March 2024

Some Things Turn God’s Stomach
March 8, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 6:16-19
These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

        As Christians, we all retain the old sin nature. It is possible for anyone to be tempted by sin and to give in. Living in known sin with no remorse cannot be a saved person’s lifestyle. A Christian will desire to be more like their Savior, Jesus Christ.

      1 John 1:9 was placed in Scripture for the redeemed who have given in to sin’s temptations. It tells us how to get back to where we should be, in fellowship with God. However, what truly sickens God is the disobedience of premeditated sin. Planning on sinning, thinking God has to forgive you someday. God will always forgive you of your sin but does not always take away the penalty of that sin.

       There are those who cannot wait to sin. Their feet are swift to run to mischief. These people not only plan and meditate on sin but also can’t wait to engage in it. If only Christians were as eager to serve as some sinners are eager to sin.

      Among the first six things the Lord hates, we find lying to be a part of two of them. God hates lying, and even more so, falsely accusing or lying against another person. Not only have you sinned, but you have also defamed the character of another. These lies damage something which God holds dear: the testimony of their life. We should guard our testimony as if it were gold. God truly hates it when someone tries to falsely tear that down.

      The last on the list is also called an abomination unto God. Abomination carries the meaning of something that stinks and will turn your stomach. What ultimately turns God’s stomach? People gossiping, slandering, exaggerating, lying, and dividing the body of Christ. It’s verbally attacking the people whom God loves, and we should love too. It makes God sick.     
 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     God is a God of reconciliation. Reconciling people to himself, and also to one another. He has never been the God of division. If we are to be more like Christ, shouldn’t we too be more about healing, than dividing?

Is our life bringing joy to God’s heart
or turning God’s stomach?

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: MARCH 8, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
    Deuteronomy 11 – Deuteronomy 14
    Proverbs 6:16 – 19

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
   Numbers 21-22
   Mark 11

What? I Was Just Having Fun
March 7, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 6:12-15
A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth. He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers; Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord. Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.

 

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

      I have been known from time to time to play a little trick on someone. More often than not, it is a harmless little something that, when we are finished, we can both laugh at. It will often bring a surprise or scare, which is only for a moment, and then it’s done.

      However, what if this went on, and on, and on for what seemed to be an eternity? Well, that is the way it is in the life of what today’s passage is calling “a naughty person.” In a quest to find more pleasure and bigger laughs in the practical jokes they play on people, they do more and more terrible things. These things may eventually physically hurt others, and often themselves. They become thrill-seekers at others’ expense.

      It becomes an addiction with them, just like any other addiction, such as the person addicted to alcohol who will need more and more alcohol to satisfy their cravings. An addiction to tobacco, pornography, drugs, or anything is the same. The more you have, the more you want. This is the same for the naughty person. If they have pulled something really big to embarrass, harass, hurt, or degrade you or someone else, watch out; the next stunt will be bigger and worse yet.

     The problem is that they are so involved in what they are doing that they never realize how they’re ruining their own lives. No one wants to be around them, and no one ever trusts them. All their time is spent on mischief and deceit, and their mind is consumed with it continually. Their destruction is sure and seemingly swift. Then, it always ends the same way, with them saying, “Hey, what happened? I was just having some fun.”

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     Watch out for the tricksters in this life. The final trick they play is always on themselves. It appears almost like magic. POOF, and suddenly they realize they have nothing to show for life. 

Does that sound like a good trick to you?

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: MARCH 7, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
   Deuteronomy 7 – Deuteronomy 10
   Proverbs 6:12 – 15

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
   Numbers 19-20
   Mark 10:32-52

 

WORK Is A Four-letter Word
March 6, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 6:9-11
How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

        “Can I sleep just a little while longer, please?” Every parent has heard this plea, and at times, it doesn’t just come from the children but from those responsible for caring for them as well. Just a few more minutes, please!

      Today, our society is constantly on the move. We rush through our days, often neglecting the rest our bodies and minds need. However, the question of how much rest is sufficient remains a topic of debate, with different studies yielding varying results.

       Some assert that eight hours of sleep per night is adequate, while others claim that four to six hours of restful sleep should suffice. Many busy individuals attempt to get by with as little sleep as possible, while others, at the opposite end of the spectrum, seem to spend a significant portion of their lives in slumber.

      Solomon is addressing those who indulge in prolonged slumber in today’s passage. This stands in stark contrast to the diligent ants mentioned in the preceding verses. Instead of remaining active, these individuals seek a bit of extra sleep, rise for a brief respite, and then, out of idleness, return to bed. Consequently, their laziness leaves them fatigued and lacking the motivation to accomplish anything meaningful.

      Solomon issues a stern warning against this life of indolence. He likens it to a journey where one meanders aimlessly, accomplishing nothing along the way, only to face a sudden and dreadful conclusion. Such a lifestyle leads to physical and literal ruin. He also draws a parallel to a life suddenly plundered by an armed assailant, leaving one with nothing. In a similar manner, a life of idleness ultimately leaves you empty-handed as time slips away.     
 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    Yes, WORK is a four-letter word. Nevertheless, it is a word that we need in our life. The Bible declares that if a man will not work, he, in turn, should not eat. It does not say that work should be our entire life, but it should be a part of it. God will supply our needs; however, He often does it through a job.

What are your thoughts on the balance of WORK & REST?

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: MARCH 6, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
    Deuteronomy 4 – Deuteronomy 6
    Proverbs 6:9 – 11

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
   Numbers 16-18
   Mark 10:1-31

Lessons From The Ants
March 5, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 6:4-8
Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids. Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler. Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

        BUGS, INSECTS!!! Even the words make some people’s skin crawl. Most often, we associate pests with them. When something goes wrong in our computer programs, it is called a “bug” in the program. If someone is bothering you, you might say, “Quit bugging me,” or “Stop being such a pest.”

      However, Solomon points out a valuable lesson that can be learned from observing the ANT. Ants evidently have no real leader. There’s no commando ant barking out orders, telling all the other ants what to do and where to go. Yet, all the ants fall into place and pull their weight. In fact, it has been said that an ant can carry many times its own weight when gathering things. Another interesting fact about ants is that they prepare in advance. They store up food and resources in preparation for winter and harsh weather.

      So, what are we to learn from these little industrious creatures? First, we learn that saving is not a sin. Some may tell you that the Bible never speaks of putting anything away for the future, and that you’re just to rely on God day by day for everything. However, this is not true. God gives us wisdom to see a future need, and we should be wise and save for it. God has still supplied for the need.

      Next, we see that we should not have to be told to do something in order for it to be done. Simply get busy and get it done. Additionally, teamwork sure does help.

    One great thing about the church I’m privileged to pastor is that they work as a team if there is a true need in our midst. Teamwork means getting it done together. We should not be sluggards or lazy. God provides the materials, but we must still use them to the best of our ability for His glory.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    Next time you observe ants, pay attention to how industrious they are. God has provided them with everything they need to thrive; all they must do is utilize it. He has done the same for us. Now, what will you do with it?

Can you see how God also gave us the ANT as reminders
of His provision for us in means and methods?

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: MARCH 5, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
   Deuteronomy 1 – Deuteronomy 3
   Proverbs 6:4 – 8

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
   Numbers 15
   Mark 9:30-50

Watch Out For The DEBT TRAP
March 4, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 6:1-3
My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger, Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth. Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

        Credit was once something hard to obtain. You had to maintain a clean financial record and avoid any bad debts just to consider getting a credit card or a loan. However, today, almost anyone, anywhere, and at any time can acquire a credit card. Most stores now offer their own credit cards, and many have partnered with major credit card companies, allowing you to use their cards at other stores as well. Sounds great, right? WRONG!


      The problem is that many people today carry more credit card debt than they can ever hope to pay off in a reasonable amount of time. If creditors were to contact them, claiming they were going out of business and needed immediate repayment, most people wouldn’t have the funds to do so.


      Even worse, many people are only making the minimum payment each month. By doing so, they are barely, if at all, covering the interest, and will end up paying the credit card company indefinitely. Let’s imagine purchasing a television for five hundred dollars and making only the minimum payment on your credit card. By the time you have paid off that TV, several things will probably have happened. Your grandchildren will have graduated from college, the TV will have been replaced twice, and you will have paid several thousand dollars for your initial five-hundred-dollar purchase.


      Debt is a trap that society has tried to lure us into. Even worse, many have willingly jumped into this debt trap. Sadly, they find themselves swimming against the tide of interest for years to come. Don’t let the world control your financial future. Let God guide you..     

 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     You might be wondering, “How can I escape this debt trap?” First and foremost, STOP BUYING THINGS YOU DO NOT NEED! If you are burdened by substantial debt, you need to live within your financial means. Second, PRAY. Seek God’s guidance, wisdom, and self-control daily. Then, PAY. Start making additional payments on your debts, and one day they will be gone. It will take time, but the freedom is absolutely worth it.

 

Will you let God guide you out of debt?

 

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: MARCH 4, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
    Numbers 33 – Numbers 36
    Proverbs 6:1 – 3

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
   Numbers 12-14
   Mark 9:1-29