Taking a Walk Thru Proverbs

DON’T BLAME GOD

“The foolishness of man undermines his way [ruining whatever he undertakes]; Then his heart is resentful and rages against the Lord [for, being a fool, he blames the Lord instead of himself].” – Proverbs 19:3 Amplified Bible

            Mortal man doesn’t fully understand that which is fairly easy to understand. When an unfortunate event takes places either personally or on a grander scale, one of the first things man says comes in the form of a question: “Where was God? He could have kept this from happening.” Perhaps it’s a person’s cancer-riddled spouse or child. Perhaps it’s being scammed in some financial deal. Maybe it’s a car accident or getting let go from a job. It might be a devastating storm that takes lives and property. Never once does man consider it could be the consequences of some choice they had made. Even Christians, often feel the need to blame someone. Why not God? He has the power to keep anything bad from happening to us.  Check out the Gospel account of Christ’s crucifixion:  “In the same way, the chief priests, scribes, and elders mocked Him, saying, ‘He saved others, but He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel! Let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him. He trusts in God. Let God deliver Him now if He wants Him. For He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”… (Matthew 27:21-23)

            God didn’t save his own Son from death on a cross.  That’s because there was a specific purpose for that event to take place when it did. And there is a specific purpose for that which happens in your life and mine also. If you have the idea that once you become a Christian nothing bad will ever happen to you, you are sadly mistaken. Trials are sent our way as a means of initiating spiritual growth. They are used by God to expand our faith, which enhances our trust in the Almighty. 

            If an ill spouse that you’ve been praying for passes away, don’t get resentful or angry with God. He answered your prayers for healing, just not the way you wanted them answered. They shall be in heaven where they will never be sick again. God’s will is perfect. He knows what’s best and is asking us to trust him in that regard. So don’t blame God for anything. Don’t blame anyone or anything. Everything happens for a reason and God controls all things. It’s simple really, but we by pass the simple and try to complicate it. It doesn’t have to be that way. Accept the fact that we are human and far from perfect. And know that God shall never fail any of us. The wheels in heaven are turning right now preparing the exact solution you need for your situation. Be patient and know that your answer will come exactly when you need it most. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

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

Random Snippet

          "When we give a gift to someone their positive reaction feeds our ego and makes us feel good, but that's not the point in God’s economy. The important factor involved here is obedience to what your heart is telling you to do. Their reaction is irrelevant although it is obviously always nicer to receive a positive, appreciative response. Some folks may just say 'okay' and that’s it. Perhaps they’re embarrassed. Perhaps reserved. It makes no different. We are not of this world. The way God has us move about and do his will is foreign to this world. They may never understand, but that’s alright. The will of God has been done." RLKeller

Random Snippet

     How do we keep our behavior under God’s influence in the face of so many ungodly, unscrupulous, offensive people that cross our path each and every day. We must pray to see them thru God’s eyes. Our human prejudice gives us a battle as we strive to love all. Only with the help of God’s Holy Spirit can this be accomplished. RLKeller 

Taking a Walk Thru Proverbs

Know the Facts

“Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish.”  “Intelligent people are always ready to learn. Their ears are open for knowledge.”– Proverbs 18:13, 15 The Living Translation

            We come across many people today who speak before they engage their brain. They speak without knowing any actual facts, only unverified rumor. This may be inadmissible in a court of law, but the public places credence in it anyway. Perhaps it’s because we want to believe the worst in others. People do way too much assuming which can end up being a tenuous road to travel. 

            There are 3 very basic principles you can use to make a sound decision before responding: 1) Make sure you get all the facts before you answer; 2) Be open minded to what is being said to you and 3) Make sure to hear both sides of the story without allowing preconceived notions or unsubstantiated information taint your thought process. These principles all center on seeking additional information. Until that info is acquired we must keep our opinions to ourselves.

            Those who seek the truth will hold their tongue until fully informed. Those who shoot first and ask questions later end up with egg on their face more times than not. Until you know the facts you don’t really know anything at all. As Christians we must set the example for proper behavior when dealing with the dissemination of information. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resources:  The Life Application Study Bible; www.biblegateway.com; the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language. 

Taking a Walk Thru Proverbs

The Refining Pot

“The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests hearts.” – Proverbs 17:3The Amplified Bible

            Dross is the waste or scum that forms on the surface of molten metal, such as silver and gold.  The Amplified Version refers to the container that holds the metal as a refining pot. This is because the materials are being refined to their purest form while the dross is skimmed off the top. Trials allowed by God are ourrefining pot. 

            Trials reveal the depth of our faith and trust in Almighty God to deliver and sustain us in our lives regardless of our circumstances. Believers tend to put on a happy face when things are difficult, but there is no shame or lack of faith to say you are struggling. Those who truly care for you will not judge you but rather lend support. This is not a perfect life and no matter how long we’ve been living for the Lord we still have something new and important to learn from him.

            Live your life as if you are walking step by step with Christ himself, because by virtue of the Holy Spirit within you he literally is. He and only he knows the true motivation of our hearts. We must welcome trials for all things happen for a reason and understanding the reason isn’t required. Trusting God to take you thru it is.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resources:The Life Application Study Bible; www.biblegateway.com; the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language.

Dross(meaning)- Waste or impure matter; the scum that forms on the surface of molten metal as a result of oxidation.

Random Snippet

          I received a coffee mug for Christmas that said “Blessed & Grateful”. It is very appropriate because that’s exactly how I feel. If we focus on the things we have rather than the things we do not have, we will realize we are truly blessed in this life. I have need of nothing to be perfectly honest. I have much more than I deserve ... I am blessed and I know it. It humbles a man to realize God has blessed his life and for all that I am extremely grateful. How about you? RL Keller

Word for the Day - MERRY CHRISTMAS!

"It is not in the getting, but rather in the giving that the greatest blessing is received."

RL Keller 

Author / Speaker

 Bread of Life Ministries

Devotional for the Eve of Christmas Day

During this very special time of year I like to post this devotional from L.B. Cowman,                 “If Christ had not come.”

           A few years ago a striking Christmas card was published, with the title, “If Christ had not come.” It was founded upon our Savior’s words, “If I had not come.”(John 15:21-13) The card represented a clergyman falling into a short sleep in his study on Christmas morning and dreaming of a world into which Jesus had never come.

In his dream he found himself looking through his home, but there were no little stockings in the chimney corner, no Christmas bells or wreaths of holly, and no Christ to comfort, gladden and save. He walked out on the public street, but there was no church with its spire pointing to Heaven. He came back and sat down in his library, but every book about the Savior had disappeared.

            A ring at the doorbell, and a messenger asked him to visit a poor dying mother. He hastened with, the weeping child and as he reached the home he sat down and said, “I have something here that will comfort you.” He opened his Bible to look for a familiar promise, but it ended at Malachi, and there was no gospel and no promise of hope and salvation, and he could only bow his head and weep with her in bitter despair.

            Two days afterward he stood beside her coffin and conducted the funeral service, but there was no message of consolation, no word of a glorious resurrection, no open Heaven, but only “dust to dust, ashes to ashes,” and one long eternal farewell. He realized at length that “He had not come,” and burst into tears and bitter weeping in his sorrowful dream.

            Suddenly he woke with a start, and a great shout of joy and praise burst from his lips as he heard his choir singing in his church close by:

“O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold Him, born the King of Angels,
O come let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord.”

            Let us be glad and rejoice today, because “He has come.”And let us remember the annunciation of the angel, “Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people, for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:10-11)

    “Look! The virgin will conceive and bear a son, and they will call him Emmanuel,” which means “God with us.” (Matthew 1:23)

     “For a child has been born to us, a son has been given to us. He shoulders responsibility and is called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

About the author:  Lettie Burd Cowman, also known as L.B. Cowman, was an American writer and author of the devotional books Streams in the Desertand Springs in the Valley. Cowman published her books under the author name Mrs. Charles E. Cowman. Cowman worked as a pioneer missionary with her husband in Japan and China from 1901 to 1917, during which time they helped found the Oriental Missionary Society. She passed away on Easter Sunday, 1960 at the age of 90.

Word for the Day

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My Christian ex-mother-in-law once said "Truth is truth wherever you find it. So eat the meat and leave the bone."

That, my friends, is some good old fashioned North Carolina wisdom.

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Word for the Day

Taking a Walk Thru Proverbs

“People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives.”– Proverbs 16:2New Living Translation

            If and when we examine ourselves what standard should we use to do a proper assessment? It is very easy to deceive ourselves regarding our own righteousness. Especially if we compare ourselves to another human being.  Our standard must be something that never changes. Everything known to man changes in one way or another.  James 1:17 tells us,“Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changesor casts a shifting shadow.” Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” This can be said of no one else either this side of heaven or heaven itself.  Therefore, to discount these scriptures as accurate and truthful is to leave yourself without any proper measuring stick. 

            Too many people believe the way they live their lives is just fine.  They seem to use a criteria based on 1) if it hurts anyone else, 2) if it’s pleasurableand 3) if it’s what they really want to dothen it must be all right. Why include God? They aren’t doing anything wrong based on the criterion that always seems to them to be fair and practical. 

            In reality, an individual should ask themselves the following 3 questions: 1)Is this plan in harmony with God’s truth?2) Are my motives pure?3) Is my attitude pleasing to God? Now a non-believer will not be inclined to do this. To do that which seems pure and right in ones own eyes only shines a light on their own rash ignorance. They are undiscerning with circumstances that require a high level of discernment. Understand that God examines every motive of our hearts. If you wish to live a life that is pleasing to him that should mean something to you. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Resources: NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible; Reformation Study Bible; The Life Application Study Bible; www.biblegateway.com.

Word for the Day

Taking a Walk Thru Proverbs

“The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking; the mouth of the wicked overflows with evil words.” – Proverbs 15:28New Living Translation.

            It is never in the volume of words that wisdom lies, but rather in the quality of the words spoken that truly matters. For example, you can bless a grief stricken individual far more by saying nothing and simply holding their hand. It requires discernment. God knows what we all need, we do not. We need to rely on the Spirit’s leading so we say appropriate, even necessary words, not words solely for the sake of saying something. It is the heart that exudes the character traits of God that cares about the heart of another individual. 

           It is the wicked person that cares about no one but him or herself. They typically have no filters in place to monitor what they say. They blurt out anything their little, sin addled mind comes up with. Conversely, a righteous soul considers the weight of what they shall say prior to saying it.

           A believer’s sole mission in this life is to be an encourager and edifier to others. An encourager inspires another with hope, courage or confidence. It lends support when it is needed. An edifier specifically instructs another by encouraging intellectual, moral or spiritual improvement. It is our responsibility to do so because worldly minded, sin ravaged people are incapable of doing so. Ask the Lord to lead you in this endeavor and he will. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resources: www.biblegateway.com, The Reformation Study Bible, MacArthur Study Bible, the American Heritage Dictionary of the English language.

Now from the deepest depths of my random mind comes …

Sporadic Snippets… I have a tee shirt that says,“Dogs are my favorite people.” The more I’m around humans, the more I find my shirt to be true. … People can sure be jerky at times. With God’s help, we must keep from being a jerk ourselves while we seek to overlook the jerkiness in others. … The mean-spirited, intolerant behavior of man seems to be more and more prevalent in certain regions of the U.S. As believers we mustn’t allow ourselves to fall into that trap. It is a downward spiral, a whirlwind that can be inescapable, taking you to a desperate, depressing, and dangerous place both emotionally and psychologically. … How do people live without the Lord? …  

Note:  During the course of my day things cross my mind that I jot down. I hope you will find some benefit from these snippets. They are nothing more than random fragments of thought that I put down on paper.

Word for the Day

Just so none of you think I stopped writing devotionals, I have been working the last 17 days straight at 10 hours per day. Com'on retirement.I have obviously been filling the gap with brief snippets and inspirational quotes. I trust that you find these encouraging. My peak season should end sometime between now and Christmas. It looks like we'll be working thru this coming weekend so on and on it goes. Ain't nothin' but a thing. Love you all.

Word for the Day

THOUGHTS FROM A RANDOM MIND

Focus– To concentrate all your attention or energy on something. It can be said you are “drawing a bead on” something or “zeroing in on” something. It is the “center” of your attention. 

            We tend to fix our focus on many different things throughout life and God isn’t always one of them. We largely focus on problematic circumstances. Even though we are instructed to worry about nothing we focus on and over think our problems and the fixing of them. Check out these verses re: worry … “Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”– Philippians 4:6; “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?”– Matthew 6:25; “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his lifespan?”– Matthew 6:27; “And why do you worry about clothes? Consider how the lilies of the field grow: They do not labor or spin.”– Matthew 6:28; “Therefore do not worry, …”.– Matthew 6:31

            Why do we lose sight of God when we need him the most. He hasn’t gone anywhere. We’re the ones who moved, from Faith Lane to Doubt Drive. Our focus becomes blurred. Our troubles look more like insurmountable mountains instead of what they truly are, mere obstacles to be overcome … with the help of God. 

What is your focus locked in on?