Proverbs Journal

         For the past week I took on the bible study which I call the Proverbs Study Challenge. It is a study because there are 31 chapters in Proverbs which is the normal length of a month. I have started by reading a chapter a day a highlighting the verses and words that stood out to me. As I reflect on the past week the main ideas of the first couple chapters is about knowledge along with wisdom, trust, adultery, warnings, and instructions. Now, this lesson might seem very sporadic but I felt that this overall message seems insignificant but yet important. So this lesson is going to look a little different because I am going to just bullet my thoughts exactly how they are in my notebook then I will reflect on them.

The first section is Proverbs 1:
~The wise need to hear in order to keep learning
~If you understand guidance then you have it
~VERSE 7: Knowledge of wisdom is needed to fear the Lord
~Don't consent enticing sinners
~Sinners always follow the path back to the evil one
~As sinners take away their own life so do those who are greedy for unjust gain get their possessors taken away
~Don't be SIMPLE BE FULL of wisdom

Reflections: So the first Proverbs is based around knowledge and wisdom. I like the fact that the people that are wise still need to hear knowledge because they too need to keep learning. And those who understand the concept of guidance has guidance. The most important thing in this chapter is the fact that having knowledge of wisdom is needed to fear the Lord. We have talked about what it means to fear the Lord before and having wisdom is the key to make that hard concept doable in this world. This passage closes with a warning of being careful of sinners because their path connects back to evil which takes their own life. So above all else one needs to have wisdom so that our hearts build up stamina.


The second is Proverbs 2:
~Ear is wisdom as to heart is to understanding
~God stores wisdom for the upright and SHIELDS those with integrity
~When you expect wisdom the knowledge will be pleasant
~One will be rooted if righteous

Reflections: This chapter is pretty much a continuation of wisdom and knowledge. There is a lot of great idioms that have stuck in my mind. Our ears are what hears the wisdom but are hearts are what takes that wisdom and turns it into understanding to fuel our lives to help others. I'm sure your aware that God is full of wisdom which he stores only for the upright and those that receive it he will then shield them with integrity. When we think about receiving wisdom it might seem hard to be so obedient but only when you expect wisdom is when knowledge is pleasant. The one verse that really stood out to me was towards the end...the one about being rooted. I mean it relates to my blog:) But it is important to know that you can only be righteous if your rooted in Christ.


The third section is Proverbs 3:
~Bind steadfast love and faithfulness around your neck and write it on your heart
~Lean on God to make your paths straight
~If you take wisdom by giving yourself your rest will be sweet
      *When it comes times for you to require help you will have no worries (Confidence keeps you alive)
~When you have the power to do good DO IT

Reflections: I always heard that your love is to be steadfast but I never heard the great idiom of binding it around your neck and writing it on your heart. If this is done, figuratively, then it will consume us and our actions which will cause our paths to go straight in God. And if one person takes wisdom they must give themselves up but this loving sacrifice is replaced with sweet rest. Having confidence through wisdom gives you the strength to give your worries to God when your in need of help.


The fourth section is Proverbs 4:
~Always be attentive
~If you don't forsake wisdom it will keep you and if you love it then you will be guarded
~Prize wisdom
~Avoid the wicked path by ALL means
~Keep your heart with all vigilance
~Let your eyes look to the path ahead

Reflections: This is the basic passage about how one shouldn't take the nature of wisdom lightly. Wisdom is more than just a bunch of thoughts that make us sound smart. Wisdom is a prized possession that everyone should feel privileged to have. It keeps you from the evil path and lets your eyes focus on the path ahead of you. It also makes one attentive with a heart full of vigilance.


The fifth section is Proverbs 5:
~Keep discretion so your lips will guard knowledge
~Forbidden words are like a double-edged sword against oneself
~Keep yourself away from this person and don't become it
~Don't become intoxicated!
     *One's ways are before the eyes of God, making him ponder all paths

Reflections: I found it rather an oxymoron to tell one to guard their knowledge. God tells us to keep our discretion so that forbidden words don't work their way into our knowledge. Once it enters our system it creates a double edged sword that intoxicates our minds.


The last section is Proverbs 6:
~ Worthless person has crooked speech
~Perverted hearts continually devise evil and sow discord
    *This person becomes broken beyond healing
~The Lord hates:
    *haughty eyes-lying tongue
    *hearts devising evil-feet running with haste run for evil
    *false witnesses
~Commandments=lamp
~Teaching=light
*Don't desire this beauty because it captures you*
    ~One can't carry a flame close without being burned

Reflections: One misconception of this passage is thinking God is saying were worthless. I think the opening verse is pointing to the fact that a person that has crooked speech makes themselves worthless because they don't speak the truth and if you don't speak the truth it helps nothing. Also I believe that perverted hearts are beyond healing because all sinners an be saved with the right help and people by their side. But I do agree that people that have a perverted heart have gotten that way through a long period of continuous sin.



Word of the day: "Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved."
                                                                  ~Romans 10:9-10

Place God in the terror

"The attempt of a nation to defy the course of its judgment, apart from repentence, will, instead, set in motion a chain of events to bring about the very calamity it sought to avert." This is stated in the book The Harbinger which is about a nation that does not choose to have God included in the ways of life. The most ironic thing about this book is that the nation being described in the plot is our world today. The plot is based out of the Isaiah 9:10 effect of a nation crumbling and coming back then curriculating again. The sinful nature around us has become such a huge part of how we think and live our lives. The bottom line is that the world needs to turn back to God because the end is coming. This is not a rush invitation for nonbelievers to run to God with mercy or believes to also make their faith " flawless". This is the time for us to look past what

 scares us the most in this world so we can bring God into this world. People often wonder where God is when loved ones die or there is a mass bombing or a school shooting but yet we don't let him into our world. The destruction around us is cold hard evidence that these events have become so systematic pointing to end. Look closer and read Proverbs 3:24-35. Verse 24 basically a reassures us that if we let our guards down then our sleep will be sweet and in presence of the Lord. The next two verses (25-26) are two key things to remember in this sinful world. When sudden terror comes along we aren't to be afraid. I know it sounds crazy especially considering all the acts of terror that have of occurred recently but it really shouldn't if we have God in our lives. If we have confidence in our Lord through terror then it really isn't terror. Going head to head with the sin and terror of this world is easier said than done but it can be done. Through the

 Lord is the only way to see the light at the end of this long tunnel. 

According to verse 27 our faith is to not be withheld from others in need. We often do not reach out to those that pretty much just scare us or even annoy us. I mean how often does a follower of Christ go up to a terrorist and start a conversation about believing in God? Right! Almost NEVER. But we need to pull back the haze in our minds so we can use our God given powers to share the news with those in need. We all have the power to spread the word as a child of God but we need to recognize our powers. The world changes so rapidly that we need to be even more aware of the deterioration of the world around us. To rely on God is to be complete in life because he is life. So when God is yanked out of the world the terror of this world seems so much worse even though the magnitude doesn't get worst but just the reoccurence of it. 

The next verses of 29 through 32 talk about how we should deal with evil. We shouldn't repay evil for evil. I know that's easier said then done because especially when someone hurts a mass amount of people, we all want to show our nations pride by speaking against the "evil one" with harsh words and actions. But if we go to their level we are becoming them and we end up dispising ourselves. Now in verse 31 and 32 I'm sure most of us are not envious of the Boston bomber or those responsible for 9/11. But the thing that this verse points out that we need to keep in mind is that God see's their violence as a disgust while the upright have confidence. So BE RIGHTEOUS! Because apart from a return to God, the root issuse remains untouched and will manifest again in a different form (The Harbinger). Have you ever noticed how we have solved our nations problems?

 We solved 9/11 by using more and more homeland security along with wars in Afganistan. Problems get "solved" by using military and politics basically and how do you think that's working for us? And what about the Sandy Hook shooting? Or the Boston bombing? Do you think God was in the hearts and minds of those involved or even the superior powers of the US? This makes us question, what's coming next?

The point is that its not the matter that these events are happening because the world is horrific. I mean were all turning into "zombies" and the worlds gonna end, is pushing God into a therorectical text to keep him from schools, family,love, politics, and war are all separate! But this is where we need to question why we have created God in our minds but only in certain places! In order to bring this all together let's look at the Isaiah 9:10 effect and also read verse 11. It states that a nations shaking is followed by a second downfall. And both verses prove that a vow of defiance and the prophecy of the future go hand in hand. We can't just take the problems of our world and just deal with the symptoms, that won't solve the true problem. That is why we need God because he has the cure to this cruel world. This passage also points to the problems that Israel had faced in their down fall because they were separated from God. I know I keep saying

 it but our nation is done for it if we don't make God the center of it with no regrets! We need to rebuild our strong forces with stones in place of the fallen bricks and cedars in place of the cut down sycamores plus turn to God so we will be the strongest force known to man. We are to following our God given paths and spreading the gospel so getting catch up in these events of terror is shear proof that the devil is diverging us from our glory. Make your goal for life to be getting God into our nation. God created it but yet he is not included in it so therefore our world seems worse than it actually is. So let's do more then let him in let us welcome him with arms wide open ready for a change of heart.

Word of the day: "When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is

 prudents."

~Proverbs 10:19

In Vain

            Either if its in the lunch room, cubical, hallway, traffic jam, or football game the Lord's name being used in vain is a common thing. When most people think of using the Lord's name in vain they know that people say that it's bad but I can guarantee that most nonbelievers look past what a believers thinks. But really, even as a believer...have you ever slipped in using God's name in place of a cuss word?
            Being sinful...just about everyone has done it. Half the time it's not taken seriously because we know that God isn't gonna jump right out of the sky to come smack us personally. We normally use his name in vain when we are angry or upset about something that has gotten out of our control. We can express our emotion without using God's name against him it is just the matter of understanding why we should. The bottom line is...when you use the Lord's name in vain you are taking all those sinful and slandering words then throwing them out. Because the Lord's name seems more "cool" or more  "normal" to use since it gets our point across.
             But did you know...in doing that we are actually bringing God down to the level of cuss words and were using them as if they mean the same thing? When somebody gets mad it is hard to not revert to the slandering words that we often use against people but when we use the Lord's name we are basically calling him anything than what he is. We need to realize how harmful and real it is to use the Lord's name in vain. I know this doesn't seem like a huge topic that needs to be addressed but who out there really recognizes what using the Lord's name in vain entails. God knows when we take his name in place of another and believe it or not I would imagine that he's not too happy when we do. We might view it as a typical saying but your actions can speak louder than words and those words need to preach in order to teach. According to Exodus 20:7 God doesn't take this matter as a guiltless action... "You shall not take the name if the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain." This is one of the ten commandments so this small rule does mean something and it does affect your relationship with Christ. By saying that using the Lord's name in vain is a huge deal that might be the only way that we can stop. Even if you don't use his name directly but you use a joke that slanders the idea of Christ or you hear someone doing it. That right there yanks God down of heaven and replaces the bad words and feelings that were intended and put God in place of that.
              This all might sound silly to you but maybe we need to pay more attention to the way that we act when we are not only happy and trying to spread the Gospel but also when we aren't at our best. In order to have a good character as a child of God we need to show our personality consistently all around. Some people might be following a person that is a strong believer that may even help and mentor others. But if that person cusses and gets irate to then revert to using the Lord's name in vain. Well then... how well do you think their good character is coating them? We need to be clear in the times of pain and suffering just as we are in everyday pleasures. Even when we are irate and mad we still send a message that someone might be following. Having influence on others is not only a huge privilege but also a huge responsibility because you need to be strong. Plus the leader needs to realize the impact their actions really have on their followers. Be careful not to use the name of the Lord in a careless manner because he deserves better and he isn't careless when speaking about you!
             Challenge yourself this week to act and ultimately speak without dishonoring God. And put this into action by imagining if your parents names or even your name was used for such slander and degrading talk. Just think of how God feels when it is done left and right. Save yourself from suffering because God will mark you as guilty when placing his name in vain. Instead don't be timid when calling his name out because we are to lift his name above the ashes as if it's a light about our lives. Call his name out in worship and teaching to encourage others! Remember 1 John 3:4... "Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness." So do yourself a favor and practice righteousness so that your are righteous because that is how you get the ultimate reward.





Word of the day: "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
                                                                    ~Acts 4:12

Take Jesus out of Religion

       When we picture Jesus we think of religion. It is an automatic thought. But if you take Jesus out of religion then religion is nothing is it not? Religion is really what we call our relationship with God and that is not a bad thing. But when it becomes a bad thing...that is when it becomes a problem. Sometimes we need to separate Jesus from religion. Most of, or all of, us reading this are religious. Meaning we not only have a relationship with Christ but an understanding of him and we desire to take that beyond our hearts. Have you ever been one of those "religious people" that has caught yourself burning others. It is a brutal reality when you hear non-believers say that they don't believe in God because of religious people. This is because they come off as pushy or people that say one thing and do another. The only thing different between believers and non-believers is the fact that believers have God in their lives which puts them at huge advantages. But their is still a rift between the two types of people because of religion. Religion tends to set religious people in a bubble. When people say that they hate religion but love Jesus, this is what they are talking about. Being a follower of Christ is such a responsibility that brings so much joy but we can get caught up in that. It doesn't make any sense to say that being a great child of god can corrupt the mind. Don't view this lesson as a criticism session view this as a warning. The devil is so prominent that he interrupts our relationships with Christ so often. This not only causes everyone to sin but it causes confusion between our teachings. I think that we get so caught up on the fact that we are religious people that we tell ourselves that we are okay. It is awesome when we get to the point where we can help others but it is a bad sign when we hide our imperfections because we know that we have a religion so therefore we have the upper hand. We need to make religion an action from God. Don't put religion before God and say that religion defines us and Christ. Religion and Jesus are on totally opposite spectrum's because one is the cure and the other is the infection. The only reason that religion exists is because man made it. You can have God and worship him without anything else. It is said that Jesus literally hated religion because it made us his enemies because we would just be following some rules. Jesus himself can abolish religion. We think that religion is so great but look around to see how much it has destroyed. Religion is mentioned in marriage, abortion, drugs and alcohol, war, gay marriage, and virtually anything in this world. Religion is sly because it doesn't get down to the core of things, Jesus does. And to get caught up in religion is not being a child of God because we start to worry about the face that religion has us carry around but this doesn't tell who we truly are. The number one place where religion takes hostage is the church. From the outside looking in, the church is seen as a holy place where all the saints of Jesus go but really it is a place where all the broken and sinful people go. No one would ever admit it using those words because it makes Christians look weak, which we are because everyone is, but as a religious person that is part of the appearance. Back in biblical times God was slandered by religious people because their religion held them on a pedestal which they couldn't get down from to worship at the feet of God. Religion can and will work against God because it was made by man to be infectious. I'm not telling you not believe in God. I am warning you to love God and worship by becoming his child through him directly not religion.

 

 

 

Word of the Day: " They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sec of our religion, living as a Pharisee."

                                                                         ~Acts 26:5