Wisdom and Understanding

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding."

~Proverbs 9:10, KJV

Who doesn't want to be wise and have understanding? I certainly do. It's interesting to note that the Bible says that the fear of the Lord is the BEGINNING of wisdom - we can't have true wisdom without first having the fear of the Lord. Having knowledge of the holy is having understanding, being able to understand and comprehend things. So how many of those out in the world do we listen to and seek guidance from that don't have wisdom or understand because they have no knowledge of the holy or fear of the Lord? Be careful who you seek assistance from on how to live your life. Make sure they have the basics down first.

Do Good To Them That Hate You

"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He taketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."

~Matthew 5:44-45, KJV

This is an extremely difficult verse to follow. Bless those that curse you? But it lets God take vengeance on them and you can step out of the way. Do good to them that hate you? That's quite difficult but then you are blameless. Pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute? You never know what the power of prayer can do!

Sometimes doing what the Bible said can be difficult but it's always worth it because what matters is what comes after this life.

How to Live

"The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.
Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honor is humility.
He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him."
(Proverbs 18:11-13, KJV)

A strong city and high wall is a rich man's wealth and conceit. How easy it can be for a rich man to become conceited and caught up in his money and it blocks him from others, or from the truth and/or from heaven. I would rather my strong tower by the name of the Lord where I can run and be safe!

When you become haughty is before destruction. You can't have true honor without having humility. If you have a solution before you hear the problem, or if you make up your mind before you hear the end, it is a folly and a shame to you. 

Do not be puffed up with pride. Don't build upon your wealth or intelligence. Be humble and build upon the Lord, realize that you are nothing without Him. Do not claim to know it all or have all the answers or know what someone did or didn't do. Hear both sides of a story, hear the whole story, and learn before making up your mind. You are not better than other people and if you act superior you are heading down the path to your destruction. Now that you are only where you are because of the Lord or you will never have true honor. Be humble and realize that you are a sinner too and can't make it on your own. Do not look down upon others and lift up your brothers and sisters in Christ. 

Strong Tower

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe."

(Proverbs 18:10, KJV)

What a comforting verse. The name of the Lord is a strong tower! Oh, how mighty is He!

The righteous can run to the name of the Lord and be safe. We are so blessed as Christians as we have a great and powerful Lord who has a name that is a strong tower that we can run to for refuge!

Just Don't Say It!

"A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes. 

A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.

The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly."

(Proverbs 18:6-8, KJV)

Fools often walk about as if they know what they are saying or talking about. Many words does not a wise man make. Just because someone can talk a lot does not mean he/she has a clue what he/she is talking about. The mouth can often tell you things people don't want you to know. How many times do people say exactly what they mean when they try not to?

"I don't mean to sound rude..." then they go about being rude.
"I don't mean to be mean..." then they are mean.
"I don't mean to get involved..." then they get involved.
"I don't mean to stick my nose into this..." then they stick their nose into it.
"I don't mean to influence your decision..." then they tell you something to influence your decision.

If you don't mean to get involved or influence the decision, don't. Be quiet. If you feel the need to throw an "I don't mean" in there you probably know you shouldn't say what you are about to say, so don't. It is often a lot more difficult to be quiet than to say many words.

I actually had to look up what a talebearer is, it is a person that gossips. Their words are as wounds! Words are weapons! Remember that!

If you have to say things such as, "Don't tell anyone but...," "You didn't hear this from me," or "Keep this a secret," then you probably shouldn't be saying it at all. Our conscience often rears up in an attempt to correct us and the words slip out because we know we aren't suppose to be doing something. Sometimes we say "I don't mean" or "You didn't hear this from me," as an attempt to curb the feelings of guilt. Just don't say it. I am guilty of it myself. You can be hurting more people than you realize in worse than you know in more ways than you know. It's a trap. Don't get ensnared but maybe instead next time, just don't say anything at all.

You don't always have to offer your opinion.

Heartily

"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ."

(Colossians 3:23-24, KJV)

Do whatever you do heartily, don't grumble and complain or do it for show but go forward with sincerity and do it with all your might!

Do it unto the Lord who knows your heart. Don't do it to look good or for others but do it with honesty and out of love for Christ. If you are doing it for the right reasons then you will receive the reward of inheritance for ye serve Christ and not men or men's approval. If you do it for praise, you are not doing it for God. If you do it to seem righteous, you are not doing it for God. If you do it to make your family happy, you are not doing it for God. 

Do it for the Lord!

Sweet-Smelling Savor

"Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor."

(Ephesians 5:1-2, KJV)

Follow God as dear children. You are the Lord's child if you are saved through Christ and He is your father. A dear child that trusts his/her father will follow them in blind faith and trust, oh if we could learn to follow the Lord with that same faith and trust! With the kind of faith and trust that makes you think there is no way anything bad could happen to you if you follow your parent because they care for you and love you so much.

Also walk in love as Christ loved you though you can't do anything to deserve it. He offered Himself as a sacrifice when we were sinners and made himself as a sweet-smelling savor to the Lord. Walk in love for others as even though they might not deserve love, neither did you.

According to the Will of God

"Likewise the Spirit also heals 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. 

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose."

(Romans 8:26-28, KJV)

The Holy Spirit heals our infirmities. He prays for us as we should be prayed for, not necessarily how we think we need prayed for. We don't even know what we need but the Spirit does and he prays for those needs we actually have!

And Christ searches our hearts and know the mind of the Spirit as they are three in one and he makes intercession for us! Christ makes intercession for the saved!

All things will work together for good if you are saved and love the Lord! Can we give a Yes and Amen?!

The Peace of God

"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 

Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you."

(Philippians 4:7-9, KJV)

Think on the things that are honest, pure, lovely, good report! Do the things that you have heard of the Gospel! And the peace of God will be with you. Keep your mind focused on the Lord our God. Have His peace that passeth all understanding and your minds and hearts will be kept through Christ!

Perfect Peace and Everlasting Strength

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusted in thee. Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength:"

(Isaiah 26:3-4, KJV)

When do you have peace around a person? When you trust in that person completely. When I am running to and fro it helps to get my mind back on God and realize He has control of the situation. Not only do you have to put your mind on God though, but you also need to trust in Him, that's what truly gives you peace. When I think about how God has control, I still need to trust Him that He will do what's best for me even if I don't see it at the time.

He has always pulled through for me and watched out for me and given me things I didn't even ask for before I knew I needed them. Not only is this great and wonderful but these verses go further to give you comfort with the knowledge that in our God, Jehovah, is everlasting strength. He never fails, He never falters.

It's the same as when I was a child and scared of the future and I ran to my parents and they held me and comforted me and I had peace because I trusted them. It's like that but the peace is so much greater and lasting because my parents, like every human, are fallible and have limited power, but the Lord isn't. He is perfect, omnipotent, and has everlasting strength.

Hallelujah! What a great God we serve!

Become As A Little Child

"And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 

Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 

And whoso shall receive on such little child in my name receiveth me."

(Matthew 18:3-5, KJV)

Little children. What a joy. They are so curious, they ask questions and they trust and follow. And they don't assume to be better than you, they are little children. (Now, when they become teenagers, that's a different story.) So become humble and as a little child. Do not profess to know it all or brag that you have all the wisdom but be humble and seek knowledge and truth. Be converted to the truth. Only then can you enter into heaven. 

Fullness of Joy

"Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."

(Psalm 16:11, KJV)

Continue forward with the Lord and He will show you the path of life.

Have you experienced the joy of the Lord? It's a deep down joy in your soul. Not a face value "I'm happy" but a joy that remains with you. Have you been in his presence in prayer? It's incredible to feel the joy and peace that floods your soul in the presence of the Master.

"And at his right hand there are pleasures for evermore." You just cannot beat the love and joy of God. He is wonderful and mighty and His love knows no bounds. As His child you can experience such love, joy, and peace that you won't be able to contain it.

"Person of Faith" Cover Reveal!

Christians are often bombarded by instructions on how to be a person of faith and what it means if they are not. They are often confronted with the idea that they need to have a stout and strong faith to please God or for good things to happen in life. Person Of Faith explores the idea of what it means to have a powerful faith in God and then delves into the truth of how to be a person of faith. 

Do you want to be a mighty man or woman of God? The goal of this book is to further your understanding of faith so you can deepen your walk with God and take your next leap of faith.

Make sure to keep an eye out for Person of Faith which will be coming out on Amazon this November!

Hearken Unto The Voice Of The Lord

"And all these blessing shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God. Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of they body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store. Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out."

~Deuteronomy 28:2-6, KJV

If you hearken unto the voice of the Lord, these blessings will come and OVERTAKE thee. What a great and wonderful God we serve.

You shall be blessed in the city and field, and your body and animals and your store will all be blessed. You will be blessed coming in and going out. Just hearken unto the voice of the Lord, of your wonderful Father.

Person Of Faith

"Paul was still a human, what made Paul great was the God he had. He went from persecuting the truth to professing it only because he found the truth of a great savior. Yet, Paul is not this hero in purple robes. For some reason, people like to create heroes of people that did works for God, but they are not superhuman. Yes, they are heroes in that they helped people find the truth and not burn in damnation for all eternity, but they are still simply humans.

Taking a critical look at Paul, his words were tough. The gospel he preached did not exactly proclaim feelings of warmth and he was hard on his congregations.  We read his letters today and glean truth and scripture from them as the churches back then hopefully did as well. However, I bet Paul would have been a difficult person to be friends with. He was active and had tough preaching and never quit. He was quite blunt and a know-it-all. He was the kind of person a lot of people would be offended at and he most likely would not be the one you would turn to when you needed a hug."

~Grace Marshall

From my devotional book RELEASING this NOVEMBER 2015

"Person Of Faith"

Look for the cover release coming later this week!

To Gain The World

"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"

-Matthew 16:24-26, KJV

If you could have everything, the entire world and everything the whole world can give you. All the wealth, knowledge, power, and fame that the world can offer. If you could have everything on this earth and even the earth itself, what would it profit?

It would profit nothing except an emptiness and a yearning for more. Even then it is only to be followed by eternal damnation. Isn't it far greater to lose your life on this earth and inherit all the riches of heaven?