Thursday’s Blog – A thought or two!

Thursday’s Blog – A thought or two!

Proverbs 27:20 – Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

Bible Challenges and Comments

For people to reflect on Sheol and Abaddon (Hell and Destruction) it is like a sharp stick in the eye. The term “sharp stick in the eye” is one that I heard many years ago by a Hispanic preacher who only had one eye. The other had been damaged as a young boy when his brother in anger, poked his brother’s eye with the sharp stick. (which had something to do with playing king on the mountain) As an analogy the preacher used that moment to express many points related to his messages.

Wrath is cruel and anger a torrent, but who is able to stand before jealousy? Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed. Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful, Proverbs 27:4-6. Therefore the wisdom of Solomon is not to be overlooked as many children of God do. Have you noticed as I have the number of saints that have little knowledge of the skills of living life found in Proverbs?

Here is another thought… Whoever keeps (protects or tends) the fig tree will eat its fruit; so he who waits on his master will be honored. “When is the last time you ate a fig?” Or when is the last time the king of your country, honored you? No doubt you are like me… I do not like figs and while I respect the office of the king, the king is like a sharp stick in the eye to me, thus ruining all chances to be honored by him, Proverbs 27:18. Should we not be praying for the king as God can and does direct his way; Proverbs 21:1.

The Living Word of God is not a dull sword, in fact; it is a very sharp sword. Hebrews 4:12 says this about God’s Word. “For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of the soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Why? And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account, Hebrews 4:13.

So the LORD God who Created Life also Created His Word, His Word is not burdensome and by His Word He proves His Love to you and me. Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah) is born of God, and everyone who loves Him (the Father) and also loves Him (the Son) as they are ONE. By this we KNOW that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.

For this is the Love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For who is it then who overcomes the WORLD, but the one who believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who has overcome the WORLD who is the living WORD. Thoughts from 1 John 5:1-5.

Thursday’s Blog – Implanted chip NO, Implanted Word YES

Thursday’s Blog – Implanted chip NO, Implanted Word YES

Proverbs 20:6 – Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, but who can find a faithful man?

Bible Challenges and Comments

In the NIV Proverbs 20:6 reads – Many a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful man, who can find? Again one of the major problems faced by believers is not the Word of God; it is the interpretation of the Word of God. Many of us would simply read over these words and not give another thought. Most of us just read and clock in to a few moments with the Word and then we clock out. Our devotional work day is done and our day in the world begins.

In James 1 beginning in verse 21 we read the following – Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. (There is so much in these few words we may not get much further). The word “overflow” can be translated “abundance” so would this mean that God is aware of the abundance of wickedness that is vested in the inner man?

There is ONLY one way to deliver your soul from this abundance of evil, receive with meekness (or eagerness of soul) the implanted Word. So how is that accomplished? We need to go beyond reading, we need to open our soul to the Word of God and allow it to impregnate (implanted) our soul. Also James is not talking about “initial salvation” but is talking about the power of the implanted Word of God to deliver us from the abundance of evil that rides on the highways of our mind.

I have an example of this that I would like to share. All of us who are of the age to drive have no doubt gone out, maybe to work or some other travelling adventure and have faced traffic that is heavy, slow and aggravating. Then along comes one whom my wife has branded the “cowboy” his four by four pickup is hopping and skipping through the traffic like a runaway nightmare. Your mind is at peace for the moment and then, the evil thought “rage” overcomes you and you discard “peace with God” for a chance to “bark and howl” like that raving wolf whom the “natural man” is.

Here is the rub… the implanted Word of the Living God is designed to deliver your soul from this evil! If this is not happening as you and I would like than we are merely reading the Word and we are like the following verses.

James 1:23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

Each day I do these devotionals, I am reminded of the present evils that lurk in the natural man of who I am, so I know that many of us are likewise reminded as I am, not because of these devotionals but because God’s Love challenges us to have a holy conduct that our natural man in us rejects.

25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

I love The Word of God, notice what James continues to say… 26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is USELESS.

Do not be a useless saint today, and do not seek revenge over one ignorant soul for the sake of losing your wonderful testimony that can reach many more without words as they see your good deeds and glorify God on your behalf.

Thursday’s Blog – A Word of Advice

Thursday’s Blog – A Word of Advice

Proverbs 13:13 – Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.

Bible Challenges and Comments

Taking heed to instruction is hard for most of us, we rebel when told what to do but we mostly do it anyway and because we did not pay attention the result of what we did is wrong or not up to the standard expected. Through wisdom the house is built and by understanding it is established; Proverbs 24:3. Instruction is a needed way of life, but I am more than convinced. Most of us put the instruction manual of life and projects in life aside and just gut it out!

I once had a part-time work of writing instruction manuals for the assembly of equipment purchased by the military. This was after I retired and only lasted about a year. I thought it was a bit ironic, me who seldom referred to a manual on anything and now I am to be an authority on how to assemble a deck winch on a tug boat or how to install a wiring harness on a patrol boat for the radar.

Here is the rub and no doubt I said this before, my wife and I have read a chapter of Proverbs nearly every day over the past twenty-five years. In our early days reading Proverbs was like eating stale bread. Well here we are today and if you look back at these blogs you we see that I have referred to Proverbs much more than I could ever have thought. One thing I realize is that the way of instruction is wise to the one who heeds it and is the way of destruction to the one who does not.

Reading, talking, listening and applying instruction is really what life should be about but “who is paying attention?” I believe we are a bit upside down when it comes to taking heed to instruction. In fact; you have seen this yourself, you begin to instruct someone (pick any subject) and “wham” they take over the conversation and know the subject better than you do even though they have never done it before.

Having a bit of wisdom is good, but if one does not have instruction on how to use that wisdom is as dangerous as carrying a loaded weapon and not knowing which way to point it to protect yourself. Now these are not things that we have not heard before; actually we hear similar challenges throughout our day at work, or our evening at church. So in a very real sense, if we fail to heed instruction, it is shame on us.

We boast to one another about the things we know and yet I am convinced that most of us should keep the mouth shut, in that; the fool is considered wise when he or she remains silent Proverbs 17:28. Well enough is enough isn’t it because with many words, sin is present, Proverbs 10:19 so I should harness what I am writing and pay attention to the instructions and commands of God’s Holy Word.

Tuesday's Blog - Happy are the Blameless!

Tuesday’s Blog – Happy are the Blameless!

Psalm 119:1-2 – Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies and that seek him with the “whole heart”! (KJV)

Bible Challenges and Comments

The world around us has a different definition for the word “happy” then that of God. I feel the need to refresh our minds on both definitions since we seem sometimes to confuse the two, or either subscribe to one and reject the other. Of course we must not forget the fence walker who likes to play in both fields. Of the three types of people we may be; I believe that the fence walker is the most dangerous to (first) him or her self and (second) to those around them.

Let me clarify the thought; I am not talking about the separation of the saint and the sinner, I am talking about both on the same level, at least for the next few paragraphs. There are those people who ride every emotion to the peak and in doing so they throw caution and health out the window. Safety while they ride these emotions is not a factor; I have gone to several automobile accidents as an EMT and seen the results of the cause as an emotional high of every person involved.

Chemical misuse over time cause extreme health issues, physically and mentally, just take a trip down to any homeless shelter or some nursing homes and observe someone’s moment of chemical abuse and the life-changing results. Meet up with someone who has had an abortion from a one night stand of happiness and see the pain in the eyes staring back at you. (That is if they are willing to look you in the eye).

Men and women of all walks of life involve their hearts and minds in happiness’s that are counter-productive to life and liberty, they fall victim to the bondage and aftermath of the circumstance. Yet for that one moment; maybe even years before their desire to be happy, reaped a whirlwind of continuing trouble and unhappiness. The paragraphs above are the world’s definition of happiness and also the unhappy results.

There is another definition of happiness that God offers to the world; His definition is found in the first eight verses of Psalm 119 and carry the theme of the entire 176 verses. If you were to read the entire Psalm you would see a lot of unhappiness affecting the writer and you might be inclined to say! What? I see no happiness in this person’s life so just what do you mean – Jesse? Okay good, now I have your attention!

The pastoral epistle of First Timothy as a guide to happiness we must first understand that the epistle is all about godliness, of the fifteen times the word is use in the entire Bible, nine of those times are found in First Timothy. In 1 Timothy 6:6 we read – but godliness with contentment is great gain. The word “contentment” is found only once in the entire Word of God, that is the KJV, I would not know about other versions.

((I would like to interject a growing problem in our churches today. I notice a growing contention among churches as they struggle with the divisional boundaries that seem to be separating the spirit of unity within local congregations because of (well my version of the Bible says this, or mine says that) if there is no attempt to nip this in the bud, people will split and some will fall away from the Living Word)). No extra charge!

So this word contentment shows up only once and this is Vine’s definition – sufficiency or self-satisfaction. So it is my thought that God offers every person on this earth the opportunity to be happy or sufficient in all things. To be content with everything in life is to be happy and satisfied with the results of living. Now the question; (if you have one is) Am I satisfied with living? If your answer is no, then you are not happy according to the standard that God has provided.

The search for happiness is not the experience of abundance and abuse; it is not self-indulgence, it is self-satisfaction; to be happy in this life is to stop sinning and walk in the ways of the LORD; Psalm 119:3. Study the Word of God and see that His commands are not burdensome when diligently kept; Psalm 119:4. Prayerfully connect with God the Father and His Son Jesus that He might direct your path in His statutes; Psalm 119:5. Then there will be no shame of eye contact, because I am learning to have respect for God’s commandments; Psalm 119:6.

We shall learn to praise God and not curse Him for things that are our fault, not HIS; yet we must be learners of this through the diligent studies of God’s Word. Also we will KNOW that His judgments are NOT burdensome, but in fact are RIGHTEOUS, NEEDFUL AND PLEASANT; Psalm 119:7 and lastly! Then we, through our own personal conviction and satisfaction will say to our Savior. I will personally keep your statutes, therefore do not utterly forsake me; Psalm 119:8.

Thursday’s Blog – Poor ole Kaw-liga

Thursday’s Blog – Poor ole Kaw-liga

Proverbs 6:23 – For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light; reproofs of instruction are the way of life.

Bible Challenges and Comments

These days are all but forgotten, these days are so deeply buried in time that many people today would say that what I am about to say is a lie. Okay, no one I know likes to be called a liar and even the liar will deny until the results of the lie become a noose around his or her neck.

The truth that looks like a lie to most is this: “The religious and moral education of youth was paramount in early American schools. The first book in the classroom was the Bible. It was central to a child’s education, not only for its content, but the way it was used to build skills. Students learned how to read using the Bible. Much of the school day was devoted to memorizing and reciting passages from it, and passages were copied to learn penmanship”. An excerpt from a website called – School; the story of American Public Education.

“The Tempe Union High School District (TUHSD) is reviewing sex education curricula. Last month the district’s Sex Education Curriculum Committee invited a Planned Parenthood employee to a meeting to present an overview of the abortion seller’s programs. The committee has not chosen a curriculum yet”. An excerpt from “Citizens Link a public partner of Focus on the Family”.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees; hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and arise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law, justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done without leaving the others undone; Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel”, Matthew 23:23-24.

A song by Hank Williams comes to mind and at this point and like you; I wonder why, but lets see the end result.

Poor ol Kaw-liga, he never got a kiss, Poor ol Kaw-liga, he don't know what he missed, Is it any wonder that his face is red? Kaw-liga, that poor ol' wooden head. (The song ends with the Indian maid being bought and taken away from the antique store by a buyer, leaving Kaw-Liga alone), As lonely as can be, And wishes he was still an ol' pine tree.

 

Sadly, we American’s (and that would be specifically, us Citizens of the United States of America) have left our first love; that would be our LOVE for God. We used to sing: “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the LORD are true and true and righteous altogether.  More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them thy servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward. Psalm 19:7-11 a Psalm of David; King of Israel.

 

Hank owned a cabin in Kowaliga Bay on Lake Martin, Alabama. The home was privately owned by Hank's daughter Jett Williams and was donated to Children's Harbor. Children's Harbor is a not for profit camp for seriously ill children and their families. The camp does not allow tours of the cabin at this time but does host weddings and functions when camp is not in session. It was here in 1952 this home where he wrote the song. This short story of Hank Williams is taken from information from Wiki-pedia. The long story is that we Americans have become “blockheads of pine”.

You know; history is good and we should preserve and treasure the past, but it seems that the national aim today is to destroy the values of our young Americans. What good can come out of rejecting God who LOVES us? Or; what evil can come out of accepting the teaching of a salesperson who is selling a future of death to an unborn child?

Preserve the Bible and protect the unborn, I do not like writing about such things and yet there are days when it is unavoidable. What I like to write about is this… The Laws of the LORD, the Testimonies of the LORD, the Statutes of the LORD, the Commandments of the LORD, the Fear of the LORD and the Judgments of the LORD; these are more to be desired that gold. Yes, than much fine gold; and in keeping them there is great reward.

Hebrews 9:28 - so Christ was offered to bear the sins of many, and unto them that look for Him shall He appear a second time without sin unto salvation.  Jesse <><