APRIL ARCHIVES
April 1st
Proverbs 8:26-28
While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
Outlook from
the In Book
Have you ever stopped to wonder what would happen if God tossed out the laws? What if God decided one day “lets toss out a law and see what happened.” Lets start with the law of gravity. Now that sounds sort of like fun to just be floating around from place to place. We see the astronauts do it on TV and that kind of looks like fun. But we forget too soon, what Astronauts do is within a controlled area. What would happen if God did away with the law of gravity completely? The pull of the different planets with their different amounts of gravitational pull would vanish and by the way, so would probably our solar system. Floating around seems nice until you remember, there is nothing to stop me from floating right off into space and who knows where I would end up. Or how fast would I go? Gravity helps control speed also. No gravity.. WHOOSH… Off you go at speeds your body could not handle. And that is just with one law being eliminated. There are the laws of Physics and molecular structure. Without them medicine would not be effective. There are also the laws of nature that God put in place. What would it be like if you planted a tulip bulb and out grew poison ivy? Or how about if your dog got pregnant and delivering a litter of rattlesnakes in your home? God set a compass on the world. A controlling set of laws by which even those that hate God and despise His name benefit.
The Word Walking In Me
AS you come to a stop sign today, stop and think, I thank God for all the laws He has provided for me. Thank you Lord for your wisdom in protecting me with your laws.
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April 2nd
Proverbs 8:29-31
When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.
Outlook from
the In Book
Which came first, Chicken or the egg? An age-old debate for people that do not take the Bible literally. The answer is simple. God created animals not embryos. So the chicken was created and she delivered the egg. Now let's ask this question. One of our verses today says that God and wisdom were brought up together. Just like old friends or neighbors. So, which do you believe was around first? Wisdom to guide God or God to guide wisdom? If God were first with no wisdom He would not have known to create wisdom. If wisdom was not there how could even God know to make everything that ever was? It had to be around to help think up all the stuff God designed that we take for granted. But, if God were not there what need would there ever be for wisdom? OK so it’s another trick question like the chicken and egg question. The answer, God has always been. He had no beginning for anything to be before Him. So therefore, if wisdom and God were brought up together that would mean that wisdom always was and was always with God. God therefore has always had all wisdom. If that is true, and it is, why would anyone try to outsmart God? Why do people want to make another way of salvation than what God, with all wisdom, has laid out? Now those are questions without any real good answers!
The Word Walking In Me
We need to trust in the Lord with all our heart and not lean to our own understanding. And even that bit of wisdom came from God!
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April 3rd
Proverbs 8:32-34
Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye
children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. Hear instruction, and be
wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily
at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
Outlook
from the In Book
Parents and children often see things different. I am sure that was a startling revelation, right? Ok, probably not. But let me give you an example. Living in town, we had an ice cream truck that would go up and down the streets most every day from mid spring to early fall. On the top of this truck was a huge speaker. Ok, maybe not so huge, but it sure made a lot of noise. They would play this little tinker bell music that would alert all the children in the neighborhood to begin to attack their parents. I know they say the music really was to let people know they were coming. But I believe there was some hidden message in there to children saying, “It’s time to beg for money.” And within in just seconds of hearing that sound, relatively normal children turned into a neighborhood of panhandlers whining at their parents’ feet. Begging, crying, and pleading for just enough to get an ice cream. I’ll have to say; on a few hot days I too was out there getting an ice cream. But I felt out of place. Here I am a rather large man standing with the whole neighborhood of children screaming at the top of their lungs for this or that. Mostly I learned to hate the sound of that truck coming. I could almost imagine in houses around the block, parents hiding from their children until the sound had passed. But children could not wait. They kept an eye out for it. They knew it was coming, and were waiting for it. That is how we are to be with wisdom. Listening for it. And when we hear it, running toward it to be filled with it.
The Word Walking In Me
Godly wisdom is satisfying to a hungry burning soul.
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April 4th
Proverbs 8:35-36
For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
Outlook from
the In Book
Everybody wants to be liked by at least somebody. We all like to have people look favorably on what we do and say. Some people will do all they can to get people to like them or at a minimum notice them. They will try to buy their approval by giving them gifts or spending money on them. Others will try to force you to like them. Maybe they have a place of power and they try to hold that over you. Yet others continue to try to get popular with the masses and believe if the majority likes them, probably everyone will. The saddest thing is that they spend years trying to get man’s approval, and spend little or no time trying to win God’s favor. It’s true that God loves everyone. We are His creation. But He does not look favorably on everything we do. The verses today tell us if we will find wisdom, true Godly wisdom, God looks down favorably on us. Why? Because we have found the true meaning of life, and therefore life itself. We have found that God is the one we should listen to and learn from. We have found that if allowed He will guide us and direct us. We have found that yielding our life to Him does not forfeit our life but rather fortifies the life we live. The other side of that coin is death. To not seek God and His wisdom is to seek after death. Not just physical death, but spiritual death also. It’s a life filled with doubts and fears. It’s a life controlled by others and what they think of you. It’s a life lived for the world. It’s really not much of a life at all.
The Word Walking In Me
In Matt. 16:26 says; For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? What indeed? There is no profit in death.
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April 5th
This year we are doing the Work
Week Devotions
All Devotions will be written and distributed Monday through Friday.
On
Saturday we suggest you re-read
the Proverb
we have written from this past week
and the week to come.
Some weeks that will be the same chapter,
while other weeks that may be two chapters.
We have never given out Bible reading for Sundays.
The reason is simple to us.
We want you to be reading and studying whatever
the Lord has laid on your Pastors heart for that week.
Whatever his text is for the Morning and Evening Service
was given to him by God for your specific needs.
The principal for this is found in the book of
And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by
night unto Berea:
who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica,
in that they received the word with all readiness of mind,
and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
We hope you enjoy your
weekend in God's word
and pray we might see you back here on Monday
as we begin another Week
in the Word.
Review Proverbs 8 - 9 and this past weeks Devotionals if Desired
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April 6th
This year we are doing the Work
Week Devotions
All Devotions will be written and distributed Monday through Friday.
On
Saturday we suggest you re-read
the Proverb
we have written from this past week
and the week to come.
Some weeks that will be the same chapter,
while other weeks that may be two chapters.
We have never given out Bible reading for Sundays.
The reason is simple to us.
We want you to be reading and studying whatever
the Lord has laid on your Pastors heart for that week.
Whatever his text is for the Morning and Evening Service
was given to him by God for your specific needs.
The principal for this is found in the book of
And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by
night unto Berea:
who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica,
in that they received the word with all readiness of mind,
and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
We hope you enjoy your
weekend in God's word
and pray we might see you back here on Monday
as we begin another Week
in the Word.
Review Proverbs 8 - 9 and this past weeks Devotionals if Desired
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April 7th
Proverbs 9:1-5
Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars: She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table. She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city, Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
Outlook
from the In Book
Ok, so you want to throw a party. What’s
the first thing you need to do? Probably find out how many are coming so you
can have enough food and space for everyone. So you put together a guest
list. Who do you invite? Your closest friends and relatives? Ok, maybe just
closet friends, relatives can sometime make social gatherings interesting.
Anyway, you try to figure on how many will come. How do you do that? Send
out an invitation to every breathing soul in the world and just prepare for
them all right? That’s probably not a good idea for most people. But that’s
what has been done here. Wisdom has sent out her maidens to invite people
from as far as possible. Can’t you just see them up on a high perch yelling,
“Anyone that wants to come to Wisdom’s banquet may come. That means
everyone! Even the simple.” Today we might say, “Even the homeless, poor,
and hurting.” “Even those who feel unworthy, you are who we want.” Or how
about, “The sinful and wicked that feel they have no hope.” Jesus has long
been calling the world to Himself. Who wouldn’t want to be there? People who
are too prideful and arrogant to be seen with the hurting in this world.
They miss God’s best because they think they are too good for the lost or
hurting world.
The Word Walking In Me
Jesus is still calling, but who are the
maidens? That would be all of us that know Jesus. Lets shout it from the
housetops. “Come and dine the Master calleth come and dine.”
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April 8th
Proverbs 9:6-9
Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding. He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
Outlook
from the In Book
We only get so many hours each day. Just a select few opportunities to use the minutes God has given to us. The Bible often says we are to be good stewards with all God gives us. We almost always relate the word steward to money. But it also is referring to our time and talents. Being a good steward of time is what the verses today are talking about. Rebuking a sinner of sin before they are saved is like beating your head against a brick wall. They don’t care. Neither of you get anything good out of it. They need salvation first. But if you will use that time to try to help someone that is teachable you both come out ahead. A Christ-like Spirit is one that is teachable. Rebuke to a born again Christian is an opportunity to examine themselves and see where they stand with God. If the rebuke is correct, they see an area that they need to correct and become stronger in the Lord. If the rebuke is incorrect, they can go back and lovingly discuss the circumstances around it, and both walk away stronger in the Lord and in better fellowship with one another. Either way, a wise person comes out ahead. They have gained wisdom in their walk with the Lord or understanding of a fellow Christian. They always win. Is it always easy to do those things? NO. But just like the saying that friends don’t let friends drive drunk, also Christian friends don’t let Christian friends live in unrighteousness.
The Word Walking In Me
In the New Testament Jesus called it casting your pearls before swine. It does not refer to not sharing the gospel with everyone. But it does mean use your time wisely. Not everyone listens.
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