Fear

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10NIV

A week from today is Halloween. The media has begun to show all the scary movies and trying to prick the fear button.  When I read this passage is see something else.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge. The kind of fear of Lord is a respectful type of fear that keeps oneself in check.

So with this little thought. Here is one question - Are you walking in the fear of the Lord? or Are you walking in some other fear?

Just a thought

Restored Joy

“Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” Psalm 51:12 NIV

There is thre parts to this passage.. Words that make me thing
1. Restore 2. Grant 3. Sustain

1, Restore the Joy of your salvation.
  Think back to the day of your salvation the joy that your felt. Here comes a statement of restore.  As you look at there must have been a point that one has lost it. Now it has to be restored.

2. Grant me a willing a spirit.
     The word grant needs permission. When I read this I was thinking of someone praying for a willing spirit to do what the Lord has commanded me to.   I think of willing spirit means making the choice to to follow His will.

3. Sustain me
     To me when I read this is giving me the energy to comtinue even when things seems to be going bad.


When you bring this passage together. We have to repond with a prayer that will help us keep on keeping on.

You Think your a Lottery winner

“Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”Psalm 37:4 NIV

This passage has made many people think woohoo just won the lottery. In this passage individuals may look past the beginning and hope to the end where it "He will give the desires of your heart".  Now sometimes people get out the gigantic "Christmas list for God" out and beginning calling them desires of the heart.

So ask yourself what is the desires of your hear? Is it to be rich? Is is to be famous? You probably think.

I dare to challenge you on this.. That your desire of your heart should be to delight yourself in the Lord and walk in His ways.

Think about it.

It my life and I want it NOW!

“Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”Psalm 27:14 NIV

I love this is passage of scripture because it uses the word wait..  This is hard concept for any of us to get.  We have just a "I want it now" society.  The latest thing that comes on the market.

This passage actually gives us encouragement to be strong and take heart.  The Lord know that how much energy it will take to wait. So here He is encouraging us to be strong and take heart and wait.

So friends maybe this is a word for you today.. WAIT!

THE INWARD PULL: The need to please

Matthew 7:13-14

Amplified Bible (AMP)

¹³Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction, and many are those who are entering through it.
    ¹⁴But the gate is narrow (contracted ^[a]by pressure) and the way is straitened and compressed that leads away to life, and few are those who find it.
 

TWO BARRIERS ON THE ROAD TO WEIRD

1)      THE INWARD PULL: THE NEED TO PLEASE.

Consumed with the need to please. What will people think?

Get rid of my television—wwpt?

Start a ministry to single moms—wwpt?

Minister to foster kids—wwpt?

• Becoming obsessed with what people think—quickest way to forget God what God thinks.

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24 Then Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned. I violated the Lord's command and your instructions. I was afraid of the people and so I gave in to them. 1 Sam 15:24-25

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Teach kids! Not just ok to be different—Spirit led—WAY BETTER!

Family identity strong—peer pressure weak

Halloween… practice as a family—going to be different.

We as humans have this overwhelming need to please those around us. What should be our main focus how we should please God in all that we do and be the first thought of our day. 

As you can tell this is part my outline from Sunday Morning. Next week I will have video devo will be up. 

Have a blessed Thursday!

Don't get stuck in the buckets

Matthew 7:13-14

New International Version (NIV)

The Narrow and Wide Gates

    ¹³ “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ¹⁴ But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Don't get stuck in the bucket! Try this sometime: If you're ever at a beach, just get a little bucket and put a bunch of sand crabs into the bucket and you'll watch that you don't have to put a lid on the bucket to keep the crabs in, because the crabs will do all of the work for you. Whenever one little crab decides, "I'm sick of the bucket! I'm sick of hanging out with crabs and I want to be free!"

Crab one will start to climb out and another crab will say, "No you don't!"

And he'll grab him by the crab butt, and pull his little crab butt back down into the bucket and it will happen every single time! And I can promise you, as soon as you feel the Spirit of God leading you off the normal road, into a God-honoring road, there's going to be a lot of crabby people reaching for you saying, "Don't leave us! Come back to normal! Where do you think you're going?"

You may be wondering, "Why do crabs do that?" And the answer is, nobody knows because crabs don't talk and we can't figure it out at all!

Why do people do that? Because there's comfort in the crowd! "Don't leave us!" 

9 Passion for your house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me. 10 When I weep and fast, they scoff at me. 11 When I dress in burlap to show sorrow, they make fun of me. 12 I am the favorite topic of town gossip, and all the drunks sing about me. Ps 69:9-12 NLT

June 5 devo

Matthew 7:13-14

New International Version (NIV)

The Narrow and Wide Gates

    ¹³ “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ¹⁴ But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

• IF YOU WANT WHAT NORMAL PEOPLE HAVE, DO WHAT NORMAL PEOPLE DO.

• IF YOU WANT WHAT FEW PEOPLE HAVE, DO WHAT FEW PEOPLE DO.

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Okay to be different: Not only okay

When Spirit directed, WAY BETTER!

Be holy, because I am holy. 1 Peter 1:16

When we see a Pastor, or Priest - People look at them as the definition of a holy person.  I can say for myself... God is still working on me and the process will not be complete until I am in Heaven.  I am striving to be Holy in my life every day. 

 Greek Word for you... 

hagios (hag'-ee-os);  to be holy, pure, set apart, different.

To be different to be set apart (Sanctified)  to live in the world don't participate in all it deception. Be people of the word.. 

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Pursue Christ with all of your heart—be different—weird!

Goal is not weird—honor God.

Remember—no cookie cutter weird—God’s custom weird…

~ No longer go to the parties              ~ Walk away from gossip

               ~ Pray/thank God meals

~ Live simply, give extrav.                

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Leave the wide road and live on the Narrow