Tues.'s Devo - Are you offended?

Read Pro. 18:19
They say it takes 10 kind acts to make up for one offense. I have found that some people come with iron bars around their heart and they would rather keep everyone out. Everything offends them because they have so much hurt in their lives that they haven't dealt with. We all get offended sometime in our lives; many times in our lives. There is only one healthy thing to do with an offense: forgive. Forgiveness can save you from a lifetime of bitterness and pain. Not forgiving is like taking poison and expecting the other person to die; it only hurts you. If you allow offenses in your life then they will chase you down. The devil knows just where our weaknesses are and if he sees an open door he comes barging in with more of the same. Have you ever known a person that everything bad seems to happen to them. It is because they have opened a door to disaster, self-pity, or whatever and the devil has brought more. The devil is merciless. He only has one motive: to kill, steal, and destroy. Jesus came that we might have life and that abundantly.
Lord, we forgive those that have offended us. You said that you could forgive your enemies because they didn't know what they were doing so we do the same. Thank you for grace to do this.

Mon.'s Devo - Hearing the Voice of God

Read Pro. 18: 17-18
When two people disagree on a decision and need help then they need to go to a qualified uninvolved party and get them to listen to the story. They can give you an unbiased answer. Of course, the first place you should go is the Word. There is usually some scenario you can find that can relate but if not then God provided some other ways to find out what he would will. The priest carried two rocks in their breast plate that had yes on one and not on the other. When the priest wanted to have an answer from God he would reach in his pocket and pick a rock. What ever it said was God's answer. This was called the umin and the thumin. In other cases they chose lots which was a lot like drawing sticks in our day. This way there would be no way to cheat and God would determine the outcome. They reserved these means for serious decisions like whether to go to war or not. Maybe we should adopt drawing lots when we have a serious decision to make. The lot is not partial. There are so many different ways to get an answer from God. One of the best ways is to train your spiritual ear to hear his voice then ask for a confirmation in his word. God loves to speak to us and commune with us we just have to learn how to be receivers.
Lord, train us to hear your voice and discern your ways.

Fri.'s Devo - Our Gifts

Read Pro. 18:15
I just realized that I did the wrong scripture yesterday. I'm sorry; I was supponse to do verse 14 instead of 4. I wondered why it seemed so familiar. I guess I needed to contemplate that one further. Anyway, we are back on track.
If you have a heart to learn then God will teach you. He will speak wisdom to you and you will grow in your understanding. It prepares you for the next verse that has to do with your gift. It says that your gift will make room for you. That means that God has given you gifts that he wants used for his purposes and he will bring them to you. If you are frustrated because you are not able to use your gifts then position yourself in God. He will position you in the place where he wants you to use them. We often think that it is up to us to get in the right place but that is the job of the Holy Spirit. Our job is to draw near to God and give him our life. He knows how to use a life for his glory. He will exalt you if you humble yourself and the more you allow God to have your gifts the more he will increase your capacity to flow in your gift and he will give you more.
Lord, we choose to draw near to you and seek you above our goals and desires. Take your gifts that you have given us and use them for your glory.

Thur.'s Devo - Thanksgiving

Read Ps. 22
Today is Thanksgiving and I was thinking about all the things I was thankful of and what to write about. God led me to Psalms 22.
I had read today in Genesis today about the story of Jacob and his wives. Rachel got mad at Jacob because she couldn't conceive a child so she told Jacob to have a child through her handmaiden, Bilhah. She said that Bilhah will have her baby lying against her so that it will be like she is having the baby.
When I looked at Ps. 22:9-10 it talked about how God drew us out of the womb and gave us hope. He was like Rachel waiting to catch us and become our father just like Rachel was waiting to catch Bilhah's baby and make it her own. This chapter goes on to tell of the suffering that Jesus will do for us and ends up with the glorious ending where all the kingdoms will turn to God and worship the Lord. They will remember all the things the Lord has done for all generations and repent. Now that is something to be thankful for!
Lord, thank you for the blood of Jesus and all he suffered to give us. Help us to be appreciative of your plan and your ways.

Wed.'s Devo - Deep Waters

Read Pro. 18:4
If man's words are like deep waters what are the word's of God like? And if wisdom is like a spring or brook then we need to dive in. I was reading in Mat. 13:34-35 where it says that Jesus always spoke to the people in parables then he says that he will talk about things that have been kept a secret since the world was made. Wow! That is very deep. So it makes me want to know what the parables said that is such a secret. All the parables have to do with the kingdom of God. They usually start with a small thing like a coin, seed, or a net and it grows into something much greater. That is the whole concept of the kingdom. It starts as one life, a little faith, one talent, a tithe, a dream, a calling; and it grows into something much greater. That was not a new concept but the concept of being born again and having the spirit of Christ dwelling inside us was a completely new idea. Inconceivable. In the Old Testament God spoke audibly to a select people, but in the New Testament God speaks to anyone who will listen through the Holy Spirit. Jesus rent the veil so that anyone could approach him, not just a priest in linen. When we dive into God's well we become a well spring of wisdom. May we be a flowing brook that drinks from the water of the Word.

Tues.'s Devo - Listen and Forgive

Read Pro. 18:13
To answer a matter before you hear it is like making your mind up before you hear the whole story. How many times do we do that as mothers. We are already saying 'no' before our child can finish the question. Then when you stop and think about his request you feel ashamed to change your answer even when you know you should. It is easy to form an opinion when you only hear one side of the story.
The next verse says that the spirit in a person can help them fight an illness. I have seen people live so much longer than the doctor predicted because they had a strong will to fight. But if a person's spirit is wounded that is another story. A wounded spirit is much deeper than a physical illness. If the spirit is wounded is a burden that only God can heal. Wounded spirits can zap the life out of a person and actually cause them to die sooner than they would have. Wounded spirits are caused by someone offending our spirits and can be healed through forgiveness. Jesus said that he came to give us abundant life: life to the fullest. The Devil comes to kill, steal, and destroy.
Lord, help us to think before we answer and to not hold offenses in our hearts.

Mon.'s Devo - Humility...the Road to Promotion

Read Pro. 18:12
There are steps that lead you to either destruction or promotion. The steps that lead to destruction are pride which is ultimately thinking that you don't need God. The world teaches us that we can do it by ourselves and that God is a crutch for the weak. This is foolishness and a deception of the enemy who realizes how powerful we can be when we trust in the Lord. He does not want that.
The steps to promotion or honor are through the hallway of humility. Jesus learned obedience through the things he suffered. Humility is realizing that we can't do anything without God. We think we learn that one but we have to learn it over and over and over because our nature is pride. God's nature is humility. Just think of how humbling it was to create a people who would laugh and mock their creator, and yet God made us anyway. He loves us in our pride but he can use us in our humility. The greatest honor is to have the creator of the universe use you in his plan. He actually does it every day and we are most blessed to be his servants.

Fri.'s Devo - Keep us Pure

Read Pro. 18:3-11
The way of the wicked is shame and dishonor. When the wicked rule a nation it causes the nation to have dishonor and shame. If you are ever wondering who the wicked are just listen to what comes out of their mouth and look at their life style. A fool will be argumentative and look for a fight to win. It is not about the cause as much as it is about winning. He will talk about others and slander them. His goal is to hurt and have power over everyone else. On the other hand, a wise man will speak with wisdom and his words will be fruitful and healing. We see this play out in politics. Elections have become more about discrediting the other opponent than the issues. It is a godly man who will run on the issues alone and not respond to his opponents arrows. We face the same decisions in our lives and in our marriages. We can fight back and tear down with our mouth or we can be quiet and let the Lord fight our battles and keep our ways pure. After all, the Lord's name is our strong tower that we can find refuge in not our accumulated wealth and our fabricated defenses. He alone can keep us safe.
Lord, help us to have clean hands and pure hearts when dealing with every part of our lives. May they glorify you.

Thur.s' Devo - The Purpose Filled Life

Read Pro. 18:1-2
A wise man will take himself out of the equation and see with clarity and from God's perspective, where a fool only sees everything in light of himself. I have noticed that when I get introspective I get out of God's will and into mine which causes me to become self-absorbed and depressed. The fool is into "discovering the real person inside". That is a tool of the enemies to get our eyes off of God and focus on ourselves. The closer we get to the Lord the more we will thrive and grow in what He has called us to be. We will find our identities only in our creator. He has the secrets to our DNA and our destiny since he programmed us and prepared the road that we should walk on. David wrote about it in Psalms 139: "O Lord, you have penetrated me and examined me and know me. You know when I settled down and get married and you know when I rise up and succeed in what I am doing. You understand and consider the thoughts that I will have in years from now. You surround me when I am awake and asleep and you are familiar with my course of life and mode of action. Every word I will ever speak, you already know it. You have placed me in the hollow of your hand. This knowledge is overwhelming to me. I can't begin to comprehend it." (paraphrased)
Lord, help us to see from your perspective and remember how purposeful our lives are for the kingdom.

Wed.'s Devo - When to Speak

Read Pro. 17:25-28
Proverbs is the book of good verses evil and the consequences of sin verses the blessings of walking righteously. Today we read that a foolish son will drive his father to anger and his mother to sadness. That is true when it comes to earthly fathers, but the father of the prodigal son represented God and he never gave up waiting for his son to come home. He laid down his anger and embraced the son he loved and welcomed him back with gifts and a party.
The last two verses have to do with our mouths once again. If you understand life and are mature then you realize you don't have to share everything you know. Sometimes it is better to be quiet. People will wonder what you are thinking and think that you are wise. They will discern your excellent spirit and honor you. Even if you are ignorant and keep your mouth shut people will think you know something and still honor you. It is hardest to keep your mouth shut when you have an opinion and know you are right. That is when if you can keep your mouth shut, you are most mature. There are times to speak out and God will show you when that time is; usually when you are asked.
Lord, help us to keep our mouths shut and our opinions to ourselves unless you want us to share; then let it be with love and humility.

Tue.s' Devo - Godly Judgment

Read Pro. 17:23-24
The first verse says that wicked men take bribes which perverts their judgment. Our justice system has lost its goal for justice and is more about who can out-smart the other. There are lawyers who are paid to win not to bring righteous judgment. These payments would be bribes because they have become a business proposition instead of a conviction. Most of us aren't lawyers but we still may have our judgment swayed by money or other benefits. The next verse gives us the answer which is godly wisdom. Godly wisdom helps us to see the big picture and the future. It is not profitable to gain the whole world and lose your soul. Today I had a conversation with a man about our yoga class. It is becoming full of Buddhist mantra-talk and yen this and yen that and I am concerned about it. He said that he tried to keep a broad mind about things like that to which I responded "the road is narrow that leads to life and few find it." He smiled and then told me a religious joke. I know he thinks that being open-minded is the politically correct way to be but I just don't see Jesus caring about being politically correct. He pretty much called a spade a spade when dealing with the scribes and Pharisees. He had a few things to say about wrong business dealings too.
Lord, help us to have godly judgment and wisdom in our dealings today.

Thur.'s Devo - Thanksgiving 11-15-10

Read Ps. 22
Today is Thanksgiving and I was thinking about all the things I was thankful of and what to write about. God led me to Psalms 22.
I had read today in Genesis today about the story of Jacob and his wives. Rachel got mad at Jacob because she couldn't conceive a child so she told Jacob to have a child through her handmaiden, Bilhah. She said that Bilhah will have her baby lying against her so that it will be like she is having the baby.
When I looked at Ps. 22:9-10 it talked about how God drew us out of the womb and gave us hope. He was like Rachel waiting to catch us and become our father just like Rachel was waiting to catch Bilhah's baby and make it her own. This chapter goes on to tell of the suffering that Jesus will do for us and ends up with the glorious ending where all the kingdoms will turn to God and worship the Lord. They will remember all the things the Lord has done for all generations and repent. Now that is something to be thankful for!
Lord, thank you for the blood of Jesus and all he suffered to give us. Help us to be appreciative of your plan and your ways.

Mon.'s Devo - Healing

Read Pro. 17:19-22
The popular T.V. programs today are reality shows which feed off of strife among the contestants. Verse 19 says that if you love strife then you love sin. David said, "How pleasant and how good it is when brethren dwell together in unity." Ps. 133:1 So the devil's plan is stife and God's plan is love and unity.
We have all been taught that self-exaltation leads to a fall and it is true. "Pride goes before destruction; and an haughty spirit before a fall." Pro. 16:18. There are people who are evil and have hearts that are not true to God's Word. Nothing good will come from these people. Their very words are twisted and produce evil. The parents of evil off-spring are left with sorrow and sadness because of their children. But.... the flip side of this is that having a merry heart is like medicine. Many medical accounts are saying that laughter and a good outlook on life is healing and causes you to live longer and with better health. The last part says that if your spirit is wounded it will dry up your bones. That sounds like arthritis to me. I wonder how many people could benefit from forgiving people in their past and letting the oil of the Holy Spirit reoil their bones. I bet they would feel a whole lot better on the physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally.
Lord, help us to yearn for righteousness and feed our spirit with the Word and good news instead of bitterness and strife.

Thur.'s Devo - Thanksgiving 11-15-10

Read Ps. 22
Today is Thanksgiving and I was thinking about all the things I was thankful of and what to write about. God led me to Psalms 22.
I had read today in Genesis today about the story of Jacob and his wives. Rachel got mad at Jacob because she couldn't conceive a child so she told Jacob to have a child through her handmaiden, Bilhah. She said that Bilhah will have her baby lying against her so that it will be like she is having the baby.
When I looked at Ps. 22:9-10 it talked about how God drew us out of the womb and gave us hope. He was like Rachel waiting to catch us and become our father just like Rachel was waiting to catch Bilhah's baby and make it her own. This chapter goes on to tell of the suffering that Jesus will do for us and ends up with the glorious ending where all the kingdoms will turn to God and worship the Lord. They will remember all the things the Lord has done for all generations and repent. Now that is something to be thankful for!
Lord, thank you for the blood of Jesus and all he suffered to give us. Help us to be appreciative of your plan and your ways.

Fri.'s Devo - Testimony in Business

Read Pro. 17:18
God wants us to be wise concerning the dealings of the world. He doesn't want us cheated or taken advantage of. It is not wisdom to put yourself up as collateral for a deal. In fact, you are not to enter into contracts lightly. In our society we are forced to sign contracts for our houses, businesses, etc. but we must do our homework and know what we are signing. I have made some bad decisions by not praying about things first. If you are forced to make a quick decision then I would say back away and take some time to think about it. It is very hard to make the right decision when you are being rushed, but if you give yourself some time to mull it over in your mind and pray about it you will see with different eyes and have the wisdom to make the right decision. Wisdom takes patience; impulsiveness is the doorway to bad decisions. We are to be a testimony to our friends and those we do business with as to how we make our decisions
Lord, may our decisions be taken seriously with meditation and prayer so that they glorify you.

Thurs.'s Devo - Brothers and Friends

Read Pro. 17:17
I have three sons and it used to irritate me that they could get along with their friends but they fought constantly among themselves. This proverb says that a brother is born for adversity. The word adversity means trouble, rival, tightness. You don't find too many brothers in the Bible getting along. Cain and Abel sure didn't and neither did Jacob and Esau or Joseph and his brothers. There is a lot of competition between brothers, even more than between sisters, although there are always exceptions. God set it up that way so that they would challenge each other to go further and not be satisfied. Usually the first born is the leader/lion where the second born is the follower/golden retriever. These characteristics grate each other but can be a useful combination when they are mature and seasoned. My sons have grown to love each other and love being together. They are all so different: the lion, the golden retriever, and the otter. Needless to say, we have interesting reunions.
Friends on the other hand love at all times. They can look over faults better because they don't live together and don't have to share so much of life together. Jonathan and David were the epitome of friendship. Jonathan gave David his inheritance and laid down his life to make sure David got his destiny. They fought together side-by-side and didn't compete.
Lord, thank you that you call us your friend.

Wed.'s Devo - Hunger for More

Read Pro. 17:16
It if foolish to spend money on expensive schooling when the student is not serious about learning. I have seen freshmen at college that came only to party, flunk out, then go home and get a menial job or worse yet: try a new college. It was a waste of their parents money to send them in the first place. It is the same in the spiritual. If you show no heart to learn the deeper things of God then you will not get the opportunities to do that, but if you yearn for more then God will arrange the teachers you need to sit under to be fed. I have always had an insatiable hunger for God's Word even as a child. My mother was in charge of placing the kids with their Sunday School teachers so she always made sure I got the best teachers. I can still remember some of the things they taught us. Through the years God has brought me so many people that have taught and challenged my growth as a Christian. I am not content to just know that I am saved; I want to know my Saviour and all his secrets. They are found in his Word. Uncovering the mysteries of God under the tutalage of the Holy Spirit is the best college there is and it's tuition free!
Thank you Lord, for the Holy Spirit who guides us into all truth. May we walk in that glorious truth today!

Tues.'s Devo - Covering the Guilty

Read Pro. 17:14-15
Don't start a fight; it will open a floodgate. It is better to just hand it over to God and let him be your advocate and defender. He is great at doing that and will do it fairly and right. He sees the heart of man and what is hidden. He is the only one that can truly judge fairly. But, don't justify a wrong or judge the just because God hates that. God knows how to bring to light things that are hidden and hide things in full view. He hates deceit. The devil, on the other hand, is the master of deceit. It is hard to know what to do when you are dealing with close friends. Do you want to lose the friendship over a trivial matter? Is being right the most important thing? I say no to both. It is better to cover someones weaknesses and give in to another opinion than to be justified and right. Let God settle your injustices. It is the little foxes that steal your peace and kill your relationships. God loves people and people have problems. So we should love people and cover their problems. Ham lost his blessing because he laughed at his dad's fault. His brothers were blessed because they chose to cover their dad's nakedness.

Mon.'s Devo - Living for the Future

Prov. 17:10-13
A righteous man only needs to be told of his sin to repent where an evil man won't even learn if he is beaten with whips. When Nathan came to David and exposed his sin with Bathsheba, David instantly owned up to his sin, repented, and received God's discipline. He didn't become bitter when the consequence was the life of his son but instead he praised God and had another son who became the great king Solomon. In contrast, King Jehoiakim was warned by Baruch of his sins and he burned the prophecy in the fire as it was read to him. So, just like the prophecy said the Babylonians came and destroyed the land and fulfilled every word of judgment written in the prophecy. He was the evil man that only sought rebellion and was sent a messenger with a cruel word that came to pass. He rewarded evil for good and evil did not depart from his house. None of his descendants were allowed to sit on the throne even though it would have been their inheritance.
Lord, help us to guard our steps and live a life that will result in blessings to our posterity.

Fri.'s Devo - Returning Evil for Good

Read Pro. 17:10
If you are wise all you need is instruction for you to change your ways and repent; you are teachable. If you are a fool even a beating won't teach you, much less instruction. Evil men are bent on rebellion and don't want to change their ways so they reap what they sow. God will send an enemy to defy them and expose their sin in hopes that they will repent. If you confront a person who is deceived and foolish it will not be pretty. You are taking your life in your hands because all they know is defense and retaliation. They are unable to see their faults because they are deceived. Even if you put the mirror in front of their eyes they won't see what is staring back at them. They are the ones who return bad for good. If you do something nice for them they construe it into a negative plot to hurt them. They don't realize that you do reap what you sow not only for themselves but for their offspring. Harming an innocent person brings a curse on you and your inheritance.
Lord, we long to be wise and trusted by you. Give us discernment today and increase our love for you. May we return good for evil.

Thurs.'s Devo - The Prince

Read Pro. 17:7-8
Jesus was called the Prince of Life in Acts 3:15 and the Prince of Peace in Isa. 9:6. He lives inside us which makes us a prince also. We are to speak the truth because we have been given a gift. We have been given the gift of salvation and the gift of the Holy Spirit so that whatever we do will be prosperous if we are walking in our gifts. The verse today says that this gift we have is like a precious stone. In 1 Pet. 2:5-7 is says that we are living stones that make up a spiritual house, and a priesthood that offers sacrifices that are acceptable to God. Jesus was the chief cornerstone of our building. This "building" is the chosen generation, the royal priesthood, God's holy nation, His peculiar people that praise Him in all that they do.
Lord, You are the Prince of Peace and Lord of Lords and we exalt you in all we say and do.

Wed.'s Devo - Children's Children

Read Pro. 17:6
I am going to be a grandmother in 7 months then again in 8 1/2. Both of my daughter-in-laws are pregnant. Talking to my friends that have already passed into the land of grand babies I know it is going to be different than having my own children. For one thing I know that the stress of parenting will not be there. I will just get to love them and pass on any wisdom my kids want to hear. I am so looking forward to it. It is interesting that the verse for today says that grandchildren are the crown of old men but the children get their glory from their fathers. So the grandfather is blessed by his grandchildren and the children are blessed by their fathers. It is a cycle, which should give us hope. For some of us, raising our children was hard and full of heart ache and intercession but the grandchildren make up for it. I can see this in one of my friend's lives. She who went through a lot of pain and grief raising her daughter. Her daughter actually got pregnant before she got married but the child is an absolute delight to my friend. Her grandson took away the pain of the past and has been a healing balm for her.
Lord, thank you for your plan of family. Sometimes family can be so tough and complicated but we learn about ourselves and about You by walking in such close fellowship with our families. You love family; help us to love ours.

Tues.'s Devo - The Wise Son

Read Pro. 17:2-5
"A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causes shame." There are so many examples of this in the Bible. Joseph proved to be so wise that both Potipher and Pharoah set him up to rule their households/kingdoms over their sons. Because of what Joseph did he provided an inheritance for his own family. In the New Testament the Gentiles received Jesus more readily than the Jews who were the sons and the heirs. Now all are heirs if they accept Jesus as their Saviour and Lord. God looks at our hearts and that is what determines what we are. Whatever is in our hearts will manifest in our fruits. The fruit of the ungodly or shameful looks like this: he listens to lies and speaks perversely. He makes fun of the poor and laughs at people's calamities. The wise seeks out truth and speaks life. He has compassion for the poor and reaches out to those who have fallen into hard times. Lord, may we be wise sons who appreciate our position with you and walk in the humility of Christ.

Mon.'s Devo - Peace and Quiet

Read Pro. 17:1
We all want peace and quietness in our lives. This verse says that it is better to have peace and only eat beef jerky than to have all the meat you want and live in strife. Peace is tangible; you can feel it. It means safety, happiness, friendly, prosperity, healthy, and wholeness. Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you; not as the world giveth, give I to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." Peace is a fruit of the Holy Spirit which means we can grow peace and multiply it in our lives if we learn to practice peace. Two of my sons just found out they were going to be dads for the first time and that their business is fading out so they will be without a job. I can't tell your the peace God has given me about this. I believe that when God said if he clothes the flowers and feeds the birds that he would take care of us, that he meant it. God is so actively involved in our lives and nothing misses his observation. I can't wait to see his plan for them.
Lord, thank you for your plan for us. We are inadequate to do anything apart from you. Fill us with your spirit today to do what you have called us to do today. May we walk in your peace.