January 2024

WEEKEND PREVIEW
January 13 & 14, 2024

Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the
LORD
is the beginning of knowledge:
but fools despise
wisdom and instruction.

Work Week Devotions
Through The Book Of Proverbs

      As previously mentioned, with WORK WEEK DEVOTIONS, we will only be publishing Devotional Thoughts Monday – Friday.

      On Saturday we suggest you re-read the entire chapter we have been studying this week, and if we will be going into the following chapter the next week, we encourage you to read that chapter as well.   
      There are never Devotions on Sunday. 

Thank you for joining us as we journey together…
Through Proverbs in 2024

WEEK 1 – Day 6:
On Saturday, we suggest you re-read the Proverb we have written from this past week and the coming week.

Proverbs 1-2

WEEK 1 – Day 7:
Today we suggest you read and study whatever the Lord has laid on your Pastor’s heart. Whatever Scripture he uses for today’s messages were given to him by God for your specific needs.

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT TODAY AND TOMORROW
January 13  Genesis 29-30    Matthew 10
January 14  No Passages Assigned Assigned

NEXT WEEKS UPCOMING SCHEUDLES:

SCHEDULE 1 – Bible In a Year – with Proverbs Study 

January 15  Genesis 23  –  Genesis 25    Proverbs 1:18 – 20
January 16  Genesis 26  –  Genesis 28    Proverbs 1:21 – 24
January 17  Genesis 29  –  Genesis 31    Proverbs 1:25 – 28
January 18  Genesis 32  –  Genesis 35    Proverbs 1:29 – 33
January 19  Genesis 36  –  Genesis 39    Proverbs 2:1 – 2
January 20  Proverbs 1 – 2
January 21  No Passages AssignedAssigned    

SCHEDULE 2 – Old & New Testament

January 15  Genesis 31-32   Matthew 11:1-19
January 16  Genesis 33-34   Matthew 11:20-30
January 17  Genesis 35-37   Matthew 12:1-37
January 18  Genesis 38-39   Matthew 12:38-50
January 19  Genesis 40-41   Matthew 13:1-35
January 20  Genesis 42-43   Matthew 13:36-58
January 21  No Passages Assigned

 

Your Friends Make A Good Mirror
January 12, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 1:15-17
My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.

 

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

      As a young boy, my father would offer me wise counsel, although at that age, I did not regard it as such. In my youth, I viewed it as if some older guy did not want me to have fun and was speaking ill of my friends—friends whom I believed he didn’t even know. He would say things like, “You become who you hang around with,” or “People judge you not by who you are, but by who you associate with.” Did I believe him? Not really. Was he right? ABSOLUTELY!

      At the time, my friends did not seem so bad to me, and my dad didn’t really know them well. However, what he did know was that they were heading in the wrong direction in life. Their lives lacked direction, and they had absolutely no Biblical desires. If they did, they certainly did not show it. What he understood was that if I continued to associate with them, others would judge me to be just like them. Worse than that, he knew that after a while, I would indeed become just like them. He was right, and I did.

 

      Had it not been for the grace of God and His life-changing salvation, I might be where many of them are today: broken, unhappy, addicted, mean-spirited, and some, even dead. However, because of the prayers of Godly parents, the visitation program of a few churches, and a revival speaker, God took hold of my life. I now serve God and not myself. I now have immeasurable joy. I’m no longer addicted to the drugs, tobacco, and alcohol that once ruled my life. I now have a different set of friends who are godly. Moreover, Jesus is now my best friend.     

 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     People still judge me by my friends, and I’m proud to be associated with those individuals. They pray for me and help me stay accountable to God. What do people think of you today? Do you want to know? Just take a look at your friends. They reflect who people believe you are. Friends serve as a good mirror.

 

If friends are a good mirror,
what reflection do you see?

 

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage, and todays Devotion?

 

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

 

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

 

  

GOD TALKING TO ME: JANUARY 12, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
        Genesis 19-Genesis 22     /     Proverbs 1:15 – 17

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
     Genesis 27-28     /     Matthew 9:18-38

 

Success at Any Cost
January 11, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 1:10-14
My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:

 

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

        Get all you can, can all you get, sit on the can, and poison the rest. This seems to be the world’s philosophy: acquire everything you can possibly get. Then, when you have it, hold onto it. Don’t share it with anyone; keep it. You worked hard for it. You earned it. You deserve it. Don’t worry about whom you may hurt along the way. It’s all just part of life, right? WRONG!

      Thousands of men, women, and children, just in the United States, live in cars, under bridges, and in cardboard boxes because of this particular way of thinking. Many are victims of consumer greed. During Christmas, those who are better off may toss a dollar into the Salvation Army kettle for ‘poor homeless people,’ feeling as though they’ve fulfilled their duty. Unfortunately, they may not realize how the greed prevalent in today’s consumer mentality has contributed to much of this economic hardship. For many businesses, making an extra dollar has become more important than the welfare of the people they employ. While some individuals may succumb to freezing cold during the winter months, and many families go without food or shelter, corporate executives fill their homes with extravagances and consume the livelihood of others. All for what? To earn one more dollar they truly don’t need.

      Did someone intend for this to happen? Probably not. However, decisions solely driven by the bottom line often harm the very people who rely on them. Not everyone suffers due to self-indulgence; some find themselves in dire straits because of their own poor choices. But what if your family were homeless because of thoughtless greed? Would it matter then?     

 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     God’s not against success. However, He’s very concerned with how we measure success. Mark 8:36 asks; “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Greed often causes social blindness and misses Calvary’s love for man. Pray for loving, humble hearts.

Is success and any cost really success?

 

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage, and todays Devotion?

 

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

 

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

  

GOD TALKING TO ME: JANUARY 11, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
        Genesis 14-Genesis 18     /     Proverbs 1:10-14

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
       Genesis 25-26     /     Matthew 9:1-17

 

Just Give Me Good Directions
January 10, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 1:7- 9
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

        If I said, “to go from Virginia to California you need to go straight west,” this would be a true statement. Therefore, is the statement, “to go to California you must go straight west,” always correct? NO! The statement “to get to California from Virginia you must head west” is correct. However, if you begin in Florida and head west, you will end up in Mexico. Does that make the instructions wrong? NO! But it sure makes your starting place very important.

      The same principle applies to these Proverbs. If you attempt to apply them to an immoral heart, they will not always be effective. In fact, they may not even make sense. Our hearts often tell us, “Live for yourself, get all you can, enjoy every moment no matter the cost.” However, the Bible tells us to live for God, trust that He will provide all you need, and find joy not just for a moment but for eternity.

      The starting point for understanding any of these proverbs is to grasp and believe in the Author of the Proverbs. It requires developing a personal and loving relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ, and being empowered by the Holy Spirit. If you begin in the right place, you’ll ultimately arrive at the right destination.

      Begin with Jesus. Submit yourself to Him or recommit yourself to Him. The foundation of wisdom is having a relationship with God.   

 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

   If you have never accepted Christ, acknowledge that you are a sinner and in need of a Savior. Understand that He died for all your sins, and believe that His death, burial, and resurrection fully paid the price for your sin debt. Invite Him to come into your life permanently. ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.’ 

Are you beginning this journey from the right place?

 

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage, and todays Devotion?

 

 

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

 

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

 

  

GOD TALKING TO ME: JANUARY 10, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
   Genesis 9-Genesis 13     /     Proverbs 1:7-9

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
   Genesis 24     /     Matthew 8

 

Memories
January 9 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 1:4-6

To give subtlety to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

 

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

        During the holidays and at various times of the year, schools in most areas close for seasonal breaks. Children play and have a great time. Then comes the dreaded day when the vacation is over, and school resumes its sessions. It’s not really school that is dreaded as much as the idea of having to study and learn something. That takes work and time. It means having to memorize some things, about which we hear both young and old making the same claim: “I am not good at memorizing things.” Well, that’s just not true. Let’s think for a second. Where do you live? What is the address? What is your phone number? How do you get to work? What’s your favorite food? You have all the answers to these questions buried in your mind because you memorized them. Why? Because knowing each of these facts is very important to your daily life.

      The Book of Proverbs is also important for your daily living. I’m not asking you to memorize the Book of Proverbs. However, what do today’s verses tell us? “A wise man will hear,” and not just hear but will also delve deep to understand the dark sayings. Simply put, it’s not just about reading the words but understanding the depth of their meaning. We’re not just meant to be readers and hearers but also doers.     

 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     What will be your choice? Will you be someone who reads the words, walks away, and never thinks of them again? Or, even worse, one who never even reads the words at all? Or will you be the wise person who says in your heart, “I will read, learn, understand, and apply the wise counsel of the wisest one of all time.” Are we talking about Solomon as the wisest? Absolutely not. The wisest is God. God simply used Solomon to share the wisdom and truth that He has for you.

What will be your choice?

 

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage, and todays Devotion?

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

  

GOD TALKING TO ME: JANUARY 9, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
          Genesis 5-8     /     Proverbs 1:4 – 6

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
         Genesis 21-23     /     Matthew 7