How Early Is Early?

April 01, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 8:15-18 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth. I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     I’m sure you’ve heard preachers say, a person should arise early in the morning to read God’s Word, and have a quiet time with Him. Some of you may wonder why they suggest getting started in the morning. In today’s verses Solomon, who is still speaking on wisdom, says; “those that seek me early shall find me.” So, exactly what did Solomon mean when he said “early”?

     First, I too am one of those preachers who believe putting God first in your day is very important. It gets you in the right frame of mind first thing in the day, to be all that God desires for you to be. It gives you an entire day to ponder on what you read in His Word, and the things you prayed about at that time. It’s a special time of day when things are not so hustle bustle.

     However, seeking God and His wisdom early, may also refer to seeking God first in everything. Putting God in the front of every decision made in your life. Considering God, and His will early in everything you do is also vitally important.

     Another way of seeking God early would be finding the wisdom in God’s Word, and applying it to your life at an early age. Many of us have waited until later in life to receive the joys, and benefits of knowing God. His blessings are not only waiting for us someday, but are here today. God’s desire is not to bless us some day. God’s wisdom is a blessing every day. Helping us make Godly decisions that keep us from harm and sin. There are the blessings of His touch in our life, a verse spoken into our heart, and friends in a time of need. God loves those who love Him, and He shows His love in so many ways.


THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     The love of God is not something we are waiting for. It’s something we experience day by day. Arise; put God first, early in your life, and early in your day. Enjoy the Christ filled life He desires for you to have.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  April 01, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  1 Samuel 5-10      /     Proverbs 8:15-18

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Joshua 7-9     /   Luke 7:1-35

Getting The WORD Into People

March 31, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 8:11-14 For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions. The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     I hope that by now you have read the vision of Living In His Word Ministries. If not, here it is, “Getting people into the Word of God…and the Word of God into people.” This is not just a catchy phrase. We believe this is the foundation, on which people must live their lives in order to enjoy God’s blessings in every area of life. Our verses today point to this understanding.

     First, God’s wisdom is more valuable than anything you could possibly obtain. No club, or other social group can give you, or your family the things a clear understanding of God’s word can give. You can join every good, and well-meaning club out there, and they may bring you enjoyment for a moment. However, what eternal value do they teach, that was not first written by God in His word? The answer is none.

     Second, Wisdom, mixed with prudence, creates all of life’s correct outcomes. Prudence is simply subtleties. People like to treat God’s Word like a fix it manual when something’s broken. They look up the problem, find a fix, apply it, and then live as they did before. That never works. What works is the constant, repetitive study of God’s Word. By doing so, it sinks into your heart, and becomes a subtle part of your life. This keeps those worldly things from tearing up your life to begin with.

     Next, fixing an already broken life situation, can be found in God’s Word as well. However, it takes a dedication to the prescribed action to change a life, and make it right. Arrogant, prideful, and selfish people will not enjoy the luxuries of God’s best, as they seldom desire to really change what they do.

     Finally, God’s Word is counsel. Dependable counsel. In it, you find understanding, and strength for every area of life.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     So, maybe now you understand our slogan a bit better. “Getting people into the Word of God…and the Word of God into people.” In fact, try reading our vision slogan again, only this time with your name replacing the word “people.”

GOD TALKING TO ME:  March 31, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  1 Samuel 1-4      /     Proverbs 8:11-14

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Joshua 4-6     /    Luke 6:20-49

A Quarter Or a Dollar?

March 30, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 8:8-10 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them. They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge. Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     I heard a story once of a man who was made fun of by the people of the town. They considered him to be someone who was just a little off in the head. The reason for their continual harassment was this. Every day the man would walk into the local diner. Every day a group of men would gather around him and ask; “Hey mister, would you rather have this shiny silver quarter, or this ugly old paper dollar?” Every single day he would say; “I’ll take the shiny quarter.” They’d give him the quarter, and then have a big laugh over the silly decision he had made to take the quarter.

     After many months of this going on, one person from the diner decided to befriend the man. While getting to know him they realized he was not crazy, or even a little off at all. He was just like everyone else in the room, and actually, maybe a little wiser. When the man was asked why it was he always took the quarter over the dollar, his answer was; “I have been playing this game with them for years, I get twenty-five cents a day for six days a week. That’s one dollar and fifty cents a week. At the end of a year, I have seventy-eight dollars. As long as I take the quarter, and the ribbing, I continue to get the money. Once I take the dollar, the game will be done, and it will all be over.”

     Today’s verses are not saying there’s anything wrong with silver or gold. However, money will not help you get wisdom.  Whereas wisdom on the other hand, will help you get all you’ll need. That’s the right kind wisdom, God’s wisdom.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    Remember our main author of Proverbs, Solomon. There was a time when God offered him anything, and he desired wisdom. What he got was wisdom, and all that came with it. He was considered the wealthiest man on the planet. Why? It was because he was not looking for money. He was looking to God. Look to God to supply all your needs, and seek His wisdom.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  March 30, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Ruth 1-4      /     Proverbs 8:8-10

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Joshua 1-3     /   Luke 6:1-19

Weekend Review

March 28 & 29, 2020

Proverbs 8:6

Hear;
for I will speak
of excellent things;
and the opening
of my lips shall be
right things.

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 12 – Day 6

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

Proverbs 7-8

WEEK 9 – 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

March 30, 2020      Ruth 1 – 4                 Proverbs 8:8 – 10
March 31, 2020      1 Samuel 1 – 4         Proverbs 8:11 – 14
April 1, 2020           1 Samuel 5 – 10       Proverbs 8:15 – 18
April 2, 2020           1 Samuel 11 – 14     Proverbs 8:19 – 22
April 3, 2020           1 Samuel 15 – 17     Proverbs 8:23 – 25
April 4, 2020           Proverbs 8 – 9                   
April 5, 2020           No Passages Assigned    

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY

March 30, 2020     Joshua 1-3          Luke 6:1-19
March 31, 2020     Joshua 4-6          Luke 6:20-49
April 1, 2020         Joshua 7-9           Luke 7:1-35
April 2, 2020         Joshua 10-11       Luke 7:36-50
April 3, 2020         Joshua 12-14       Luke 8:1-39
April 4, 2020         Joshua 15-17       Luke 8:40-56
April 5, 2020         No Passages Assigned

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY

    MARCH 288, 2020     Deuteronomy 32–34       Luke 5:27-39
    MARCH 29, 2020       No Passages Assigned

Now Where Did I Leave It? 

March 27, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 8:5-7 O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart. Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things. For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     Have you ever lost something, anything? It doesn’t have to be something big. In fact, the smaller the item, the harder it seems it is for us to find it. You search everywhere. First, you look in the obvious places. Then you begin to search in weird places. You start looking for things like keys in the cookie jar, or in the refrigerator. Like you somehow lost your mind and decided to chill the car keys. (OK, for those of you who went to the fridge to get something, did lay your keys in there, and forgot, I’m sorry, I did not mean to say you lost your mind.)

     The next thing we all do, is we begin to blame everyone else in the house for our lost item. The kids, the wife, and the friends you had over last night. Someone must have mistakenly taken them. Next we blame everyone who even walked past the house. Maybe the mail carrier took the keys. Finally, you ask the dog. What did you do with my keys?

     Guess where you’ll find your lost item? You know don’t you. Usually it’s right where you left it.

    So where do you think you might find out about real truth, real knowledge, and real wisdom? You’ll find it exactly where it has always been from the beginning, in the pages of God’s Word. Who can find it? Anyone who will look for it, can find it.

     It calls to the simple ones, the young, begging them not to make foolish mistakes in their lives. It calls to those of us who foolishly thought that at one time we knew everything about life, when we really knew nothing at all. Truth, knowledge, and wisdom, have always been in the same place, in God’s Word.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

Life began by the wisdom of God. Life is sustained by the wisdom of God. Eternal life was designed, and delivered by the wisdom of God. It only makes sense then to live by the same wisdom. Seek the wisdom of God so He may bless your life.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  March 27, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Judges 18 – 21      /     Proverbs 8:5-7

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Deuteronomy 29-31      /     Luke 5:1-26