The Direction We Need

AUGUST 28, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 21:18-20 The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright. It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman. There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    What really preserves or maintains any government? Is it the policies put in place? Well, I believe the policies put in place are important and we need good, honest people in office to help implement the right laws. However, is that what really directs it? Maybe it’s the Party in control. Well, I think for many years in the U.S. one party was better at hearing the voice of Christian Values than the other. However, I also believe in the last few years the ear to the Christian population has changed to another party. Chances are, it could change back again. Therefore, it can’t be the party, which makes all the difference.  

    So, what does make the difference? Proverbs 20:28 says that the mercy of God preserves the king, and the truth of His Word is what will see us through. Jesus said, “I am the way the truth and the life…” and He is.

    Sometimes young rulers will look at their military might as power. In doing so, they often get themselves, and all who will follow them into trouble. Older men will look to life experiences and old friends to guide them, and they too can follow the wrong suggestions and ideas.

    We must remember, God’s perfect will always come to pass. God’s Word says, “The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.” The entire world’s wickedness can never detour God’s plan for us.

    For the healing of a nation and the washing away of evil, we all need to turn back to God and His Word. Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Oh, dear friend if there has ever been a time of such need, it is today.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    As you pray today, pray for the mercy of God on our land and leadership. Also, pray that God’s truth will be hidden deep within their hearts. A leader without Christ is putty in the hands of the devil. Leaders need your prayers, and your Lord.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  AUGUST 28, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Ezekiel 21 – 24     /   Proverbs 21:18-20

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Psa. 119:89-176           /     1 Co. 6

Living In His Word Ministries

Just / Unjust

AUGUST 27, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 21:14-17 A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath. It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity. The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead. He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    “It is joy to the just to do judgment.” In other words, the just enjoy justice. Now that statement sounds way too simple to be misunderstood right. Well, maybe we should look at the other side of that statement. 

    If the just, or saved folks, enjoy justice, then logic might lead us to believe that the unjust, or lost folks, would enjoy unjust practices. However, it is obvious they really don’t. If they really enjoyed unjust practices, they would never fight against those behaviors. Yet, even the unjust want to be treated as just.

    The unjust of the world often end up disliking others who live in sin, just as they themselves do. In essence, they can’t stand people like themselves. As odd as that sounds, it’s true.

    The unjust in this world are searching for something better than what they have. They know there’s something out there that will make them happy, so they continue to search for it in worldly pleasures, and never find it. Then, if a person wanders in the world and never comes to understand the love of Christ, they will remain for all eternity as our verses say with, “the congregation of the dead.” They’ll never find true happiness here on this earth, or in the eternal realm of the unsaved.

    What they need to know is that our loving God created them and sent His Son Jesus to die for them. If they will accept His payment for their sin and give themselves to Him, they can truly be happy. At that very moment they will no longer be a part of the unjust. They will have then been made just by the sacrificial love and life of Jesus Christ. A funny thing happens to them at that point in their life. They begin to enjoy justice.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    Sometimes our problem with unsaved folk is that we forget, we at one point were just like them. We were not one bit better or worse than they are. We were just like them, unsaved. Then someone told us of Jesus. Will we be the ones to tell them?

GOD TALKING TO ME:  AUGUST 27, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Ezekiel 17 – 20     /   Proverbs 21:14-17

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Psa. 119:1-88            /     1 Co. 5

Living In His Word Ministries

The Outside And The Inside

AUGUST 26, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 21:11-13 When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge. The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness. Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     Punishment should never be fun for either party involved. I believe that there are times when children believe that parents love to punish them. 

    I read a story one time of a little girl who was standing up in the car seat next to her dad. The father said, “Sweetheart, sit down please.” The little girl replied, “I don’t want to sit down daddy.” The father, a little sterner this time said, “Honey, you have to sit down while I am driving, it’s not safe for you to stand up.” The little girl a little more forcefully said, “But daddy I can’t see out the window when I am sitting down. I don’t want to sit down.” The Father, by now determined to have his little girl follow his instruction said, “You sit down right now, and I’ll not tell you again.” The little girl slid down in the seat and was sitting there for a little while, when the father looked over and saw her smiling, and her eyes closed. He asked, “What are you smiling about?” She said, “I’m sitting down on the outside, but I’m standing up on the inside.”

    Punishing, even a wrong doer, should not be fun or easy. It’s even worse when the offenders are adults. The Bible says the punishment of the scorner helps not only the scorner, but it also teaches the simple, (those willing to be taught,) and the wise, how to handle problems and what not to do.

    Who’s the scorner? They are the ones who will not sit down on the inside. They are scoffers who will not listen and will not learn. They always must have their way, even over God’s way.

     
THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    We should never find it enjoyable to administer discipline. Nevertheless, we should find peace from it. Peace in knowing that, if done correctly, God is honored. We should also continue to pray and reach out to the ones being disciplined. We need to be obedient to God’s word on both the outside, and the inside.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  AUGUST 26, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Ezekiel 12 – 16     /   Proverbs 21:11-13

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Psa. 114-118           /     1 Co. 4

Living In His Word Ministries

Up On The Housetop…

AUGUST 25, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 21:7-10 The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment. The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right. It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house. The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

  We have all read Prov. 21:9 and laughed. “It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.” However, what does it mean?

    We must remember the houses in those days had a flat roof. Often in the summer, you would find people in the evening sleeping up there to escape the heat of the home. The roof was also exposed to all the elements. Wind, rain, heat, etc.

    This rooftop was also a place people would go to find a time of solitude. We have many rooms in our homes today. If we want to go read a book or sit alone to think, we just find another room in the house to go to. These homes were open for the most part. There was most likely one wide-open common room, which everyone lived in. The kitchen, dining room, living room and, sometimes with the pull of a curtain, the private bedroom was all part of one big room.

    So, what is this verse saying? It is simply saying it’s better to face the elements on the roof than to live with a screaming, controlling, and overbearing spouse.

    To live that way is degrading and unpleasant to say the least. It is a disaster just waiting to happen for any family. And how about the neighbors who hear all that? (Oh yes, they do hear it.) Do you for a moment imagine that they are thinking, “I wish we were Christians like them?” God put us together as husband and wife to complement one another. He surely did not bind us in holy matrimony for us to control, complain, and be critical of each other.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    When you get together with your spouse today, what are you expecting? Better yet, what do you think they’re expecting? We usually get back what we continually give. God said we are to be one flesh, joined together by Him. If we are truly one in God’s eyes, let’s treat that ONE with love and respect.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  AUGUST 25, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Ezekiel 7 – 11     /   Proverbs 21:7-10

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Psa. 109-113           /     1 Co. 3

Living In His Word Ministries

I Love A Good Plan

AUGUST 24, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 21:4-6 An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin. The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want. The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    Most leadership programs that I have seen have the phrase in it somewhere, “Plan your work, and work your plan.” Sadly, we find that in life some folks never plan for anything. However, proper planning leads to a pleasant life.  

    There is something rewarding about making a plan, sticking to it, and seeing it through to the end. To dream is fine, but to tell others of that dream without a plan to accomplish it, is just a wish. We need to have a plan in place to accomplish most things in life. To make a proper plan takes some planning itself.

• One must plan to pray about it. A plan without God is not a well thought out plan. Only God knows the beginning from the end of all things. It would be wise to seek His wisdom in every matter.

• You must include in your plan careful consideration of the cost. The Bible tells us to be sure to count the cost before we begin any project.

• After you have prayed and planned, it is always wise to ask others to look at your ideas. If you know that God is leading you, do not let the negative Gus who will come along discourage you. Nevertheless, do find people who will make wise recommendations.

• Finally, plan to get busy. Do not Dream, Pray, Plan, Discuss and then do nothing. If God has laid a project on your heart, or a plan for life in your mind, get busy following God’s plan. Nonetheless, be sure to plan. “The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness.”

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    What is your plan for life? Some say it is hard to figure out. Ok, what is your plan for this year? Still too long? Do you have a plan for this month? This week? Do you at least have an idea of what is happening today? Remember, “the diligent tend only to plenteousness.” Be diligent. MAKE A PLAN!

GOD TALKING TO ME:  AUGUST 24, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Ezekiel 1 – 6     /   Proverbs 21:4-6

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Psa. 106-1081            /     1 Co. 2

Living In His Word Ministries