Monthly Archives: February 2017

Proverbs

Proverbs 15:7-8

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7 The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
 
Here we learn more speaking in that if we are wise in what we speak people can learn from us the right things to do. If you follow after the foolish you learn all the wrong things to do. in Luke we read in 6:45 “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” The sacrifice that is made to God by the wicked is an abomination to Him. External acts of worship to God by the wicked are repulsive to God. Our prayers and sacrifices that come from heart changes things because God listens.
We read in Philippians 4:6″Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Also in Romans we see in 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Please attend church somewhere today and let the Spirit of God fill your heart.
Proverbs

Proverbs 15 : 5-6

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Proverbs 15:5 A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.
6 In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.
 
In these verses we see to begin with those that do not listen to anyone because they have no wisdom and are considered foolish. Also because thy have not the wisdom to make good choices to listen to instructions they also waste the illegally gained wealth they have. They wind up lost and undone.
For those that listen to instruction they continue to gain the knowledge and wisdom God has for them. Also because of the wisdom they have they know how to take care of the blessings God has for them. They never have to worry because they know where their treasure comes from and know God will always provide.
Proverbs

Proverbs 15:3-4

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Proverbs 15:3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.
4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
 
This first verse reminds us that God is everywhere all the time. It does not matter where we are or what we are doing, whether it is daylight or dark, God is always watching. He sees the good and the bad. He even knows when we speak words that are uplifting or words that tearing down. If we speak with a wholesome tongue we are speaking words of hope. We can speak either life or death over things. When we tell people the good news of gospel it can lead them to eternal life. We should refrain from perverse language because it usually involves lying and that only harms others. With the tongue we speak blessings and curses but let us strive to always speak positive words over any situation we have.
A Note from Hope

Tug of War : A Note from Hope

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Ha! Scout thought she was smart, talking Mom into letting her say something last week; she needs to remember this is a Note from HOPE, not Scout.

So anyway… Mom took this picture of us the other day, while we were trying to ‘share’ the same stick. Mom likes to hold the stick up and see who can jump the highest – she says that Scout needs to build up her muscles, and I think she also likes it when we come inside and sleep a while.  She heard somebody say a tired dog is a good dog. I don’t know what that means but I think it means she likes to rest while we nap.

But if you’ll look at this picture really close, you’ll see that Scout and I were both trying to pull the stick from the same spot – Scout would back up a while, and then I would back up a while. Nobody was winning, we were just dragging each other around the yard.

Dad says that we are both smart dogs, and we’re both strong too. He says one of these days, when we both get a little older, that we’ll be a force to be reckoned with – I don’t know what that means either, but I think it means we’re going to work together and be better than when we work against each other.

I really do like playing with Scout,  even though sometimes it looks like we’re mad at each other when we’re playing. We’re both growling and showing our teeth and Scout’s hackles are up; we try to throw each other down; we take toys away from each other, and tease each other with them.  We even chew on each other – but we would never really try to hurt each other.  If we didn’t have each other, we could chase the kittens around the yard, or run after the tennis balls, or eat out of each other’s bowl…. what fun would that be?

Dad says that we’re learning what this means:

Two are better than one,
    because they have a good return for their labor:
 If either of them falls down,
    one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
    and has no one to help them up.
 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
    But how can one keep warm alone?
 Though one may be overpowered,
    two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.  Ecc. 4:9-12

Proverbs

Proverbs 15: 1-2

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Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
 
These two verses have a lot of truth in them. We know it takes two people to have an argument and harsh words being said by one stirs up the other to reply usually in the same way. It is the foolishness of what is said that causes all the problems. screaming and hollering at someone never accomplishes anything.
Again we see that wisdom being used to help us decide what we say helps us control our tone. When we answer someone with a calm voice, even if it did not start way has a way of turning away wrath. It really takes depending on the wisdom and knowledge of God to know how to respond to people in any situation. The book of James teaches well what a weapon the tongue is and how dangerous it can be. We need to ask God daily to guide us in what we say and do.
Proverbs

Proverbs 14 : 34 – 35

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Proverbs 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
35 The king’s favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.
 
The United States was a great nation for many years because we were founded upon Biblical principles. God blessed America because of its rich Christian heritage. Our country in recent years has gotten away from godly teaching, and we are becoming a reproach. As a nation, we must return to God quickly and God will help us. We also know a good leader will choose Godly people to help take care of things because of the wisdom God has given him. Like wise anyone who tries to tear down a nation the leader will make an example out of them and bring shame upon them. a very familiar verse that goes along with this is:
II Chronicles 7:14 tells us, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
Proverbs

Proverbs 14 : 32-33

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Proverbs 14:32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.
33 Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.
 
In this first verse we can see that what we already know from previous scriptures that there is no hope from those that continue to do wickedly. Then in the next verse we see that the fool just no control over what he blurts out because they have not the wisdom an knowledge of God.
I Thessalonians 4:13 “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.”
The righteous have nothing to worry about including those that do not want to listen to the gospel message. We know where our hope is even in death, we will gain more than we can ever dream of. As long as we continue to study God’s word and gain the wisdom He has for us we will always have the understanding we need in any situation. Wisdom is quietly preserved in the heart of the wise for the time of proper use.
Proverbs

Proverbs 14 : 30-31

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Proverbs14:30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
 
When we first read the beginning of verse 30 we think first of the physical aspect of the condition of the heart. We know that if the heart is in good shape we are healthy. More than that though our heart needs to be right with God for it to be in perfect health. Envy eats at a person from the inside out and will totally destroy a person. This verse can relate to next verse in that the envious person persecutes the poor. God dislikes those who neglect the poor. Now when our hearts are right with God we will be good to the poor and aid them when can. If we love God we will also love the poor and be good to them. But for the grace of God the poor one could be us.
In Psalms 10:2 we see, “The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devises that they have imagined.”
Proverbs

Proverbs 14 : 28-29

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Provebs 14:28 In the multitude of people is the king’s honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.
29 He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
 
Verse 28 is simply saying that if a person rules over a lot people there is more honor to be gained from the people. If someone rules over only a few they are more likely to be overthrown because they may feel they can do a better jo.
Verse 29 can go along with this in that those that are few under a ruler can get ill with the ruler cause discourse and try to overthrow him. While people stay more calm under a ruler over a lot people because they work together more and have a greater understanding of what the ruler is doing. We also are not to angry without a cause and the scripture tells us we can be angry but sin not.
James 1:19-20 tells us: “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:” “For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”
I hope everyone had a good nights rest and woke up this morning with a smile and praising God for anther day. Also try to attend church today and let God fill you with more of His wisdom and knowledge.
Proverbs

Proverbs 14 :26-27

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Proverbs 14:26 In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.
27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
 
This reverential awe and admiring, submissive fear is the foundation for all spiritual knowledge and wisdom. We read in God,s word of His wrath in the Old Testament and the wrath to come in the New Testament which should instill that reverent fear we should have and helping us to know of our blessed hope. This fear of the Lord helps us to live the life we know we should live because we know it guarantees where we will spend eternity. The only fear that is permissible is the fear of God. All other fear comes from Satan who tries to kill, steal, and destroy everything to try to turn us from the saving grace of God.
Matthew 10:28 “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”