What? I Was Just Having Fun

March 05, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 6:12-15 A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth. He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers; Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord. Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     I have been known from time to time, to play a little trick on someone. More often than not, it’s a harmless little something, that when we are finished, we can both laugh at. It will often bring a surprise, or scare, which is only for a moment, and then it’s done.

     However, what if this went on, and on, and on, for what seemed to be an eternity. Well, that’s the way it is in the life of what today’s passage is calling, “a naughty person.” In a quest to find more pleasure, and bigger laughs in their practical jokes they play on people, they do more, and more terrible things. These things may eventually physically hurt others, and often themselves. They become thrill seekers at others expense.

     It becomes an addiction with them, just like any other addiction. Such as the person addicted to alcohol will need more, and more alcohol to satisfy their cravings. An addiction to tobacco, pornography, drugs, or anything is the same. The more you have, the more you want. This is the same for the naughty person. If they have pulled something really big to embarrass, harass, hurt, or degrade you, or someone else, watch out, the next stunt will be bigger, and worse yet.

     The problem is, they are so involved in what they are doing, they never realize how they’re ruining their own lives. No one wants to be around them. No one ever trusts them. All their time is spent on mischief, and deceit, and their mind is consumed with it continually. Their destruction is sure, and seemingly swift. Then, it always end the same way with them saying; “Hey what happened? I was just having some fun.”

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     Watch out for the tricksters in this life. The final trick they play is always on themselves. It appears almost like magic. POOF, and suddenly they realize, they have nothing to show for life. Does that sound like a good trick to you?

GOD TALKING TO ME:  March 05, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Deuteronomy 7-10      /      Proverbs 6:12-15

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Numbers 19-20      /     Mark 10:32-52

WORK Is A Four-letter Word

March 04, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 6:9-11 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

       Let me sleep just a little while longer, please! Every parent has heard this. Sometimes it’s not only heard from the children, but also from the one who takes care of the children. Just a few more minutes, please!

     Society today in general, are people on the run. We go, go, and go some more. Nevertheless, we are also a nation that needs it’s rest, but how much rest is enough? The answer to this question seems to depend on the person doing the study.

     Different studies have produced different results. Some say that eight hours a night is enough. While others say you really only need four to six hours of good sleep per night. Most busy people try to get by on as little sleep as possible. However, there are those who are on the other end of the spectrum, and they seemingly sleep their life away.

     Those endless sleepers are who Solomon is referring in today’s passage. This is in contrast with the little working ant in the previous verses. Here we find someone who wants a little sleep, gets up, relaxes just a bit before they turn around to do nothing, and becomes tired from their laziness to the point of going back to bed again.

     He warns of this lifestyle of do nothingness. Like a traveler who step by step through life, doing nothing along the way, comes to a sudden, terrible end. At the end of this expedition is brokenness, both physically, and literally? He also likens it to a life that ends as though an armed man suddenly robs you, and you’re left with nothing. So will this life of doing nothing leave you the same way. Time runs out, and your left empty handed.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     Yes, WORK is a four-letter word. Nevertheless, it’s a word that we need in our life. The Bible declares if a man won’t work, that he in turn, should not eat. It doesn’t say that work should be our life, but it should be a part of it. God will supply our needs; however, He often does it through a job.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  March 04, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Deuteronomy 4-6      /      Proverbs 6:9-11

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Numbers 16-18      /     Mark 10:1-31

Lessons From The Ants

March 03, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 6:4-8 Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids. Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler. Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     BUGS, INSECTS!!! Even the words makes some people’s skin crawl. Most often, we think of pests when thinking of them. When something is wrong in our computer programs, it’s called, “a Bug” in the program. If someone is bothering you, you might say, “Quit bugging me,” or, “stop being such a pest.”

     However, Solomon points out a very valuable lesson that can be obtained from observing the ANT. Ants evidently have no real leader. There’s no commando ant barking out orders, telling all the other ants what to do, and where to go. Yet all the ants fall into place, and pull their weight. In fact, it has been said, an ant can carry many times its own weight when gathering things. Another interesting fact about ants is, they get prepared in advance. They put up things in preparation for winter, and harsh weather.

     So what are we to learn from these little industrious creatures? First, we learn saving is not a sin. Some will tell you the Bible never speaks of putting anything away for the future. They say you’re just to rely on God, day by day for everything. Not true. God gives us wisdom to see a future need, and we should be wise, and save for it. God has still supplied for the need. Next, we see we should not have to be told to do something in order for it to be done. Simply get busy, and get it done. In addition, teamwork sure does help.

     One great thing about the church I’m privileged to pastor is that they do work as a team if there is a true need in our midst. Teamwork is getting it done together. We should not be sluggards, or lazy. God provides the materials, however we must still use them to the best of our ability, for His glory.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

Next time you see ants, watch how busy they are. God has given them all they need to survive; all they have to do is use it. He’s done the same for us. Now what will you do with it?

GOD TALKING TO ME:  March 03, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Deuteronomy 1 – 3      /     Proverbs 6:4-8

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Numbers 15      /     Mark 9:30-50

Watch Out For The DEBT TRAP

March 02, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 6:1-3 My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger, Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth. Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     Credit was, at one time, something hard to get. You had to keep your nose clean, and not have any bad debts at all to even think of getting a credit card, or a loan. Today however, almost anyone, anytime, and anywhere can get a credit card. Most stores now have their own credit cards. Many have hooked up with major credit cards so you can use the card they supply at other stores as well. Sounds great right? WRONG!

     The problem is, many people today have more credit card debt than they can ever hope to pay off in any reasonable amount of time. If the creditors were to call saying that they were going out of business, and needed you to pay up on your debt, most people do not have the funds to do so.

     Even worse, many are paying just the minimum payment each month. By doing so, you are barely, if even, paying the interest, and will be paying the credit card company forever. Imagine buying a television for five hundred dollars, and paying the minimum payment on your credit card. By the time this set has been paid for, several things will probably have happened. Your grandchildren will have graduated college, the TV will have been replaced twice, and you will have paid a few thousand dollars for your five hundred dollar TV.

     Debt is a trap into which society has tried to drag us. Worse yet, many have jumped into this debt trap joyfully. Sadly, they end up swimming against the tide of interest for years to come. Don’t let the world control your financial future. Let God.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     You may be thinking, “How do I get out of this debt trap?” First, QUIT BUYING THINGS YOU DON’T NEED! If you have an enormous debt, you need to live within your means. Second, PRAY. Ask God for direction, wisdom, and self-control every day. Next, PAY. Begin to pay extra on the debts and they will one day go away. It will take time, but the freedom is worth it.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  March 02, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Numbers 33-36      /     Proverbs 6:1-3

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Numbers 12-14      /     Mark 9:1-29

Weekend Review

February 18 & 19, 2020

Proverbs 1:33

For the ways of man
are before the eyes of
the LORD,
and he pondereth
all his goings.

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 8 – Day 6

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

Proverbs 5-6

WEEK 8 – 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

March 2, 2020  Numbers 33 – 36             Proverbs 6:1 – 3
March 3, 2020  Deuteronomy 1 – 3        Proverbs 6:4 – 8
March 4, 2020  Deuteronomy 4 – 6        Proverbs 6:9 – 11
March 5, 2020  Deuteronomy 7 – 10      Proverbs 6:12 – 15
March 6, 2020  Deuteronomy 11 – 14    Proverbs 6:16 – 19
March 7, 2020  Proverbs 6
March 8, 2020  No Passages Assigned    

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY

March 2, 2020  Numbers 12-14        Mark 9:1-29
March 3, 2020  Numbers 15              Mark 9:30-50
March 4, 2020  Numbers 16-18        Mark 10:1-31
March 5, 2020  Numbers 19-20        Mark 10:32-52
March 6, 2020  Numbers 21-22        Mark 11
March 7, 2020  Numbers 23-25        Mark 12:1- 27
March 8, 2020  No Passages Assigned

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY

    FEBRUARY 29, 2020     Numbers 10-11       Mark 8:22-38
    MARCH 01, 2020           No Passages Assigned