Proverbs 28:14
14 Happy is the man who is always reverent,
But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
First let us define reverent: a feeling or attitude of deep respect tinged with awe;
So how do we find happiness? It all boils down to our attitude toward God. When we have God in the proper place in our life, which is number one on our list, we will be happy. How can I say that? Won't we still have problems? Yes we will but when our lives are so in tune with God and our eyes are on heaven our problems will be insignificant. When I look at the problems in my life and then I see what God has done for me in sending His Son to die on the cross for my sins it automatically brings me to happiness and I praise my awesome God! Now on the other hand if we turn from God and not not hold him in the proper place out hearts become hard and our problems seem much worse because we do not have the peace that only God can give.
So are you happy? You can be if your trust is in Christ!
Tom
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Confess!!!
A straight forward, practical verse from God's Word this morning.
Proverbs 28:13
13 He who covers his sins will not prosper,
But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.
Why is sin so hard to confess? Is it shame, is it pride, is it we like the sin or what? God makes it clear that if we try to cover our sin and choose not to confess it we will have problems. Many years ago a friend explained it to me like this: For a christian when we sin it is like placing the first brick in a wall between you and God. The more you sin and don't confess it the more bricks you put in the wall between you and God. Soon you have a wall between you and God and your relationship suffers because of it. BUT if you confess your sin to God, the wall is knocked down and your relationship is back to where it needs to be...fresh! Look at this verse:
1 John 1:9
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
That pretty well says what the little story says that i just told doesn't it? I am so thankful for the mercy God gives us as told in proverbs 28:13. So this morning we may need to spend some time on our faces before God getting ourselves confessed up before the Almighty God. He desires humble people and when we confess our sins to Him, it is a sure sign of humility in our lives!
Tom
Proverbs 28:13
13 He who covers his sins will not prosper,
But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.
Why is sin so hard to confess? Is it shame, is it pride, is it we like the sin or what? God makes it clear that if we try to cover our sin and choose not to confess it we will have problems. Many years ago a friend explained it to me like this: For a christian when we sin it is like placing the first brick in a wall between you and God. The more you sin and don't confess it the more bricks you put in the wall between you and God. Soon you have a wall between you and God and your relationship suffers because of it. BUT if you confess your sin to God, the wall is knocked down and your relationship is back to where it needs to be...fresh! Look at this verse:
1 John 1:9
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
That pretty well says what the little story says that i just told doesn't it? I am so thankful for the mercy God gives us as told in proverbs 28:13. So this morning we may need to spend some time on our faces before God getting ourselves confessed up before the Almighty God. He desires humble people and when we confess our sins to Him, it is a sure sign of humility in our lives!
Tom
Monday, February 7, 2011
Better be in God's Word!
Great verse to remind us how important God's Word is to us!
Proverbs 28:9
9 One who turns away his ear from hearing the law,
Even his prayer is an abomination.
There are two ways one can turn his ear away from the (law) God's Word. The first is the most obvious. Intentionally staying away from the Bible because you do not believe the Bible is God's Word. So that person has no desire to follow God in the first place. You would be surprised though at how many will still lift their petitions to God but He is not listening to anything from them until they cry out for salvation. The second way folks turn away from hearing God's word is less obvious but is happening quit often. This is when those who call themselves Christians but they do not read their Bibles and thus have very little knowledge at what God's Word says. Sadly the church has many of these folks who fill the pews. When we are not reading God's Word we are turning our ear from the hearing of the law! We are missing out on the main way God speaks to us! Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible and the whole thing is about the importance of God's Word....coincidence? I think not. I believe without reservation if we don't have enough time or feel it is important enough to read and study God's Word than God doesn't feel our prayers to Him are important either. Reread this verse! What do you think?
This devotion should give you something to think about on this Monday! God bless and pick up that Bible!
Tom
Proverbs 28:9
9 One who turns away his ear from hearing the law,
Even his prayer is an abomination.
There are two ways one can turn his ear away from the (law) God's Word. The first is the most obvious. Intentionally staying away from the Bible because you do not believe the Bible is God's Word. So that person has no desire to follow God in the first place. You would be surprised though at how many will still lift their petitions to God but He is not listening to anything from them until they cry out for salvation. The second way folks turn away from hearing God's word is less obvious but is happening quit often. This is when those who call themselves Christians but they do not read their Bibles and thus have very little knowledge at what God's Word says. Sadly the church has many of these folks who fill the pews. When we are not reading God's Word we are turning our ear from the hearing of the law! We are missing out on the main way God speaks to us! Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible and the whole thing is about the importance of God's Word....coincidence? I think not. I believe without reservation if we don't have enough time or feel it is important enough to read and study God's Word than God doesn't feel our prayers to Him are important either. Reread this verse! What do you think?
This devotion should give you something to think about on this Monday! God bless and pick up that Bible!
Tom
Friday, February 4, 2011
Understanding justice.
May God speak to our hearts this morning.
Proverbs 28:5
5 Evil men do not understand justice,
But those who seek the LORD understand all.
To really understand this verse we need to make sure we understand the meaning of justice...so here is the definition from the dictionary:
jus·tice
1. the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness
It becomes very obvious that evil men do not understand justice when we know the meaning. Evil men are not just. They have no righteousness in them. Equitableness can be defined as fairness. Evil folks are not concerned with being fair. Of course if they have thrown all these other qualities to the side we know evil people have no moral rightness.
Now on the other hand before we get to feeling to good about ourselves we are are followers of Christ, let me remind you we are all evil until we accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We do not become just, righteous, fair, and moral by our own doing, it is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. When we seek the Lord with all our hearts, mind, body and strength we understand justice.
So do you understand justice this morning? If you are seeking God you can!
Tom
Proverbs 28:5
5 Evil men do not understand justice,
But those who seek the LORD understand all.
To really understand this verse we need to make sure we understand the meaning of justice...so here is the definition from the dictionary:
jus·tice
1. the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness
It becomes very obvious that evil men do not understand justice when we know the meaning. Evil men are not just. They have no righteousness in them. Equitableness can be defined as fairness. Evil folks are not concerned with being fair. Of course if they have thrown all these other qualities to the side we know evil people have no moral rightness.
Now on the other hand before we get to feeling to good about ourselves we are are followers of Christ, let me remind you we are all evil until we accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We do not become just, righteous, fair, and moral by our own doing, it is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. When we seek the Lord with all our hearts, mind, body and strength we understand justice.
So do you understand justice this morning? If you are seeking God you can!
Tom
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Are you a Lion?
Please read the verse below:
Proverbs 28:1
1 The wicked flee when no one pursues,
But the righteous are bold as a lion.
When one is wicked they must always be looking behind their back for those who are seeking revenge. So in a sense they are always running and scared even if at the time no one pursues them. However when one is in the Lord and made righteous by shed blood of Jesus Christ they have no one to fear. He can stand strong in the arms of Christ no matter what life may bring.
God tells us what he brings into our life in this verse:
2 Timothy 1:7
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Fear is not of God but of the devil. Through the Holy Spirit God has given us power to stand strong, love to care for others, and a sound mind to make good decisions that HE will be pleased with! Praise God this morning!!!
So this morning are you a Lion in Christ or a mouse in the devil?
Tom
Proverbs 28:1
1 The wicked flee when no one pursues,
But the righteous are bold as a lion.
When one is wicked they must always be looking behind their back for those who are seeking revenge. So in a sense they are always running and scared even if at the time no one pursues them. However when one is in the Lord and made righteous by shed blood of Jesus Christ they have no one to fear. He can stand strong in the arms of Christ no matter what life may bring.
God tells us what he brings into our life in this verse:
2 Timothy 1:7
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Fear is not of God but of the devil. Through the Holy Spirit God has given us power to stand strong, love to care for others, and a sound mind to make good decisions that HE will be pleased with! Praise God this morning!!!
So this morning are you a Lion in Christ or a mouse in the devil?
Tom
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Ministry!
Great verse for the people of God this morning.
Proverbs 27:23
23 Be diligent to know the state of your flocks,
And attend to your herds;
We all know that our pastors, deacons, elders, ministers, ect., are to minister to the church. BUT what I want us to see this morning us is that it is not just their job! My Pastor Mark Warren reminds us often that we are all ministers of God if we have put our faith in Jesus Christ. Have you ever wondered why pastors get burnt out? Many times it is because the church puts all the burden of the flock on their shoulders. That is not biblical. While the pastor and leaders do have responsibilities in taking care of the flock, it is the entire churches responsibility to know our brothers and sisters in Christ and to take care of them. The pastor is to train us to do this. So this morning do you know your brothers and sisters in your church and where needs are? Are you helping in meeting those needs? You are a part of the body of Christ and if one part of the body suffers we all suffer and on the other hand if one part of the body is rejoicing we all should be rejoicing!
Take some time to think on this this morning and then act accordingly!
Tom
Proverbs 27:23
23 Be diligent to know the state of your flocks,
And attend to your herds;
We all know that our pastors, deacons, elders, ministers, ect., are to minister to the church. BUT what I want us to see this morning us is that it is not just their job! My Pastor Mark Warren reminds us often that we are all ministers of God if we have put our faith in Jesus Christ. Have you ever wondered why pastors get burnt out? Many times it is because the church puts all the burden of the flock on their shoulders. That is not biblical. While the pastor and leaders do have responsibilities in taking care of the flock, it is the entire churches responsibility to know our brothers and sisters in Christ and to take care of them. The pastor is to train us to do this. So this morning do you know your brothers and sisters in your church and where needs are? Are you helping in meeting those needs? You are a part of the body of Christ and if one part of the body suffers we all suffer and on the other hand if one part of the body is rejoicing we all should be rejoicing!
Take some time to think on this this morning and then act accordingly!
Tom
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Where do you find satisfaction?
God's Word is tough some times. I am glad God loves us enough to warn us of where we may go astray! Here is today's verse:
Proverbs 27:20
20 Hell and Destruction are never full;
So the eyes of man are never satisfied.
Hell has plenty of room. Destruction always wants more of us to fall to him as prey. We choose to fall into the hands of Hell and Destruction! Why? Because our eyes are never satisfied. We want more and more and more. Just look around your house. How much do you have that you don't really need? We fall into adultery because of our fleshly lusts. We get ourselves into massive debt problems because we buy what we can't afford and the list goes on and on. Look what Paul said:
Philippians 4:11
11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:
Why was Paul content in every situation because his faith was placed in Jesus!
In life only One will completely satisfy and that is Jesus Christ. We have a void in our life that can only be filled by Him. He also offers a free gift...eternity in heaven! All we have to do is give our hearts and lives to Him.
Do you want satisfaction this morning...it is only found in Christ!
Tom
Proverbs 27:20
20 Hell and Destruction are never full;
So the eyes of man are never satisfied.
Hell has plenty of room. Destruction always wants more of us to fall to him as prey. We choose to fall into the hands of Hell and Destruction! Why? Because our eyes are never satisfied. We want more and more and more. Just look around your house. How much do you have that you don't really need? We fall into adultery because of our fleshly lusts. We get ourselves into massive debt problems because we buy what we can't afford and the list goes on and on. Look what Paul said:
Philippians 4:11
11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:
Why was Paul content in every situation because his faith was placed in Jesus!
In life only One will completely satisfy and that is Jesus Christ. We have a void in our life that can only be filled by Him. He also offers a free gift...eternity in heaven! All we have to do is give our hearts and lives to Him.
Do you want satisfaction this morning...it is only found in Christ!
Tom
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