Word for the Day

Word for the Day

Word for the Day

Taking a Walk Thru Proverbs

Death Awaits the Foolish Man

“There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” –Proverbs 14:12New American Standard Bible

            This is a verse of scripture that paints a bleak picture for those who make decisions by their gut or by what seems right to them. As I have stated repeatedly, man’s resources are grossly limited, especially when they are compared to God’s. This verse is repeated in Proverbs 16:25.  Proverbs 5:23 says, “He will die for lack of instruction and in the greatness of his folly he will go astray.” This familiar passage from the gospel of Matthew 7:13-14 states the following, “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” 

            The death spoken of may be physical death, but it is most assuredly spiritual death, for it involves a life without God and therefore no hope of forgiveness for sin. It is a life void of his influence and that by your own choice.

            Why do so few find the narrow path that leads to life in Christ? I suppose you could say there are several reasons. Man wishes to think for himself and make his own decisions. In other words, he wishes to be autonomous, answerable to only himself.  Surrender to the autonomous man is a dirty word and yet it is exactly what is required to enter into God’s heaven.

            There is no way for the secular man to rightly determine the correct course to take. Even when they do things that are seen as right by the wayward society in which they live, these decisions have no eternal value. We must all march to the beat of a new drum, not our own drum. God blesses those who seek him. He uses those who desire to be used by the Holy Spirit to promote God in a bold, new way. To “do your own thing” only leads to disappointment in the end with a severe lack of satisfaction. There is nothing more rewarding than giving of yourself to others because you want to, never because you feel you have to. Seek wise counsel and never to what seems right to you without lifting it up to your Heavenly Father first. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resources:www.biblegateway.com; Translation: New American Standard Translation of the Bible.

Word for the Day

Word for the Day

Happy Thanksgiving!

          While we may not get turkey with all the obligatory side dishes every day, to the believer in Christ EVERY day is Thanksgiving! This is a special day set aside to remember that which is most important and forget that which is non-essential. It is a time for us to reflect on family and friends and all the blessings the Lord has bestowed upon us thru the past year. 

          What is most important to you? What should be? How is your relationship with Christ? Is he your closest friend or your sometimes necessity? If Thanksgiving has become no more than turkey, trimmings, family and football then let me suggest that the top of the list should have God. He is the source of all the blessings in life. Focus, reflect and be introspective. Christ died so that you could live, not for yourself, but for him. Enjoy your family, your food and yes, even your football, but don't forget the One who hung the moon and the stars in their place. Never forget who you are and whose you are. I love you all. For those who speak Espanol, "Tenga feliz dia de accion de gracias". Have a good day of thanks! rlkeller

Word for the Day

Sometimes you are delayed where you are because God knows there's a storm where you are headed.

BE GRATEFUL!

Word for the Day

Word for the Day

Word for the Day

"To surrender is our heart 

admitting our weakness. 

To accept is our ego 

demanding the illusion 

of still being in charge."

Unknown

Word for the Day

Word for the Day

Taking a Walk Thru Proverbs

Criticism vs. Correction

“If you ignore criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace; if you accept correction, you will be honored.”

Proverbs 13:18* New Living Translation 

            The first thing I noticed about this verse was the use of the words ‘criticism’ and ‘correction’. The negative reaction speaks of ‘criticism’. The positive response involves ‘correction’, a much more appealing word. 

            Now there is criticism for the sake of criticism and there is what is referred to as “constructive” criticism. It is offered from a humble heart that wishes to show a person something the may not yet be aware of. It is the prideful, ignorant heart that either ignores or totally rebuffs the constructive criticism being offered. It also depends on how it is offered. If it is offered with anything less than a humble spirit, it is offered incorrectly. 

            The recipient of said criticism / correction, needs to leave any baggage at the side of the road. They also need an open heart for without that they are like a darkened house with locked doors and pulled shades, closed minded and resistant to assistance. As mentioned, the way it is offered has a lot to do with the reception. The one who offers it should also sprinkle in a dose of encouragement and edification, for that is the icing on the cake. You can’t ever go wrong by doing that. It’s a Fruit of the Spirit.

            There is something rewarding about lifting up someone’s spirits when they are down, whether they are saved or not. It’s far more beneficial for all parties to speak positive words than negative ones. And we should do it for no other reason that God’s word proclaims it and it is simply the right thing to do. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

--------------------

Resources: www.biblegateway.com; The Life Application Study Bible. 

Additional verses on correction:

* Proverbs 15:5 – “Only a fool despises a father’s discipline; whoever learns from correction is wise.”

   Proverbs 15:32 – “If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you     

   grow in understanding.

Taking a Walk Thru Proverbs

The Debilitating Power of Worrying
“Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.”–Proverbs 12:25 New Living Translation

            Worrying can become rather debilitating over time. It leads to depression, which acts like a sinkhole in our lives. It doesn’t have to be this way. The believer who allows negativism to warp their perception of things needs to reflect on scripture instead to pull themselves out of their funk. Consider Psalm 94:19, which says, “When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.” Things are not always going to go your way, but if you focus on the Lord and not your situation you will be victorious.

            That’s really all worrying is … negative thought. Being concerned about things that may happen or will happen and what the consequences might be is a tremendous waste of energy. And I can say that because I’ve worried about plenty of things throughout my life. Nothing positive or helpful ever comes from it. It just upsets our stomach and creates stress. I call that ‘manufactured stress’. It’s not natural, but unnatural. Something we’ve conjured up in our own minds that will probably never come to pass. That’s nothing more than a lack of trust in God’s ability to remove us or see us through any given difficulty and that’s a sin. 

            Matthew 6:33-34 tells us how to overcome worrying. Jesus said in verse 33, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Now we’re probably all familiar with that portion of scripture, but did you know that the very next verse says? “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring it’s own worries.” As a matter of fact Matthew 6:25-34 deals with concern for our needs being met in association with worry. Take the time to look it up and read it. You’ll be glad you did.

            If you want to be a blessing to others cultivate, with the Holy Spirit’s help, a ministry of encouragement. The spoken word is an important part of caring for one another. What you say to them just might be exactly what they need to hear at that very moment. Encourage and edify the brethren first, but those outside God’s grace as well so they might see Christ in us through our words and behavior.

Resources: www.biblegateway.com; MacArthur Bible Study; NIV Bible Study Notes.

Word for the Day

Taking a Walk Thru Proverbs

SPIRIT LED SELF CONTROL

“A fool is quick-tempered, but a wise person stays calm when insulted.” – Proverbs 12:16New Living Translation

            There are certain attributes that don’t come naturally to man. Self-Control can tend to be one of them. Staying calm in the face of ridicule or insults by someone who feels the need to do so can be a little hard to take, but unfortunately, it’s a part of life. People who don’t understand you or your lifestyle act out of frustration. Frankly, they may not know any better. Holding your tongue will be a positive example in the face of such provocation.  

            There are 2 other place in Proverbs that speak on this: Proverbs 10:12 & 29:11. Proverbs 10:12 says, “Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses.” Hate is such an ugly word. No good comes from it. Love counters hate and that’s important to know because there is a lot of hate in the world today. Loving others on our own is not possible over the long haul. The Holy Spirit must fuel self-control if we are going to be able to sustain it. Nothing is accomplished if we exhibit self-control now, but fail to do so the next time. One’s testimony is at stake. That is important because we are Christ’s ambassadors on this earth. 

            Proverbs 29:11 says, “Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back.” Holding back isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s the “control of one's emotions, desires, or actions by one's own will.” That is spirit led self-control which happens to be listed as one of the Fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23.

            If you happen to be a quick-tempered individual, as a believer you need to give that over to God once and for all. If you are not a Christian you must take the critical first step by acknowledging you are a person who has racked up a multitude of sins with no way to pay for them. Christ is the answer. Believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for the sins of man … ask him to forgive you … turn away from your old life and allow God to live thru you. THEN pray for self-control. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resources:www.biblegateway.com; NIV Study Bible Notes; MacArthur Study Notes on the Bible.

Talking a Walk Thru Proverbs

The Arrogant & the Wise

“The way of the [arrogant] fool [who rejects God’s wisdom] is right in his own eyes, but a wise and prudent man is he who listens to counsel.”– Proverbs 12:15Amplified Bible

Let us define some words:

arrogant - displaying a sense of overbearing self-worth or self-importance; having a feeling or assumption of one's superiority toward others

wise / prudent-  Having the ability to discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting; Exhibiting common sense. / exercising good judgment; wisdom in practical matters (such as “making a prudent investment”.)

            Arrogant, foolish men and women can at times stare right in the eyes of danger and not recognize it for what it is. That is the person scripture speaks of in the above verse and also in Proverbs 14:12 (“There is a way which seems right to a man and appears straight before him, but at the end of it is the way of death.”). The real danger is not what lies in front of you, but rather your inability to seek counsel to make wise decisions. No one except God himself knows everything that can be known. Those who feel they know all they need to know and trust their own instincts over the instincts of someone other than themselves are heading for a fall. 

            Those who exercise wisdom and prudence in their decision making are to be commended. They are not afraid to have an exchange of pertinent ideas and never concerned about discarding their ideas in favor of someone who may have been where you are going. Some folks, whether Christian or non-Christian, can be trusted and some cannot. We need to use spiritual discernment to determine whose advice we should listen to and whose we should not.

            Proverbs 19:20 - “Listen to counsel, receive instruction, and accept correction that you may be wise in the time to come.” Proverbs 15:22 - “Without consultation and wise advice, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they are established and succeed.” We can’t know everything, but if several trusted men or women of God pool their spiritual resources we have a greater chance of finding the mind of God regarding the matter. Matthew 7:7 - “Ask and keep on asking and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking and you will find; knock and keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you.” God wants to honor your requests and fulfill your wishes, but first we must exhibit the propensity to seek his wisdom and choose rightly based not on what we think we know but what God has revealed to us in his Word. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! 

Resources:www.thehub.com; www.biblegateway.com; The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language.

Bible Version Used: The Amplified Bible.

Taking a Walk Thru Proverbs

HONESTY vs. WICKEDNESS

“The godly are directed by honesty; the wicked fall beneath their load of sin. When the wicked die, their hopes die with them, for they rely on their own feeble strength.” – Proverbs 11:5, 7 New Living Translation

            In these last few verses Solomon has stressed the importance of ‘honesty’. Just what exactly IS honesty? Being honest has to do with one’s integrity. An honest person is genuine. They are truthful. They are sincere and of good reputation. They are also humble. _{(The complete definition is in the footnote section below)}  These are all traits attributable to Almighty God. So a person who is honest in all situations and at all times is displaying a godly characteristic.

            The wicked are not those who do the most heinous deeds known to man. A wicked person is one who is immoral and highly offensive. He or she is malicious and sinful. These are the characteristics of the evil one, Satan. So you see there are very clear lines drawn between the righteous and the unrepentant.  The godly proceed thru life with the power of God at their disposal at any and all times. The wicked only have “their own feeble strength” to rely on, therefore any hopes they may have will die with them for those who see no need to have their sins forgiven have no hope. 

            God is patient and kind, slow to anger, abounding in love and mercy _{(Exodus 34:6-7; Psalm 85:15 and Psalm 103:8)}.  However, there is a time when calling on God will be a futile gesture to those on the outside looking in. One day the hands of time will stop forever and the plan for man’s salvation shall come to a close. Woe to those who don’t surrender their hearts and will over to the creator of all life. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resources: www.biblegateway.comand the dictionary listed below.

HONESTY defined … 

1. Marked by or displaying integrity; upright: an honest lawyer.

2. Not deceptive or fraudulent; genuine: honest weight.

3. Equitable; fair: honest wages for an honest day's work.

4.a. Characterized by truth; not false: honest reporting.

b. Sincere; frank: an honest critique.

5.a. Of good repute; respectable.

b. Without affectation; plain: honest folk.

6. Virtuous; chaste.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016

Taking a Walk Thru Proverbs

YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU WHEN YOU GO

“Riches will not provide security in the day of wrath & judgment, but righteousness rescues from death.” – Proverbs 11:4 Amplified Bible

            There is no escape from death on the day of final accounting to God for those who don’t know God, regardless of how much money they’ve accumulated. Money has been classified by some as a necessary evil, but in truth it is nothing more than an element we use to provide for ourselves and our families housing, food, transportation, entertainment and so on. It is the love of money that is a sin. Accumulating without sharing is selfish and greedy. Being philanthropic for no other reason than you have the means and the willingness to do so is a wonderful blessing for the recipients. Doing it to get into God’s good graces is misinformed. Nothing besides surrendering our will to the Lord and living for him will gain us entrance into God’s heaven. We give up little to gain a lot. 

            Living an life that seeks assistance from no one is not only a lonely existence, but is foolhardy. We cannot make it in this life on our own. A person must check their pride at the door and be willing to step thru the portal of faith where God is waiting to comfort, guide and empower us to go boldly thru this life into the next without fear.

            The righteousness spoken of is what we are adorned with once we accept Christ’s death as payment for our multitude of sins. While not literally righteous, we are seen as positionally righteous by God because he then sees us thru a veil of Christ’s blood. Time is running out for the non-believer. It’s time for them to stop disbelieving and try seeing Christianity from a different perspective. It’s not do’s and don’ts, it’s living in the freedom that forgiveness provides. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! 

Resources: The Life Application Study Bible; MacArthur Study Bible; www.biblegateway.com.

Word for the Day

Word for the Day

Word for the Day

Word for the Day

Word for the Day

"Christianity has never been a list of DO's & DON'Ts.                  It's letting God live thru you."

Pastor Ralph Freda

Associate Pastor 

Church of Grace & Peace

Toms River, NJ