Crust Please, Proverbs 17:1

Crust Please

Proverbs 17:1 Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting with strife.

Family infighting, what a sad reality in many families. Many times it is harsh cutting words. Other times beating, and still others sexual molestation. Oh, the hardship that many families go through. This cause discord and a separation emotionally and way to often a splitting of families. So many children have suffered through fighting in the home. This must not be! Strife tears at the fabric of survival of the family unit and the world itself.

K and A, work to have peace in your home. I know this hits home with one of you. I hurt that you have had to endure this. Yet even you have not had to endure what others have. So much pain and evil exists. Solomon was right, being poor and having little is much better than strife. It will be up to you to make good choices that lead to peace and quiet.

~Dad

Keeps Getting Better, Proverbs 4:18

Keeps Getting Better

Proverbs 4:18 The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

Sometimes life seems tough, like it's going nowhere. But, if we could only see what God is doing for his children. We know the verse... And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28) ...but do we live it? Do we know that God will make it happen as he promises? In Isaiah, it states that when he declares it, it will happen (Isaiah 14:24).

A and K, do not look at all that's negative around you. Instead, look at the gleam of light that is on the horizon. It may look small, barely there, but it will grow bigger and bigger until it encompasses all your life. This is the promise of God, and it will happen as you remain faithful to him. You will find your relationship with him will keep getting better and better.

~Dad

Your Smile, Proverbs 15:30

Your Smile

Proverbs 15:30 A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones.

 

Last time I spoke about how you live makes others smile, or not. This is similar, but it has to do with your disposition as you live your life. Smiles are contagious. Sad thing, so is negativity. Our disposition affects others. We can be the catalyst that brings others out of the doldrums. We can rejoice (1 Thessalonians 5:16) and be thankful for any circumstance (Ephesians 5:20) that comes.

K and A, being joyful in all circumstances isn't just good for you, it is beneficial to those whom you are around. You can bring life to those lacking hope, peace to those in disarray, and love to those who are hurting. You have all that power by the way you see trouble. So, smile, its contagious.

~Dad

Make'em Smile, Proverbs 16:15

Make'em Smile

Proverbs 16:15  When a king's face brightens, it means life; his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.

Maybe you never farmed. Possibly, you never planted a garden. But, you should know that if you do not get spring rains, you wont get a good crop in the fall. Maybe you heard the saying, April showers bring May flowers. Rain is essential to life.

In years past, and in countries controlled by dictators today, if the king was unhappy, look out. Heads rolled, literally! This can be seen in the Bible in reference to the three Hebrew men thrown into the fire (Daniel 3). They made the king angry by their refusal to bow to his image, and the look on his face meant a sure death. Only thing was there was a god, The LORD God of Israel, that smiled at their dedication to worship only him and when his face brightened, they survived the fiery furnace!

A and K, I want to live in such a way that makes the faces of those around you brighten, but when that requires you to disobey God, fuhgeddaboudit. When you please God instead of man, his smile is upon you and you are blessed. Therefor, live pleasing to God (1 Thessalonians 2:4). In doing so, you will not only please him, but you will please me as well. So make'em all smile by doing what is right.

~Dad

Better never Nate, Matthew 25:1-13

Better Never Nate

Matthew 25:10  But when they were on their way to buy oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

Here is a story with a familiar sounding ending, a moral to the story, if you will. I heard it many years ago when my elder brother used to teach lesson at Koinonia, a youth run Bible study. He can't remember it, so this is the best I recollect... (I am sure he had a shorter version)

There was a large and steep hill. On this hill was a large lever that, if thrown, would trigger the beginning of the end of the world. Perched high above the lever at the top of the hill was a rather large boulder. If the boulder would ever begin rolling down the hill, it would certainly hit the lever and trigger the end!

Nate was commissioned by all the people of the hill to warn them if the rock ever looked like it started to move. They had devised a complicated plan to knock the rock off course, and so save all mankind. So, Nate sat with earnest resolve, determined to fulfil his important yet arduous task.

He did quite well, at first. No matter the slightest wind or when sensing the slightest vibration, Nate responded by fixing his eyes on the enormous rock looking for any movement. But, the rock was so big and so heavy it never, in the slightest way, ever moved. Nate, over time, became apathetic, for no matter how much the wind blew or how much the earth trembled, the rock never even budged.

Yet, the day came when the earth began to rumble and move like never before. Certainly this was the day. The people of the hill knew that is was. They waited as before, but Nate never bellowed the call for help. Well, sadly that was because Nate wasn't paying attention, for he preoccupied himself with the pleasures life. Every other time nothing had happened, and this time would be no different, he thought to himself.

But, this time it was different. This time the rock did begin to move. The earth trembled like no other time, and the rock rolled straight down the hill toward the lever. The end would soon begin! As the earth shook Nate looked up. He knew that the people of the hill would not be able to get their plan enacted in time. So, Nate did the only thing he knew to do. He threw himself down in the path of the rock. And it was just in time. The rock bounce as it squished Nate and narrowly missed the lever and the world was saved from doom.

The moral of the story... when all other options fail, Better Nate than Lever.

K and A, Lets take it one step further. A better moral is Better Never Nate. It doesn't to be you. Like you, the people of the hill have been saved from destruction by the one who laid down his life for all mankind. Jesus took hit, and you can be free from the coming destruction. Be ready for his return. Fill you lamps, and bring along extra oil, for when the bridegroom arrives and the door closes behind him, you'll want to be eating the wedding meal along with him.

~Dad

SlackerVille, Proverbs 6:9

SlackerVille

Proverbs 6:9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep?

Okay, I haven't been just laying around, but certainly I haven't been writing my scripture blogs. So I'm going to try to catch up. I think I am seven behind so if you allow me to use this one, I only have six to go. I'll leave Slackerville and be on my way to Workingham. Thanks for the leniency, daughters.

~Dad

Persist in Doing Good, Genesis 19:2-3

Persist In Doing Good

Genesis 19:3 But he insisted so strongly that they did go with him and entered his house. He prepared a meal for them, baking bread without yeast, and they ate.

Lot invited the visitors into his home. At first this show of hospitality was refused, but Lot, knowing the dangers of staying in the street for the night, insisted that they come to his home. There he prepared a quick meal, provided water for their feet, and gave them a place to spend the night.

It does not appear that Lot knew who they were. He entertained them unaware (Hebrews 13:2). Certainly if he had known, he would have welcomed them with open arms, but to him they were just strangers passing through. So, why then did he insisted that they come to his house? Because, he was a righteous man who cared about people.

A and K, notice that Lot insisted. He didn't just stop asking when the said no. He continued with his invitation until they agreed. I am not asking that you plague them to death. But, when you see that they are truly in need and that you have the ability to help, insist on it. Not only will they be blessed, so will you!

~Dad