How will You be Remembered?

How will You be Remembered?

Paulette Fraticelli

(Prov 10:7 NLT) We have happy memories of the godly, but the name of a wicked person rots away.

Here Solomon contrasts the legacy of the righteous with the short-lived memory of the wicked. I believe the NIV translation of says it plainly, saying, "Good people are remembered long after they are gone, but the wicked are soon forgotten."How do you want to be remembered? Will you be remembered at all? 100 years after your death, will your name still remain? Will the legacy of your works echo through the halls of time? Will the work of your hands leave an indelible mark in heaven's history books? After you are gone, will you be inducted into the Hall of Faith? These are probing questions. They are soul-searching questions. These are the types of questions that make us consider what life is all about and whether or not we are giving our time, energy and effort to the right things. In Proverbs 13 (v.22) Solomon tells us that a good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children. The inheritance he talks about does include money, but it is not limited to it. The Amplified Bible translation of that text tells us that part of what a good man/woman leaves behind is an inheritance of "Moral stability and goodness."

This reminds me of a message I heard in the past. One of the points brought out in that message was that we should "Father or Mother for Purpose, not for Pleasure." Although our children are our greatest legacy, the focus of our parenting should not be on us, but rather on them. Our focus should be to prepare them for life. Any loving parent wants to bless their children, but we must remember that sometimes we have to make the hard decisions, even when the outcome will not be pleasing to our kids. If all we focus on is their pleasure, we might fail to prepare them for their purpose.

A Father/Mother 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/Mother or the child. The cost is everything a parent has within them. The benefit is a child who will honor his Parents."

Some parents lord over their children. Our children are lent to us from the Lord and we are to love them and care for them; not rule over them. We have to remember that the time will when they will grow UP and then OUT!

We can't live their lives for them, nor can we attempt to live our own lives vicariously through them. The development of our children should be the goal of our parenting. Someone I hear once said, "The greatest mark of a leader is Development, not dictatorship!"So what does this mean? It means that we should keep the main things the main things. In this day and age is too easy to get so caught in the daily "rat race" and to fail to keep the important things important.

A great majority of people spend most of their time on things that have no eternal significance. Don't be one of them. Determine today to do all you can, while you can, for as long as you can; and as you do it, do it with God in mind.

Keep Him first and He will help you to prioritize your efforts so that you can leave the legacy He expects you to leave!

Father, I thank You for giving me this reminder to keep the main things the main things. I take self-inventory and I make the changes You lead me to make. I understand what is really important. I know what things have eternal significance and what things don't. I focus my efforts on the things that are pleasing to You. I pour into my children and my grandchildren all that You have poured into me. And I pass down The Blessing upon them. I leave an inheritance of righteousness and a legacy of love! In Jesus' name. Amen!

Words

Paulette Fraticelli

(Prov 10:6 AMP) Blessings are upon the head of the [uncompromisingly] righteous (the upright, in right standing with God) but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

Good Morning Happy Monday!! This morning we continue our series, Walking in the Wisdom of God. Here Solomon contrasts the blessing (the Good Life) experienced by the righteous with the trouble of the wicked and he makes a connection between their words and what they experience.
Although it is not stated, the implication is that the righteous are speaking words of life and the wicked are speaking words of death. Most people are simply not aware how important their words are. Later on in Proverbs Solomon tells us that our tongue literally yields the power of life and death (Prov 18:21). If more people understood how important their words are, they probably would not say half the things they say.

If you understand the Bible you know that God has set up His system in such a way that no person can really determine what happens in your life but you and no words are more important in your life than your own words.

Your spirit responds to your voice like no other. To see this more clearly let's read this verse from the New International Reader's Version. The NIV says, "Blessings are like crowns on the heads of those who do right. But the trouble caused by what sinners say destroys them." Solomon says that sinners open the door to trouble with their own lips and if that is true (and it is), then the opposite must be true.

The righteous open the door to the Blessing with our own lips. When we choose to speak life and not death, blessing and not cursing, victory and not defeat, we open the door to the manifestation God's best in our lives. Jesus said it best when He said, "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot produce good fruit. You can tell what a tree is like by the fruit it produces... Good people do good things because of the good in their hearts. Bad people do bad things because of the evil in their hearts.

Your words show what is in your heart" (Luke 6:43-45), and, "But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken" (Mat 12:36).

Jesus explains that he issue of your words is an issue of your heart. Your heart is like soil and it receives whatever seed you put in it. There are two ways to sow seed in the soil of your heart: your ears and your eyes. What goes through your ear gate and your eye gate eventually gets down in your heart and it will bring forth a harvest. The harvest comes out of your mouth. That's why Jesus said that your words show what's in your heart. To change your output you must change your input.

So what does this mean? A few things:

1. The words you speak are a litmus test for what's down in your heart.

2. You are connected to your words and daily, your words are telling everyone who you are

.3. If you don't like the message your words are portraying about you, then it is time to change

.4. To change your words you must change your heart.

5. To change your heart you must change your input: what you see and hear.

6. If you can change your input, you can change the condition of your heart; if you can change the condition of your heart, you will change the quality of your words; if you can change your words, you can change your life!

7. Your words can either open the door to Blessing or the door to trouble - choose wisely!

Father, I know my words come out of the abundance of my heart. My heart is filled with what I allow through my eyes and ears. I declare, by faith, that I check my input and I fill my heart with good things. As I fill my heart with things that are pleasing to You, my words will indicate the condition of my heart. My words will be words of blessing and not cursing, of good and not evil. Once my input is pure, my heart is right, and my words are righteous, then I cannot help but be blessed. I change my life by changing my words and I experience the life You desire for me to experience. In Jesus' name. Amen!

Opportunities

Opportunities

Paulette Fraticelli

(Prov 10:5 GNB) A sensible person gathers the crops when they are ready; it is a disgrace to sleep through the time of harvest.

This message flows in the same vein as yesterday's, where Solomon told us that work is honorable. He made it clear that laziness opens the door to poverty and diligence opens the door to riches. In this text he gives solid counsel about the timing of work. Although we must all work, it is neither reasonable nor sensible to work all the time.
We must tap into the rejuvenating power of rest. I know many Leaders that have had to learn - the hard way - the value of rest. If we are not careful we can work ourselves into the ground. But on the other end of the spectrum is the lazy person who is stuck in a perpetual state of rest. Neither extreme is beneficial.

There are many truths in the Bible that are expressed to us in parables that deal with farming. God knows that farming principles are easy to understand and His goal is to provide us His unsearchable wisdom in ways that we can relate to and apply. My parents were farmers so I know that farmers have a time to sow and a time to reap (Ecc 3).

Farmers work hard during sowing season (so do their children just ask any of my brothers or sisters ) , preparing the ground, removing weeds and rocks, sowing the seed, and then covering up the seed with enough soil to protect it from the sun. There is then a space between sowing season and harvest time. Farmers do well to get some rest in this time, but the warning here is against getting so comfortable that they get lulled into laziness. If the farmer is not careful he might sleep through the harvest, spoil all the work he had done during sowing season, and miss the opportunity to capitalize on his investment.

As believers we must be both active and industrious. This series is about God's wisdom and when we walk in Godly wisdom we are able to see opportunities that others might miss. The problem comes when we see the opportunity, but we are too lazy to capitalize on it. Wouldn't it be a shame for God to open a door for you, only for you to fail to walk through it, because of the work waiting for you on the other side? Thomas Edison said, "Opportunity is missed by most because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."

Lazy people not only miss opportunity, they run from it. Don't be one of them. Look for opportunities, ask God to show them to you, but do so with a mindset that is prepared to work. If you continually squander God-given opportunities there will come a point where God stops giving them to you.

So what does this mean ? A few things:

1. Take time to rest: As much as God wants you to work, He does not want you to get burned out. I have learned that rest is Spiritual. If you don't rest you will pay for it in the long run.

2. Don't allow rest to turn into laziness: Rest long enough to get rejuvenated, restored, and revived, but then get back to work. If you are not careful you can lose your passion and drive.

3. Be on the lookout for opportunities: I know these are difficult times for many people, but don't allow difficulty to taint your outlook. Albert Einstein said, "In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity." Have the diligence and dedication to look for opportunities in difficult times.

4. When preparation meets opportunity: Your preparation will show up in your performance. If you are prepared when opportunity comes you will experience success; if not, you will experience the disgrace our text talks about.

Father, I thank You for teaching me to both work and rest. I work diligently and tirelessly. I put my hands to work in the time of work, but I also know the power of rest. I take the time to rest when I need it, because I know that rest is Spiritual and necessary. I refuse to burn myself out. I take the time to spend time with You. You restore my Spirit, soul, and body. Rest enables me to be ready for opportunities. You highlight opportunities for me and I take them by faith. I will not sleep through my harvest season. I enter every day prepared and when opportunity meets preparation I will experience Your best! In Jesus' name. Amen.

Spirit of Prophecy Bulletin
SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by Marsha Burns -- March 27, 2009:
The enemy has launched an attack to distract you and cause you to be scattered in your thoughts and efforts so that you do not have the strength you need to accomplish what you have been given to do. Refuse to allow his seductions especially through infirmity, discouragement, worry or fear to weaken you or keep you from exercising your faith to overcome. Re-focus your energies, and regroup. Rise up in the power of the Spirit to resist and defeat the devil. You are more than a conqueror, says the Lord.
Romans 8:37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

Work is Honorable

Work is Honorable

Paulette Fraticelli

(Prov 10:4 WEB) He becomes poor who works with a lazy hand, but the hand of the diligent brings wealth.

We all have a family and we all have people in our families that either teach us what TO DO or what NOT TO DO. Whenever I think of the men in my family my father my brothers - my uncles, older cousins, etc. - I think of hard workers. .

From the time I was little I can remember the men in my family going out to work early in the morning and coming home late at night. My mother, too, was a hard worker. She taught me that it was noble and honorable to work. I saw my mother work and give. She was, and continues to be, a cheerful giver. She loves to be a blessing to others. Even to this day, whenever we walk into a store, she is on the lookout for things that she can buy to give away. Her hard work has enabled her to be blessed, in order that she might be a blessing (Gen 12:2).

Solomon tells us that lazy people are subject to poverty, but those that work diligently open the door to wealth. The God's Word translation says it plainly, "Lazy hands bring poverty, but hard-working hands bring riches."

Now, in Christ there are eternal and countless riches. There are many Spiritual riches that are way more valuable than money. But to be clear, this verse is talking about money. This is not a reference to Spiritual riches. This is a proverb that makes it clear that if you want to ahead in life - in any area of life - you are going to have to work at it. I challenge you to find ONE person, in the entire Bible, that God used mightily, that was lazy. I have searched for years and have not found one. Paul was one of the men called by God and he worked tirelessly to build God's Kingdom for the rest of his life. What do you think his perspective of hard work was? We can get an idea of where he stood on the issue by reading something he said in his second letter to the church in Thessalonica. In that letter he wrote, "If a man will not work, he shall not eat" (2nd Thes 3:10).

So what does this mean? A few things:

1. Walking with God does not exonerate us from work

.2. Working diligently is honorable and expected from God

.3. If you want to get ahead in life, don't expect God to do it all for you. You have a part and He has a part. If you do your part He will do His!

Father, I thank You for instilling in me a desire to work and to get ahead in life. I want to be blessed, so that I can BE a blessing. Use me as a conduit through which You can bless others. I put my hands to work and I ask You to bless the work of my hands. I commit everything I do to You and I trust also in You, to bring to pass Your best in my life. I do my part and I am completely confident that You will do Yours. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Spirit of Prophecy Bulletin
SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by Marsha Burns -- March 26, 2009:
Exercise patience as you remain steadfast and faithful. What you thought was a breakthrough seems to have evaporated, but I tell you the truth that it is more important than ever that you persevere. You will be tested with temptations to be disappointed and become discouraged, but you must not give up. Keep pressing through, and know that I am with you to bring you forth in victory. This is not an easy time, but you must keep the faith and continue to move forward, says the Lord.
Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

Spirit of Prophecy Bulletin
SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by Marsha Burns -- March 25, 2009:
Woe to the people who call good evil and evil good. There is gross perversion in the land and deception at every turn. But you, My people, do not give yourselves to perversion and deception. Seek truth in every circumstance and stand for what is pure and undefiled. Raise the bar, set a standard, rise up to the next level of righteousness and integrity. You are a people called by My name, says the Lord. Live a life worthy of your calling.
Philippians 1:27-28 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God.
NEW RELEASES!

The Soul of the Righteous

The Soul of the Righteous
Paulette Fraticelli

(Prov 10:3 LITV) Jehovah will not allow the soul of the righteous to go hungry, but He pushes away the desire of the wicked.

This morning we continue Walking in the Wisdom of God. In this verse Solomon contrasts God's response to the desires of both the righteous and the wicked. For the righteous the message is clear: Jehovah will never leave us, nor forsake us (Heb 13:5).

He will not allow the thirst of our souls to go unfulfilled. He is a loving, caring and sharing heavenly Father who wants to bless His children.

The psalmist said, "For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly" (Psalm 84:11). Let that sink in for a moment. He will not withhold any good thing from those that walk upright! He will not ignore those that are in covenant with Him. He will hear our cry. He will answer our call. He will take the time to commune with us, but we must have a relationship with Him and our heart must be in the right place. Our motives must be pure.

God is not promising to give us everything we ask, but He has promised to give us everything we need to fulfill our purpose in the earth and to maximize our potential along the way. Jesus said it best when He said: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled" (Mat 5:6).

When I read this verse the first thing that comes to my mind is prayer. I know from scripture and experience that God is committed to fulfilling the prayers of those that are committed to Him.

However, He does not obligate Himself to those that are not in covenant with Him. The Apostle John knew a great deal about prayer. Not only was he part of Jesus' inner circle (along with Peter and James), but he was also the disciple that lived the longest. I am sure he spent countless hours in prayer while he was on the island of Patmos.

In his first letter he said, "Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him" (1st John 3:21,22).

John told us that we will receive whatever we ask, but he also explained that it will only come if we pray with confidence and if we obey God commands.

The wicked Solomon refers are not living lives pleasing to God. Therefore, they cannot come to God in confidence. They don't have a covenant to have confidence in.

In the fifth chapter John said, "And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life." Whenever I read that I like to say, "What are your questions?" That is about as clear as it can be. Those that have accepted Jesus are in covenant with Jehovah and those that have not are not.

John went on to say, "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us-whatever we ask-we know that we have what we asked of him" (1st John 5:11-15).


Your relationship with Jesus should give you complete and total confidence with the Father. You should come to Him with the assurance of knowing that He will not withhold any good thing from you. However, those that have not accepted His Son, who are not in covenant with Him, don't have that confidence.

Can God have mercy upon them? Absolutely! But you don't want to live your life based upon grace and mercy alone. Your life should be rooted and grounded in the covenant that you have with the Father, sealed by the blood of His Son, your Savior - Jesus the Christ!

Father, I thank You for making me righteous by the blood of Your Son Jesus! I was lost, but now I am found. I was "the wicked," by now I am "the righteous," and I live as such. I come boldly before the throne of Your grace, in the name of Your Son, and I obtain help in the time of need. I boldly and confidently pray and I know that You hear and respond to the petitions of Your children. You will never allow my soul to go hungry. You continually satisfy my heart with good things! In Jesus' name. Amen.

Tainted Wealth

Tainted Wealth
Paulette Fraticelli

(Prov 10:2 NLT) Tainted wealth has no lasting value, but right living can save your life.

This morning we continue Walking in the Wisdom of God with our antithetic (a parallel arrangement of contrasting ideas) proverbs. Here Solomon contrasts the lives of those that seek wealth through unrighteous means and those that seek to live upright.

Honestly, when I wrote yesterday's message I had not read this verse and it is interesting how clearly they flow together. I shared with you yesterday how many of my childhood friends decided to go the drug-dealer route. What I did not tell you was how their lives turned out. I won't mention names, but it is sad for me to think about the group of friends that grew up with me. We were about as average as you can get for a group of kids growing up on the little island of Maui.

Almost overnight people that had never had any money were making thousands upon thousands of dollars selling cocaine, LSD, PCP, speed and pot and the list goes on an on. I knew people (actually dated one) that had hundreds of thousands of dollars - in $20 bills - in shopping bags in their closets. The amount of money became a risk to their families, a strong lure to young boys and girls, and a false sense of security to those that made it. As I think back I know that it was only by the prayers of my mother and the grace of God that I did not fall into that trap. I was at the time raising 2 children by myself and I was a mess financially so it was very tempting) However, most of my friends did and they are either dead, in jail, or recovering drug addicts now.

Of all the people that I personally knew that made inordinate amounts of money selling drugs - and there were many - I can honestly say that I do not know of any (not even ONE) that still has the money and that sincerely benefited from it. For most of them, the money ruined their lives; it caused rifts between family members, it promoted riotous living, and it was spent like water. It came fast; it went fast, and caused nothing but destruction along the way.

Now, please don't misunderstand what I am saying. Money, in and of itself, is not bad. Money makes an excellent servant, but a poor master. Most of the people in my family worked hard, started businesses and have done well. Most of my family is financially secure however, my family and they got there by working 12(+) hours a day, six (and even sometimes seven) days a week. There is a clear difference between what they did and what my friends chose to do by pursuing tainted wealth. I am glad that I chose the 'hard work' route. I may not be rich, but because of hard work and honoring God I can say that we are no longer poor either. But most importantly, when I read this text, I can confidently identify with it and say, "Right living saved my life!"

Attaining wealth is not bad, but wealth must be pursued the right way. If you increase God's way, then you will be able to enjoy the benefits of wealth with a clear conscious, but if you pursue tainted wealth it can destroy your life and legacy. Take it from someone who had a front-row view of the destructive power of tainted wealth: don't pursue money, pursue God and He will take care of the rest! Father, I thank You for being my source and supply. I honor You with my finances and I seek to BE a blessing with everything You put into my hands. I work honestly and uprightly. I don't pursue tainted wealth. I do what is right in Your sight and I increase Your way. I work hard, I operate in integrity, I give back to You and to others, and I use money as my servant - not my master! In Jesus' name. Amen.

A Wise Daughter

This is my mom and my youngest sister.

A Wise Daughter

Paulette Fraticelli

(Prov 10:1 GNB) These are Solomon's proverbs: Wise children make their fathers proud of them; foolish ones bring their mothers grief.

This morning we continue Walking in the Wisdom of God." We started this series several months ago and I pray you have been blessed by it thus far. It has taken us a long time to get here, but believe it or not, we have just covered the introduction.

The first 9 chapters of the book of Proverbs is considered Solomon's introduction to the book. From here on out we start to get into the traditional proverbs - the short sayings with powerful meanings.

In the case of the Book of Proverbs, they are eternal truths, captured for us to read, apply and benefit from. In chapters 10-16 we find verses that are mostly antithetic; meaning that they contain a parallel arrangement of contrasting ideas. In our text, the first of the antithetic proverbs, Solomon says, "Wise children make their fathers proud of them; foolish ones bring their mothers grief." In his introduction (chapters 1-9) Solomon made it painstakingly clear that our lives are a grand-sum-total of our decisions. We are where we are today, in life, because of the decisions we have made. As he goes on to lay out a series of parallel choices, he offers to us opposing truths with opposing consequences.

In this text the choice is made by children (sons and daughters) and the consequences are either good or bad for the parents. However, this does imply that the parents did their part.

They trained their children in the way that they should go (Prov 22:6), they instructed them in righteousness, and they lived their lives as godly examples before their children. Having done their part, they have every right to believe and expect their children to 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.I did not know this scripture growing up, but I lived the principle daily.

My Parents worked hard to raise me, to live a righteous example although I fought it a lot growing up. I realized later that my parents taught me the value of hard work, of making an honest living, and of abstaining from all vices.

When I was a teenager most of the kids I grew up with got involved in selling drugs mostly pot and speed. They repeatedly offered me jobs where I could earn quite a large sum of money, but I rejected their offers.

So what does this mean? It means that as a daughter (son) you have a choice to make. You can either bring honor or dishonor to your parents. You can either submit to or reject what they have taught you. It doesn't matter how old you are or whether or not your parents are still alive, what you do today can either be a tribute to their legacy or a disservice to their name.

Make the right choice. Honor your parents; it is the right thing to do! (Eph 6:1).
Father, I thank You for teaching me Your Word in many different ways. I receive the preached Word from the pulpit. I receive the taught Word in Bible Study and via the internet. And I read Your Word for myself for instruction, inspiration, and edification. Your Word gives me wisdom and Your wisdom enables me to be the daughter (or son) that You desire for me to be. I bring honor, not dishonor, to my parents. I make them proud and I never cause them grief. What I do today is a tribute to their legacy and I pray that You bless them for the sacrifices they made for me! In Jesus' name. Amen.

Drink from Your Own Well

Drink from Your Own Well

Paulette Fraticelli

(Prov 9:17,18 CEV) "Stolen water tastes best, and the food you eat in secret tastes best of all." None who listen to Stupidity understand that her guests are as good as dead.
In our last message Solomon introduced us to Ms. Foolishness - the polar opposite of Lady Wisdom. Ms. Foolishness' words are as damaging and destructive as Lady Wisdom's words are edifying and uplifting. Here she says, "Stolen water tastes best, and the food you eat in secret tastes best of all." To understand what she means by stolen water we must understand the setting.

Solomon wrote this at a time where water was a precious commodity. If you had your own well, then you had a valuable resource. What Ms. Foolishness is saying is that the water from someone else's well always tastes better.

Other translations say that it is "sweet." Her underlying message is that all prohibited/unlawful lusts and pleasures are desirable to men; at least the men she associates with. She paints a picture of a sweet enjoyment in doing wrong, in delving into evil, in partaking of the forbidden, in drinking from another man's well (or sleeping with another man's wife).

If Lady Wisdom had her turn to speak she would tell us to enjoy the water we have legal access to, to enjoy the company and companionship of our own spouse, and to be content with all that God has blessed us with. Earlier in Proverbs Solomon plainly stated: "Drink water from your own well" (5:15).Ms. Foolishness goes on to say, "The food you eat in secret tastes best of all." This is a reference to partaking in secret sin; in thinking that you are getting away with something just because no one else knows about it.

These private lusts are as destructive as public ones, or even more so, because the person partaking of them thinks he/she is getting away with it. Make no mistake, you might fool people, but you will never fool God. God sees it all and we will all have to give account for everything (private and public) we have done. Solomon stops speaking under the role of Ms. Foolishness long enough to say, "None who listen to Stupidity understand that her guests are as good as dead." Those who were foolish enough to enter her home, listen to her words, and apply her twisted logic are as good as dead-men-walking. They may think they are enjoying life while they are living for the moment, but they are deceived. True life and pleasure is found in Christ; and His pleasure comes without side affects. There are no hangovers in God. You can enjoy yourself every day without any after affects. So what does this mean? It means you need to be careful. Ever since Adam indulged himself with the forbidden fruit men have been born with a fallen nature. I call this the Adamic nature. Whenever you tell someone that they CAN'T have something, the Adamic nature feeds a hunger and desire for the forbidden.

That's why you must understand what happened when you gave your life to Christ. When you were Born-Again you received a new nature, spiritually speaking, but you did not receive a new mind. Your Spirit was renewed instantly, but your mind must be renewed progressively. I like to say, "The new man, in an old body, needs a new mind." That's why reading messages like

this, regularly attending church services and Bible studies, and reading the Word for yourself are so vitally important. These all help you to renew your mind (Rom 12:1,2) and your mind must be renewed if you are going to ignore the counsel of Ms. Foolishness and apply the counsel of Lady Wisdom.

Father, I thank You for giving me the ability to discern between right and wrong, between righteous and unrighteous, between Ms. Foolishness and Lady Wisdom. I declare, by faith, that I develop a hunger and thirst for the things that are pleasing to You. I drink from my own well. I enjoy my own spouse. I am content with all that You have blessed me with and I will not covet that which belongs to another. I renew my mind, by reading, receiving, believing, and applying Your Word. My renewed mind enables me to ignore my old nature and to walk in the newness of the life You have provided for me in Christ! In Jesus' name. Amen.

Lady Wisdom vs. Ms. Foolishness

Lady Wisdom vs. Ms. Foolishness

Paulette Fraticelli

(Prov 9:13-16 NIrV) The woman called Foolishness is loud. She doesn't control herself. She doesn't know anything. She sits at the door of her house. She sits at the highest point of the city. She calls out to those who pass by. She calls out to those who go straight on their way. She says, "Let all who are childish come in here!" She speaks to those who have no sense.

This morning we continue I am back from Maui In our last message Solomon told us that our decisions do matter. He made it clear that we can benefit from listening to Lady Wisdom or suffer by ignoring her. We can add days to our lives by living upright before God or we can cut your lives short by disregarding His counsel. In this passage, after teaching us so much about Lady Wisdom, Solomon names the other choice. He calls her Ms. Foolishness and she is a polar opposite to Lady Wisdom. While Lady Wisdom is poised, controlled, and a woman of few - but powerful - words, Ms. Foolishness is loud, unruly and clueless. She is on the road to nowhere and she attempts to take as many people with her as possible.While Lady Wisdom waits for true seekers to find her, in order that they might tap into her endless insight, Ms. Foolishness has loose lips. She sits at the highest point of the city and calls out to all those that pass by. Her counsel - although it's not worth much - is readily available and freely given; oftentimes without solicitation. She says, "Let all who are childish come in here," and the amazing part is that they do. Our text says that she speaks to those who have no sense and she has no shortage of followers.

While Lady Wisdom rarely encounters someone who is dedicated to spending time at her feet, hanging on to every word that flows from her mouth, Ms. Foolishness leads a full flock. Her house is filled with people that either
1) don't know any better or
2) know better, but just don't want to do better.

Please don't be one of them. Make the right choice. Follow Lady Wisdom. While it takes more effort to find Lady Wisdom and to get her to speak, when she does her words are power-packed and life changing. Anyone can find Ms. Foolishness and she will speak, even if not spoken to, but her words will not lead you anywhere and will leave you dazed and confused.

Make a decision on which one you will spend time with. Ms. Foolishness is easy to find. She shows up everywhere and she speaks about any and everything. Her words are scattered, silly and sloppy. She might keep you entertained, but while you are lulled in her entertainment you are not making any progress in life. Days turn into months and months into years and before you know it, you are squandering your life away. Now, Lady Wisdom on the other hand, she can make a difference in your life. She is harder to find. It will require effort on your part and she will not speak freely. You will have to spend time with her to get her to speak, but once she does, her words can change your life forever. Her words are purposeful, positive and powerful.

She chooses her words wisely and she gives you the insight you need to WIN in life. The time you spend with her is precious and it should be cherished. She is willing to share her counsel with all those that are ready to change their lives for the better. Are you one of them? Are you ready for a change? Are you ready to start to live the rest of your life passion? If you are ready to do your part, then Lady Wisdom is ready to do hers. She will lead you in the way that you should go.

Father, I thank You for giving me the right and responsibly to make my own decisions. I know that I have a choice between Lady Wisdom and Ms. Foolishness and I declare, by faith, that I choose Lady Wisdom today. I know she is not easy to find, but I will pursue her with my whole heart. I will find her wherever she is and I will spend the time with her that I need to, to make a difference in my life. She speaks and I listen. I receive, believe and apply her counsel. I make the course corrections she leads me to make to stay on the path You want me to be on. I am on the road to fulfilled purpose and Lady Wisdom is my guide! It all starts today! It all starts right NOW! In Jesus' name. Amen.

Be Still

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10

"Be still" can mean be quiet, quit struggling or stop attempting to do it yourself when you’ve got a problem. Do any of these definitions apply to you? If so, then stop attempting to manipulate your circumstances and relax and allow God to work.

However, grasping what the verse means, and applying it to your life is a whole different ball game. So her are some tips on how to "be still."

God is in Control: Yes, you must understand that He is allowing your difficulties; and if you understand that, then it follows that you must also believe He has permitted this event to happen.

His Purpose: It may be a bit hard to appreciate, but He has a purpose behind your trials, even though it may seem confusing to you. You can be absolutely certain that your loving Heavenly Father will never allow a hardship to descend upon you, without a good reason.

Positive Experiences: Inasmuch as there is a purpose behind your hardships, they must have the potential to be positive experiences. But remember this: Not everything will always work out, according to your own criterions and agendas. Nevertheless, you can be certain that if you respond correctly, you’ll be able to look back on the experience as a catalyst for growth in your spiritual walk.

I can write that on the authority of God’s Holy Word, because "we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28) In order to march successfully through life’s turbulence, you must fully comprehend its truth; and the truth is, that it’s working for your good.

Remember that God hasn’t abandoned you, nor is He neglecting you! He has a purpose in everything He allows, even the most challenging of your instances. "Who shall separate [you] from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: ‘For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.’ Yet in all these things [you] are more than [a] conqueror through Him who loved [you]." (Romans 8:35-37)

So, if you really get down, remind that old slew foot that "As for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good!" (Genesis 50:20) And then, as my pastor would say, hold your peace, hide your hurt and elevate your praise!!!

The Sufferings of His Broken Heart

Go with me for a moment to witness what was perhaps the foggiest night in history. The scene is very simple; you'll recognize it quickly. A grove of twisted olive trees. Ground cluttered with large rocks. A low stone fence. A dark, dark night.

Now, look into the picture. Look closely through the shadowy foliage. See that person? See that solitary figure? What's he doing? Flat on the ground. Face stained with dirt and tears. Fists pounding the hard earth. Eyes wide with a stupor of fear. Hair matted with salty sweat. Is that blood on his forehead?

That's Jesus. Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Maybe you've seen the classic portrait of Christ in the garden. Kneeling beside a big rock. Snow-white robe. Hands peacefully folded in prayer. A look of serenity on his face. Halo over his head. A spotlight from heaven illuminating his golden-brown hair.

Now, I'm no artist, but I can tell you one thing. The man who painted that picture didn't use the gospel of Mark as a pattern. When Mark wrote about that painful night, he used phrases like these: "Horror and dismay came over him." "My heart is ready to break with grief." "He went a little forward and threw himself on the ground."

Does this look like the picture of a saintly Jesus resting in the palm of God? Hardly. Mark used black paint to describe this scene. We see an agonizing, straining, and struggling Jesus. We see a "man of sorrows." (Isaiah 53:3 NASB) We see a man struggling with fear, wrestling with commitments, and yearning for relief.

We see Jesus in the fog of a broken heart.

The writer of Hebrews would later pen, "During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death." (Hebrews 5:7 NIV)

My, what a portrait! Jesus is in pain. Jesus is on the stage of fear. Jesus is cloaked, not in sainthood, but in humanity.

The next time the fog finds you, you might do well to remember Jesus in the garden. The next time you think that no one understands, reread the fourteenth chapter of Mark. The next time your self-pity convinces you that no one cares, pay a visit to Gethsemane. And the next time you wonder if God really perceives the pain that prevails on this dusty planet, listen to him pleading among the twisted trees.

The next time you are called to suffer, pay attention. It may be the closest you'll ever get to God. Watch closely. It could very well be that the hand that extends itself to lead you out of the fog is a pierced one.

Strength under Control

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
(Matthew 5:5, NKJ).

TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria
When most people hear that word “meek,” many times they think of a weak, shy, reserved or timid person who lets everybody run all over them. But that’s not at all what it means to be meek. Meekness is not weakness; it’s strength under control. Meekness is like a wild horse that has been tamed. He’s just as strong, just as powerful, has just as much speed as before, but now that strength is under control. You can walk up to him, pet him, lead the horse around, get on him and ride him. But don’t be fooled. He has the same power, the same tenacity as before, he’s just learned how to control it.

When you’re a meek person, you don’t have to go around trying to straighten everybody out. You don’t respond to every critic. People may be talking about you, but you don’t let it bother you. You may have the power to do something about it, but you realize your time is too valuable. You don’t fall for every distraction. Instead, you keep your focus on what God has called you to do. You keep your strength and power under control so that you choose to stay in peace and move forward in the victory the Lord has in store for you.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father in heaven, thank You for the blessing of meekness. I choose today to be a person of self-control. Help me to know when to speak and when to listen, when to respond and when to hold back, so that I can honor You all the days of my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

French Physicist Receives Award for Work Exploring the Spiritual Dimension

Reuters reports that a French physicist was awarded a prize for his work in quantum physics and postulating the existence of a spiritual dimension. Something that mankind has known through out the ages, but so far has resisted exploration in a solely intellectual manner.

For more information click on this link:

http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSTRE52F2GC20090316?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0&sp=true

SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by Marsha Burns -- March 19, 2009

Can you hear the sound of grass growing? (No, Lord.) Just as you cannot perceive the growth of vegetation in your environment, neither can you discern the spiritual growth of My children. I tell you truly that the growth is not only taking place, but it is rapid. I am raising up and bringing forth a people who are quickly becoming the Glorious Church. Rejoice in this exponential function, says the Lord.

1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

The LORD Will Go Before You and Be Your Rear Guard

SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by Marsha Burns -- March 18, 2009

Beloved, persevere through your current dilemma or difficulty. It won't do for just any opportunity to present itself; it must be the right circumstance for this juncture that will be the impetus to bring positive change and lasting progress. I will go before you and open the way of breakthrough. Ask for wisdom and trust Me to open doors that no man can shut and to shut doors that no man can open, says the Lord. Be strong and resolute.

Isaiah 52:12 For you shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight; for the LORD will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.

Gain Understanding

Gain Understanding

Paulette Fraticelli

(Prov 9:10 NIV) If you really want to become wise, you must begin by having respect for the LORD. To know the Holy One is to gain understand

Tonight I am writing to you again from Maui we continuing our counseling/mentoring session with Lady Wisdom. She shares two golden nuggets in this text that are worthy of further examination:

1. If you really want to become wise, you must begin by having respect for the LORD: Solomon's point here is that true wisdom is birthed in the heart, not the head. Head knowledge alone is limited, but when head knowledge is fed from heart knowledge, it becomes supernatural. Reverencing the Lord, spending time with Him, and acknowledging His omniscience opens you up to His infinite insight. If you really want wisdom, you must pursue it from Jehovah

2. To know the Holy One is to gain understanding: The word "know" here connotes intimacy. This is not cursory knowledge, but rather a covenant relationship with God that is both personal and powerful. Lady Wisdom tells us that this personal relationship with the Father will enable us to gain understanding. Gaining understanding is absolutely paramount in life. I keeps us aware of the current condition. However, situational awareness is not the end-state. Successful communicators are able to process/digest the information in their own minds and formulate an internal "Situational Understanding;" with which they are able to make informed decisions.

The point being that all we can do, as communicators, is assure they have the information, but they must have the training and experience necessary to formulate their own understanding. Without understanding, failure is inevitable. Lady Wisdom tells us that knowing God - having a true and intimate relationship with Him - gives birth to understanding for life and living. Being aware of God's purpose for your life does not mean that you automatically have the understanding of how to fulfill it. Awareness is good, but understanding it better.

Solomon's father (David) told us that God had understanding when He made the heavens (Psalm 136:5). He was not haphazard in creation. There was a purpose behind everything He did. David also asked God to give him understanding, so that he could live (Psalm 119:144). David knew that if he had Godly understanding he could live the life God intended for him to live. Earlier in Proverbs Solomon said, "Understanding will guard you" (2:11), and "Blessed is the one who finds wisdom and the one who gets understanding" (3:13).

So what does this mean ? It means that you need understanding for life. You don't want to just be aware of God, of His Word and of His Spirit. No, you want to understand Him, His heart, His nature, His character and His desire for your life. You want to understand His purpose and how to fulfill it before you die. You want to understand where you are, where you need to go, and how you need to get there. Understanding takes you from information to practical application - from head knowledge to heart knowledge!

Father, I thank You for understanding. I acknowledge and respect You as the author and finisher of my faith; the creator and sustainer of my life. It is in You that I live, move, and have my being. Without You I am nothing. I have a personal and powerful relationship with You and this relationship enables me to gain understanding. Not only do You reveal to me my purpose in life, but You also give me the insight to fulfill it before I die. I have the information and the application. I have working knowledge of what You want to do in me, with me, and through me. Understanding makes all the difference in my life! In Jesus' name. Amen.ing.

FAT

Being a FAT Christian

Paulette Fraticelli

(Prov 9:7-9 GNB) If you correct conceited people, you will only be insulted. If you reprimand evil people, you will only get hurt. Never correct conceited people; they will hate you for it. But if you correct the wise, they will respect you. Anything you say to the wise will make them wiser. Whatever you tell the righteous will add to their knowledge.

In our last message Lady Wisdom gave an open invitation to the ignorant and the foolish. No matter how ignorant and no matter how foolish a person is Lady Wisdom is convinced that if she spends enough time with them, she can get them on the right path and lead them down the right road. I was both ignorant and foolish before I came to God and I am eternally thankful that Lady Wisdom was patient with me. I came to God with a pretty rough background and I thought I knew what life was about, but in retrospect, I didn't have a clue. The United States has a great education system, but no school that I know teaches a class on life. However, churches all over the US and the world are teaching people daily how to live the lives that God intends for them to live. The first thing Lady Wisdom is looking to do is to teach you Life 101. After she gets the basics out of the way, she can share life-lessons with you that will keep you on course for the long haul. That's what she does in this passage. Let's seek to glean a few nuggets: 1. Reserve correction for those that can take it: If you attempt to correct someone who thinks they know it all, they will not only reject the correction, but they will hate you for attempting to correct them. 2. Correcting the right people helps all parties involved: If you correct the wise, not only will they get wiser, but they will respect you for caring enough about them to correct them. Your correction of them will help them to make the course corrections they need to make, to stay on the path God wants them to take. Additionally, they will have an elevated opinion of you, because you were the tool God used to provide the correction they needed. 3. Be a F.A.T. Christian: When I became a Christian my Pastor taught me that I needed to be F.A.T.; which stands for: Faithful, Available, and Teachable. The arrogant person in our text is not teachable. Be wary of the person that will not receive instruction or correction from anyone. That person has become the god of their own lives and they will soon find themselves spiraling out of control. If there are two things I have learned over my 10 years of Christian life, they are: 1) there is a God and 2) I am not Him! Father, I thank You for taking the time to document Your wisdom in a book that is made available to me. When I read the Bible I get to sit down, one-on-one, with Lady Wisdom and I am thankful for it. She teaches me and I listen. I am faithful, available, and teachable. She is the sage and I am the apprentice. She leads and I follow. She gives me pearls of wisdom to share with others and she leads me concerning whom to share them with. She uses me as the conduit through which God provides correction and instruction to others and we all benefit from it. Use me Father, today, for Your glory! In Jesus' name. Amen.

Turn Back the Battle at the Gate

SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by Marsha Burns -- March 17, 2009

Be still and listen, My children. Do you hear the clattering in the realm of the spirit? There is turmoil as the enemy is clamoring to re-gain his position and strongholds. This is because many of My warriors have run to the battle using the sword of the Spirit, My Word, to thwart his plans and defeat his purposes. Do not stop too soon in your efforts to route the devil. He is regrouping for another round of attacks. Watchmen, sound the alarm and stand at the ready. Turn back the battle at the gate, says the Lord.

Isaiah 28:5-6 In that day the LORD of hosts will be for a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty to the remnant of His people, for a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, and for strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.

The Ignorant and Foolish

The Ignorant and Foolish
Paulette Fraticelli

(Prov 9:4-6 GNB) "Come in, ignorant people!" And to the foolish she says, "Come, eat my food and drink the wine that I have mixed. Leave the company of ignorant people, and live. Follow the way of knowledge."

In our last message Lady Wisdom invited us into her home. Solomon made it clear that accepting her invitation would lead to a rewarding, fulfilling and enjoyable life. God does not want us to squander our life away on things that are insignificant. If we are not careful we can allow months to go by - for some even years - without accomplishing anything of eternal significance. Our years on the earth are too few and our destiny too important to wander aimlessly through life. Our heavenly Father wants us to live purpose-driven, vision focused, disciplined lives.

hear the sense of urgency in our text. Lady Wisdom invites the ignorant and the foolish to come in to her home and to stay a while. Often, before I preach or teach a Bible study, I pray something like this: "Father, I submit myself - Spirit, soul, and body - to by used by You to teach on tonight. Holy Spirit, You are teacher and I release myself as a tool in Your hands. Interrupt our ignorance, show us where we are going wrong." I can't begin to tell you how clueless I was about life before I came to God

thought I knew what I was doing, but the more I spent time with God (with Lady Wisdom) the more I realized how ignorant I was. I talk to people all the time that think life is about making money, or buying houses and cars. When I ask them questions with eternal significance they often look bothered, almost irritated, that I would bring that up. They would rather just live for the moment and let moments turn into days, days into months, months into years, and years into their lifetime.

Lady wisdom invites two categories of people into her home in this text: the ignorant and the foolish. Some people are truly ignorant and when they learn about God, the truth about Jesus, and the eternal consequences of their decisions they turn to God, accept His Son, and begin their true life's journey. But then others know better, they just fail to do better; these are not ignorant, they are foolish. They know what they should be doing, they know the eternal consequences of their decisions, they often even know what God wants them to do, but the cares and desires of this world keep them confined within the halls of childish bliss.
Lady Wisdom wants to spend time with both: the ignorant and the foolish. Why? Because God knows that if He spends enough time with anyone, no matter their previous condition, He can get them on the right path and lead them down the right road.

So what does this mean ?
It means that God wants you to spend time with Lady Wisdom; He wants to spend time with You so that He can provide you the insight, revelation, and wisdom you need to maximize your purpose and potential in life. I can tell you from personal experience that the education you receive from spending time with God is invaluable.

Godly wisdom will prepare you for success in life, no matter what road your life's journey takes you down. Whether it is in business, as a parent, in your marriage, in maintaining your health, or etc., spending quality time with God in prayer and in His Word in study will prepare you for it.


Father, I declare, by faith, that the wisdom I receive from spending quality time with You and in Your Word prepares me for life. Your wisdom interrupts and eliminates my ignorance. You teach me what I do not know and correct me in the areas in my life where I am being foolish. I welcome Your correction as my heavenly Father and I declare, in advance, that I will change my foolish ways. I apply Your truth to my life and it changes everything! I get on the right road and I stay on it. I become the man/woman You desire for me to be and I maximize my purpose and potential in life! In Jesus' name. Amen.

Spirit of Prophecy Bulletin

Spirit of Prophecy Bulletin
SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by Marsha Burns -- March 12, 2009:
In a dream it was winter with high snow banks and out of the snowy, white background emerged a beautiful white colt and it was carrying a small sword by the handle in its mouth. I had seen him some months before and was so happy to see him again, and he was overjoyed at seeing me. He reared up like he was going to try to hug me, and I thought his strength might hurt me, but it didn't. He didn't speak words to me, but we understood each other. The horse and I went to the river where there was a patch of green grass, and he put his sword down and ate. Then we went to visit a friend of mine and she tethered him to her camping trailer. He easily broke the bond, but didn't run away. He stayed with us because he wanted to.
Interpretation: There are other symbols in the dream, but these are the basics: the white represents righteousness, the white horse symbolizes the power of righteous warfare using the sword, or the Word of God. There is great joy in warfare that overcomes the enemy. The river and green grass represent the nourishment and rejuvenation of the flow of the Holy Spirit. We cannot harness or tether this power for ourselves. The power for warfare is a gift freely given to us.
Matthew 10:8 "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

The Invitation

The Invitation
Paulette Fraticelli

(Prov 9:1-3 MSG) Lady Wisdom has built and furnished her home; it's supported by seven hewn timbers. The banquet meal is ready to be served: lamb roasted, wine poured out, table set with silver and flowers. Having dismissed her serving maids, Lady Wisdom goes to town, stands in a prominent place, and invites everyone within sound of her voice.

In chapter 8 Solomon introduced God's wisdom to us as, "Lady Wisdom." In this chapter Solomon continues to use the same analogy as he paints a picture of a great feast. He tells us that Lady Wisdom has a beautiful home, fully furnished, and ready for a bountiful banquet. Everything you could want to eat is prepared and ready at the banquet. Once everything is in place and the only thing missing is your presence, Lady Wisdom goes out to town, stands in the town square, and makes her invitation. This eliminates all excuses. The table is spread, the silverware is set, the music is playing in the background, the flowers are already in water, the party is ready and all you have to do is show up to enjoy it.

Why does God paint a picture of a feast here? Why does He make the connection between His Wisdom and a good time? I believe it is because He is making His offer attractive and rightly so, He should.

Make no mistake, Jehovah and satan are rivals for the souls of men. Satan unashamedly paints a rosy picture of the life he offers. He makes his life - the life of sex, drugs, alcohol, fast money, and etc. - look very attractive and he make no excuses for it. His offer is both clear and deceptive at the same time. He clearly offers temporary pleasure, but what he fails to explain is that his offer bring with it eternal consequences. The enemy conveniently fails to show the fine print (on the bottom of the invitation) to his guests; the fine print that says, "All guests at this party are also reserved for a complimentary stay in eternal damnation."

Lady Wisdom's invitation has no fine print, no trappings, and no strings attached. To accept her invitation is to accept a rewarding, fulfilling and enjoyable life. Her table is spread, her feast is prepared, her party is ready, and the question is: will you accept the invite? Now, let me be clear. Accepting Christ as your Lord, becoming a Kingdom citizen, and deciding to walk with God all the days of your life does not mean that you will not face challenges. However, what it does mean is that you will not have to face the challenges alone. God will be in you, on you, with you, and for you every step of the way. With God on your side you can experience guiltless victory and success.
When you succeed God's way - a way free of corruption, lies, deceit and backbiting to get ahead - you gain the added benefit of being able to live free of regret, resentment and shame. Believe me, this is the Good life and it is awesome!

So what does this mean? It means that there are two invitations and they both look attractive, but only one comes with pure motives. Choose God, choose His path, choose His feast, and in so doing you literally choose the life He intends for you to live. There is a cause and effect for everything. Don't be fooled into thinking that your decisions do not matter. Hosea told us that if we sow wind we would reap a whirlwind (Hosea 8:7). So make sure you make the right choice.

Father, I choose Your invitation. I am take You up on Your offer. I am going to Your party. I am able to enjoy Your feast without having to give up my eternal destination for temporary pleasure. In You I can have both pleasure and peace. I can enjoy my life now and still have the confidence of eternal life with You. It is clear to me that Your life is the best life and I choose to live my best life now. I seek success Your way and I am able to enjoy success without regret, resentment or shame. I experience guiltless victory today and everyday! In Jesus' name. Amen

Maximizing Your Potential and Purpose

Maximizing Your Potential and Purpose

Paulette Fraticelli

March 11 2009

(Prov 8:35,35 MSG) When you find me, you find life, real life, to say nothing of GOD's good pleasure. But if you wrong me, you damage your very soul; when you reject me, you're flirting with death."

In our last message Lady Wisdom told us not to squander our lives. The reason the Lord wants us to live a disciplined, dedicated and determined life is so that we can maximize our purpose and potential, in the earth, before we die.

Let's say you created something with an explicit intended purpose. You put everything it needed to complete that purpose inside of it. Your creation, being a product of your design, would be especially prepared to complete the purpose you intended for it.

But let's say that you then chose to set two key parameters:

1) the creation would have to discover the purpose you put inside of them.

2)and it would have a choice as to whether or not it wanted to complete your purpose or go down another road.

There are obviously many more parameters in the story of man, but I hope you see the parallel. We are free moral agents. We can choose to either accept or reject God. We can choose to pursue or ignore our purpose. We can choose to maximize our potential or simply squander our lives. The bottom line is that the choice is ours.

From the creator's perspective the choice is clear. He wants us to maximize our potential and purpose. He wants us to arrive it His desired end for our lives and He will do all that He can - without violating our free will - to help us to arrive there. This is where God's Word, Spirit and wisdom come in. He provided us His will (documented) in His Word and He provided us His Spirit to lead, guide and direct us through life. Our text says that when we find wisdom we find real life.

Why does Solomon call it "real" life? Because it is the life that God intends for us to have. Listen, walking with God is about much more than just missing hell. Sure, He does not want you to go to hell, and that is why Jesus paid the penalty for your sin on Calvary's Cross. But if you are a Born-Again believer and all God intended for you to do was to miss hell, then you could die right now. The reason you are still alive is because purpose is still alive in your life. God is not through with You. You still have potential locked up inside of you. You still have purpose flowing through your veins.

I've heard it said that he richest soil on the planet is found in cemeteries. Why? Because of all the people that die full of purpose and potential. Countless riches (eternal) have been buried in cemeteries all over the world. Don't let it happen to you. Determine to die empty. Make a decision today that will change the rest of your life. Solomon says that when we reject wisdom we damage our very soul and we are flirting with death. Bigger than just physical death, he is talking about killing our purpose and potential.

God wants dearly for you to maximize everything He put inside of you, but because He is a God of integrity, He will never violate the order He has established. He will not violate your free will. He will do everything He can to help you, but at the end of the day, the choice is yours. You can either walk in His wisdom and enjoy His good pleasure or you can reject His wisdom and wind up damaging your own soul and flirting with premature death. What will you choose?

Father, I know that You are the Creator and I am the creation. I thank You for sending Your Son Jesus to die so that I could live. I have accepted Him as my Lord and I have eternal life. But I know that Your work in my life, in the earth, is not done. Therefore, I declare, by faith, that I will maximize the potential and purpose You put down inside of me. I make Godly decisions daily. Every day I get incrementally closer to Your expected end for my life. I refuse to die full. I will get out of me all that You put in me and in-so-doing, I glorify You with my life and living! In Jesus' name. Amen.

Spirit of Prophecy Bulletin
SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by Marsha Burns -- March 10, 2009In the spirit realm I heard one woman begin to sniffle and then cry as she was overcome with grief. Then, I heard others weeping with her until there was a great company of mourners. It was very sad, but suddenly there was a change in the spiritual atmosphere, perhaps an elevation and a quickening of faith. The sound of the multitude was not silenced, but the sound changed and took on the tone of joy. And, it became a very great rejoicing. I believe this company represents the Body of Christ in travail.

Romans 8:18-23 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.

Blessed TO BE a Blessing

Blessed TO BE a Blessing

Paulette Fraticelli

Prov 8:30-34 MSG) Delighted with the world of things and creatures, happily celebrating the human family. "So, my dear friends, listen carefully; those who embrace these my ways are most blessed. Mark a life of discipline and live wisely; don't squander your precious life. Blessed the man, blessed the woman, who listens to me, awake and ready for me each morning, alert and responsive as I start my day's work.

In our last message Lady Wisdom told us that she was the architect behind creation. She had God put the earth on the exact axis it needs to be so that our atmosphere remains intact. She led Him to place the earth in the proper distance from the sun - any closer and we would burn, any further and we would freeze. She was behind it all.

Creation is such an amazing feat that numerous books have been written about the marvelous works of God in it. There have been countless scientists who have dedicated years, some even their lifetimes, to the work of proving evolution, only come to the conclusion that there MUST have been someone behind the creation of the planet. Even many non-believers say that "Intelligent Design," was behind creation. Solomon gives the credit to Lady Wisdom and tells us plainly that her vast wisdom is available to us.In this passage Solomon urges us to listen carefully. After telling us that Lady Wisdom put the 'intelligence' in Intelligent Design, he tells us that if we embrace her we will be most blessed.


Verse after verse, chapter after chapter, God through Solomon is telling us that He desires that we will live life His way. Why? So that we can enjoy His best. He wants us to life long and fruitful lives. No loving father wants destruction, disaster and death for their children. He wants so dearly to bless us, but because He is a God of integrity, He cannot go against His Word. He will not bless mess. That's why He wants us to live our lives by His principles. He tells us here to live a life of discipline and to develop self-control, because without discipline we can easily squander our lives away. Year upon year can go by and before we know it, we are at the end of our lives, without anything to show for it. Please don't squander your life away. Attempt - with all your heart - to be the blessed man/woman God desires for you to be.

Solomon tells us that this blessed man/woman awakens alert and responsive, ready to start their day's work. Why? Because they start every day in prayer. They seek direction, guidance, insight and understanding. They know that their day is too important to attempt to face it alone. They spend quality time with the Father and they walk with Him throughout the day. This practice, this discipline, this dedication, enables them to develop into the person God intends for them to be. Once they are, He can truly bless them without measure. Once they are blessed, then they are prepared to BE the blessing He needs for them to be in their environment. "Blessed to be a blessing," that's what He promised to Abraham and to his seed. Are you ready to receive the blessing? Are you ready to BE a blessing?

So what does this mean? It means that God wants to use you to make a difference in your sphere of influence, but before He does, He needs you to be disciplined. He wants to bless you, but He refuses to bless the lazy, disobedient and ill prepared. So please do your part. Enter every day with the proper attitude. Spend quality time with the Father in prayer. Seek His guidance and insight. Ask Him for revelation and understanding. Seek - with your whole heart - to do things His way.

If you do these things, then your loving, caring and sharing heavenly Father will have no reason to withhold His best from you!


When I fist started writing this series I was attacked about not using wisdom by a very close friend and confidant. The enemy is very cunning and at times uses our closes friends or some one we respect. Why? Because their word or actions is what would/could really hurt us the most. A close friends disapproving words can cut like a knife. Fortunately for me I knew that this was a fiery dart form the enemy. I also know that he could not use a stranger to pull off his attack as I would not have accepted it, and would know immediately the source of the attack. I knew that what this person said to me was not what God would say so I could dismiss it and realized it was not God’s best for me.

Father, I declare, by faith, that I do my part and You do yours. I forgive quickly and love freely. I enter into this day and every day with great expectation. I pray, I seek Your face, and I am determined to live my life in accordance with Your Word. I do things Your way and I get Your desired results. My mind is alert, my body is awake, my spirit is attuned and I am ready to BE a blessing today. Bless me to BE a blessing, Father, and use me for Your glory! In Jesus' name. Amen.