Monthly Archives: December 2016

Proverbs

Proverbs 11:14-15

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Proverbs 11:14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
15 He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure.
 
We learn hear that as a new generation comes along that they usually do not like to take instructions and therefore go out have to make mistakes on there own and continue to fail. Someone who is eager to learn will listen to all who are willing to give the correct instructions. Good decisions are made by a group wise advisers and the more important decisions are better made by a corporate group. Some of that wisdom applies to the next verse in that to make a decision to help someone out on note that you are not sure about could cause you to have repay the note. Where if you had sought council on what to do you would have probably been advised not to sign on that note. To many times when we try to make major decisions on our own we wind up making a bigger mess. We need the counsel of wise elders to help us sometimes and we should use it whenever we can.
Proverbs

Proverbs 11:12-13

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Proverbs 11:12 He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.
13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
 
A person who lacks wisdom and understanding is a jealous person ,hates people and things they do, and covets things of others. They also can be known as someone who loves to gossip, spread rumors that can can harm people, and create strife. A person who has understanding is content in what situation he is in and knows that God has everything under control. In contrast to those who despises his neighbor, to be silent is to be wise. We must always keep in confidence those things we have been entrusted with when someone ask us to. It is said that the more times a story is repeated the further it gets from the truth and too many times this what causes trouble in peoples lives. So this helps to see that if we use the wisdom of God we will know when to speak and when to be silent.
A Note from Hope

The Christmas Tree: A Note from Hope

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So…. remember me telling you that Mom put a TREE in the living room? Well, now she says it’s time to take it back down. But here’s a picture of what it looked like with all those packages and bags under it. Dad said we had to leave all that stuff alone because it wasn’t ours.  Scout did try to eat one of the little boxes but they stopped her before she finished; Dad says that doesn’t count against the ‘naughty’ list because Scout is still just a baby, really.

And I guess Santa must have thought we were pretty good- we each got a nice smelly bone to chew on and they taste great. We also got a bag of peanut butter cookies- our favorites! And we got a red ball that we can’t chew up. I don’t know how much fun that’s going to be but we’re giving it a try.

And guess what? Dad gave a bunch of our Christmas cards out to the folks on his mail route, and they must really like it because they put it up in their offices and stuff. One lady told Dad this morning that everyone who comes in wants to read it.

Scout and I hope you all had a great holiday with your loved ones.  Don’t forget that Jesus loves you, no matter what!

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3 16

Proverbs

Proverbs 11:9-11

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Proverbs 11:9 An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.
10 When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.
11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
 
We now have someone who is going around spreading rumors and telling lies on people but are in church every time the doors are open. They are only out to destroy who ever they can. But for those of us who know the truth and walk in the wisdom and knowledge of God have nothing to fear and will be delivered. As this continues we see that when we are delivered and things are going good people rejoice because now the wicked have put in their place so the people shout. Because of the praising of God the people are blessed and exalted. But even again the wicked come in and try to destroy everything that is good and right, that is all they are concerned about. We see in Jeremiah 9:4-5 “Take ye heed every one of his neighbor, and trust ye not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbor will walk with slanders. And they will deceive every one his neighbor, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity.” And we read in Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” This today gives us basically the two types of people that are in the world and I pray everyone tries to be the righteous one.
Something to Think About...

God is Good, All the Time

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I know everyone is familiar with the statement “All the time, God is good; and God is good all the time.”
But do we ever really think about what that means?
Psalm 73:1 says “Surely God is good to Israel, To those who are pure in heart!”.
People sometimes say, “God was so good to keep my child safe.” or “God was good to heal my friend.”. And He IS good to do those things; but even when He chooses NOT to answer our prayers the way we ask, He is STILL GOOD.
He’s good when He keeps the flood waters out of homes down in Elba; but He’s also good when the flood waters rise.
He’s good when He keeps His hand of protection around people in the storms in Texas; but He’s also good when some of those people lose their lives or their belongings.
He’s good when He heals my friend from cancer; but He’s also good when He takes my dad and my brother home with Him.
God is good because He is. Not because of what He does; not because of how He answers our prayers, saves our family and friends, or because of how He works miracles in our lives.
He is good, just like He is omnipresent, omniscient, all-powerful, all-knowing, the Creator, the Alpha and Omega – goodness is one of his character traits.
If He never does another thing for me- He is GOOD. Because He is – it has nothing to do with His actions, or lack of actions.
We’ve got to make our minds up to serve Him because He deserves it, not because of what He does for us.
God is GOOD!

Proverbs

Proverbs 11:7-8

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Proverbs 11:7 When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.
8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.
 
These verses pretty well tell it straight up when a wicked person dies there is no more hope for them. Up until that time I believe everyone has the chance to repent and be saved. But again after death if you are not saved there is no second chance and your only expectation is eternity in hell. Verse 18 tells us that though we may go through tribulations because we follow God we will be delivered. We even see in revelation where God saves His people out of tribulation
Revelation 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
The wicked are left on earth at this time to to deal with all horrors of this time.
Even in the teachings of Proverbs we can see we need to make a decision for Jesus now because we are not promised tomorrow.
Proverbs

Proverbs 11:4-6

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Proverbs 11:4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.
5 The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.
 
For those that know much about the end of times in Revelations all the riches in the world will not do anyone any good because you have to have the mark of the beast to buy and sell anything. The riches we need to obtain is in the righteousness of God in growing as close to Him as we can in wisdom and knowledge. With this we can know that the paths we take will be directed by our righteousness and this righteousness shall deliver us from the snares of the devil. As for those that insist to continue to live a life of wickedness and transgress against the will God and His people will fall by their own doings. Even though we see today plenty of people not living in the will of God and believing nothing bad will happen to them, they are wrong because all will be judged by God and given their just rewards.
In I Thessalonians 5:9 “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,”
In I Thessalonians 1:10 we read: “And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.”
Proverbs

Proverbs 11:1-3

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Proverbs 11:1 A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.
2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.
 
Chapter 11 starts with God telling us to be honest in everything we do not just in weighing stuff but in everything. As the scripture says anything false is an abomination to God. Verse two continues on and talks about pride which is an attribute that is like being dishonest about something because people that are prideful like to think they are right about everything. The scripture says the lowly, but it is the ones that are humble in the sight of God, that are the wise ones.The scripture goes on to tell us that the wisdom that guides them helps them to stay innocent and gives them integrity. Again those that are dishonest or transgressors shal not share in the blessings of God but will be destroyed. We see a contrast in these verses of good and bad, and not just these but others also, that let us know we face choices each day to keep us close to God or turn from Him and the wisdom that we accept from God helps us make the right decisions.
Proverbs

Proverbs 10:31-32

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Proverbs 10:31 The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.
32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.
 
These last two verses in chater 10 tell us that those that have wisdom are just in what say and because of their righteousness they know what is acceptable. From the things we have learned so for in Proverbs we konw that wisdom is one of the things we need and that what comes out of our mouth is what is in our heart. We also see in these two verses that those that speak against the word of God will be cut off and that the mouth of the wicked will not cease until it is cut off. We can se in two passages in Romans how both of these are illustrated.
Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation
Romans 3:13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
Many churchs are having a service this morning so if you can attend one, what better way to celebrate the birth of our savior than give Him praise in His house.
A Note from Hope

Happy Life: A Note from Hope

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20161224_083123Mom says that people could learn a lot, if they’d just pay attention to their dogs.  She says we have “joy of life” – I’m not sure what that means, but I think it means that she likes to watch Scout and I run and play. We saw this bird flying from one tree to another this morning and we ran back and forth, watching it; in a few minutes some other birds were flying around with it, and we liked that even more. Then I saw a squirrel run up one tree and jump to another and I was barking and trying to catch it.

Dad says most dogs enjoy every day – on his mail route, he has dog friends at lots of houses.

Dad and Mom both say that if people would try to enjoy the life they have like us dogs do, instead of always wanting something different, they might be happier.   They say that us dogs are happy just because…

I don’t know about that; but I do know that a white bag with a “T” and an “S” is sitting in the dining room.  I know that means it came from Tractor Supply, which is where our chicken meatballs and peanut butter cookies come from.  It smells awfully good – I wonder if Santa brought that to our house last night? I think if Scout and I are very quiet, we might be able to pull that bag down before Dad & Mom find out.   Come on, Scout – let’s go see….

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 Matthew 6: 25 “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
26 “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?