Read Pro. 13:7-8
Money can be a blessing or a curse. I've seen people that were extremely rich and were miserable because they didn't have a reason to live. Money is not the cure-all. I remember reading about Howard Hughes who used to be the richest man in the world. He died depressed and oppressed. He lived isolated, shriveled up and alone; afraid of germs and people. I've also read about wealthy Christians who chose to give away their wealth and live very meager lives full of contentment and joy. It's not that you have to give away your money to be happy; you just have to ask God why you have it and what to do with it.
Verse 8 talks about the fact that when you are rich, everyone will want what you have. So a rich man might be kidnapped for a ransom but the poor can live unafraid of being kidnapped because they don't have anything to pay for a ransom. The rich man will never know if he is loved for his money or himself where a poor man knows that his friends are real friends because he has nothing but himself to offer to the relationship.
Lord, help us to realize that the greatest gift and most valuable thing we could ever seek is you. Your presence is worth more than money could buy. Give us your perspective on this world's riches and guard our hearts from greed.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Tues.'s Devo - Preserving Yourself in God
Read Pro. 13:6
Did you know that living a righteous life will not only prolong your lifespan but it will preserve you and make you more youthful than your age? Sin, worry, stress, smoking, and bad eating habits will all age you. Today's verse says that righteousness "keeps" him that is upright. That word "keep" means "guard; protect, maintain, preserve". We all want to be preserved, maintained, guarded and protected so it's a no-brainer; live a righteous life. Righteousness will not only keep us but it keeps us "in the right way". So if you want to be in the right way on the right path doing the right thing you just live righteously. Micah 6:8 says, "He has showed you, O man, what is good and what the Lord requires of you, to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God." Sometimes we get so caught up in the specifics of life when we should just draw near to God and let his thoughts become ours. We learn how he thinks by meditating on his words and listening and being quiet. In between we just live a righteous life and he will order our steps.
Lord help us to be renewed day by day in your Word. Your Word refreshes us and is our quide.
Did you know that living a righteous life will not only prolong your lifespan but it will preserve you and make you more youthful than your age? Sin, worry, stress, smoking, and bad eating habits will all age you. Today's verse says that righteousness "keeps" him that is upright. That word "keep" means "guard; protect, maintain, preserve". We all want to be preserved, maintained, guarded and protected so it's a no-brainer; live a righteous life. Righteousness will not only keep us but it keeps us "in the right way". So if you want to be in the right way on the right path doing the right thing you just live righteously. Micah 6:8 says, "He has showed you, O man, what is good and what the Lord requires of you, to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God." Sometimes we get so caught up in the specifics of life when we should just draw near to God and let his thoughts become ours. We learn how he thinks by meditating on his words and listening and being quiet. In between we just live a righteous life and he will order our steps.
Lord help us to be renewed day by day in your Word. Your Word refreshes us and is our quide.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Mon.'s Devo - The Power of the Spoken Word
Read Pro. 13:2-5
Voice is a powerful vibration that sets things into motion. What we say is so important because we get what we say. Our words are like seeds that we plant and they germinate and grow into something much larger than the seed. If you can control your tongue and not say negative destructive things then you will protect yourself from self-destruction. Jesus spoke to a fig tree and cursed it. The next time they passed the fig tree it was completely dried up. God blessed the seed of Abraham and it grew into the mighty nation of Israel. We have that same power in our tongue. We can bless and curse and it will come to pass. If we understood how important our words were maybe we would be more selective and careful about what we say.
Lord, put a watch over our mouths and warn us before we are about to say something destructive. Help us to bless what you bless and curse what you curse.
Voice is a powerful vibration that sets things into motion. What we say is so important because we get what we say. Our words are like seeds that we plant and they germinate and grow into something much larger than the seed. If you can control your tongue and not say negative destructive things then you will protect yourself from self-destruction. Jesus spoke to a fig tree and cursed it. The next time they passed the fig tree it was completely dried up. God blessed the seed of Abraham and it grew into the mighty nation of Israel. We have that same power in our tongue. We can bless and curse and it will come to pass. If we understood how important our words were maybe we would be more selective and careful about what we say.
Lord, put a watch over our mouths and warn us before we are about to say something destructive. Help us to bless what you bless and curse what you curse.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Sun.'s Devo - Update on God's House
I thought I should give an update on my house. I am in and love it. God has sent so many wonderful friends to help me work on it and fulfill the dream God placed in me. I still don't understand the whole scope of why he gave me this house, but I have complete peace that it will unfold. This week was the first week I actually worked in it and my work room is on the front of the house and since I haven't gotten the curtains made yet I am working in front of huge windows. The house is on a busy street so I can see all the cars that come past. I love it because I feel like I am a part of what is going on outside. I have had a painter painting the outside of the house all week and I have had opportunities to share with him even though he speaks little English. He had gotten paid for another job and had $500 in his pocket. He had his cell phone in the same pocket and when he went to answer it he must have brought out the money unknowingly and it flew away. When he realized it he combed the yard and found $300 of it. He remembered 2 boys on bicycles stopping and picking something off the sidewalk. He was going to pay bills that afternoon with it and now he couldn't. I helped him look but it was a very windy day and no doubt those boys had his other $200. So I told him I would pray that God would restore it to him. He looked doubtful but I know that nothing is impossible with God. So I am still praying that he gets his $200 back. I know God can do that and show this man how much he loves him.
Lord, you said that the prayers of a righteous man avail much so we, your righteous children are praying and asking you to retore Louis's money to him and show him how much you are concerned with the affairs of man. Show him that you are a personal God who reigns over the entire universe and you choose to know and love him.
Lord, you said that the prayers of a righteous man avail much so we, your righteous children are praying and asking you to retore Louis's money to him and show him how much you are concerned with the affairs of man. Show him that you are a personal God who reigns over the entire universe and you choose to know and love him.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Fri.'s Devo - The Humble Will Hear and be Glad
Read Pro. 13:1
Dave's parents just left our house after being here for 4 days. They came to help us with the new house and at 82 years of age they can out work most people on the planet. They have always been quick to help and quick to give their advise. I find myself wanting to argue with them for position to make my own decisions but have to remind myself that they have lived longer than me and have learned much in their life and could possibly have a better idea. Through the years we have gained much insight and wisdom from watching them live their lives and hearing their instruction. I will have to admit that it is much easier to take their encouragements than to hear their rebukes but both have been a help. Godly parents or mentors are such a blessing if we humble ourselves to receive from them. Today's verse says that a wise son hears his father's instruction. The word instruction means "chastisement; reproof, warning or instruction; also restraint." That is hard to do sometimes but if we will heed their advise it will save us in the long run. The rest of the verse says that a scorner won't hear the rebuke. He will harden his heart and not be able to receive it. This is pride and we are commanded to be humble.
Lord, it is not easy to be humble because it goes against our human nature so we need your help. Give us a heart to be humble and recognize when our pride is starting to stand up.
Dave's parents just left our house after being here for 4 days. They came to help us with the new house and at 82 years of age they can out work most people on the planet. They have always been quick to help and quick to give their advise. I find myself wanting to argue with them for position to make my own decisions but have to remind myself that they have lived longer than me and have learned much in their life and could possibly have a better idea. Through the years we have gained much insight and wisdom from watching them live their lives and hearing their instruction. I will have to admit that it is much easier to take their encouragements than to hear their rebukes but both have been a help. Godly parents or mentors are such a blessing if we humble ourselves to receive from them. Today's verse says that a wise son hears his father's instruction. The word instruction means "chastisement; reproof, warning or instruction; also restraint." That is hard to do sometimes but if we will heed their advise it will save us in the long run. The rest of the verse says that a scorner won't hear the rebuke. He will harden his heart and not be able to receive it. This is pride and we are commanded to be humble.
Lord, it is not easy to be humble because it goes against our human nature so we need your help. Give us a heart to be humble and recognize when our pride is starting to stand up.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Thurs.'s Devo - The Righteous Race
Read Pro. 12:26-28
Why would anyone, after reading Proverbs want to be anything but righteous? His ways are more excellent and he receives the reward of his labor and all his ways lead to life. On the other hand, the wicked man seduces and his ways lead to death. He doesn't even get to reap the benefits of his labor. I was running this morning and I tripped over one of those reflector bubbles they put in the concrete to mark where to tee off. It was still dark and I was running through the golf course in our neighborhood. I couldn't see it till I hit it and went skidding across the concrete on my knee. It was not only painful but disconcerting. I got up and, thank God, was not broken anywhere so I kept running. I wonder if that is how it is in the world of the unsaved; they just run in the dark and when they stumble they just get up and keep running in the dark. We are not walking in the dark but we are children of the light and can know the path we are on and see the way. We might not be able to see too far ahead but we know the one who is leading us and he can see past our future into eternity. That is a comforting thing to know.
Lord, help us to run a righteous race on your path to eternity.
Why would anyone, after reading Proverbs want to be anything but righteous? His ways are more excellent and he receives the reward of his labor and all his ways lead to life. On the other hand, the wicked man seduces and his ways lead to death. He doesn't even get to reap the benefits of his labor. I was running this morning and I tripped over one of those reflector bubbles they put in the concrete to mark where to tee off. It was still dark and I was running through the golf course in our neighborhood. I couldn't see it till I hit it and went skidding across the concrete on my knee. It was not only painful but disconcerting. I got up and, thank God, was not broken anywhere so I kept running. I wonder if that is how it is in the world of the unsaved; they just run in the dark and when they stumble they just get up and keep running in the dark. We are not walking in the dark but we are children of the light and can know the path we are on and see the way. We might not be able to see too far ahead but we know the one who is leading us and he can see past our future into eternity. That is a comforting thing to know.
Lord, help us to run a righteous race on your path to eternity.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Wed.'s Devo - Be Glad!
Read Pro. 12:25
We need to hear a good word today. If you know anything about world events or events in our government it will depress you and might even cause you to fear. Our nation is in desperate need for the good news about Christ. We are in desperate need for the good news about Christ. Today's verse says the anxiety and heaviness makes our heart depressed but a good word makes it glad. The truth is God is still on his throne orchestrating the events of man. He still loves us and has a great plan for his people to rise up and take the land. What we need to be concentrating on is the victory - not the defeat. 2 Co. 4:7-9 says that "we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body." We are honored to have a part in God's huge plan of good, not evil and we can rejoice knowing that God, our Father, is in control and loves us till the end.
Lord, help us to give a good word of encouragement to those we meet. We could save a life!
We need to hear a good word today. If you know anything about world events or events in our government it will depress you and might even cause you to fear. Our nation is in desperate need for the good news about Christ. We are in desperate need for the good news about Christ. Today's verse says the anxiety and heaviness makes our heart depressed but a good word makes it glad. The truth is God is still on his throne orchestrating the events of man. He still loves us and has a great plan for his people to rise up and take the land. What we need to be concentrating on is the victory - not the defeat. 2 Co. 4:7-9 says that "we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body." We are honored to have a part in God's huge plan of good, not evil and we can rejoice knowing that God, our Father, is in control and loves us till the end.
Lord, help us to give a good word of encouragement to those we meet. We could save a life!
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