - 110 Whose comng to Dinner

Thought for the Day – 110 – Any one care to go dining

 

Proverbs 9:1-18 – Of course some of you may be wondering who my friend is? Well wonder no further… she is my wife! If Proverbs 8 explains the Excellency of the Wisdom of God it is only fitting that Proverbs 9 should explain the way this Wisdom is applied in daily life. Go ahead read the chapter and we will do some application in the comments and challenges section.

 

Comments and challenges

For those false religions chapter 9 of Proverbs is either very chilling or the leaders have simply cut this chapter out of their bibles; that is of course if these religions use a Bible. Now there is a purpose of referring to their bible with a small “b” and my Bible with a Capital one. My Holy Bible says that God has completed His work, note that the house of Wisdom is complete. That there are seven pillars that support God’s house of Wisdom.

Should you want to know what those seven pillars are, you need only to travel to Isaiah’s Book and read Isaiah 11:1-2 as Isaiah makes a comment about the Second Coming of Messiah who is the LORD Jesus Christ; of course you will need to read to verse 5 to be the full context. In this chapter Jesus the Messiah strikes the earth with Righteousness and Judgment. Jesus uses the seven pillars of Wisdom to accomplish this task which are the Seven Attributes of the Spirit of God.

And remember Jesus’s First Coming is as the Lamb of God who takes away the SIN of the world, He accomplishes this task with the Holy Spirit too; in forgiveness, in faith and in love so these seven attributes of the Spirit of God is like the double edged sword found in Hebrews 4:11-13. This reminds me here too in Proverbs 9:8-9 that we are to utilize this same Wisdom of mercy on the lost to bring them to Jesus so they might be saved.

In God’s house of wisdom the writer explains in terms we can understand. The house of Wisdom is fully supplied with plenty of food and wine, the table is set and the food is always fresh since the maidens are present to keep fresh supplies available for those of God’s family to partake whenever they choose to do so. So the question I have is; are you willing daily to dine on the Freshly Prepared Wisdom of God?

It matters not of what intellect you may be at, I know this first hand. When I first was saved I could barely read with less than a ninth grade education. God through the Wisdom of His Word changed all of that and to Him I sing praise every day! I was simple, but He heard my cry; oh the thought of this overwhelms my emotions. Don’t be ignorantly ignorant of what God is willing to do for YOU! I know He will do more than you could ever ask or even think.

So come, eat of His bread and drink of His wine, please note that the meatier wisdom is there also. His Word is prepared for YOU, He had you in mind when He formed the earth, and He had you in mind when He had His maidens set out the table. And did you notice that the table is filled with foods that give nourishment to a hungry soul. Again, the plea from God is to forsake foolishness and live and He sort of pats us on the back sends us on our way in Proverbs 9:6 and says; “and GO in the way of understanding”.

Also we are not to use this Wisdom of God for selfish ambitions of the flesh; notice leave the scoffers and the wicked alone; let the LORD handle them, by the LORD’s intervention these folks may become wise and then you will have opportunity. But until then don’t bring shame to yourself by seeking to correct or openly reprove them. How many times do we hear from the Word of the Living God this call: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of Wisdom” now I do not know about you; but I see God the Father in this verse and Jesus too. Verse 10 if you are not sure where I am.

The LORD God and His Holy One through His Spirit provide all of the Wisdom and Understanding that His Children will ever need to protect us and multiply our days and years. Of course with much Wisdom there is a warning, do not be selfishly wise and become a scoffer. What might that look like? Well the remaining verses are a picture of the world. It is not so much the woman that is in focus, but what the men of the world do to promote their ungodly ways. Don’t scoff at the world, what good is that?

 

Just as there is nothing new under the sun as Solomon puts it in Ecclesiastes; in other words, you cannot add to the good and evil of the world it is a closed system. Also, you cannot add or take away any of the Wisdom and Understanding of the Living Word of God; this too is a closed system since Jesus Christ Himself shut the door on Revelation, in Revelation 22:18-19. Enjoy God today. Control plus click: http://www.bibletools.com/

The Devotional - 108 - Do you Know God

Thought for the Day – 108 – Do you KNOW God

 

Proverbs 8:1-36 – My friend and I were talking this morning about the fall of mankind and the progressive ignorance toward God since that day. Proverbs 8 explains the conversation my friend and I had. Verse 12 – I wisdom dwell with prudence and find out knowledge and discretion. Verse 23 – The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way! Does the wisdom God possess you? Or is it the world that grip’s your day?

 

Comments and challenges

I have said this time and again but I have to say it again. Proverbs 8 is one of my favorites. The best way to put this is to say that if heaven were merely a cloud, then I hope it is packed with Proverbs 8:1-36; in other words I could roll around heaven all day with the wisdom and prudence of this chapter. Simply, I cannot say enough about it, so here is the challenge – read it for yourself and let God the Holy Spirit speak truth into your soul.

The truth is that most of us need TRUTH, did you read what is written here; most of us need TRUTH! If you watch the news media any day of the week, then you are being fed a morning breakfast of LIES, a lunch of DECEPTION and a dinner plate of the ungodly TRANSGRESSIONS of mankind. No wonder there are so many people around that live daily on mind altering drugs that keep them subdued and in a state of induced calmness.

Yes you say but this is for me a way of life that works. One or two pills a day and I am good for the day’s activities and good for a nighttime of sleep so what’s the big deal? In fact; don’t tell me the truth since I am so used to the lie and the truth is; that TRUTH, the truth you are talking about is scarier than the lie I live with. Now see what you have done… I need another pill!

Well now, I do not apologize for causing you to swallow another pill just as you so willingly swallow another LIE, believe another DECEPTIVE comment or watch another MURDEROUS TRANSGRESSION in today’s media. You can STOP IT; yes I said STOP IT. I mean why force feed your mind with thoughts of a declining world society? But of course if you are an active part of this society, then you are not force feeding yourself, you are simply looking to see if you made the news today. Still, whatever the case you can STOP IT!

Go ahead now and use a bit of mindful innovation and say; HOW do I do that? This is how. First of all; do not ignore God, open your mind to the possibility that He is calling you. In fact; John the Baptizer did this very same thing in John 1:29-34, notice he says in verse 33; “I did not know Him” who might that be? It is Jesus Christ the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world; verses 29 and 34.

What might the sin of the world be? Very good question, have you ever asked God to reveal to you just what it is that Jesus willingly came to earth for? He willingly came to earth to die in your place (Romans 5:8) because world does not know God the Creator of the heavens and the earth.  Like John the Baptizer; before knowing who Jesus is and the reason of His first coming into the world, we were ignorantly ignorant (a double negative) to emphasize the depth of Satan’s deceptive power over the world.

First we are born into a world that is ignorant of God and then we grow up in the ignorance and traditions of world, patterning our lives in ignorance, notice – John 1:1-13, these are simple verses of scripture but these are packed with the truth about our lack of knowledge of Proverbs 8. See John 7:28-29.

So we should see now that the hour has come, we have no excuse to dwell in the darkness of deception, STOP IT; stop consuming the nonsense of world and digesting the pills of a declining society to calm our human spirit. We can understand the Words that Jesus spoke to His Father just hours before He was crucified for the SIN of the world that is (ignorantly, ignoring) God. John 17:1-5, this has Proverbs 8:1-36 all over it. Today if you hear God’s voice, then please do not continue one more moment in the rebellion of a world that ignores HIM.

The Devotional - 107 - Freedom

Thought for the Day – 106 – More Freedom concerns

 

Proverbs 7:1-5 – Buddies, ever have one? We can be very tight with friends, they are close to us and we share things with them that we do not share with others. Sometimes they are a husband or wife; a brother or sister or a near relative. This is what God desires for us all; to know Him as a friend and His commands and laws as a loving Father. Psalm 19:1-14 is a perfect expression of God’s relational friendship with those who are not ignorant of Him.

 

Comments and challenges

Lifestyles in other parts of the world and that would be outside of the United States of America are different. For example; when I visited Spain, from noon until 2pm the streets in any town was deserted, all of the local people were at siesta. The stores were closed; transportation services ceased and even though it was day time it was very much like midnight.

In Ukraine away from the city of Kiev and in the small hamlets or towns there were very few stores to purchase things, maybe one or two stores to a town and these did not get a lot of business; just enough to survive. All of the villagers waited for what could resemble a traveling super store.

This would be a caravan of many different vehicles and trucks filled with clothing, house wares, cleaning products, butcher shops, bakery shops, produce, can goods and all of the merchandise like appliances, hardware and tools. These caravans showed up once a week and would stay through the day and overnight. The town was buzzing with people from sun up through the night to sun up again buying needed things.

It was also a time of much chatter, the chatter of purchases and bargaining, the chatter of family and friends seeing each other at least once a week. The chatter was so loud, there would be little sleeping, so it was better if you just would get up and join the commotion. Being there for two weeks was a very nice experience, so I guess this is added for free. If you get the chance to visit a foreign country and experience the culture… do so; you will enjoy the moment.

What I am seeking to say here is that what we do and citizens of the United States of America is NORMAL to us, what people do in other parts of the world is NORMAL to them. Cross culturing is not NORMAL for any nation under the sun. in fact; cross culturing is a condition that crumbles the identity of any nation, we need only to look at our own history to see this and just as other FREEDOM loving countries too; AUSTRALIA for example. Freedom is not FREE.

Freedom is not a hand out from the government, freedom is earned by hard working PEOPLE. Freedom is not being able to express your sin in public and expect it to be accepted by everyone as NORMAL; freedom knows that there are SOLID LAWS that prevent SIN as one might prevent a SICKNESS epidemic. Freedom is not IGNORANCE of God, FREEDOM KNOWS GOD and God KNOWS those who are HIS. John 10:25-30

What else can be said? As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for God, for the Living God. When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my continual food day and night, while they continually say; where is you God? These words are the beginning of Psalm 42 and the Psalms ends like this; why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted (upset) within me? Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help (salvation) of my countenance and my God.

You might want to read the whole Psalm; I do recommend that you do! The soul within all of us longs for God; if your soul does not talk with God, in fact; if you soul is ignorant of God’s love, comfort and peace then you are like the rest of the world. Scared and miserable, sad and lonely, sinful and critical, the writer of Psalm 42 is not king David, but are the sons of Korah. These men understood the results associated with ignoring God and after contemplating His Character wrote about their souls need for resting in Christ.