Are You Really Listening?

JUNE 16, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 15:5-8 A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent. In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble. The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     Just as important as it is for us to use the proper words and tone of voice when talking with someone, it’s also important to be a careful listener. I’ve seen children, and some adults, put their fingers in their ears and go “lalala, lalala,” while someone is talking. As if to visibly, and audibly tell them, “I’m not listening.” Sometimes adults will be a bit more subtle. While a person is talking to us, we’re looking everywhere but at them, as if to say, “What you’re saying is not important.” Yet another poor listening skill is to only partially listening to what a person has to say. As someone shares something meaning one thing, we hear only parts of it, then fill in the blanks and twist it in our minds to remember something completely different. Then when we don’t seem to understand one another we wonder why.

     It’s so important to have not only good speaking skills, but good listening skills as well. When people come to share their heart, we need to hear more than words. They may be looking for someone to trust, and confide in, and all we see is someone doing a lot of talking. It might be God brought them to you, and needs you to listen, and help. Then again, it may be that God has brought this brother, or sister in Christ around to help you in an area in which you are struggling. Instead of accepting their gesture with love, we get defensive of our private struggles. In our verses, it says if we’ll listen, fathers give instruction, and “The lips of the wise disperse knowledge.”

    Today’s verses also tell us God loves to listen to us. It says; “the prayer of the upright is his delight.” He is listening to every word, and enjoying the time spent with just you.

     Listening, just like reading and writing, is a skill that needs to be developed. Are you listening to your own heart right now?


THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     How can we practice listening? Experts say if you’re not sure of someone’s statement, repeat it back to them in the form of a question. Let’s listen to God, and when in doubt, ask Him.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  JUNE 16, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Job 37 – 42     /     Proverbs 15:5-8

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  1 Chron. 17-19     /      John 20

Choose Your Words Wisely

JUNE 15, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 15:1-4 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness. The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     I remember as a child watching a movie that had a line in it which said something like; to say what you mean, and to mean what you say are not the same thing. For example, to say, “I see what I eat” is not the same as to say, “I eat what I see.” The same words are used, but the meaning is completely different. To see what you eat is logical, and right for a sighted person. However, to say I eat what I see, well that could have you over in a field eating grass, just because you saw it..

     Words are very important. Not only are words important, but it’s also important how we use them in conversation. In our verses today, it says; “The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.” Much too often we as Christians speak before we even think of how this will affect someone else. In defense of this rudeness, we say things like, “Well the truth will always be the truth no matter what,” or I’ve heard, “I just don’t candy coat things, I give it to people just like it is.” While both of those statements can be good at times, there are times we need to think a bit before we speak. The Bible tells us to tell the truth. However, Jesus tells us to use the truth with Love. (Eph. 4:15)

     Love will always cause us to stop for a moment and ask ourselves the question, “How will the one I’m saying this to, or the one I am talking about understand what I am about to say, and the way I say it?” We must always remember to be considerate, and to love one another. If we do, then we will use the truth wisely to help, and not hurt each other.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     In James chapter 3, we are warned about an uncontrolled tongue. Let’s begin today by using our tongue wisely. Let’s try to remember to first use it to speak with God before we speak with, or about others.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  JUNE 15, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Job 31 – 36    /     Proverbs 15:1-4

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  1 Chron. 15-16     /     John 19:31-42

Weekend Review

June 13 & 14, 2020

Proverbs 14:26

In the fear of the
LORD 
is strong confidence:
and his children shall have
a place of refuge. 

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 23 – Day 6

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

Proverbs 14-15

WEEK 23 – 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

June 15, 2020     Job 31 – 36             Proverbs 15:1 – 4
June 16, 2020     Job 37 – 42             Proverbs 15:5 – 8
June 17, 2020     Psalms 1 – 14        Proverbs 15:9 – 12
June 18, 2020     Psalms 15 – 21      Proverbs 15:13 – 16
June 19, 2020     Psalms 22 – 30      Proverbs 15:17 – 19
June 20, 2020     Proverbs 14 – 15                  
June 21, 2020     No Passages Assigned  

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY

June 15, 2020     1 Chron. 15-16     John 19:31-42
June 16, 2020     1 Chron. 17-19     John 20
June 17, 2020     1 Chron. 20-22     John 21
June 18, 2020     1 Chron. 23-25     Acts 1
June 19, 2020     1 Chron. 26-27     Acts 2:1-36
June 20, 2020     1 Chron. 28-29     Acts 2:37-47
June 21, 2020     No Passages Assigned

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY

  JUNE 13, 2020     1 Chron. 12-14     /     John 19:1-30
  JUNE 14, 2020     No Passages Assigned

Publicity Stunts

JUNE 12, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 14:33-35 Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known. Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. The king’s favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     All too often today we see glamour queens, and so-called movie stars do shocking things that make it into the news. In fact, the more shocking their antics, the more publicity they get. A while back these actions were called by what they really were, publicity stunts. These things are done just for the sake of getting public attention. Anymore these same things are now called “news.” Some say, “Even bad news, is good publicity.”

     Well that might work in the world’s eyes, but not in the eyes of our Lord. Our verses today say, “Righteousness exalts a nation.” Simply stated this means that if a group of people will do the right things, for the majority of the time, those things will cast a favorable image on those people. Does it make good press? Well no, but then again, does it have to?

     Our lives here on earth are not intended for the purpose of making the headlines, or drawing the attention of the world. The purpose of a believer’s life is to glorify God. I guess the saying “No news is good news,” would fit very well here.

     Eventually sin will always come around to cause problems in people’s lives. People ask is drinking a sin? Well, just look at all the commercials promising to help people deal with Alcoholism. Is gambling a sin? Again, look at the advertising you’ve seen to help people deal with gambling addictions. As our verses today say, “Sin is a reproach to any people.”

     You never see a commercial to help people quit living for the Lord, or giving of their time and talents to help others. Living for Jesus brings true joy, and satisfaction in life.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     Living for Jesus is not hard if we are living in Jesus. It’s when we try to live for ourselves that we have problems. Let’s live for Him, and in Him today, shall we?

GOD TALKING TO ME:  JUNE 12, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Job 26 – 30      /     Proverbs 14:33-35

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  1 Chron. 10-11     /     John 18:19-40

One Of God’s Greatest Works

JUNE 11, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 14:30-32 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones. He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor. The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     Acting out a part in a play, or being an actor or actress in a movie sounds like such fun. You get to pretend as if you’re someone else for a while, and not the person you really are.

     Back in high school, I was allowed to take part in several plays the school put on. I played the part of Lancelot in the play; “Camelot.” I also played the part of the Gentleman Caller in the play; “The Glass Menagerie.” These are two distinctly different parts, in two distinctly different times. It was great fun being those people for a while. However, when the curtain was drawn closed, so was the acting of these characters lives.

     Some people go through their entire life pretending to be someone, or something they are not. They go about living day-to-day trying to be like someone else that they admire. Dressing like them, walking like them, talking like them, and just trying to be them. Sadly, sometimes these people get lost so far into this fantasy life, they forget who the person is that they really were, and end up not knowing themselves anymore.

     Envy will cause a person to be, and do many things they never thought possible in their life. Some people become ruthless, and cruel to others, thinking somehow this will help them get ahead. While yet others become doormats for people to stomp on, thinking that’s what’s desired by others to be liked.

     While it’s true, God has given you people that will often help mold your beliefs and character, He never intended for you to become those people. Be yourself. You, dear friend, are one of God’s greatest creations, made to do wonderful things for Him just as you are. You need to be YOU!

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     Look around you and ask yourself, who am I? Who is it that God intended you to be? God created you special. Don’t let the envy of others rob this world from the special creation you are in Christ. Be You, and Be His!

GOD TALKING TO ME:  JUNE 11, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Job 22 – 25     /     Proverbs 14:30-32

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  1 Chron. 8-9     /     John 18:1-18