God’s Designs Are Best

February 26, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 5:14-16 I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly. Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well. Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    What is a cistern? It’s a place water can flow into, to be controlled. What is a well? It’s a certain place from which to draw water. What about a fountain? Fountains spray water around for everyone to see, yet keeps all the water for itself. How about a river? A river directs water from one place to another and keeps it within its banks.

     At the time of the writing of this passage of scripture, water was very scarce and valuable. Solomon is using word pictures to help us understand the value of an intimate relationship. In the previous verses, he had just finished warning us about sinful sexual relations. A person might read this and wonder, is a physical relationship always sinful? Therefore, he takes the time to tell us, in the right framework, it defiantly is not.

     The wife here is referred to as a Cistern, and Well. This shows her great value, as she has within her the ability to bring great joy to her husband like no other. Water is a picture of that passionate, loving relationship. It is so valuable to a marriage. Many believe when today’s verses speak of the water in the streets, it’s referring to the children produced from this intimate monogamous relationship. How they might bring honor in the place where you live.

     Think of what happens if a fountain cracks, and begins to leak, or a river overflows its banks. This is a serious problem, which can destroy, and take lives. So it is with untamed love.

     Love is precious, and designed to be very special, and personal. Solomon wants his son to know, marital relationships are not to be lived without the joys of the passionate love which God created. However, it is always meant to stay within the boundaries of marriage relationship.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     An intimate relationship between a husband and wife, is one of the closest bonds a couple might experience. God knew this when he designed it. Enjoying life together with our mate was God’s desire, and design. God’s designs are always the best.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  February 26, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Numbers 22-25      /     Proverbs 5:14-16

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Numbers 4-6     /   Mark 6:32-56

What’s Really COOL?

February 25, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 5:10-13 Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger; And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed, And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof; And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     Do you remember back to the day you graduated from High School? I remember most of my classmates saying things like; “I’m Free… I’m Finally Free,” and, “No more people telling me what to do!” However, reality sets in not too long after the graduation is done. There is no more school for some, but there will always be someone telling you what needs to be done.

     Yet with graduation, there is a sense of being your own person, an independence that seems liberating. The sad fact was, some of those who graduated from my class, had already messed up a good share of their life. Some guys had gotten their girlfriends pregnant, and now had to support a family, or pay child support. Generally, it turned out to be those who thought they were the big shots on campus. Mr. and Miss, “I’m too cool for most of you.” You know them. However, the image they wanted to portray as being so COOL, caused them to try to be something they should not have been. When they should have been enjoying the life of a teen, they were trying too hard to be an adult. Then, when they ended up as parents before school was out, they appeared as if they had lost a lot of the “COOL” that was so important to them. They now heard people say things like, “Man you have messed up your life,” Or “What a waste, they had so much going for them.”

     That’s exactly what today’s scripture says. If you play with sin, you lose. You lose honor, possibilities slip by, and often you end up paying court fees, child support, or doctor bills. Some have serious health issues, and others lost their life. Looking back, they most likely wonder, why didn’t I just wait? The short time playing in sin wasn’t worth it. Not so “COOL” after all.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     Is it worth it? Is sin really worth it? Is it worth the shame, and ridicule? Is it worth the disappointment you experience later? Is it worth dishonoring God? Is it worth the rest of your life? The best answer to all these questions is, absolutely NOT.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  February 25, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Numbers 18-21      /     Proverbs 5:10-13

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Numbers 1-3     /   Mark 6:1-31

Stay Clear Of The Scary House

February 24, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 5:6-9 Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them. Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth. Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house: Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     Over the years, I have heard so many people tell of a house in his, or her neighborhood, that seemed spooky. For some it was an old abandon house, and as the story goes, it’s said that people lost their life there, and the house was now filled with ghosts. For others, it was a house where an elderly couple lived. Somehow, they seemed angry, and upset most of the time. (Could it possibly have been because of all of the annoying neighborhood kids?) Nevertheless, stories start to go around of how they are mean old people who will do you harm if you go near the house. For whatever reason there always seemed to be, in every neighborhood, a house kids did not want to go near. Although the stories of these places were most likely made up, and highly exaggerated, the fear of these houses was very real. No one had to beg children to get away from there; they just did not go there. The fear of what might happen was all it took to keep them away.

     Solomon once again begs his son not to turn away from his sayings. Unlike the stories of the haunted houses, and mean older people, these sayings are not made up. These are life’s tried, and true words of wisdom. Solomon wanted his son, and all who read these words, to have that same type of childlike fear, when it came to the ways of sin. Stay away from it. Let the fear of what might happen keep you from it. Because, behind every door of sin there lies in waiting disappointment, dishonor, disease, despair, and even doom. You’ll not go inside the place of sin, if you never go near sin’s door. 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     Knock knock. Who’s there? Orange. Orange who? Orange you glad you did not fall for sins tricks. Ok, so it’s a bad joke. However, it’s a joy to be right. Right with man, and right with God. RIGHT?

GOD TALKING TO ME:  February 24, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Numbers 15 – 17      /     Proverbs 5:6-9

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Leviticus 26 – 27      /     Mark 5

Weekend Review

February 22 & 23, 2020 

Proverbs 4:23

Keep thy heart
with all diligence;
for out of it are
the issues
of life. 

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 7 – Day 6

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

Proverbs 4-5

WEEK 7 – 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

February 24, 2020     Numbers 15 – 17      Proverbs 5:6 – 9
February 25, 2020     Numbers 18 – 21      Proverbs 5:10 – 13
February 26, 2020     Numbers 22 – 25      Proverbs 5:14 – 16
February 27, 2020     Numbers 26 – 29      Proverbs 5:17 – 20
February 28, 2020     Numbers 30 – 32      Proverbs 5:21 – 23
February 29, 2020     Proverbs 5 – 6
March 1, 2020             No Passages Assigned    

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY

February 24, 2020      Leviticus 26-27       Mark 5
February 25, 2020      Numbers 1-3           Mark 6:1-31
February 26, 2020      Numbers 4-6           Mark 6:32-56
February 27, 2020      Numbers 7              Mark 7
February 28, 2020      Numbers 8-9           Mark 8:1-21
February 29, 2020      Numbers 10-11       Mark 8:22-38
March 1, 2020              No Passages Assigned

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY

  FEBRUARY 22, 2020     Leviticus 25           Mark 4:21 – 41
  FEBRUARY 23, 2020     No Passages Assigned

Like Taking Candy From A Baby 

February 21, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 5:1-5 My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding: That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge. For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     Many of you will remember the old saying, “It’s as easy as taking candy from a baby.” I would think we all know what that means. Yet just to be sure, it’s supposed to refer to something that’s very simple to do, like taking candy away from a baby is physically very simple to do. However, doing it without being noticed, or caught, well, that may be quite another thing.

     If you don’t believe me, try this sometime. (First, get the child’s parents consent. Don’t just go out experimenting with random babies.) Take a large piece of candy that you know a baby cannot swallow, and let the baby lick on it for just a few minutes. Now reach in, and take the candy from that baby. Taking the candy back physically should prove to be relatively easy. However, more than likely, you’re going to have one loud, squalling baby on your hands. Furthermore, everyone around is going to be looking questionably at you, standing there holding a gooey piece of candy which you just took from that innocent baby. If they don’t call you a selfish pig, they’ll be thinking it. God does not always work in mysterious ways. It’s true, the ways of God are above men, and so sometimes hard to understand. Nevertheless, God has made His plans for this earth, and your eternal life very clear in His Word.

     Taking the candy is easy. Getting away with it is almost impossible. That’s how it is in real life with immoral behavior. You might be able to get away with it for a while, but it will catch up with you. You’ll be caught, and you guessed it; people are going to be looking at you like some sort of pervert.

     Sexual sin seems harmless. However, when those thoughts are acted upon, it can destroy the physical body with an untold number of diseases today. Even if that doesn’t happen, it will always wreak havoc on the self-conscience soul. It’s so hard to drive those thoughts from your mind once in. That’s why it’s always best not to let them in! Remember, Proverbs 5:3-5 says; For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     So how do we keep them from driving us crazy? Don’t let them in your mind in the first place. To think of it another way, don’t give candy to a baby, that you might want to take back.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  February 21, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Numbers 12 – 14     /     Proverbs 5:1-5

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Leviticus 23 – 24      /   Mark 4:1-20