What Shall We Render To The Lord?

Psalm 116:1-14 KJV; 3rd Sunday of Easter; Thanksgiving and praise would be good things to render to the Lord for all of His benefits to us.

 

Jesus Was Busy Doing His Father's Will

Luke 2:40-52 KJV; 2nd Sunday after Christmas; Listen to the Word. Listen to the will of God and then live it.

Wisdom and Understanding

1 Kings 3:4-15 KJV; 2nd Sunday after Christmas; Solomon asked for wisdom and understanding so as a leader he would lead with righteousness.

We Love Others Because He First Loved Us

Colossians 3:12-17 KJV; We show our love for God by loving and caring for others.

You Will Have Eternal Life

Luke 21:5-28 KJV; 23 Sunday after Pentecost; Do not fear persecution or even death for all who believe in Jesus have eternal life.

Help Us To Know Your Good Will

Colossians 1:9 KJV; By the power of the Holy Spirit help us to know your good will and follow in that way.

Hear His Counsel And Follow It

Proverbs 19:20-21 KJV; Wisdom is hearing the counsel of the Lord and follow it.

Speak The Truth In Christ WIth Mercy and Grace

James 3:12-18 KJV; If only all Christians would heed the call to speak the truth in Christ with mercy and grace as Charlie Kirk did. 

He Who Labors Day And Night Finds Despair

Ecclesiastes 2:18-26 KJV; 8th Sunday after Pentecost; It is better to enjoy what God has given you today than to labor all day and many nights for riches that you will lose when you die.

Wisdom And Knowledge

Romans 11:33 KJV; Let us pray for knowledge and wisdom that we might follow in the way more faithfully.

Wisdom And An Understanding Heart

1 Kings 3:4-15 KJV; 2nd Sunday after Christmas; It would be very good for the people if our leaders had a bit more wisdom and understanding hearts by which to serve.

Live WIth Wisdom And Understanding

Psalm 90:12-17 KJV; Proverbs 15:14-33; 21st Sunday after Pentecost; Power is back on so I rejoice for that and can blog again. But, let us continue to pray for all who have been affected by Hurricanes Helena and Milton.

Righteousness Sown In Peace

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. (James 3:17-18 KJV)

Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. (James 3:9-10)

The wise person does not insist that they are always right; that they are the righteous one. They slow down and listen as well as speak. Wisdom does not call for attacks against those who disagree with them. Wisdom seeks peace. Peace may not come in the form or the way that we desire it; but, it is still sought after. We will never be perfect here in this world; but, that doesn't mean we can't seek to live in peace.

How do we bless God for our own peace when we curse others and work to damage the peace of others? The beginnings of peace can only come when we are able to recognize how we might be affecting the peace of others around us. True peace will come only when we are united as one; like-minded in Christ. 

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? (Micah 6:8)

Wisdom is about walking humbly with our God and doing good for others; not just for ourselves.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Listen To Your Elders

With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding. Job (12:12 KJV)

The wisdom of our elders should not be neglected. It should be listened to. It should be heard. I admit that sometimes the wisdom of the elders is faulty; but, that, does not mean it should not be heard. I also admit that I did not listen well when I was young. Yet, it still amazes me that so many will not listen to the wisdom learned through the life's lessons of the elders. Instead, many turn to their peers or even those who are much younger and who have experienced even less than they have. I am not discounting the knowledge or the wisdom of the younger people. I am merely wondering why we would ignore what has already been proven.

Much grief could be averted if we listened to one another; especially if we listened to those who have already learned life's lessons.

May God open our ears and our hearts to hear and receive wisdom so that we might live abundant lives in righteousness.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Wisdom From The Beginning

The Lord possessed wisdom before anything was created; without it
not a thing would have been made that was made. 

The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.

                                                                                       (Prov 8:22-23 KJV)

Wisdom tells us that she existed from the very beginning. She is very, very old. Sometimes, it seems as though wisdom may have been evicted from the earth. Sometimes, it seems like along with wisdom went common sense! But, then again, common sense would probably mean what is the common or prevalent wisdom of the day so that would make common sense alive today; but, not necessarily wise. 

Personally, I prefer the wisdom of old. The wisdom of today somehow seems like a lot of exaggeration and even lies; stories to encourage one to do what one pleases for themselves without thought to the way that the Lord's wisdom would have us go; without thought to the consequences of not following in that way.

Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! (Isa 5:21)

The Lord's wisdom existed from the very beginning. It existed before any of creation. That wisdom is probably worth listening to.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Community

He created all creatures; big and small

O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts. (Psalm 104:24-25 KJV)

I like swamps. I like salt water marshes. I enjoy walking among these tiny crustaceans. They hang out and move about in herds. As  you walk among them they part their ways to make way for you. It is a protective measure. It keeps them from being trampled under someone's feet.

I have found that humans usually do that as well. We like our space and other than domestic animals we also generally tend to stay away from other creatures including other people. We like our space, as well. We like to feel safe. Sometimes; however, we really need to adjust to being with other people and other creatures. Safe spaces don't protect you or prosper you; they isolate you and limit your opportunities.  

If you fear or simply dislike other people, it would be very beneficial to get over it. Adjust! They may fear and dislike you as well. But, humankind was created for community; for family. Just maybe those little crabs realize that living in community is beneficial to their survival.

Let's learn to live together! And; sometimes, that just might mean we have to step aside to let someone else find their way through. Everyone does not get their own way all of the time.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Acting Humble

Flagler Beach, FL

The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility. (Prov 15:33 KJV)

When we continually grovel and proclaim our own humility; when we "act" as though we are less than because we think that others will look at us and say "what a humble person he/she is;" when we use words that flatter others to exhibit our own humility, that is not humility. When we have to prove our humility so that we might receive the honor that we desire; that is not humility. That is pride. 

“True humility does not know that it is humble. If it did, it would be proud from the contemplation of so fine a virtue.”  (Martin Luther)

God's Peace - Pr. J