Proverbs 04:23-27 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: November 4, 2011 in trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
0

Under Gods Command

Proverbs 4:23-27 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the well spring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth; Keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; Keep your foot from evil.

Our heart, our feelings of love and desire-dictates to a great extent how we live because we always find time to do what we enjoy. Solomon tells us to guard our heart above all else, making sure we concentrate on those desires that will keep us on the right path. Make sure your affections push you in the right direction. Put boundaries on your desires: don’t go after everything you see. Look straight ahead, keep your eyes fixed on your goal, and don’t get sidetracked on detours that lead to sin.

Spiritual Training 04 November 2011

Posted: November 4, 2011 in The book of John, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
0

Under Gods Command
The Pharisees (Religious Leaders) are still questioning the blind man.

John 9:28-34 Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.” The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will. Nobody has heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from, he could do nothing.”
To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us” And they threw him out.

The man’s new faith was severely tested by some of the authorities. He was cursed and evicted from the synagogue. Persecution may come when you follow Jesus. You may lose friends; you may even lose your life. But no one can ever take away the eternal life that Jesus gives you.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; (6) in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.

Spiritual Training 03 November 2011

Posted: November 3, 2011 in Bible Study, The book of John, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
0

Under Gods Command

John 9:24-27 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God, they said. “We know this man is a sinner.” He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?”Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses!

By now the man who had been blind had heard the same questions over and over. He did not know how or why he was healed, but he knew that his life had been miraculously changed and he was not afraid to tell the truth. You don’t need to know all the answers in order to share Christ with others. It is important to tell them how he has changed your life. Then trust that God will use your words to help others believe in him too. Everyone has a story, use your story to bring others to Christ.

Proverbs 3:21 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: November 3, 2011 in trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
0

Gods Command

Proverbs 3:21
 My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight.

What is the difference between sound judgment and discernment? Discernment (or discretion) is the ability God gives to many people to think and make correct choices. Sound judgment, however, he gives only to those who follow him. Sound judgment includes discernment, but goes beyond it. It also includes the knowledge that comes from instruction, training, and discipline, and the insight that results from knowing and applying God’s truths.

Proverbs 2:1-6 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: November 2, 2011 in trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command, valid criticism
0

Under Gods Command

Proverbs 2:1-6 – My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and it you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Wisdom comes in two ways: It is a God-given gift and also the result of an energetic search. Wisdom’s starting point is God and his revealed Word, the source of “knowledge and understanding” In that sense wisdom is God’s gift to us. But he gives it only to those who earnestly seek it. But because God’s wisdom is hidden from the rebellious and foolish, it takes effort to find it and use it. The pathway to wisdom is strenuous. When we are on the path, we discover that true wisdom is God’s and that he will guide us and reward our sincere and persistent search.

Spiritual Training 02 November 2011

Posted: November 2, 2011 in Bible Study, The book of John, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
0

Under Gods Command

John 9:13-17 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. Now the day which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes, “the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others asked, “How can a sinner do such miraculous signs?” So they were divided. Finally they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” The man replied, “He is a prophet”

While the Pharisees conducted investigations and debated about Jesus, people were being healed and lives were being changed. The Pharisees skepticism was based not on insufficient evidence, but on jealousy of Jesus popularity and his influence on the people.

The Pharisees had made a long list of specific do’s and don’ts regarding the Sabbath. Kneading the clay and healing the man were considered work and therefore were forbidden. Jesus may have purposely made the clay in order to emphasize his teaching about the Sabbath that it is right to care for others needs even if it involves working on a day of rest.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; (6) in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 1:22 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: November 1, 2011 in Bible Study, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
0

Under Gods Command

Proverbs 1:22
How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?

In the book of Proverbs, a “simple one” or a fool is not someone with a mental deficiency but someone with a character deficiency (such as rebellion, laziness, or anger). The fool is not stupid, but he or she is unable to tell right from wrong or good from bad.

Spiritual Training 01 November 2011

Posted: November 1, 2011 in Bible Study, The book of John, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
0

Under Gods Command

John 9:6-7 Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. “Go,” he told him, “wash in the pool of Siloam” (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed and came home seeing.

When Jesus spit on the ground and made mud in order to repair the man’s eyes, he was working with original materials. Genesis 2:7 states that God formed Adam’s body from the dust of the ground. Jesus was demonstrating a creator’s awareness of the materials he first used to shape the human body.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; (6) in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 31:4-7 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: October 30, 2011 in Bible Study, The book of John, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized
0

Under Gods Command

Proverbs 31:4-7 It is not for Kings, O Lemuel-not for Kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer, lest they drink and forget what the law decrees, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights. Give beer to those who are perishing, wine to those who are in anguish; let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.

Drunkenness might be understandable among dying people in great pain, but it is inexcusable for national leaders. Alcohol clouds the mind and can lead to injustice and poor decisions. Leaders have better things to do than destroy themselves with alcohol.

We are told that every day in Washington there are many cocktail parties for our government officials. Republicans and Democrats both have this in common-the party membership doesn’t make any difference. It is tragic to have drinking men in high potions of government!

Spritual Training 31 October 2011

Posted: October 30, 2011 in trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
0

Under Gods Command

John 9:1-3 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.

A common belief in Jewish culture was that misfortune or suffering was the result of some great sin. But Christ used this man’s suffering to teach about faith and to glorify God. We live in a fallen world where good behavior is not always rewarded and bad behavior not always punished. Therefore, innocent people sometimes suffer. If God took suffering away whenever we asked, we would follow him for comfort and convenience, not out of love and devotion. Regardless of the reasons for our suffering, Jesus has the power to help us deal with it. When you suffer from a disease, tragedy, or disability, try not to ask, “Why did this happen to me?” What did I do wrong?” Instead ask God to give you strength for the trial and a clear perspective on what is happening.

Older Entries
Newer Entries