It’s Still A Dog

May 05, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 11:20-22 They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight. Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered. As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     I was walking down the street the other day, and saw a woman walking her dog. This was not so strange, except for the fact that the dog had on a sweater. Now it may have just been me, but it seemed like the dog was really moving fast, and kept looking left to right, right to left, as if to say, “I sure hope none of my dog friends see me dressed this way.”

     Now I know, some of you dress your dogs this way, and I guess if it makes you happy to dress up your dog as children do their dolls, it never hurts anything. There actually might be some good to it if it’s really cold out or something. However, one thing we need to remember is this, under that sweet little cardigan, there is still a dog. You can paint their toenails a rainbow of colors, give them a cute hair cut which often cost more than your hair cut did, and put ribbons in their hair. However, at the end of the day, they’re still dogs.

     What’s the point in all this? People are very much the same way. You can dress up the outside, and clean up real nice. You might say all the right things, and even go to all the right places. Nevertheless, if you have never accepted Jesus as your Saviour, under all that, you’re still lost.


THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     The word froward means crooked or perverse. It’s referring to someone who is a fraud, or phony. The meaning of the word abomination is something disgusting, or the same as to make one sick. If you put them together you see people pretending to love the Lord when their life shows they don’t, makes God sick. Just as we bathe to wash of the grime of this world, we should also examine ourselves, and ask for the washing of God’s grace from all sin, to be sure we don’t stink before Him.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  May 05, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  2 Kings 22 – 25      /     Proverbs 11:20-22

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  2 Samuel 7-10   /   Luke 23:27-56

Mad About Nothing

May 04, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 11:17-19 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh. The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward. As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     Two men worked together for months. Not really best friends, but they got along ok. One day, one of the men overheard the other man call him by name, and say, “He thinks that we are friends, but were not.” The words seemed to cut like a knife. He had never done anything to make this man dislike him. Not one harsh word ever. Not a cross look, or anything he could recall, nothing.

     Day after day for weeks, he would see him in the shop, and as he walked by, he would smile and say, “Hey, how’s it going?” Out of courtesy, he said; “fine.” Yet, in his heart, daily he hated it more, and more. So much so, he started clocking in at the other end of the plant, just so he did not have to see him.

     One day, at a family reunion, he saw him there. What? Why is this person at MY FAMILY REUNION? I hate him. He has no business here. As he walked over to talk with him, the man turned around and said; “Hey How’s it going?” That was it. He couldn’t take it anymore. “How’s it going?” He replied. “Terrible, that’s how it’s going. What in the heck are you doing at my family reunion?” The man chuckled and said; “that’s funny, I was just telling a guy at work the other day who had asked me if we were friends, and I said, you thought we were friends, but we were not… we’re relatives.” Immediately the man realized he had only heard part of the conversation, and had been angry for weeks for nothing. Whom did it hurt? It hurt only him.

     Anger eats at us, and only us. “…He that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.”


THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     Anger and hate are like a cancer. It will eat at you, and cause all types of mental, and physical problems. Forgiving is really a better way to go through life. Anger takes a lot of work to maintain. Forgiveness you can give over to God.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  May 04, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  2 Kings 18 – 21      /     Proverbs 11:17-19

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  2 Samuel 4-6   /    Luke 23:1-26

Weekend Review

May 02 & 03, 2020

Proverbs 11:14

Where no counsel is,
the people fall:
but in the multitude
of counsellors 
there is safety. 

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 17 – Day 6

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

Proverbs 10-11

WEEK 17 – 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

May 4, 2020     2 Kings 18 – 21           Proverbs 11:17 – 19
May 5, 2020     2 Kings 22 – 25           Proverbs 11:20 – 22
May 6, 2020     1 Chronicles 1 – 3     Proverbs 11:23 – 25
May 7, 2020     1 Chronicles 4 – 6     Proverbs 11:26 – 28
May 8, 2020     1 Chronicles 7 – 9     Proverbs 11:29 – 31
May 9, 2020     Proverbs 11 – 12                     
May 10, 2020   No Passages Assigned    

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY

May 4, 2020     2 Samuel 4-6            Luke 23:1-26
May 5, 2020     2 Samuel 7-10          Luke 23:27-56
May 6, 2020     2 Samuel 11-13        Luke 24:1-35
May 7, 2020     2 Samuel 14-15        Luke 24:36-53
May 8, 2020     2 Samuel 16-18        John 1:1-34
May 9, 2020     2 Samuel 19-20        John 1:35-51
May 10, 2020   No Passages Assigned

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY

    MAY 02, 2020     2 Samuel 1-3   /     Luke 22:35-71
    MAY 03, 2020     No Passages Assigned

Words Of Wisdom, Or Not

May 1, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 11:13-16 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter. Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure. A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     In today’s world, there’s a great need for counseling. With the fast paced, complicated lifestyles so many people live today, it’s no wonder we often need the advice of others.

     There are also numerous people attempting to fill this need. Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Personal Life Coaches, Annalists, Pastors, Counseling Centers, and the lists go on. These are a few on the professional level. Then there are moms, dads, friends, neighbors, your spouse, sometimes children, and other relatives also weighing in on the subjects of your life. Next, you have your employers telling you what to do to in order to succeed there. The church is telling you what you need to do in your spiritual life. Possibly a director of a program you have joined as a hobby for enjoyment is also telling you what you ought to do. It would be easy to look at our verses today and say, well the problem of no counsel, is not a problem. I have many people trying to counsel me, and give me advice. I must be safe because it says, “in the multitude of counsellors there is safety,” and I have a multitude counseling me.

     This all sounds good on the surface. A question might be asked though, are your counselors taking counsel themselves from God’s Word, or are they directing you by what they think might work?

     God’s ways are rock solid. If given a chance, and followed as written, they always work. Man’s ways may work for some, but not for all. The multitude of counselors should all be able to back what they say with the Word of God. They should also be directing you to God’s Word. Otherwise, it’s just a gamble, with your life held in the balance. 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     Sometimes people go to counselors, when all they really needed to do was read the Word of God daily. He is the ultimate mighty Counselor.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  May 1, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  2 Kings 14 – 17      /     Proverbs 11:13-16

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  1 Samuel 28-31    /    Luke 22:1-34

What Did You Say??

April 30, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 11:9-12 An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered. When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting. By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked. He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace. 

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     Some people just don’t know when to shut up. I know the phrase; “Shut up,” is probably not politically correct, or appreciated by some. Nevertheless, the facts are, some people never seem to learn when to quit talking.

     In watching some of the court shows on TV, I’ve often seen people just keep talking when they had already won the case. That is until the judge hears something, which causes doubt in their credibility, and they dismiss their case altogether.

     Several old sayings come to mind as I read today’s verses. One was; “Quit while you’re ahead.” Another is, “If you can’t say something nice about someone, just don’t say anything at all.” However, I think my favorites would be; “It is better to say nothing, and let people think you are stupid, than to open your mouth, and remove all doubt.” It’s sometimes better to just stand, and say nothing, and let people think what they will about you, than to get into long arguments, or debates until you say something you didn’t mean to say, or you say something hurtful out of anger, and Satan is given a foothold instead. And yes, that happens to Christians, and non-Christians alike.

     Paul told the people in Thessalonica the same thing in 1 Thessalonians 4:11 & 12 were it says; ”And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.” Sometimes it’s better to just be seen and not heard.


THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     Our witness for Christ does not always need to be with our mouth. It often first must be with our life. Live for Christ every day, so you can share the gospel when the opportunity comes.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  April 30, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  2 Kings 10 – 13     /     Proverbs 11:9 – 12

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  1 Samuel 25-27    /   Luke 21