Oh No! I Broke It

March 13, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 6:32-35 But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away. For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     My wife can see a small figurine in a store, purchase it, place it in the house, and it always looks good. We had only been married a short while, and she began to decorate. A knickknack here, a thing-a-mo-bob there, and the place felt like a real home.

     One day, while walking through the house, I accidentally knocked one of the little do-hickeys off the table. As it fell to the floor and broke, I thought of how mad she would probably be. How was I going to fix this? I found the glue, and began to collect the pieces to put it back together. All but a few fragments of dust, which I swept up and tossed in the trash, made it back into this precious little what-cha-ma-call-it.

     Not too many days after that, she was doing this other thing guys don’t do too often, dusting. Sure enough, she saw the difference. There were no children, animals, or anyone else to blame. I was caught. Fortunate for me, it was not a precious heirloom passed down for thirty generations. Just a garage sale bobble I had broken.

     The point is, no matter how much I tried, and how careful I was, that little object would never be the same. It was cracked, and the little fragments of dust were gone. You couldn’t tell unless you were close, but it was forever damaged.

     The heart of a spouse is also very precious. Once broken, it will never be the same. We can glue it back together with love. Time will help us forgive. However, the cracks will always be there. Only a miracle will mend it. Isn’t it wonderful, that our God is in the miracle business?

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     Needless to say, I’m much more careful today in the house, than when I lived alone. Sure, I have made mistakes, however, not that one again. A heart once broken is not easily mended. Only God can truly mend a broken heart.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  March 131, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Deuteronomy 33 – Joshua 3      /     Proverbs 6:32-35

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Numbers 34-35      /     Mark 14:43-72

Some Things Get No “Do Over’s”

March 12, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 6:29-31 So he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent. Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry; But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     If I’m a thief, and I decide to steal something from you, I can usually give it back, or replace it. If I’ve told a lie, I can tell the truth, and kind of make it right. Even if I were a murderer, I could give my life for the taking of another. For most things there is a payment that can be paid that will in some way, somewhat satisfy the penalty for that sin.

     However, in sexual sin, there is none. A man, or woman who betrays the trust of a loving spouse can never ever completely get that thought out of their mind. We may forgive one another, and by the grace of God continue in our life, but adultery carries with it a penalty that can hardly be paid. It’s that feeling of guilt, and betrayal, which cannot be repaid.

     If a man, or woman finds their spouse having an affair, it will cut to the very heart of their marital relationship. A relationship, which is built on love, trust, and honesty. Without these, we really have no marriage. How can two be one if they do not love one another? How can two be one if they cannot trust, and be honest with one another? It would be like the mind telling the hand, “really, it’s ok, just stick yourself into the running fan.” When the hand does so, it would be cut, and mangled. Why? Because the hand trusted the mind to be honest with it, to love it enough to tell it the truth. Once the body finds the mind to be dishonest with the hand, none of the body will trust it. It would then take a long time of faithful loving instruction, for the mind to gain back that trust.

     The same is true in a marriage. Once this area of trust is violated, it seems to destroy all areas of a marital relationship. Trust may be restored over time. Yet, memories last a lifetime.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     Pray God might keep you faithful in your marriage. If you’re not married, pray for the Lord to match you with someone you can truly fall in love with for life.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  March 12, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Deuteronomy 29-32      /     Proverbs 6:29-31

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Numbers 32-33      /     Mark 14:43-72

Play With Fire, You Will Get Burned

March 11, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 6:25-28 Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids. For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life. Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     Almost everyone has heard the phrase at one time or another, “if you play with fire you’re going to get burned.” Oh how true that is.

     When I was a very little boy, I am told that I leaned over a hot flame somehow, and burned a place on my stomach. I don’t really remember it happening. I know I’ve never done it again, so I must have learned a lesson not to do so. However, the memory was part of a very early childhood that I, as most, don’t remember. I might have been 2 or 3 years old at the time.

     So what would cause my parents to bring this up, and tell me about it? Could it be they wanted to be certain, as I grew older I’d never be burnt again? Not exactly. Did they somehow get a kick out of telling me how careless I was at a young age? No! I was a child. Not so much careless, as I was just curious. So why did they feel a need to share the story with me? It was because, on my stomach there is a one-inch square area that was lighter than the rest of my skin there. I had a scar, and wanted to know where it came from, so they told me. As a young boy, I felt a bit self-conscious about it. Today it’s almost unnoticeable unless I point it out. Nevertheless, it’s still there.

     Solomon tells his son in today’s passage that sexual sin will always do to you, the same as the fire did to me. Although the sinful act may be far behind you, it will scar you for life. Someday it might not be as noticeable, or memorable as before, but it’s always there, burned into your memory. Just like that scar on my belly.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     So how do we keep this from happening? Well it’s simple. If I had not leaned over the flame, I would not have the scar. If we stay clear from sexual sin, we will never have to carry any of the scars.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  March 11, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Deuteronomy 25-28      /     Proverbs 6:25-28

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Numbers 30-31      /     Mark 14:1-16

This Little Light Of Mine

March 10, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 6:23-24 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     When I was younger, it was COOL for people to have oil lamps in their house just for decoration. They didn’t cost much, and they looked somewhat neat sitting on the shelf. So I bought one. Filled it with that red colored oil, and set it aside.

     One day, I got the bright idea to light it, and watch TV by lamplight. I knew nothing about oil lamps, as you will be able to tell. I thought if you wanted a little light, you have a little wick showing. If you want a lot of light, you just turn up the wick. This seemed to make sense to me. My theory even seemed to work when I first set fire to the wick. I turned the wick up, placed the glass globe over it, placed it back on the shelf, and away she burned. I sat down to watch TV and didn’t notice, this burning wick began to turn the glass globe black, along with the ceiling above it.

     When I turned off the TV, it was dark in the room. The only light coming out of the lamp, was a glow from the opening in the top of the lamp pointing toward the ceiling. The ceiling by now was black, and reflecting little light. I couldn’t see a thing from the sides through the glass globe. There was still a flame in there, but no light was getting out. I had not used it correctly.

     So it is with many people today. They have the Word of God in their house, but it sheds no light. The light comes when you apply the Word of God from your heart. To know in your head what God’s Word says, but then not do as it says, is like the flame in my old oil lamp. The flame, and light were in the lamp, however it couldn’t do anyone any good. The only way for God’s word to do anyone any good is to read it, believe it, understand it, and then live by it. Then it will direct your paths.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.” Do you remember that little Sunday School song? For God’s Word to shine out, it has to get in first. Let’s hide God’s Word in our heart, so we can shine for Him.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  March 10, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Deuteronomy 20-24      /     Proverbs 6:23-24

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Numbers 28-29      /     Mark 13

Ahhh! To Sleep And Rest

March 09, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 6:20-22 My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     Solomon, we know was a God fearing man. It’s believed that the mothers of these children, were also women who would give Godly advice.

     Today we have families where one parent is saved, and another is not. Some families have only a single parent in the home. There are also homes where neither the father nor mother has any spiritual beliefs at all. So how do we apply this passage in a home where the words spoken by one, or both parents, who are may not be saved, might not actually be Biblical guidance?

     We first must remember, the Bible tells us to honor our parent’s, regardless of their spiritual position. We must do all that we can to be obedient to them, without violating God’s word. Nevertheless, we must also understand, the wisdom spoken of here is Godly guidance. Only the leadership of Godly knowledge can make a true everlasting difference in your life.

     In most cases, even unsaved parents will give some good advice, not realizing it has anything to do with the Bible. Don’t steal, don’t lie, don’t cheat, don’t hang out with the wrong crowd, and so on. Not realizing it, they are saying exactly what God’s Word also says. Why? Because it is inherent in loving parents to want their children to do what’s right, and to gain more out of life than we ever had. Even most unsaved parents, want something better for their children.

     Our verses also tells us, if we listen to Godly advice, we can even get a better night’s sleep. It’s logical, if we live right in the day, we can sleep better at night. There’s no guilt, no shame, no reason to lose sleep. Why, because we followed God’s way in the day, and we can trust He will keep us in the night.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     Why are people afraid at night? One reason is because they can’t see what’s out there. However, God can, and with faith in Him, He promises to watch over His own. Sleep tight tonight!

GOD TALKING TO ME:  March 09, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Deuteronomy 15-19      /      Proverbs 6:20-22

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Numbers 26-27      /     Mark 12:28-44