Don't play the revenge game!

S – Scripture

Proverbs 20 v. 22 Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the Lord and he will help you.

 

O – Observation

Revenge is not ours. This Proverb has two really good points. One obvious. One not so obvious. 1^st. Let God handle the revenge. Romans 12 v. 19, “ Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Revenge is mine, I will repay, says the  Lord.’”. Which leads to the 2^nd point. Since God will punish the evil we can let go. We can get consumed with revenge. It can take control of us. The Knowledge of this Proverb is very liberating. In fact, Jesus instructs us to Love our enemies. Matthew 5 v. 55, “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

 

A – Application

What is my approach to those people who have done me wrong?

 

P – Prayer

Jesus. Help me to love my enemies, help me to let things go. Love Will.

 

 Photo by Leighann Blackwood on Unsplash

I Am Willing

Guest Blog by Gary Riedel

S - SCRIPTURE: 

Matthew 8:3 Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I AM WILLING” He said. “Be
clean!” Immediately he was cured of his leprosy.

O - OBSERVATION: Immediately preceding this verse, the man  with leprosy knelt before Jesus and said, “Lord if You are willing You can make me clean.” As I was thinking about this 

conversation, I couldn’t help but think how great was the faith of the leper, and how he acknowledged Jesus as Lord, exactly like the thief on the cross in Luke 23:40. And then the response of Jesus to the leper was basically the same as His response to the thief. Even though in slightly different words, Jesus answered each request with “I AM WILLING."

A - APPLICATION: 

I can only conclude from this that our Lord is gracious and merciful beyond our comprehension. I’m reminded of Matthew 7:7, Ask and it shall be given unto you, seek and you shall find knock and it shall be opened. How much are we the children of God missing out on because we don’t give Jesus a chance to show He is willing. You see, He is willing to forgive every sin, hear

every prayer, mend our broken hearts, and strengthen the faith of all who seek Him. He will always say, “I AM WILLING,” are we willing to step out in faith, and trust Him in this, and have that  richer relationship with Him, that “more” our pastor always reminds us is there for us. May God grant us such a faith!

P - PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You are indeed so good to us, we give thanks for Your willingness to say “I AM WILLING.” Lord, help us by the power of Yours Spirit, to ask in faith, are You willing to help me have a closer relationship with You? In faith we trust YOU ARE WILLING, In Jesus Name, Amen

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Avoid Gossiping

 

S – Scripture

Proverbs 20 v. 19  He who goes about gossiping reveals secrets: therefore do not associate with one who speaks foolishly.

 

O – Observation

Avoid them at all costs. This Proverb speaks to the importance of avoiding gossip. Gossip is like crack cocaine. One blow, one toke, and your hooked! You’ll crave more. You’ll go anywhere to get your next high. So it is with gossip. Gossip has become a “Legalized Drug” in America. There are countless Gossip magazines, websites and TV shows. What intrinsic value do they produce? Nothing. They waste your time. Time you could be spending with your family or reading anything that is productive. The other danger of Gossip is, if you hang around gossipers, you will probably become one. Remember this: Colossians 4 v. 6, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone.”

 

A – Application

What is my approach to Gossip? What is my approach to Speech?

 

P – Prayer

Jesus, Help me to focus on what I hear to the things of value. Love Will.

 

 Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

Think about what your feeding yourself

S – Scripture

Proverbs 20 v. 17  Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of Gravel.

 

O – Observation

It’s not what it seems. Sin. Evil, Deceit may be good for a season, but in the end you have to pay the price. Think of the Bank Execs. Think of Ron Lay of Enron. Deceit. Stealing. Millions. They lived High on the Hog. But now. Gavel. Ron Lay. Dead. Killed himself. Other execs in prison hated by all. So you have to wonder, what tastes good and stays tasting good? Psalm 199 v. 103, “How sweet are they words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” Couple this with 1 Peter 1 v. 25a, “but the word of the Lord abides forever.” Finally, Proverbs 30 v. 5a, “Every word of God proves true.”  Jesus sums it up rather nicely in John 6 v. 35a, “ I am the bread of life, he who comes to me shall not hunger.”

 

A – Application

So what Bread am I eating?

 

P – Prayer

Jesus, Thanks for feeding me with the Good Stuff! Love Will

Pride is a dangerous thing!

S - Scripture  
Proverbs 16 v. 18  Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.  

O - Observation

Pride is a one way street. I've seen it in my own life. When ever I get full of myself, usually something will happen to knock me off my pedestal. The fall is usually painful. Especially the higher one elevates himself. So, if Pride's end game is dangerous, perhaps we should train ourselves not to get tangled up in it's web. Its not to say, we shouldn't be good at anything, God gives each of us talents, skills, things that we are good at. It's how we handle those things, how we approach them, is key. One way to train ourselves is to do all things for the Glory of God. Colossians 3 v. 2, "Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." It helps to take the focus away from you. Another approach is to be humble, to be a servant.

 

A - Application
Do I handle or manage my pride? Where is my focus?  

P - Prayer   

Jesus, Remove my prideful heart. Help me to set my focus on the things above. Love Will.

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Manage your inputs!

S - Scripture
Proverbs 20 v. 12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the Lord has made them both.  

O - Observation
Inputs. The eyes and the ears are the highways to our hearts. Just as God made our physical body (immensely complicated) so has he made our spiritual body. It is intertwined with the physical body. The eyes and ears are the funnels for the spirit. Romans 10 v. 17, "So FAITH comes from what is HEARD, and what is heard comes by the preaching of Christ." And for the eyes, Matthew 6 v. 11, 33a, "The eye is the lamp of your body. So if your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light; But if your eye is NOT sound, you whole body will be filled with darkness." We need Godly guidance and wisdom and discipline on what we allow in through these highways to our souls.

A - Application
What am I spending my time watching and listening to?

P - Prayer
Jesus, Thanks for my eyes and ears. Let them be used to fill me up with light.   Love Will.

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We are known by our Actions!

S - Scripture
Proverbs 20 v. 11 Even a child makes himself known by his acts, whether what he does is pure and right. 

O - Observation
We are known by our actions. Even as a child this holds true. How much more so for adults!!! The one thing I know for sure is, someone is always watching you, whether you like it or not. So what do we reflect? What do our actions say about ourselves? We need to remember, 1 Peter 2 v. 9, "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." We must reflect God's light in us. Matthew 5 v. 16, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

A - Application
What do people see in me?

P - Prayer
Jesus, Help me to shine brightly for you.  Love Will.

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Just Tell the Truth!!!

S - Scripture
Proverbs 20 v. 10 Diverse weights and diverse measures are both alike an abomination to the Lord.

O - Observation
Just tell the truth!!! God really hates when people lie or cheat. Lying is number 2 on the list of things which the Lord hates. Proverbs 6, v 16,17, "There are six things which the Lord hates, haughty eyes, LYING TONGUE." Just to make sure we know how bad this is, he repeats this Proverb in the same chapter. Proverbs 20 v. 23, "Diverse weights are an abomination to the Lord, and false scales are NOT good." Just don't do it. Even the little lies. A shortcut that saves you money, overestimating your contributions on your taxes, not reporting your cash income. Every day we are presented with opportunities to tip the scale very slightly, perhaps unnoticeable to man, but not to God.

A - Application
Am I keeping my scales balanced at all times? 

P - Prayer
Jesus, Help me to tell the truth. Help me NOT to take any shortcuts.  Love Will.

White As Snow

 White as Snow

Guest Blog by Gary Riedel

S - SCRIPTURE: 

Isaiah 1:18 Come now, let us reason together says the Lord. Though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

O - OBSERVATION: 

This is a nugget of the gospel in a chapter and portion of Isaiah that came to Isaiah in a vision from God. The writer records the lament of the Father that His people have forsaken Him and His precepts. Because Israel has become rebellious, they are going through the motions sacrifices and burning of incense is detestable to God. Their assemblies God cannot bear, because of the evilness of the people. In verse 7 it says your country is desolate, your cities burned with fire your fields are being stripped by foreigners right before you. It is in this context, that God offers the grace of verse 18 if they will learn to seek justice, and repent of their wrong.

A - APPLICATION: Wow, I chose this verse because of the snow this weekend, but when I studied it’s context, it seems like an appropriate portion of scripture for our nation. There is 

Covid all around us; unlike the intention of our founding fathers, there is the oppression of a government no longer centered on Christian morals and ethics. There are numerous threats from foreign nations, and God is no longer welcomed in our schools or our institutions of government. We must all humble ourselves, and repent and seek the righteousness of God

found only in the blood of Jesus. For it is His blood alone that can make the repentant sinner (you and I) as “White as snow”.

P - PRAYER: 

Oh Father, as we watch the demise of our country, let us always strive to seek You, to know You better, to be a humble example to others, and to lead by our own repentance, and faith that seeks to share Your “Good News with Others” by Word and deed. For it is only in Jesus that we find hope and a cure for the current state of our world. In Jesus Name, Amen

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Convert knowledge into action

S - Scripture

Proverbs 20 v. 5  The purpose in a man's mind is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.

 

O - Observation

Converting knowledge to action. I love this Proverb. The gets to the heart of leadership. Its one thing to  have idea's, dreams, thoughts. Its another to be able to execute them. So how does one go about this?  First, its all a mind set. Recognize that you have the power to do it. 2 Timothy 1 v. 7, "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a Spirit of POWER and love and self control. Second, since there are so many good idea's in one's head, prioritize the goals so that you can be focused. Colossians 3 v. 2, "Set your mind on things that are above, not on things of the earth." Third, get busy!!! James 2 v. 17, "So faith by itself, if it has no works is dead."

 

 

A - Application

Am I converting my knowledge, my thoughts into actions?

 

P - Prayer

Jesus, Help me to execute the plans, idea's you have laid in my heart.  Love Will.

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You Reap what you sow

S - Scripture
Proverbs 20 v. 4 The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.

O - Observation
What you do (Or don't do) today will impact tomorrow. This Proverb is probably the genesis of the saying,"you reap what you sow." If you don't invest time and energy in something you will not get much back. This is so true in our daily lives, the time spent learning will payoff. The time spent training for an event, 5K's, bike and backpack trips we be beneficial. Longer term, when I think of harvest, I think of what Jesus said in Matthew 9 v. 37, "Then Jesus said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the labors are few."

A - Application
Am I investing time in the eternal harvest? Am I spending daily time in the Bible and prayer? Am I investing time in other people, sharing, encouraging, training them on the Joy it is to be one of God's?

P - Prayer
Jesus, Help me to work hard for your harvest.  Love Will.

The Fear of the Lord Leads to Life

S - Scripture
Proverbs 19 v. 23 The fear of the Lord leads to life; and he who has it rest satisfied. He will not be visited by harm.

O - Observation
Choosing life has its rewards. The fear, respect, understanding of God will only bring good things. Why fear God? Matthew 10 v. 28, "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both body and soul in hell." In the end, God will Judge everybody. He determines your destiny. But there's some great news. John 3 v.17, "For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world (everybody) might be saved thru him." He invites us in. Matthew 21 v. 28, "Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." This is not to say we wont have trials, but we need to remember what Jesus said in John 16 v. 33b, "In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

 

A - Application
Do I fear God or fear man? Am I trusting in you Lord Jesus?  

P - Prayer
Jesus,  Never let me go. Thank you for being my Lord and Savior.  Love Will.

Loyality is the foundation of a Relationship

S - Scripture
Proverbs 19 v.  22  What is desired in a man is loyalty, and a poor man is better than a liar.   

O - Observation
The foundation of a relationship. That's what loyalty is. Webster defines loyalty as "faithfulness to someone", and faithful as, "belief and trust". Which brings us to the second half of this proverb, a liar destroys trust, which damages faithfulness and poisons loyalty. Proverbs 20 v. 6, "Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, but a faithful man who can find?" Loyalty is more than just words, it has to to be in deeds and action. Who is the most loyal and faithful in our lives? It has to be Jesus. He was faithful to us, even to death on a cross. He has told us that he will be with us always!!!

A - Application
Am I loyal to those around me? Am I blessed with loyal friends and family?  

P - Prayer
Jesus,  Send loyal friends to me. Help me to be loyal back to them.  Love Will.

First things First - Go to God for your plans

S - Scripture
Proverbs 19 v. 20-21 Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom for the future. Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will be established.

O - Observation
First things first. When making plans, when thinking about the future or what you should do, seek council. Seek what God would have you do. Just spend some time in Proverbs for some Godly advice and instruction. Matthew 7 v. 7-8, "Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." Seek what God's will is for you. Spend time in prayer and meditation. Recognize Jeremiah 29 v.11, "For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord, plans for welfare and not evil to give you future and a hope."

A - Application
How am I approaching the decision and plans in my life? 

P - Prayer
Jesus, establish a clear understanding of what my purpose is. Love Will.

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Have your heart burn for the Poor!!!

S - Scripture

Proverbs 19 v. 17 He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed. 

 

O - Observation

A deeper value. Helping the poor seems like a good social thing to do. People will think you are a good person for helping. But, there's much more to this than people recognize. Matthew 25 v. 35, 39, 40, "for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me... And the King will answer them, 'truly I say to you, as you did it to one the least of my brothers you did it to me'" The fact that God knows when and how you help the poor is reward in itself. However, you will be repaid when you help. Right here and now. I think about my Mission trips to Mississippi. Every time I go I come back with way more than I gave.

 

A - Application

Am I taking the opportunities to help the poor?

 

P - Prayer

Jesus, Let my heart burn for helping the poor.  Love Will.

Test Me

Test Me

Guest Blog by Gary Riedel

S - SCRIPTURE: 

Malachi 3:10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And

thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

O - OBSERVATION: 

This verse from Malachi comes during a time when God’s people were suffering from blight,

insects, drought, and poor crops. The people had intermarried with heathen spouses which often

resulted in idolatry. Malachi, God’s messenger, came and accused them of robbing God, or withholding their full tithes from their offerings. At that God inspired Malachi to respond with verse 10. God wants us to trust Him enough to give Him, His full portion of what He has given to us!

A - APPLICATION: Well, it’s early in a new year, what better way to begin then to remind ourselves to cheerfully give to God a rightful portion of what He has given to us. In Matthew chapter 6 God tells us not to worry about food drink, or what to wear. He tells us not to worry about tomorrow, “But to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto us!” In Psalm 139:16, He even tells us that while we were yet in our mother’s womb, He knew the days He would give us. So, let’s trust in the Lord with all our heart, and rely not on our own understanding, Proverbs 3:5. You see He has our life in His Almighty, All-knowing, Kind,Merciful, loving and Gracious hands.

P - PRAYER: Heavenly Father, in Your Holy Word You give us all of the instruction we need to live a life for You. Forgive us when we are selfish, lead us to repentance so that we can be restored and as 1 John 1:9 says, “Be cleansed from all unrighteousness, and serve You as You intended. In Jesus Name, Amen 

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What we do impacts others!!!

S - Scripture

Proverbs 19 v.13  A foolish son is ruin to his father, and a wife's quarrelling is like a continual drip of rain.

 

O - Observation

Ouch!!! The truth hurts. I think of all the dumb things that I have done. How I'm sure it pained my father. Calling him from the Police station (2 times). How that must of tore him up. But amazing to me, he always showed me love. Always. No one likes a nag. Unless your a duck, no one likes the continual drip of rain. It puts everybody in a bad mood. It stifles the ability to do anything. This proverb on the surface is about pain, but if you look closer and contrast these items, its a clear picture of what happens when you do the opposite. When I do good things (even if its just for me) it makes my Dad happy. When I am supportive vs. nagging those around me are elevated and feel all the more valued. What great impact we have!!!

 

A - Application

Do I recognize when I'm a fool or a continual drip of rain?

 

P - Prayer

Jesus, Help me to live the opposite of this Proverb.  Love Will.

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