Praise Where Praise Is Due

November 10, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 27:21-24 As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise. Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him. Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    When trouble comes our way, as it sometimes does, as Christians we almost always run to the one who is our rock of security. We cry out to God. We cling to the everlasting promise that He will never leave us, nor forsake us.

    Although troubles may be used by God to bring someone back, or draw him or her closer to God, life during a trial is not what will show the real character of a believer. The true heart of a Christian will be displayed in how they handle praise.

    Solomon says, “As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.” Many have been seen at the altar of grace during adversity, but when put through the test of flattery and applause they fail to exalt this same God. Instead, they will seat themselves on the throne only God should be on.

    Some churches do not praise anyone for their service to God. They do not clap for singers or show gratitude toward a speaker because they believe they are giving gratitude to a person, which belongs only to God. Although I do understand their belief, truly giving the glory to God is the responsibility of the one being praised.

    The fool, as Solomon calls him, will always come out as a fool. No matter how they try to blend themselves in with believers, when they are given the chance to glorify God or flaunt what they have done, they make the wrong choice.

    Praise, like wealth and fame, are temporary. However, God is eternal. Give whatever fleeting praise you may receive to God and He will give you eternal blessings in return. After all, He gave you your talents, the breath you breathe, and His flock with which to share your gifts. All praise always belongs to Him. 

     
THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    Don’t be afraid to let someone know you have been blessed by what they have done, but always be sure to praise God first.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  November 19, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Acts 5 – 7    /     Proverbs 27:21-24

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Lamentations 1-2           /   Hebrews 9

Living In His Word Ministries

       “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12

Just Who Are You?

November 9, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 27:18-20 Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured. As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man. Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    Have you ever heard any of these statements before? “What you do while alone is really who you are.” How about, “Actions speak louder than words!” Maybe you have heard, “What you say and what you do are often two different things.” You may, or may not have heard them, nevertheless they are pretty much all saying exactly the same thing, and today’s verses declares it well.

    It is not who we say we are, or what we do while we know others are watching that makes us who we are. Our private thoughts, convictions, and beliefs make up whom we really are. I have spoken with people before who begin by saying they believe in this or that, however, by the end of our conversation, I knew they really did not believe that at all. What they wanted was for people to believe they believed it. How did I know? Because they had shared their heart long enough to let me know what they truly believed. Their heart gave them away.

    As your reflection in water displays the real you to you, so will your heart display the real you to others by what you genuinely believe. We can only fool people as long as we keep our mouths shut and stay locked away from society.

    Abraham Lincoln, who was a Bible Scholar, once said, “You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.” Therefore, before trying to convince others on what you say you believe, you might want to ask yourself, “What Do I Really Believe?” In addition, “What and Who Do I Believe In?”

          
THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    Another quote is “It’s better to keep quiet and let people think you’re a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.” We should be sure when we do open our mouth people not only hear the real us, they also hear Jesus in us.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  November 9, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Acts 1 – 4    /    Proverbs 27:18-20

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Jeremiah 51-52           /   Hebrews 8

Living In His Word Ministries

       “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12

       “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12

Nuisance Or Necessity?

November 6, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 27:14-17 He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him. A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike. Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself. Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    The day you have had has been exhausting. You set the alarm and lay your head down for some much-needed rest. Sleep comes so easy as you drift off. Then, in what felt like only moments, the alarm clock goes off. You reach over and slap the snooze button, but it seems as soon as you draw your hand back it goes off again. Your body is crying for a bit more rest when yet again this mechanical marvel of technology bellows out for you to rise. Now before you get to angry at this inanimate object remember, you set it to do just what it has done. Still, there is that urge to smash it into a million pieces.

    So, picture if you will instead of an alarm going off, there is a person outside your window yelling to the top of their lungs how wonderful you are. You beg them to quit, but they just keep screaming the praises of your name. Even if what they are saying may be wonderful to hear, the time and place are so inappropriate, and you hate them for even being there.

    What Solomon is trying to tell us in today’s passage is we need to be careful of not only what we say, but when, where, and how often as well. He likens the repetitious and annoying nature of some comments to the persistent dripping of rain. He goes on to say that trying to hide the fact that someone is bothering you is like trying to hide the wind, or not letting someone smell perfume you have just placed on your hand.

    He then balances these statements with the truth of how a good friend is especially important. This person is not a nagger, or bragger, but an incredibly good friend who lovingly causes us to think on our life. Real friends will always help us grow.

          
THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    As God opens opportunities for us to influence the life of others, let’s be sure we are doing so in a way pleasing to Him. Always sharing an ounce truth, mingled with a heart filled with love. Not being a nuisance, but rather a friend who is needed.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  November 6, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  John 19 – 21    /    Proverbs 27:14-17

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Jeremiah 46-48           /   Hebrews 6

Living In His Word Ministries

       “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12

“Getting people into the Word of God…
… and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12