Sunday,
5/10/15 Pro 6:23b ...the reproofs of instruction are the way of life. You will never get to where you don’t need
instructions on how to improve or deepen or strengthen or repair relationships,
habits, skills, memories, health, methods, etc. You may think you don’t need it, but... Ps 88:3 For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the
grave. “Holy men of God” penned the Bible, so this “holy man” had emotional
troubles. They’re real. They’re
legitimate. They, most often, have discernible and (usually) fixable
causes. 1Some emotional variation is to be expected. 2Having
emotional troubles (depression, panic attacks, etc.) doesn’t mean you’re
“crazy” or that you have a sin problem. 3Get spiritual and medical
advice and help. 4After prayer and counseling, if prescribed, take your
medications. (If there’s a treatable
physical problem that a med will fix, what’s wrong with that? 5However,
be honest enough to deal with any sins you need to “come clean about” first.
Unconfessed sin, guilt, and shame can cause physical manifestations. 6As
with physical ailments, we should go to God first and doctors secondly. Pray
before you even take an aspirin.
Sunday, 5/3/15 Ps
142:4 I looked on my right hand, and
beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared
for my soul. I just asked God to forgive me for being so cavalier towards
people and not deeply caring...maybe you need to do so too. What is
prayer? Really?!? What is the essence of prayer? It’s simply asking a favor from God. Well, if
I’m asking you for a favor, it would hurt my chances of a positive answer if
I’m being haughty or demanding; or if I am actively doing things that aggravate
you. And it definitely wouldn’t help my cause if I’m abusive to your kids. Pro 28:9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer
shall be abomination. Jud
2:4 And it came to pass, when the angel
of the Lord spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that they
people lifted up their voice, and wept.
They wept, but didn’t change. Do you weep over the pain and sorrow that your
sin caused Christ and/or His people, or over what it causes you? Do you keep
doing it over and over again?
Sunday, 4/26/15
Deut 33:2c-3a ...from [God’s]
right hand went a fiery law for them. Yea, he loved the people... God’s
rules are not unnecessarily limiting (like those of a cruel babysitter): they
are protective, just like we had and enforced rules on our toddlers re:
electrical outlets or knives or playing in the street. You’ll understand God a
LOT more if you view yourself as about a 15 month old and not as a mature
adult. Pro
21:21 He that followeth after
righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honor. Do you
chase after righteousness? (Maybe I should ask about your church attendance and
Bible reading record.) Do you pray for holiness? For a revelation of your sins
so you can correct them? Do you thrill for opportunities to extend mercy and
rejoice over others being given mercy?
Sunday,
4/19/15 In your world, do arguments tend
to persist and grow, or get settled, lessened, and forgotten? Pro 15:18 A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger
appeaseth strife. Ps
93:1c ...the world also is stablished,
that it cannot be moved. If mankind is causing any damage to nature (via
global warming, pollution, nuclear radiation, etc.), God is in overall control
of the situation...and any damage is either negligible or is being governed and
managed by Him. Relax!!!
Sunday,
4/12/15 1 Cor 16:9 For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many
adversaries. No opportunity is without its challenges: active resistance or
hard work or risk or the doubts of loved ones. Using counsel and the Bible,
determine God’s plan for you and DO IT!!! Matt
4:1-11 The Devil isn’t going to hold a conversation with you, but the
temptations are still real. How did Jesus respond and win? By a knowledge of
God’s word. “This book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book.
“Ask your pastor or SS teacher (or me) for ideas to help enliven your Bible
time.
Sunday, 4/5/15 Rom 2:21 Thou therefore that teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? Thou
that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Is the degree of
consistency between what you profess and what you enact greater or less this
year than last? Num 10:29-30 And Moses said unto Hobab [his brother-in-law], We are sojourneying
unto the place of which the Lord said, I will give it you: come thou with
us...And he said unto him, I will not go; but I will depart to mine own land,
and to my kindred. Family loyalty and a love for country are good, but never elevate anything above a
closer walk with Him and doing His will. It’s easy to get sidetracked here. He
deserves (and quietly demands) first place in our day, our devotion &
affection, in our preferences, and in our deference. Remember that those
people/places to which you feel so tied, will answer for and by themselves to
God, as will you. Place Him at the top of the social & familial “food
chain.” Don't ever place a piece of dirt
(either living and breathing dirt, or pretty dirt) on a higher level than His
will.
Sunday, 3/29/15 Mark 12:30 And
thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart...soul...mind,
and...strength. The first commandment: how are you doing with it? The same
methods that can improve an earthly relationship will work with a heavenly one
also: talk, listen, thank, compliment, give in, etc. Ps
67:1 God be merciful unto us, and bless
us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Oh!! We need His mercy and
blessings so much...but the sentence didn’t end. V2: that thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving
health among all nations. What if the soul winner who won you to Christ
served God as fervently 2-5-10 years ago as you serve Him now? Would you be
saved? There’s another “you” out there tomorrow, next month, 2023...you’re
saved to serve God. Today, go give someone a chance to come to Heaven with you.
Sunday, 3/22/15 Rom 13:14 But
put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to
fulfil the lusts thereof. Name your 2 biggest sins. Come up with 5 ways
that you are “making provision” (opening a door) for them. (Ask for others’ input.
Tell them you’re advising a friend on cleaning up their sin.) Luke 1:8 And it came to pass, that while he executed
the priest’s office before God in the order of his course... Keep in mind
that whatever you do in Christian service is done before God. So...are you
working hard? Diligently? “As unto the Lord”? He sees every mistreatment of His
kids, every misappropriation of His material; every cut corner or padded
expense or shaved hours.
Sunday,
3/15/15 Pro 12:4 A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed
is as rottenness in his bones. Ladies, does your husband rate you as
shameful or superlative? (I guess there could be another: so-so.) How would you
rate yourself? Unmarried ladies and teens: study good wives at church; ask
questions; observe; learn. John 13:1b …Jesus
knew his hour was come…having loved his own…he loved them unto the end.
Here’s a good goal: love your spouse until the end; love your kids ‘til they
move out, then love them as friends and adults; love your church, your pastor,
your friends, your God, the Christian life, the KJB, lost souls, wayward church
members, etc. Mark 9:10 And
they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the
rising of the dead should mean. What do you do when you’re unsure of a
spiritual matter? Talk to others who’re as clueless as you? Or seek out the
answer from credible sources: the Bible itself (with the help of the Holy
Spirit), or people more wise than you?
Sunday,
3/8/15 Ps 143:1 Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications: in thy
faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness. A reminder: 1Any
answers to prayer are 100% because of His goodness and 0% because of our
merit. 2He has no favorites or pets. 3Also,
notice “in thy righteousness.” He cannot
answer outside of His character. Attention everyone in a leadership
position!!! The Commander is about to speak.
Ps 82:3 Defend the poor and the fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and
needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.
School teachers, principals, youth directors, coaches, bus captains...do you
ACTIVELY and AGGRESSIVELY stand up for the kids who are always getting picked
on? Even the ones you don’t like personally? That “stupid” one; that “goof
ball,” the one who seems to have been custom made to get picked on; the one
whose actions “call for” someone to “put him in his place”...that kid is a
child of the same Heavenly Father as you, and He has put you in a position and
charged you to protect His kids. SMH....
(BTW, to those that I, no doubt, offended back at HBHS: please forgive
me. Message me personally, and I’ll apologize to you directly.)