Everyone Who Seeks Finds

It is not hard to recognize one who has spent extended time at a newsstand: his conversation overflows with the drama of current affairs. And, it is not hard to discern a person who has come from a sporting event, as their face reveals the outcome of the game. Likewise, people can tell when an individual has spent extended time seeking God. An imperturbable calm guards their heart, and their countenance is radiant with light, as with the morning dew of Heaven.
Beloved, to seek and find God is everything.

The Eternal Imprint

It is to our shame that, in our era, church services do not focus more on actually seeking God. Yes, we do honor God and thank Him for what He has done. We hear a sermon and, perhaps, enjoy a time of fellowship with others. Yet only rarely do we depart a congregational meeting with the fire of eternity reflecting off our faces. Instead, we fill up with information about God without actually drawing near to Him. Most of us are still largely unaware of God's presence.

While we rightly need church programs, fellowship, and times for ministry training, we must not automatically assume that religious indoctrination is the same thing as actually seeking God. And while I am often blessed listening to contemporary Christian music, even godly entertainment is no substitute for my own worship encounter with God.

Therefore, let us ask ourselves: Is there a place and a time set apart in our spiritual lives where we can give ourselves to seeking God? What if the Spirit of God actually desired to manifest Himself during our worship service? Would the Lord have to wait until we finished our scheduled program? I respect and recognize the need for order; we need the scheduled times for announcements and the defined purposes that currently occupy Sunday mornings, but have we made room for God Himself?

"He Knew Not That His Face Shone"

When we first determine to draw near to God, it may seem we have little to show for our efforts. Yet, be assured: even the thought of seeking God is a step toward our transformation. Still, we often do not notice the first signs of our spiritual renewal, for as we grow increasingly more aware of God, we simultaneously grow increasingly less aware of ourselves. Though we may not see that we are changing, others certainly will.

Consider the experience of Moses. The Lord's servant had ascended Mount Sinai, and there stood before the living God. The eyes of Moses were actually filled with God's sun-like glory; his ears actually heard the audible sound of the Lord's voice. Yet, when Moses returned to the people, the Bible says he "did not know that the skin of his face shone" (Exodus 34:29). When the Israelites saw the fire of God's glory on the face of Moses, "they were afraid to come near him" (v. 30). They saw he had been with God.

The Church needs more people who have, like Moses, climbed closer to the Almighty, people who have stood in the sacred fire of God's presence. Instead, we exhaust ourselves arguing over peripheral doctrines or styles of music in our song services.
Perhaps there are benefits to constantly debating the nuances of our doctrines, but are we not more truly thirsting for the reality of God?

Our goal is to, day by day, draw nearer to God. He has commanded that we come boldly to His throne of grace. To receive the help we need, we must arrive at His throne. Remember also that our confidence comes from Christ Himself. He promised,
"Everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened" (Matthew 7:8).

We are seeking a lifetime of increasing devotion, though it may certainly begin in a season of drawing near. In spite of natural and spiritual obstacles, as we persevere, the Lord assures us, "How much more will your Father who is in Heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!" (Matthew 7:11).
If we do not cease seeking and knocking, we will discover unfolding degrees of intimacy with God. Even now, He's drawing near. The Lord promises, "Everyone who...seeks finds" (Matthew 7:8).

Are You Ready for 2010

We wish you a very happy New Year from the entire Fraticelli family and Women of Destiny Life Group

(Prov 15:33 MSG) Fear-of-GOD is a school in skilled living—first you learn humility, then you experience glory.

This is the last message I will send out this week and this year. Entering into a new year is always a special time for me and I try to make it a special time for my husband and my close friends. We take the time to reflect back over the past year and to pray for vision for the next. I often talk about God’s desired end for our lives, or put another way, fulfilling our life’s purpose.

When the Father begins to reveal things to us about our future it gives us vision (which is more insight than it is sight). Once we are equipped with Godly vision we have a ruler by which we can judge every decision. This is very important, because in many respects, our life is a grand-sum-total of our decisions. We are where we are today because of the decisions we made in the past and we will be wherever we end up tomorrow because of the decisions we make today.

Paul said, “Everything is permissible for me–but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me–but I will not be mastered by anything” (1st Cor 6:12 NIV). Another translation of that same verse reads: “Just because something is technically legal doesn't mean that it's spiritually appropriate. If I went around doing whatever I thought I could get by with, I'd be a slave to my whims.”

Vision gives us the foundation for disciplined decisions. The quality of our decisions is often contingent upon the quality of our information. Once God reveals His plan for our lives, we can make quality decisions that will direct us towards our destiny.

With that in mind, please take a few moments to ask yourself some soul-searching and course-checking questions. As you close out 2009, ask yourself:

• Am I making progress?
• Did I accomplish in 2009 what I set out to?
• Where am I in my overall life’s plan and more importantly, God’s plan for my life?
• Am I prepared for 2010?
• Do I have a plan to make time to receive and lay out the plan?
• Am I leading my family the way that I should?

I know we are all busy, but I pray that you take the time to slow down long enough to consider some of these questions with yourself and God. If you are not careful you can rush your way through days, weeks, months, and even years without ever slowing down long enough to take self-inventory.

The transition into a new year affords us an opportunity to look back, in order that we might look forward. The last verse that we will read in 2009, from this current series, is very appropriate. In this verse Solomon tells that the fear of the Lord actually enables us to live a skilled life, and that is what we are looking for. We want to skillfully maneuver our way through life’s challenges.

Solomon also tells us that the first thing we will learn with God is humility – as He consistently reminds us that we cannot do it all ourselves – and after we are reverent and humble, He allows us to experience His glory. It’s awesome to me that the last words from the last scripture that I share in this series for the year are “experience glory”. I am now ready for 2010 and I pray you are as well.

Father, I look back to look forward. I thank You for everything I experienced in 2009: victories, failures, and all. I slow down over the upcoming days and weeks long enough to hear from You for vision for 2010. I know that I will not arrive at my overall destination in 2010, but I also know that there are things that You desire for me to accomplish that will take me incrementally closer to Your expected end for my life. As You reveal to me the things You desire for me to do in 2010, I declare, by faith, that I will lay them out as goals, establish plans for bring them to pass, and then put the appropriate action behind the plans to bring them to completion. As I do, I will be that much closer to becoming the person that You desire for me to be and to my overall destiny. I skillfully maneuver my way through 2010 and beyond and I do it all BY FAITH! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Are you willing to be Developed?

(Prov 15:32 MKJV) He who refuses instruction despises his own soul, but he who hears reproof gets understanding.

This morning we continue our current series. This verse flows in the same vein as the last. In yesterday’s message Solomon told us to be open to constructive criticism. Why? Why would, or should, someone willingly submit themselves to critical feedback? The obvious answer is so that they might grow.

Those that are serious about developing as a person and a believer and about maximizing their purpose and potential in life before their die, will need the feedback of God and others.

However, Solomon teaches us this morning that NOT everyone will be open to that type of feedback, because everyone is not serious about their development. People that don’t want to be developed or disciplined are people that despise their own soul; they don’t have a true desire grow.

I have met many with this laissez-faire attitude and I when ask them about what they want to do with their lives, what they want to become, what impact they want to make, or what their life’s purpose is, I often get answers like, “I don’t know,” “I don’t care,” “We’ll see,” or “Whatever happens, happens.”

But for the rest of us, for those that want to live and not just exist, we must be willing to receive and respond to the feedback we get from God and others about our progress or lack thereof.

For the word translated as “instruction” in this text, other translations use the words, “discipline,” or “correction.” The actual Hebrew word Solomon used is mucar. Mucar occurs 50 times in the Bible, mainly in Proverbs. One of the major purposes of the wisdom literature (the books of Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, (some) Psalms, and Song of Solomon) of the Bible is to teach God’s wisdom and to provide mucar.

Mucar is a form of discipline that comes in verbal instruction and warning, so as to keep the person who is being taught from experiencing the repercussions of bad decisions.

Mucar teaches a believer how live correctly in the fear of the Lord and we would become wise in learning from God’s (and His people), heeding the warnings without actually having to live through the harvest of bad seeds. This type of Biblical instruction is training for life, but it is not always something we want to hear.

No one likes to hear correcting or piercing words, but the truth is that we all need them.

We need to be corrected when we are on the wrong road. We all stray from time to time and we ought to be thankful to God that He takes the time to speak to us in prayer and to send people our way that will help to get us back on His desired path for our lives.

So what does this mean to you? It means that you should love yourself enough to want to be discipled by God and His people, however, you must realize that true discipleship requires correction and discipline. Don’t fight the process. If you hate discipline you actually hate yourself. The more you allow yourself to be developed the more you open yourself up to the possibility of becoming the person the Father desires for your to be.

The space between the person you are today and the person you desire to become will be spanned faster once you determine to grow by any means necessary; discipline included.

Father, I love You and I love myself. I love myself enough to want to grow and develop into the best me I can be. I don’t have a nonchalant attitude about my life. I am determined to live my life on purpose. I want to maximize my purpose and potential before I die. Therefore, I declare, by faith, that I will submit to the process of discipleship. I will allow myself to be discipled by You and by those You have assigned to teach me. I won’t fight the process, but will rather submit to it. Even when the process is painful, and I need to hear things I don’t want to hear, I will submit to it because I know that You and those You send my way are there to help and not to hurt. Since I am willing to allow You and others to make a mark in me, I know that in the end I will be able to leave a mark in this world that will not be erased! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Receiving Constructive Criticism

This is my friend Cindy who I can trust to always give me Constructive Criticism that is so appreciate.

(Prov 15:31 NASB) He whose ear listens to the life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.

I trust that you enjoyed your Christmas. I pray that it was a great time of fellowship, family, and fun. We will pick up this morning where we left off in our current series. In this verse Solomon – the wisest man in the land – teaches us that those who are wise are so, in part, because of their willingness to learn from others, and not just those who are like-minded. Yes, the wise have an ability (and even a willingness) to dialogue with, and learn from, people with both supporting and opposing views. Most people welcome supporting opinions, but Solomon tells us that it is wise to open yourself up to different perspectives and quite possibly even criticism.

The New Living Translation of this verse brings this point out clearly, as it reads: “If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise.” One of the main reasons why we should welcome constructive criticism is that sometimes the person with the opposing view is actually right. If we would be honest with ourselves we would admit that we are sometimes (if not often) wrong!

From time to time I listen to an old sermon or look over old life group teaching outlines and I realize that while I was completely sincere as I shared what I thought were timeless truths, but time and experience have taught me that I was sincerely wrong. I would have never realized the error of my ways had I not opened myself up to honest and enlightening dialogue with people of opposing opinions.

The wise are so because they know that they don’t know it all. The wise are ever learning and ever eager to learn more. Back in chapter 9 Solomon said: “Anything you say to the wise will make them wiser. Whatever you tell the righteous will add to their knowledge” (9:9).

Don’t ever get to the point where you are no longer teachable. It’s dangerous to think that you are always right and that others are always wrong; that’s a recipe for disaster. And don’t be quick in attempting to destroy those who oppose your views, because from time to time, you will find out that you are the one of the wrong side of the issue.

This reminds me of a book I finished a couple of weeks ago. The book spoke of the lives of four Leaders. All four have held leadership positions in a very powerful organization and all four did so with different perspectives and measures of success. The book mentions a point, a few of years ago, when things in this Organization were not going as well as they are today, when a CEO who had already done reorganize this organization twice previously and was on his way to his third, wrote an article that criticized the leaders in charge and their handling of the finances of this company. While one of the Leaders chronicled in the book welcomed the criticism and even reached out to the Leader of the company, to let him know that his criticism had not fallen on deaf ears, another of the District manager admitted that he could not stand reading the entire article.

Taking criticism is not easy, but it can prove extremely beneficial.

So what does this mean to you? It means that your character should be like that of the wise man who is willing to be reproved, if it means that he will learn something from it. Don’t close yourself off to people of opposing opinions. If you are willing to have open dialogue with a person of an opposing view then at least one, if not both of you, will benefit from the exchange.

Father, I thank You for the sobering reminder this morning that I do not know it all. I welcome constructive criticism and I enjoy open dialogue with people of both like and opposing views and opinions. The more I converse who people of different perspectives, the more I broaden my perspective and the wiser I become. I want to be the man/woman You have called, destined, designed, and desired for me to be. I declare, by faith, that I will participate in the process. I will learn all that I can, from all those that I can, as long as I can, so that I can pour into others all that You desire to pour into me! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

This is the last message I will send out this week. I am enjoying a special time with my family and I pray you are enjoying time with yours as well I pray that the Father would give you His grace and peace during this Christmas season.

I want to share a poem I wrote many years ago entitled, "The True Christmas Story." I pray it blesses you.

It started in the Garden of Eden, one man and one woman, that's all,
They walked with God and He with them, but this was before the fall,
They had dominion and authority; they ruled and reigned with strength,
But because of the original sin, all of their power and glory just left.

God judged the serpent, the woman, and the man, His judgment was quick and true,
They were expelled from the garden and they lost His righteous virtue,
An un-crossable gulf was created, between both God and man,
We then needed a repairer of the breech, someone to bridge the gulf's span.

In the meanwhile God setup a shadow, a system not truly His best,
It started with a man named Abraham; the Holy Spirit would become their guest,
He lived in the Holy of Holies, in the center of the temple, alone,
Man remained fallen; God remained ruling, as He sat upon the throne.

The High Priest could only visit God's presence, on the Day of Atonement, once a year,
The veil separated God's Spirit from everyone else and it stood without a tear,
But God's eternal plan was still in motion and it would begin to manifest one day,
When the angel Gabriel came to a young virgin, whose name was Mary.

She became with-child by the Spirit, a supernatural event for sure,
He was born just like you and I, a human life He chose to endure,
He walked the earth a sinless man, with pure blood running through His veins,
They hung Him high and stretched Him wide, my sin He would sustain.

They brought Him down and buried Him in someone else's tomb,
satan thought he had won, but this death would be his doom,
Three nights and three days would have to pass by,
He's alive! He's not there! Would be the woman's cry!

The veil was torn from top to bottom and the Holy Spirit was released,
So that we could be Born-Again and our old man could be deceased,
And that's what Christmas is all about, so please don't miss it my friend,
This is the Christmas message and I will preach it until the end.

Salvation came to the world, through a cross on Calvary,
He now shines ever-so-brightly, through us, for all to see,
But He could not have died a man, if He had not been born a child I say,
So please remember this as you and your family celebrate on the upcoming Christmas Day.

Positive Change

This is Debra


(Prov 15:30 GNB) Smiling faces make you happy, and good news makes you feel better.

This morning we continue our current series In this verse Solomon tells us something that is both simple and profound. There is no deep revelation in realizing that smiles are contagious or that good news has a positive effect on people, but the more you think about it, the more you can see how God can use you as an agent of positive change in the earth.

The Father expects us to be the light of the world (that shines in the midst of darkness, see Mat 5:14) and the salt of the earth (that serves as preserver of our environment, see Mat 5:13). However, we cannot be light and salt if all people ever see in us is doom and gloom. Peter said, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1st Peter 3:15), but no one will ever ask to you give them a reason for your hope if they cannot SEE it.

If all others ever see in you is problems, then they will never come to you, because the world is full of problems. They need to see something in you that they do not have. They need to be drawn by the difference in you.

The lost are looking for light, salt, and hope and God is looking for men and women who will sign up to be just that for Him in the earth; agents of Godly change, vessels of Godly hope, conduits of eternal love.

I was drawn to the person who led me to Christ Debra because of her beaming countenance; I always arrived with a frown on my face and a negative attitude in my heart. Debra was already positive, smiling, and ready for the day. I remember thinking to myself, “What is wrong with this lady?” But I could definitely tell that she was different. She had something that I did not have and when it came time for me to search for God, I did not have to look far. I found God through Debra because she was willing to be the light I needed in a dark time in my life. She was the conduit through which God exposed His love towards me

Debra and I are still friends to this day and she is still as positive now as she was then. She has not changed, but I sure have. I have become for others what she was for me. I have come across countless people who have told me how much they appreciated the fact that I always carried myself in a positive way. I arrived at our office each morning with a smile on my face, a spring in my step, and a song in my heart. Why? Because my morning starts ay 8am and by then I had been up for hours. I would get up at 5:30am, pray, write Today’s Word, and then prepare for the day. By the time I arrived at work I was on fire and ready to be used of God for His glory.

This enabled me to make the positive impact in the lives of others that the Father desired for me to make. The Father was able to use me to minister to many of those that I worked with, because I allowed Him to shine through me. Will you to the same today?

So what does this mean to you ? It means that when a person exudes God’s goodness – in both verbal and non-verbal ways – God is able to reach others through them. Allow God's light and love to flow through your face and lips today.

The Father can make a profound impact in the lives of others when You submit yourself to be used of Him as an agent of positive change.

Father, I know that I represent You daily. Therefore, I declare, right now, by faith, that I will represent You in a positive way. I allow Your light and Your love to flow through my face, heart, and lips. I will maintain a smile on my face, a spring in my step, a song in my heart, and a positive Word in my lips. I am an agent of positive change. I am here to BE a blessing and I will BE just that today and every day. Use me Father to share Your goodness with all those I come in contact with! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Prayer

(Prov 15:29 NIV) The LORD is far from the wicked but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

This morning we continue our current series, Solomon has already made it clear, in several ways, that the Father is against the ways of the wicked. Jehovah loves the sinner, but He hates the sin, and since the sinner refuses to enter into covenant with Him and walk in His ways, Jehovah stands by with loving arms, waiting for them to do so.

What Solomon points out here is that while Jehovah is waiting for the sinner, He is NOT inclined to answer their prayers. Earlier in this chapter, in the eighth verse, Solomon said: “The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but He delights in the prayers of the upright.” The Lord won’t even accept the sacrifice of those who are not in covenant with Him. It is not because He is mean; but rather because they have refused to enter into relationship (communion) with Him.

This is the choice of the creation, not the creator. It is not God’s will for any man to perish. He desires for all to repent and enter relationship with Him (2nd Peter 3:9). But unfortunately, many will not and it will not be because of God. Many simply reject God and while they do, He is resigned to stand by with loving arms and a willing heart, desiring for them to turn towards Him. Since the wicked has chosen to reject God he has no right to receive answers to prayer. Peter reiterated this in the New Testament when he said,

“The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and His ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns His face against those who do evil” (1st Peter 3:12).

So what does this mean to you? A great deal. The message here is not negative at all. While the Father does not hear the prayer of the sinner, He will hear yours. Since you have Jesus as your Lord, you are in covenant with Jehovah and you have a right to answered prayer. Let me share something with you that Jesus told His disciples just before He left them that will drive this home. As Jesus prepared the disciples for His impending departure, they grew more and more concerned. Jesus had been their leader, guide, friend, and source for over three years. Jesus made sure they had everything they needed. Once He left, who was going to fill the void? Jesus knew their concerns and said:

“At that time you won't need to ask Me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and He will grant your request because you use My name. You haven't done this before. Ask, using My name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy” (John 16:23,24).

Let’s take a closer look:

1. Jesus told the disciples that they could make their petitions directly to the Father. Jesus had done all the praying to the point, but He now expected the disciples to pray for themselves; no mediator required.

2. Jesus wanted the disciples to use His name. When we pray to the Father, in the name of Jesus, we are reminding the Father that we are coming to Him directly, because of the relationship we have with Him THROUGH His Son.

3. They had not done this before. There had been prayers recorded all throughout the Bible, but no one had ever prayed to Jehovah in the name of Jesus and Jesus was establishing a new form of prayer, one that was sure to work. This surety would give the disciples confidence when they prayed.

4. They would receive and have abundant joy. The Father is not wicked. He does not want to force us to ask for things, only to refuse them. He is not looking to play games. He is a loving, caring, and sharing heavenly Father that desires to bless His children (those in covenant with Him) so that their joy could be complete. Your heavenly Father wants you to have and enjoy life IN HIM!


Father, I thank You for hearing my prayers. I thank You for inclining Your ear to me daily. I have accepted Your Son Jesus as my Lord and I am in covenant relationship with You. I pray to You, in the name of Jesus, and You hear my prayers. Not only do You hear them, but You answer them and manifest Yourself to me daily. Thank You father for being there for me when I call. I pray with confidence, because I know that my prayers are heard and answered by my loving, caring, and sharing heavenly Father! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

You and Your Words are One!

(Prov 15:28 GW) The heart of a righteous person carefully considers how to answer, but the mouths of wicked people pour out a flood of evil things.

This morning we continue our current series In this verse Solomon goes back to addressing the importance of our words. We have already learned that the power of death and life are in our tongue (Prov 18:21), that our words indicate the quality and content of our heart (Mat 12:33-35), that we will have to give account for every idle word that we have spoken (Mat 12:36), and that we will either be condemned or justified by our words (Mat 12:37). Needless to say, our words are pretty important.

I believe that what Solomon is getting at is the fact that the Godly have received the revelation of the importance of their words, and because of this revelation, they carefully consider what they are going to say BEFORE they say it. Solomon benefitted from and took every opportunity to exalt God’s wisdom and he knew that this wisdom could be communicated through spoken words. That being the case, we can see why words are too precious a resource to be wasted. It behooves us, then, to study “how to answer” what we must answer, so that God’s wisdom can flow from our lips.

In the second verse of this same chapter Solomon said, “Knowledge flows like spring water from the wise; fools are leaky faucets, dripping nonsense.” While the wise give careful thought to their words, the foolish fail to consider them altogether. They say the first thing that comes across their minds and before they know it their words have opened the door to trouble. Like an animal who repeatedly walks into a trap or a child who repeatedly makes the same mistake, so is the foolish man who allows his words to ensnare him over and over again.

James said: “All of us do many wrong things. But if you can control your tongue, you are mature and able to control your whole body” (3:2). In other words, if you can control your tongue, you can control your life. The righteous, Godly, and mature believer does not underestimate the importance of his or her words; they place the right level of emphasis on the thought behind what they are to say, to whom, for what purpose, and with what goal. The foolish and wicked, on the other hand, is either ignorant of the importance of words or he disregards the Godly instruction telling him to keep his tongue; the result is that he endlessly babbles away, never truly giving careful thought to what he says. Sooner or later his words will catch up with him and he will pay the price for the words of his mouth.

So what does this mean to you ? It means that your words are important because you and your words are one. Think about the foolish things you have said in the past and then think about those who heard your foolishness. When they heard the foolish things you said, did they think, “Wow, those words are foolish,” or did they think, “Wow, he (or she) is foolish”? You know that the latter is the right answer. If you say foolish things you will be considered a foolish person. If you say wise things you will be considered a wise person. That being the case, you ought to give careful thought to what you say.

You can’t escape your words and they can’t escape you.

Father, I know that my words and me are inextricably linked. Therefore, I declare, by faith, that I give careful thought to everything I say. I say what I mean and I mean what I say. I only allow things that are pleasing to You, and that will edify others, to proceed from my mouth. I only say those things that I desire to come to pass. I think before I speak, because I know that my words expose the quality and content of my heart, that my words will always be linked to me, and that I will always be linked to them. Thank You Father, for helping me to control my tongue! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Resisting Pride

(Prov 15:25 MSG) GOD smashes the pretensions of the arrogant; he stands with those who have no standing.

This morning we continue our current series, In this verse Solomon reiterates an ever-important message to the believer and that is: God is against the proud. Even the best of us can cross the thin line from confidence to arrogance from time to time. As believers we must maintain a balance between God's desire for us to maintain a healthy opinion of ourselves (a positive self-image) with our reliance on Him. While God is not pleased when we have a low self-esteem, He is even more upset when one of His children take their self-worth to the opposite extreme and operate in pride.

Back in chapter three Solomon said something that was so important that both Peter and James in the New Testament repeated it. They all said, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble" (see Prov 3:34, 1st Peter 5:5, James 4:6). Read that again. This is not saying that God simply dislikes the proud. No, this is saying that He will take an active position against them. God will go out of His way to ensure that the proud are brought down.

Our text tells us that He will smash the pretentions of the arrogant. Why is Jehovah so vehemently against the proud? It is because the proud have taken the position that they can do what they do with their own ability. The proud put themselves above God; they put their own importance and excellence above Jehovah. The proud are saying that the creation can operate without the Creator and the Creator takes issue with that.

Job crossed this line and it caused Jehovah to ask him a series of questions. God asked, "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you know so much. Who kept the sea inside its boundaries as it burst from the womb, and as I clothed it with clouds and wrapped it in thick darkness? I said, 'This far and no farther will you come. Here your proud waves must stop!' Have you ever commanded the morning to appear and caused the dawn to rise in the east? Do you realize the extent of the earth? Tell Me about it if you know! Where does light come from, and where does darkness go? Where is the path to the source of light? Where is the home of the east wind? Who makes the rain fall on barren land, in a desert where no one lives? Can you direct the movement of the stars? Can you direct the sequence of the seasons? Do you know the laws of the universe?" That's just an excerpt from Job 38, but I believe you get the point. We all need God. Only the proud, in their arrogance, believe that they don't.

Solomon also tells us in this verse that God will stand with those who have no standing. The original language (Hebrew) actually refers to widows here. A widow, in the Old Testament, represented a person in desolation and quite possibly despair. A woman without a husband or sons stood all alone, vulnerable to attacks. But God makes it clear that He would protect them. Jehovah would establish a hedge of protection for them that could not be penetrated. Moses said,

"God makes sure orphans and widows are treated fairly, takes loving care of foreigners by seeing that they get food and clothing" (Deut 10:18).

So what does this mean to you ? Two things:

1) You never want to get to the point where you think you don't need God, and

2) Even when you feel all alone, your heavenly Father will be there for you, to protect you and keep you all harm.

Father, I thank You for the reminder this morning. I develop and maintain a positive self-image. I will never allow myself to have a low self-esteem, but I will also never get to the point where I think I don't need You. You are the source of my strength. You are the strength of my life. I need You, I rely on You, and I walk with You every day of my life. Even when I am forsaken by others, You are there for me. You are my shield, my protection, my strong tower, my fortress, my God and I trust in You. I resist pride and I look to You for protection, power, and peace! In Jesus' name. Amen!

Being a Blessing to Your Community

(Prov 15:27 ESV) Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live.

This morning we continue our current series Yesterday Solomon told about the uncompromising position God takes against those who devise evil plans. This morning he talks about those who allow the evil plans to give birth to evil deeds. More specifically, those who allow greed to cause them to seek gain unjustly.

The Lord, through Solomon, tells us that this person—who crossed the line from ambition to greed and who accepts bribes or anything else required to make a quick buck—brings trouble upon his entire household. The word used here for “household” is actually more akin to “community” in today’s language.

The Message Bible brings this out, it reads: “A greedy and grasping person destroys community; those who refuse to exploit live and let live.” Not only does greed destroy a man and his family, but the unscrupulous practices performed in the pursuit of illicit riches can destroy an entire community.

I grew up in Maui Hawaii It is no secret that there was widespread corruption within the Police Department. I personally knew of men connected to the mob who paid off police officers and I knew of occasions in which drug dealers from my neighborhood were robbed by the officers who were supposed to arrest them. These officers had sworn to protect and serve our community, but some allowed greed to overtake them. Their greed for unjust gain brought trouble upon their own households and our entire community.

Back in chapter one Solomon said, “Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money; it robs them of life” (1:19). Today we have learned that it not only robs them of life, but it also robs the community. When someone exploits others, without any sense of personal integrity or accountability, it deteriorates the moral fabric of the community. And for what?

In chapter 10 Solomon told us that “tainted wealth has no lasting value” (10:2). The Father is not against His children prospering, but He is against us pursuing prosperity the wrong way. In chapter 28 Solomon said, “A greedy man stirs up dissension, but he who trusts in the LORD will prosper” (28:25). When you honor God in all your ways you are able to prosper—physically, socially, psychologically, and financially—without causing dissension, discord, and strife.

So what does this mean to you ? It means that the Father expects you to be an upstanding citizen. Not only does Jehovah want you to be a blessing to your immediate family, but He also wants you to be a blessing to your community (your sphere of influence). Bloom where you have been planted. Shine as light in the midst of darkness. Allow the Father’s love to flow through you in the midst of hatred, envy, strife, and discord. Be a source of hope in the midst of despair. Be an example of integrity and righteousness in the midst of unscrupulous practices. Bottom-line: be different. Be the person the Father desires for you to be and you will draw others to Him!

Father, I thank You for blessing me to prosper YOUR WAY. I don’t pursue things, I pursue You. When I do things Your way, I find that things pursue me. I can prosper physically (with health), socially (with relationships), psychologically (with internal peace), and financially (with enough to give, save, and spend), because I do things Your way. I am a blessing to all those I come in contact with and I am an asset to my community. Use me Father to be a blessing to someone today. Use me to draw others to You. Use me for Your glory! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Biblical Meditation

(Prov 15:26 NIV) The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, but those of the pure are pleasing to him.

This morning we continue our current series, In this verse Solomon reminds us that we serve a God who looks past our outward appearance (that may fool others) and interrogates the content and quality of our heart (see 1st Sam 16:7).

Where this translation uses the word “detests,” other translations use the word “hate.” The Father hates the practice of those who sit around devising evil schemes all day. Why? Because they have perverted the power of meditation. Jehovah gave us an imagination so that we could use it as a tool to walk by faith.

In the Book of Psalms Solomon’s father David wrote: “Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law does he meditate day and night” (Ps 1:1,2).

Joshua shared with us something Jehovah told him as he prepared to lead the nation of Israel into the several battles that would be required to conquer Canaan. I call it, “The formula for Godly success.” It reads:

“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success” (Joshua 1:8).

These two passages, along with the many others that support them, drive home the power of meditation.

The world has been attempting to tap into this power lately with teachings on positive thinking, silent meditation, and etc. Why? Because they realize the fact that meditation is powerful. If you meditate on something long enough it will get down in your spirit. Once it does, it will become a reality to you, on the inside, well before it actually manifests itself in the natural.

In other words, when you truly meditate something, when the image of it becomes so real to you on the inside that you literally see yourself becoming it, then what happens is that you literally “receive” it in your heart well before you ever “see” it in your hands. This is how we are to walk by faith.

When we meditate the scriptures we start to imagine ourselves as the victors and not the victims, the winners and not the losers, the head and not the tail, above only and not beneath. We see ourselves the way God desires for us to see ourselves and our meditation will give birth to thoughts, ideas, plans, goals, vision, and etc.

When you understand this you realize why worry is a sin. Worry is a form of negative meditation. When you worry you develop an image of failure in your heart so strong that it becomes a reality to you, and your inner image takes you down the road of bringing the failure to pass.

God expects us to use the power of meditation, the power of developing an image on the inside of us, to help develop faith (not fear), hope (not despair), and belief (not doubt).

This takes me back to our text. Can you see why the Lord detests the practice of those who use this power to devise evil schemes? Why sit around all day and plan to do wrong? Why devise wicked imaginations? This is obviously NOT pleasing to God and those who do – who use the power of meditation for evil instead of good – are people that can’t help but cause strife.

So what does this mean to you? It means that you are who you THINK that you are. You will become who you SEE yourself as in your future. Don’t use the power of meditation for evil; use it the way the Father intended for it to be used. Meditate God’s Word, develop a prosperous self-image, and your life will change from the inside out!

Father, I thank You for Your Word and I obey it! I meditate Your Word day and night. I get Your Word down in my spirit so strong that I truly believe that all things are possible for me, because I walk with You. If you are for me, then I know that You are bigger than the entire world against me. You are on my side and there is nothing that I cannot do when I am walking with You. I see myself as You desire for me to see myself. I align my opinion of me with Your opinion of me and my Biblical meditation gives birth to thoughts, ideas, plans, goals, and vision. I walk by faith and not by sight! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Start With What You Have, Not What You Don't Have

God has already given you what you need to begin to create your future. Yet most of us have found ourselves saying, "If only I had this...if only this were different...if only I had more money, then I could do what God wants me to do," all the while ignoring the seeds that God has planted within us.

People always overstate the importance of things they don't have. God will never ask you for something you can't give Him. He wants you to start with what He has given you.

Don't let what you cannot do keep you from doing what you can do. Prolonged idleness paralyzes initiative. To the vacillating mind, everything is impossible because it seems so. Do not wait for extraordinary circumstances to do good—use ordinary situations. We don't need more strength, ability or greater opportunity. What we need is to use what we have.

"The lure of the distant and the difficult is deceptive. The great opportunity is where you are," said John Burroughs. What you can do now is the only influence you have over your future. True greatness consists of being great in little things.

Don't grumble because you don't have what you want; be thankful you don't get what you deserve. "'We must do something' is a unanimous refrain. 'You begin' is the deadening reply," said Walter Dwight.

No person can ever be happy until he has learned to use what he has, and not worry over what he does not have. Happiness will never come to those who fail to appreciate what they already have. Most people make the mistake of looking too far ahead for things close by.

You can never get much of anything done unless you go ahead and do it before you are ready. No one ever made a success of anything by first waiting until all conditions were "just right." The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 11:4 (LB), "If you wait for perfect conditions, you'll never get anything done."

Don't waste time in doubts and fears about what you don't have; spend yourself in the task before you, knowing that the right performance of this hour's duties will be the best preparation for the years that follow it. "Grow where you are planted. Begin to weave, and God will give the thread," (German Proverb).

Trusting God

Resisting Pride

(Prov 15:25 MSG) GOD smashes the pretensions of the arrogant; he stands with those who have no standing.

This morning we continue our current series, In this verse Solomon reiterates an ever-important message to the believer and that is: God is against the proud. Even the best of us can cross the thin line from confidence to arrogance from time to time. As believers we must maintain a balance between God's desire for us to maintain a healthy opinion of ourselves (a positive self-image) with our reliance on Him. While God is not pleased when we have a low self-esteem, He is even more upset when one of His children take their self-worth to the opposite extreme and operate in pride.

Back in chapter three Solomon said something that was so important that both Peter and James in the New Testament repeated it. They all said, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble" (see Prov 3:34, 1st Peter 5:5, James 4:6). Read that again. This is not saying that God simply dislikes the proud. No, this is saying that He will take an active position against them. God will go out of His way to ensure that the proud are brought down.

Our text tells us that He will smash the pretentions of the arrogant. Why is Jehovah so vehemently against the proud? It is because the proud have taken the position that they can do what they do with their own ability. The proud put themselves above God; they put their own importance and excellence above Jehovah. The proud are saying that the creation can operate without the Creator and the Creator takes issue with that.

Job crossed this line and it caused Jehovah to ask him a series of questions. God asked, "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you know so much. Who kept the sea inside its boundaries as it burst from the womb, and as I clothed it with clouds and wrapped it in thick darkness? I said, 'This far and no farther will you come. Here your proud waves must stop!' Have you ever commanded the morning to appear and caused the dawn to rise in the east? Do you realize the extent of the earth? Tell Me about it if you know! Where does light come from, and where does darkness go? Where is the path to the source of light? Where is the home of the east wind? Who makes the rain fall on barren land, in a desert where no one lives? Can you direct the movement of the stars? Can you direct the sequence of the seasons? Do you know the laws of the universe?" That's just an excerpt from Job 38, but I believe you get the point. We all need God. Only the proud, in their arrogance, believe that they don't.

Solomon also tells us in this verse that God will stand with those who have no standing. The original language (Hebrew) actually refers to widows here. A widow, in the Old Testament, represented a person in desolation and quite possibly despair. A woman without a husband or sons stood all alone, vulnerable to attacks. But God makes it clear that He would protect them. Jehovah would establish a hedge of protection for them that could not be penetrated. Moses said,

"God makes sure orphans and widows are treated fairly, takes loving care of foreigners by seeing that they get food and clothing" (Deut 10:18).

So what does this mean to you ? Two things:

1) You never want to get to the point where you think you don't need God, and

2) Even when you feel all alone, your heavenly Father will be there for you, to protect you and keep you all harm.

Father, I thank You for the reminder this morning. I develop and maintain a positive self-image. I will never allow myself to have a low self-esteem, but I will also never get to the point where I think I don't need You. You are the source of my strength. You are the strength of my life. I need You, I rely on You, and I walk with You every day of my life. Even when I am forsaken by others, You are there for me. You are my shield, my protection, my strong tower, my fortress, my God and I trust in You. I resist pride and I look to You for protection, power, and peace! In Jesus' name. Amen!

The Path of Life

Prov 15:24 NIrV) The path of life for a wise person leads upward in order to turn him away from hell below.

This morning we continue our current series, I would venture to say that Solomon is known for his ability to share wisdom in such a way that is very practical. His counsel is so practical that many unbelievers read the book of Proverbs. They simply see it as sage advice coming from an exceptionally gifted man. But make no mistake, Solomon was not just gifted, He was anointed by God and he knew it. Solomon knew that the source of his wisdom was supernatural and several times, in Proverbs, he refers to the eternal implications of our decisions.

In this verse Solomon drives home one of the main purposes of applying God's wisdom - to follow the path that God intends for us to walk down, and to arrive at His desired destination for our lives. Solomon only mentions one path, but the second is inferred. The path of the wise winds upward towards eternal life, while the path of the wicked leads downward to death, destruction, and damnation.

There are only two roads and two destinies of the human race: one leading to heaven and the other leading to hell. Jesus Himself made this clear, saying:

"You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it" (Mat 7:13,14).

Yes, there are two roads. One leads us and the other leads down. One enables you to enjoy things from above and the other resigns you to the things from below. One leads to eternal life and the other leads to eternal death. One is the way of light, the other the way of darkness.

If you are reading to Today's Word, then chances are that you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and you are on the way of the righteous. But if you have not, then today is a fine day to get on the right road. Believe me, I have been on the other road and this one is MUCH better.

Repent of your sin, accept Jesus as your Lord, and start your new life IN HIM! If you already IN CHRIST, then stay on the road that leads up and don't dibble and dabble with sin. Solomon tells us that God's paths leads us AWAY FROM the other path. Stay away from unrighteous, get into the Word, learn to submit to the leading of the Holy Spirit, surround yourself with people of 'like precious faith,' and allow God's light to shine through you so that the lost could come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Over the next few verses Solomon will lay out several characteristics of the Godly. We will take a close look at each as we go verse-by-verse. The Godly are wise (v.24), humble (v.33), pure (v.26), honest (v.27), cautious (v.28), prayerful (v.29), joyful (v.30), teachable (verses 31&32), and reverent to God (v.33).

So what does this mean to you? It means that if you live God's way. Walking down God's desired path will do two things:


1. You will arrive at His desired destination for your life. This should be the goal of every believers.


2. You will shine as light in the midst of darkness. How can the world see the difference in you if you are no different? If you live God's way you will be different, people will see that difference, and they will be drawn to it. This is how the Father reaches the lost!

Father, I thank You for reiterating to me the importance of getting on and staying on the path of life. I declare, by faith, that I walk on Your path every day of my life. I walk upwards and not downward. I develop in Godliness, not unrighteousness. I become the light and the love You desire for me to be. Your light shines through me and it pierces through darkness. Use me Father, today, to make a difference in someone else's life. Your hope, IN ME, is so strong, that others see it and are drawn by it. Once they are, You are able to reach them through me and You are able to help them get on the right road! In Jesus' name. Amen

The Joy of being Used By God!

(Prov 15:23 NIrV) Joy is found in giving the right answer. And how good is a word spoken at the right time!

This morning we continue our current series, There is no doubt in my mind that Solomon was constantly sought after for advice; he is considered by many to be the wisest man (outside of Jesus) to ever live.

Solomon knew the joy you experience when you are able to provide an answer to someone who is facing a tough challenge. When you give the right answer, to the right person, at the right time, for the right reasons, with the right motives, God is able to meet the other persons needs through you and the entire experience is awesome. The Contemporary English Version of this verse reads:

“Giving the right answer at the right time makes everyone happy.”

As a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ I know first-hand how awesome it is to speak a timely word into someone’s life.

Ministry takes place when divine resources, meet human needs, through loving channels, to the glory of God.

When God speaks through me, to someone else, and that Word is exactly what he or she needed to hear, it becomes a blessing to them, but it is also a blessing to me. You can’t help but BE blessed when you allow the Father to use you to BE a blessing.

I will use an analogy of a reservoir and the pipe. No matter what room I am in, imagine that God has a huge reservoir of water just above the ceiling of the room and that the water represents God’s Blessing.

Imagine the room filled with people. God has His Blessing above the room and there are people in the room that He wants to bless. The problem is that there is a space between the Blessing (that God wants to release) and the people (who want to receive).

Oftentimes God is looking for someone to bridge the gap between the two. When God wants to operate in the earth He looks for someone to cooperate with Him.

When we become that person we become like a pipe that connects to the ceiling. To make a point imagine that I raise one hand up to the ceiling as if it were connecting to the water. I then point the other hand to you as if I am aiming the Blessing at you. When we allow God to use us, we literally become the conduit through which He is able to Bless someone else. The water (or the Blessing) flows through us onto the people.

That way God is pleased because He wanted to bless the people and the people are pleased because they needed to hear what God just said to them through you.

But you may be thinking, “But what about me?” Remember, I became the pipe. I became the conduit. I became the vessel. Yes, you are right, and this is where this verse comes in. I close out the analogy by saying; “The water can’t pass through the pipe, without the pipe getting wet too!” Glory to God! It’s a reminder that when we allow God to use us TO BE a blessing, that we also get blessed.

So what does this mean to you ? It means that you can (and should) find joy in BEING a blessing to someone else. The first promise Jehovah gave to Abraham was that He was going to bless him SO THAT he could BE a blessing to others. Why do you read these emails? Why do you read your Bible? Why do you pray? I assume it is because you want to grow. So then, why do you want to grow? It should be SO THAT you can BE a blessing to others.

Seek to be used of God today to speak a Word that will change someone for the better!

Father, I thank You for developing me, so that I can be a channel through which You develop others. I am blessed TO BE a blessing and I will be a blessing to others today! You give me the wisdom to speak the right word, at the right time, to the right person, with the right motives, so that ministry can take place. I declare, by faith, that I am a channel through which You bless others on a daily basis. I am the pipe. You use me to pour Your Blessing on all those I come in contact with. And when You do, I rejoice in the fact that the pipe gets wet too! I find pure Joy in being used of You, for Your Glory! In Jesus’ name. Amen

Don’t Live Your Life in a Vacuum

(Prov 15:22 NIV) Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.

This morning we continue our current series, As I thought about my approach to this verse I took a few moments to think about how awesome the experience of reading through and learning from the book of Proverbs actually is.

I have had the pleasure of working for and being around several key leaders in my work place and in ministry and I know valuable their time is. I’ve seen how many people – successful in their own right – have sought out the counsel of these great leaders. When the opportunity finally came and they were given an audience with the key leader, I watched as those who were seeking counsel came in prepared. They knew what they wanted to say, what questions they wanted to ask, and some of the things they wanted to learn.

They came in knowing, as Solomon has taught us, that wisdom can be transferred by association (13:20). I too have been a beneficiary of wise counsel. I have sought out work and ministry leaders and have done all that I could to receive their counsel and learn from their experiences. This leads me to what I was thinking about as I prepared for this message.

Think about who Solomon was. He was the leader of the Israel and Israel was booming under his leadership. His time was extremely valuable. Other heads of state traveled extreme distances just to get a few minutes with Solomon, to receive counsel from the wisest man in the land.

While we cannot meet Solomon in person, we are literally meeting with him every morning. As I sit at my computer and share with you what God shared with him, it is as though we were able to get an audience with Solomon himself. Let’s value this experience and learn from a man who received the crystal clear wisdom of God.

Using that as the backdrop, what do we learn from Solomon this morning? What does this master-teacher tell us? He tells us that it is wise to receive the counsel of others. It’s extremely foolish to think that you can execute great plans without discussing them amongst great minds. In chapter 11 Solomon told us, “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety” (11:14). There is a certain level of safety and humility that comes from collective wisdom. Even Solomon surrounded himself with other great minds.

The New Living Translation of 11:14 really brings this out; it reads: “Without wise leadership, a nation falls; there is safety in having many advisers.” Yes, even the great Solomon was humble enough to admit that he could accomplish everything on his own. Great leaders surround themselves without other gifted leaders and they utilize their resources for the collective good.

John Maxwell says, “One is too small a number to achieve greatness.” He calls this, “The Law of Significance.” Maxwell also said, “We tend to think of great thinkers and innovators as soloists, but the truth is that the greatest innovative thinking doesn’t occur in a vacuum.” Ken Blanchard said, “None of us is as smart as all of us!” There is a certain level of safety in knowing that your plan(s) has been vetted by other great minds.

So what does this mean to you ? It means that you should not allow naïveté or pride to keep you from seeking, receiving, and applying the counsel of others. No matter how gifted you are the Father does not expect you to do everything on your own. You need others and they need you.

Seek the counsel of those who can pour into you and also seek out those you can pour into. Live is better when experienced with others!

Father, I thank You for blessing me to have an opportunity every morning to learn from You and Solomon. I am eternally thankful for the counsel, wisdom, insight, and revelation You impart into me daily. I will also seek out the counsel of others. I will not allow the plans You give me to fail because of naïveté or pride. I am humble enough to know that I don’t know it all. I submit myself to those You lead me to learn from and I surround myself with gifted people that I can pour into as well. Thank You Father for reminding me this morning that I am here to make a lasting impact in the lives of others. I can do that when I allow others to make an impact in my life. I refuse to live my life in a vacuum! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Avoiding Stupidity and Forging Ahead

(Prov 15:21 KJV) Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.

This morning we continue our current series, Here Solomon gives us yet another antithetic proverb. These are proverbs that contain a parallel arrangement of contrasting ideas. Solomon contrasts the man who possesses Godly wisdom (who walks upright) with the man who lacks it altogether (who thinks foolishness is fun). The God’s Word translation makes it very clear; it reads:

“Stupidity is fun to the one without much sense, but a person who has understanding forges straight ahead.”

Let’s think about what the Lord, through Solomon, is telling us this morning. There are some people who truly enjoy foolish, idiotic, and senseless activity. These are people who somehow get a great sense of satisfaction from activity that requires no thought. They don’t like to think, plan, project, or consider their ways. Life is just ‘one big joke’ to people that live this way. However, the sobering reality is: life is not a joke.

Am I saying that we should not have fun? Absolutely not! I have lots of fun and when you walk by faith and live in God you will have and enjoy an abundant life full of pleasure. But my point is that we were all born on purpose and with a purpose. It was never God’s intention for us to aimlessly wander our way through life. The Father desires for us to find, follow, and finish our purpose before we die.

It has been my experience that the people described in this text as foolish are people who make a decision to avoid the weightier matters of life. They don’t like to consider the weightier matters of life, because it will mean that they have to grow up and make some changes. However, the fact that they are ignoring the reality of the eternal consequences of their decisions does not change the fact that their ‘Day of Reckoning’ will come. We will all have to give account for our actions, so whether we acknowledge that now, or push it to the back of our minds, our day of accountability is inevitable.

So what does this mean to you? It means that you should be like the other person Solomon refers to in our text, the person who understands his purpose and makes a decision to forge straight ahead towards it. While the Father does want you to enjoy life, there is much more to life than just playing around.

Don’t be like the fool who thinks his actions don’t matter. Carefully consider your life. Think through the consequences of your decisions. Face every challenge with the assurance that God knew – before the foundations of the world – that you would face them and He equipped you to do so. Since you know God will not allow you to face something you cannot handle (1st Cor 10:13), then the mere fact that you are facing it means that He has confidence in you to deal with it. So no matter what you face this morning, face it knowing that your heavenly Father trusts you with it.

Be the man/woman in our text who has understanding and FORGES STRAIGHT AHEAD – BY FAITH!

Father, I thank You for blessing me to read, receive, believe, and apply Your Word. The more Word I have down inside of me, the more I develop in Your wisdom. The more I develop in Your wisdom, the more I am able to confidently consider my ways, without condemnation. I know my actions have consequences and I don’t avoid that reality. I give careful though to my life, my purpose, and the meaning behind all that I face. As I enter this day I know that You are on me, in me, with me, and for me. You are more than the entire world against me. I forge straight ahead, by faith, and I shall NOT be moved from the path that will take me to Your desired destination for my life! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Honoring Your Heavenly Father and Earthly Parents

(Prov 15:20 CEV) Children with good sense make their parents happy, but foolish children are hateful to them.


As we get back to our current series, “Unlocking the Power of Proverbs – Walking in the Wisdom of God,” we pick up where we left off. In this verse Solomon repeats something he taught back in chapter 10. I have already shared with you that chapters 1-9 of the book of Proverbs were Solomon’s introduction. After giving us such a lengthy introduction, he starts off chapter 10 with these words:

“These are Solomon's proverbs: Wise children make their fathers proud of them; foolish ones bring their mothers grief.”

He uses almost the exact same language here in chapter 15 and it is obvious that Solomon believed this was worth repeating. I, for one, am glad that he did, especially with the culture of our youth today. The moral fabric of our society has been deteriorating for years and with the constant bombardment of worldly input like MTV, BET, YouTube, TMZ, and etc., many of our youth can’t help but rebel against their parent’s and their parent’s teaching. What’s in you abundantly has to come out of your eventually. The enemy has attacked our youth through the aforementioned means and if we, as parents, are not careful, we will experience the grief Solomon mentions in his teachings.

There is no doubt in my mind that David was a proud father. It is blatantly obvious to me that David’s teaching made a great impact in Solomon’s life. Back in chapter four Solomon said:

“My father taught me, “Take my words to heart. Follow my commands, and you will live. Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them” (4:4,5).

David parented Solomon to become the next king and Solomon submitted to the process. Parenting requires effort on both sides (parents and children). Here Solomon talks about the children and how they should react (in obedience) to their parent’s teaching. But this assumes that the parent did their part.

A Father must do more than just have children. He raises his children to become mature adults. It is a painful, costly, time consuming, life draining, stay up all hours of the night type of relationship. It is not always a joyful experience for the Father or the Son. The cost is everything a Father has within him. The benefit is a son who will honor his Father.”

Once the parent does their part, they can fully trust God (and believe) that their children will walk in the way of the Master. The children, then, must make their choice: to walk in wisdom and make their parents proud, or to ignore Godly counsel and cause their parents grief.

So what does this mean to you?
I believe the message is clear. To the parent it means that you must do your part to make the impartation in your children that the Father desires and requires of you. To the child it means that you must do all that you can to honor your parents. A life of obedience and wise conduct will bring them joy and peace, a life of disobedience and contempt will bring them grief. Why would you want to cause grief in the people who brought you life?

Honor your heavenly Father by honoring your earthly parents today.

Father, I thank You for teaching me to honor my parents with a life of obedience and wisdom. I respect my parents and my family name enough to align my life with Your Word. I make decisions that bring glory to You Father and to my earthly parents. By doing so, I know that I am sowing good seed and that I will reap a good harvest. My children will arise and call me blessed My children will walk in the blessing of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Jesus, and [your name here]! I leave a legacy of righteousness, because of the life that I live and the teaching that I give! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Your character is essentially

Put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:24 (NIV)

Your character is essentially the sum of your habits; it is how you habitually act. The Bible says, "Put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness" (Ephesians 4:24 NIV).

God uses his Word, people, and circumstances to mold us. All three are indispensable for character development. God's Word provides the truth we need to grow, God's people provide the support we need to grow, and circumstances provide the environment to practice Christlikeness.

If you study and apply God's Word, connect regularly with other believers, and learn to trust God in difficult circumstances, I guarantee you will become more like Jesus.
Many people assume all that is needed for spiritual growth is Bible study and prayer. But some issues in life will never be changed by Bible study or prayer alone. God uses people. He usually prefers to work through people rather than perform miracles, so that we will depend on each other for fellowship. He wants us to grow together.

In many religions, the people considered to be the most spiritually mature and holy are those who isolate themselves from others in mountaintop monasteries, uninfected by contact with other people.

But this is a gross misunderstanding. Spiritual maturity is not a solitary, individual pursuit!

You cannot grow to Christlikeness in isolation. You must be around other people and interact with them. You need to be a part of a church and community.
Why? Because true spiritual maturity is all about learning to love like Jesus, and you can't practice being like Jesus without being in relationship with other people.
Remember that during this Christmas season, when your family or friends challenge your ability to respond like Jesus!!

Remember, it's all about love - loving God and loving others.

In your life, you will be hurt by others; sometimes intentionally, sometimes unintentionally. How you handle that hurt determines your happiness.

Perfect love casts out fear

Do you suffer from fear or insecurity? What about the fear of lack? Are you worried that God won’t come through for you?

I have been there too.

I have been literally worried sick about so many things, including my past, my future, my finances, what people thought about me. And because I couldn’t get my mind off of my problems, I found myself in a place of utter torment.

But we do not have to fear that God doesn’t love us or that He won’t come through for us in our time of need. We need to learn to accept the reality of His love for us, so that our fears do not control us.

First John 4:18 says that perfect love casts out fear. If you’re afraid of facing a person or a situation in your life, God’s love can help you put your fears to rest.

The Cure for Insecurity

Because I had been abused in my childhood and was fearful of being hurt or taken advantage of, I became very insecure. And I spent many years trying to control everything and everyone in my life.

Instead of trying to control and manipulate people, I needed to learn to trust God, pray, and believe that He would do what was best for me at the right time. Most of all, I needed to abide in His love.

First John 4:16 points out that we should be conscious of God’s love. It needs to be more than just a biblical fact for us…we need to experience it daily.

Several years ago I was so desperate for a revelation of God’s love that I began to keep a journal of the things He did in my life that I believed displayed His love. No matter how small they were, I recorded them.

When people gave me things, I recorded it. When I was shown favor in situations, I recorded it. When God answered prayers and did things for me that I had requested, I recorded it…

This process helped me become conscious of His love, and I began to heal. I found out that the love of God is the cure for the insecure.

Overcoming the Fear of Lack

Another major fear people face is the fear of lack. The fear that your needs won’t be met—that God won’t come through for you in time.

You may be in a situation that you’ve never been in before, facing all kinds of new responsibilities. You may have needs that are beyond your resources and the spirit of fear is attacking you, telling you that you aren’t going to make it. You may feel like nobody else cares. But God cares.

In fact, Hebrews 13:5,6 says you can trust God to come to your rescue.

Even when it seems that absolutely nothing is happening in your life, He is working. Beloved, God has a good plan for you, and He’ll manifest it right on time.

If you need financial support, He’ll provide. If it’s physical support you need, He’ll sustain you. If you need emotional support, He’ll comfort you. He’ll nourish you and bring you back to a place of strength.

God is for you. He is not against you. Satan is against you, but the greater One lives in you!

Let Nothing Separate You from God’s Love

During hard times and moments of insecurity, Satan works overtime trying to convince us that God doesn’t love us—that if He did, either we wouldn’t be in this situation, or He would’ve delivered us by now.

I confess with my own mouth the truth that God does love me during these attacks of fear. And I encourage you to say several times a day with confidence, “God loves me!” Don't allow the devil to steal this truth from you.

Romans 8:38,39, which I pray will comfort you right now, says:

For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

As long as you refuse to let anything separate you from God's love, you will have the victory.

The Lazy Man vs. The Faithful Man

(Prov 15:19 NLT) A lazy person's way is blocked with briers, but the path of the upright is an open highway.

This morning we continue our current series I know we have been jumping around a little bit lately, but since this verse lines up with the last two, I need to remind you of what they said.

In verse 17 Solomon told us to avoid hatred and to walk in love. In verse 18 Solomon told us to control our emotions and to walk in patience. In this verse he warns us about the perils of laziness and how the way of the upright is an open highway.

Now, you may be thinking, “Wait a minute. The way of the upright is not a bed of roses. You said yourself that being a believer does not exonerate us from challenges.” You are right, but I believe Solomon is telling us that while the path of the believer may not always be easy, at least our challenges will not be self-inflicted. When we walk with God and do things His way we will get positive results.

The Father tells us to walk in love, to be honest, to work hard, to respect authority, to control our emotions, to save and give, and seek to BE a blessing every day of our lives. If we live that way we can’t help but be blessed.

God’s way works if we work it!

However, if we do the things God tells us to avoid, we will also reap a harvest, but it will not be a pleasant one. The Father tells us to avoid laziness, hatred, dishonesty, greed, backbiting, jealousy, and being over-emotional. If we choose to do these things we will find ourselves walking down the path blocked with briers our text describes.

While the way of the upright may not always be an easy road, at least we won’t have to deal with the harvests of bad seeds. We can face every challenge knowing that it came from external sources and therefore, it has no power over us.

The believer can face every hindrance with an overcoming mentality that is birthed from their overwhelming confidence in God and His Word.

Let’s talk about laziness, since that is the focus of the text. The lazy person always finds an excuse why not to do something. The lazy man imagines all the difficulties he will face when dealing with a challenge and even if he wanted to do it, it takes him no time to talk himself into avoiding the work set before him. He always finds some reason why not to move forward. Someone said,

“The lazier a man is, the more he plans to do tomorrow.”

It’s interesting that we are discussing “The Lazy Man” today, because Saturday night the Father had me to preach a message entitled, “The Faithful Man.” God is looking for you and I (His children) to be faithful to Him, His Word, His will, and His way. The Father is looking for His children to believe Him and serve Him ALL the days of their lives. There is no retirement plan for the believer. Once you are Born-Again, the Father expects you to walk by faith every day of your life. Don’t let Him down.

So what does this mean to you ? It means you have a choice. You can either be the faithful man that the Father expects you to be, avoiding unnecessary pitfalls and sowing the right seed. Or you can be the lazy man the Father warns you no to be, and you will quickly find your path full of painful thorns. At the end of the day, the choice is yours.

What will you choose?

Father, I thank You for teaching me Your truth and for exposing me to the pitfalls of laziness. I declare, by faith, that I will be the faithful man You desire for me to be. I walk in love, I am honest, I maintain my integrity, I work hard, I respect authority, I control my emotions, I save and give, and I seek to BE a blessing every day of my life. I sow the right seed and I reap the right harvest. I become the man You desire for me to be, by working hard at it for the rest of my life. I am determined to die empty. I will get out of me, all that You have put into me, before I die. I maximize my purpose and potential by overcoming laziness and procrastination. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Purpose-Driven Life

(John 4:4 KJV) And he must needs go through Samaria.

This morning we will take a break from our current series on Proverbs to share a special message about purpose. Today I want to share a message that is based on the life of the Paul and I said, “One of the keys to Paul’s success was the fact that he was purpose-driven.”
Paul decided to put God’s purpose above his pleasure and because of it he was able to make an impact that is still being felt today.

Jesus was the ultimate example of someone who was purpose-driven. He always adjusted His agenda to whatever the Father needed Him to do for the day. In John chapter four we see Jesus’ ministry picking up steam to the point where His ministry team was baptizing more disciples than John. The religious leadership of the time (Pharisees) were not happy about Jesus’ progress.

When Jesus heard about their displeasure He was led to leave Judea and return home to Galilee. Our text tells us that Jesus felt compelled to go through Samaria. This is very interesting because going through Samaria was not the only route and it was definitely not the preferred route for Jews.

Jews would rather take a route that took three days longer, that went through Perea, crossing the Jordan twice, just to avoid Samaria. The Samaritans were considered a mixed-breed of people – former Northern Israelites who mingled with the Assyrians – and Jews avoided them like the plague. What can we learn from this?

1. There is Purpose in where we are: Jesus was in Judea preaching, teaching, and baptizing. While there He also had a divine appointment with Nicademus and He ministered to the multitudes (more than John). At the point of our text it was God’s time for Jesus to move on. This tells us that we are not where we are by mistake. For the past 11+ months I have been helping with the care of my In Laws I know it has been for a reason. You are where you are on purpose. There will come a time where the Father will allow you to move on, but you must first complete the assignment where you are! My questions for you this morning are: Are you being productive? Are you seeking to do the will of God? Are you fulfilling the purpose in where you are?

2. There is Purpose in where we are going: The Bible says that Jesus was going back to Galilee. As soon as He got there, He healed a blind, lame, and paralyzed man. God had a divine appointment waiting on Him. This tells me that our life is full of purpose. Once we have completed our assignment in one place, the Father sends us somewhere else that is equally full of His purpose. You can rest assured that the Father has purpose wrapped up in every place He allows you to go. Your job is to find out what it is and COMPLETE it before you leave.

3. There is Purpose in How we are going to get there: This was not the normal route. Jesus broke Jewish tradition by going the way that He did because God had a divine appointment for Him with a Samaritan woman at a well. This woman would become an evangelist and spread the gospel of Jesus throughout Samaria. God had purpose wrapped up in the route. You may know that God is taking you somewhere and you may be looking forward to arriving at your new destination (physical or spiritual). But don’t forget that the journey will be full of purpose as well.

So what does this mean to you ? It means that you should always be willing to adjust your personal desires for God’s purpose. Thank God for where you are. Thank God for where you are going. Thank God for how you are going to get there!

Father, I thank You for blessing me to be purpose-driven in all that I do. You reveal to me the purpose behind where I am and as You do, I seek to fulfill that purpose fully. You reveal to me the purpose behind where I am going and I am Godly excited about all the things You will bless me to experience when I get there. And Father, You also reveal to me the purpose in how I am going to get there. Not only will I arrive at my new destination, but I will enjoy the ride. Life is a gift for me, because I live it on purpose every day and in every way. I am ready for every divine appointment You setup for me today and this week! In Jesus’ name. Amen!