Read Pro. 14:1
Every wise woman builds her house. I've only built one house but I know the labor and planning and hard work that goes into it. You have to be able to see the end from the beginning. I think that is what we have to do in our own lives. We have to see our children as adults so we will discipline them and train them to accept responsibility and grow into the adults we wish we were. We slowly build our families one memory at a time. It is so easy to want to escape into something more glamorous or fun than the work of slapping the mortor of training into the "hard as brick" heads of our children. Some times it would be easier to nail them to the wall and leave them hanging and leave the room, but parenting is an every day, not always gratifying job. We all think we were made for "greater things" than this but there is nothing "greater" than building a family. You may feel like you are getting no recognition and no one sees what you have to do everyday but you have a crowd of witnesses in heaven that are watching and cheering you on. One of the greatest things we can leave on this earth is a godly heritage that is taking the gospel into the next generation. So build your house well with a strong foundation of God's Word, walls of encouragement and discipline, illumined by godly insight and wisdom and filled with laughter and joy. Don't be like the foolish woman who destroys her house with one negative word at a time, or by abandonment to more fulfilling pastimes, or by depression and self pity.
Lord, help us to bloom where you have planted and scatter our seed in our own garden. Water our plants with your love and cause them to grow into strong trees for you.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Mon.'s Devo - You Satisfy
Read Pro. 13:35
We are slowly inching our way through Proverbs... Have you ever been starving and thought if you could just have something to eat you would be satisfied forever? Then you eat and five hours later you are hungry again. The only thing you can eat and get any lasting satisfaction is the Word of God. It is our spiritual food. God gave us the example of manna from heaven which fell every night except the night before the Sabbath. It was like coriander seed, white, and tasted like wafers made with honey. Is not that what the Word of God is? It is a seed that we plant in our spirit and as we read and meditate upon it and cultivate it into our lives it grows into a tree that is strong and stable and something we can find shade and protection under. It is white with purity and truth and it tastes good to our soul. It is like honey: sweet and satisfying. We need it daily to keep growing just like our physical bodies need food but it is the food of eternal life which is something a five-course meal can never give us.
The wicked will never find that in what they eat. They will always be in want and never satisfied.
Lord, your Word is the honey from the rock and your anointing is the oil from the flinty rock. Feed us with your honey and anoint us with your oil.
We are slowly inching our way through Proverbs... Have you ever been starving and thought if you could just have something to eat you would be satisfied forever? Then you eat and five hours later you are hungry again. The only thing you can eat and get any lasting satisfaction is the Word of God. It is our spiritual food. God gave us the example of manna from heaven which fell every night except the night before the Sabbath. It was like coriander seed, white, and tasted like wafers made with honey. Is not that what the Word of God is? It is a seed that we plant in our spirit and as we read and meditate upon it and cultivate it into our lives it grows into a tree that is strong and stable and something we can find shade and protection under. It is white with purity and truth and it tastes good to our soul. It is like honey: sweet and satisfying. We need it daily to keep growing just like our physical bodies need food but it is the food of eternal life which is something a five-course meal can never give us.
The wicked will never find that in what they eat. They will always be in want and never satisfied.
Lord, your Word is the honey from the rock and your anointing is the oil from the flinty rock. Feed us with your honey and anoint us with your oil.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Fri.'s Devo - The Rod
Read Pro. 13:24
I've always heard this verse in connection to why we spank our children but I think it has much more to say than that. In the Hebrew the word rod means a stick for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc. or figuratively a clan: correction, dart, rod, sceptre, staff, tribe. So not only is it is a stick for punishing but for training. The last part of the verse says that he instructs and corrects his son early at any task. So, this father spends time with his son teaching him through written instruction or oral debate. He assumes his leadership as the head of the household and he teaches by his own walk in life. When a Jewish boy hit the age of 13 he entered into manhood and into the family business so if a father didn't spend time teaching it then he was considered a dad who hated his son. He was not spreading his rod of authority to his son. This rod was also a positive thing because it stood for the sceptre or staff of that clan. It was an honor to get the father's rod. God used the example of Aaron's rod blooming to show that he was the man God had chosen to be a priest. All the patriarchs carried their rod everywhere they went and when they stretched it out it carried power and authority. It was their identity. For a father not to pass that authority down to his son would be dishonoring to the son. God said that when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death we would not need to fear evil because he would be with us and his rod would comfort us.
Lord, help us to welcome your rod of correction and your rod of inheritance. Let it be a comfort to us and a reminder of your great love for us.
I've always heard this verse in connection to why we spank our children but I think it has much more to say than that. In the Hebrew the word rod means a stick for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc. or figuratively a clan: correction, dart, rod, sceptre, staff, tribe. So not only is it is a stick for punishing but for training. The last part of the verse says that he instructs and corrects his son early at any task. So, this father spends time with his son teaching him through written instruction or oral debate. He assumes his leadership as the head of the household and he teaches by his own walk in life. When a Jewish boy hit the age of 13 he entered into manhood and into the family business so if a father didn't spend time teaching it then he was considered a dad who hated his son. He was not spreading his rod of authority to his son. This rod was also a positive thing because it stood for the sceptre or staff of that clan. It was an honor to get the father's rod. God used the example of Aaron's rod blooming to show that he was the man God had chosen to be a priest. All the patriarchs carried their rod everywhere they went and when they stretched it out it carried power and authority. It was their identity. For a father not to pass that authority down to his son would be dishonoring to the son. God said that when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death we would not need to fear evil because he would be with us and his rod would comfort us.
Lord, help us to welcome your rod of correction and your rod of inheritance. Let it be a comfort to us and a reminder of your great love for us.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Thurs.'s Devo - Enjoying the Fruit of the Land
Read Pro. 13:23
If you have ever been to a 3rd world country you will understand this verse. There are farms everywhere and people producing crops but because of the injustice of the system, they don't enjoy the rewards of their hard work. It goes to the wealthy land owners and the people who worked the fields with their hard work, sweat and knowledge go home with meager wages. So how can this apply to us? We are not to be the poor. We are to be under the blessing of God. We are to own land and enjoy it's fruits. We are to be the head and not the tail so how do we do that? Duet 28 gives a list of the blessings that are ours IF we listen diligently to the voice of God and treasure his commands and do them. He promised that his commands would not be grievious or burdensome so that seems like an easy feat. The problem is that we get in the way and think we have a "better idea". It takes dying to ourselves and our desires and letting God resurrect his. His are always better.
Lord, teach us to walk in your commands and to hide them in our hearts that we will not sin against you. We want to possess our land and enjoy all its fruits.
If you have ever been to a 3rd world country you will understand this verse. There are farms everywhere and people producing crops but because of the injustice of the system, they don't enjoy the rewards of their hard work. It goes to the wealthy land owners and the people who worked the fields with their hard work, sweat and knowledge go home with meager wages. So how can this apply to us? We are not to be the poor. We are to be under the blessing of God. We are to own land and enjoy it's fruits. We are to be the head and not the tail so how do we do that? Duet 28 gives a list of the blessings that are ours IF we listen diligently to the voice of God and treasure his commands and do them. He promised that his commands would not be grievious or burdensome so that seems like an easy feat. The problem is that we get in the way and think we have a "better idea". It takes dying to ourselves and our desires and letting God resurrect his. His are always better.
Lord, teach us to walk in your commands and to hide them in our hearts that we will not sin against you. We want to possess our land and enjoy all its fruits.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Wed.'s Devo - The Blessing of a Godly Life
Read Pro. 13:15-22
How would you like to walk in the favor of God? You can! It comes by having good understanding which is what you get when you read and meditate and apply God's Word. Today's reading is a collection of promises to those who live their lives according to God's Word and those who don't. The ones to follow God are not only given favor but they know how to live with the knowledge they are given to benefit their lives. They become healing and their words are words of life. They welcome correction and live out the dreams God has placed in them. They walk with those who are wiser than them so they can learn and they are rewarded for the good they do to others. They pass on an inheritance to their children of godliness and prosperity.
To the one who doesn't choose to walk in God's ways his life will be hard. His life will reflect his bad decisions. Poverty and shame will follow him and he will live a life of evil and destruction. His inheritance will be given to those who follow God.
Lord, how sad for those who don't follow you. You are so worthy of our lives and we joyfully lay them down for you. Teach us understanding and wisdom from your throne that we might leave an inheritance for the next generation of holiness.
How would you like to walk in the favor of God? You can! It comes by having good understanding which is what you get when you read and meditate and apply God's Word. Today's reading is a collection of promises to those who live their lives according to God's Word and those who don't. The ones to follow God are not only given favor but they know how to live with the knowledge they are given to benefit their lives. They become healing and their words are words of life. They welcome correction and live out the dreams God has placed in them. They walk with those who are wiser than them so they can learn and they are rewarded for the good they do to others. They pass on an inheritance to their children of godliness and prosperity.
To the one who doesn't choose to walk in God's ways his life will be hard. His life will reflect his bad decisions. Poverty and shame will follow him and he will live a life of evil and destruction. His inheritance will be given to those who follow God.
Lord, how sad for those who don't follow you. You are so worthy of our lives and we joyfully lay them down for you. Teach us understanding and wisdom from your throne that we might leave an inheritance for the next generation of holiness.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Tue.'s Devo - The Fountain of Life
Read Pro. 13:13, 14
If you despise God's word you will be destroyed. I looked up "despise" in the Hebrew and it means to "disrespect". How do we disrespect God's Word? We can have five copies and only open them once a week or less. We can read it everyday but not meditate on it and hide it in our hearts. We can read it and never apply it to our lives or only apply it when we have the faith. It is easy to believe God sent Jesus to save us for our sins but is it easy to believe God can heal your son of a hereditary disease? Jesus went through town after town healing everyone in the town. He didn't stop to ask God if it was his will to heal them; Jesus was healing and that same Jesus dwells in us and promised that we would do greater works than him. If you disrespect God's word it says that you will be destroyed; BUT, he that fears the commandment shall be rewarded. The reward is that you get what the Word says you get. It has promised us salvation, relationship with our creator, abundance, health, joy, peace, love, protection, and a spiritual inheritance that we can pass down to our children. It is truly a fountain of life. How could we despise that?
Lord, forgive us for disregarding your word in any way. Help us to treasure the Word of God more than food or drink.
If you despise God's word you will be destroyed. I looked up "despise" in the Hebrew and it means to "disrespect". How do we disrespect God's Word? We can have five copies and only open them once a week or less. We can read it everyday but not meditate on it and hide it in our hearts. We can read it and never apply it to our lives or only apply it when we have the faith. It is easy to believe God sent Jesus to save us for our sins but is it easy to believe God can heal your son of a hereditary disease? Jesus went through town after town healing everyone in the town. He didn't stop to ask God if it was his will to heal them; Jesus was healing and that same Jesus dwells in us and promised that we would do greater works than him. If you disrespect God's word it says that you will be destroyed; BUT, he that fears the commandment shall be rewarded. The reward is that you get what the Word says you get. It has promised us salvation, relationship with our creator, abundance, health, joy, peace, love, protection, and a spiritual inheritance that we can pass down to our children. It is truly a fountain of life. How could we despise that?
Lord, forgive us for disregarding your word in any way. Help us to treasure the Word of God more than food or drink.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Mon.'s Devo - Hope Deferred
Read Pro. 13:12
When we first moved to Tulsa we looked and looked for an existing house to buy. After literally looking at over 50 houses it became apparent that we would need to build. So we got an apartment and found a builder. Since my house was going to be a custom house, the builder kept putting my house off till he had more time. I waited and waited for my house to get at least a foundation poured. My heart was sick and I thought of this verse many a day. I finally called the foreman and told him to promise me again that he really was going to build my house. He assured me he was and that the foundation would be poured that Wednesday. Wouldn't you know, we were experiencing a drought that year and it rained that day. I was so upset. About 2 weeks later they finally poured my foundation. It took forever to be built but when it was finished I was so glad. My house was not my "tree of life" but God's fulfilled promise was. We never like to wait but it is so a part of God's nature that he wants everyone to have it. Long suffering and patience do not go with today's remote control life but God doesn't change with the world, he is in a kingdom all of his own and it is stress-free and right on time so if you are having to wait for something, pull up a chair and meditate on the goodness of God. Thank him for what he is going to do and dream big.
When we first moved to Tulsa we looked and looked for an existing house to buy. After literally looking at over 50 houses it became apparent that we would need to build. So we got an apartment and found a builder. Since my house was going to be a custom house, the builder kept putting my house off till he had more time. I waited and waited for my house to get at least a foundation poured. My heart was sick and I thought of this verse many a day. I finally called the foreman and told him to promise me again that he really was going to build my house. He assured me he was and that the foundation would be poured that Wednesday. Wouldn't you know, we were experiencing a drought that year and it rained that day. I was so upset. About 2 weeks later they finally poured my foundation. It took forever to be built but when it was finished I was so glad. My house was not my "tree of life" but God's fulfilled promise was. We never like to wait but it is so a part of God's nature that he wants everyone to have it. Long suffering and patience do not go with today's remote control life but God doesn't change with the world, he is in a kingdom all of his own and it is stress-free and right on time so if you are having to wait for something, pull up a chair and meditate on the goodness of God. Thank him for what he is going to do and dream big.
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