No, Don’t Go There

February 20, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 4:26-27 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     OK, I admit from time to time, I have watched a scary movie. Some of those movies are just ridiculous. There’s little, or no story line, or plot. It’s just hack, and gore. Those are not the good movies at all. However, every so often you will run up on a good suspense thriller. One that keeps your attention through the entire film. In those really good movies, it seems the director will always let you know what’s about to happen by showing you a glimpse of the danger awaiting the unsuspecting victim just behind the door, or around the corner. Then, as the target of this impending danger walks toward the peril ahead, you find yourself thinking, (or in some cases yelling aloud) “NO, DON’T GO IN THERE!” You may even think to yourself, “can’t they see what’s about to happen?” If you could, you would reach out, grab them, and say, “listen to me, I know what’s ahead for you, and you do not want to go in there!” However, if you did, it would ruin the rest of the story the writer had written. It would not end as it was designed to end.

     God, in His sovereignty, has chosen to give us the freedom of will. We are allowed to choose what we will, or won’t do. To select where we will, or will not go. He too knows the dangers that are ahead in life if we make the wrong decision. In addition, He’s doing His best to guide us, and help us understand, we must continually look at where we’re going.

     Our Proverb today encourages us to think for a minute of where we’re going in life. We need to plan for our future, and make sure that God is in the very center of that plan. Once we’ve centered our life on God, we should not turn to the right or left. We must stay away from evil temptations, and keep our focus on walking toward our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     Like an infant taking steps toward the waiting arms of a loving parent, so should we walk on this earth with our focus toward God.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  February 20, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Numbers 8-11      /     Proverbs 4:26-27

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Leviticus 20-22      /     Mark 3

A “Values Vault”

February 19, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 4:23-25 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     We put up fences to guard our properties. We build large homes and buildings, equipped with locks on the doors and windows to protect our belongings. We put our money in a safe place such as a bank, or in a vault. Why? Because all of these things are of value to us. So, what do we do to guard our heart?

     Here in Proverbs we are told to keep, or guard our heart. Why? Well, because it’s where all of life stems from. So how do we do that? How can we build a safe place for our heart?

     Glad you asked. The next verse tell us how to begin. Verse 24 says we should put away; “a froward mouth, and perverse lips.” To be froward is to be crooked, or departing from what’s right. Do we really want to guard our heart? Then it’s important for us to keep our conversations, and our mind on what’s right. Don’t get sidetracked into thinking about things that are sinful, and wicked. It also means we are not to be mean spirited toward others as well. Proverbs 23:7 says; “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” God wants our minds on what’s right so our mouth will say what’s right.

     Do we want to guard our heart? Verses 25 says to keep our eyes on the path before us. Focusing on what really matters. The eyes are wonderful tools given to us by God. Nevertheless, Satan likes to divert them, to bring temptations our way. It happened to Eve. It happened to David with Bathsheba. Don’t think for a second, it can’t happen to us. Be on guard.

     We must not let Satan drag us off course. We must build a “Values Vault” in which we guard our eyes, our mind, and our mouth, and this will help to then guard our heart.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     Matt. 6:33-34 tell us to seek first the kingdom of God, and not to be overly concerned with tomorrow. Because as we all well know, there will be plenty to deal with tomorrow already. So, let’s not worry about the future until we get there. Instead, let’s concentrate on walking the path God set before us today, and let God help us in our walk.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  February 19, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Numbers 5 – 7      /     Proverbs 4:23-25

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Leviticus 18-19      /     Mark 2

You Think I’m How Old?

February 18, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 4:19-22 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     I love going to the County Fair. The rides, the Carmel Corn, the Cotton Candy, they all seem to call out to me. However, there are also others calling out to me. It’s the Carnies who work the midway. “Play this for a buck, and win a 50-foot teddy bear you can’t get in your car.” There’s always someone yelling, “Guess your weight, or age for a dollar, if I’m off by this much, you win something silly.” When they guess you’re 18 and you’re really 13, that’s great. You look mature. When you’re in your early 40’s, and you hear them say 55, well that’s embarrassing.

     A comment like that could cause you to begin to feel old. Suddenly you become very aware of all the younger people around you. Well, don’t let your real age discourage you. Every year of life also brings with it real wisdom. You’ve experienced things, most of those younger folks have never seen.

     As people age, they may recall trying to teach their children how to do right. You may have even thought that your children didn’t listen, and would probably never learn. However, now you see them with children of their own, and they’re teaching them the same thing you taught them. It almost sounds funny hearing those words come out of their mouths, when it seems as only a few years ago, they argued with you for telling them the very same thing. Now think back for a moment, where did you receive the majority of your wisdom? Wasn’t most of it passed down to you from your parents, or guardians? They received most of their wisdom that same way as well.

     The truth, is always going to be the truth, even when culture changes. Right is always going to be right, and wrong is always going to be wrong. Oh, and by the way, I am always going to think I’m still young… at least young at heart.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     We too often disregard the wisdom of the aged. We hear it as the ramblings of an old person. Guess what? You’re getting closer to them, than to your youth. They have much to teach us. We need to listen. I wonder if they think their young yet too?

GOD TALKING TO ME:  February 18, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Numbers 2 – 4     /     Proverbs 4:19-22

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Leviticus 15-17      /     Mark 1:21 – 45

Misguided Mischief

February 17, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 4:16-18 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence. But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     As a young man growing up, I remember my mom saying things like, “that boy is trouble, you can see it by looking at him.” My dad would say, “Those people would rather cause trouble than eat.” I just thought my folks were old, and didn’t want me to have any fun. In my mind I reasoned, “how can you SEE if someone is trouble? and, come on, who would rather stir up problems than eat?” That made no sense to me, as I love to eat.

     Now I’m a dad. As my children brought home friends from school, I found when I opened my mouth; out came my dad’s words. Opened it again, I could hear my mom speaking. So what brought about this change in me? LIFE! I had witnessed firsthand what some people are like. It’s not what they wear, or how well groomed they were. It’s about how they act, what they say, and their attitude. These things combined with wisdom from years of life, help you to discern this type of person.

     People who feel they have little hope, or ambitions in life, often don’t try anymore. Instead, they unwittingly bring others down to their level of despair. Rather than being alone in their despair, they’ll make others fall too. That’s sad, but true. These are often very bright people, who have taken a wrong path in life. They could be so much, instead, they choose not to be.

     The Bible says to be cautious of, and pray for these people. They have no good intentions for themselves, or for you.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     How do you know if someone is a “bad apple,” so to speak? One way is listening to your parents, or those in authority around you. By the way, my parents were right most of the time. Later in life as a parent, I too generally made the right calls for my children. The best way of all is, check them out against the Word of God. His word is ALWAYS RIGHT.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  February 17, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Leviticus 26 – Numbers 1     /     Proverbs 4:16-18

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Leviticus 14      /     Mark 1:1-20

Weekend Review

February 15 & 16, 2020

Proverbs 3:33

The curse of the LORD
is in the house
of the wicked:
but he blesseth
the habitation
of the just. 

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 6 – Day 6

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

Proverbs 3-4

WEEK 2 – 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 17, 2020   Lev. 26 – Num. 1       Proverbs 4:16 – 18
February 18, 2020   Numbers 2 – 4           Proverbs 4:19 -:22
February 19, 2020   Numbers 5 – 7           Proverbs 4:23 – 25
February 20, 2020   Numbers 8 – 11         Proverbs 4:26 – 27
February 21, 2020   Numbers 12 – 14       Proverbs 5:1 – 5
February 22, 2020   Proverbs 4-5                   
February 23, 2020   No Passages Assigned  

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY

February 17, 2020   Leviticus 14              Mark 1:1-20
February 18, 2020   Leviticus 15-17        Mark 1:21 – 45
February 19, 2020   Leviticus 18-19        Mark 2
February 20, 2020   Leviticus 20- 22       Mark 3
February 21, 2020   Leviticus 23- 24       Mark 4:1 – 20
February 22, 2020   Leviticus 25              Mark 4:21 – 41
February 23, 2020   No Passages Assigned

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY

    FEBRUARY 15, 2020     Leviticus 12-13        Matthew 28
    FEBRUARY 16, 2020     No Passages Assigned