Who’s Running This Anyway?

September 23, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 23:20-23 Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags. Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old. Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     What happens to a ship if the captain lets go of the wheel? What happens in a car if you sit back and do not drive, but just press on the gas? How many safe landings do you think a plane would make if the Pilot and Co-Pilots were to go back and sit with the passengers during landing? What happens to a life that is lived with no one directing it and no one in control? 

     The answers to all these questions are the same, there is going to be a disaster. The ship will sail off course and end up where it did not want to be. The car will swerve out of control, destroying itself and most likely others around. The plane will take a nosedive killing everyone aboard. In addition, a life lived out of control will lead to a certain catastrophe.

     This is a life that says eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die. To some degree, we all feel this statement is true. We are all going to die, right? The answer is NO! We must eat to sustain life and we must sleep to rest our body. However, we must also obey and surrender our life God so we will never die.

     Our Christian life is all about control. We need to sleep, but not be lazy and not work. We need to eat, but not to the neglect others at the table, or to the point we cannot move to do the Lord’s work. We should enjoy life, not as those who numb it with alcohol, but as those who love and enjoy the life God has given us. As believers we never die. Our fleshly bodies may go in the grave, but our soul will live eternally in glory. Living out of control and without God not only puts the body in the grave, but you face a second death, which is an eternity away from God’s love. At the second death, you have lost all control eternally.


THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

So, what is the difference? It is control. A life lived in a manner pleasing to God is a life lived in control. The question now is who is in control? Give your life to Jesus and let Him be in control.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  September 23, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Zechariah 11 – Malachi 4     /     Proverbs 23:20-23

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Ecc. 5-6    /  Gal. 1

The Credit Trap

September 22, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 23:17-19 Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long. For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off. Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    It is easier than ever to get credit cards now days. Many credit card companies call, write, text, or in some way entice us, wanting us to use their cards. Why are they so interested in us using these little pieces of plastic? It is because they know, the average person will run up more bills on these accounts than they can pay back in a month’s time. This is especially true during the Holiday Seasons. Then when the accounts are not paid by month’s end, they get to charge you interest. 

    Many people paying payments to credit card companies are barely covering the interest monthly. Some are still paying off last year’s Christmas, while charging ahead into this year’s holiday debt. Once someone is caught in this high interest nightmare, it often seems impossible to get out. However, is that what they tell you in their promotions? Do they say, “Hello we are offering you credit at an outrageous interest rate so you can buy whatever you want and pay us monthly for it until you die?” Well of course they do not say that. They tell you all about the benefits and the low interest for the first three months.

    Why do people often get themselves in this situation? Envy! Many times, it is because people see what the world has and they want it, even if they do not need it. Our verses today refer to this very thing. “Let not thine heart envy sinners… For surely there is an end.”  The Answer is in this verse as well. It says, “but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.” To fear God is to honor and trust His ways. The rewards in life will be greater than anything purchased on credit can buy. That is when you will really discover your possibilities.

     
THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    I know some who say Christians are not to be in debt at all. For many today this seems impossible. Nevertheless, being a good steward of what God entrusts us with means at least keeping our debt to a minimum. Give people your time and love this coming Holiday Season. If that is not enough for someone, should you be buying them expensive gifts? Let’s not owe our life to the world. Why should we since we gave our life to God.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  September 22, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Zechariah 1 – 10     /   Proverbs 23:17-19

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Ecc. 3-4    /   2 Co. 13

Living In His Word Ministries

Say Something Nice For Once

September 21, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 23:14-16 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell. My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine. Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

  It seems at times that we as parents and grandparents hear many more negative than positive things about our children and grandchildren. Whenever they may do or say the wrong things, people are very quick to point out their faults.

    I have been accused over the years of getting upset when I hear bad things about my children. In most cases, those people might do well to know that I do not get upset about hearing if my children or grandchildren have misbehaved. The fact is I am just tired of always hearing it from them. Some people never want to say a good word about you or your family. This is especially true if you are part of the Pastor’s Family. People seem to find some kind of pleasure in pointing out all the negatives they can find. Do I defend my children to others more than I should? I do not believe so. I love them, and I am going to be their greatest cheerleader. I have corrected them as is necessary, even still today, after they are grown and out of the house. Nevertheless, I will stand up before the world for them in defense of their honor as well.

    On the other hand, if you want to see an old man beam with joy, come tell me about a positive thing my children or grandchildren have done. There is nothing like hearing they have done something, which people have noticed as good.

    Solomon was saying the same thing to his son. He said, my heart would rejoice if you do and say the right things in life. John said this as well about his spiritual family in 3 John 3, 4 when he said; “For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” Everyone loves to hear good things about their family. Everyone!


THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    Would you like to make your Pastor happy this week? Find one thing about his family that you can complement them on and tell him. Would you like to make God, your heavenly Father happy this week? Do the same thing when talking to others about His children, the church. He is listening you know!

GOD TALKING TO ME:  September 21, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Habakkuk 1 – Haggai 2     /   Proverbs 23:14-16

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Ecc. 1-2    /   2 Co. 12

Living In His Word Ministries

Weekend Review

September 19 & 20, 2020

Proverbs 23:12

Apply thine heart unto
instruction,
and thine ears
to the words of knowledge.

Work Week Devotions
Through the Book of Proverbs

      As you know by now, with WORK WEEK DEVOTIONS, we only publish our Devotional Thoughts on Monday – Friday. On Saturday we suggest you re-read the entire chapter we have been studying this past 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 2020.

WEEK 37 – Day 6

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

Proverbs 22-23

WEEK 37 – 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 WITH DAILY PROVERBS

September 21, 2020  Habakkuk 1   – Haggai 2          Proverbs 23:14 – 16
September 22, 2020  Zechariah 1   – Zechariah 10  Proverbs 23:17 – 19
September 23, 2020  Zechariah 11 – Malachi 4        Proverbs 23:20 – 23
September 24, 2020  Matthew 1:1 – Matthew 5        Proverbs 23:24 – 28
September 25, 2020  Matthew 6    – Matthew 9        Proverbs 23:29 – 32
September 26, 2020  Proverbs 23 – 24                   
September 27, 2020 No Passages Assigned    

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY

September 21, 2020   Ecc. 1-2           2 Co. 12
September 22, 2020   Ecc. 3-4           2 Co. 13
September 23, 2020   Ecc. 5-6           Gal. 1
September 24, 2020   Ecc. 7-8           Gal. 2
September 25, 2020   Ecc. 9-10         Gal. 3
September 26, 2020   Ecc. 11-12       Gal. 4
September 27, 2020 No Passages Assigned


THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY

September 19, 2020    Pro. 30-31  /    2 Co. 11
September 20, 2020    No Passages Assigned    

Can You Really Have It All?

September 18, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 23:10-13 Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless: For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee. Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge. Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

      In America, we are taught if we work hard and long, we can have anything we desire. This is partially true, and partially a lie. If you work for several hours in the day and are diligent in your endeavors, you can often advance within the company for which you work. The money earned from that position would allow you to buy many of the toys the world dangles out in front of us. However, you cannot have everything.

    You can never get those hours back that you put in to earn that money. I live in west Michigan near the lake. I cannot tell you the number of people I have seen who have worked hard to buy a nice boat to take their families out on. Then it stays parked all summer long because they are too busy working to pay the slip rental, and upkeep to be able to take their family anywhere.

    Our wisdom tells us to get all we can, can all we get, sit on the can, and poison the rest so no one else gets any. God’s Word tells us to use another’s wisdom. One that is higher than our own, God’s wisdom.

    I am not implying a person should not work to support their family and life. The Bible is very clear that if a man does not work, he should not eat. In other words, everyone should pull his or her own weight to the best of their ability. However, what God is teaching us here is that our job should support our life and family. Our job should not be our life away from family. We need to be there to both correct and cuddle with our children while we still can. “Apply thine heart unto instruction.”

     
THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    As you prepare for today, ask yourself, how is what I am doing today showing my family that I’m using good financial and time management skills with them in mind? They need to feel financially stable, loved, and emotionally secure. Trust in the Lord and lean not on your own wisdom. Let Him direct your paths. Life’s more enjoyable with God in control.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  September 18, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Micah 5 – Nahum 3     /   Proverbs 23:10-13

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Pro. 28-29    /   2 Co. 9-10

Living In His Word Ministries