Study before you speak???

This verse should make us stop and think for a moment about what comes out of our mouths!

Proverbs 15:28

28 The heart of the righteous studies how to answer,
But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.


Wow! God tells us here before we answer folks we should be studying on how we are to answer. This may make one ask...study what??? The Word of God of course! In life folks will ask you all kinds of questions. God's Word has the answer for every question one will ever be asked. This is again why we MUST be in God's Word. If I had to give one word to give on how to answer people it would be love. Jesus always spoke in love to others when they asked Him questions. We should do the same.

Look at the second part of the verse....evil pours out of the mouth who does not study the Word. I see this everyday on the news. This is how sin is promoted....because of our ignorance of what God says we are to do and not to do. From what I see in our nation today, much more evil is coming out of peoples mouth than righteousness...it can change but only by knowing what God's Word says!

So are ya studying? No better time to start than now!

Have a great weekend!

Tom

Is your house in trouble?

Read this verse:

Proverbs 15:27

27 He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house,
But he who hates bribes will live.

I had an interesting thought on this verse as I read it. How many homes are in trouble this morning for the simple reason of greed. When our grandparents were young they would save money until they had enough to buy something. The only thing they would borrow would be maybe for a portion of a home or maybe a portion of a car. Our generation wants everything it took a lifetime to get for our grandparents in three years! Today we borrow or put on a credit card because we are greedy and want everything right now! This mind set has put many homes in trouble. Look at how many foreclosures are taking place. Folks are trying to but things they cannot afford. If they don't have the money then put it on a credit card...which will likely put the nail in the coffin for your debt because of the outrageous interest rates they charge.

The second part of this verse tells us to stay away from bribes. When you really think about it a credit card it is a bribe in a way. They always make it sound so great and promise a low interest rate. BUT if you don't read the fine print you have just been bribed. For the fine print will tell you how the interest rate is only good for 1 year then it goes to so and so. Also if you miss a payment the rate sky rockets.

Folks take guidance from God...don't trouble your house. Save and buy when you have the money. Our nation would do good to learn this! Teach your children this and save them many troubles!

God bless....Tom

You think it is hot now!!!

Wow are we having a heat wave here in Tennessee. Yesterday it was 104 with a heat index of 112 or so. To be honest I do not like this time of year at all. The extreme heat bothers me. I am looking forward to Fall! Thinking abut the heat brought this verse to mind:

Revelation 20:15

15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

What we are facing now with this heat wave will like A/C compared to the heat one will face in hell. The pain and agony one will face for eternity is really indescribable. I bet all of us have burned ourselves before. It hurts and the pain is bad for sometime. Imagine that intense pain for eternity. Not only the pain of burning but add in the loneliness, the emotional pain turning your back on Jesus, and the thought of this will be forever....never ending.

With all that said I do have some good news. It is our choice! We can give our lives to Jesus and follow Him for the rest of our lives and spend eternity in Heaven! For some odd reason I tend to think the temperature will always be just right! No pain. No suffering. No emotional distress. Just the Heavenly Father and those who put their trust in Jesus. Celebrating our love for one another!

So come in out of the heat today....make sure your life is right in Christ!

Tom

What am I thinking?

Proverbs 15:26

26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD,
But the words of the pure are pleasant.

It is important for us to remember that God knows what we are thinking. Wicked people are consistently thinking wicked things that God's word makes it plainly clear He does not like. Some examples are found in this verse:

Galatians 5:19-21

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Why won't people who practice these things inherit heaven? Because God hates sin and we are suppose to turn from sin when we give our lives to Him. Those who are wicked keep their thoughts tuned to these things. How many times have you heard "I cant wait til Friday so I can get drunk!" or something of the sort. Did you see drunkenness on the list? Or what about "me and my girl...yeah Friday night ( who cares she has a husband, they are separated). Did the list contain adultery. Yes it sure did. I could go on and on with examples. Those who follow Christ know sin, we are to do what the second part of the verse says. We are to be pure with our words. To do that we must have pure minds staying focused on godly things.

Philippians 4:8

8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

So this morning where is your mind? It takes work to stay focused on the things of God in this world of ours. Christ will give you the strength to do so if you are willing!

Pray for a pure mind for yourself and you brothers and sisters in Christ.

Tom

Lessons from Ecuador #5

One of the things I noticed in Ecuador was everyone was in a hurry. Where they were in a hurry to get to I don't know. I wish I could explain the driving to you but I can't put in words good enough to get the point to you good enough. Cars, buses, motorcycles all weaving in and out. Blowing the horns. It did not seem like there were any rules. But what I kept asking myself was why are they in such a hurry and where are they going?

All this racing around brought to mind this verse:

2 Timothy 4:7

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Even here in the States we seem to be racing around too. The day always ends with the thought I wish I would have gotten so and so done today...I just didn't have enough time. In reality God has given us just the right amount of time each day to accomplish His Will!! One day in all of our lives, we will come to the end. The rat race will be over. Will we be able to say what Paul says above? Basically Paul is saying I have fought and given my life for you God. My time is up. I have stayed faithful. Honestly take a moment this morning and ask yourself if you can say the same. I know it is Monday and you have a million things to do BUT if they are not what God has planned for you today, you have wasted this day! I wonder how many of the Ecuadorians had serving Christ on their mind as they were buzzing around like a hive of bees? I also wonder how many of us have Christ on our minds and who we can serve through Him each day? God opens many doors each day....will we walk in?

I pray for each of us today that when life is over we can say the same as Paul! "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

Tom

Lessons from Ecuador #4

Look at those faces.

Now read these:

Mark 10:13-16

13 Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” 16 And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.

Children are such a blessing from God. We have a great responsibility to raise them up in the Lord. Read these verses again and ask yourself "Does Jesus think children are important?" What I get from the words of Christ here is we need to do all that is within our power to bring children to Christ. AND when we come to Christ we need to be like children when receiving Christ into our own lives. Vulnerable and trusting in His great love. Then Jesus took the children and gave them big hugs and blessed them. Oh what a day that will be my friends when we are taken up in the arms of Christ. Just dwell on that thought for a moment.

When we were in Ecuador the children are what remains in my mind. The smiles, the hugs, the laughter, and the way they listened to God's Word. They were excited about the smallest things. I pray all of us remember Jesus is the most important not the worldly things that seem to grab our attention. God please help us to reach the children both at home and around the world for this brings you glory!

Tom

Lessons from Ecuador #3

As I have thought about this mission trip one of the biggest lessons that keeps coming to mind is my greed! The people of Ecuador seem so content with what they have. They seem to be happy for the most part. I think about the faces in the crowd in church on Sunday mornings here in the states....so many are unhappy. I think one of the main reasons is we always want more out of life...read this scripture:

Luke 12:16-21

16 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 17 And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ 18 So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’
21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

This is so simple from God this morning. Our life is to revolve around Him. Everything we have is His! Our time, our money, our things, and our lives. We are blind here in America to the blessings God has given us. Even what we consider poor here are rich compared to many of the people of Ecuador.

I asked my translator Paolia to be honest with me and tell me what Ecuadorians think of folks from the United States and she gave me a one word answer..."Rich". You know what compared to the folks there she is right.

So this morning if you are feeling bad about where you are materialistically....be content for you are blessed!

Are you rich toward God???

Tom