DEVOTIONS

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Watch Out For The BEARS!
July 16, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 17:9-12
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends. A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool. An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him. Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    Let’s use our imaginations for a moment. What do you imagine would happen to a man or woman who, by chance, runs into a mother bear who has just had her cubs taken from her? You’re right; it’s not going to be a petting zoo experience. That person would most likely be torn to bits by the powerful claws and teeth of this angry mother bear.

    Just as the idea of breaking free from the wrath of an angry mother bear seems impossible and foolish, so is the idea that a person who indulges in sinful ways will someday be able to break free. That’s why the writers of this Proverb called people who think this way fools. The playful little sins they once believed to be fun will continually entangle and trap them until they are destroyed by them.

    The sad part is that they never see their sins trapping them until it’s too late. Their joy will turn to sorrow, and their playfulness becomes a controlling slave master. They are no longer free to do what they want but must serve the sin that has engulfed their life.

    How can they ever be free? Only through the grace of God can a person be saved and freed from sin’s grip. God calls you to freedom, safety, and His Son Jesus. Can you hear His call in your heart, or are the bears growling outside your door?

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    If it feels like the world has enslaved you and you want to be free, cry out to a Holy God and ask for forgiveness. He is willing to forgive and cleanse you. If you desire to be free and saved, there is also good news. It means He is calling you now. Do not put it off until it’s too late.

When have the “bears of sin” seemed overwhelming 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: July 16, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Ecclesiastes 1 – Ecclesiastes 6
  Proverbs 17:9 – 12

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Neh. 13
  Acts 16:1-24

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Oh, To Be A Grandparent
July 15, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 17:5-8
Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished. Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers. Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince. A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     Just get around any grandparent, mention their grandchildren, and you will see a book full of pictures and hear an hour’s worth of tales about how wonderful and magnificent their grandchildren are. These children are portrayed as able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, diapers and all.

    I joke about it, but the Bible told us centuries ago that this is how it is supposed to be. “Children’s children are the crown of old men” (including also gracefully aging women). Grandparents will talk more about the accomplishments of a 5-year-old in kindergarten than about their own children, even if their child is a rocket scientist who went to the moon.

     Furthermore, it is a great blessing for parents who are fortunate enough to be able to introduce their children to their grandparents. Grandmas and grandpas have so many more exciting stories to tell, and often, more time to tell them.

     My wife, our children, and I are extremely fortunate in that we had godly men to look to as examples in our lives. My father and my wife’s father were both wonderful examples of God-fearing men (in addition to being the family jokesters on occasion) before they passed into glory. We also had a third Fatherly example to look to as well: God, our Heavenly Father.

     I count myself truly fortunate to have three Godly forefathers as examples to pass on to my children. Nevertheless, if I had only one, and if that one was God the Father, He would be enough. “The glory of children are their fathers.” I sure love all the fathers in my life.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    Have you introduced your children to their forefathers? They have wonderful stories to tell, some of which are recorded in the pages of the Bible by our Heavenly Father. Other stories are recorded in the hearts of those of us who know and love Him.

How have you been blessed by your forefathers?

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: July 15, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Psalms 141 – Psalms 150
  Proverbs 17:5 – 8

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Neh. 11-12
  Acts 15:28-41

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WEEKEND REVIEW
July 13 & 14, 2024

Proverbs 16:25

There is a way that seemeth right unto a man,
but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Work Week Devotions
Through The Book Of Proverbs

     What a joy it has been to be with you this past week. I pray these WORK WEEK DEVOTIONS have been a blessing to you as well. To receive them daily in your e-mail box go to LIHWMinistries Sign-Up Page – Living In His Word Ministries and sign up. Each day these devotions will be delivered directly in your e-mail box.

      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.

As we Journey through Proverbs, if you have any questions
Please send them to LIHWDEV@LIHWMinistries.org

Also, you would be huge help and blessing if you 
might write a review on these devotions on
Review Work Week Devotions (amazon.com)
or 
Review Work Week Devotions Journal (amazon.com)

WEEK 27 – Day 6:

     On Saturday, we suggest you re-read the Proverb we have written from this past week and the week to come.

Proverbs 16-17

WEEK 27 – 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:

July 13, 2024
Neh. 9-10
Acts 15:1-27

July 14,
No Passages Assigned

NEXT WEEKS UPCOMING SCHEUDLES:

SCHEDULE 1 – Bible In a Year – with Proverbs Study 

July 15, 2024
Psalms 141 – 150
Proverbs 17:5 – 8
July 16, 2024
Ecclesiastes 1 – 6
Proverbs 17:9 – 12
July 17, 2024
Ecclesiastes 7 – 12
Proverbs 17:13 – 15
July 18, 2024
Song of Solomon 1 – 4
Proverbs 17:16 – 19
July 19, 2024
Song of Solomon 5 – 8
Proverbs 17:20 – 22
July 20, 2024
Proverbs 17-18
July 21, 2024
No Passages Assigned

SCHEDULE 2 – Old & New Testament

July 15, 2024
Neh. 11-12
Acts 15:28-41
July 16, 2024
Neh. 13
Acts 16:1-24
July 17, 2024
Esther 1-4
Acts 16:25-40
July 18, 2024
Esther 5-10
Acts 17
July 19, 2024
Job 1-4
Acts 18
July 20, 2024
Job 5-8
Acts 19:1-20
July 21, 2024
No Passages Assigned

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Dirty Mouth? …Clean It Up!
July 12, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 17:1-4
Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife. A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren. The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts. A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    On television, I saw a commercial from a chewing gum company that says, “Dirty Mouth? …Clean It Up!” They are, of course, suggesting that you do so by chewing their brand of gum.

    While that gum may do many things to clean your mouth, freshen your breath, and possibly remove debris from between your teeth, it only works for a short time, and then you will need to chew another piece. To clean up the mouth from hurtful and harmful conversation, you need a lot more than gum, toothpaste, or mouthwash. You need a change of heart.

    Just as metal is tried by the fire of a smelting pot to remove impurities, the conversation that comes from our mouth is also tried by a flame that burns within the heart of man. If you are on fire for the Lord, the flame in your heart will desire to take away hate and gossip, leaving your conversation filled with the love you have for God. In Ephesians 4:14-15, Paul says, “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:.” How we speak will quickly tell those around us who we serve, whether that be ourselves or our Savior. Those whose hearts burn with a desire for trouble will find themselves drawn to the false lips and naughty tongues of the world. Gossip and grumbling are things God truly hates.     

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     What is the flame of your heart burning for today? Does your heart long for the truth of God’s Word and the fellowship of His saints? Or is your heart leading you toward the gossip and garbage that destroys others’ lives and makes God sick? “Dirty Mouth? …Clean it up!”

How will you purify the thoughts of your heart
and the words of your mouth today?

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: July 12, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Psalms 134 – Psalms 140
  Proverbs 17:1 – 4

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Neh. 7-8
  Acts 14

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Power, Might, Or Self Control?
July 11, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 16:32-33
He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    Some people believe that brute force and power are the answer to everything. However, for strength and power to be effective, you need to have someone with a clear mind and someone who is very much in control leading it.

    Every army needs a General to make the decision about where, when, and how to fight. When the war is complete, the men who fought often come home to a hero’s welcome, but in the history books, the General is remembered for winning the war.

    Every company has a president or leadership. While it is all the employees who, in reality, make the product or provide the service, when the job is finished, the leadership receives the pat on the back.

    In the same way, if a company fails or a war is lost, the shame for this failure or loss is placed firmly on the shoulders of the leadership as well. Sometimes when a business fails due to a poor decision, someone is held financially, and in some cases criminally responsible. Again, this hardship normally falls on the owners, President, CEO, or leadership

    It is a good thing to be strong and brave. Still, it is nobler, and often a harder thing to be in control and wise. It is far better to rule your emotions and be in control of yourself than to conquer a land and be in control of nothing.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    In the book of James, Chapter 3, it says that the tongue is a small member of the body that no one can tame. Often, one of the smallest body parts can be the hardest to control. Therefore, if you cannot control the muscle of the tongue, you had better learn how to control the emotion that wags it.

Are your emotions and self control given over to God today?

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: July 11, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Psalms 120 – Psalms 133
  Proverbs 16:32 – 33

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Neh. 4-6
  Acts 13:29-52