tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76111806506409860912024-03-21T12:25:31.681-07:00GEMS ACTS Area 23Lishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07192101777763933636noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611180650640986091.post-51753537299125049002012-02-20T05:46:00.001-08:002012-02-20T05:46:11.530-08:00Poverty Alleviation<div class="MsoNormal">Devotional for 2.20.12 </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Happy Monday! What a beautiful day in Jesus we’ve been gifted because “God is here. Wherever we are, God is here. There is no place, there can be no place, where He is not” (A.W. Tozer). May El Roi, “The God Who Sees Me” be your joy, peace, and provision today. Thanking God that each and every one of us is under His watchful eyes as we enter a new week. Shalom.<u5:p></u5:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
During the month of February we’re focusing on Wisdom about Money. Let’s turn to Proverbs to get wisdom that goes beyond the gold!<u5:p></u5:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b>POVERTY ALLEVIATION<u5:p></u5:p></b><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i>Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.</i></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">Proverbs 14:31<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The book of Proverbs has much to say to the poor and about the poor. To those who choose laziness instead of labor, God warns, <i>A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest – and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man </i>(Proverbs 6:10-11). The Apostle Paul lived by the rule that he taught: <i>The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat </i>(2 Thessalonians 3:10).<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Laziness is a single facet within the multidimensional system of poverty. The book of Proverbs also acknowledges that being poor can stem from <b>injustice</b> – <i>An unplowed field produces food for the poor, but injustice sweeps it away </i>(13:23)<i>, </i>from <b>oppression – </b><i>Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God </i>(14:31), or from <b>exploitation </b>– <i>Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court </i>(22:22).<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">God is a Father to the fatherless, a Defender of the poor, and a Helper to the needy. Jesus’ justice mission of reconciliation included preaching good news to the poor, proclaiming freedom for the prisoners, recovering sight for the blind, releasing the oppressed, and proclaiming the year of the Lord’s favor (Luke 4:18-19). We must follow in Jesus’ steps and obey God’s command to <i>Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy </i>(31:8-9).<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We honor God when we are kind to the needy (14:31). <i>Mercy to the needy is a loan to GOD, and GOD pays back those loans in full </i>(19:17, MSG). Generous people will be blessed; those who give to the poor will lack nothing (22:9, 28:27). <o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">To shut our eyes and ears to the cries of the poor comes with severe consequences (28:27). <i>Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished </i>(17:5). <i>Whoever shuts their</i> <i>ears to the cry of the poor, will also cry out and not be answered </i>(21:13).<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“Poverty alleviation is the ministry of reconciliation: moving people closer to glorifying God by living in right relationship with God, with self, with others, and with the rest of creation,” writes Brian Fikkert, Steve Corbett, and John Perkins within the must read book, <i>When Helping Hurts: Alleviating Poverty Without Hurting the Poor . . . and Yourself</i>. “Because every one of us is suffering from brokenness in our foundational relationships, all of us need ‘poverty alleviation,’ just in different ways. Our relationship to the materially poor should be one in which we recognize that both of us are broken and that both of us need the blessing of reconciliation.”</div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><b>Wisdom Step: </b>What can you do to alleviate poverty today?<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><i>Poverty is the result of relationships that do not work, that are not just, that are not for life, that are not harmonious or enjoyable. Poverty is the absence of shalom in all its meanings.</i></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">Bryant L. Myers</div><u5:p></u5:p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611180650640986091.post-59321586960011830682012-02-13T06:46:00.001-08:002012-02-13T06:46:56.364-08:00Little By LittleDevotional for 2.13.12<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">Happy Valentine’s Day (a day early)! Please know how much you’re loved and appreciated for being faithful channels of His love to the women and girls in your area. We thank God for you! Have a blessed week! <u5:p></u5:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">During the month of February we’re focusing on Wisdom about Money. Let’s turn to Proverbs to get wisdom that goes beyond the gold!<u5:p></u5:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b>LITTLE BY LITTLE<u5:p></u5:p></b><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i>Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.</i></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">Proverbs 13:11<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“Slow and steady, steady and slow. That’s the way we always go” is a quote from a Walt Disney Goofy book that I read to my girls often when they were little. It’s how Goofy made it across the finish line. It’s also one of the aspects to financial planning that God gives us in the book of Proverbs.<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Little by little, slow and steady, when we’re diligent in earning money and managing it rightly, savings accounts can grow. Add patience and faithful stewardship to the principle of compound interest and the resources can greatly increase. <o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Throughout Scripture and within the book of Proverbs diligence is often associated with wisdom and wealth, and contrasted to laziness, foolishness, and poverty. Little by little is God’s economic wisdom for personal finance and His Kingdom. <i>Steady diligence pays off </i>(Proverbs 13:11b, MSG). <o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In the Parable of the King’s Ten Servants recorded in Luke 19, Jesus tells of a king who gave his ten subjects ten minas. <i>“Put this money to work,” he said, “until I come back” </i>(v. 13b).<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The first two servants were praised and rewarded for gaining more money than they were originally given, ten minas, and five minas, respectfully. The third servant was called wicked for laying his mina aside. The master replied, <i>“Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?” Then he said to those standing by, “Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas” </i>(v. 23-24).<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">What gifts of money, resources, time, and talents, has God given to you? He’s entrusted us with so much! Just think of three. Write them down:</div><u5:p></u5:p> <ol start="1" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal">________________________________<u5:p></u5:p><o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">________________________________<u5:p></u5:p><o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">________________________________<u5:p></u5:p><o:p></o:p></li>
</ol><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">What does your investment portfolio look like? Are you using these things to store up treasures on earth or are you diligently, little by little, slow and steady, investing them in the treasures of heaven (Matthew 6:19-20)? <o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Jesus said, <i>“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked” </i>(Luke 12:48b). Those who are faithful with what’s entrusted to them will be richly blessed, but those who are eager to get rich will not go unpunished (Proverbs 28:20).</div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"> </div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><b>Wisdom Step: </b>Describe your investment in God’s Kingdom. Is it easy come, easy go or a steady diligence for His glory?<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><i>We measure our worth by what we have; God measures it by what we’ve left behind.</i></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">Bob Goff</div><u5:p></u5:p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611180650640986091.post-80660815702883915252012-02-06T06:19:00.001-08:002012-02-06T06:19:15.151-08:00Better/Than Statements<div class="MsoNormal">Devotional for 2.6.12<br />
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Happy February, friends! Hope your new month and week are off to a wise start as we together seek to get wisdom which is better than gold, silver, paychecks, and savings accounts. Have a blessed week! <u5:p></u5:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">During the month of February we’re focusing on Wisdom about Money. Let’s turn to Proverbs to get wisdom that goes beyond the gold!<u5:p></u5:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b>BETTER/THAN STATEMENTS<u5:p></u5:p></b><o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i>Better the poor whose walk is blameless than the rich whose ways are perverse.</i></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">Proverbs 28:6<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">A wacky icebreaker that gets girls giggling is the Would You Rather? Game. <o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">Ø</span><span style="font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"> </span>Would you rather drink one gallon of ketchup or one gallon of mustard?</div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">Ø</span><span style="font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"> </span>Would you rather be in a room with 500 spiders or 1,000 crickets?</div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">Ø</span><span style="font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"> </span>Would you rather have a snake or a skunk for a pet?<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The girls’ responses to those questions are as varied as their personalities. However, ask girls of all ages (and boys of every generation, too!) if they’d rather be rich or poor and the majority vote will probably favor wealth over poverty.<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The wisdom found in the book of Proverbs always trumps popular opinion. When posed with the would you rather be rich or poor question, it’s considerations go far beyond finances, money, possessions, things, and stuff. It cuts to the heart.</div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal">In the book of Proverbs we learn that it’s better to be poor than rich <b>if</b> wealth . . . <o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">√ Keeps you from being honest and trustworthy (28:6)</div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal">√ Becomes your fortress and protection (18:11)</div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal">√ Makes you surly and unapproachable (18:23)</div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal">√ Deafens your ears to the cry of the poor (21:13)</div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal">√ Causes you to forget and dishonor God (30:9)<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The bottom line is that riches are not the problem. <i>Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil – this is a gift of God </i>(Ecclesiastes 5:19). <o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The trouble comes when we love riches more than God and treasure things more than the Giver of all gifts. <i>For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs </i>(1 Timothy 6:10). The book of Proverbs says that it’s <i>better a little with the fear of the LORD than great wealth with turmoil </i>(15:16). <i>How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver </i>(16:16)!<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">There are two sides to every coin and two parts to what the book of Proverbs teaches us about money. Within this book of wisdom it teaches the positive side to earning, managing, and using our possessions, and warns that there is a negative side to gaining and maintaining wealth. Understanding God’s perspective on possessions and honoring Him with wise stewardship of all that He’s entrusted to us will keep us from the potential pitfalls that riches can bring.<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Wisdom Step: </b>How much do you treasure or fret about money? Would it be better for you to be poor than rich?<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><i>Some people are so poor they only have money!</i></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">Ivor Powell</div><u5:p></u5:p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611180650640986091.post-30005050907197347542012-01-30T05:24:00.001-08:002012-01-30T05:24:29.109-08:00A Word for Workaholics<div class="MsoNormal">Devotional for 1.30.12 </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">How are you today? It is good and pleasant to be unified in our love for the LORD, our work for Him, and our prayers for one another and all involved in the Titus 2 ministry of GEMS Girls’ Clubs. Thank you for your important part in helping girls everywhere meet the Savior. Have a blessed week!<u5:p></u5:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">During the month of January we’re focusing on Wisdom about Work. Let’s turn to Proverbs to get wisdom that goes beyond the gold!<u5:p></u5:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b>A WORD FOR WORKAHOLICS<u5:p></u5:p></b><o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i>The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,</i></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i>but a man </i>(woman) <i>is tested by the praise he </i>(she) <i>receives.<u5:p></u5:p></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">Proverbs 27:21<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In his book, <i>A Proverbs Driven Life – Timeless Wisdom for Your Words, Work, Wealth, and Relationships, </i>Anthony Selgavvio warns that there is a temptation toward two extremes in our attitude toward work. One extreme is the lure of laziness which the Bible calls being a sluggard. Today we’d call this person a couch potato. <i>How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep </i>(Proverbs 6:9)?<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“At the other extreme,” Selgavvio writes, “we can worship our work, finding the very core of our identity in ‘what we do.’ When I adopt this view, I become what the Bible calls an idolater – specifically, in today’s language, a workaholic.”<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This extreme hits close to home for women who think “working nine to five” sounds like a vacation day. When work becomes our idol we reject the balanced pattern God gave us of work and rest. <o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>The idol of praise. </b>Do we do our work to praise God and make Him known? Or do we idolize the praise of people for a job well done? <i>The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,</i> <i>but man </i>(woman) <i>is tested by the praise he </i>(she) <i>receives </i>(Proverbs 27:21). <o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>The idol of pride. </b>Do we do our work in dependence on God? Or do we go about our responsibilities as if everything depends on us to get the job done right in our homes, churches, and the workplace? The wise walk and work humbly with their God. They get rid of their pride and stop depending on themselves and start trusting and depending on God. <i>Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall </i>(Proverbs 16:18). <o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>The idol of greed. </b>Do we work to store up treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:20)? Or are we pursuing the idols of earthly treasures, pleasures, and power? <i>Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, “Who is the LORD?” Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God </i>(Proverbs 30:8-9). <o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In Luke 10 Jesus chides Martha (perhaps a workaholic?) and praises Mary (perhaps a sluggard?) In his must read book for the overworked and exhausted, <i>The Rest of God </i>by Mark Buchanan, he writes that Jesus’ response was that “Mary’s choice is only <i>better. </i>What would be <i>best? </i>My guess: Martha’s industry joined to Mary’s attentiveness. The best is to have Martha’s hands and Mary’s heart.”<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Wisdom Step: </b>What choices can you make today to follow God’s pattern of work and rest?<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><i>Sit with Jesus until you hear from Him what He would have you do. Then put your hand to the task, Martha-like, and do it with all your heart, Mary-like.</i></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">Mark Buchanan<u5:p></u5:p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611180650640986091.post-81531440274775683722012-01-23T04:11:00.001-08:002012-01-23T04:11:44.734-08:00Striving for ExcellenceDevotional for 1.23.12<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">Hello, dear sisters! How are you? I pray well. What joy it is to connect, pray for one another, and co-labor in His Kingdom. Thanks for all you do. Have a Christ-centered week! <u5:p></u5:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">During the month of January we’re focusing on Wisdom about Work. Let’s turn to Proverbs chapter 28 to get wisdom that goes beyond the gold!<u5:p></u5:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b>STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE</b><u5:p></u5:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i>He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.</i><u5:p></u5:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">Proverbs 28:19<u5:p></u5:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Winning the lottery, making a million dollars on a reality TV show, gambling, having rich parents or marrying rich, are just some of the tips you’ll read when you Google, “Get rich fast.” Get-rich-quick schemes promise high rates of return with little risk, skill, time, or work. <u5:p></u5:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">It was my father who first taught me, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” The book of Proverbs, which my dad reads from every day, agrees.<u5:p></u5:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Proverbs 28:19 contrasts hard work to chasing the fantasies of get-rich-quick schemes. <i>A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies ends up in poverty </i>(NLT). The hard worker is diligent in her tasks. The person who chases fantasies is always looking for an easier way. One leads to abundance, the other to poverty.<u5:p></u5:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">The point of the verse is not to elevate manual labor over desk jobs, or tasks that cause us to break a sweat in comparison to jobs that can be accomplished in high heels. What counts is the motive behind the responsibility at hand. <u5:p></u5:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Is our motive to give our very best or do we seek to get by with the least amount of effort possible? Be warned: <i>One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys </i>(Proverbs 18:9). Within Aesop’s fable, it’s the diligent effort of the Tortoise, not the dreamy, nap-taking Hare that crossed the finish line first.<u5:p></u5:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">How do you and I approach the work of lesson planning, leading devotions for GEMS or Bible study, or preparing for a large group event like camp, theme night, or fall workshops? Do we do the hard work that bears abundant fruit for the Kingdom? Or do we cut corners and hope no one will notice?<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In his book, <i>Excellence, </i>Andreas <span class="spelle">Köstenberger</span> writes, “Far from being optional, excellence is in fact a divine mandate that applies to every aspect of our lives, for God Himself is characterized by excellence. Mediocrity, sloppy workmanship, and a half-hearted effort do not bring glory to God or advance His kingdom.” <u5:p></u5:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">We must pattern our work after God’s work! <i>He is the <span class="grame">Rock,</span> his works are perfect </i>(Deuteronomy 32:4). Throughout His story of Creation He would look at what He made and see that <i>it was very good</i> (Genesis 1).<u5:p></u5:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Wisdom Step: </b>If God would grade the work you’ve done for Him today, would it read excellent, good, or poor? Seek to be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.<u5:p></u5:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><i>Doing a few things well is better than doing many things poorly. When we are on the job, we are to give 100% effort, not the minimum we can get away with.</i></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">Kenneth B. Wingate<u5:p></u5:p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611180650640986091.post-47353376474450806722012-01-16T04:34:00.001-08:002012-01-16T04:34:35.142-08:00Employee Benefit PackagesDevotional for 1.16.11<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">Happy Monday, dear sisters! Hope you’re well! As we focus on wisdom about work this month, we don’t want to miss an opportunity to thank you for your work within the GEMS ministry. Whatever your role(s), accept our heartfelt thanks! Together let’s always give ourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because we know that our labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58). Have a blessed week! <o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">During the month of January we’re focusing on Wisdom about Work. Let’s turn to Proverbs chapter 27 to get wisdom that goes beyond the gold!<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PACKAGES<u5:p></u5:p></span></b><o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">The one who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit, and whoever protects their master will be honored.</span></i></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">Proverbs 27:18<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">If Employee of the Month recognition were given in Joseph’s day, year round he would’ve had his picture hanging on the lunchroom wall and printed in the company newsletter. With God as his Helper, whatever he did prospered. His boss Potiphar took note of Joseph’s success and honored him by promoting him to his attendant. He rewarded him by putting him in charge of his household, and entrusted everything that he owned into Joseph’s care. Thanks to his exceptional employee, the only thing Potiphar had to think about was what he wanted to eat for dinner (Genesis 39:1-6).<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">Honor and reward are part of the employee benefit package for those who give their best to their work. <i>Whoever protects their master will be honored </i>(Proverbs 27:18b). <i>Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank </i>(Proverbs 22:29). That’s true on earth and will be true in heaven, too! Jesus said, <i>“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’” </i>(Matthew 25:21)<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">Sometimes our work brings the immediate satisfaction of a job well done, the praises of our family (Great meal, Mom!), the approval of an employer, or the heartfelt thanks of a Club Coordinator. <u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">At other times, we may feel unappreciated, devalued, and misunderstood. Joseph identified with that, too. He was a poster boy for unjust treatment at the workplace. He was a man of integrity who fled from Potiphar’s wife to honor his God and his boss, and his reward was a grim prison cell. Where’s the honor in that? Some honor only comes from our Master, not our employers. Some honor is delayed so that God’s good purpose may be achieved. Joseph rightly understood that when he told his brothers, <i>“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” </i>(Genesis 50:20). <u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">Whether our work takes place at home, on the job, or within volunteer positions, there is a chain of command. John A. Kitchener writes, “If we attend to His honor, He will care for ours. Our first charge is to find the person or people under whom God has placed us and, then, to serve Him by serving them.”<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">Wisdom Step: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">Check out the benefit package that is ours when we honor God with our work: Matthew 25:21, 23; Luke 12:42-46, 19:17; John 12:26.</span><o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><i><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">A life of honoring God and others means you graduate to heaven with honors.</span></i></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">Boyd Bailey<u5:p></u5:p><o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><u5:p></u5:p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611180650640986091.post-52468860876574463182012-01-09T07:39:00.001-08:002012-01-09T07:39:40.471-08:00The Ways of the SluggardDevotional for 1.9.12<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">During the month of January we’re focusing on Wisdom about Work. Let’s turn to Proverbs chapter 26 to get wisdom that goes beyond the gold!<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">THE WAYS OF THE SLUGGARD<u5:p></u5:p></span></b><o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">She works with eager hands.</span></i></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">Proverbs 31:13b<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sluggard. Webster defines it as a habitually lazy person, synonymous with a couch potato and loafer. Proverbs chapter 26 gives word pictures to what it looks like on the street:<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The sluggard works harder at making excuses than doing the task at hand.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <i>The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets” </i>(v 13)! Really? In general, lions prowl at night and sleep during the day when people should be at work. Yet that’s the ridiculous mindset of sluggards; they dream up excuses for why now is not a good time to start a project or give their best to their work. Do you have a lion’s share of excuses for not doing the hard work of sticking to a budget, fixing nutritious meals for your family, cleaning the shower, or memorizing scripture? <u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The sluggard moves, but goes nowhere. </span></b><i><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on the bed </span></i><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(v 14, TNIV). Like a door that moves, but goes nowhere have you ever spent a day at work within your home or at the workplace and accomplished nothing? You were busy, busy, busy, but not on task to the things He called you to do. Are you running aimlessly or running in such a way as to get the prize (1 Corinthians 9:24, 26)?<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The sluggard is too lazy to feed herself. </span></b><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It’s one thing not to feel like cooking tonight, the height of laziness is not feeling like feeding yourself. <i>Sluggards bury their hands in the dish and are too lazy to bring them back to their mouths </i>(v 15, TNIV). The sluggard got the food to the plate, but then didn’t follow through by getting the food to her lips! Did you make New Year’s resolutions? Did you get your goals to the paper? Great! Now do the hard work and follow through, moving it from paper to action, from good intentions to accomplishments. <u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The sluggard rationalizes her laziness. </span></b><i><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sluggards are wiser in their own eyes than seven people who answer discreetly </span></i><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(v 16, TNIV). Her laziness makes sense to her. She’s convinced herself that she doesn’t have self-discipline, and she never will. This is just the way she’s been wired. When foolish thinking is coupled to laziness, and the wise counsel of others is rejected, a person is without hope. <i>Do you see people who are wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for fools than for them </i>(v. 12). Reject foolish thinking about your gifts and abilities and focus on truth: God gave YOU a spirit of self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7)!<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">Wisdom Step: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">Think about your work. Do you work with eager hands or are you a sluggard?</span><o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><i><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">Being a sluggard is the fool’s way of responding to God’s call on our lives to be productive and diligent for His glory.</span></i></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">Anthony Selvaggio<u5:p></u5:p><o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611180650640986091.post-13140350592834327782012-01-03T06:14:00.000-08:002012-01-03T06:14:19.557-08:00First Things First<div class="MsoNormal">Devotional for 1.3.12<br />
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Happy New Year, dear sisters! How are you? I pray well! In 2012 may He teach us wisdom in the inmost place as we seek to fear Him – honoring Him with our words, actions, and choices. Have a wisdom-filled week! <o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">During the month of January we’ll focus on Wisdom about Work. Let’s turn to Proverbs chapter 24 to get wisdom that goes beyond the gold!<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">FIRST THINGS FIRST<u5:p></u5:p></span></b><o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">Finish your outdoor work and get your fields ready; after that, build your house.</span></i></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">Proverbs 24:27<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Priorities. It’s what parents teach their children when they insist that they eat their veggies before they may have dessert, and finish their homework before going outside to play. Priorities are the way of the wise. The wise do their work in good order: first things first! <i>Finish your outdoor work and get your fields ready; after that, build your house </i>(Proverbs 24:27).<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Contrast the work ethic of the wise to the foolish. <i>I went past the field of the sluggard, past the vineyard of the man who lacks judgment; thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins. I applied my heart to what I saw: A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest – and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man </i>(Proverbs 24:30-34).<i> </i></span><o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Whether the work we do is in our homes, at a place of employment, or the volunteer work done for ministries like GEMS Girls’ Clubs, how can we be wise it?<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><ol start="1" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do your very best! </span></b><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Proverbs 31 woman teaches us this lesson well. She’s not just for Mothers’ Day sermons, ladies. Read her story. Be inspired by her strong character and work ethic. Learn from her resourcefulness and diligence. Do battle against the enemy who wants to use her story to intimidate Christian women and cause all sorts of insecurities to seep from our pores. Like this woman of noble character set about your work vigorously (Proverbs 31:17).<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></li>
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</div><ol start="2" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Complete the task! </span></b><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At one point the sluggard was at work in the vineyard. He initially invested labor and seed, but didn’t follow it through to completion. He neglected to finish his work (Proverbs 24:30-34)! How many half-finished projects do you and I have right now? First things first. Complete one task before beginning another!<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></li>
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</div><ol start="3" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Use your hands! </span></b><i><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lazy hands make a man </span></i><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(woman) <i>poor, but diligent hands bring wealth </i>(Proverbs 10:4). There is a time to use our hands to work and a time to fold our hands to rest. The wise apply their hearts to God’s wisdom about work and know when it is time for one and not the other.<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></li>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">Wisdom Step: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">What wisdom will you apply to your work today?<b> </b></span><o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><i><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">Refusal to embrace a diligent work ethic is sinful because it violates a primary call God has given us as Christians – to echo our Creator who works.</span></i></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">Anthony Selvaggio<u5:p></u5:p><o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611180650640986091.post-32286922107460241142011-12-19T05:13:00.001-08:002011-12-19T05:13:56.779-08:00Do What is Just and Right<div class="MsoNormal">Until we connect again via this update on January 2, we want to wish all of you His peace, comfort, and joy. Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year!<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Devotional for 12.19.11<br />
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We’ll again keep our thoughts focused on Wisdom about Integrity as we turn to Proverbs chapter 23 to get wisdom that goes beyond the gold!<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b>DO WHAT IS JUST AND RIGHT<u5:p></u5:p></b><o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i>Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless, for their Defender is strong; he will take up their case against you.</i></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">Proverbs 23:10-11<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The Israelites acquired their land by conquest, and every tribe and family considered its allotment or inheritance as a gift from God. David said, <i>The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance </i>(Psalm 16:6). With contentment and gratitude He acknowledged that all he had was a gift from God.<u5:p></u5:p><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Boundary stones were a common way of marking off property lines. Sadly, some didn’t see these stones as set in stone. They moved them to the right or the left, depending on what was most advantageous to them. It was subtle, a little push here, a small nudge there. They’d do just enough to gain the upper hand without being detected. <u5:p></u5:p><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It’s today’s equivalent to fudging on your taxes or your timecard, cheating the system, taking company resources for personal use, or withholding your tithe. What seems like a small thing in man’s eyes is theft in God’s. <u5:p></u5:p><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">God gives warning in Scripture: <i>Do not move an ancient boundary stone </i>(Proverbs 22:28, Deuteronomy 19:14, 27:17, Hosea 5:10). The consequences listed within these verses include being cursed and God’s wrath being poured out like a flood of water.<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">God desires that we be people of integrity who do what is just and right, especially in our relationships with the fatherless and widow. He is their Defender (Proverbs 23:10). He will take up their case against those who <i>deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless </i>(Isaiah 10:2).<u5:p></u5:p><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We’re in the midst of a season where there are ministries far and near (including GEMS!) asking for gifts, prayers, time, and resources to help the needy, widows, and fatherless. <i>This is what the LORD says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of his oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the alien, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place </i>(Jeremiah 22:33). <u5:p></u5:p><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Whether making decisions within the boundary lines He’s entrusted to you or responding to the boundary lines of the poor and needy, be a woman of integrity: Do what is just and right!<u5:p></u5:p><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Wisdom Step: </b>Read Psalm 82:3. How will you obey this command today?<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><i>Lord, to those who hunger, give bread. And to those who have bread, give the hunger for justice.</i></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">Latin American Prayer<u5:p></u5:p><o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611180650640986091.post-46209073185895511622011-12-12T07:02:00.001-08:002011-12-12T07:02:20.003-08:00A Good NameDevotional for 12.12.11<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">Hello! Are you ready for Christmas? When people ask that question they’re often wondering, “Are your presents bought and wrapped? Are your Christmas cards sent and the goodies baked?” That’s not the readiness that matters most! In this season of Advent may the preparation that tops our list be the preparation of our hearts as we remember His first coming and look forward to His next. Have a blessed week putting His name on display!<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Turn to Proverbs chapter 22 to get wisdom that goes beyond the gold!<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A GOOD NAME<u5:p></u5:p></span></b><o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">A good name is more desirable than great riches, <u5:p></u5:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.</span></i></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">Proverbs 22:1<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What do the names Nae, Percy, Bell, Rooney, and Bear have in common? Unless you’re a close friend or relative of my family, probably not much! That list includes my childhood nickname, and those of my siblings. We affectionately associate those names with one another yet today. <u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What names are personal to you? From given names to professional titles to pet names, each one of us has a name or two. For those who <i>kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name, </i>we’ve also been gifted the name child of God (Ephesians 3:14-15). <u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The names Christian, Daughter of the King, and Beloved originate with God. It’s because of His divine paternity and through His Son Jesus that we have a name that is more desirable than great riches and better than silver or gold (Proverbs 22:1). <u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To have a good name means to have a good reputation marked by integrity, godly character and conduct. It’s one thing to receive a good name from God, it’s quite another to live up to that name. <u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Women of integrity have a good name because they hallow God’s name. Jesus taught us to pray, <i>Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name </i>(Matthew 6:9). We hallow God’s name when we think on His holiness and “recognize Him as transcendent in every moral attribute” (John Lewis). We hallow His name when we sanctify God in our hearts, setting apart Christ as Lord (1 Peter 3:15). His name is hallowed when our thoughts, conversations, and actions honor Him, and regrettably, His name is profaned when we fail to live as He requires. <u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you were introduced to someone new in your community or at church and she said to you, “Oh, I’ve heard of you!” What do you think it is that she probably heard? Would it be your tender heart toward children, your prayer life, or your service projects? Or would it be that you’re a shopaholic, have control issues, or are updating your status on Facebook by the quarter hour? What is your name associated with first? Our integrity impacts our reputation, our reputation reflects our name, and more importantly, the holy name of God. <u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">Wisdom Step: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">Who are you trying to make a name for today? Seek to only desire and pursue His name and glory today and always.</span><o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><i>My dear Jesus, my Savior, is so deeply written in my heart, that I feel confident, that if my heart were to be cut open and chopped to pieces, the name of Jesus would be found written on every piece.<u5:p></u5:p></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">St. Ignatius of Antioch<u5:p></u5:p><o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611180650640986091.post-49357375138954557152011-12-05T09:28:00.001-08:002011-12-05T09:28:21.789-08:00Conduct = CharacterDevotional for 12.5.11<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">Happy December! Along with preparing our hearts during the season of Advent, we’ll join our GEMS in focusing on being wise in integrity. As leaders within this ministry it’s an important reminder to practice what we preach and be true to His Word in every area of our lives. Joining you on that journey. Have a blessed week!<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Turn to Proverbs chapter 21 to get wisdom that goes beyond the gold!<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">CONDUCT = CHARACTER<u5:p></u5:p></span></b><o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">The way of the guilty is devious, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.</span></i></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">Proverbs 21:8<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Our conduct points to our character. If our behavior is devious or scheming, it points to guilt. If our pattern of choices is upright it indicates innocence and purity of heart. More often than not, our conduct equates our character; our character and deeds tend to run plumb. <i>Even a child is known by his </i>(her) <i>actions, by whether his </i>(her) <i>conduct is pure and right </i>(Proverbs 20:11).<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Job was a man of integrity. <i>Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason” </i>(Job 2:3). <u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Though Job lost all that he had – his family and his possessions – he held fast to his integrity. He fell to the ground and worshiped, demonstrating that He loved God more than His gifts. <u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Job’s response to such mind-numbing devastation agitated his wife who said, <i>“Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!” </i>(Job 2:9) Curse God and die. That was Satan’s goal for Job and remains his objective for mankind yet today. <u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In spite of Job’s pain and suffering, his unanswered questions and unsupportive spouse and friends, Job kept his steps on God’s path; his feet did not slip. He said, <i>“Till I die, I will not deny my integrity”</i> (Job 27:5). Although he wasn’t sinless, he was forgiven, and knew the joy and freedom of living with a clear conscious.<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It’s complicated and pointblank exhausting, to cover up a lie with more lies, and deception with more deception. Foolish conduct leads to wickedness, death and destruction.<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The way of the wise has nothing to hide. It’s a straight path to God and abundant life. God’s desire for His children is to guide them in the way of wisdom and lead them along straight paths (Proverbs 4:11). In everything – at home and/or the workplace, when we surf the Internet and pay our bills, interact with friends and/or strangers, let’s set an example by being women of integrity. Like Job, until we die, may we not deny integrity! <u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">Wisdom Step: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">What kind of characters are you and I? Our conduct will point to the answer.</span><o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">May I be consistent in conversation and conduct,<u5:p></u5:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">the same alone as in company,<u5:p></u5:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">in prosperity and adversity,<u5:p></u5:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">accepting all Thy commandments as right,<u5:p></u5:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">and hating every false way.<u5:p></u5:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">The Valley of Vision – A collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611180650640986091.post-5671086215684374962011-11-28T04:03:00.001-08:002011-11-28T04:03:27.104-08:00Loyal FriendsDevotional for 11.28.11<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">Good morning, friends! What joy it is to be forever friends because we are sisters in Jesus! During the month of November we’ve joined the girls and counselors in focusing on wisdom about relationships. Let’s specifically think on the precious gift of friendship together one more time.<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Turn to Proverbs chapter 20 to get wisdom that goes beyond the gold!<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">LOYAL FRIENDS<u5:p></u5:p></span></b><o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">Many will say they are loyal friends,<u5:p></u5:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">but who can find one who is truly reliable?</span></i></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">Proverbs 20:6, NLT<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the book of Proverbs Solomon tells us that what each one of us desires <i>is unfailing love </i>(19:22). We want friends who will love us just the way we are, who will be there for us when we hurt, who will throw a party for us when we’re celebrating, who will extend forgiveness and grace when we mess up. <u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Solomon acknowledges that these friends are rare. <i>Many a man </i>(woman) <i>claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful man </i>(woman) <i>who can find? </i>(20:6) The Hebrew word that is often translated unfailing love is <i>hesed. </i>It’s a rich word that describes God’s covenant love – His mercy and steadfastness.<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lamentations 3:22-23, speaks of the merciful and steadfast love God has for us: <i>Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. <u5:p></u5:p></i></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">God is a Friend like no other. He loves us just the way we are – <i>God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us </i>(Romans 5:8). He’s there for us when we hurt – <i>He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds </i>(Psalm 147:3). He rejoices over us with singing (Zephaniah 3:17), forgives our failures (1 John 1:9), and <i>from the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another </i>(John 1:16).<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dear friends, since God so loved us </span></i><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">[with unfailing, merciful and steadfast love]<i>, we also ought to love one another </i>(1 John 4:11). Ruth demonstrated unfailing love to her mother-in-law Naomi when she said, <i>Don’t urge me to leave you or turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me” </i>(Ruth 1:16-17). <u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jonathan and David promised unfailing love to one another. <i>And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself </i>(1 Samuel 18:3). Their sworn friendship translated from words to action when Jonathan warned David that King Saul wanted to kill him, and when David showed kindness to Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth, providing for all his needs and inviting him to always eat at his table (2 Samuel 9). <u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Ruth” and “Jonathan”-like friends are a precious gift from God. May we seek loyal friends and be loyal friends who give unfailing love.<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">Wisdom Step: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">Think about your friendships, one by one. Are you demonstrating unfailing love?</span><o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">Happiness isn’t in possessions, education, or sensory ability. Happiness is found in relationships. And life’s greatest happiness is found in life’s greatest relationship: a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.<u5:p></u5:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">Kenneth L. Tangen<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";"><br />
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</span></div><u5:p></u5:p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611180650640986091.post-687392453392252562011-11-21T06:16:00.001-08:002011-11-21T06:16:39.709-08:00True Friendship<div class="MsoNormal">Devotional for 11.21.11 </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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Let’s turn to Proverbs chapter 19 together so we can get wisdom that goes beyond the gold!<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">TRUE FRIENDSHIP<u5:p></u5:p></span></b><o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">Wealth attracts many friends, but even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them.</span></i></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">Proverbs 19:4<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">*Sally was the new girl in our small fourth grade class. There was nothing beautiful or winsome about her. She smelled. She didn’t fit in. Thinking back on the way she dressed and the language she used, I shudder to think of what must’ve been going on in her life outside the protection of our school. Yet for a minute or two, first thing in the morning, she was the most popular child on the playground. That’s because Sally had access to candy – ring pops, candy necklaces, bubble gum, and more. She’d come with a pocketful; first come, first serve. Like a swarm of bees we gathered around Sally until the last piece of candy was dispersed. Then just as quickly as we congregated, we scattered, savoring her treats, but rejecting her. It breaks my heart to this day as I wonder whatever happened to Sally.<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What took place on our school playground is not unique or isolated. In Proverbs 19:4 and 7 we learn, <i>Wealth attracts many friends, but even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them. The poor are shunned by all their relatives – how much more do their friends avoid them! Though the poor pursue them with pleading, they are nowhere to be found.<u5:p></u5:p></i></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The wealthy have many friends, the poor has a friend. It’s a sad commentary on the reality of human relationships. Left to the natural inclination of our sinful hearts, we’re attracted to people who have things we want – whether that’s resources, opportunities, or position. If our primary goal in seeking a friend is what we will gain, then the flip side of the coin is that those who lack resources will be bankrupt of friends as well. <u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Who are your and my friends? Do we love them for who they are or what they can do for us? Do we choose friends based on their Christ-like character or out of mere convenience? Are our relationships sacrificial or self-seeking? <u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 Corinthians 13 wisely points us to what true friendship looks like: <i>Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, doesn’t have a swelled head, doesn’t force itself on others, isn’t always “me first,” doesn’t fly off the handle, doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, doesn’t revel when others grovel, takes pleasures in the flowering of truth, puts up with anything, trusts God always, always looks for the best, never looks back, but keeps going to the end </i>(MSG).<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">Wisdom Step: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">Think about your closest friends. What is the motivation for choosing them as friends? How can you love them the way God loves you? <u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">We can’t be stingy about the way we love people; <u5:p></u5:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">go for broke.<u5:p></u5:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">Bob Goff<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">*Name has been changed.</span><o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p><u5:p></u5:p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611180650640986091.post-70320115651053026632011-11-07T07:06:00.001-08:002011-11-07T07:06:25.623-08:00In CommunityDevotional for 11.7.11<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">Let’s turn to Proverbs chapter 18 together so we can get wisdom that goes beyond the gold!<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">IN COMMUNITY<u5:p></u5:p></span></b><o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">An unfriendly man </span></i><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">(woman) <i>pursues selfish ends; he </i>(she) <i>defies all sound judgment.<u5:p></u5:p></i></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">Proverbs 18:1<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Although Muppet character Oscar the Grouch lives on Sesame Street, you may know a person or two in your neighborhood with a character quality that resonates with his name. Proverbs 18:1 has a clear message for grouches: <i>An unfriendly man </i>(woman) <i>pursues selfish ends; he </i>(she) <i>defies all sound judgment. </i>Although it serves as a reminder for all of us to be friendlier and to smile more, it runs much deeper than that. At its core, it is wisdom about living in community, in relationship with one another.<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He </span></i><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(She) <i>who <b><u>separates</u> </b>himself </i>(herself) <i>seeks his </i>(her) <i>own desire, he </i>(she) <b><i>quarrels against all sound wisdom</i></b><i> </i>(NASB, emphasis added).<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A man </span></i><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(woman) <i>who <b><u>isolates</u></b> himself </i>(herself) <i>seeks his </i>(her) <i>own desire; he </i>(she) <b><i>rages against all wise judgment</i></b><i> </i>(NKJV, emphasis added).<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><u><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Loners</span></u></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> who care only for themselves <b>spit on the common good</b> </span></i><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(MSG, emphasis added).<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Proverbs 18:1 message is clear. It’s foolish to intentionally separate yourself from the faithful and wise community of believers. There should be no lone rangers within God’s family. Stubborn independence goes against sound wisdom, wise judgment, and the common good of the body.<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It’s hard work to live in community. Personalities clash. Opinions collide. Petty disagreements ignite into full-flamed conflict. When the dust settles, foolish people may get what they desire, but they’ll lose out on the sound wisdom and relationships that they need.<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The New Testament word for community is </span><i><span style="font-family: Rosetta, serif;">koinoœnia. </span></i><span style="font-family: Rosetta, serif;">It means partnership, communion, participation, and fellowship. We celebrate <i>koinoœnia </i>in Communion. We put it into practice when we share our lives (1 Thessalonians 2:8), our property (Acts 4:32), the gospel (Philippians 1:5), and share in Jesus’ suffering and glory (1 Peter 4:13). </span><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Can you think of someone within God’s family whom you’ve separated yourself from or maybe he or she has made the choice to separate from you? Paul gives us practical wisdom on relationships in Romans 12:9-21, including this command: <i>If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone </i>(v18). Is that always easy? No. Is it the wisest choice you can make? Every time.<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">Wisdom Step: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Rosetta","serif";">If there is division between you and another person within the body of Christ today, seek to do your part to live in community. </span><o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><i><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">If we do not give thanks daily for the Christian fellowship in which we have been placed, even where there is no great experience, no discoverable riches, but much weakness, small faith, and difficulty; if on the contrary, we only keep complaining to God that everything is so paltry and petty, so far from what we expected, then we hinder God from letting our fellowship grow according to the measure and riches which are there for us all in Jesus Christ.<u5:p></u5:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: "Rosetta","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Dietrich Bonhoeffer<u5:p></u5:p></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611180650640986091.post-76997887014457599042011-10-31T07:45:00.001-07:002011-10-31T07:45:39.280-07:00Wisdom About RelationshipsDevotional for 10.31.11<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">Hello, friends. What a dear word: Friends. Throughout the month of November we’re going to focus on the wisdom the book of Proverbs gives us about our relationships. Let’s give thanks again to God for the gift of relationships and for the especially sweet treasure of the sisterhood. <o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Let’s turn to Proverbs chapter 17 together so we can get wisdom that goes beyond the gold!<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b>WISDOM ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS<u5:p></u5:p></b><o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i>Better a dry crust with peace and quiet </i></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i>than a house full of feasting, with strife.</i></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">Proverbs 17:1<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">As fall transitions to winter, there are changes in wardrobes and food choices. The capris and t-shirts are traded in for jeans and sweaters. The menu moves from chicken on the grill to comforting chicken noodle soup on the stovetop. There’s comfort in the warmth of a fireplace, a mug of hot chocolate, and extra quilts on the bed.<u5:p></u5:p><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Relationships are one of the comforts of human life that God has gifted us. He intends for us to experience comfort and joy in the love, peace, and unity that are characteristics of wise relationships.<u5:p></u5:p><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><b>Those who are wise in relationships care more about who’s around the table then what’s on the table. </b><i>Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife </i>(Proverbs 17:1). Experts agree that sharing meals strengthens family relationships. Children who eat regularly with their families and feel a sense of peace and security around the table, experience better grades, healthier eating habits, closer relationships with their parents and siblings, and a greater ability to resist negative peer pressure.<u5:p></u5:p><o:p></o:p></li>
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</div><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><b>Those who are wise in relationships extend grace to all. </b><i>He (She) who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends </i>(Proverbs 17:9). When people makes mistakes the wise cover it with grace and love. The foolish gossip about it. One strengthens relationships; the other destroys them. <i>So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you </i>(Matthew 7:12).<u5:p></u5:p><o:p></o:p></li>
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</div><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><b>Those who are wise in relationships are quick to help those in need. </b><i>A friend is loyal, and a brother </i>(sister)<i> is born to help in time of need </i>(Proverbs 17:17). True friends stick together in the good times and the bad. <i>If one falls down, his </i>(her) <i>friend can help him </i>(her) <i>up. But pity the man </i>(woman) <i>who falls and has no one to help him </i>(her) <i>up </i>(Ecclesiastes 4:10)! <u5:p></u5:p><o:p></o:p></li>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Jesus is the glorious, perfect fulfillment of how to be wise in our relationships. He is a friend to sinners, one<i> who sticks closer than a brother </i>(Proverbs 18:24), and a servant of all, who in love and humility, made Himself nothing, becoming obedient to death so we can have a forever relationship with God (Philippians 2:5-11).<u5:p></u5:p><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Wisdom Step: </b>Thank God for the relationships you have. Pursue wise, practical, and fun ways to strengthen your relationships today. <o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><i>To have a good friend is one of the highest delights of life; to be a good friend is one of the noblest and the most difficult undertakings. <u5:p></u5:p></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">Unknown<u5:p></u5:p><o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611180650640986091.post-34457495603657325822011-10-24T06:48:00.001-07:002011-10-24T06:48:16.726-07:00The Heart/Lip ConnectionDevotional for 10.24.11<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">Blessed Monday to each one of you! How are you? What’s stirring in your heart today? That impacts so much, doesn’t it? The things that we think about and that we treasure within our hearts, impact our attitudes, our choices, <i>and</i> our words.<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Let’s turn to Proverbs chapter 16 together so we can get wisdom that goes beyond the gold!<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b><span>THE HEART/LIP CONNECTION<u5:p></u5:p></span></b><o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i>A wise man’s </i>(woman’s) <i>heart guides his </i>(her) <i>mouth,<u5:p></u5:p></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i>and his </i>(her) <i>lips promote instruction.<u5:p></u5:p></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">Proverbs 16:23<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>The book of James, chapter 3, provides practical and truth-filled visuals about our tongues. A small bit can turn a large horse. Even in strong winds, a small rudder can steer a huge ship. A small spark can ignite a great forest on fire. And our teeny-tiny tongues contain that same fiery power for good or for evil.<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span>With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, </span></i><span>(my sisters), <i>this should not be </i>(James 3:9-10). This should <b>not</b> be, yet too often it is. James speaks of the irony of how <i>all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man </i>(or woman)<i> can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison </i>(James 3:7-8).<u5:p></u5:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span><span> </span></span></i><span><span> </span><u5:p></u5:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>To be wise women who speak wise words, we need to fill our hearts and minds with God’s wisdom. Our heart guides our mouth (Proverbs 16:23a). <i>From a wise mind comes wise speech </i>(Proverbs 16:23a, NLT). Jesus said, <i>“For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man </i>(woman) <i>brings good things out of the good stored up in him </i>(her), <i>and the evil man </i>(woman) <i>brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him </i>(her)<i>.” </i>(Matthew 12:34-35) We cannot ignore the connection between our heart and our lips! This is an especially critical reminder for those who teach and are in leadership positions within their clubs and churches. <u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>When we fear the LORD and gain His wisdom, the way we lead and instruct those we disciple will reflect that wisdom. According to Proverbs 16 our words will be . . . <u5:p></u5:p></span></div><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><b><span>From the LORD.</span></b><span> He gives the reply of the tongue (v 1)<u5:p></u5:p><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><b><span>Honest.</span></b><span> Truth will be spoken (v 13) <u5:p></u5:p><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><b><span>Pleasant.</span></b><span> Learning will increase (v 21)<u5:p></u5:p><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><b><span>Sweet. </span></b><span>Health will be given to the body (v 24)<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<u5:p></u5:p>
<li class="MsoNormal"><b><span>Patient. </span></b><span>Self-control will be kept (v 32)<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>Sadly, the opposite is also true. Foolish words come with painful consequences. When we speak what seems right to us instead of speaking from God’s wisdom, it leads to death (v 25). When our words are poison instead of wise, they scorch like fire (v 27); they stir up dissension, and separate friends (v 28).<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Wisdom Step: </b>Think about the connection between your heart and lips in your leadership positions within your home, club, church, and community. <span> </span><o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><i><span>God be in my head, and in my understanding;<u5:p></u5:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><i><span>God be in my eyes, and in my looking;<u5:p></u5:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><i><span>God be in my mouth, and in my speaking;<u5:p></u5:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><i><span>God be in my heart, and in my thinking;<u5:p></u5:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><i><span>God be at my end, and in my departing.</span></i></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span>Old Sarum Primer, 1558<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611180650640986091.post-87896122138033781022011-10-17T07:09:00.001-07:002011-10-17T07:09:27.003-07:00An Apt ReplyDevotional for 10.17.11<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">Let’s turn to Proverbs chapter 15 together so we can get wisdom that goes beyond the gold!<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b><span>AN APT REPLY<u5:p></u5:p></span></b><o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i>A man </i>(woman) <i>finds joy in giving an apt reply –<u5:p></u5:p></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i>and how good is a timely word.</i></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">Proverbs 15:23<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>Timing is everything, they say, and according to Proverbs 15:23 there’s special joy when we give an apt and timely word. Maybe that’s because it’s so rare when we say the right thing at just the right time! In haste or frustration we tend to speak too soon or too much. In retrospect we think of the should’ves – Should’ve listened closer, should’ve talked less, should’ve said this, shouldn’t have said that . . . <u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>How do we gain wisdom on giving an apt reply? One of the ways is to look to Jesus, the greatest of all communicators!<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span>Jesus listened and paid attention to people. </span></b><span>An apt and timely word begins with closed lips and open ears. Concentrate on what people say and listen closely to their words (Proverbs 4:20). Jesus paid attention. He noticed Zacchaeus in the treetop (Luke 19:1-10), in a large crowd He felt the touch of a woman who was subject to bleeding for twelve years (Mark 5:24-34), and He stooped to hold babies and bless children (Luke 18:15-17). When people were hurting, hungry, and lacked hope, He listened, paid attention, and responded with love.<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span>Jesus asked a lot of questions. </span></b><i><span>The first to present his </span></i><span>(her) <i>case seems right, till another comes forward and questions him </i>(her) (Proverbs 18:17). Asking sincere questions invites people into the activity of discovery. It’s often more effective for people to discover the truth on their own then for us to bulldoze our way through the conversation with bullet points of advice and three-point sermons of how they should make wiser choices. Although the Gospels only record a fraction of Jesus’ words, they contain more than one hundred fifty questions that Jesus asked! Jesus could’ve told His disciples, “I am the Christ.” Instead He invited them into the discovery and asked, “Who do you say I am?” (Mark 8:29). He could’ve told the religious leaders that His authority comes from God. Instead He answered their questions with questions that were imbedded with truth. Do you think questions are an effective way to give an apt reply?</span><o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span>Jesus spoke the truth in love. </span></b><span>An apt and timely word is motivated by love.<b> </b><i>All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse</i> (Proverbs 8:8). Jesus was the Truth and He spoke the truth. Not to prove that He was smart or right, or to be well-liked or well-known. He spoke the truth because He loved people. Jesus told His heavenly Father, <i>“I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them” </i>(John 17:26). <span> </span><u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Wisdom Step: </b>Read through one of the Gospels this week. Record and learn from the ways that Jesus gave an apt and timely word. <span> </span><o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><i><span>Jesus isn't wowed by fancy words. Keep it simple: Love God; love people; and do stuff. That about covers it</span></i><i><span>.<u5:p></u5:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span>Bob Goff<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span><br />
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</span></div><u5:p></u5:p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611180650640986091.post-90068464524189079842011-10-10T04:35:00.000-07:002011-10-10T04:35:26.687-07:00Healing Words<div class="MsoNormal">Devotional for 10.10.11<br />
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Happy Monday, dear sisters! And Happy Thanksgiving to our Canadian sisters and their families! Giving thanks to God for each one of you today and all season long!<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Let’s turn to Proverbs chapter 14 together so we can get wisdom that goes beyond the gold!<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b><span>HEALING WORDS<u5:p></u5:p></span></b><o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i>Fools mock at making amends for sin,</i></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i>but goodwill is found among the upright. </i></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">Proverbs 14:9<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>Last week a Club Coordinator shared how their counselor team had intentionally focused on wisdom about words at their club meeting. When the girls arrived they wrote words of encouragement on lips cut out of red construction paper and posted them to their club’s “Wisdom Wall.” For a large group activity each girl had a piece of paper taped to her back and they wrote nice things about one another on that paper. What fun they had giving and receiving those uplifting words! <u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>“As one of the counselors was leaving club, I noticed that she was upset,” the Club Coordinator said. She asked her about it and the counselor said nothing was wrong. She questioned her again, and the counselor said she was fine. She probed further and the truth came out. Another counselor had made a snide comment that had crushed her spirit.<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>The Club Coordinator lamented, “How can we focus for two hours on being wise about words and still wound one another before the night is over?” I had asked myself a similar question earlier that week. Within 48 hours of writing a devotional about speaking what is pleasant, beautiful, and kind, I pulled out the sword of sarcasm, wounding a family member instead of nourishing her soul with what was fitting and appropriate. What a battle it is to consistently be wise with our words!<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>Romans 8:1 reminds us that <i>there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. </i>Jesus paid for that sin on the cross. Our job is to repent to God and to others, receive His grace, and press on to be the wise women He calls us to be.<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>Some of the best healing words that we can gift to one another is “I’m sorry,” “Please forgive me,” “I love you.” <u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span>Fools mock at making amends for sin </span></i><span>(Proverbs 14:9a). They dismiss and excuse their reckless words with, “She had it coming<i>, </i>it just slipped out, it’s no big deal . . .” They fail to comprehend that God hears their words and will hold them accountable for each one. Jesus said, <i>“But I tell you that men </i>(and women)<i> will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned” </i>(Matthew 12:36-37). <i>But goodwill is found among the upright </i>(Proverbs 14:9b). Those who speak wisely, remembering that God hears each word they say, will experience favor and grace in their relationships with Him and with others (Proverbs 3:34, 11:20).<u5:p></u5:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Wisdom Step: </b>What words of repentance and restoration do you and I need to speak today? <span> </span><o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i>Cold words freeze people and hot words scorch them, and bitter words make them bitter, and wrathful words make them wrathful. Kind words also produce their image on men’s souls; and what a beautiful image it is. They soothe, and quiet, and comfort the hearer.</i></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span>Blaise Pascal<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span><br />
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</span></div><u5:p></u5:p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611180650640986091.post-30443461031611833432011-10-03T05:56:00.000-07:002011-10-03T05:56:07.411-07:00Open Them, Shut ThemDevotional for 10.3.11<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">Happy October, dear sisters in Jesus! I hope you’re all well. What’s the last thing that you ate today? If it was your foot, then this devotional may resonate with you. May all the words of our mouths . . . be pleasing in His sight and to His ears. Seeking to guard my mouth with you!<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Let’s turn to Proverbs chapter 13 together so we can get wisdom that goes beyond the gold!<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b><span>OPEN THEM, SHUT THEM<u5:p></u5:p></span></b><o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i>He </i>(She) <i>who guards his </i>(her) <i>lips guards his </i>(her) <i>life, but he </i>(she) <i>who speaks rashly will come to ruin.<u5:p></u5:p></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">Proverbs 13:3<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i><span>Open them, shut them. Open them, shut them.<u5:p></u5:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i><span>Give a little clap.<u5:p></u5:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i><span>Open them, shut them. Open them, shut them.<u5:p></u5:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i><span>Lay them in your lap.<u5:p></u5:p></span></i><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>This fun hands-on song for children is applicable to our lips. There is a time to open our mouths and a time to shut them. To get the timing right, we must guard the gate of our lips with God’s wisdom!<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>The wise open their lips . . .<u5:p></u5:p></span></div><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><span>To speak what is right, true, good, and honest (Proverbs 8:6, 12:19, 12:14, 24:26). <u5:p></u5:p><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span>To nourish other people’s souls with hope and healing (Proverbs 10:21, 12:18).<u5:p></u5:p><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span>To share knowledge, understanding, and wisdom (Proverbs 15:7).<u5:p></u5:p><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span>To speak what is pleasant, beautiful, and kind (Proverbs 16:24)<u5:p></u5:p><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span>To say what is fitting and appropriate (Proverbs 10:32)<u5:p></u5:p><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>With many of us having to admit that we’re rarely at a loss for words, can it be said of you and me that we only open our lips to speak <i>what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen </i>(Ephesians 4:29)? Do our words give life and preserve life? Is the motive behind our words to uplift and extend grace?<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>If not, we need to shut our lips! </span>Wise women stop talking when they’re tempted to fault-find, grumble, complain, gossip, lie, exaggerate, and criticize. If these words reflect our patterns of speech around the dinner table, at lunch break, via email, or even during prayer request times within our small groups, we need to get to the root of the matter and it’s not our lips – it’s our heart! <o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">What we say reflects the condition of our heart. Jesus said, <i>For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man </i>(woman) <i>brings good things out of the good stored up in him </i>(her), <i>and the evil man </i>(woman) <i>brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him </i>(her) (Matthew 12:34-35). When the Holy Spirit controls our words and the motives behind them, wise and edifying words will be sure to follow. <o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Be wise and make David’s prayer your own. <i>Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips </i>(Psalm 141:3). <o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Wisdom Step: </b>Not sure if you should open your lips or shut them? Lay your words in His lap – surrendering the motives of the heart to Him. <span> </span><o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i>The words we say not only have shelf life, but have the ability to shape life. Choose well.</i></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span>Bob Goff<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span><br />
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</span></div><u5:p></u5:p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611180650640986091.post-41523001560868660712011-09-26T03:57:00.000-07:002011-09-26T03:57:12.102-07:00Healthy RootsDevotional for 9.26.11<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">Good morning, dear sisters in Jesus! How are you? I pray well. The hymn, <i>How Firm a Foundation, </i>was running through my mind as I read Proverbs 12. Read along, sing along, and celebrate that <i>though all hell should endeavor to shake, </i>He <i>will never, no never, no never forsake! </i>We cannot be uprooted when our souls are anchored to Jesus and His excellent Word!<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Let’s turn to Proverbs chapter 12 together so we can get wisdom that goes beyond the gold!<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b><span>HEALTHY ROOTS<u5:p></u5:p></span></b><o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i>A man </i>(woman) <i>cannot be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted.<u5:p></u5:p></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">Proverbs 12:3<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>The health of a tree is dependent on its root system. Healthy roots equate healthy trees. Diseased and severely injured roots often result in the tree needing to be removed. <u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>The church is God’s field (1 Corinthians 3:9) and the health of the church is dependent on its root system. As Jesus sows the seed of His Word into the hearts of people, the enemy is at work attacking the roots. <i>The evil one comes and snatches away what was sown. </i>Life gets hard; persecution comes; hearts are uprooted. Worry and anxiety trigger disease within the root system. The deceitfulness of wealth injures the roots and makes it unfruitful (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-22). <u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span>But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man </span></i><span>(woman) <i>who hears the word and understands it. He </i>(She) <i>produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown </i>(Matthew 13:23). When the seed is rooted in the firm foundation of God’s excellent Word, <i>the righteous cannot be uprooted </i>(Proverbs 12:3b)! Their house will stand firm (Proverbs 12:7b) and their roots will flourish (Proverbs 12:12b).<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>How strong is your root system? How healthy is mine? Things may look good from the topsoil up – faithful in church attendance, active in GEMS and other ministries, quick to volunteer and to tell people that we’ll pray for them, but what about our roots? Just because things currently look good above ground, doesn’t mean all is healthy and well underneath.<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>The vital function of a tree’s root system is to anchor the portion of the tree above ground and to absorb and transport water and minerals from the soil to the rest of the tree. <span> </span><u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>Healthy root systems are anchored to God’s Word. The righteous delight in God’s law and meditate on it day and night (Psalm 1:2). They accept His word, store up His commands within them, turn their ear to wisdom, and apply their hearts to understanding (Proverbs 2:1-2). They do what it says! Is that true of you and me? If not, we need to anchor our roots!<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>Healthy root systems absorb and transport the living water and bread of life to every word, action, and thought. The righteous remain in Jesus, the true vine, and He remains in them (John 15:1-4). Is that true of you and me? If not, we need to nourish our roots! <u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Wisdom Step: </b>Do you see signs and symptoms of root disease in your life? If so, be wise and go to God and His Word for restoration. <o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i>The one who sinks the roots of his choices, allegiance and commitment deep into God and His ways will find security and longevity. Living God’s way brings stability and fruitfulness.</i></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span>John A. Kitchen<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span><br />
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</span></div><u5:p></u5:p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611180650640986091.post-60597876546211771312011-09-19T08:00:00.001-07:002011-09-19T08:00:32.943-07:00The Perils of Pride<div class="MsoNormal">Hello! I hope and pray that this finds all of you in a good place – thanking God for His wonders and recounting His love and goodness. You are dear sisters in Jesus to faithfully pray for and give of your time and energy so that girls and women everywhere <i>will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD</i> (Psalm 40:3). <o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Let’s turn to Proverbs chapter 11 together so we can get wisdom that goes beyond the gold!<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b><span>THE PERILS OF PRIDE<u5:p></u5:p></span></b><o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i>When pride comes, then comes disgrace,</i></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i>but with humility comes wisdom.</i></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">Proverbs 11:2<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>Aaron and Miriam had some issues. Pride and jealousy had blown into their thinking and inflated their egos. They were resentful of Moses’ popularity and asked one another, <i>“Has the LORD spoken only through Moses? Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” </i>(Numbers 12:2)<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>After all, their brother Moses wasn’t the only one involved in the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt. Aaron figured he was the only reason Moses took the first step in this whole journey. Can you hear the possible sibling putdowns as Aaron says to Miriam, “You remember how he begged God to send someone else to go talk to Pharaoh? And God pointed him to <i>my</i> gifts. God said that He knew that <i>I</i> could speak well!” (Exodus 4:13-14) Miriam had her own contributions she could’ve touted. “<i>I’m</i> a prophetess and do you remember how all the women followed <i>me</i> when we sang and danced after we crossed the Red Sea?” (Exodus 15:20-21)<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>What a drastic difference between the pride of Aaron and Miriam and the humility of Moses – <i>a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth </i>(Numbers 12:3). Proverbs 11:2 says that when pride comes, disgrace will follow. Aaron and Miriam experienced the perils of pride in tangible ways when the LORD’s anger burned against them for speaking against His servant Moses. Miriam’s skin became leprous like snow, resulting in a seven-day confinement outside of the camp (Numbers 12:9-10, 14).<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>Sometimes we smoke screen pride. Like Aaron and Miriam, we complain about one thing (for them it was Moses marrying a Cushite woman), when the real issue is within ourselves. Sometimes our self-inflated superiority comes out with a rapid succession of “I, me, my” statements or “If I want something done right I need to do it myself.” No matter how we dice it, pride is pride and God hates it (Proverbs 8:13). <u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>In his book, <i>Humility True Greatness, </i>C.J. Mahaney writes that pride has only one end: “Self-glorification. That’s the motive and ultimate purpose of pride – to rob God of legitimate glory and to pursue self-glorification, contending for supremacy with Him.” <u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>Robbing God of His glory is a serious offense. The ongoing battle in our hearts and minds between pride and humility is real and perilous. May we wisely seek to have the attitude of Christ Jesus <i>who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped </i>(Philippians 2:6).<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Wisdom Step: </b>What segment of your heart contains vain conceit today? Respond to it in light of God’s holiness and Jesus’ humility.<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i>At every stage of our Christian development and in every sphere of our Christian discipleship pride is the greatest enemy and humility our greatest friend.</i></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span>John Stott<u5:p></u5:p></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611180650640986091.post-15265487961381884482011-09-12T08:10:00.001-07:002011-09-12T08:10:42.287-07:00The Long ViewDevotional for 9.12.11<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">Let’s turn to Proverbs 10 to get wisdom that goes beyond the gold!<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b><span>THE LONG VIEW<u5:p></u5:p></span></b><o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i>The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry </i></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i>but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.</i></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">Proverbs 10:3<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>How often have you heard the expression, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is”?<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>That is an applicable rule of thumb when discerning the gimmicks of sales personnel and telemarketers. We must be careful that we do not apply that same thinking to God’s Word. It’s different with God. It’s <i>always</i> different with God. When He tells us something in the Bible that sounds too good to be true, take Him at His word. <u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>Within chapter 10 of Proverbs are two verses that sound too good to be true:<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i><span>The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry<u5:p></u5:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i><span>but he thwarts the craving of the wicked </span></i><span>(v 3).<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i><span>What the wicked dreads will overtake him </span></i><span>(her);<u5:p></u5:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i><span>What the righteous desire will be granted </span></i><span>(v. 24).<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>What do God’s children do with these verses? We know from history and personal experience that the wicked can prosper and the righteous do indeed suffer. Paul E. Kopak wrote, “</span><span>Christians must avoid mechanistic understandings of God’s moral order and remember that the long view calls them to affirm God’s care even when present circumstances do not appear to show it.”</span><o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>We need the long view that David gives in Psalm 37: <i>Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away </i>(v. 1-2). <i>Do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret – it leads only to evil </i>(v. 7-8).<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>Look at the long view! Look past today’s circumstances by looking back: <i>I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread </i>(Psalm 37:25). Look beyond the here and now by looking forward: <i>Those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. The meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace </i>(Psalm 37:9, 11). The long view trusts that God is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do. He’s<span> </span>Jehovah Jireh – God our Provider, El Roi – God Who Sees, Jehovah Ezer – The Lord our Helper, Jehovah Shammah – The Lord is There, El Shaddai – God Almighty. By faith, the long view is sure of what it hopes for and is certain of what it does not see (Hebrews 11:1). <u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Wisdom Step: </b>In what circumstances do you struggle to take God at His Word? Ask Him for power to overcome your unbelief so you can see the long view.<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i>True, the immediate reward of the righteous often appears to be only pain and toil, but, in the end, God Himself guarantees that the things they have most longed for they will have: the conscious enjoyment of His full presence. </i>[See Matthew 5:6].</div><u5:p></u5:p> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span>John A. Kitchen<u5:p></u5:p></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611180650640986091.post-2843678087575015292011-09-06T07:04:00.000-07:002011-09-06T07:04:10.552-07:00Being TeachableDevotional for 9.6.11<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">There’s a special energy in school hallways this time of year. The excitement for learning is contagious – especially among students in the lower elementary grades. That enthusiasm is evident in GEMS counselors as well. What a privilege and joy it is to teach girls. Do we also count it all joy when others teach and instruct us? That’s what we’re going to think on together. Let’s turn to Proverbs 9 and get some wisdom on being teachable.<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b><span>BEING TEACHABLE<u5:p></u5:p></span></b><o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i>Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse.</i></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">Proverbs 9:7<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>A wife was making a breakfast of fried eggs for her husband. Suddenly, her husband burst into the kitchen. “Careful,” he said. “CAREFUL! Put in more butter! You're cooking too many at once. TOO MANY! Turn them! TURN THEM NOW! We need more butter. Gracious! WHERE are we going to get MORE BUTTER? They're going to STICK! Careful. CAREFUL! I said be CAREFUL! You NEVER listen to me when you're cooking! Never! Turn them! Hurry up! Are you CRAZY? Have you LOST your mind? Don't forget to salt them. You know you always forget to salt them. Use the salt. USE THE SALT! THE SALT!”<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>The wife stared at him. “What in the world is wrong with you? You think I don't know how to fry a couple of eggs?” <u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>The husband calmly replied, “I just wanted to show you what it feels like when I'm driving” (Author unknown).<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>Although this story is taken to an extreme, it does raise the question: How well do you and I receive correction when it’s merited and necessary? Are we approachable and teachable? Do we appreciate or resent spouses, employers, and sisters and brothers in Christ who speak the truth in love?<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>Our character is revealed by the way we give and receive correction. The book of Proverbs calls those who do not listen to correction “Mockers.” A mocker is proud and arrogant. She does not listen to rebuke, resents correction, and insults and even hates those who suggest course-corrections to her (Proverbs 21:24, 13:1, 15:12, 9:8). <u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>Wise women heed instruction from His Word, His Spirit, and His people. <i>Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning </i>(Proverbs 9:9). <i><span> </span></i>They love those who care enough to speak wisdom into their lives, even when it hurts. They apply that wisdom to their lives and experience its reward (Proverbs 9:8, 12).<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>It feels a little bit like sitting in a dentist chair to willingly enter into a conversation with someone who tells us that our words or actions were careless or even sinful. Correction cuts. Rebuke hurts. Those who are wise will get past that pain rather than letting it fester. They’ll pray for discernment, measure it against the standard of God’s Word, and grow through it.<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Wisdom Step: </b>How teachable are you? Be wise and loving in how you give <i>and </i>receive correction.<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><i><span>If any speak ill of thee, flee home to thy own conscience, and examine thy heart; if thou be guilty, it is a just correction; if not guilty, it is a fair instruction; make use of both, so shalt thou distill honey out of gall, and out of an open enemy create a secret friend.<u5:p></u5:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span>Francis Quaries<u5:p></u5:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span><br />
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</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611180650640986091.post-84571555862664522422011-08-29T04:36:00.001-07:002011-08-29T04:36:29.334-07:00Wisdom's Call<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Devotional for 8.29.11 <br />
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What’s calling out to you today? A child? The telephone? Email? A to-do list? An employer? A neighbor? A parent or friend?<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Do you hear her? There’s someone else calling. Her name is Wisdom! Let’s page to Proverbs 8 and do more than hear. Let’s listen; let’s listen well.<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt;">WISDOM’S CALL<u></u><u></u></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?<u></u><u></u></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Proverbs 8:1<u></u><u></u></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">When my daughters played sports, and I was in the stands amidst the other parents, if any of the children called out, “Mom!” on cue, every mother’s head turned in that direction. We heard the call “Mom!” and responded – whether it was our child or not!<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">In chapter 8 of Proverbs, Wisdom calls out with raised voice: <i>You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, gain understanding. Listen, for I have worthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right</i>(Proverbs 8:5-6). Wisdom loudly calls out, but do we hear and respond to her call?<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">In the New Testament Jesus repeatedly said to His listeners, <i>“Whoever has ears, let them hear” </i>(Matthew 11:15, 13:43, Mark 4:9 . . .)<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Hearing and listening can be two different things. I can hear my husband and nod at timely intervals, without listening to a word that he has to say. We can do the same with wisdom. We can read Proverbs and even teach Proverbs, without listening to a word that the Lord has for us.<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Ears that really hear and listen, respond with obedience. Their hearts are not calloused to wisdom’s call; they are doing what He decrees! James asked, <i>Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them</i> <i>show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom </i>(James 3:13).<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Those who listen will be happy and blessed. </span></b><i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Now then, my children,</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <i>listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway </i>(Proverbs 8:32, 34).<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Those who listen will find true life. </span></b><i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">For those who find me find life and receive favor from the LORD. But those who fail to find me harm themselves; all who hate me love death </span></i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">(Proverbs 8:35-36). Jesus repeats that life-giving truth in all four gospels. <i>For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul </i>(Mark 8:35-36)?<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Sometimes we can be guilty of “selective hearing” – hearing what we want to hear, and tuning out what we don’t want to apply to our lives. There’s a deadly price tag to tuning out wisdom’s call. May we hear, listen, obey, and find true life.<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Wisdom Step: </span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Today measure your wisdom by what you do, instead of what you know. On a scale of 1 to 10, how wise are you?<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Wisdom is hearing and </span></i><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">doing</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <i>the Word of God.<u></u><u></u></i></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">John Piper<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611180650640986091.post-2164004855191999872011-08-22T08:54:00.000-07:002011-08-22T08:54:00.967-07:00Proverbs 7 WarningsDevotional for 8.22.11<br />
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">PROVERBS 7 WARNINGS<u5:p></u5:p></span></b><o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><i>Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call understanding your kinsman; they will keep you from the adulteress, from the wayward wife with her seductive words.</i></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">Proverbs 7:4-5<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">With the Bible heading, <i>Warning Against the Adulteress, </i>Proverbs 7 seems like a chapter exclusively for men. The reality is that each page of God’s book is for each one of His children – male and female. The warnings given to the young men in Proverbs 7 are needed by women of all ages, too.<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In an online article posted on April 7, 2011, <i>Guardian</i> reported that more and more women are using pornography. “At Quit Porn Addiction, the UK’s main porn counseling service, almost one in three clients are women struggling with their own porn use, says founder and counselor Jason Dean. Two years ago, there were none. While more than six out of 10 women say they view web porn, one study in 2006 by the Internet Filter View found that 17% of women describe themselves as ‘addicted’”.<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Sexual temptations for men and women are not limited to the Internet. There are TV shows like “Sex and the City”, larger than life posters of scantily dressed models in the mall’s display windows where families are flocking to purchase school clothes this time of year, and morning talk shows openly discuss sex toy parties. <o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Be warned! To follow after these temptations will be <i>like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his </i>(her) <i>life” </i>(Proverbs 7:22-23).<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>Now then, my sons </i>(daughters) <i>listen to me; pay attention to what I say. Do not let your heart turn to her </i>(the ways of the adulteress) <i>or stray into her paths. Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng. Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death </i>(Proverbs 7:24-27).<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Sex is God’s idea. Sadly, the images, persuasive words, and smooth talk of our culture are desensitizing an entire generation from God’s good and beautiful plan.<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We must store up His commands within us, guard His teachings as the apple of our eye, bind them on our fingers, and write them on the tablet of our heart (Proverbs 7:2-4) – and teach the girls in our clubs to do the same! His wisdom will give us a discerning heart and keep our feet on His good and pure paths.<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Wisdom Step: </b>Measure everything you read, see, hear, do, and wear today to the plumb line of God’s commands.<o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><i><span>When young women understand the cosmic consequences of sexual sin, the worldviews that shape our consumption of sexual messages today, and how God’s glory is under spiritual attack . . . they will be sobered by how Satan still “prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” </span></i><span>(1 Peter 5:8) – <i>and that men and women alike are fair game.<u5:p></u5:p></i></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span>Carolyn McCulley<u5:p></u5:p></span><o:p></o:p></div><u5:p></u5:p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0