Discontinued New Postings

Because I hadn't heard from anyone desiring this to continue, I will not be posting new entries as of today.  You can send me your e-mail address is you want them sent to you or go to the Facebook pages..Knowing God or Weekday Proverbs to continue.  You can also look through past submissions as this blog will remain on the internet.  Thank you.  E-mail: Maureenschaffer@aol.com

Knowing God - FAR Above

                                      Eph 4:10

 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.

                                                      

Jesus ascended after His resurrection to the Father and sat down showing that ALL the work needed for salvation was completed that He was sent to do.  He ascended FAR above all heavens.  The Lord Jesus Christ is to worshiped and His ascension was one thing that demonstrated what godliness is.  He didn’t just die.  He didn’t just rise, but after He rose from the dead He ascended back to His Father.   Although He is seated at His right hand, Christ can still fill all things.  This is a quality only given to God – the omnipresence of God.  This means that God can be everywhere at the same time.  If Jesus ascended and fills all things, we can conclude that He is, indeed, God, the Son.  We must honor Him and exalt Him.  Christ can fill us today.  He is far above ALL heavens and His presence has been promised to us.  His ascension demonstrates this fact.  He is with us always and He will never leave us or forsake us.                         

Proverbs - Take Heed to Yourself

Proverbs 14:11

 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown:

but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.

Our dwelling places are directly impacted by how we are living.  If we are women who are walking uprightly we are contributing to a flourishing environment for our children, husbands, wives and those who live with us.  We help water and maintain a place where people feel safe and are not caught by surprise because of secret sins and hidden compromise.  Our homes will be flourishing and we will be a part of that.  Sure, our mates might be doing wickedly and will definitely impact our homes, but, if we focus on living for the Lord, the destruction will be met with life and seeds will be planted in our children’s hearts and flourish.  Brethren, do you desire to have your dwelling place a place that is rich and fruitful?  Take heed to yourself first and watch the trickle effect your devotion to Christ will have on all those living with you.

Knowing God - Jesus - God's Righteousness Revealed

Isa 56:1

 Thus saith the Lord, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.

Jesus – God’s Righteousness Revealed

The Lord’s righteousness is constant and established.  At this time, Jesus had not come to earth yet.  He was going to come and man was going to see God in the flesh.  God’s righteousness was going to be revealed.  In Christ, man saw righteousness in human form.   This righteousness was revealed and in the light of Jesus we all fall short of God’s perfection.  The Lord didn’t just send Jesus to reveal moral righteousness, He sent Jesus to bring salvation.  His perfection was not seen just for our example and imitation, His perfection qualified Christ to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.  If Christ were not perfectly righteous, He would not have been the salvation that makes righteousness available to all who would believe on Him.  The righteousness that was revealed in Christ went way beyond Him pleasing the Father in all He did until His death, but His death and resurrection as well.  Praise Jesus today.  Worship Him for being God’s righteousness revealed.

Proverbs - When to Leave a Conversation

Proverbs 14:7-9

 Go from the presence of a foolish man,

when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.

 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way:

but the folly of fools is deceit.

 Fools make a mock at sin:

but among the righteous there is favour.

Here we are being instructed about foolish people.  One thing the Lord is telling us is to not continue in the presence of one who is speaking foolishly.  The next two verses give us a definition of foolish speaking.  One criterion would be deceit and the other is mocking sin. 

If we are around those who are deceived or are comfortable with deceiving others, we are not in a good place.  These kinds of friendships will contribute to confusion and cloud our ability to understand our way.  Deception can cross over and darken the plainness of the path of the righteous.  Wise friends will help us seek the Lord and understand what the Lord wants us to do.  We need the Lord to give us perception with those whom we spend time.  He instructs us to be the ones to go from their presence.

Secondly, mocking sin is evidence of a foolish person.  I heard some people on a radio station the other day laughing about someone being in a rehab center for alcoholism and challenging another young person to catch up and get to that point soon.  They were mocking the sin of drunkenness and they are fools.  At that point, the station should be changed or you or I should leave the presence of such dialogue if we were in a store or someone’s home.  We need righteous companionship – the kind of friendships that promote favor with God.  We need people in our lives that seek to please God and do what He deems right. 

Go from the presence of a foolish person when you perceive not the lips of knowledge. This will protect you and establish your life in the way that your Creator has for you and deliver you from the traps your adversary has set for you.

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I see that there are only 33 members to this blog...although I know others may read that are not members.  I offer these same devotions via e-mail and Facebook.  I am considering phasing out this blog if those of you who are reading from this source would be open to transferring to e-mail or Facebook.

I will keep it even if only one of you prefers this avenue for the devos.  Could I please have your feedback here and let me know your thoughts.  If I don't have anyone respond with a NEED for this blog source I will phase this out and stay with e-mail and Facebook to distribute these devotionals.

Knowing God - The Lord Sends People

1 Sam 25:32

 And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me:

The Lord Sends People

Someone told Abigail about her husband’s ill response to David and David’s plans to come and bring harm to him.  Abigail came up with a plan and was used to bring about peace and diverted the bloodshed.  We see in this verse that it was the Lord that sent Abigail to meet with David.   Sometimes we get information and we wonder why someone told us something.  It may be, in fact, the Lord sending us to talk with someone or be used in some way to bring about a resolution.  The Lord sends people in a variety of ways.  In this instance, Abigail was sent by hearing about something through someone else.  We should be open to being led by the Lord through the information He might allow to get to us.  Abigail was sent by the Lord, He may send us as well.

Proverbs - Wisdom and Knowledge Comes to the Humble

Proverbs 14:6

 A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not:

but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.

In this life we need wisdom and knowledge to make good decisions when faced with situations that demand our response.  This can happen at work, in relationships and parenting.

As parents, when we are disciplining our children we can find ourselves lacking the understanding in certain conflict resolutions.  Sometimes when we find one of our little ones in the midst of trouble we can often jump the gun and begin down the road of handing out consequences and words that might not be appropriate for the offense.  If we find ourselves scorning or talking down to anyone we won’t be able to hear the truth of the situation and might prolong or contribute to the problem. 

At work we may find ourselves emotionally involved with an injustice and be tempted to react sarcastically or with a high-minded attitude.  We won’t find the knowledge or wisdom to address the matter when we are in this mindset.

In our marriages we may find ourselves frustrated with some sort of impasse.  In order to get the understanding and knowledge we need to respond in a way that will help resolve the situation we must cast out the scorner.  We must humble ourselves and seek God to show us OUR responsibility without focusing on the other’s fault. 

The word ‘understand’ is made up of two words – ‘under’ and ‘stand’.  We must place ourselves in a standing position under the situation. We have to be able to gain perspective on a problem by removing ourselves from the emotional side and looking beneath the surface.  If we are mocking or scorning, we will not find His answers.  The next time we are in a situation where we need understanding, don’t react so emotionally.  Stop and ask the Lord for understanding.  Then we will find ourselves equipped with the knowledge and tools for the situation.

Knowing God - Not Complete Destruction

Jer 4:27

 This is what the Lord says:

                                                                  

"The whole land will be ruined,

though I will not destroy it completely.

NIV

The Lord was going to deal with His people and it was going to look like total devastation.  The birds were going to flee, the walls torn down and the temple was going to be in ruins.  The Lord clearly states that the destruction was not intended to be the end of His people but that which would be used to bring them to a place of repentance.  Even though it looked like the end, in fact, it was a new beginning.  When we face destruction because of our own choices and we feel hopeless, we must remember that the Lord intends to use the demolition as an opportunity to rebuild.  He does wonderful makeovers and demolition is often necessary.

Proverbs - Truth in Parenting

Proverbs 14:5

 A faithful witness will not lie:

but a false witness will utter lies.

Truth is the mark of integrity.  Our children need to know that their parents are truthful.  We represent authority to our children and truth creates a secure environment that our children can learn to interpret and respond in.  When we lie or misrepresent the truth to our children their ability to process their environment gets confused and clouded.  When they can’t trust authority the precious faith that the Lord has put in them begins to weaken and their hearts can be vulnerable to suspicion and insecurity. 

We are His witnesses and it is important that we are people who seek to be honest and accurate in all of our dealings.  To every man is given a measure of faith.  Our children’s measure should be guarded and their hearts handled with great care.  Truth, no matter how difficult it may be, is something that can be faced and dealt with.  Lies create mistrust and confusion.

If there is a truth we sense that our children are not ready for we are not forced to lie.  We explain to them that we don’t feel it is the right time to give them that information.  That is still speaking the truth.  The devil is father of ALL lies and we don’t want him to birth anything in our lives.  If you sense the Spirit of Truth bringing to your mind someone you lied to, ask Him how you might get things right.  Consider what you are telling your children concerning legends and perhaps holiday traditions.  We want to be faithful witnesses.

Knowing God - God Hurts for Us

Jer 4:19

 My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.

The Lord’s Heart is Painful for Us

This is the Lord speaking here.   The Lord is saying that He knows that the armies are going to descend upon His people because His people have not made the Lord their refuge.  He is revealing to us that He is pained in heart because of the consequences His people will be facing.  What a loving God!  It brings Him no pleasure to see us suffer the consequences of our rebellion.  He is pained in heart and deep within our God, He hurts for us.  Here we also see that He cannot hold His peace.  This means He has to say something to speak to His people before they face such times.  Our God wants to speak to us before, during and after times of chastening.  He will speak so that we are exercised by the chastening and that it will bring forth righteous fruit which makes for peace even in the midst of trouble.  Our God is so tender.  Our God is a good Father.  Let us remember to listen for His voice, trust in His love and be cooperative with any sort of discipline He might have to give us.

Proverbs - Messes Prove Relationships

Proverbs 14:4

Where no oxen are, the crib is clean:

 but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

A crib is another name for a manger or barn.  This verse is telling us that if there are no oxen in the manger the manger is really clean.  There is no hay to be stored, no flies associated with their presence, no waste on the ground and the dirt doesn’t get disturbed – a smooth, clean surface to walk in and admire.  Having a clean barn is not supposed to be the goal of someone who owns a barn.  If we were to visit a farmer/cattle rancher and found his facilities sparkling clean and quiet without traces of livestock, we would wonder what sort of farmer he was. We would wonder how he plows his fields or gathers his harvest.  We would question his success and identity. Although things would look nice, they would seem strange and the barn would not only be empty of messes, but the grain itself would be missing or minimal.

Brethren, we have been given facilities by the Lord – our homes, cars, and material goods.  Sometimes in seeking to take care of our goods and keep our homes in order we can miss His purposes in giving them to us.  Our ‘oxen’ are often people that fill our homes and lives and often create a bit of a mess and cause us to have to clean and maintain because of their presence.  Our children, husbands/wives, roommates, friends and family all fill our lives and homes and as a result things aren’t always as clean as we might like them to be. But……there is MUCH increase through the strength of the ox.

The people in our lives are placed there by the Lord to bring about an increase in our lives, to plow and harvest all that the Lord wants to grow in us.  When we have messes as a result of our children or having others over in our homes, we must remember God’s truth more than our fleshly perspectives.  We are supposed to work willingly with our hands, welcome messes as a result of relationships and thank Him for all He is doing in our lives through those around us.

Knowing God - He Speaks to Our Fears

Josh 10:8

And the Lord said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.

The Lord had told Joshua more than once to not fear.  The Lord spoke to Joshua’s fears as they arose.  Each battle and challenge seemed to have unique fears for Joshua and the Lord dealt with them each time.  Our Lord knows our frame.  He understands that we are but dust.  He looks at us like a father looks at his little children.  When we are afraid, He does not rebuke us, He rebukes our fears. He told Joshua one time that it was His presence that would calm his fears.  The next time the Lord told Joshua that he could take mighty men with him and this helped calm his fears.  This time the Lord spoke the outcome to calm his fears.  We must seek the Lord for our fears and be sensitive to how He may be addressing them.  Our God is our Father and He wants to deliver us out of all our fears.

Proverbs - Pride is the Root of Foolishness

Proverbs 14:3

                                       

In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride:

but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

The Lord warns us earlier in this chapter that the foolish woman will tear down her home with her own hands. Whether we are a woman or a man, in this verse we see that when we speak foolishly we have PRIDE at the very core of our motivation.  Words can tear down a house, a marriage, a parent-child relationship.  We must remember that words are very powerful.  They can bring life and they can bring death.  When our words are foolish and they are rooted in some sort of self-focus.  When we are focused on self, we are not aware of others’ needs and feelings.  For some reason, the rod of pride banishes the interests and feelings of others.

This rod of pride is stubborn and judgmental.  It is swung with disregard to all those in its path.  Ladies, the Lord wants our lips to speak wise things.  Wise words grace all those who hear them.  Wise words are rooted in love and concern for honoring God and loving others.  When we are wise our words will preserve us.  They will protect us from unnecessary conflict.  These wise words will nurture our relationships and preserve them from decay. 

When we find words that are strong in judgment and harsh in delivery, we should stop, perhaps go into the restroom or backyard and confess the rod of pride.  Ask the Lord for humility and meekness.  Wisdom is associated with meekness and consideration.  When words are wise they don’t have to prove themselves right.  They ARE right.  Lord, give us the ability to stop in the midst of foolish words and confess self-focus.  Help us have a meekness about us that seeks to build up our homes and consider others as more important than ourselves.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen

Knowing God - He Will Trouble Those Who Trouble You

Josh 7:25

 And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the Lord shall trouble thee this day.

We are not to repay evil for evil.  The Lord is the One who is in the place to recompense to man a reaping of what he sows.  Our God is not mocked.   If we roll a stone, that stone will roll back on us.  When someone brings us trouble as we are seeking to serve the Lord and be about His business, the Lord will deal with them.  He WILL trouble those who trouble us.  We have a Father in heaven that is not passively observing our plight.  He is involved and judges the earth.  If someone troubles you, refrain yourself from troubling them.  Leave this to the Lord.  The Lord will fight for you.

Proverbs - Secret Sin Proves a Lack of the Fear of God

Proverbs 14:2

He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD:

but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.

When we fear the Lord our steps will prove it.  Those who fear the Lord are making choices and taking steps that honor Him because HIS eyes are upon them.  If we are people who conduct ourselves in some sort of hidden manner, we do not fear Him nor consider His presence in our lives.  Our lives must be open and vulnerable to His judgments and evaluation.  We must trust Him to send to us His assessment of the steps we are taking.

If we do certain things in haste and try hard not hear Him, we despise Him and show that we think we know better than Him.  Believers, do not allow the temptation of secret sin to diminish your perspective of our great and mighty God.  He sees it all and He will deal with us as any good Father would.  He will discipline us and there is nothing hidden from Him.  Trust Him.

Put those things that you are ashamed of in the light of His x-ray vision and allow Him to diagnose and treat the broken fellowship you have with Him.  Walk consistently today knowing He is worthy to be obeyed and feared.  Your life will be so much less complicated and your path so much plainer.

Knowing God - He Will Tell Us Why We Were Defeated

Josh 7:10-11

                                                    

 And the Lord said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? Israel hath sinned…..

There was a defeat for the armies of Israel and Joshua was crying out to the Lord.  Perhaps Joshua thought the Lord had let them down.  Joshua had received the promise that if he meditated on the Word of God he would have good success.  Why would this happen?  The Lord tells Joshua that it is because of Israel’s sin that they were defeated. 

Sometimes there is defeat in our lives and we cry out to God because we think it is our fault or maybe we feel the Lord is letting us down.  The Lord answers Joshua and tells him to get off the ground and quit feeling sorry for himself.  The defeat was related to someone else’s sin.  A defeat that affects us may, in fact, be due to someone else’s sin.  Let us be cautious to jump to conclusions about the cause of defeat and be willing to go through hard times because of someone else’s sin.  Our God will speak to us and help us avoid the victim mentality and help us get up and seek Him for what to do next.

Proverbs - A Wise Woman is A Builder

 Proverbs 14:1

 Every wise woman buildeth her house:

but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.

There is a contrast here of what a wise woman is doing with her life and home versus a foolish woman.  The wise woman is building her house and the foolish one is plucking it down with her hands.  A wise woman is not just maintaining her home but building it.  Building implies new- construction, materials brought in from outside, a design or plan that is followed and labor. 

We should always be looking to the Master Architect for what kind of extreme makeover He wants to do.  He sees potential and problems that need repair and upgrades.  Relationships in the home, priorities and attitudes are all things He loves to come in and inspect.  He knows that the day to day living we do will cause our homes to naturally dilapidate and that our home needs His constant care and plan.  The materials we need come from Him.  We seek Him to show us, as women, what He knows needs to be done.  We listen in bible studies, personal times with Him and throughout our days for His suggestions and when He delivers some great truth to build into the structure and layout of our lives and homes.  We cooperate with Him and know that, according to this verse we are His laborers and we build our homes.  He loves us and knows what we have need of.  Are you seeking Him for His ideas and input?  Do you understand that the infrastructure of your home is very much a women’s responsibility?  Do you take this seriously and look to Him for new ways to build up those within your home and keep the climate constantly open to Him?

If any of us who are women, pluck down our home, we are foolish women and when you see all the sorrow a fool has, you don’t want to do this.  Plucking is a term that is not related to major demolition.  It is almost like a termite that is slowly nibbling away at the structure resulting in hidden, yet devastating damage that could make the whole structure unstable and unsafe.  The words we say, the thoughts we think, the choices we make, could, little by little, tear down our homes and before we know it, our families and lives have fallen apart.  Seek to build, repent of the tearing down and rest knowing that your home will withstand the elements because you are actively cooperating with the Master Builder.

Knowing God - He Intimidates Our Enemies

Josh 2:11

And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the Lord your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.

The inhabitants of Jericho found themselves in a place of awe and reverence after hearing about the Lord God.  They had heard that the Lord had dried up the Red Sea and that the Lord had fought for His people in the wilderness.  Because of what the Lord had done for His people, the enemies of His people were weak and discouraged.  Our God has done great things for us.  Because of His great works, our enemies find themselves confounded and lacking the confidence they often have in the presence of those who do not have the Lord as their God.  The enemy hears of these great works and our God’s awesome power resonates through the spiritual kingdom.  We might do well to praise Him today for the seas He has parted in our lives so that we might avoid unnecessary intimidation from our enemies.

Proverbs - Doing the RIGHT Thing Creates Satisfaction

Proverbs 13:25

 The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul:

but the belly of the wicked shall want.

When we are right with God we are settled and content.  We find ourselves able to recognize and enjoy the blessings the Lord has given us.  When we live wickedly our lives become so complicated that we can’t see beyond the mess that we got ourselves in.

The Lord is good and has done so much for us.  Choosing to obey Him and focus on doing what He says is right will enable to us to savor and taste that the Lord is good.  Our adversary is desperately trying to blind us to the goodness of God and create in us a sense of dissatisfaction.  This results in a wrong understanding of God. We can begin to see Him as not thorough, not caring and distant.  No!  The Lord our God is good and good to His children.  Deep inside of us is a hunger that only He can satisfy. 

When we wake up in the morning and sit before Him and cry out seeking to honor Him in our lives, everything takes on clarity and beauty and the satisfaction of what we take in becomes a reality.  Believers, let us SEEK FIRST His kingdom and His righteousness – His priorities for our lives and families.  We will then be satisfied and not led down the road of thirst rooted in choices He has asked us to avoid.  Lord, may we be those who richly enjoy all good things bringing You the honor as a good Father and Shepherd of our soul.

Knowing God - He Showed Himself in a Human Body!

1 Tim 3:16

 “…God was manifest in the flesh,….”

What a tremendous truth!  Our God showed Himself to us in a human body!  He wanted us to see Him.  The disciples said that they handled Him.   They touched God!  Incredible!  Our God loved us so much that He manifested, revealed, Himself in a human body.  This verse clearly reveals that Jesus Christ is God.  We are to treat Him as such.  It doesn’t matter what any other group or theologian says, God was manifested in the flesh.  Jesus was God in the flesh and we are to worship, obey and preach Jesus to others.  Today, as you walk through your day, enjoy the fellowship you have with a God who wanted to fellowship with us enough that He became flesh and lived among us. 

Proverbs - Parenting

Proverbs 13:24

He that spareth his rod hateth his son:

but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

The rod represents instruction and training.  A rod would be used not only to strike something but as a measurement in building things.  As parents, we can often fall into a terrible pattern of indifference to what our children are doing or are not doing.  We fail to bring them before the Lord and ask Him what we could do to help lift a standard in their lives or bring about consequences that will help them trust the Lord in matters of life.  Whenever we are lazy in these things, we are NOT actively loving our children.  When we use correction, whether it involve a physical consequence in a controlled, non-angry way, or situational consequence, we are, in fact, loving our children.

We must not grow weary in well doing.   In due season, we shall reap if we don’t give up.  Our rod is a consistent standard rooted in eternal truths and we will conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the calling we have received as parents.  We are not to look at a situation with our children through the eyes of how it will affect US, but how can I train THEM in the way THEY should go.  Consistency and attentiveness to their character and choices will result in children who will understand love rooted in truth and commitment. 

If we find ourselves inconsistent and lazy, holding back the ‘rod’, we must cry out to the Lord for the perseverance and consistency that He has with US.  We must not believe our adversary who desires us to back down and seek first our own kingdom.  If the Lord has given you children, He has given you this calling.  We are responsible to hold high the Lord’s standard and implement those measures that will help our children understand consequences before they leave home and experience consequences far beyond the pain of loving discipline.  We are loved by a God who is consistent and His laws hold true.  He is perfecting that which concerns us.

May we know His heart towards our children and seek to reflect the same commitment and love. If you do not have children of your own, pray for those dearest to you who have such a great responsibility.

Knowing God - The Lord Publishes His Word

Ps 68:11

 The Lord gave the word:

great was the company of those that published it.

The Lord Publishes His Word

The Word of the Lord is powerful.  He speaks and the reverberation of His voice is absolutely predictable.  His voice is like the thunders and goes wherever He sends it.  His Word is alive and goes on and on touching lives and revealing God’s heart and presence.  GREAT was the company of those that published it.  When we expose ourselves to His Word, whether by pastoral teaching, personal reading or other means, we open ourselves up to a source of life that resonates through our lives and can’t help but manifest itself to this dying world around us.  Never underestimate the potential that God’s Word has when the Lord gives it.  Stand in awe.  Mix it with faith and know that you and I are part of that great company who publish it!

Proverbs - Are We 'Tilling' the Land We Have?

Proverbs 13:23

Much food is in the tillage of the poor:

 but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment.

The Lord has set up a law concerning diligence and provision.  As a result, the opposite holds true as well – laziness creates lack. 

Here we learn that even if we are poor according to the standards we understand, if we ‘till’ or ‘work diligently’ we will have plenty of food.  This word ‘tillage’ means to plow or work the land.  It is a word associated with freshly plowed land.  A poor farmer who doesn’t have much but is careful to faithfully tend to what he DOES have is promised food.  A freshly plowed land implies it was not done a long time ago and has been left to harden with the weather conditions but tended to DAILY to prepare the ground and keep it ready for the seed.

We are often tempted with looking at what we don’t have.  A poor farmer could spend his days looking in barns where lack of grain exists or…he could go out in the field and prepare the land with a patience that knows he is dependent upon God and responsible to plow that will eventually produce the grain, the barns can receive. 

         

Brothers and sisters, we must stop looking BEYOND the fields the Lord has given us; the catalogs, the advertisements, friends and family, and take care of what He has already GIVEN us.  We must be people who have a sense of judgment concerning what is worth our time and investment and what may, in fact, be wasted concerns resulting in land that is drying in the summer sun and barns that remain empty due to our own laziness and wandering hearts. 

If we lack judgment we will be destroyed, but if we take what the Lord has given us and diligently tend to it, we will not lack what we need.  Take inventory of the ‘fields’ the Lord has given you.  Your car, clothing, home, body etc..  Are you tending to these things?  Are they clean and maintained?  Are things in order?  Are they ‘freshly plowed’ or neglected while you spend your time in discontentment and covetousness? Ask the Lord for judgment and discretion.  Ask Him to help you know what fields He has given you and how you might be faithful in plowing them.  He promises to bless your labor.

Knowing God - He Has Made All Things for Himself

Prov 16:4

 The Lord hath made all things for himself: ….

This is quite the truth.  The Lord has made ALL things for Himself.  He created colors, people, animals, abstract concepts, seasons, planets, air, and microscopic entities, all for Himself.  This means that if we want to make sense out of our existence we need to be in a place of instruction from Him.  He has purposes for everything and we are to be in a place where we look to Him for His leading in order to cooperate with His purposes for all we see and don’t see.  Did you know He wants to use your house, your clothes, your marriage and your trials for Himself?  Did you realize that all you see and experience is meant to be used by the Lord for His purposes?  This should help you embrace your life if you are under His Lordship knowing that He is in all you see and experience.

Proverbs - A True Inheritance

Proverbs 13:21-22

 Evil pursueth sinners:

but to the righteous good shall be repayed.

 A good man leaveth an inheritance

 to his children's children:

 and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

Choosing to walk in obedience to God, leads to paths that are less complicated than the path of sin.  When we are doing those things that are good and righteous we not only enjoy our lives more but leave an inheritance to the next generation.  I have attended many funerals and find it quite interesting that a person’s character and lifestyle are remembered MORE than belongings, achievements or notoriety.  Our example is what will affect our children and our children’s children.

As we seek the Lord to please and honor Him with our lives, the generational impact is far greater than we consider in the present.  Leaving a godly heritage to our family is the most valuable inheritance they could have.  Don’t ever diminish or consider a life lived for Christ as anything less than an investment with great returns.  Our current choices will go into the next generation and the one after that.  To the righteous, good shall be repaid and a good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.

Knowing God - His 'IF's are to be considered only

Luke 4:4

 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

                                                         

The Lord spoke to the devil’s challenge of his identity.  The devil told Him that IF He was the Son of God He should do what the devil told him to do in order to prove it.  The Lord showed us a great truth.  He never let the devil define conditions that He would obey.

 The Lord’s Word is the only word that any of us are to submit to in absolute obedience.  It is His “if” statements that should lead us.  IF we are risen with Christ we should seek those things which are above.  IF we live in the Spirit, we should walk in the Spirit.  IF any of us lacks wisdom, let us ask for it.  IF any man speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God.  It is every Word of God that should illicit response.  The challenges of our adversary are rooted in the destroyer’s intent.  We can escape these things IF we follow the Lord’s example and ignore the devil’s challenges and take heed to God’s commands.                                             

Proverbs - Friendship Criteria

Proverbs 13:20

 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise:

but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

WHO we hang out with affects the development of OUR character.  The Lord is giving us His warning on this matter.  We have the ability to choose whom we will invest time in and which relationships we will cultivate.  Each of us is given only twenty-four hours in a day.  This time is a gift from the Lord and we need to seek how He would have us use them.  When we are on the phone or visiting someone or talking with someone on the internet, we should be consciously aware if that person is someone we should walk with or consider as a companion. 

Jesus wants us to love and reach out to everyone, but to consider someone as a companion or someone with whom we are walking side by side, should be evaluated in the light of wisdom.  Is this person a wise person? 

·       Do they fear the Lord and are more concerned about pleasing Him than being right or comfortable?

·       Do they seek God’s judgment on matters through His Word and wise counsel?

·       Do they honor their husbands and love their children?

·       Are they content and thankful with the financial situation the Lord has them in?

·       Are they someone who knows it is dangerous to have self-confidence?

·       Are they humble in their thinking and open to correction?

·       Does this person build up their home with their words and attitudes?

This verse tells us that we will be wise if we have wise friends.  One of the best things we can do in becoming wise people is to choose our friends carefully.  A companion of fools will be destroyed.  Is this person a foolish person?

·       Are they busybodies or gossips?

·       Is the person contentious and always in conflict based upon self-interest?

·       Does this person tear down their house in words or choices?

·       Is this person slothful and lazy?

·       Does this person spend a lot of time comparing themselves with others?

·       Is this person immodest and flippant in their choice of clothing and mannerisms?

·       Is this person someone who does things behind their mate’s back in secret?

·       Does this person vent all they feel?

                                                                                        

These are just a few questions we can ask when choosing a walking companion. If you find yourself already walking with a fool, gently wean yourself from them in love.  Stay committed to the person but NOT the relationship.  If you do not have anyone in your life that is wise, become that wise person that someone else will want to walk with.

Knowing God - He Blesses Obedience

Gen 22:18

 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

Abram was being told that all the nations of the earth would be blessed through his descendents.  It wasn’t some sort of mystical, genetic blessing but a blessing based upon obedience.  The Lord was going to bless all the nations because of one man’s obedience.  We should NEVER underestimate the power and influence of obedience.  It is the Lord’s voice we are to obey and He has shown Himself to bless obedience.  We often want blessings but don’t focus on obedience.  The Lord is blessed by and blesses obedience.  It is something we can give Him.  Let’s give Him obedience today and trust that He knows who and how to bless.

Proverbs - Accomplished Desires

Proverbs 13:19

 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul:

but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.

When we have a desire we are often tempted to make it happen on OUR terms on OUR time schedule.  We must realize that desires are often placed in our hearts by the Lord with His intention of fulfilling or accomplishing them.  We sometimes confuse desire with goals.  Goals are often very defined and able to be accomplished, with His help, in a very disciplined and structured manner.  Desires are things that come up in our hearts and are to be brought before the Lord in prayer and He is to be sought concerning any direction He might have for us.  When these desires are of Him and defined BY Him, they are accomplished BY Him.  The result is a sweet experience as we reflect on their beginnings and their accomplishment. 

We must be cautious when we have a desire, not to try to bring it about in our OWN strength and our OWN terms.  Sometimes we are tricked by our adversary to use evil means to bring about something that might, in fact, be noble.  We will be foolish if we are hasty with our feet or words.  We must wait on the Lord concerning our desires and depart from any sort of evil strategies that might present themselves in order to see these desires fulfilled.  Then, the Lord will be glorified and we will be wise people who are not controlled by the desires our heart.

Knowing God - He Decides if We are His

Matt 7:21

 Not every one that saith unto me,

Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

The Lord is revealing His place as judge here.  He is establishing that our WORDS do not define who we are but our ACTIONS.  Our God is the One who decides who enters the kingdom of heaven.   There is much ‘preaching’ these days about words – positive words, faith-filled words and words of life.  It seems like the message people are getting today is aimed at rewriting a script we are all supposed to memorize and say.  The Lord is dealing with CHOICES in this verse.  Our God is looking at what we ACTUALLY do or don’t do.  Our God is evaluating if we are seeking to do what HE wants us to do or what WE want to do.  It is not just calling Him our Father that establishes a father/child relationship, but it is in submission to Him that manifests our true colors as children of God. 

Proverbs - Be a Person Who Receives Instruction

Proverbs 13:18

 Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction:

but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.

When we regard reproof we will be honored.  To regard reproof means that we want to be shown where we are falling short or where we need to improve.  Anyone that is good at anything got there by finding out what they were doing wrong.  The Lord is so good.  He never shows us where we are wrong without sending the instruction to teach us how to do what is right.  He is a good teacher.

 If we want our children to honor us they need to see a mom/dad that is learning, correcting, apologizing and growing.  This creates an environment where the Holy Spirit is welcomed and pride and stubbornness are not.  Our children will honor us if we regard reproof.  When there is humility of mind there is the grace of the Lord.  The presence of the Lord will be obvious to all in our home.  His instruction will flow and our homes will become more and more under His tutorship and leading. 

This verse also deals with our finances.  If we are people who refuse instruction, financial ruin and shame will follow.  This verse lets us know that if we want to be blessed financially we need to be instructed by the Lord through whatever means He sends.  Perhaps we are reaping from impulsive expenditures and accruing exorbitant interest on credit cards.  Are you refusing the instruction of the painful consequences?  Learn from your mistakes.

 Don’t refuse instruction.  Be open to His chastening and correction.  He loves us and all of His discipline is rooted in a heart that loved us enough to give every last drop of blood on our behalf.  He is very smart; in fact, He is the wisdom we need to conduct our lives in a way that is safe and blessed.  Embrace the instruction he gives you and don’t refuse instruction.  Shame and poverty awaits those who refuse instruction but he that regards reproof will receive honor.