Weekend Review

August 22 & 23, 2020

Proverbs 20:27

The spirit of man
is the candle of the
LORD,
searching all
the inward parts
of the belly.  

Work Week Devotions
Through the Book of Proverbs

      As you know by now, with WORK WEEK DEVOTIONS, we only publish our Devotional Thoughts on Monday – Friday. On Saturday we suggest you re-read the entire chapter we have been studying this past week, 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 33 – Day 6

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

Proverbs 20-21

WEEK 33 – 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

August 24, 2020      Ezekiel 1 – 6         Proverbs 21:4 – 6
August 25, 2020      Ezekiel 7  – 11      Proverbs 21:7 – 10
August 26, 2020      Ezekiel 12 – 16     Proverbs 21:11 – 13
August 27, 2020      Ezekiel 17 – 20     Proverbs 21:14 – 17
August 28, 2020      Ezekiel 21 – 24     Proverbs 21:18 – 20
August 29, 2020      Proverbs 21 – 22             
August 30, 2020      No Passages Assigned    

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY

August 24, 2020      Psa. 106-108        1 Co. 2
August 25, 2020      Psa. 109-113        1 Co. 3
August 26, 2020      Psa. 114-118        1 Co. 4
August 27, 2020      Psa. 119:1-88       1 Co. 5
August 28, 2020      Psa. 119:89-176   1 Co. 6
August 29, 2020      Psa. 120-129        1 Co. 7
August 30, 2020      No Passages Assigned         

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY

August 22, 2020      Psa. 103-105        1 Co. 1
August 23, 2020      No Passages Assigned

I Saw Them Do It First

AUGUST 21, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 21:1-3 The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts. To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

  Excuses. What are they? There was an older gentleman at our church who has now gone home to be with the Lord, that would continually tell me the definition of an excuse is; “the skin of a reason stuffed with a lie.”

    We have all made up a flimsy excuse at one time or another. Instead of being completely honest with ourselves or someone else, we instead concoct a part truth. Sadly, we sometimes make up excuses and then rehearse them over and over in our minds. It often begins when we start to wonder, should I be reading this, watching this, or listening to this? Should I be going there, hanging out with them, or talking this way? Should I be drinking this, taking this, or smoking this? What is the one most popular excuse often used to give ourselves permission? “I saw Mr. or Miss Christian doing it, and so if it’s ok for them, it must be ok.” We begin to make excuses for our life, yet inside we have this funny feeling that we know something is not right. However, we have tried to convince ourselves that if God would let them get by with it, He’s sure to do the same for me.

    Did you ever stop to think; maybe others are watching you and thinking the same thing? Maybe they’re measuring things in their life by what they are seeing you do.

    The Bible says that man will try to find a way to make everything he does seem ok in his own eyes. God on the other hand, looks on your heart. He is keenly aware of what you really know to be true deep down inside of you. He knows of the feelings you have, knowing when something is right or wrong. Do you know why God knows? He put that feeling there to help you make better and right choices.

     
THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    A while back, I heard a phrase that helps me occasionally. It said, “If in doubt, don’t.” We need to operate under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and Gods Word and not according to someone we might see at work, in the community, or even at church. Let’s be an example of Christ and for Christ.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  AUGUST 21, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Lamentations 1 – 5     /   Proverbs 21:1-3

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Psa. 97-102           /      Rom. 16

Living In His Word Ministries

Keep The Light On

AUGUST 20, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 20:27-30 The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly. Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy. The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head. The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    Think back to the last time you were watching TV, or maybe reading a book and the lights went out. The cause of the sudden darkness may have been a storm or a power failure. Whatever the cause, stop for a second, and think of how you felt for that one split second when your world turned black. Startled, a bit frightened, maybe a little uneasy? All these words would accurately describe that one split moment of surprise. Darkness has a way of causing us to be uneasy.

    The Bible says, “The spirit of a man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly.” In other words, God uses our spirit as a candle to view our heart. Hence the question we must ask ourselves is what does God see when He holds the candle of our spirit to our heart? Is our candle shinning bright, is it just a flicker, or could it be just a glowing ember on the wick essentially shutting the lights out on God?

    Does the idea of God standing right next to you examining you right now make you feel uneasy? Are you a bit frightened of what He would hear, or see in your life? Maybe you’re a bit startled at His presence with you. Similar to the way you felt when the lights went out, and you were alone in darkness.

    Our spirit should be one of joy, contentment, rejoicing, and peace. That is a spirit that glows brightly, which lights the way for the blessings of God.

    Often when we are awaiting guests in the evening, we tell them “we’ll keep the light on for you.” Let’s keep the light on for Jesus, shall we?

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    As a child, you probably sang a song that said, “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.” Do you remember? If you have little children at home, sing it with them today. If not, just stop for a second, sing it, and think of the candle of your spirit. Let it shine for God.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  AUGUST 20, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Jeremiah 50-52      /   Proverbs 20:27-30

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Psa. 90-96           /      Rom. 15

Living In His Word Ministries

The Master Planner

AUGUST 19, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 20:23-26 Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good. Man’s goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way? It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry. A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    Some people think they have their entire life planned out. They know what classes to take in school to secure a certain occupation. They have thought out what they will need to do to climb the ladder of success. Do not get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with planning. If we do not plan ahead, financial emergencies could overtake us. If we did not plan with insurances and savings, natural emergencies like storms or illness could devastate not only us, but in some cases, those we leave behind to pick up the tab. 

    Nevertheless, we need always bear in mind; God is the only one who truly knows for sure what tomorrow will bring. In His infinite wisdom He knows what the outcome of our lives will be, and the lives of all those around us. Even so, while knowing all that will come, He still allows us to make choices that will affect that outcome. How does He do it? Well if I could answer that, I could explain God. He would not be much of a God if you or I could explain all about Him now would He.

    An old writer quaintly said: “They who will carve for themselves shall cut their fingers.” Life is a delicate balancing act of choices. Occasionally we mess up.

    One choice that should not be hard to make is this. If God is the only one who truly knows all about my life, then why not give my life to Him. He would use it a lot better than I would.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    If you love something, you take care of it. If it is a pet, you do your best to feed it, love it, and wash it, etc. However, you still must let it run and play to be healthy. God loves you. He feeds you, loves you, and washed away your sin. Nevertheless, He still lets you run and play. Next time you are out running around being free, take some time to run back to Him and thank Him for His love and provision.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  AUGUST 19, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Jeremiah 45 – 49      /   Proverbs 20:23-26

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Psa. 86-89           /      Rom. 14

Living In His Word Ministries

Listening To The Home Team

AUGUST 18, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 20:20-22 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness. An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed. Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

  Have you ever thought, “My parents are nuts!” You may think I’m talking to teens here, but truth be known, several of us so-called adults have heard our parents say something and thought, “They just don’t understand.” So, we go about doing things our own way only to find out, they knew more than we gave them credit for.

    Our verses today go even farther than the occasional choice of doing things our way. It steps over into disobedience and even hatred toward parents.

    In the Old Testament, children were stoned for cursing their father. Some people may feel today, since stoning no longer takes place, they can live anyway they want to with no punishment. Do you remember what the bible said about Adam and Eve? They thought they could get away with disobeying God and doing as they pleased too. God said you would surely die. Guess what, they did! They died both physically and spiritually. When God lays down a law, we ought to listen.

    One piece of advice my parents shared with me was, “Work hard, keep your nose clean, and you can go places in life.” I did not really understand what a clean nose had to do with anything, but I remembered the work hard part. People try to get rich in so many ways such as casinos, lottery, gambling, and so on. Nevertheless, when someone wins… many others must lose. Today’s verses talk about “Inheritance gotten hastily.” Which simply means received by unfair practice, or not naturally. God does not bless the demise of another. Gambling leads to idleness, pride, and laziness. Therefore, if you gamble, how many people might you ruin by disobeying God? For me to gamble I would disobey my earthly, and heavenly father.

     
THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    God gave you a team of experts on how to live life. If you have godly parents, seek their wisdom if you still can. Even unsaved parents have some wisdom on the knocks of life. Honor your parents, if for no other reason than, GOD SAID SO!

GOD TALKING TO ME:  AUGUST 18, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Jeremiah 39-44      /   Proverbs 20:20-22

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Psa. 80-85           /      Rom. 13

Living In His Word Ministries