Hand Up, Or Hand Out?

May 18, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 12:21-24 There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief. Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight. A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness. The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     When I was a young boy, I would hear people say things like, “If you want to, you can grow up to be the President of the United States.” Others said, “If you work hard, and keep your nose clean, you can do, or be anything you want.” At the time, I really did not understand what my nose had to do with it, but I had seen some powerful people wipe their nose on TV, so I guessed it was true.

     After I grew up a bit, I came to understand what they were saying was the same thing God’s Word has said all along. If you‘re diligent, and work hard, you can succeed in life. If you are lazy, always looking for a handout, and you think the world owes you something; you will always be under tribute, or be owing to someone.

     Often I find that those who live by the rule or idea of always looking for someone else to take care of them, will also eventually lose everything they thought they owned. The truth of the matter is, we all must understand, God owns everything. We are simply stewards of His good will toward us.

     Everything we do, the Bible says, we should do as unto the Lord. Therefore, if we work hard for the Lord, it’s the Lord who supplies our every need.


THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     God never asks us to do more than we can do. However, He always expects us to do ALL that we can do. What can you do for the Lord today? Thank Him for this opportunity to be something for Him.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  May 18, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  2 Chronicles 1 – 6     /     Proverbs 12:21-24

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
 1 Kings 9-101    /    John 6:1-33

Weekend Review

May 16 & 17, 2020

Proverbs 12:15

The way of a fool is right
in his own eyes:
but he that hearkeneth
unto counsel is wise.

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 19 – Day 6

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

Proverbs 12-13

WEEK 19 – 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

May 18, 2020   2 Chronicles 1  – 2 Chronicles 6       Proverbs 12:21 – 24
May 19, 2020   2 Chronicles 7  – 2 Chronicles 12     Proverbs 12:25 – 28
May 20, 2020   2 Chronicles 13 – 2 Chronicles 18     Proverbs 13:1 – 3
May 21, 2020   2 Chronicles 19 – 2 Chronicles 23     Proverbs 13:4 – 6
May 22, 2020   2 Chronicles 24 – 2 Chronicles 28     Proverbs 13:7 – 9
May 23, 2020   Proverbs 12 – 13                     
May 24, 2020   No Passages Assigned    

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY

May 18, 2020   1 Kings 9-10     John 6:1-33
May 19, 2020   1 Kings 11-12   John 6:34-71
May 20, 2020   1 Kings 13-14   John 7:1-36
May 21, 2020   1 Kings 15-17   John 7:37-53
May 22, 2020   1 Kings 18-19   John 8:1-30
May 23, 2020   1 Kings 20-21   John 8:31-59
May 24, 2020   No Passages Assigned

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY

    MAY 16, 2020     1 Kings 8  /     John 5:28-47
    MAY 17, 2020     No Passages Assigned

The Truth Will Stand Forever

May 15, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 12:17-20 He that speaketh truth showeth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit. There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health. The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment. Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     “Liar, liar, pants on fire, hang them on a telephone wire.” A children’s rhyme of which no one knows its exact origin, and is often changed a bit from place to place.

     One version of its origin was that a man was caught smoking when he should not have been. He thought he had put the cigarette out, and stuck it away in his pocket. When asked if he had been smoking, he emphatically said, “no,” but then was told, “liar, liar, your pants are on fire, hang them on a telephone wire.” The line of putting them on the phone wire was a way of saying, and everyone knows your lying.

    No one likes to be lied to, and most often people can’t stand a liar. There was another old saying that went, “Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.” In other words, you might trick me once with your lies, and deceit. If you do, you should be ashamed of yourself. However, the second time you trick me with the same lies; it’s my fault, because I knew you could not be trusted.

     The truth will always stand forever. Why? Because it is the truth. However, lies have a way of being found out. The only reason people believe a lie to begin with is because they believe it is the truth. Once the tale is exposed as being a lie, the liar is exposed as one with a deceitful heart. Trust is easy to lose, and so very hard to gain back.


THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     What makes us so sure what Jesus did on the cross of Calvary, paid the price for our sins? It’s the fact that God says so that makes us sure. Why, because never once has God ever told a lie. Not ever. Everything He has said in the past would come true, has come true exactly like he said it would. We can hang our eternal security on His Eternal Truth.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  May 15, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  1 Chronicles 27 – 29     /     Proverbs 12:17-20

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  1 Kings 6-7     /      John 5:1-27

To Share, Or Silence

May 14, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 12:13-16 The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble. A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompense of a man’s hands shall be rendered unto him. The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise. A fool’s wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     Over and over Solomon has made attempts to show his son the difference between the wise, and unwise. The contrasts clearly seen in these verses are set between those whom he calls fools, or wicked, and those recorded as the wise.

     Here we’re told that the words of the wicked will display his heart. He is right in his own eyes, and harsh toward those around. He lashes out and belittles others, hoping that in doing so he might look wise, or mightier. Rather than being a help to an injured soul, he makes things worse with unwise counsel.

     Solomon also says, the wise and prudent man is exactly the opposite of all this. Often being hard on himself, he seeks, and accepts the counsel from those around, knowing there are others wiser than himself. Rather than expose someone, and their faults or sin, he will often accept the ridicule of others, while all the while concealing the hurt for another.

     You remember in Genesis chapter 9 the story of Noah and his sons? Ham went in, and saw his father’s shame. Rather than covering his father, he went to tell it abroad. Behaving as though he thought he was now somehow superior in character to his own father. Shem and Japheth on the other hand, would not look upon their father, but walked in backwards to cover Noah’s dishonor.

     The heart of a person can often be seen by what they will, or will not share with others.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     Do you have information on someone that makes for a great story? Ask yourself, if this was told on you, how would you feel? God wants us to help, not hurt one another. Gossip not only destroys others, it destroys others respect for the gossiper as well. Think for a moment, what will say more about you and your Christian character, your sharing, or your silence?

GOD TALKING TO ME:  May 14, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  1 Chronicles 23 – 26     /     Proverbs 12:13-16

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  1 Kings 3-5      /      John 4:40-54

Dig For Joy

May 13, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 12:9-12 He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread. A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding. The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     Before I was saved, I hung around a crowd who lacked real understanding in life. Life was devoted to the pursuit of what we thought was fun. We wanted nothing more than to always have fun, and party. It never seemed to matter if we were evicted from our homes, lost our cars, were put in the credit bureau for unpaid bills, or owed lots of people money. No matter who was hurt in the process, as long as we were having what we thought was fun, we thought we were happy.

     However, when I received Christ as my Saviour, things changed. Now I was not only concerned about others, but also about my testimony of who Christ was in me. I desired to be a good example to those around me. I found that I was not really having fun before, but rather, my lack of self-control was really masking my frustrations with life with the sins of the world.

     Satan had been giving me a false sense of joy. Alcohol and drugs had numbed me to reality. When the party was over, and everyone was gone, I always felt so alone and empty.

     Our text today said; “He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.” Now as I live to be a good testimony of Christ in me, God also has brought so much joy and satisfaction to life. Real Joy, Real Life.


THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     Some will treat Bible Study the same way. Not willing to dig into the Word, they can’t understand why they get little joy from its pages, while others around them find such happiness in the study of the Word. Do you remember your childhood, and the sandbox? Digging was half the fun of being in the sandbox. Get into God’s Word, begin to dig, and you will find the treasures buried there. It’s a little work, for a lifetime of joy. LET’S DIG!

GOD TALKING TO ME:  May 13, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  1 Chronicles 18 – 22     /     Proverbs 12:9-12

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  1 Kings 1-2      /     John 4:1-39