Conditions ~ Proverbs

The Benefit of Wisdom

Proverbs 2:1-9
God's Word Translation 

My son, if you take my words to heart and treasure my commands within you, if you pay close attention to wisdom, and let your mind reach for understanding, if indeed you call out for insight, if you ask aloud for understanding, if you search for wisdom as if it were money and hunt for it as if it were hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and you will find the knowledge of God. 

The Lord gives wisdom. From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He has reserved priceless wisdom for decent people. He is a shield for those who walk in integrity in order to guard those on paths of justice and to watch over the way of his godly ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good course in life.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

God's word is filled with many promises, but each promise comes with an condition. If we meet the conditions then the promises are ours for the taking.

Father God in heaven, I will take Your words to heart and treasure your commands.  I will not be quick to make decisions but will allow myself to be guided by what is the wisest path to take. I will guard my mind as I reach for understanding. When I am unsure of what to do I will call out to you for insight and not hesitate to lean on Your understanding. I will search for wisdom as one digs for hidden treasure, because I know if I do I will then understand what is right and just and fair no matter what course I take in this life. 


Follow my blogs on the Book of Proverbs. Together we will learn how to live a life pleasing to God as we walk our journey on earth.
http://cccenterhope.blogspot.com/2012/10/proverbs-start-with-god-10152012.html
http://cccenterhope.blogspot.com/2012/10/to-wisdom-proverb-s-18-22-my-son-listen.html
http://cccenterhope.blogspot.com/2012/10/proverbs-gullible-people-10172012.html

 

426 Laurelwood Road

Pottstown, PA 19465

610-323-0480

 www.calvarychristian.info

Feel free to e-mail me at:

Mckinleyclm@gmail.com

 

Gullible People ~ Proverbs

Gullible People

Proverbs 1:20-33

Wisdom sings her song in the street. In the public squares she raises her voice. At the corners of noisy streets she calls out. At the entrances to the city she speaks her words, “How long will you gullible people love being so gullible? How long will you mockers find joy in your mocking? How long will you fools hate knowledge?

“Turn to me when I warn you. I will generously pour out my spirit for you. I will make my words known to you.

“I called, and you refused to listen. I stretched out my hands to you, and no one paid attention. You ignored all my advice. You did not want me to warn you. I will laugh at your calamity. I will make fun of you when panic strikes you, when panic strikes you like a violent storm, when calamity strikes you like a wind storm, when trouble and anguish come to you.

“They will call to me at that time, but I will not answer. They will look for me, but they will not find me, because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord. They refused my advice. They despised my every warning. They will eat the fruit of their lifestyle. They will be stuffed with their own schemes.

 “Gullible people kill themselves because of their turning away. Fools destroy themselves because of their differences. But whoever listens to me will live without worry and will be free from the dread of disaster.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Our world is filled with people who think they have all the answers. They refuse to be 'told what to do' by any one, whether through advice or warnings. These very people are the ones God is referring to in the book of Proverbs.

All throughout the Holy Bible we can read of the warnings, the advice, and the guidance God gives to those who are willing to listen to Him. He also makes it very clear as to what will happen to those who done listen.     

Father God, in heaven, as I go throughout the day my I be quick to listen for Your voice and even quicker to obey Your Word. My all I do and say help others to know there is hope and joy in this life. In Jesus name, Amen!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Follow my blogs on the Book of Proverbs. Together we will learn how to live a life pleasing to God as we walk our journey on earth.

http://cccenterhope.blogspot.com/2012/10/proverbs-start-with-god-10152012.html
http://cccenterhope.blogspot.com/2012/10/to-wisdom-proverb-s-18-22-my-son-listen.html

 

426 Laurelwood Road

Pottstown, PA 19465

610-323-0480

www.calvarychristian.info

Feel free to e-mail me at:

 Mckinleyclm@gmail.com  

Listen to Wisdom ~ Proverbs

 Listen to Wisdom

Proverbs 1:8-19

My son, listen to your father’s discipline, and do not neglect your mother’s teachings, because discipline and teachings are a graceful garland on your head and a golden chain around your neck.

My son, if sinners lure you, do not go along. If they say, “Come with us. Let’s set an ambush to kill someone. Let’s hide to ambush innocent people for fun. We’ll swallow them alive like the grave, like those in good health who go into the pit. We’ll find all kinds of valuable possessions. We’ll fill our homes with stolen goods. Join us. We’ll split the loot equally.”

My son, do not follow them in their way. Do not even set foot on their path, because they rush to do evil and hurry to shed blood. It does no good to spread a net within the sight of any bird. But these people set an ambush for their own murder. They go into hiding only to lose their lives. This is what happens to everyone who is greedy for unjust gain. Greed takes away his life.

Father, God may the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight today. May I learn to be content with what I have and not allow greed to settle in my heart. In Jesus Name, Amen!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

God's Word Translation has been used for the scripture.
 
Join me each day as I go through the Book of Proverbs.
Together we will learn how to live a life pleasing to God as we walk our journey on earth.
http://cccenterhope.blogspot.com/2012/10/proverbs-start-with-god-10152012.html

 426 Laurelwood Road

Pottstown, PA 19465

610-323-0480

www.calvarychristian.info 

Feel free to e-mail me at:

 Mckinleyclm@gmail.com

How Did I Miss That?

In the city of Pottstown, PA, just across the river from my church, builders are putting up new town homes. Construction had stopped for a while but in the past couple of months I noticed that two new sets of homes are almost under roof toward the back of the property.  Yesterday,  as my husband and I passed this location, as we do nearly every day of the week. I was shocked to see a third structure up and under roof. This group of homes was not at the back of the property...no it was right up front along the roadside. I said to my Robin, “How in the world did they get that up so fast?” It was as though it sprang up over night. Now my husband knowing me quite well turned and says to me, “What are you talking about?” “That group of homes right there by the street! When did that go up?” The look on his face was a look I get quite often. It is the look somewhere between, "I can’t believe you just said that." to "Where have you been all this time?" His reply to my somewhat foolish question was, “Cindy, it’s been there for months!” All I could say was, “How did I miss that?”

Has something like that ever happened to you? It’s easy to do when we are faced with so many challenges in this day and time we live in.  We go through each day with our minds and  thoughts flooded with all that’s going on in the world, we often times miss what’s happening in our own back yard.

Jesus made many promises when He walked this earth. One of the promises He made we can read about in book of John chapter 14...“In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am...”

And in Acts chapter 1 we read that Jesus was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. As the people were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them and said,  “Why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

I may have missed a lot of things in my life but there is one thing for sure I don’t want to miss!

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17     For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

I pray that you will not be left behind asking the question,

“How Did I Miss That?”

426 Laurelwood Road

Pottstown, Pa 19465

610-323-0480

www.calvarychristian.info 

Feel free to e-mail me at:

 Mckinleyclm@gmail.com

Start With God ~ Proverbs

 Wise Sayings of Solomon ~ A Manual for Living
Proverbs 1:1-7

 The proverbs of Solomon, David’s son who was king of Israel, given to grasp wisdom and discipline, to understand deep thoughts, to acquire the discipline of wise behavior — righteousness and justice and fairness — to give insight to gullible people, to give knowledge and foresight to the young — a wise person will listen and continue to learn, and an understanding person will gain  direction — to understand a proverb and a clever saying, the words of wise people and their riddles.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Stubborn fools despise wisdom and discipline.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

King Solomon is know as the wisest man who ever lived. He was the son of King David who was call by God Himself, "A man after God's own heart." 

Solomon writes to his son giving him instructions on how to obtain and live a life full of wisdom. As we read through Proverbs we will see that Wisdom mentioned in this book is God himself. It's chapters are filled with sound advice on how to live to get the most out of this life. It's us to us whether we will heed the advice or not. 

Father God, I pray as we begin this journey through Proverbs that You will open our hearts and minds to grasp and understand the instruction You are giving to us. Help us as we begin to apply the things we read. In Jesus name, Amen!


God's Word Translation has been used for the scripture.

426 Laurelwood Road

Pottstown, PA 19465

610-323-0480

www.calvarychristian.info

Feel free to E-mail me at:

 Mckinleyclm@gmail.com

God's Living Hope

 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Taken from the Holy Bible ~ 1 Peter ~ Chapter 1 ~ Verses 3-5

Hope is not an optimistic outlook or wishful thinking which has no foundation. It is a "confident expectation based on solid certainty. Biblical hope rest on God's promises, particularly those pertaining to the return of Jesus Christ. Hope is never inferior to faith, but it is an extension of faith. Faith is the present possession of grace; hope is confidence in grace's future accomplishment." (Strong's #1680) 

The opposite of hope is despair. Despair is the complete loss or absence of hope.

Have you ever been there? Ever been in a situation where you have done all you could do to make things better? To fix the problem? To change things and all to no avail? No matter what you do nothing seems to work and in fact things only seem to get worse? I have!

I know what it's like to live in despair. To be so swallowed up in the circumstances that you can’t see a light at the end of the tunnel. To loose hope that things will ever change for the better. What a terrible place to be.

Many times when people face hopeless situations the first thing they want to do is blame God. I cover that topic in another blog titled: "It's All God's Fault" Check it out by going to:

http://cccenterhope.blogspot.com/2012/08/its-all-gods-fault_13.html

I also know what it’s like to serve a God who promises to never leave me or forsake me. Who wants me to know Him...Really Know Him!

I began to make a list of what the Bible says about God and who He is and how well I really knew Him is those areas. You see the Bible tells us that God is our Comforter, our Deliverer, our Healer, or Provider, our Savior, our Living Hope and a Friend who sticks closer than a brother. Just to name a few.

Then it hit me. For me to really know God as my Comforter I must first need comforted. Which means I am going through something that is bringing great sorrow. A light came on in my head as this reality began to unfold.

For me to know God as my:
...Deliverer, I must be in bondage to something and in need deliverance.
...Healer, I must first be sick and in need of a healing.
...Provider, I must have a need that I can’t provide for.
...Savior, I must recognize that I am lost in my sin and need to be rescued.
...Living Hope, I am facing a hopeless situation. 
...Friend, I must allow Him to into my life.

My live was changed that day as I ask God to reveal Himself in the midst of my trial. Although I was not sure how it would turn around, I learned, once again, that I could trust Him and cling to Him like never before.


Just like Peter said in our scripture above, Even though I have not seen Him, I love Him. And I know I can trust Him.

What about you today? Do you know God as your Comforter, your Deliverer, your Healer, your Provider, your Savior, your Living Hope and a Friend who sticks closer than a brother? If you don’t, you can. And He wants you to!

Just think...the God who created the universe and all that’s in it, loves you and wants you to know Him...to Really Know Him. He wants you to experience this Living Hope as you walk your journey on this earth.

Talk to Him. It’s so easy to do. Talk to Him like you would your best friend. He is waiting to hear from you. Ask Him to show you the way and then walk in that direction.

Feel free to e-mail me if I can pray with you concerning the trials you are facing.  You can reach me at:
Mckinleyclm@gmail.com

My prayer for you today:
Father God in Heaven, I pray for those reading this blog today. You love them and You see all they are facing. Give them the courage to take that step toward You. May they come to know...to Really Know You in every area of their lives. In Jesus Name, Amen

 426 Laurelwood Road

Pottstown, PA 19465

610-323-0480

www.calvarychristian.info

Feel free to e-mail me at:

 Mckinleyclm@gmail.com

God's Everywhere

O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord.

You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

Taken from the Holy Bible ~ Psalms ~ Chapter 139 ~ Verses 1-12

Psalms 139 is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. I know that no matter where I go or what I face God is always there. He hems me in! Being one who enjoys sowing I know about hems. To know that God himself has hemmed me in with His presence brings great comfort.

My prayer for you today:

Father God, may those who read this blog feel your presence in their live today. May they realize that You know everything about them and You love them. In Jesus Name, Amen!

 

426 Laurelwood Road

Pottstown, Pa 19465

610-323-0480

www.calvarychristian.info 

Feel free to e-mail me at:

 Mckinleyclm@gmail.com