Tuesday, November 1, 2011
What the Water Gave Us.
Proverbs 13 and 14.
There are a few themes that flow throughout these two verses, but one area that really spoke out to me and is really prevalent is the talk about homelessness. The Bible addresses this a lot throughout the Bible, and one thing that God wants us to do about the homeless, is to HELP them. I do not know about any of you, but there are times when I am walking by, driving by and I feel the spirit pushing me to give them something. A voice almost takes over your whole body saying, help them, ask them what you can do for them.
Working in LA, I see homeless people everywhere. Many of them have made it a full time job and become lazy human beings just living off the money that people give them.
Proverbs 13:4 says
"Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper and be satisfied."
I am not pointing out only the homeless people, but there are also many people who are in general just do not try in life. They live lazy lives and do not have a drive to work hard. But to my point, there are many people who are homeless because they refuse to work. And they are able to find enough money begging on the street. So many times when I personally pass by homeless people, there are many who I am not pushed to help.
But for the ones that I am pushed to help, I help. I do what I can..whether it means to ask them, or not. And for some of them, they may be lazy human beings and they just live a beggars life because it is easier. But when I help people I make sure to be praying for them the whole time I am there with them. I pray that they use the money, or the food that I buy them in honor of your name. And that they would feel His love, and become a follower of Christ.
I am not writing this to boast in the fact that I help the homeless, it is more because the Bible constantly reminds us to help the poor.
"It is a sin to despise one's neighbors; blessed are those who help the poor."
God tells us to love our neighbor as ourselves. I am over and over blessed enough to have food. I am able to come home to a warm house, I have a car, I have job. There are those who do not have anything that I have, it is important that we share God's love to those who do not have what we have, and help them out. We are all God's people, it is a fact that in heaven we are going to be all worshiping together. People from all over the world, people who were rich, poor, homeless, and people who have a home.
Proverbs 14:31
"Those who oppress the poor insult their makes, but those who help the poor honor him."
if you see a homeless person and you feel the need to help them, HELP THEM. We can all make excuses like I do not have any money, I do not have anything to give them. But they may need someone to talk to, they may need something. The Lord works in crazy ways and we know so little, if you feel the push of the spirit, follow it, do what it says, you never know what could happen.
There have been times when I feel the spirit pushing me, and I do nothing. I regret all those times I do that. Because what happens if you ignore the spirit, you are slowly extinguishing its power in your life. If you feel the urge, act on it, if you like me hear a voice telling you what to do, act on it.
We can live this life for ourselves. But we can also live our life for a greater purpose. We can live it for the Lord.
Another thing that I see living in LA, is empty people. They have all the money that they need, they have the nice car, they wear the expensive jewelry, and buy expensive clothing. They have many friends and people all around them, many live a life in fame. Everything that this world stands for, they have. But they are empty. They are lost beings always looking for something new to fulfill them.
Proverbs 14: 13 says
Laughter can conceal a heavy heart; when the laughter ends, the grief remains."
We can experience highs and lows, yet when the highs end...we are left with our thinking and if you are empty and alone, it will eat one apart.
I very much experienced this feeling recently. Everything I did I would never be alone. I would go to friends houses to get away from facing my thoughts of loneliness. When the laughter ended, the grief remained. But when you abandon your thought on this world, when you stop focusing on the things of this world, and focus on things set above. The love that the Lord has for us, we do not need to be sad, we do not need to feel empty.
We have the Lord standing there with open arms, wanting to love us. We just need to run to him, and he will take away the pain, he will take away the hurt, he will heal us.
I am being healed to this day.
Thank you Lord for loving me, and never leaving me. The times when I turned away from you, the times when I felt strong enough to not need you, you were still there for me. I have abused you and turned away...yet much like the story in the prodigal son, you are there waiting for us to come back to you, you have never stopped loving us.
I love you Lord with all of my heart, and soul.
You are the way to everything good.
You are the way to eternal life.
You are the way to true happiness.
There are a few themes that flow throughout these two verses, but one area that really spoke out to me and is really prevalent is the talk about homelessness. The Bible addresses this a lot throughout the Bible, and one thing that God wants us to do about the homeless, is to HELP them. I do not know about any of you, but there are times when I am walking by, driving by and I feel the spirit pushing me to give them something. A voice almost takes over your whole body saying, help them, ask them what you can do for them.
Working in LA, I see homeless people everywhere. Many of them have made it a full time job and become lazy human beings just living off the money that people give them.
Proverbs 13:4 says
"Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper and be satisfied."
I am not pointing out only the homeless people, but there are also many people who are in general just do not try in life. They live lazy lives and do not have a drive to work hard. But to my point, there are many people who are homeless because they refuse to work. And they are able to find enough money begging on the street. So many times when I personally pass by homeless people, there are many who I am not pushed to help.
But for the ones that I am pushed to help, I help. I do what I can..whether it means to ask them, or not. And for some of them, they may be lazy human beings and they just live a beggars life because it is easier. But when I help people I make sure to be praying for them the whole time I am there with them. I pray that they use the money, or the food that I buy them in honor of your name. And that they would feel His love, and become a follower of Christ.
I am not writing this to boast in the fact that I help the homeless, it is more because the Bible constantly reminds us to help the poor.
"It is a sin to despise one's neighbors; blessed are those who help the poor."
God tells us to love our neighbor as ourselves. I am over and over blessed enough to have food. I am able to come home to a warm house, I have a car, I have job. There are those who do not have anything that I have, it is important that we share God's love to those who do not have what we have, and help them out. We are all God's people, it is a fact that in heaven we are going to be all worshiping together. People from all over the world, people who were rich, poor, homeless, and people who have a home.
Proverbs 14:31
"Those who oppress the poor insult their makes, but those who help the poor honor him."
if you see a homeless person and you feel the need to help them, HELP THEM. We can all make excuses like I do not have any money, I do not have anything to give them. But they may need someone to talk to, they may need something. The Lord works in crazy ways and we know so little, if you feel the push of the spirit, follow it, do what it says, you never know what could happen.
There have been times when I feel the spirit pushing me, and I do nothing. I regret all those times I do that. Because what happens if you ignore the spirit, you are slowly extinguishing its power in your life. If you feel the urge, act on it, if you like me hear a voice telling you what to do, act on it.
We can live this life for ourselves. But we can also live our life for a greater purpose. We can live it for the Lord.
Another thing that I see living in LA, is empty people. They have all the money that they need, they have the nice car, they wear the expensive jewelry, and buy expensive clothing. They have many friends and people all around them, many live a life in fame. Everything that this world stands for, they have. But they are empty. They are lost beings always looking for something new to fulfill them.
Proverbs 14: 13 says
Laughter can conceal a heavy heart; when the laughter ends, the grief remains."
We can experience highs and lows, yet when the highs end...we are left with our thinking and if you are empty and alone, it will eat one apart.
I very much experienced this feeling recently. Everything I did I would never be alone. I would go to friends houses to get away from facing my thoughts of loneliness. When the laughter ended, the grief remained. But when you abandon your thought on this world, when you stop focusing on the things of this world, and focus on things set above. The love that the Lord has for us, we do not need to be sad, we do not need to feel empty.
We have the Lord standing there with open arms, wanting to love us. We just need to run to him, and he will take away the pain, he will take away the hurt, he will heal us.
I am being healed to this day.
Thank you Lord for loving me, and never leaving me. The times when I turned away from you, the times when I felt strong enough to not need you, you were still there for me. I have abused you and turned away...yet much like the story in the prodigal son, you are there waiting for us to come back to you, you have never stopped loving us.
I love you Lord with all of my heart, and soul.
You are the way to everything good.
You are the way to eternal life.
You are the way to true happiness.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
This may be too much for some to read, but I can very much relate to this. I feel like I need to post this.
TW: Eating Disorders // Why you feel fatter when you've lost weight.
Imagine this - you’re still consumed by your eating disorder and you’re in your bathroom, whether that be starving, binging, purging, what have you. You exhale and step on the scale, waiting for its result. You’ve lost weight. A small tinge of excitement runs through your body, yet it still feels like it’s not enough. Over the course of the day (or week, month, and all that follows), you start to feel fatter. You look in the mirror at your body and are repulsed. Everyone tells you that you are too thin, too weak, too consumed with your eating disorder, but all you can see is room for improvement. You feel fatter than you did when you first began.
This is a typical scenario. Most eating disordered individuals do feel fatter than they did when they first took the tumble into their eating disorder, and thus they feel the need to lose more weight. And more. And more, and more, and so on and so forth. There’s a few reasons why this occurs, and it’s not because you’re fatter. Rather, it’s the opposite.
- You’re not getting enough nutrients. When your body is deprived of calories, or is constantly getting rid of them, your brain cannot function properly. Your decisions will be irrational and your thought process will be skewed. You will be constantly in a state of disarray because your body does not have the nutrients to go through the process of rational thought.
- Fat is an adjective. At least to eating disordered individuals. When an eating disordered individual says that they are fat, there is always underlying meaning. It can mean that they are feeling stressed, upset, guilty or angry. An eating disorder is a mask for other problems, and to them, saying that they feel fat is an underlying cover for other problems, as it encompasses all the negative thoughts they feel.
- You’re anxious. This ties in with the second point of ‘fat is an adjective’. Contrary to belief some have, your eating disorder will not make you less anxious or make your problems go away. It really only increases them. As your eating disorder worsens, your family and friends will become worried, and tensions will surely flare. They may get angry because they don’t understand why you’re doing this to yourself, your grades or work will suffer, you will not be able to perform and do things that you used to do. You may feel guilty about putting them through stress, eating the food in the house, et cetera. Coupled with the fact that you cannot think rationally, your body is in a state of ridiculous stress and thus makes you more susceptible to heavier anxiety than you’ve ever felt before. This can bring on the feeling of fat.
forgive me if I sneeze during this post.
The past few days have been interesting ones.
And right now I find myself in bed with intense body aches, cramps, nasal congestion, and body chills. It is that time of the year when people begin to find their immune systems take a nose dive. So forgive me if I misspell something, or if my words make no sense.
this morning I was reading two chapter in Proverbs, and I came across as always something that kind of spoke to me. Something very interesting is that if you look at your Bible, the set up structure takes a turn. The first nine chapters of the book are set up much like we see the rest of the Bible. However, the next chapters the structure looks different. Almost as if they are set up like as a poem, or as a song. Chapter 11 and 12 are short sentences that again almost look like a poem. The language as well turns more into a poem form as well. Chapters 11 and 12 really touched me because they again, display what life with wisdom in your heart look like.
"Good people are guided by their honesty; treacherous people are destroyed by their dishonesty.
Riches won't help on the day of judgement, but right living is a safeguard against death."
There are many people who claim they are followers of Christ, because they are good people. They give their money away, they help others, they try not to lie and stay away from trouble. Many people live my that their whole life and claim that because they are good people they have a relationship with the Lord.
However, if you read further on in Proverbs, you will soon discover that being a "good person" is not good enough.
"the godliness of good people rescues them, the ambition of the treacherous people traps them.
When the wicked die, their hopes their hopes all perish, for they rely on their own feeble strength.
God rescues the the godly from danger, but he lets the wicked fall into trouble."
something that I have learned is that people who like to say they are Christians because they are good people, they are keeping the focus on themselves. They are only focused on what they do, and how they act to people and what they say. Everything is about the self. When a true follower of Christ lives a life that is not about the self. They live a life that is for Christ and to be his disciple.
And what does it mean to be a disciple? Well I am reading a book that goes in depth about being a true follower of Christ, but what I have learned throughout the book is really just how living on this world is not for ourselves. Nothing has to do with us, it all has to do with the Lord and living a true live dedicated to HIM.
we do not let the things of the world control us, we repent our sins, we follow his word and study his word.
it is a simple thing to say, but following this is very difficult. We are surrounded by a world of lust, greed, hatred. Our physical body is a follower of the world, however our spirit is in a battle with going up and being with the Lord, when our bodies are going down to the ground.
We all have our sins, and it is important for us to fight against it, to take a stand as difficult as it may be. We need to be firm and fight against the things that are not of God.
There is so much more than being a good person, we need to be right with God, we need to have our mind set on things above.
Proverbs is a good chapter that addresses this to me.
Today is Sunday, and it is the Lords day. Take some time to not focus on yourself. We are nothing without HIM, we are pathetic creatures who deserve nothing but to be in the pits of hell. We are saved because of HIM. Everything is about HIM.
And right now I find myself in bed with intense body aches, cramps, nasal congestion, and body chills. It is that time of the year when people begin to find their immune systems take a nose dive. So forgive me if I misspell something, or if my words make no sense.
this morning I was reading two chapter in Proverbs, and I came across as always something that kind of spoke to me. Something very interesting is that if you look at your Bible, the set up structure takes a turn. The first nine chapters of the book are set up much like we see the rest of the Bible. However, the next chapters the structure looks different. Almost as if they are set up like as a poem, or as a song. Chapter 11 and 12 are short sentences that again almost look like a poem. The language as well turns more into a poem form as well. Chapters 11 and 12 really touched me because they again, display what life with wisdom in your heart look like.
"Good people are guided by their honesty; treacherous people are destroyed by their dishonesty.
Riches won't help on the day of judgement, but right living is a safeguard against death."
There are many people who claim they are followers of Christ, because they are good people. They give their money away, they help others, they try not to lie and stay away from trouble. Many people live my that their whole life and claim that because they are good people they have a relationship with the Lord.
However, if you read further on in Proverbs, you will soon discover that being a "good person" is not good enough.
"the godliness of good people rescues them, the ambition of the treacherous people traps them.
When the wicked die, their hopes their hopes all perish, for they rely on their own feeble strength.
God rescues the the godly from danger, but he lets the wicked fall into trouble."
something that I have learned is that people who like to say they are Christians because they are good people, they are keeping the focus on themselves. They are only focused on what they do, and how they act to people and what they say. Everything is about the self. When a true follower of Christ lives a life that is not about the self. They live a life that is for Christ and to be his disciple.
And what does it mean to be a disciple? Well I am reading a book that goes in depth about being a true follower of Christ, but what I have learned throughout the book is really just how living on this world is not for ourselves. Nothing has to do with us, it all has to do with the Lord and living a true live dedicated to HIM.
we do not let the things of the world control us, we repent our sins, we follow his word and study his word.
it is a simple thing to say, but following this is very difficult. We are surrounded by a world of lust, greed, hatred. Our physical body is a follower of the world, however our spirit is in a battle with going up and being with the Lord, when our bodies are going down to the ground.
We all have our sins, and it is important for us to fight against it, to take a stand as difficult as it may be. We need to be firm and fight against the things that are not of God.
There is so much more than being a good person, we need to be right with God, we need to have our mind set on things above.
Proverbs is a good chapter that addresses this to me.
Today is Sunday, and it is the Lords day. Take some time to not focus on yourself. We are nothing without HIM, we are pathetic creatures who deserve nothing but to be in the pits of hell. We are saved because of HIM. Everything is about HIM.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Proverbs Chapter 9
If you ever wonder what a life living in wisdom looks like? Then you came to the right chapters. Proverbs in the beginning chapters address this whole idea of living a life with wisdom, and now Chapter 9 and 10 show you a life that is full of wisdom, and what it looks like.
Chapter 9 starts out by saying
"Wisdom has built her spacious house with seven pillars. She has prepared a great banquet, mixed the wines ans set the table. She has sent her servants to invite everyone to come. She calls out from the heights overlooking the city. Come home with me, she urges the simple. To those without good judgement, she says come and eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed. Leave your foolish ways behind, and begin to live; learn how to be wise."
this is such a wonderful opening of the chapter. There are many about this opening that are great, but one thing that I so much appreciate is the fact that wisdom is calling those who have no wisdom to them. It is a lesson that we all can learn from. Instead of turning away from those who are living lost in the sin of the world, "wisdom" continues to call people to her. She will always be loving to those who really do not deserve it. This to me is such a good depiction of God and Jesus. Jesus again is almost like a reflection of wisdom. When he walked on this earth, he was addressing those who were lost and did not know God, he opened his arms up to the sick, to the people looked at lowly, he opened his arms up and showed them nothing but love. Wisdom is doing the same thing. She is calling the lost to her, she is not turning her back on them.
7-12
"Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get a smart retort. Anyone who rebukes the wicked will get hurt. So don't bother rebuking mockers; they will only hate you. But the wise, when rebuked, they will love you all the more. Teach the wise and they be wiser. Teach the righteousness and they will learn more.
Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Knowledge of the holy One results in understanding. Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life. If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer."
This is something so powerful to me. One person who I really look up to is my mom. She is a warrior for Christ and she is one who is a true disciple. She has dealt with many people who are not followers of Christ. Many of them should not be attacking her with harsh words, because they are the people who should love her, but that is not the case. Something that is amazing to me is how she deals with their nasty and hurtful comments to her. She does not display the same thing that they do, she continues to show them love and respect. She prays for them daily, and she shows them nothing but love. There are so many times when I want to do nothing but yell at them and just let them hear what they deserve...but I look at her actions and the way she behaves, and it shows me what true wisdom is. She does not rebuke them, she does not snap back at them, she shows nothing but love and true wisdom. Id she was to go to their level what would that do to her? They would show nothing but hatred again and it would be an never-ending cycle. Yet, she does what she can to continue to show love, and show concern over their relationship with Christ.
It is something that I very much look up to, and I so much desire to be like that. Out of the many things that she has taught me and advice she has given me, it is her actions that really have shown me how to be a disciple.
This is very jumbled, and I apologize for this, but this chapter really just opened my eyes and really just was a good and challenging passage to live by.
Chapter 9 starts out by saying
"Wisdom has built her spacious house with seven pillars. She has prepared a great banquet, mixed the wines ans set the table. She has sent her servants to invite everyone to come. She calls out from the heights overlooking the city. Come home with me, she urges the simple. To those without good judgement, she says come and eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed. Leave your foolish ways behind, and begin to live; learn how to be wise."
this is such a wonderful opening of the chapter. There are many about this opening that are great, but one thing that I so much appreciate is the fact that wisdom is calling those who have no wisdom to them. It is a lesson that we all can learn from. Instead of turning away from those who are living lost in the sin of the world, "wisdom" continues to call people to her. She will always be loving to those who really do not deserve it. This to me is such a good depiction of God and Jesus. Jesus again is almost like a reflection of wisdom. When he walked on this earth, he was addressing those who were lost and did not know God, he opened his arms up to the sick, to the people looked at lowly, he opened his arms up and showed them nothing but love. Wisdom is doing the same thing. She is calling the lost to her, she is not turning her back on them.
7-12
"Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get a smart retort. Anyone who rebukes the wicked will get hurt. So don't bother rebuking mockers; they will only hate you. But the wise, when rebuked, they will love you all the more. Teach the wise and they be wiser. Teach the righteousness and they will learn more.
Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Knowledge of the holy One results in understanding. Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life. If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer."
This is something so powerful to me. One person who I really look up to is my mom. She is a warrior for Christ and she is one who is a true disciple. She has dealt with many people who are not followers of Christ. Many of them should not be attacking her with harsh words, because they are the people who should love her, but that is not the case. Something that is amazing to me is how she deals with their nasty and hurtful comments to her. She does not display the same thing that they do, she continues to show them love and respect. She prays for them daily, and she shows them nothing but love. There are so many times when I want to do nothing but yell at them and just let them hear what they deserve...but I look at her actions and the way she behaves, and it shows me what true wisdom is. She does not rebuke them, she does not snap back at them, she shows nothing but love and true wisdom. Id she was to go to their level what would that do to her? They would show nothing but hatred again and it would be an never-ending cycle. Yet, she does what she can to continue to show love, and show concern over their relationship with Christ.
It is something that I very much look up to, and I so much desire to be like that. Out of the many things that she has taught me and advice she has given me, it is her actions that really have shown me how to be a disciple.
This is very jumbled, and I apologize for this, but this chapter really just opened my eyes and really just was a good and challenging passage to live by.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
God Calling
This morning was dedicated to Proverbs 8! What a wonderful, and very interesting chapter. There were many things that were very encouraging to me and spoke to me, (I pretty much have the whole chapter highlighted..so it really hit me!)
Again it shifts from talking about immoral women to wisdom. Something so interesting about the whole book of Proverbs they intertwine wisdom, and the immoral woman. You have almost this weave of how to achieve wisdom and what is right with God, and then the polar opposite. Affairs and committing sexual sin one has little to no knowledge, because as we know sin is not from God.
One thing that Chapter eight really focuses on is that fact that putting our wisdom into money, will get us nowhere.
verses 10 and 11 really paint a good picture saying
"Choose my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge over pure gold. For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can be compared with it."
This can be a tough one to follow. I know so many times, this very much includes myself, we are changed to the economy, we are changed to money. It is what makes our world go round. Without money you are nothing but a beggar on the side of the road looking for money. We need money to eat, we need money to travel, we need money to get gas so that we can go to work. Everything about this world is controlled by money. So these simple verses that we can easily skim pass, is one that is very important. There are so many times I look at my situation and I see that I am blessed with clothes, a bed, a computer, a car, I have so many things that many people do not. I have been so blessed, and we can so easily look passed what we have and become greedy for more money and more material object. When we let those things control our lives we are nothing but an empty person who probably overspends on temporary things that are someday going to be nothing but a pile of rubble.
Fact is that we take nothing but our spiritual bodies with us to heaven or to hell. These things on earth mean nothing. So the question is why do we value them so much? We do that because like this verse says when we have no true wisdom, when we do not put our mind on the things above, the distractions down here on earth become our motivation to live. Everything becomes about the money.
The passage continues on saying:
12"I, wisdom live together with good judgement. I know where to discover knowledge and discernment. All who fear the Lord, will hate evil. That is why I hate pride, arrogance, corruption, and perverted speech. Good advice and success belong to me. Insight and strength are mine. Because of me, kings reign, and rulers make just laws. Rulers lead with my help, and nobles make righteous judgements."
It is important to cry out God if we do battle with pride, arrogance, and corruption, we pray that he will change our heart, that our actions and mind will only be filled with the spirit.
One of my favorite verses of this chapter would have to be the last part of this chapter. It is quite a long one. So here it is!
22-36
"The Lord formed me from the beginning, before he created anything else. I was appointed in ages past, at the very first, before the world began. I was born before the oceans were created, before the springs bubbled forth their waters. Before the mountains and the hills were formed, I was born- before he had made the earth and fields and the first handfuls of soil.
I was there when he established the heavens, when he drew the horizon on the oceans. I was there when he set the clouds above, when he established the deep fountains of the earth. I was there when he set the limits of the seas, so they would not spread beyond their boundaries. And when he marked off the earth's foundations. I was the architect at his side. I was his constant delight, rejoicing always in his presence. And how happy I was with what he created-his wide world and all the human family!
And so my Children, listen to me, for happy are all who follow my ways. Listen to my counsel and be wise.
Don't ignore it.
Happy are all those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home! For whoever finds me finds life and wins approval form the Lord. But those who miss me have injured themselves. All who hate me, love death."
Such a large chunk of verses right here. But it is so interesting these verses. Because it is implied that wisdom and knowledge is speaking, but I could not stop thinking that this was Jesus talking. And I could make the connection that wisdom does reflect Jesus. We find our wisdom and knowledge in the book of life, we find all that we desire here. I could not stop but think this was Jesus talking here.
I am not sure, and I will be asking about this. But one thing that I love here is the vivid pictures that is created. I love reading the images of God creating the earth and "Jesus" right by his side. I just love the talk about the oceans, and the earth. It just creates such a magical scene of God creating the world.
Proverbs 8..it is a good one.
Again it shifts from talking about immoral women to wisdom. Something so interesting about the whole book of Proverbs they intertwine wisdom, and the immoral woman. You have almost this weave of how to achieve wisdom and what is right with God, and then the polar opposite. Affairs and committing sexual sin one has little to no knowledge, because as we know sin is not from God.
One thing that Chapter eight really focuses on is that fact that putting our wisdom into money, will get us nowhere.
verses 10 and 11 really paint a good picture saying
"Choose my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge over pure gold. For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can be compared with it."
This can be a tough one to follow. I know so many times, this very much includes myself, we are changed to the economy, we are changed to money. It is what makes our world go round. Without money you are nothing but a beggar on the side of the road looking for money. We need money to eat, we need money to travel, we need money to get gas so that we can go to work. Everything about this world is controlled by money. So these simple verses that we can easily skim pass, is one that is very important. There are so many times I look at my situation and I see that I am blessed with clothes, a bed, a computer, a car, I have so many things that many people do not. I have been so blessed, and we can so easily look passed what we have and become greedy for more money and more material object. When we let those things control our lives we are nothing but an empty person who probably overspends on temporary things that are someday going to be nothing but a pile of rubble.
Fact is that we take nothing but our spiritual bodies with us to heaven or to hell. These things on earth mean nothing. So the question is why do we value them so much? We do that because like this verse says when we have no true wisdom, when we do not put our mind on the things above, the distractions down here on earth become our motivation to live. Everything becomes about the money.
The passage continues on saying:
12"I, wisdom live together with good judgement. I know where to discover knowledge and discernment. All who fear the Lord, will hate evil. That is why I hate pride, arrogance, corruption, and perverted speech. Good advice and success belong to me. Insight and strength are mine. Because of me, kings reign, and rulers make just laws. Rulers lead with my help, and nobles make righteous judgements."
It is important to cry out God if we do battle with pride, arrogance, and corruption, we pray that he will change our heart, that our actions and mind will only be filled with the spirit.
One of my favorite verses of this chapter would have to be the last part of this chapter. It is quite a long one. So here it is!
22-36
"The Lord formed me from the beginning, before he created anything else. I was appointed in ages past, at the very first, before the world began. I was born before the oceans were created, before the springs bubbled forth their waters. Before the mountains and the hills were formed, I was born- before he had made the earth and fields and the first handfuls of soil.
I was there when he established the heavens, when he drew the horizon on the oceans. I was there when he set the clouds above, when he established the deep fountains of the earth. I was there when he set the limits of the seas, so they would not spread beyond their boundaries. And when he marked off the earth's foundations. I was the architect at his side. I was his constant delight, rejoicing always in his presence. And how happy I was with what he created-his wide world and all the human family!
And so my Children, listen to me, for happy are all who follow my ways. Listen to my counsel and be wise.
Don't ignore it.
Happy are all those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home! For whoever finds me finds life and wins approval form the Lord. But those who miss me have injured themselves. All who hate me, love death."
Such a large chunk of verses right here. But it is so interesting these verses. Because it is implied that wisdom and knowledge is speaking, but I could not stop thinking that this was Jesus talking. And I could make the connection that wisdom does reflect Jesus. We find our wisdom and knowledge in the book of life, we find all that we desire here. I could not stop but think this was Jesus talking here.
I am not sure, and I will be asking about this. But one thing that I love here is the vivid pictures that is created. I love reading the images of God creating the earth and "Jesus" right by his side. I just love the talk about the oceans, and the earth. It just creates such a magical scene of God creating the world.
Proverbs 8..it is a good one.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
The Immoral Woman
I have continued reading on in Proverbs. One thing that sticks out me like a sore thumb, mostly because this topic is mentioned in almost ever chapter in Proverbs, is the immoral woman.
I am in chapter 5 and six today. Something that is so interesting is that currently I distantly do know a man who has been cheating on his wife. I have obviously known that having an affair with another woman is wrong, but these few chapters really show the wrath that God has against this vile act.
We all know that sin is a sin, if you kill someone, if you lie, or if you lust after someone, it is all an equal sin. There is not one that is higher than the other. Today is society we do that. Killing someone is considered a bigger crime then stealing from a supermarket. However in God's eye, if we come to him for repentance and ask for forgiveness, he is going to give a thief the same forgiveness as someone who is a child molester. It is hoping that they are reaching true forgiveness and turning away from the sin that has pulled them away from God.
But what is interesting in this case, and what I am sure many people do is ask for forgiveness and not really mean it in their heart. They know it is wrong, especially being a Christian, and they do ask for forgiveness..but it is not sincere. They want to turn, but the sin has them so deep that they just continue to fall and fall back into the act.
Proverbs 6:32-35 says:
"But the man who commits adultery is an utter fool, for he destroys his own soul. Wounds and constant disgrace are his lot. His shame will never be erased. For the woman's husband will be furious in his jealousy, and he will have no mercy in his day of vengeance. There is no compensation or bribe that will satisfy him."
Growing up around the world of church, I have seen many men sadly fall into having affairs, women having affairs...it is sad to see the family get torn apart, and to see the hurt. But this verse in particular really gives a good idea as to what the person who committing the act of adultery is going through. "His shame will NEVER be erased." Although I do not wish for anyone to feel this, but for a man who has broken apart his family, a man who is not willing to change his ways, for a man who refuses to ask for repentance and for a man who is not turning away from the sin, their shame will forever be following them. "There is no compensation or bribe that will satisfy them." They will forever be wondering, feeling the shame, never able to find something that will fulfill them...until they turn to Jesus, until they repent everything, until they turn away from the sin that is tearing them down.
I know that this has nothing to do with affairs, but you can really connect this with any sin, with anything that turns you away from God. I do not know who is reading this blog, some may be some people who know me personally, some may not know me..but I feel that as I discover the Bible, and write about it, it is important to repent and be open with the things that tear us apart from Christ. I carry a sin with me, I battle a sin everyday, and that is an eating disorder. it is an act that I easily fall into, it is a selfish sin that brings nothing but a tossing and turning in my heart. It is a little monster that takes control of my mind. It is our battle to get rid of those things that tear us down, those selfish sins that are nothing but moments of satisfaction for this earth. I really have gotten to the point where I am know looking at my actions that I do here on earth and asking, does it really bring glory to God? If I partake in this act, if I drink this alcohol to get drunk to escape from my situation, what does that bring me? Nothing....if I go to the bathroom and force myself to throw up in the bathroom to get thinner, what does this do for the Lord? What if I am so lonely the only cure would be to find a man to fool around with...what does this show the Lord? this shows I am not going to wait on his timing, I am going to take control and not be patient for the right man to come into my life, I am going to fall into my desire.
For men and women who fall into affairs, for the man and woman who fall into any other sin, before you fall into the sin...ask yourself...what does this do for the kingdom of God?
-if it is nothing...stay away from it.
It is the sin that is trying to get in your way from having a pure and precious relationship with the Lord.
Be in Prayer!
If you find yourself falling cry out to him, pray to the Lord and grip onto him. Because he is the only one who can change your heart, he is the only one who can rid the sin in your heart. We are all sinners, we all have our things that we fall into. It is important to resist, it is important to fall onto the Lord during those times when all you want to do is turn away from the Lord.
Keep your heart pure.
Psalm 30:1-12
I will praise you Lord, for you have rescued me.
You have refused to let my enemies triumph over me.
O Lord my God, I cried out to you for help,
and you restored my health.
You brought me up from the grave, O Lord.
You kept me from falling into the pit of death.
Sing to the Lord, all you godly ones!
Praise his holy name.
His anger lasts for a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime!
Weeping may go all night,
but joy comes in the morning.
When I was prosperous I said,
"Nothing can stop me now!"
Your favor, O Lord, made me as secure as a mountain.
Then you turned away from me, and I was shattered.
I cried out to you, O Lord.
I begged the Lord for mercy, saying,
"What will you gain if I die,
if I sink down into the grave?
Can my dust praise you from the grave?
Can it tell me the world of your faithfulness?
Hear me Lord, and have mercy on me O Lord."
You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing
You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothes me with joy,
that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!"
A good prayer for everyone who battles with sin..(wake up call is everyone!)
I am in chapter 5 and six today. Something that is so interesting is that currently I distantly do know a man who has been cheating on his wife. I have obviously known that having an affair with another woman is wrong, but these few chapters really show the wrath that God has against this vile act.
We all know that sin is a sin, if you kill someone, if you lie, or if you lust after someone, it is all an equal sin. There is not one that is higher than the other. Today is society we do that. Killing someone is considered a bigger crime then stealing from a supermarket. However in God's eye, if we come to him for repentance and ask for forgiveness, he is going to give a thief the same forgiveness as someone who is a child molester. It is hoping that they are reaching true forgiveness and turning away from the sin that has pulled them away from God.
But what is interesting in this case, and what I am sure many people do is ask for forgiveness and not really mean it in their heart. They know it is wrong, especially being a Christian, and they do ask for forgiveness..but it is not sincere. They want to turn, but the sin has them so deep that they just continue to fall and fall back into the act.
Proverbs 6:32-35 says:
"But the man who commits adultery is an utter fool, for he destroys his own soul. Wounds and constant disgrace are his lot. His shame will never be erased. For the woman's husband will be furious in his jealousy, and he will have no mercy in his day of vengeance. There is no compensation or bribe that will satisfy him."
Growing up around the world of church, I have seen many men sadly fall into having affairs, women having affairs...it is sad to see the family get torn apart, and to see the hurt. But this verse in particular really gives a good idea as to what the person who committing the act of adultery is going through. "His shame will NEVER be erased." Although I do not wish for anyone to feel this, but for a man who has broken apart his family, a man who is not willing to change his ways, for a man who refuses to ask for repentance and for a man who is not turning away from the sin, their shame will forever be following them. "There is no compensation or bribe that will satisfy them." They will forever be wondering, feeling the shame, never able to find something that will fulfill them...until they turn to Jesus, until they repent everything, until they turn away from the sin that is tearing them down.
I know that this has nothing to do with affairs, but you can really connect this with any sin, with anything that turns you away from God. I do not know who is reading this blog, some may be some people who know me personally, some may not know me..but I feel that as I discover the Bible, and write about it, it is important to repent and be open with the things that tear us apart from Christ. I carry a sin with me, I battle a sin everyday, and that is an eating disorder. it is an act that I easily fall into, it is a selfish sin that brings nothing but a tossing and turning in my heart. It is a little monster that takes control of my mind. It is our battle to get rid of those things that tear us down, those selfish sins that are nothing but moments of satisfaction for this earth. I really have gotten to the point where I am know looking at my actions that I do here on earth and asking, does it really bring glory to God? If I partake in this act, if I drink this alcohol to get drunk to escape from my situation, what does that bring me? Nothing....if I go to the bathroom and force myself to throw up in the bathroom to get thinner, what does this do for the Lord? What if I am so lonely the only cure would be to find a man to fool around with...what does this show the Lord? this shows I am not going to wait on his timing, I am going to take control and not be patient for the right man to come into my life, I am going to fall into my desire.
For men and women who fall into affairs, for the man and woman who fall into any other sin, before you fall into the sin...ask yourself...what does this do for the kingdom of God?
-if it is nothing...stay away from it.
It is the sin that is trying to get in your way from having a pure and precious relationship with the Lord.
Be in Prayer!
If you find yourself falling cry out to him, pray to the Lord and grip onto him. Because he is the only one who can change your heart, he is the only one who can rid the sin in your heart. We are all sinners, we all have our things that we fall into. It is important to resist, it is important to fall onto the Lord during those times when all you want to do is turn away from the Lord.
Keep your heart pure.
Psalm 30:1-12
I will praise you Lord, for you have rescued me.
You have refused to let my enemies triumph over me.
O Lord my God, I cried out to you for help,
and you restored my health.
You brought me up from the grave, O Lord.
You kept me from falling into the pit of death.
Sing to the Lord, all you godly ones!
Praise his holy name.
His anger lasts for a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime!
Weeping may go all night,
but joy comes in the morning.
When I was prosperous I said,
"Nothing can stop me now!"
Your favor, O Lord, made me as secure as a mountain.
Then you turned away from me, and I was shattered.
I cried out to you, O Lord.
I begged the Lord for mercy, saying,
"What will you gain if I die,
if I sink down into the grave?
Can my dust praise you from the grave?
Can it tell me the world of your faithfulness?
Hear me Lord, and have mercy on me O Lord."
You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing
You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothes me with joy,
that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!"
A good prayer for everyone who battles with sin..(wake up call is everyone!)
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