2008
FEBRUARY ARCHIVES
February 1st
Proverbs 3:27-29
Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine
hand to do it. Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I
will give; when thou hast it by thee. Devise not evil against thy neighbour,
seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
Outlook from
the In Book
“Cleanliness is next to godliness.” “God works in mysterious ways.” “God helps those that help themselves.” These three phrases can be found in Hezekiah 1:12. Before you go looking that up, it’s a joke. There is no Hezekiah 1:12. But it sounded like there could have been right? So what do all three of the phrases have in common with Hezekiah 1:12? They are not in the Bible either. We use these phrases all the time and want to believe that they are in the scripture, but they are not. In fact, they all three in some way contradict scripture. Nothing in the Bible says that God holds Hygiene in any priority over anything else. A clean heart is what God is interested in. The bible says the outside is only what man sees. (But please, take a bath. If not for God, at least for your neighbors. It’s hard to witness when people will not come near you.) God does not always work in mysterious ways. In fact, the ways of God are above men, and so sometimes hard to understand. But God has made His plans for this earth and your eternal life very clear. And God does not always help those that help themselves. It is in contradiction to what God has said about trusting in God. Our verses today show that God helps those that help others. God takes care of all our needs. If you are trusting in you, you’re faith is in the wrong place.
The Word Walking In Me
“..If any would not work, neither should he eat.” That’s in the Bible. (2 Thess. 3:10) But the phrase God helps those that help themselves isn’t. Actually it should end God helps those that help others and those that trust in God.” Lets live out the word today.
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February 2nd
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 3-4 and this past weeks Devotionals if Desired
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February 3rd
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February 4th
Proverbs 3:30-32
Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm. Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways. For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.
Outlook from
the In Book
Guess what Christian? People want to be like you! For some if you that’s hard to understand. Why would someone want to be like me? I’m not rich, famous, or powerful. Why in the world would people want to be like me? The reason, people really don’t want money, fame or power. What they want is happiness and security. Some think money will get that for them, but it never does. It might buy the pleasures of the world. But they always leave you empty in the end. A friend gained by money is not really a friend, they’re a mooch. Some think if they were famous everyone would love them. Again, not true. The price of fame is being cold hearted enough to step on a lot of people on the way up. Only those that do not know you well seem to adore you. Who wants that? Friends you never get close to. Some believe if they had power they could almost command their way to happiness. But the truth is with power comes overwhelming responsibilities. You are never your own boss; others always demand your time for something. So why do people want to be like you Christian? Because the secret of God is with you, the ones made righteous in His Son Jesus Christ. You have true peace in life. True contentment with who you are in Christ. A willingness to share your joy with anyone. A crooked or froward person is an abomination to God. In other words, they make Him sick. But in you Christian lays the truth. Jesus Christ.
The Word Walking In Me
As you go through your day remember people are watching you. They are looking at who Christ really is in your life. They want a real friend. They want real happiness and joy. If they see it in you, they might want to come to know your Saviour. BE HAPPY!
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February 5th
Proverbs 3:33-35
The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just. Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly. The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.
Outlook
from the In Book
Whenever I go into jails to minister, it simply amazes me how many innocent people are there. When talking with them about what happened, it’s almost always someone else’s fault. They were framed, tricked, not even there at all, or someone is lying about the whole thing. Rarely do you run up on someone that simply says, “I did it.” No excuses, no alibis, just guilty. But the truth is, almost every single one of them are there because they deserve to be there. Even though some might be innocent of the crimes they are being charged with, they are there because of the company they have kept, the places they went, the things they did, and the lifestyle they led. They have been promoted to shame. This is not always true. There are some that are completely innocent. But in comparison that number is few. Why does this happen? Why is it that they wind up in trouble with the law or in a lot of cases in trouble with life itself? Many times it is because they have turned their backs on the wisdom of Gods Word. They have rejected the knowledge written in the pages or even worse, never read the advice that is contained in it. People want to be independent and make it on their own. But we cannot. God created us to be dependent. Dependent on Him first of all. For its God that provides us with all things. Dependent on one another also. This is the purpose for which He created the church. That we might exhort one another, or lift each other up. But the promotion of the lost is shame. WOW, what a promotion.
The Word Walking In Me
God has so much more for you. His desire is to supply all your needs. Turn to Him and His Word. Let Him come in and bless you above all that you could ever imagine.
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February 6th
Proverbs 4:1-4
Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.
Outlook from the In
Book
“Someday son you’ll see I’m right.” Or “When will you learn that when I tell you something I know what I’m talking about?” These words that have rung in my ears for years. My dad would tell me something and I would for some silly reason believe my way was better. Guess what? It wasn’t! Proverbs 4:1 says “Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father.” The word instruction here in Hebrew carried the meaning of discipline. So it could say the discipline of your father. So what did you just think of when you read the word discipline? I know I think of getting a spanking. That’s one form of discipline my dad used when I would not obey. But that is a discipline I received for discipline I would not obey. You see the word discipline also carries the meaning of controlled behavior. The father is telling the son here using one word, you choose which it will be? If you will hear of the disciplines that your father has learned by years of practice and apply them as directed you can avoid the disciplines that come as a result of disobedience. That is exactly what life is. Learning to live with the disciplines. In fact, that is what Jesus was doing while here on this earth. Teaching the disciplines of life to the disciples. If they would learn and adhere to them, life was good. If they went about their own way, they had to suffer the consequence. When God created this earth and all that is on it, it was in order, disciplined. And He said, “And it is Good”
The Word Walking In Me
How many times do you have to bump your head on something before you learn to duck? How many times must we see God’s ways are best before we will obey? If we do His will.. “It is good”.
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February 7th
Proverbs 3:5-8
Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.
Outlook
from the In Book
Some of the wise things my dad told me when I was younger was that “nothing in the world is free.” “If you want something you have to work for it.” “Anything worth having is worth working for.” Buried in my father’s logic is what Solomon was saying in these proverbs. Wisdom is the most important thing you can have. So get wisdom. How do you get wisdom? Well, it does not say find wisdom. It says get wisdom. There is an action on our part. Reading the book of Proverbs will not give you wisdom. It gives you words of wisdom to live by, but you still have to put action to the words. If you carry a Bible everywhere you go, but do not apply the principals in it to your life, it cannot help you. When you learn a principle that is knowledge. That is what people often refer to as book smarts. You have it in your head, but you never used it. Wisdom is taking the knowledge and applying it to everyday life. As you do so you begin to understand how all of that works together. But first you must purpose in your heart that you are going to apply knowledge received from God. Once you see that God’s ways are the best ways, you will never want to let them go. You’ll embrace them for eternity.
The Word Walking In Me
You might start by asking God the same
thing David did in Psalms 119:18
“Open thou mine eyes,
that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.”
God is the teacher of all wisdom through
the power and the presence of the Holy Spirit. Ask for wisdom. The Bible
says we have not because we ask not. Lets ask for it today. .
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February 8th
Proverbs 4:9-11
She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee. Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many. I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.
Outlook
from the In Book
Let’s just pretend a little today. First, pretend you own a company. You are getting ready to hire a new Forman to oversee the operations so you can take more time to manage the affairs of your business. Two qualified people are waiting in your office to be interviewed. Both of them work for you now and so before you interview them you go out in the shop and ask their co-workers about them. You start hearing things like Mr. One is a goody two shoes. He’s one of those guys who won’t take a minute extra for break unless there is a meeting or something and always runs to the boss if there is a problem. Mr. Two is more like the rest of us. Works hard and gets his job done. Flexible with his time but still gets the job done. Mr. One is not hated by anyone, but he is not anyone’s best friend. He’s just a guy who does his job and goes home. He will never go to the parties after work because his wife seems to have him tied around her finger. He says he needs to spend time with her instead of us. Mr. Two is also known as Mr. Popularity. Especially after work when everyone goes out to party. He’s really a lot of fun, usually the life of the party, funny and the last one to leave. OK, you are headed back to your office. Without any other information who is rewarded the position of Forman? Most people say Mr. One. Why? He is honest, dependable, and loyal to those he loves. Living for Jesus and applying the wisdom in His word will also be rewarding here and throughout eternity.
The Word Walking In Me
Doing what’s right may seem boring in the world’s eyes. But the truth is, people are looking for dependable, honest, loyal people. No one wants a friend who’s a liar, unreliable, and unstable.
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