March 28, 2014
The wicked man is like a plant without roots. It will wither in drought and be blown away by storms. But the godly are like a plant that draws water from deep roots during dry spells and clings to the rocky soil during storms. Both plants look similar in good weather, but bad weather reveals them. What do dry spells and storms reveal about you? Repent and sink your roots down into the Living Water and around the Rock of God’s Word.
February 14, 2014
The fool is not open to correction, but the wise person is always teachable. This is a foundational problem. The fool has no respect for God’s Word and therefore no respect for the laws of humanity either. The fool responds with a perpetual sarcastic smirk to claims of truth and authority, while entertaining themselves with agnostic questions, believing in nothing. The wise believe in truth and love knowledge, not merely as an intellectual exercise, but as a way of life, affecting not only their thinking but their behavior. Reject the authority and existence of God and you get the fool, who loudly disdains all authority, while quietly claiming it for himself. Accept God’s authority and the first foundation stone for wisdom is laid.
February 1, 2014
The Lord’s emotions are both infinite and pure. There is no “shadow of turning” in Him. He loves and He hates. Both passionate extremes are red hot and wild in Him, yet always under His righteous control. Our emotions are mere muddy rivulets compared to the raging torrent of His zeal. Do not make the mistake of limiting God’s love to a narrow band of syrupy sentimentality. When we speak of God’s love, we must include the terrifying whole of His passion. His love covers the entire spectrum of feeling that produces both a heaven and a hell. Do not think to mute God’s full register of feeling by removing hate from its range. When we receive Christ as Lord and Savior, God’s love flows to and through us, so that we begin to love what He loves and hate what He hates. There is no inconsistency in this, for both extremes of feeling are present in Him.
January 10, 2014
Following your own understanding will lead to shortcuts that end up as dead ends or worse. Trusting the Lord’s wisdom and seeking His will always takes longer. Yet, following His narrow path leads to blessing and peace. Before you make your next decision about… anything, ask for God’s will and direction. And trust that it will turn out for the best.
January 2, 2014
The one who reads and studies Proverbs is promised wisdom. What is the foundation of this understanding? The fear of the Lord. In Matthew 10:28, Jesus said not to fear those who can only kill the body, but instead to fear the One who can send both body and soul to hell. For those who have received Jesus, the fear of judgment and hell is removed. Yet, the fear of God’s holy displeasure is not. As His children we want to please the Father. We “fear” (respect, honor) Him so much that we do not want to leave any sin unconfessed. The fool however, has not learned this healthy fear.
December 30, 2013
It is getting harder and harder to find one, but I did. How? I prayed like crazy and decided to look for a woman based on the “3 Ms.” What are the “3 Ms?” First, “Master” – make Christ your master and look for a woman that has done the same. Second, “Mission” – decide to know and follow the quest that God has given you (a godly woman soon tires of a man who makes her his mission rather than a God-sized dream). And finally, “Mate” – now that you have made Christ your Master and have answered His call to Mission, you are ready to find a mate. Just make sure she has the same Master and is excited to join you on His mission before you make her your Mate.
Following this strategy (Pray like crazy and Follow the “3Ms”) I found a little girl up in the hills of Virginia named Robin. I don’t know if they have any more up there. I may have gotten the last one.
December 11, 2013
Those with anger management problems cause trouble and sin everywhere they go. There is an appropriate emotional response of anger. God gets angry. But God’s anger is under His control. However, the “man of wrath” acts out of uncontrolled anger. Anger controls him. Ironically, “control” is often at the heart of the “one given to anger.” This person is continually angry because they want to be in control of every situation. They have no patience for others and their opinions. They want control. And anger and frustration is their constant state. Why? Because they cannot even gain control of themselves.
Are you angry today? Easily frustrated? Is it because you aren’t getting your way? Give your anger to God. Ask Him to give you patience and self-control. Trust Him with control of your life. Give him your relationships. And watch the boiling temp of your heart finally go calm.
November 29, 2013
Stingy – adj. ˈstin-jē : not generous, unwilling to give, miserly, close-fisted. The stingy man doesn’t understand where wealth comes from (God) and its proper use (to steward according to God’s economy). He lives the life of the closed-fisted hand, closed both to God and to others. He dams up the flow both upstream and downstream. It’s no surprise that misers are miserable.
November 24, 2013
Or as in Numbers 32:23, “Be sure your sin will find you out.” Attempting to conceal sin never works. Eventually, it is revealed and the longer we try and hide it, the more it negatively affects us. Keep short accounts. Be quick to confess and repent. Likewise, be quick to forgive others.
November 7, 2013
The one who lives and acts in isolation lacks the sweet fragrance of a friend’s advice. Acting without counsel, we come under the cloud of our own stinkin’ thinkin’. We usually avoid counsel because we already know that we’re planning to do something questionable. And we don’t want a friend to point it out to us. Get counsel before acting.