Lessons From The Ants

March 03, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 6:4-8 Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids. Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler. Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     BUGS, INSECTS!!! Even the words makes some people’s skin crawl. Most often, we think of pests when thinking of them. When something is wrong in our computer programs, it’s called, “a Bug” in the program. If someone is bothering you, you might say, “Quit bugging me,” or, “stop being such a pest.”

     However, Solomon points out a very valuable lesson that can be obtained from observing the ANT. Ants evidently have no real leader. There’s no commando ant barking out orders, telling all the other ants what to do, and where to go. Yet all the ants fall into place, and pull their weight. In fact, it has been said, an ant can carry many times its own weight when gathering things. Another interesting fact about ants is, they get prepared in advance. They put up things in preparation for winter, and harsh weather.

     So what are we to learn from these little industrious creatures? First, we learn saving is not a sin. Some will tell you the Bible never speaks of putting anything away for the future. They say you’re just to rely on God, day by day for everything. Not true. God gives us wisdom to see a future need, and we should be wise, and save for it. God has still supplied for the need. Next, we see we should not have to be told to do something in order for it to be done. Simply get busy, and get it done. In addition, teamwork sure does help.

     One great thing about the church I’m privileged to pastor is that they do work as a team if there is a true need in our midst. Teamwork is getting it done together. We should not be sluggards, or lazy. God provides the materials, however we must still use them to the best of our ability, for His glory.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

Next time you see ants, watch how busy they are. God has given them all they need to survive; all they have to do is use it. He’s done the same for us. Now what will you do with it?

GOD TALKING TO ME:  March 03, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Deuteronomy 1 – 3      /     Proverbs 6:4-8

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Numbers 15      /     Mark 9:30-50

Watch Out For The DEBT TRAP

March 02, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 6:1-3 My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger, Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth. Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     Credit was, at one time, something hard to get. You had to keep your nose clean, and not have any bad debts at all to even think of getting a credit card, or a loan. Today however, almost anyone, anytime, and anywhere can get a credit card. Most stores now have their own credit cards. Many have hooked up with major credit cards so you can use the card they supply at other stores as well. Sounds great right? WRONG!

     The problem is, many people today have more credit card debt than they can ever hope to pay off in any reasonable amount of time. If the creditors were to call saying that they were going out of business, and needed you to pay up on your debt, most people do not have the funds to do so.

     Even worse, many are paying just the minimum payment each month. By doing so, you are barely, if even, paying the interest, and will be paying the credit card company forever. Imagine buying a television for five hundred dollars, and paying the minimum payment on your credit card. By the time this set has been paid for, several things will probably have happened. Your grandchildren will have graduated college, the TV will have been replaced twice, and you will have paid a few thousand dollars for your five hundred dollar TV.

     Debt is a trap into which society has tried to drag us. Worse yet, many have jumped into this debt trap joyfully. Sadly, they end up swimming against the tide of interest for years to come. Don’t let the world control your financial future. Let God.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     You may be thinking, “How do I get out of this debt trap?” First, QUIT BUYING THINGS YOU DON’T NEED! If you have an enormous debt, you need to live within your means. Second, PRAY. Ask God for direction, wisdom, and self-control every day. Next, PAY. Begin to pay extra on the debts and they will one day go away. It will take time, but the freedom is worth it.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  March 02, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Numbers 33-36      /     Proverbs 6:1-3

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Numbers 12-14      /     Mark 9:1-29

Weekend Review

February 18 & 19, 2020

Proverbs 1:33

For the ways of man
are before the eyes of
the LORD,
and he pondereth
all his goings.

Work Week Devotions
Through the Book of Proverbs

      As previously mentioned, with WORK WEEK DEVOTIONS, we will only be publishing a Devotional Thoughts Monday – Friday. On Saturday we suggest you re-read the entire chapter we have been studying through, 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 8 – Day 6

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

Proverbs 5-6

WEEK 8 – 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 2, 2020  Numbers 33 – 36             Proverbs 6:1 – 3
March 3, 2020  Deuteronomy 1 – 3        Proverbs 6:4 – 8
March 4, 2020  Deuteronomy 4 – 6        Proverbs 6:9 – 11
March 5, 2020  Deuteronomy 7 – 10      Proverbs 6:12 – 15
March 6, 2020  Deuteronomy 11 – 14    Proverbs 6:16 – 19
March 7, 2020  Proverbs 6
March 8, 2020  No Passages Assigned    

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY

March 2, 2020  Numbers 12-14        Mark 9:1-29
March 3, 2020  Numbers 15              Mark 9:30-50
March 4, 2020  Numbers 16-18        Mark 10:1-31
March 5, 2020  Numbers 19-20        Mark 10:32-52
March 6, 2020  Numbers 21-22        Mark 11
March 7, 2020  Numbers 23-25        Mark 12:1- 27
March 8, 2020  No Passages Assigned

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY

    FEBRUARY 29, 2020     Numbers 10-11       Mark 8:22-38
    MARCH 01, 2020           No Passages Assigned

The Controlling Nature Of Sin 

February 28, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 5:21-23 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings. His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins. He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     In the world today, we see the promises of today’s verses played out in both our political, and religious communities. I heard a “so-called” pastor on TV trying to defend homosexuality as a choice given by God, while at the same time government agencies were trying to deny it by condemning Gay Marriage. The freedom to commit this sin has gone on so long; religious communities are divided as to whether it’s a life choice, or sin.

     Pornography is one of societies leading moneymakers. It’s as destructive as a runaway train. Yet businesses make billions, and our government takes in millions on the taxes paid on the sales of its products. I fear that soon today’s culture will embrace it, and simply add a sin tax to it like they do tobacco, and booze. It’s the idea, if you can’t wipe it out, tax it.

     Gambling, once considered to be sinful, is now accepted everywhere. Much of it owned, and promoted by government.

     Sin, left alone long enough will bind you. The Bible says we’ll be trapped “with the cords of his sins.” Sadly, millions today are caught in this trap. No matter our viewpoint on these sins, we are bound by the views of the majority. Don’t be mistaken, the majority will ultimately choose sin. As it says in Matthew 7:13 “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:” No matter how hard we try to tell them of what’s right, and point them to the Bible, they will die without receiving its instruction. Why? It’s because sin has become more important than obedience to God. Sex, drugs, pornography, alcohol, you name it. The world no longer control their sins, their sins now control them.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     James 1:14-15 “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” Dear friend, pray for our homes, our nation, this world, and help a new generation turn to Christ. Their understanding of God is our nation’s only hope.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  February 28, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Numbers 30 – 32     /     Proverbs 5:21-23

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Numbers 8-9     /   Mark 8:1-21

WAIT! It’s Worth It

February 27, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 5:17- 20 Let them be only thine own, and not strangers’ with thee. Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love. And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     With so many broken homes today, we see the devastation of not waiting for true love before marriage. Multitudes of children are born to parents who are not married, and not committed to each other. If we cannot commit to one another, how can we possibly believe we are committed to raising a child together? This lack of forethought isn’t the child’s fault. This sweet innocent miracle from God comes into the world with their eyes wide open, and an expectation from the very first moment, that someone here loves them, wants them, really cares, and has thought about their life. However, many children are born with very little, if any thought by the parents of a child’s needs, or their future. Some children are looked upon as problems, instead of the blessings they really are.

     Finding the right person in life is so important. It’s not about physical attraction only, but the spiritual compatibility as well. You need to be attracted to a person; however, you need to know who they are. For example, if they believe in one form of religious practices, and you another, there is a problem. In addition, if you change your beliefs for another person, either you never held any conviction to your beliefs, or you probably had no biblical reason for changing those beliefs. So later in life, when raising a child, you’ll begin to wonder which belief truly is the right way to teach your child. Finding a mate for life takes time, prayer, and patience, but is so, so worth it. Your devotion to the children will be united. Your decisions to help them will be the same. Find God’s person for you, and you’ll have found the person to help you raise the miracles God places in your home. 


THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     Children are meant to be a blessing in our home. They deserve a mother and father who love them, and will help them in this long road of life. What a blessing it is to see them grown up, and to serve God.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  February 27, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Numbers 26 – 29     /     Proverbs 5:17- 20

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Numbers 7     /     Mark 7