Don't Be Deceived

(Prov 14:12,13 MSG) There's a way of life that looks harmless enough; look again-it leads straight to hell. Sure, those people appear to be having a good time, but all that laughter will end in heartbreak

This morning we continue our series, Solomon continues to flow in the same vein as yesterday's message as he tells us that there is a way of life that seems harmless enough, but that way leads to hell. The New International Version of verse 12 reads:

"There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death."

There's the problem. The way without God, for many, seems right; it seems harmless enough. I have met countless people that have said things like, "Hey, I'm a good person. I try to live a good life. I don't bother anyone. I think I am good to go." The problem with that argument is that none of us - on our own merit alone - are good enough.

We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23).

We have all come up short. We have all missed the mark. We have all done things that violated God's standard. But then there those that say, "That's the problem right there. I don't believe in this 'so-called' God's standard. Man wrote the Bible anyway. I don't believe that stuff. If there is a god, he will be OK with me, because I live a good life." The problem with that argument is that there is a God, He has given us His Word, His Word is true, and His Word clearly offers us eternal life through His Son Jesus.

John plainly stated: "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" (1st John 5:11,12). Whenever I read that passage I normally follow it up by asking, "What are your questions? It does not get much plainer than that.

Eternal life is available, but only through Jesus. But many don't believe it. Many have been deceived into thinking that the Bible is wrong, that there is no such thing as heaven or hell, or that if there is, they will 'make the cut' based upon their supposed goodness.

Eve fell into this trap. She knew what God said. She knew His standard. She knew the consequences. She knew that if she violated God's command that she was going to die and she told that to the serpent (Gen 3:3). But the serpent (satan) said, "You will not surely die" (Gen 3:4).

Do you see what happened? He spoke against God's Word. He basically told Eve that God's Word was not true and she made the fatal mistake of believing him. Paul tells us that Eve was "Deceived by the serpent's cunning" (2nd Cor 11:3) and he warns not to fall into the same trap.

During the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it" (Mat 7:13,14).

So what does this mean to you It means that there is a Broad Way, but believe me, that's not the one you want to visit. Satan has deceived multitudes into believing that God's Word is not true, that His standard is old-fashioned, and that His way of living is not practical today. But don't be deceived. Not only is God's Word true and His way of living practical, but it is AWESOME!

The enemy attempts to lure people down his path by telling them that they can have fun with him, but as a believer not only do you have eternal life, but you can enjoy life NOW! You can enjoy supernatural peace NOW, even when faced with challenges. You can have an indescribable joy NOW, even while surrounded by despair. You can experience God's overwhelming love NOW, even in a world full of hate. Yes, many have been deceived, but you can help lead them out of their deception if you walk in the fullness of the life Christ Jesus died to give you.

Show the world that God's way is true and it's AMAZING!

Father, I thank You for sending people my way that shared Your love and Your light with me when I was lost and deceived. I now see how many are where I used to be. Use me Father to share Your love and light with them. Help me to represent Your Kingdom in the right way, so that they can see the error of their ways. Not only have you given me eternal life, but You have given me an awesome and amazing life NOW! And I will never cease to thank You for it! In Jesus' name. Amen!

Building the Right Edifice



Prov 14:11 NIV) The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.



This morning we continue our series, In this chapter Solomon has been contrasting the life of the wicked (or the ungodly) with the life of the righteous. In this verse he plainly tells us that ultimate end of the house of the wicked is destruction. If their end is destruction, then what is our end?



What's the contrast? He tells us that our tent (or our dwelling place) shall flourish. The house that the wicked build with materials of their life's work will ultimately be destroyed, but the house that we, the believers, build with the materials of our life's work will not only remain, but it will prosper; it will stand long and strong.

Solomon said something similar in a psalm he wrote (Psalm 127). In that psalm he said, "Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain" (v.1). Notice that both the Godly and the wicked work, they both labor, they both make investments into their own lives, and they both strive to achieve things in life.



But those who attempt to live their lives without God, who try to do everything on their own and with their own strength, eventually find out that their labor was in vain. The wicked put all sorts of work into their lives, they pursue human achievement, but they do it without God; all the while believing that they are building some great edifice. They are saddened when they realize that life without God is not true life at all.



The Message Bible translation of our focus text reads: "Lives of careless wrongdoing are tumbledown shacks; holy living builds soaring cathedrals." Do you want to build a shack or a cathedral with your life? Do you want your life's work to be destroyed or do you want it to flourish? If you want it to remain, then you must endeavor to do what you do WITH God and not without Him.



I remember when I first gave my life to Christ; there was an older lady in the church who used to say to me , "Baby, only what you do for God will last."

In John's first letter he said, "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." The word "world" here is a reference to a certain way of doing things - the way that DOES NOT include God.



In essence John was saying, "Don't seek to do things without God, because if you do it proves that you don't really love Him." John went on to say, "For everything in the world-the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does-comes not from the Father but from the world."



Did you catch that? The world's way of doing things, the way that does not include God, is a way full of lust and pride. It is all about what we can do and not about what God can do through us; it's about human achievement and not divine empowerment.



John then closes it out by saying, "The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever" (see 1st John 2:15-17).

So what does this mean to you? It means that you have a choice. You can either live your life on human effort and seek human achievement alone, or you can live with your with God, with His help, with His empowerment, and for His purposes.

Both ways will build an edifice, but only the way with God will build something that will Stand and Stand Forever!

Father, I thank You for making it clear to me that there are two ways. I can either live with You or without You. I can choose to live my life based upon human effort and achievement alone or I can seek to fulfill your purposes for my life, with the Power of Your Spirit operating through my life. I have made my choice. I choose to live with, in, and for You! I choose Your way and not the way of the world. I seek to live a life that produces an everlasting testament of Your goodness. My labor shall not be in vain. I labor with You, all that I do stands, and it shall stand forever! In Jesus' name. Amen!

Your God is Always There!

(Prov 14:10 NIV) Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy.

This morning we continue our series, In this verse Solomon tells us something pretty profound. He explains to us that when it is all said and done, our deepest bitterness and joy is locked up inside of our own heart and it seems like we can't truly share them.

Do we share experiences with others? Of course we do. But I believe his point is that we are who we are when no one else is around. There are some things that we express and experience with our God that we can't seem to share with anyone else. But the good news is that God is always there and He is always ready, willing, and able to help. Let's look at three examples of what I mean:

Moses: After a 40-year hiatus, Moses came back to Egypt with nothing but his rod and his God. What did he come back for? To lead his countrymen out of bondage. Did he come back because God was leading him? Absolutely! But he also came back, because he loved his people. He was out in the wilderness, with a new life, among new people, but his heart still yearned to be around the Jews. So he came back, he was used mightily, and then, after God manifested His glory supernaturally, he went up into the mountain to spend quality time with God and to receive direction for what to do next.

But he came down from the mountain only to find his people going astray. He had left his brother in charge, but his brother failed him. The people built a golden calf. They wanted to worship an image instead of the invisible (But True) God. Moses was extremely frustrated. He had put his life on the line for the people and they repaid him with rebellion. But he found solace in, and ultimate direction from, his God.

David: Let me tell you about a time where David's closest friends failed him. David had experienced his fair share of trying times as he sought to avoid the many attempts Saul made on his life. But time after time, his men and his family were there to support him. However, one-day David's army was rejected from participating in a battle and they were directed to go home.

They made it home to Ziklag, only to find the town torn to pieces and burned to the ground. To make matter worse, all their families were gone. David and his men cried until he did not have any tears left. But then, at his lowest point, David's men turned on him and they spoke of stoning him to death. All David had left was his God and His God saw him through it.

Jesus: You can't say too much about the investment Jesus made in the life of the Apostles. For three and a half years He poured into them and then, towards the end, when He needed them just as much as they needed Him, they failed Him. And it was not even the 12, but rather his inner circle, the three (Peter, James, and John). When He was at His lowest point He asked His inner circle to pray with Him and they fell sleep on Him. They could not even pray for an hour. Jesus then said something that is very telling and that lines up with this message. He said, "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Mat 26:41).

So what does this mean? It means that sometimes even the most well-intentioned people will fail you. Humans are limited, but God is limitless. He is there when you feel like you have a bitterness you can't share or even a joy you can't explain. Whether up or down, whether in pain or in pleasure, the message is: your God is always there!

Father, I thank You for always being there for me. There have been times where I have felt all alone and You were there. There have also been times where I had a joy that I could not explain to anyone, but You were also there. You are there for me every second of every day and for that I want to say, THANK YOU! Thank You Father for being there for me through good times and bad, through ups and downs, through thick and thin, through highs and lows. As I enter this day I have supernatural peace, that gives birth to overwhelming confidence, because I know that You are there! In J

The Danger of Making a Mockery of Sin

Prov 14:9 NIV) Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright.

This morning we continue our series, In this verse Solomon reminds us of something that we must acknowledge, confess, and repent from sin. Solomon tells us that it is only the fool who makes a mockery of making amends with sin. It is the fool who believes that sin does not have consequences anymore or that sin is now somehow alright, because we are living in the 21st century.

The New Living Translation reads: "Fools make fun of guilt, but the godly acknowledge it and seek reconciliation." When a believer sins, part of the role of the Holy Spirit is to convict us. Now, I said convict and not condemn. The enemy will attempt to condemn you, because condemnation will make you feel disconnected from God and in that state you will never come to Him for reconciliation and restoration.

But if you get convicted in your heart, you will know that what you have done is wrong and you will seek restoration through Godly repentance. While this seems like pretty straightforward teaching to me, I know that this is not popular teaching today.

Solomon's words ring true all over the world where people are making a mockery of sin, of God's Word, and of His standard. The Message Bible translated this verse: "The stupid ridicule right and wrong, but a moral life is a favored life." This translation stuck out with me because many today don't believe in right and wrong. They want to accept any and everything.

No one wants to tell someone else that they are wrong; as if everything is right and should be accepted.

No! While we should love the sinner, we, as believers, must hate the sin. As a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I must to call right "right" and wrong "wrong!" I am called to teach the truth, not to win a popularity contest. Accepting the sinner is one thing, but accepting the sin is something else altogether!

Families have been destroyed, lives have been wrecked, businesses have been bankrupted, and destinies have been aborted because sin was not acknowledged and dealt with.

In John's first letter he said, "This is the message we heard from Jesusand now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin."

There is nothing confusing about that. John tells us that God is light, so we should be light. If we say that we have moved, then people should not continue to find us at our old address. But don't get me wrong, that does not mean that we will be completely sinless.

John continues, "If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts" (see 1st John 1:5-10).

So what does this mean? It means that while you may not get to the point where you are completely sinless, you should definitely get to the point where you sin less! Sin should no longer be your lifestyle. Sin should not be something that you take lightly. Don't make a mockery of sin, because if you do, it will make a mockery of you.

So if you sin, acknowledge it, quickly repent, receive forgiveness, forgive yourself, and seek to walk in purity - by faith!

Father, I thank You for maintaining the Standard! I appreciate the standard You have established in Your Word and I seek to walk in it daily. Sin is no longer my way of life. While I may not be sinless, I do sin less. If I do sin, I will quickly repent before You, so that I can receive forgiveness and move on. I thank You for convicting me when I am wrong and for helping me to know the difference between conviction and condemnation. I refuse to walk in condemnation. I am covered by the Blood of Jesus and I walk in the newness of the life He died to give me - by FAITH! In Jesus' name. Amen!

The Right Friends

(Prov 14:7,8 MSG) The wisdom of the wise keeps life on track; the foolishness of fools lands them in the ditch. The stupid ridicule right and wrong, but a moral life is a favored life.

This morning we continue our series In this verse Solomon goes back to teaching us about the benefits of walking with the wise. This is definitely a recurring theme in his teachings. His point is that if you surround yourself with the wrong people, you will become the wrong person.

Why? Because those we choose to associate with will eventually - good or bad - influence us. I have already shared a great deal about this from Solomon's teachings, so this morning I will share with you something that Dr. I. V. Hilliard wrote in "Mental Toughness for Success." He said that there are four main factors that shape our value and belief system. Let's take a quick look at them:

1. Social Environment: Peer pressure is a powerful force, especially in our formative years. When we are attempting to form our own identity we oftentimes mimic those around us. If we are around the wrong people, we will mimic the wrong things. I know many of us don't like the saying, but in many ways, we are "a product of our environment." Solomon drives this home as he urges us to surround ourselves with the wise. Their wisdom will help us keep our lives on track. However, the foolishness of fools can land us all in a ditch!

2. Credible Authority Figures: This is a big one. Your mind normally filters what you hear, based upon the relevance of the person who stated it. For example, if a person you do not consider credible makes a statement you disagree with, you simply "blow it off." The statement will not mean much to you, because the person did not mean much to you. However, if a person you consider credible says something you disagree with, then you will seriously consider the source. It may be that you are wrong in that area and that you need to research it for a possible change. This is why it is so very important that we surround ourselves with Godly wise people. God, through them, will share valuable insight that will keep us on the path towards develop and destiny.

3. Repetitious Information: You eventually believe what you consistently receive. This is why it is very important to protect your "ear gate." If you surround yourself with fools, you are going to receive foolish input. But if you surround yourself with the wise, you will continually be in an environment of Godly learning.

4. Personal Experiences: We have all heard the lesson of telling a child not to touch the fire, and how they rarely listen until they experience the heat for themselves. Our personal experiences are emblazoned upon the canvas of our heart and no one can take them from us. They are part of the fabric that makes us who we are.

So what does this mean to you ? It means that since three out of the four of these have to do with others, it is extremely important that you make a conscious decision to surround yourself with the right people. One way or another, you will be influenced by others, so you might as well ensure that the influence you expose yourself to is good!

Remember, at the end of the day, you choose your friends and it's an important decision, because they can either help you keep your life on track or they can take you down into the ditch with them as they go!

Father, I thank You for helping me to see the significance of the role that my friends play in my life. I will choose my friends wisely. I will surround myself with Godly wise people, so that I can receive wise input and be influenced in the right way. I help to create a creative environment that will help foster growth and development for my friends and me. We influence each other in the right way and we help keep each other's life on track! In Jesus' name. Amen!

Do you want to Develop?

(Prov 14:5 NLT) A mocker seeks wisdom and never finds it, but knowledge comes easily to those with understanding.
This morning we continue our series, In this verse Solomon teaches us that we must pursue wisdom with a pure heart. Have you ever met someone who does not take anything seriously? I have met my fair share. People like this are constantly joking, jesting, and making a mockery of everything.

Many of them approach the Bible with irreverence. They joke about creation, they laugh at the stories of the Bible, and they question its validity, but if questioned about the sincerity of their desire to learn, they quickly claim that they are serious about their personal development. The problem is that personal development is no joking matter.

Growing in Christ is not going to happen by mistake. We must come to God and His Word with a solemn hunger and thirst for righteous. If we do, we SHALL be filled! God will not take seriously those who don't take Him seriously.

Albert Barnes, in his commentary on this verse, said: "The successful pursuit of wisdom presupposes at least earnestness and reverence. The mocker shuts himself out from the capacity of recognizing truth."

Wow! Believe me, I know from experience that those who desire grow and develop in Christ, will do so, (I have girls in my life group that are living proof). While those you ridicule the process will be ridiculed by it. There is nothing hidden about the teachings of God, but we must seek them with complete sincerity. Once we do, they become plain to us, as if the words we had read many times before begin to leap off of the pages and into the recesses of our heart.

In Matthew chapter 13 Jesus was teaching in the form of parables. Crowds followed Him to hear His teaching, but He was not deceived by the size of the crowds. He knew that not all of those with Him were for Him. He knew that there were many in the crowds, like the Pharisees and Sadducees, who were not there to learn, but rather to find something they could accuse Him of. They wanted to make a mockery of His ministry; they sought to discredit His name.

Let's see what Jesus said about them: "To those who listen to My teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. That is why I use these parables, For they look, but they don't really see. They hear, but they don't really listen or understand. This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says, 'When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend. For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes-so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to Me and let Me heal them.' But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear" (verses 12-16).

I pray you fall into the latter category this morning; that you be part of the ones with the blessed eyes and ears that are able to see and hear the things God wants to teach you. But your capacity to truly receive will be contingent upon the quality and content of your heart.

So what does this mean to you? It means that if you truly want to grow in Christ the Father will give you every opportunity to do so. Part of the role of the Holy Spirit is to reveal to you the things of God. Paul explained this to the church at Corinth when he said, "We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us" (1st Cor 2:12). But, if you come to God with the wrong motives you will never grow; you will never develop into the person the Father desires for you to be.

Father, I thank You for wanting to grow and for desiring to develop me in a mature citizen in Your Kingdom. I thank You for wanting to invest in me. I declare, right now, by faith, that I want to grow. I want to develop. I want to learn. I want to become all that You would have me to be. I refuse to come to you with the wrong motives. I refuse to make a mockery of You or Your Word. I come to You with an earnest hunger and thirst for righteousness and I know I shall be filled! In Jesus' name. Amen!

A Faithful Witness

Prov 14:4 AMP) A faithful witness will not lie, but a false witness breathes out falsehoods.

This morning we continue our series in this verse Solomon contrasts the faithful witness, who will not lie, with the false witness, who can't help but breathe falsehoods. We know that God is a God of integrity and that He expects the same of His children. We know that He is truth and in Him there is no lying.

As a matter of fact, in this series I have already covered the fact God cannot lie (see Titus 1:2). And we have also learned that not only is a satan a liar, but he is the father of lies.

In John chapter eight Jesus had conversation with a group of Jews that came up against him. They were supposedly waiting for the Messiah, but He was standing right in front of them. They devised a plan to kill Jesus and in their minds they were doing this for God. They were deceived and not walking with God at all.

Jesus plainly and boldly told them: "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies" (John 8:42-44). Now that's strong language, but it's the truth. The devil is a liar and the father of lies. Lying is his native tongue.

In chapter two we Solomon said, "He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity" (2:7). In chapter eight God said the following through Solomon: "For I speak the truth and detest every kind of deception. My advice is wholesome. There is nothing devious or crooked in it. My words are plain to anyone with understanding, clear to those with knowledge" (8:7-9); and "I walk in ways that are honest. I take paths that are right. I leave riches to those who love me. I give them more than they have room for" (8:20,21).

Believe me, it does not take a rocket scientist to figure out the fact that God expects us to operate in truth and honestly, instead of lies and deceit. But what I see different in this morning's verse is that Solomon chose to use the word, "faithful" instead of simply saying, "honest." It's the faithful witness who will not lie. Notice that he did not say he could not. He definitely can, but since he is faithful to God he refuses to violate his integrity.

He is so faithful that he is committed to God in ALL his ways. He is not just committed when people are looking. He is not just committed in church on Sundays. He is not just committed when things are going well. He is not just committed for a month, or a year, or even a decade. He is a faithful man and he wills his will to line up with God's character! Believe me, men (and women) like this are not common. In the 20th chapter Solomon said, "Many a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find?" (20:6). This was from the New International Version, the New Living Translation of reads: "Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is truly reliable?"

So what does this mean to you ? It means that the Father expects you to be faithful, and I mean truly faithful! Are you the faithful woman (or man). God is looking for? Are you truly reliable? Are you committed to walking in Godly character every day of your life? Are you the person that wills their will to please the Lord? If so, you WILL walk in the Blessing!

Father, I thank You for laying out the clear standard in Your Word. I declare, right now, by faith, that I am that faithful woman (or man). I am truly reliable, because I walk in Your Word, Your will, and Your way. I will my will to please You. I resist every temptation to violate Your integrity and to dishonor the Godly character You have developed in me. I speak the truth, I walk in love, and I abstain from even the appearance of evil. Why? Because I am FAITHFUL and I shall be all the days of my life! In Jesus' name. Amen!

The Lips of the Wise

(Prov 14:3 ASV) In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for his pride; But the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

This morning we continue our series in this verse Solomon contrasts the lips of the foolish with the lips of the wise. He makes it clear that the lips of the foolish are filled with a rod, because of their pride. The rod is a reference to punishment.

In other words, he is saying that the prideful words of the foolish will get them in trouble, whereas the lips of the wise will keep them out of it. The Good News Bible translation of this verse reads:

“Proud fools talk too much; the words of the wise protect them.”

I am sure we have all met prideful people who talk too much. The Bible has a lot to say about pride and it something that we must all be careful of. As a matter of fact, pride is one of satan’s “Big Three” weapons; which are:
1) the lust of the flesh,
2) the lust of the eyes, and
3) the pride of life (1st John 2:16).

The enemy knows that if he can get us to operate in pride, that we will get ourselves out of the will of God. Make no mistake, satan knows the Word and He know that God “Resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (1st Peter 5:5). He knows that, “

Pride goes before destruction” (Proverbs 16:18), and that “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom” (Proverbs 11:2).

Yes, no doubt about it, our enemy knows all the ins and outs of pride. And he knows first-hand the repercussions of it, pride was what got him kicked out of heaven. Isaiah talks about it in the 14th chapter of his book:

“Satan said, “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High" (Isaiah 14:13,14).

What do you see in those two verses? You see how satan’s mouth was filled with a rod for his pride. His prideful words got him in trouble.

Let’s look at another example. When God desired to lead His people out of Egypt, He chose Moses to operate through (and with). When Moses arrived in Egypt and got an audience with Pharaoh, he said what God told him to say:

“This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Let My people go so they may hold a festival in My honor in the wilderness.”

Although Pharaoh was a king, Moses was the mouthpiece for the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Moses was speaking for the Most High God, but Pharaoh, full of pride, said, “Is that so? And who is the LORD? Why should I listen to Him and let Israel go? I don't know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go” (Exodus 5:1,2). We all know how that story ended.

So what does this mean to you ? It means that if you want to remain in the Blessing, and if you desire to walk in God’s best, then you must make every effort to fill your lips with humility and Godly wisdom. Make no doubt about it, the power of death and life are in the tongue (Proverbs 18:21) and your words DO matter. When your words are seasoned with humility and grace, you literally protect yourself from self-inflicted wounds. But when you allow pride to fill your lips, you open the door to destruction. Pride pleases satan, humility (controlled confidence) pleases God.

So as you enter this day, be determined to resist pride and to fill your lips with the humility the Father expects from you.

Father, I thank You for blessing me to make a difference today in the lives of others. I know that I am, who I am, by Your grace and Your goodness. I know that I am able to do, what I am able to do, because You have blessed me to do it. I know that I am NOT my own person. I am Your child, I am called according to Your purpose, and without You, I can do nothing. I honor You, I respect You, and I submit to You as I enter this day. I resist every temptation to operate in pride and I fill my lips with Your grace, Your humility, and Your Love! My lips are the lips of the wise and they preserve me! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

The Fear of the Lord

(Prov 14:2 TNV) Whoever fears the LORD walks uprightly, but those who despise him are devious in their ways.

This morning we continue our series, in this verse Solomon goes back to a reoccurring theme in scripture as he discusses the fear of the Lord. He explains how those that fear God walk uprightly. They don’t just simply give their God lip service, they seek to please Him in all their ways. While those who despise or disregard God are simply devious in their ways. Once again, not just in their words, but in their ways, in their actions.

The Psalmist said, “How joyful are those who fear the LORD—all who follow His ways!” (Psalm 128:1). I keep driving home the word “ways,” because it is key. Many claim (with their lips) to serve God. Many claim to have a personal and intimate relationship with Him. But it comes down to actions.

There was an instance where Jesus was having a conversation with the religious leadership of His time and He said, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me’ ” (Matthew 15:7,8). Anyone can say that they love God, but those that fear Him will show it.

Now, I keep using the word “fear,” and I believe I need to explain it, because I am not making a reference to the emotion that is aroused by impending danger. That’s not it at all.

The word fear, within the context of Solomon’s teaching, is a reverential awe or respect. Let me give you an example. I was raised in Hawaii by my mother. She worked hard she helped many other family members as well. My mother was (and is) highly respected within our family and within the circles we associate with. Although our community was pretty small and everyone knew I was my mother’s child (poor lady).

Everything I did, good or bad, was a reflection on my mother. She taught me, with her words and actions, what it meant to live upright. She taught me about things that are not talked about much today, like: honor, integrity, respect, courtesy, dignity, and the like. She always cautioned me to think before I acted, because she knew that my actions would be connected to her.

And guess what? It worked! I can remember thinking, on countless occasions, when posed with opportunities to do wrong, “How is this going to reflect upon my mother?” And since I feared her, I chose to do right (at least most of the time). Now, this was not a type of fear where I was afraid of punishment. I simply respected my mother, her name, her character, and her reputation too much to do anything that would taint it. This is the type of fear Solomon is talking about.

So what does this mean to you ? It means that your actions are sending a message. They either say, “I fear my Lord. I respect Him enough to walk upright before Him and man. I refuse to do anything that will dishonor, disrespect, or defame Him!” Or they say, “I am my own man. I do my own thing. I have no regard for God or anyone else.” Like with anything else, the choice is yours, but just remember, you will reap the harvest of whatever you decide.

Father, I declare, right now, with a clear conscious and clean hands, that I fear You. I revere and respect You. I know You are flawless in all Your ways. I know Your name is righteous and pure. I know Your ways are upright and true. You are my God and I worship You. But I don’t just do it with my lips. I will honor You with my life. I will bring You glory with my actions. I will walk upright before You and man. I will make decisions that line up with You Word. I will walk in integrity, honor, virtue, righteousness, truth, and peace. I remember who I am and whose I am before I make decisions today and every day. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

A Godly Wife

(Prov 14:1 NLT) A wise woman builds her home, but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands.

This morning we continue our series, In this verse Solomon contrasts wise and foolish women. On the one hand you have the wise woman. She is a blessing to her household. She works diligently and conscientiously. She is always on the lookout for ways to be a blessing to her husband and her children. She manages the home, nurtures and educates the children, and does all that she can to ensure her home is refuge for her family from the daily grind of the world.

Now, some of you may be thinking: but what about today? You are describing a homemaker. What about a woman who works outside of the home? I believe the same applies. While working outside of the home does make things more challenging for the family, the same principles apply.

God expects the wife (and the husband for that matter) to do all that she can to build up, and never tear down her home. Physically, she makes sure that the home is taken care of and well maintained. Spiritually, she prays over her children, her husband, and her property. Relationally, she provides comfort and correction to her children, while being a source of strength and love to her husband.

Who is she? She is a Godly wife – later described as a Virtuous Woman (chapter 31) – who builds her home (the physical structure and the family bond) with God’s grace and strength.

On the other hand you have the foolish woman. This woman is a liability (instead of an asset) to her family. Instead of working diligently, she is lazy. Instead of maintaining everything, she allows things to do into disrepair. Instead of saving, she is wasteful. Instead of teaching her children the scriptures, she neglects her Godly duties. Instead of satisfying her husband’s physical needs, she neglects him altogether. Instead of making her home a refuge for her family, she makes it a place where neither the children, nor her husband want to come home to.

Later in Proverbs Solomon said, “Better to live on the roof than share the house with a nagging wife” (21:9). Solomon says that she literally tears her house down with her own hands. She single-handedly destroys all that she and her husband spent time to building. This is NOT the type of wife that God expects believing women to be.

One of the greatest things I think I possess is my belief and confidence in my husband. If he ever feels down, he knows that I will build him up. If he ever have a long and hard day, he know that he can come home and find refuge, because I have made our house a home of peace.

When he enter the doors he is able to release any stress, struggle, and strain from the day. I know that I am a Virtuous Woman and for that I am eternally thankful. Because in the natural I could have never done the things I do but with the help of our Super Natural God I am more than able. I am (no question) a better woman, wife, mother, and minister of the gospel, because of what God has placed in me. I have built a home (the physical structure and the family bond) that is a blessing to my entire household.

So what does this mean to? This message is obviously geared towards women and it means that as believers, as daughters of Zion and women of God, you should seek to be a blessing to your family. Whether you work outside of the home or not, the Father expects you to establish and atmosphere of development and peace, not one of destruction and turmoil.

Be the wise woman who builds her home, not the foolish woman who tears it down.

Father, I thank You for blessing me to be a Godly and Virtuous Woman. I declare, by faith, that I am a blessing and never a burden to my family. I overcome laziness and procrastination. I work diligently and dutifully. I establish an atmosphere of peace and rest for my husband and my children to come home to. I make sure they never dread coming home, but rather look forward to entering their refuge. When they come to me, I provide them with comforting and consoling words; words that build up and never tear down. I am the wife You desire for me to be! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Contentment

(Prov 13:25 NLT) An appetite for good brings much satisfaction, but the belly of the wicked always wants more.

This morning we continue our series, In this verse Solomon contrasts the appetites of the Godly and the wicked. The appetite Solomon refers to here can also be called your inner drive or inner motivation. We all have something that drives us to get out of the bed in the morning and face the day.

For many, especially whose without God, it’s the motivation to make money, to get ahead, and to keep up with the proverbial Jones’. The challenge is for us to be able to answer the following questions: What is enough? How much ‘stuff’ do you need to be happy? Do you need the ‘stuff’ to be happy? Is life about more than just the accumulation of things?

Solomon tells us that the Godly and the wicked both have an appetite, they are both driven by inner motives, but while the Godly enjoys much satisfaction in their walk with Christ, the wicked are never satisfied. Later on in Proverbs Solomon said,

“For the despondent, every day brings trouble; for the happy heart, life is a continual feast” (Prov 15:15).

Every day for the believer should be a feast where we eat, are full in God, and satisfied in His goodness. Now, this does not mean that ambition is bad, or determination is somehow wicked, but what it does mean is that as a children of God we can aspire to maximize our purpose and potential, while being completely content in our current state.

I don’t mean a contentment that leads to stagnation, but rather one that leads to an internal and overwhelming peace.

This peace, God’s peace, is birthed out of the knowledge that we are in God, He is in us, and He will never leave us helpless or hopeless. The writer of Hebrews said,

“Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]” (Heb 13:5 AMP).

Greed has ruined many lives, but when we know that God is in us, on us, with us, and for us, we develop the ability to be content wherever we are (physically or financially).

Paul said, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want” (Phil 4:11,12).

I too can say that I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation. I am currently at work and yesterday my husband was in a very bad accident. Do I miss being with him and helping him through all the issues he has to face today? Absolutely! So I miss the fact that I can not be there to support him as he has to call and get this all solved? Yes!! But do I know that I am here on purpose and I at peace with and in God? Yes I am! Did I know I serve a big God that took care of my husband during this accident that could have been much worst that him just walking away with a lot of cuts and bruises, yes, Did I had to forgive the other driver for his neglect that could have cost my husbands life? Absolutely!

So what does this mean to you? It means that the Father wants you to learn the secret of being content in Him. This is about more than just money, or greed, or an insatiable desire for ‘things.’ It’s about knowing that God is with you wherever you are and in every situation. Solomon described a wicked person who is never satisfied. There is a difference between wanting to grow and ungodly ambition. Never fall into the category of the latter.

Thank God for where you are today, no matter the situation, and receive His inner peace.

Father, I thank You for birthing inside of me an inner drive to grow, to develop in You, to evolve into the person You desire for me to be, and to maximize my purpose and potential, in the earth, before I die. And I also thank You for blessing my husband and I to be able to find contentment along the way. My desire for growth will never disrupt my inner peace in You. Thank You Father for committing to never leave US helpless and to never relax Your hold on US. Your presence gives US peace. I enter this day with an inner drive to grow more, but also with an inner satisfaction for all that I have already grown in You. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Disciplining Your Children In Love

(Prov 13:24 NLT) Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children. Those who love their children care enough to discipline them.

This morning we continue our series In this verse Solomon teaches us something that is not popular today – the importance of disciplining our children. As believers, the motivation for the discipline should be love. On the flip side, if we fail to discipline them, he tells that it is as if we literally “hate” them.

If we, as parents, fail to properly discipline our children and we allow them to grow up without boundaries or consequences, not only will we be accountable to God for our neglect (some day), but we will also have to deal with unruly children. Modern daytime talk shows don’t have to look very far to find children that were not ever truly parented and the results can be devastating; for both the parents and the children.

I want you to be sure about what Solomon is teaching so I will share this verse with you from a few other translations.
The traditional King James Version says,
“He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.”

The Message Bible reads: “A refusal to correct is a refusal to love; love your children by disciplining them.”

The New International Reader’s Version says, “Those who don't correct their children hate them. But those who love them are careful to train them.”

While ‘sparing the rod’ immediately makes most people think about spanking young children, Solomon’s counsel is not just limited to physical correction. With these other translations we see that Godly correction is about providing careful training and instilling the proper discipline in our children that prepares them for their life’s assignment.

Is this painful? Yes! Does this take time? Absolutely! But if we did not want to parent, we should not have had children. As Godly parents we must take the time and make the effort to love our children enough to correct them when they are wrong.

Solomon has a great deal to say about this. He not only wants us to discipline/train our children, but He urges us to start early. Later in Proverbs he said, “Discipline your children while there is hope. Otherwise you will ruin their lives” (19:18).

You don’t want to wait until your children are adults to begin to discipline them, because by then they may not hear what you have to say trust me on this I am living proof. They need to know early off in their development that they have parents who love them enough to correct them when they are going astray. And this leads us back to physical discipline, because you can’t have an hour-long conversation with a little child. When my children were little and I would tap on the hand for doing something wrong, it registers with their little minds in a way that a five-minute conversation will not.

I am not talking about abuse, but rather discipline, performed in love. In chapter 23 Solomon said, “Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish him with the rod, he will not die. Punish him with the rod and save his soul from death.”

Remember, this is not about getting some form of sick satisfaction from hitting your child, but rather providing them the correction they need, as part of their development. Why? Because Proverbs 22:15 says, “Foolishness abounds in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.” The Bible has much more to say about this, but I will stop here.

So what does this mean to you? Simply put, it means that if you love your children you will discipline them; and while they may include some form of physical correction, it is definitely NOT limited to it.

Take the time to parent your children, no matter how much it costs you. In the end, your labor will not be in vain!

Father, thank You for giving me the wisdom and insight to provide my children the training, correction, and discipline they need to develop into the women You have called them to be. I love my children JUST they way they are, but I also love them too much to leave them without correction. I declare, by faith, that you give me creative ways to reach my children, so that they can understand right from wrong, so that they prepared them for their life’s assignment, and so that I am able to stand before You with clean hands. I will not neglect my part in their development! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Being a Blessing to the Poor

(Prov 13:22 NIrV) The fields of poor people might produce a lot of food. But those who beat them down destroy it all.

This morning we continue our series In this verse Solomon points out a problem without really giving us the solution. Normally he contrasts wrong with right, but in this case he simply points out the wrong.

But believe me, the Bible is full of teaching that spells out the right in this area. The wrong he highlights that the poor are frequently taken advantage of. In Solomon’s day the poor often farmed a small plot of land. While most of the poor today do not own land or have access to land to be able to farm it, it was common in Solomon’s time for the poor to have relatively small portions of land that they could farm (whether they owned it or not). Solomon tells us that even if the land of the poor produced a great harvest, there was no shortage of people willing to come in and take it from them.

I will be honest with you; this verse was a tough one to understand at first. I had to read it in several translations to finally get the message. The Today’s New International Version reads: “An unplowed field produces food for the poor, but injustice sweeps it away.” The Contemporary English Version reads: “Even when the land of the poor produces good crops, they get cheated out of what they grow.”

What I draw from this is that the poor are often victims of an unjust society. This is not to say that we should take this lightly or that God looks the other way, it is simply a statement of fact that should cause righteous indignation in God’s children. It should bother us when the poor are taken advantage of. It should disturb our spirit that the enemy preys on those who are barely making it.

As believers, we should do what we can to fight injustice and every sort of evil and we should NEVER become the perpetrators of such wrongdoing.

This reminds me of what happened when Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit the United States. It did not take long for the unrighteous and the unscrupulous to show up and seek to take advantage of those who had already been devastated. They were already down, but the ungodly sought to take them down even further. As children of God, this should NEVER be said of us.

So what does this mean to you ? It means that you should seek to BE a blessing to every person you come in contact with, especially those who are struggling to get by. The Bible has a lot to say about this, let’s take a look at some scriptures. Solomon’s father David, said, “Blessed is he that considers the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble” (Psalm 41:1). Asaph, the psalmist, told us to, “Give justice to the poor and the orphan; uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute. Rescue the poor and helpless; deliver them from the grasp of evil people” (Psalm 82:3,4). Jeremiah said,

“This is GOD's Message: Attend to matters of justice. Set things right between people. Rescue victims from their exploiters. Don't take advantage of the homeless, the orphans, the widows.” (Jer 22:3). Zechariah said, “Treat one another justly. Love your neighbors. Be compassionate with each other. Don't take advantage of widows, orphans, visitors, and the poor. Don't plot and scheme against one another - that's evil” (Zec 7:9,10).

Father, first of all, I thank You for blessing me to BE a blessing. Your hand is upon my life and for that I say, “Thank You!” I recognize how blessed I am and I realize that it is because of Your grace, mercy, loving-kindness, and my effort; but it is surely not just my effort alone. I shutter to think of where I would be without You in my life. So I enter this day with humble gratitude and with an open heart towards others. I will never take advantage of anyone, especially widows, orphans or the poor. I am here to help, not to hurt; to be a blessing, not a burden. There are many hurting people in the world and I refuse to add to the problem. I am here, with You, to be part of the solution! Use me Father to make a positive impact in the life of someone else today. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

In this Photo 3 genrations of my family memebers
Generational Impact

(Prov 13:22 AMP) A good man leaves an inheritance [of moral stability and goodness] to his children's children, and the wealth of the sinner [finds its way eventually] into the hands of the righteous, for whom it was laid up.

This morning we continue our series In this verse Solomon tells us that a good man leaves and inheritance for his children’s children. In other words, he makes preparations in his life that will affect the lives of his grandchildren.

He also mentions something interesting and that is that the wealth of the sinner can actually be transferred to the righteous. Solomon is clearly addressing the financial responsibilities we have as parents, but his point is not limited to just money.

Let’s discuss the financial aspect first. Solomon knew first-hand the benefits of having a parent who made preparations for them (financially and otherwise). David started out as a shepherd boy and finished off as a Godly appointed and anointed king. He transferred the throne, the kingdom and his wealth to his children.

As parents, we should all want to leave our children better of than we were. We should make the preparations necessary to ensure that we are a blessing and NOT a burden to our children (and grandchildren) when we die.

Simply put, our death should not put undue stress on our children. They will have enough to deal with. During the time of bereavement, a financial burden should be the least of their worries. As Godly parents we must prepare for the inevitable and from Solomon’s perspective, our goal should be to live our lives in such a way that we are actually able to leave an inheritance that will impact two generations.

Now, while the inheritance includes money, it is definitely NOT limited to money. David prepared Solomon spiritually for his life’s assignment. God is a God of family and He deals with families.

He is too big of a God and our lifespan is too short of a time for God to JUST focus on us.

When He works on (and in) us, He is looking for lasting change. He wants the deposit He makes in our lives to become a spiritual legacy that makes generational impact. It is never God’s intent for the next generation to have to start from scratch (spiritually or financially).

Isaac received a legacy of righteousness from Abraham, Jacob from Isaac, the 12 sons from Jacob, and etc. God is a God of progression, not regression, and He desires our children have the advantage of tapping into everything that we have learned from Him and about Him, in addition to what they learn on their own.

In other words, my children have access to everything I have learned in God, with God, and about God. I would love to freely teach them what I know however, there not in a place that they want to learn about God right now. When they do I will happily pour into them all I do know and they can couple that with what they will learn themselves. This gives them a spiritual advantage in life.

But all of this requires effort on the part of the parent. Parenting is not easy, but it is necessary and the Father expects us to parent with diligence and purpose.

A Father (in my case it would have been mother as I was a single parent) must do more than just have children. He/she raises his/her 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 Son/daughter. The cost is everything a Father /mother has within him. The benefit is a son/daughter who will honor his Father/mother.

So what does this mean to you ? It means that we are called to parent our children. That means that we should seek to prepare them (financially and spiritually) for success in life Leadership is a servant relationship that facilitates human development. and the development of our children should be the goal of our parenting.

Father, I thank You for teaching me how to be a Godly parent to my children. I will make the proper financial preparations required to ensure that, in my death, I will be a blessing and not a burden to my children. But I don’t wait until death to be a blessing. I bless my children NOW prayerfully – spiritually and financially – for Godly success in life. I put the Word before them, I cover them in prayer, I share my life lessons, and I take the time to listen to them when they need to talk. No matter the time, energy, or effort it required, I am committed to leaving an inheritance of righteousness! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Both Wisdom and Foolish are transferred by Association



(Prov 13:20 MSG) Become wise by walking with the wise; hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces.



This morning we continue our series, In this verse Solomon compares the benefits of walking with the wise, with the perils of hanging with fools. Remember who is sharing this with us. Solomon was the wisest man in the land. He knew first-hand the great lengths that people would go through to spend just a few minutes with him. How much do you think an hour with Solomon would be worth? In modern terms, how much do you think people would pay for a one on one hour-long session with Donald Trump, Bill Gates, or Warren Buffett?



From a ministry perspective, how valuable would a one on one hour-long session with Bishop T.D. Jakes, Rev. Billy Graham, or Pastor Rick Warren be? These are people who are considered masters of their craft and time with them is extremely valuable.



Why? Because those that go to great lengths to be in their presence are doing so with the hope that their lives would be impacted; that something would rub off. While we may never get to spend time with any of the aforementioned people for a "transfer" or an "impartation" to take place, we all spend time with people daily that are (whether we acknowledge it or not) influencing our lives.

Later on in Proverbs Solomon said,



"Don't envy evil people or desire their company" (24:1).



Why was Solomon so big on avoiding even the company of evil people? It's because Solomon knew that both wisdom and foolishness are transferred by association. The people we choose to associate with says a great deal about us. Most people choose friends that have like interests, ambitions, character, and lifestyle. I know the term "friend" is used lightly today, but it should be reserved for those that can make positive deposits in our lives and vice-versa. Since our time on the earth is limited, we should choose carefully whom we spend that time with, because at the end the day (good or bad), they will rub off on us.

When I gave my life to Christ and I knew that I wanted to be an intercessor so I immediately sought the company of intercessors. I wanted to hang out with them. I was curious to find out what they talked about. I wanted to see how they carried themselves. I wanted to observe them around their spouses and children.



What was I doing? I was learning a new culture, a new environment, a new lifestyle, a new way of living, and I was doing it by association. I knew that my life had changed, but I also knew that if I wanted to see lasting change I was going to have to change the people I associated with.



Why? Because if you tell me that you have moved, but I keep finding you at your old address, then maybe you haven't moved at all. I know we don't like to admit it, but in many ways we are a product of our environment.



Surround yourself with the right people and you will become the right person!

So what does this mean to you ? It means that your friends matter! Some things are taught, but many things are simply caught. You pickup things from people as you hang out with them, so make sure you are hanging out with the right crowd.



Choose the right friends and you will be influenced the right way. Surround yourself with fools and you will become a fool yourself.

Father, I thank You for explaining to me the importance of the company I keep. Your Word says, "Bad company corrupts good character" (1st Cor 15:33). Therefore, I refuse to surround myself with the wrong people. I understand that both wisdom and foolishness are transferred by association, so I choose to only surround myself with people of like precious faith; people that are striving to be all that You desire for them to be; people of Godly passion and purpose. I associate with the wise and I become wise myself! In Jesus' name. Amen!

Reaping what you Sow

(Prov 13:20 NIrV) Hard times chase those who are sinful. But success is the reward of those who do right.

This morning we continue our series, In this verse Solomon compares the hard life of the sinner with the successful life of the believer. I know that those are ‘broad brush’ terms, but the principles of the Bible support what Solomon is saying.

While we can all find examples of bad things happening to good people and vice-versa, at the end of the day, our decisions and actions will catch up with us. The New Living Translation makes it plain. It reads:

“Trouble chases sinners, while blessings reward the righteous.”

If you really want to see the two options – the benefits of walking with God and the perils of walking without him – truly ‘fleshed out,’ all you have to do is read Deuteronomy chapter 28. The chapter opens up with Moses saying,

“If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully keep all His commands that I am giving you today, the LORD your God will…”

and he then goes on to lay out 14 verses of promises of both secular and spiritual blessings. In verse 15 Moses said,

“But if you refuse to listen to the LORD your God and do not obey all the commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come and overwhelm you…”

And he proceeded to lay out 53 verses of both secular and spiritual curses. He spent more than three times the amount of verses explaining the curse than the blessing. Why go to such great lengths? I believe it is because the Father wants us to know that our decisions matter. Our life is a grand-sum-total of our decisions.

Back in the 11th chapter Solomon said, “If good people are rewarded here on this earth, all who are cruel and mean will surely be punished.” You can’t have reward without judgment. Our actions are constantly being judged.

God created a system of laws and principles – sowing and reaping, cause and effect, and the free will of humans – that govern the earth.
So, not only WILL we all be judged eventually (ultimate judgment), but our actions are also being judged regularly and we either reap blessing or cursing accordingly. Read the Bible carefully and it will not take you long to realize that most of God’s promises are conditional.

If we fulfill the condition, we receive the reward. If we don’t, we miss out. That’s why I often say, “If you don’t like the harvest you are reaping, check the seed you are sowing.” At the end of the day, we are where we are, because of the decisions we make. This means we cannot blame God and we should not blame others.

In Paul’s letter to the church in Galatia he said, “Don't be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up” (Gal 6:7-9).
So what does this mean to you ? This is a message of encouragement for the believer who was becoming weary in doing right. Don’t give up. Don’t get frustrated. Don’t throw in the towel. Don’t quit. While it may look like some of the unrighteous are getting ahead, don’t overly concern yourself with that. Pray for their souls and keep your focus on Your heavenly Father and your walk with Him. He will see to it that you reap what you sow, so keep sowing good seed. Keep walking upright before Him.

At just the right time you WILL reap a harvest of blessing – if you don’t give up!

Father, I thank You for helping me to keep my focus on You, Your goodness, Your loving-kindness and Your tender mercy. I know that I will reap what I sow and I also know that others will as well. I pray for those that You lead me to pray for and I seek to run my race with confidence, courage, and commitment. I thank You for helping me to develop a NO QUIT attitude and because I refuse to quit, and I am determined to sow the right seed, I will experience the success and victory You desire for me to experience! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

See Your Dreams Come True



(Prov 13:19 NLT) It is pleasant to see dreams come true, but fools refuse to turn from evil to attain them.



This morning we continue our series, yesterday we dealt with making course corrections and we learned that a correction is the act of bringing back from error or deviation; that which is intended to rectify or cure faults. While we may not all enjoy being corrected, we should definitely welcome Godly correction, so that we can stay on His desired path, with the goal of arriving at his desired destination for our lives.



This morning Solomon talks to us about dreams and how we all love it when dreams come true. Dreams are powerful. Harriet Tubman, the woman who was known as the Moses of her people, said: "Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world." She accomplished what was unfathomable to most, because it was possible to her, because she had a dream and she determined to put the time, energy and effort behind the dream required to see it come to pass.

Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning.


It's awesome to dream. I love to do it. I like to take the time - every once in a while - to see myself in the future. I imagine myself doing what I believe the Lord has called me to do and it helps fuel my fire, drive and passion for the present. But I don't fool myself. I know that if the dream is ever going to come to pass, I must make the decisions and put forth the action, in the present, to take me incrementally closer to its reality. Simply put, dreams will not come to pass by accident. We must operate with purpose and focus if we ever want to see in our hands, what God has birthed in our hearts.



This is a good reminder this morning because most of us have the tendency to put our lives on autopilot. We believe we know where we are going, fully expecting to arrive someday. This technique sounds good and it could work if our path was free of obstacles and detours. The problem is that our path is never without resistance.



Even subtle changes, if unchecked, can get us severely off course.


That's' why Solomon warns us about refusing to turn from evil. Make no mistake. Just like we serve a real God, there is a real satan and he will do all that he can to get us off course. He does not want to see the manifestation of our dreams. He does not want to see God's best come to pass in our lives. So he will his best to distract and divert us from the path to our dreams. Solomon teaches us that if we refuse to turn from evil, we are fools and we WILL NOT see the manifestation of God's dreams in our lives.

So what does this mean to you? It means that self-denial, which fools refuse to endure, is essential to success. If you are going to arrive at God's desired end for your life, you are going to have to do it ON PURPOSE; not haphazardly. I will close with the words of Henry David Thoreau (author and poet). He said, "I have learned, that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours."

Father, I thank You for putting dreams down inside of me. Like Joseph, I am a dreamer and my dreams drives me. And like Joseph, I refuse to allow sin to derail me from Your course. I know that if I am going to see the manifestation of Your dreams I am going to have to operate on purpose and with focus, so I declare, right now, by faith, that I have the grace, the drive and the dedication to resist satan and his many attempts to get me off course. I deny satan and self on the road to Your best. I confidently advance in the direction of my dreams and I meet with uncommon success, in exceptional time, because I am walking with You and I refuse to get off course! In Jesus' name. Amen!

Criticism and Correction
(Prov 13:18 NLT) If you ignore criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace; if you accept correction, you will be honored.

This morning we continue our series We live in a society today that is straying away from standards. Instead of calling right "right" and wrong "wrong," there is a tendency to accept anything and everything.

This desire for acceptance may be dangerously driving us from the benefits of correction. We all need correction and criticism if we are to develop into the men and women God desires for us to be. Simply put, we cannot maximize our purpose and potential without the input of others.

I saw a report not too long ago that some communities have decided to stop keep score during T-Ball games for little boys, because they don't want some of the kids to be the "losers." Instead of having winners and losers, they just want everyone to enjoy the fact that they participated.

I believe this mentality is being instituted by adults who don't like to be compared or corrected. I often hear people at work say, "We need to treat everyone the same," or "You can't show any favoritism." There is a difference between favoritism and reward.

Those that separate themselves from the pack should be rewarded accordingly, but they can't be rewarded if the system refuses to analyze, criticize, compare and correct them.

This is dangerous, because God, through Solomon, is clear that we need criticism and correction. Let's look at the definitions of these words from Noah Webster's American dictionary of the English Language (1828). This version is often very different from our modern versions.

Criticism: The act of judging on the merit of a performance; remark on the beauties and faults; critical observation.

Correction: The act of bringing back from error or deviation, to a just standard, as to truth, rectitude, justice or propriety; that which is intended to rectify or cure faults; all scripture is profitable for correction (2nd Tim 3); withhold not correction from a child (Prov 23); in scriptural language, whatever tends to correct the moral conduct, and bring back from error or sin; My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord, nor be weary of His correction (Prov 3).

Webster references Paul's words to Timothy. Let me give you the rest of it:
"All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work." (2nd Tim 3:16,17).

Without correction, we would all go astray. Earlier in Proverbs Solomon said: "Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid" (12:1). Solomon was quite possibly the wisest human to ever live, outside of Jesus. But even Solomon made mistakes. Not even Solomon could get around the fact that he needed correction. Godly corrections are purposeful and very necessary. None of us are perfect. As believers, who are striving to truly grow, we must welcome correction and not fight against it. Solomon calls those that do "stupid."

Solomon's warning is clear. If you reject criticism and correction, it will lead to "poverty and disgrace." Many have wrecked their lives by refusing to accept the counsel of those God sent to correct them. So as you enter this day, determine to be a F.A.T. Christian; meaning: Faithful, Available, and Teachable.

Father, I thank You for correcting to me through Your Word, Your Spirit and others. I need correction and criticism. I need to be brought back from error and deviation. All of us, like sheep, go astray, but I declare, by faith, that I will welcome, accept and apply the correction You provide for me. I shall not end up in poverty and disgrace. I will be honored in life as I seek to maximize my purpose and potential before I die! I want to die empty and I know that I cannot without your correction. Thank You for loving me enough to tell me when I am wrong and for getting me back on Your desired path for my life! In Jesus' name. Amen!

The Importance of Prayer

(Mat 6:6 NLT) But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

I take a pause this Friday morning to share a quick not about the importance of prayer. This has been heavy in my heart. While prayer is quite possibly the most important activity a believer can do, it is also the something that mystifies and frustrates many believers.

For this morning I simply want to share a short poem I memorized many years ago, about prayer, that has been a reminder to me that I need to pray daily and continually. The author is anonymous, but the message is powerful. It’s called “The Difference.”

The Difference

I got up one morning,
And I rushed right into the day,
I had so much to accomplish,
That I did not have time to pray.

As the day went on,
Heavier came each task,
I said, “Lord, why don’t you help me?”
He said, “Child, you didn’t ask.”

Hour upon hour,
The day toiled on gray and bleak,
I said, “Lord, why don’t you help me?”
He said, “daughter you didn’t seek.”

Finally, I tried to come into God’s presence,
I used all my keys at the lock,
I said, “Lord, why don’t you let me in?’
He said, “Only because you didn’t knock.”

So I got up this morning,
And I paused before entering the day,
Because I had so much to accomplish,
That I HAD to take time to PRAY!

The Difference!

Instead of closing with a prayer today, I ask you to simply take a few moments to pray. Pray over your workplace, your schedule, all the things you need to do today, every divine appointment the Father wants for you, your family, and yourself.

Are you a Reliable Representative?

(Prov 13:17 GNB) Unreliable messengers cause trouble, but those who can be trusted bring peace.

This morning we continue our series In Solomon's day, a king had to rely on messengers to get information out about his kingdom. He did not have television, radio, the internet, a Facebook page, Twitter, or any of the modern media vehicles through which to share information. Furthermore, he did not have a telephone or a video teleconference suite to be able speak directly with foreign heads of state.

I know this may seem archaic to us today, but Solomon actually had to use messengers to get his strategic message out and to serve as negotiators for his kingdom. Obviously, the reliance upon these messengers made the selection of them vitally important.

They had to be absolutely trustworthy. Inaccurate information could lead to bloodshed. If a messenger allowed his emotions to get the best of him, while negotiating with a foreign head of state, the results could be disastrous for both nations. Solomon needed to know that when he sent a messenger out with a message that the messenger would both reliably relay the message and responsibly represent the spirit in which it was sent.

The King James Version reads: “A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.” The word ambassador is fitting here. An ambassador is sent to represent his parent nation within a host nation. The role of the ambassador is to establish relationships within the host nation, while maintaining his integrity and loyalty to his parent nation.

When communication is sent from the parent nation, the ambassador is to communicate that information, no matter how pleasant or objectionable it might be. Additionally, the ambassador is to represent that information, as if it were his own, whether he agrees with it or not. The ambassador cannot allow his personal opinion to disrupt or dilute the message of the parent nation.

So what does this mean to you ? Why is this important? It is important because the same holds true for you. You may not hold the title, “Ambassador,” but you may be asked to serve as representative regularly. Both in the ministry and in the marketplace, having the ability to represent your leadership is sought-after quality.

Let’s talk marketplace first. At work, leaders are always looking for reliable people they can trust to represent their organization in dealings with external organizations. Leaders need to know that you will be faithful to relay the message you are asked to relay and to represent the character and spirit of your organization. If you prove yourself trustworthy, you will be asked to do more and God will be able to use you in greater ways.

Remember, God did not save you from a burning hell just so you can sing songs on Sunday. He wants you to grow where you have been planted – wherever that may be. He wants to bless the work of your hands, so that you can move up and have greater influence. The greater your influence, the more He can use you to do in the marketplace. He called us to GO, not to WAIT.

Most Christians are waiting for unbelievers to come to church, but God sent us to GO, to infiltrate, to make a difference in the world, not just the church. This leads me to the ministry side of it. From a ministry perspective, you are actually called an “Ambassador for Christ” (2nd Cor 5:20).

The Father needs to know that you can be trusted to share the Good News of the gospel of Jesus Christ with the lost. Once He knows that you can, He will setup divine appointments for you.

Are you ready and capable to represent God today? Can He trust you to relay His message? If so, get ready for some divine appointments!

Father, I declare, by faith, that I will represent both You and my secular leadership in a trustworthy fashion today and every day. I prove myself to be reliable and responsible. I share what I am expected to share and I refuse to allow my emotions or personal opinions to detract, dilute, or disrespect the spirit of the message I am asked to communicate. I am not a messenger who causes trouble, I am an ambassador who brings and maintains peace. I am a peacemaker and not a peace-breaker. Use me Father for Your glory! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Slow Down

(Prov 13:16 NLT) Wise people think before they act; fools don't—and even brag about their foolishness.

This morning we continue our series. In this verse Solomon contrasts the wisdom of taking the time to think before you act and the foolishness that is often the result of haste. This is a tough one for our modern society. Humans today don’t like waiting for anything or slowing down at all. We get up early, go to sleep late, and try to accomplish way too much in between.

Most of us have “To Do” lists with no end in sight and our calendars are full of meetings, phone conferences, decisions that have to be made, actions that have to be done, places we need to go, and people we need to see.

Further, our desks and inboxes are full of things we need to read and when we look at it all, in addition to making sure we have time for our faith, family, and fitness, it can all seem overwhelming; which is why most Americans are always hustling and bustling. This ‘need for speed’ lends itself to a microwave society and a microwave mentality.

Everything has to be done fast, so we often sacrifice quality for quickness.

Solomon ran a successful nation with a surplus economy. He knew a thing or two about getting things done and his wisdom to us is to slow down long enough to think before we speak or act. He makes it clear that fools don’t and while none of us want to be a fool, if we would be honest, we sometimes act like fools when we don’t give issues the proper time they need.

It’s my observation that most people today are not thinkers. Many don’t even like to think. They are so accustomed to rushing through their day that they don’t give any one thing the courtesy of careful thought.

Let me give you an example. Were I work we have some major challenges we have to think through. To address the issues we routinely pull a group of people together, we sit by a whiteboard, and we think through the challenges; which often requires brainstorming, freethinking, and the occasional off-the-wall idea. But sometimes, while we are holding these sessions, someone comes by, sees what we are doing, and then says something like, “You just think too much for me.” That’s sad.

God has blessed us with mental ability, but most of us don’t take the time to use it. We are so driven to get things done that we don’t realize that we can actually get more done, in a more quality fashion, if we slowed down long enough to think.

Matthew Henry, when commenting on this verse, said: “It is wisdom to be cautious. Every prudent discreet man does all with knowledge (considering with himself and consulting with others)… careful not to meddle with that which he has not some knowledge of, not to launch out into business which he has not acquainted himself with, will not deal with those that he has not some knowledge of, whether they may be confided in. He is still dealing in knowledge, that he may increase the stock he has. It is folly to be rash, as the fool is, who is forward to talk of things he knows nothing of and undertake that which he is no way fit for, and so lays open his folly and makes himself ridiculous.”

So what does this mean? It simply means that you should slow down long enough to think things through. I am not saying that you should not act, just that you should not act without careful thought. Once you have the knowledge you should act with fearless confidence. Andrew Jackson said, “Take time to be deliberate; but when the time for action arrives, stop thinking and go in.”

Father, thank You for blessing me with a brain. I declare, right now, by faith, that I have the mental ability to think through all the challenges I will face today. I operate with both education and revelation. I use my mind and I am led of Your Spirit. Together, I am more than equipped to be successful in every area of my life. As I enter this day I declare that my mind is alert and sharp, my body is awake and ready, and I can face this day with fearless confidence; knowing that by Your grace I will succeed! In Jesus’ name. Amen!