Today's thought...

By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.
Prov 24:3-4

The Book of Proverbs is always open to interpretation by the reader. Some verses are more direct than others, and some paint wonderful pictures with words, allowing the reader to put him or herself into the verse to see what it may mean to him/her.

I believe this verse is such a "painting." For me, wisdom to marry built the proverbial house. Our understanding of each other and the way to grow together established us. And our rooms have been filled with rare and beautiful treasures... our three children.

Take a moment today to give thanks for the treasures in your home. They may vary, depending on who you are and where you are in your life and walk, but I promise you they exist. And once you begin to look for things to be thankful for, you will discover more than you thought possible!

God bless you all!!!

Today's thought...

Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you."
Prov 9:8

How do you take criticism? Do you get mad at the person who offers it (like I often do) or do you accept the words as instruction?

This particular point has been on my mind for some time now, as I am an example for my household to follow. Whether that example is a good one is up to me. But I should always strive to be as Christ-like as possible, which would mean that I must show grace to all who speak to me. Even if their words are negative and harsh, turn the other cheek still applies.

Take a moment today to reflect on how well you deal with rebuke. Pray for a greater capacity to accept each point of criticism as gracefully as is humanly possible. After all, is there any better characteristic to strive for in a Christ-like walk than to show true grace to another?

God bless you all!!!

Today's thought...

Every prudent man acts out of knowledge, but a fool expresses his folly.
Prov 13:16

We, as men and husbands, must ensure that our actions come from knowledge. Whether that knowledge is from past successes or failures is irrelevant, as it must all lead to a more positive place.

We have to remember that wish that we all make as we grow up: we realize that we want better for the generation to follow us than what we had. And the only way to make certain that happens is to learn from mistakes, have successful ventures, and improve yourself! (And believe me, I am speaking more to me right now than anyone.)

Take time to pray with your spouse today, thanking God for all of the experiences you have had, and for the knowledge that you gained from them. Never take any encounter for granted, as there is ALWAYS something to learn from EVERYONE and EVERYTHING.

God bless you all!!!

Today's thought...

Wise men store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.
Prov 10:14

Are you wise? Do you keep the knowledge you gain? Is it used for further reflection and reference into the coming moments of trial?

Or, are you too busy talking to see that there are things to learn all around you, in every little sound and shimmer of light? That's usually my problem, at least. My mouth runs 900 to nothing and never seems to stop.

Take a lesson from my experiences today, and slow down before you answer. Do not give away the end of the story to that person you are talking to. And there is no need to relive your past successes every time you have a silent moment... it is in those silent moments that God can speak to you, if you will remain calm enough to listen.

Hear Him today, and have a wonderful evening because of the hearing!

God bless you all!!!

Today's thought...

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Prov 1:7

Please take a moment to recognize tonight that God is a force to be feared. God created us. He created everything. There is no power that exists in all of creation that can equal or surmount His. All that exists does so because He allows it.

Make no mistake, God is love and does love us. He loves us more than we can imagine or possibly understand. But a little fear is a great thing. And realizing just who He is, and how important He is can help us to properly orient ourselves when we speak to Him.

God bless you all!!!

For My Pastor...

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

My Pastor, a wonderful man of God, has a habit that keeps us all laughing. He asks questions every day on Facebook, just to see what people think about certain topics. Sometimes his questions are truly nonsensical, while others are of extreme import to all people.

But what truly amazes me is that he understands, and is teaching us, that we should never stop asking ourselves questions. You and I will NEVER learn everything there is to learn on this side of Heaven, so asking is important... even if the topic is whether you prefer ice cream or frozen yogurt! (Ice cream, by the way. I believe that yogurt is an insult to dessert.)

Here's the point; having the discretion to answer when it matters to you, and not just to answer so that your voice is heard (or in the case of Facebook, your note is seen) is important, as is the understanding of yourself that does grow when you are honest and look inwards. And while most of the questions and answers are funny, a popular musical artist once commented that a lot of truth is said in jest.

So today, I would like to thank my Pastor for allowing us to see that his focus is always on the growth of the people he serves. And I would ask that you do the same, whether it is expressing thanks or just asking yourself and some friends a "question of the day" to keep yourselves fresh. Something that simple CAN keep the mind active, and it CAN lead you to some great surprises... even about yourself!

God bless you all!!!

Today's thought...

Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul; if you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.
Prov 24:14

Oh the sweet moments in life that we have had because of enhanced wisdom. Those glimpses of the real truth that we can see through our "older" eyes. And every time we see another moment of our own growth, we are reminded that we still have so far to go! God is so good to allow us to see both sides of this equation!

Take a moment tonight to think about how far you have come... and then look at how far you still have to go. The worst mistake you can ever make is to think that you have no further to go. Don't be that guy!

God bless you all!!!

Today's thought...

All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.
Prov 14:23

I am a talker. Any and all who know me can vouch for this. The mere fact that I blog is proof enough that I have found a way to use even more words, due to my vast and deep affinity for doing so. This can be a great thing, as I am easily comfortable in any situation, and able to chat with anyone I encounter about something.

However, it can also be a curse, as I talk too much. I talk to myself. And I do indeed answer myself, which of course makes me completely crazy. I talk my way into problems, believe it or not, when I fail to stop my mouth from the rampant babbling. Definitely, as my friends and family can attest, this has brought its fair share of poverty to me.

But the real test, for me and for many, is whether or not the hard work of putting the mouth to rest can be performed. (I actually thought of stopping mid-sentence here, to see if I could get a laugh.) That kind of work, as I have been learning over the past several years, is not easy. It is just plain hard. But the lessons I have learned through a little quiet and calm are boundless!

A former supervisor of mine taught me, during these quiet moments, how to be a real leader and keep my emotions in check. A friend once taught me more about being a man than anyone else, just by being still and patient. And my wife teaches me more and more every day from the stillness she shows... stillness I should apply. But most of all, I learn from the moments when I find true quiet, and allow God to speak through me without interrupting Him. That ever happen to you?

Take a moment tonight to thank Him for those moments. And then take the time to think of who shows the greatest example of the hard work it takes to be still. It is harder to maintain than anything, in my opinion, and deserves a huge round of quiet, still nodding.

God bless you all!!!

Cleanse Yourself...

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
1 John 1:8-10

I heard a counselor say once that the only problem in marriage is within the one spouse attempting to change the other. I concur fully. No one can change anyone else, by any means. It has to be a personal choice to become different, whether for the better or worse.

The passage above, especially the second verse of it, is frequently cited as proof that we can confess to God all of our sins and be forgiven. It does not say that we will only be forgiven "if we..." No. It says "forgiven."

Take a moment tonight to look at yourself. Can you be a better spouse in your marriage. If you can, then the marriage will improve. And the best part of that is that your spouse will want to improve, as well! It has been said that misery loves company; but ACHIEVEMENT loves it more!!!

God bless you all!!!

Washed Clean...

We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him.
1 John 5:18

A friend asked me to explain this verse this morning. After some consideration, I realized that this verse speaks to the fact that we are covered by the blood of Christ through His atonement for our sins, and for all sins for all time. Therefore, we are born of God, and our sins... past, present AND future... are washed clean and forgiven. In the eyes of God, we sin no more. This is only from His perspective, because he sees us now at the beginning, middle and end of our lives, all at once.

As for the second part of the verse, there is a song that speaks to the statement about the evil one no longer having the ability to harm. The song is called "The Problem," and was written by a band called Downhere. It says that there are those among the believers who would say "the devil made me do it" to explain transgressions. However, the issue with that statement is that once Christ inhabits you, the devil has lost! The only person in control at that point is... well, YOU! You have the richness of the Kingdom within you, and the knowledge of what is right and wrong, but you can still decide to make the wrong choice. However, as the song states, there is no purpose in blaming the devil; if you are still under his influence, then you have not received Christ.

One other point, though, is that each and every sin are equal in the eyes of God. It has been said that death is the great equalizer, because everyone dies. However, I would submit to you that SIN is the great equalizer, because none of us (NO NOT ONE) are capable of escaping it. In death, the Christian has victory and eternal life! Those who do not believe and follow Christ do not experience this, so death is absolutely not equal for all. And make no mistake, murder, in the eyes of God, is totally equal to dishonoring your mother by sneaking a cookie before dinner, even though you were told not to.

Please take heart in your victory today, precious ones. Spend a few moments in prayer, reorienting and confessing your sins and transgressions to the Lord.

God bless you all!!!

Today's thought...

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
2 Chron 7:14

I am seeking His face tonight, more than ever before, and fully turning from my own wicked ways. It is one thing to give advice, but another entirely to be able to follow it. I am now committing to following the advice that I give.

Therefore, tonight, I am asking before you and Almighty God that I be forgiven from my transgressions. I am asking that He bless me and embolden me to press on toward the goal and achieve it.

God bless you all!!!

Today's thought...

He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.
Prov 21:21

I have said many times before, and I will say again, if your focus is in the right place, your actions and results will be in the right place. Husbands, you should be pursuing these things as an example to your wives, as well as to your children. A famous man once said, "You have to be the change you wish to see in the world." Your world is right in your home... so lead through example and be the change!!!

God bless you all!!!

Today's thought...

"Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise."
Neh 9:5b

I have a simple thought for you all today... just take the time to praise God for all that He is and all that He does for you!

Imagine, if we actually spent the time thanking Him for all these things, we probably would have very little to complain about!

God bless you all!!!