Time to think back to your younger days. Remember when dad said "this is gonna hurt me more than it will you"? Then He would proceed to tear your hind end up? Now that I am a parent I can appreciate those words much more!!! I believe God is the same way. I don't think God enjoys correcting us through punishment but it shows the love He has for us...read thses verses:
Proverbs 3:11-12
11 My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD,
Nor detest His correction;
12 For whom the LORD loves He corrects,
Just as a father the son in whom he delights.
The problem with these verses for me is to determine if I am being chastised by the Lord or if Satan is testing me. I know though that if I am in sin I will be corrected. I also believe sin has consequences that can be seen as correction from the Lord. Verse 11 tells us not to get mad because God is correcting us. Have you even been corrected by God and gotten mad? I have and this is wrong. Just like when dad used to spank me I would get mad at him...why? I was the one who did wrong and deserved what I got and I learned from my mistakes. This is the same with God, He punishes because He wants us to learn and to be honest if we are not punished we are usually hard headed and will do it again!
Verse 12 tells why God corrects and I want you to be sure to catch this...because He LOVES us! Just as we delight in our own children and we correct them because we love them God does the same with us. So my friend if God's hand seems to be hard on you right now, examine your life and see if their is sin that needs to be corrected and repented of in your life. For God corrects those whom He loves!
Thank you Jesus for guidence in my life...even if it hurts for a time I want to do your will in my life. Do whatever is neded to keep me in a right relationship with you! I desire to follow you in all things.
Tom
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Give!!!
We were talking in Sunday school this past week about how blessed we are and how we take it for granted. Something we should never do. This verse today is a key verse for our lives and the blessings God gives us:
Proverbs 3:9-10
9 Honor the LORD with your possessions,
And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
10 So your barns will be filled with plenty,
And your vats will overflow with new wine.
Here is the question for today. Do you honor God with your possesions? I am talking of many things not just money. For example.....time, televisions, music, children, computer, Bible and the list can go on and on. To me when I put this verse in this context it brings many things into play. It makes me realize I have work to do. I honor God with somethings but not with others and this is wrong! Verse 9 also says with the firstfruits of your increase. This to us tody would mainly be our money...do you give a portion to God of what He has blessed you with? This is clearly taught in scripture. Let me give you another example of what this verse could apply to....your garden. Do you share with the needy what God has blessed you with in your garden? Wow what an awesome testimony that could be.
God is so good to us He promises us that if we are faithful with what He has given us He will continue to bless us abundantly and that is what verse 10 is telling us. All we have to do is look at our lives...it is said that if you have a roof over your head, food on the table, and clothes on your back you are in the top 4% of the richest people in the world!
Let's make sure we give where we are instucted to give!
I have more than I could ever ask for God...Thank you Jesus!
Tom
Proverbs 3:9-10
9 Honor the LORD with your possessions,
And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
10 So your barns will be filled with plenty,
And your vats will overflow with new wine.
Here is the question for today. Do you honor God with your possesions? I am talking of many things not just money. For example.....time, televisions, music, children, computer, Bible and the list can go on and on. To me when I put this verse in this context it brings many things into play. It makes me realize I have work to do. I honor God with somethings but not with others and this is wrong! Verse 9 also says with the firstfruits of your increase. This to us tody would mainly be our money...do you give a portion to God of what He has blessed you with? This is clearly taught in scripture. Let me give you another example of what this verse could apply to....your garden. Do you share with the needy what God has blessed you with in your garden? Wow what an awesome testimony that could be.
God is so good to us He promises us that if we are faithful with what He has given us He will continue to bless us abundantly and that is what verse 10 is telling us. All we have to do is look at our lives...it is said that if you have a roof over your head, food on the table, and clothes on your back you are in the top 4% of the richest people in the world!
Let's make sure we give where we are instucted to give!
I have more than I could ever ask for God...Thank you Jesus!
Tom
Monday, April 12, 2010
Find favor with God
Read these verses carefully:
Proverbs 3:3-4
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart,
4 And so find favor and high esteem
In the sight of God and man.
Do you want to have favor with God? You can if we obey what the scriptures teach here. Verse 3 starts out by saying that we do not need to forsake mercy and truth. God is so merciful with us and He expects us to show mercy to others. So ask yourself...do I show mercy to others?? Even when they don't deserve it? God gives us mercy when we don't deserve it and He sets the example for us. Next this verse tells us not to forsake truth. Jesus is truth. It is very hard to be truthfull all the time but it is expected of us. So no matter what...even if it hurts tell the truth. This also applies to bussiness deals or being honest. God is always watching be truthful in everything you do! This verse goes on to tell us that these characteristics are so important we should bind them around our neck and write them on our hearts as reminders so we do not forget.
Now look at the promises from God when we obey verse 3....We will find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man! Now I am not to worried with how man views me but I sure am concerned with how God sees me and I want favor and high esteem from God and He tells me here I can have both by being truthful and showing mercy. Wow God is so good to us.
So how are you doing in these two areas??? They are not easy but God desires them in our life so let us do all we can to please God!
Tom
Proverbs 3:3-4
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart,
4 And so find favor and high esteem
In the sight of God and man.
Do you want to have favor with God? You can if we obey what the scriptures teach here. Verse 3 starts out by saying that we do not need to forsake mercy and truth. God is so merciful with us and He expects us to show mercy to others. So ask yourself...do I show mercy to others?? Even when they don't deserve it? God gives us mercy when we don't deserve it and He sets the example for us. Next this verse tells us not to forsake truth. Jesus is truth. It is very hard to be truthfull all the time but it is expected of us. So no matter what...even if it hurts tell the truth. This also applies to bussiness deals or being honest. God is always watching be truthful in everything you do! This verse goes on to tell us that these characteristics are so important we should bind them around our neck and write them on our hearts as reminders so we do not forget.
Now look at the promises from God when we obey verse 3....We will find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man! Now I am not to worried with how man views me but I sure am concerned with how God sees me and I want favor and high esteem from God and He tells me here I can have both by being truthful and showing mercy. Wow God is so good to us.
So how are you doing in these two areas??? They are not easy but God desires them in our life so let us do all we can to please God!
Tom
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Peace and long life!
For Wednesday.
Ahhhh what a great promise below:
Proverbs 3:1-2
1 My son, do not forget my law,
But let your heart keep my commands;
2 For length of days and long life
And peace they will add to you.
I talk often of the importance of studying God's word and then obeying it. Look again at what will happen for those who follow and keep the Word of God. Did you see it? First in verse 2 God says we will have long life. That is very interesting to me that we are promised long life if we uphold His Word. Could it be many die at a young age because they are not keeping God's Word? To be honest I have never really even thought of this. Then the second promise we see is peace will be added to you. I found out that having a relationship with Jesus has brought peace beyond my understanding but here I see that keeping God's Word will add even more peace to my life!! I don't know about you but I will take all I can get!
What more can we ask for...long life and peace. We can have both if we keep and study God's Word. God is so good to us!
Tom
Ahhhh what a great promise below:
Proverbs 3:1-2
1 My son, do not forget my law,
But let your heart keep my commands;
2 For length of days and long life
And peace they will add to you.
I talk often of the importance of studying God's word and then obeying it. Look again at what will happen for those who follow and keep the Word of God. Did you see it? First in verse 2 God says we will have long life. That is very interesting to me that we are promised long life if we uphold His Word. Could it be many die at a young age because they are not keeping God's Word? To be honest I have never really even thought of this. Then the second promise we see is peace will be added to you. I found out that having a relationship with Jesus has brought peace beyond my understanding but here I see that keeping God's Word will add even more peace to my life!! I don't know about you but I will take all I can get!
What more can we ask for...long life and peace. We can have both if we keep and study God's Word. God is so good to us!
Tom
Monday, April 5, 2010
Think you are smart?
For Tuesday!
Check this verse out:
Proverbs 1:7
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
This verse tells us the answer to life. Take a moment to really soak it in. In the game of life their are many who think they have it all figured out. Fame, fortune, good looks, lots of women or lots of men depending if you are male or female, big house, fast cars, big fancy degree, and the list goes on and on. These folks who have these things in many cases think they are pretty smart and have gone a long way in life. Now let me be clear that one can obtain many of these in the right manner minus the lots of the opposite sex but in most cases when these are obtained it is for purely selfish reasons not to become closer to God. Look to where God says we are to start in gaining knowledge...by fearing the Lord! You know if every man and woman would do that this world would be so much different. This verse goes on to say that fools dispise wisdom and instruction. This could be applied many ways but I believe it is refering to the wisom and instruction that comes from God's Word. It is sad to say that the majority of Christains have not read the entire Bible let alone the unbelieving world. So how can we obtain all the knowledge God has for us if we are not reading His instuction Book? You're right if you said we can't!
So let me ask you again...do you think you are smart? If you are not in God's word, you are not as smart as you could be!!! And for those that don't read the Bible....they are what the Bible calls fools! If you don't believe me read the verse above again.
God bless and open that Bible!!
Tom
Check this verse out:
Proverbs 1:7
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
This verse tells us the answer to life. Take a moment to really soak it in. In the game of life their are many who think they have it all figured out. Fame, fortune, good looks, lots of women or lots of men depending if you are male or female, big house, fast cars, big fancy degree, and the list goes on and on. These folks who have these things in many cases think they are pretty smart and have gone a long way in life. Now let me be clear that one can obtain many of these in the right manner minus the lots of the opposite sex but in most cases when these are obtained it is for purely selfish reasons not to become closer to God. Look to where God says we are to start in gaining knowledge...by fearing the Lord! You know if every man and woman would do that this world would be so much different. This verse goes on to say that fools dispise wisdom and instruction. This could be applied many ways but I believe it is refering to the wisom and instruction that comes from God's Word. It is sad to say that the majority of Christains have not read the entire Bible let alone the unbelieving world. So how can we obtain all the knowledge God has for us if we are not reading His instuction Book? You're right if you said we can't!
So let me ask you again...do you think you are smart? If you are not in God's word, you are not as smart as you could be!!! And for those that don't read the Bible....they are what the Bible calls fools! If you don't believe me read the verse above again.
God bless and open that Bible!!
Tom
I'd rather be poor.
Here is our verse for today:
Proverbs 28:6
6 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
This verse pretty well sums up how our attitude should be. Whatever we have to do in life to have the standards that God teaches us in his word we need to do. Thias verse makes it very clear that we would be better off in life poor but have good character and be an honest person that to have great riches and be perverted in our ways! Think about this for a moment. Money in it's self is not evil but God warns in His Word that it is very difficult to have a great amount of money and live a godly life because of all the temptations that comes with having great riches. Think of all the rich folks who fall hard into sin that you see on the news, they gave into the temptations that came with their great riches. Now there are some who can handle having money and use their money to glorify God with it and help others. But they are few and far between and I think we see that as God felt it important enough to include this proverb in His Word!
So if you don't have a large amount of money you may want to think of it as a blessing because it keeps you away from many temptaions. But you also need to ask yourself how you are walking? For even a poor man can have little integrity if he is not walking with the Lord.
Even though I am not rich in money, I am rich in blessings and I praise the Lord for that! I have way more than I deserve. From what I have seen of riches, I would rather have my faith and be poor that to have riches and be lost and no relationship with God.
Have a great Monday!
Tom
Proverbs 28:6
6 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
This verse pretty well sums up how our attitude should be. Whatever we have to do in life to have the standards that God teaches us in his word we need to do. Thias verse makes it very clear that we would be better off in life poor but have good character and be an honest person that to have great riches and be perverted in our ways! Think about this for a moment. Money in it's self is not evil but God warns in His Word that it is very difficult to have a great amount of money and live a godly life because of all the temptations that comes with having great riches. Think of all the rich folks who fall hard into sin that you see on the news, they gave into the temptations that came with their great riches. Now there are some who can handle having money and use their money to glorify God with it and help others. But they are few and far between and I think we see that as God felt it important enough to include this proverb in His Word!
So if you don't have a large amount of money you may want to think of it as a blessing because it keeps you away from many temptaions. But you also need to ask yourself how you are walking? For even a poor man can have little integrity if he is not walking with the Lord.
Even though I am not rich in money, I am rich in blessings and I praise the Lord for that! I have way more than I deserve. From what I have seen of riches, I would rather have my faith and be poor that to have riches and be lost and no relationship with God.
Have a great Monday!
Tom
Friday, April 2, 2010
Good Friday
Many of us are off from work and school today. We look at it as a vaction day which it is but I want to remind you of what this day is all about for the Christian. Read these verses below:
Matthew 27:45-54
45 Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”[a]
47 Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, “This Man is calling for Elijah!” 48 Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink.
49 The rest said, “Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to save Him.”
50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.
51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, 52 and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.
54 So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!”
It seems to me that the Easter weekend doesn't seem to have the punch it should have on people. Sunday churches will be packed as many come out for their once a year church visit. Which I have never understood. God wants us to be faithful all year long. To me the whole weekend should be emphasised and talked about and full of worship. While Christmas is very important for us as we celebrate the birth if Jesus, Easter should be just as important if not even more for the believer for if Jesus death, burial and resurrection did not happen we do not have an eternity in heaven. Think about that for a moment.
So I hope over this Easter weekend each day we think about what Christ went through for sinners such as us. We are so unworthy but He loves us so much He endured the beatings, the mockings, being spit on, His neard being pulled out, and death on the cross for me and for you.
Thank you Jesus....words can not express our gratitude.
Tom
Matthew 27:45-54
45 Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”[a]
47 Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, “This Man is calling for Elijah!” 48 Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink.
49 The rest said, “Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to save Him.”
50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.
51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, 52 and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.
54 So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!”
It seems to me that the Easter weekend doesn't seem to have the punch it should have on people. Sunday churches will be packed as many come out for their once a year church visit. Which I have never understood. God wants us to be faithful all year long. To me the whole weekend should be emphasised and talked about and full of worship. While Christmas is very important for us as we celebrate the birth if Jesus, Easter should be just as important if not even more for the believer for if Jesus death, burial and resurrection did not happen we do not have an eternity in heaven. Think about that for a moment.
So I hope over this Easter weekend each day we think about what Christ went through for sinners such as us. We are so unworthy but He loves us so much He endured the beatings, the mockings, being spit on, His neard being pulled out, and death on the cross for me and for you.
Thank you Jesus....words can not express our gratitude.
Tom
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