Proverbs 4

I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching! (4:2)

I made the personal addition of the exclamation because it's so true, right?! In Romans (the chapter that teaches us what it means to be Christian), it tells us that because God make us, His words and directions have been instilled in us. From our conscience to our sermon lessons- how can we turn our backs on the Word?

Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom.
Though it cost all you have, get understanding. (4:7)

What more could there be to help us in our daily tasks? Remember when Esther was called to choose among rubies and gold, but instead sought the wisdom of King Ahasuerus's harem caretaker, Hegai? How could she know what would please the king, she didn't even know the man! Instead she chose wisdom-Hegai's wisdom!

David taught the same to Solomon, and it is guaranteed to us in James 1:5: "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."

Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many. (4:10)

More scripture...

Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way. (4:14,15)

The path of righteousness is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter til the full light of day. (4:18)

But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble. (:19)

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspirng of life. (4:23)

Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk from your lips.
Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.
Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.
Do not swerve to the right or to the left; keep your foot from evil.
(verses 24-27)

"If you want wisdom you must decide to go after it. It takes resolve- a determination not to abandon the search once you begin no matter how difficult the road may become." ¹

Make God's wisdom my 1st choice.

• Like Solomon
• James 1:5 (see above)
• Jame 1:6 "But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind."
• AKA Have faith beyond understanding!

¹Life Application Bible, NIV: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1991, pg 1078.

Proverbs 3

Proverbs Chapter 3 shares continued benefits of wisdom!

"My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity." (verses 1,2)

Let love and faithfulness never leave you (3:3)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding (3:5)

In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. (3:6)

Do not be wise in your own eyes (3:7)

Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops (3:9)
[aka pay your tithes! and, not only pay them, but give your very best offering!]

"...do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent His rebuke."(3:11)

Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding (3:13)

She [wisdom and understanding] is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed. (3:18)

...for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared. (3:26)

Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. (3:27)

...for the Lord detests a perverse man but takes the upright into his confidence. (3:32)

(3:34) [He] gives grace to the humble.

Indeed! Wisdom leads us to blessings, but often on His perfect timing. So, we must "live by faith, not by sight" (2 Cor 5:7). See the reference below for further understanding!

The Person Who Has Wisdom:

Is loving
Is faithful
Trusts in the Lord
Puts God First
Turns away from evil
Knows right from wrong
Listens and learns
Does what is right

Benefits of Wisdom:

long, prosperous life
favor with God and people
reputation for good judgment
success
health, vitality
riches, honor, pleasure, peace
protection

*Reference taken from: Life Application Bible, NIV: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1991, pg 1077.

Proverbs Chapt 2

My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, 2 turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, 3 and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, 4 and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. (2:1-5)

I love those verses of scripture. Continuing from chapter 1 is the need to find knowledge of life and living. There is great power and unyielding grace when this knowledge is sought after. Why wait? Let's seek and watch miracles bloom abundantly before our eyes!

For he guards the course of the just and protects the way of the faithful ones. (2:8) Amen!

For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. (2:10)

Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you. (2:11)

For the upright will live in the land, and the blameless will remain in it; but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the unfaithful will be torn from it. (2:21-22)

Wisdom protects us from the wicked and deceitful ways of the world. Knowledge is power!

Proverbs of Solomon, Chapter 1

What Psalms is to prayer and devotional life, Proverbs is to everyday life. Proverbs is used to impart wisdom so that we can live our lives in His reflection. Its author is Solomon son of David, king of Israel. Although his advice is directed towards youth (Chapters 1-9), all can benefit from his wisdom.

In Proverbs, there are focal themes:

• Wisdom
• Relationships
• Speech (words should be honest and well chosen)*
• Work
• Success (God views success as having a good reputation, moral character, and spiritual devotion to obey Him. A successful relationship with God counts for eternity. Everything else is perishable.)*
  

Some scriptures that stood out to me....

Proverbs 1:7- "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." This is a key verse for the book of Proverbs because it expresses the significance of gaining knowledge.

"Such is the end of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the lives of those who get it." (1:19) My study Bible states: Going after ill-gotten gain is one of Satan's surest traps. First, he plants the suggestion (possession or more money, etc), then the desire fans its fire into an obsession. Ask God to help you overcome/recognize these greedy desires.

"For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm." (1:32-33)

Would you like to read the book of Proverbs, Chapter 1? Click here! Knowledge is power!

*Life Application Bible, NIV: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1991, pg 1071.

My Lent Project

"What are you giving up for Lent?"

Every year, around this time, this question pops up like clock-work. Lent is a time of sacrifice- 40 days to be exact. And, although some traditions allow a weekend break in fasting, I've always practiced restraint from Ash Wednesday until Easter morning. Although I do not practice Catholicism (I was raised on this faith), I do believe that this is a powerful way to strengthen my Christianity.

This year, however, I've decided to take a different approach to the term give. That is, I'm going to show my appreciation for Christ's sacrifice by sharing His word. Are you wondering where the sacrifice is? Well, how often do you share your faith with your close circle of friends? Now think, how often do you share your faith with the world. I'm not wearing jewelry representing Christ's sacrifice, I'm vocalizing it. I'm not texting scriptures, I'm posting them on social networks.

I am making my personal journey public. It's a test I'm both nervous and excited to succeed in.

With the recent Tsunami in Japan, and several other worldly conflicts in full swing, I know that there is a great need of faith. "Apart from faith, we have no hope in life." This is my Lent project- to give a part of me that is also yours.

So, what are you giving up for Lent?

Life Application Bible, NIV: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1991, pg 2025.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lent

Being A Helper Scriptures

What It Means To Be A Helper (According to the Scriptures)

Imitating Christ's Humility


Philippians 2:1-11

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6Who, being in very nature[a] God,did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7but made himself nothing, taking the very nature[b] of a servant,being made in human likeness.
8And being found in appearance as a man,he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!
9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,to the glory of God the Father.

1 Peter 5:2
Be shepherds of God's flock, the believers who are under your care. Serve as their leaders. Don't serve them because you have to. Instead, do it because you want to. That's what God wants you to do. Don't do it because you want to get more and more money. Do it because you really want to serve.

Love Your Neighbor As Yourself

Lev. 19:17-19
"`Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt. "`Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. "`Keep my decrees. "`Do not mate different kinds of animals. "`Do not plant your field with two kinds of seed. "`Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material.

Lev. 19:33-34
"`When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

John 13:33-35
"My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Chosen To Be Free

Galatians 5:13-14
My brothers and sisters, you were chosen to be free. But don't use your freedom as an excuse to live in sin. Instead, serve one another in love. The whole law can be found in a single command. "Love your neighbor as you love yourself."—(Leviticus 19:18)

Love Must Be Sincere

Rom. 12:6-11
We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

Be Kind and Compassionate

Eph. 4:31-32
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Hebrews 10:24-25
Let us consider how we can stir up one another to love. Let us help one another to do good works. Let us not give up meeting together. Some are in the habit of doing this. Instead, let us cheer each other up with words of hope. Let us do it all the more as you see the day coming when Christ will return.

Love One Another Deeply, From The Heart

1 Peter 3:8
Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.

Testimony

Sharing your testimony can be a powerful act. Someone may be wandering foreign lands, but no longer deaf at the sound of your tongue. Let the Lord use you.

I must say, tonight's Bible study was powerful. Having said that, I will tell you why...Perhaps the promise I made to myself for the new year is the reason why I took the risk of sharing my personal testimony. On the other hand, the cognizant effort to take risks wasn't really on my mind. The whole thing took me by surprise. I suppose the Lord was doing a work in me.

Each of the 3 women before me shared their testimony on how they came to know the Lord, and they shared key aspects in their lives that allowed them to maintain a relationship with Him through thick and thin. Some items that were shared were ideas of youthful purity, struggles with relationships with boys (notice I didn't say men), and what it meant to grow up in the church.

For instance, my sister in Christ said that she felt more "pure when [she] was younger." She went on to explain that different college experiences led her to such things as dating unequally yoked men, consuming alcohol, not attending church regularly, and the like. All experiences causing her relationship with God to falter. However, as a result to her Christian upbringing, she was able to access the Spirit of the Lord that beckoned her.

All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of His covenant. "For the sake of your name, O Lord, forgive my iniquity, though it is great." Ps 25:10,11

In addition, we learned that we truly do serve a jealous God and that no matter how far our curious selves stray, He'll never let us go. This was especially highlighted in one testimony about how God's place in our hearts could never and can never be filled. We may have tried to find satisfaction and validation from the men we meet, but in the end, they are only temporary. God's patience for us putting Him on the side burner is impeccable! Glory Be To God! We know that no matter how attractive he is, how many times he opens the door for us, or how much we tell our girlfriends "He's such a good guy," if his heart is not for the Lord, first, then with him neither will ours.

We often try to rationalize things in our heads, but when we finally say things aloud, we see it in a whole new perspective. Praise God for having Christian brothers and sisters who allow us a safe and positive place to speak, and help us recongnize the path of the Word versus the desires of the flesh. Amen!

It's great how no matter what the circumstances in our lives were, the constant was God. Repeated was the gratitude we had for being raised in the church, because we always knew who our heart belonged to even though we foolishly played hard to get.

Not all of our experiences were negative. Fortunately, we didn't have to share struggles with alcohol, drug, or pornography addiction. Although, those testimonies are strong and need to be shared. Instead, we had uplifting revelations such as how our struggles caused us to lean on God and learn to love and serve. Showing love to everyone and humbling oneself to serve others is not always an easy feat. But God bless the child who's on her knees. One of the testimonies shared was how the church taught how to be of service to others and exude love. This lesson, although not immediately realized, was carried through duties of (present-)eldest sibling responsibilities. It's a struggle to be the role model and caregiver at a young age. Thoughts of "why me" and "how will I accomplish my dreams" are only two comments that came to cease toward the absent mother who provided an ample house and home, food, clothing, transportation, education, support, vision of strength, and most importantly love. This realization of love initiated an admiration for an absent mother who wasn't really absent at all.

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. Prv 22:6

Grateful are we to have been raised in the church that we may recognize God's voice when He calls to us. I'm believing that anyone who gives their heart to the Lord will distinctly hear His voice regardless if they were raised in the church or not. Is it booming with authority, or smooth like the ripple in a calm sea? For you, I'm not sure. Just open your Bible and hear His voice. Trust in Him! God is Able!

My Testimony

Fortunately, I was born into the church, raised in the church, and liked it. I didn't feel any reason to rebel against organized religion because it didn't hinder me from living life. In other words, I did not want to steal or get drunk so when the Bible and those in authority said "don't do it," it didn't phase me. Fortunately.

Now, that's not to say I've never stumbled on this path that's straight and very narrow. But, no matter the stumble-whether it caused scrapes or bruises-I always found myself in the arms of the Father. And I was not only healed, but forgiven and redeemed.

I look at life a little differently than my Sisters in Christ, and most of my friends, because of the different curve-balls pitched to me in life. Most of them I hit foul, some of them I'd like to say I hit home, and on record, there's only been one to strike me out. (Does that make any sense to you?) Regardless of how I reacted to the pitch, including striking out, I always had a reason to stay in the game. The Lord can applaud His faithful angel, my mother, for that.

The fact that I knew my mother's heart belonged to the Lord, and that He would claim her, is the only reason I've never completely turned away from God.

It didn't matter how much I hated (seriously mad at) God, or how long it took me to regain my personal relationship with Him. I always knew that Jesus was the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Jn 14:6 As a result to this knowledge, I was able to rebuild my confidence and, soon, develop a relationship that was no longer "religious" but truly spiritually connected.

I've found that the more I know about Jesus, the more I don't know. But I can honestly say that when I finally come to understand even the smallest aspect of Him, I've find myself in complete reverence embracing all of His joy. And it's a GREAT joy!

So, the conclusion of our study and time of sharing truly emphasized the incessant presence of the Lord in our lives. He never left us, or resented us for giving Him the cold shoulder. In fact, He loved us more. He showed us a warmer embrace than anything our flesh sought after, and because of this we are humbled and grateful.

Blessed are they who keep His statutes and seek Him with all their heart....I will speak of your statutes before Kings and will not be put to shame. Ps 119:2,40

These are our testimonies.