Love you all, praying for you.
God refining me recently. Ecclesiastes 12:13 – Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter… I just love God’s Word – He doesn’t just give answers – He even gives how to get them… It’s not just the answer that God gives, He gives the 'how to arrive at it.' So not only does He give this answer – He shows us how to seek Him and receive the next one as well. Are you facing a decision? Praying that you will review the Relationship Topic – The PiVAT Decision Tool - this simple pattern of seeking God – whether a big or small decision – has made a huge impact on not just what we do, but how we approach seeking God’s will on things. So thankful for truth. Now that all has been heard – here is the conclusion of the matter. God says there is a time and place for every matter (Ecclesiastes 8:6) – a time to consider and a time to conclude. Some people are always hearing and never concluding. Hearing is for concluding – not endless hearing. Once you have heard (not repeats – repeats go on forever), once all has been heard – know the conclusion of the matter. The settlement of the thing – the final decision – so you can move forward – not rotate idly in a circle. Ask God, search His Word, seek counsel – and hear the Holy Spirit’s answer. Conclude – make a judgment. Endless indecision causes ruin, a squandering of time and emotional energy, a wasting away, a coming to nothing. God’s wisdom concludes every matter. Conclude - to stop, to decide, to collect by reasoning, to close an argument by inferring, to determine, to make a final judgment, to end, to finish. The wise seek God for His answer – they make His conclusion, and they move on. The unwise continually falter between two opinions. We're not talking about haste. Haste makes waste – that’s Ben Franklin, not the Bible – but God’s Word says Proverbs 21:5 - The plans of the diligent bring plenty, as surely as haste leads to poverty. Proverbs 19:2 It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, or be hasty and miss the way. Hasty decisions that bring ruin aren’t hasty from speed of decision – they are hasty from lack of information – lack of counsel – making decisions without seeking the LORD and the information needed. But once all has been heard, God has a time for this matter to conclude. Ask Him He’ll tell you. Praying that you will be a follower – not a falterer – that you won’t vascilate between opinions. Praying that you will Ask God, Seek Counsel, Discern His will for you, and Conclude this matter according to His decision at the time He reveals – so you can move forward in the Good of the plans He has for you. Praying that your PiVAT Decision Tool – will lead you in seeking Him, and once He reveals His decision for you - that your PiVAT for His plans - will help you move forward. The more you seek Him, the more you not only find His answers – that journey will also reveal His Character, His Love, and His faithfulness to you. Love you all, dad
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Love you all, praying for you.
Praying that you will review two powerful PRISM Topics – God Has Good For You – and What Does God Give? God is good and He has good for you! The first thing the devil did with Eve was to get her to question God’s Word – (did he really say that?) and then to question God’s goodness – ("because He knows that you will be like him… as if He was withholding good from her). Never doubt God's Word or His goodness. God’s Word is true, and His Goodness for you is forever; anything else is just a lie. The PRISM Topic – What Does God God Give – is just God’s Word – reminding us of just a little of His Goodness! Then God challenged me recently. Psalms 116:12 – How can I repay the LORD for all his goodness to me? Earlier in that chapter – David said “I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. No matter what I do for the rest of my life or all of eternity – how could I ever even begin to repay the Almighty and yet loving Heavenly Father God – who has saved my soul from death and given me every good gift that I could possibly need? I could never… but what is my appropriate response? What should I at least do – in light of what He has done for me? Verse 17 - I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the LORD. I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people… David gave some clear instructions 1) Give thanks 2) Call on His Name and 3) Obey what He tells you. (and #4 Let others see you obeying) The first time in the chapter he mentioned these three things – he called the first one – “I will lift up the cup of salvation.” God prophesying through David of the last supper of Jesus – still generations away. To remember Jesus death in our place – the first and greatest thing to Give Him Thanks for – and there are infinite others. Second to Call on His Name – means beforehand – not just after – not just when you are in trouble or having made a mistake, but before you make the decision which could get you there. Call on His Name – which will direct your steps as well as save you from mess. And Obey what He tells you. David made vows to the LORD based on His understanding of the Law. But now that salvation has come – we don’t please God with our vows, we please him with our obedience to His Holy Spirit. We please him with our whole life submitted to Him. “Walk in the Spirit and you won’t fulfill the desires of your old nature.” - Galatians 5:16. That’s part of how we worship in spirit and truth – by the leading of the Holy Spirit – we walk in what He tells us to do. This is worship – present our bodies as a living sacrifice. Praying that you will know His Goodness – and know His Name – everything He is, was and will be… Everything He said, says and will say… Everything He did, does and will do – His Names, His power, His Authority, His track record, His Renown - from ages past through eternity to come – everything of His fame and renown - this is His Name. Praying that while we could never fully repay Him, your life will be lived for Him – to repay today in every way His loving kindness, and faithfulness forever. Your PRISM today will help you remember His Goodness and Give Thanks. PiVAT before dinner every day is calling on His Name – it’s how you Do all that He has planned for you to do today. Praying that your Daily Call is growing both of you in the overcoming testimony of His goodness released through your faith and obedience. This is how you obey in the presence of His people - you give a testimony of his goodness as you're just obeying! Praying that you will Give Thanks, Call On His Name, and Obey What He Tells You – so His Name will be made great in you. Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you.
Praying that you will review the PRISM Topic - Praise. I just love the simplicity that God brings through His Word. Why Praise? Psalms 117 (this is the whole very short chapter) Praise the LORD, all you nations; praise him all you peoples. For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever, Praise the LORD. That’s it. The whole chapter. God uses two words for praise here. The first mention – Halal – to be clear of sound or color, to shine, to make a show, to boast, to be clamorously foolish, to rave. The second mention of praise – is shabach <shaw-bakh’> to address in a loud tone. This command covers everyone - all you nations, all you peoples. Why praise? Simple Because His love for you is great, and His faithfulness endures forever. Another version says because His merciful kindness is great toward us and his truth endureth forever. His Love – here – chesed - <Kheh’-sed> merciful kindness, beauty, favor evidenced by good deeds. His faithfulness – here – emeth <eh’-meth> from awman – to build up or support, to foster as a parent or nurse, to render firm or faithful, to be permanent or quiet, to be true or certain – of long continuance, surely, trusted and trust worthy. It means stability, certainty, truth, trustworthiness, assuredly, established, faithful, right, sure, true, truly. This is a certain unchangeable thing - His love for you. Why praise? His mercy and loving kindness and affection towards you is great – like the mountains, like the oceans, like the stars in the universe, like eternity. And His building up and support and nurture of you remains permanent - continuing forever. He loves you, He will never leave you, He will always support you and pour out his favor on you– in every way, forever. Praying for you - that you will Praise Him – be clear of sound and color, that you'll celebrate, loudly, that you would know His love and faithfulness – His merciful kindness and support of you – and that you would obey in a way that lets Him unleash it! Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you
Praise God! He is so patient and kind. He longs for us to walk in victory – He reveals truth through our PRISM time with Him, but the truth He gives is not just for hearing… It’s for obeying and implementing. He tells us – not only the truth that changes us – but the specific things He wants us to do (differently than we have been doing) – so the truth can take root in us – so we are changed. It’s not hearing truth that changes you – it’s doing it! God showed me recently to remind me… Psalms 116:10 I believed, therefore I said, “I am greatly afflicted. And in my dismay, I said “all men are liars.” Wow. What an insightful verse. This is truth that has layers to it. What you believe, you say – because what you said – you came to believe. Do you believe the best or the worst? What you say – can bring dismay. What you believe is always formed by your words, and then your words reveal what you believe. You either choose the words that form your beliefs, or your idle words will form them, and then your beliefs will hijack your words. What you say can bring delight or dismay. Notice your physical condition and situation can remain the same, but delight or dismay come from what you say. But how can I be delighted in this situation? You can’t – God never told you to be. He said Delight yourself in the LORD – not in your situation- and He will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4) (He didn’t say delight in your situation He just said count it all joy – when those trials come – because He is using them to produce something in you – which is highly valuable – perseverance, maturity, completeness – not lacking anything - James 1:2) That means if He will give you the desires of your heart (which if you delight in Him – are the desires of His heart), If He will give you these... then you can know your situation will eventually change in His complete timing. But meanwhile, you can take joy in His promise and His faithfulness. God said Delight yourself in the law of the LORD – the Word of God – this is the one who is blessed - like a tree planted by the rivers of water – who bears fruit in every season, who prospers in everything he does. (Psalm 1:1-2) Your PRISM throughout the day - helps you delight yourself in God’s Word – so you are delighted by Him (you'll be the man who is blessed). God said we are to Delight to do His will! Psalm 40:8 – I delight to do your will, O my God – your instruction is deep within me. PiVAT is His plans for you for today - what He told you to do, and PRISM – His Word, His instruction – deep within you – will propel you into doing it! When you delight in His Word – (PRISM will help you) it will lead you to the delight that obedience brings. Your PRISM will help you walk in the PiVAT that He has for you. His Word confirms His plans for you – for tomorrow, this week, this month, and this year! God says Delight in your testimony! (Psalm 119:24) The testimonies of Him, that which you wrote down as a witness to his faithfulness when you obeyed. This is your Daily Call – His testimony – by which you overcome! - Hebrews 3:13. Delight in these things, and your words will form what you believe – His promises - His reality – not your present situation. Delight yourself in these things – speak them to your heart – and you will never believe what is not true, or say what is not true – creating your dismay – which makes you say foolish things out of your dismay – not your delight. Praying that you will obey His Word – that you will speak what God tells you to speak so you delight yourself in what He has told you to delight yourself in – so you will speak to establish your belief, so you believe and therefore speak. Praying that you will delight yourself in the LORD, that you will delight yourself in His Word, that you will delight yourself in obeying His will for you, and that you will delight yourself in the testimony of Him. You’ll either be dismayed or delighted. Praying that PiVAT, PRISM, and your Daily Call – will establish you in what He told you to delight yourself in. So you will never be dismayed, but always be delighted in who He is, what He has done, what He is doing right now in your situation – and what He promised He will do. Praying that you will delight with your words to secure your belief, so your life is always a delight in Him, His Word, His Will for you, and the Testimony of Him that obedience brings. That’s a crazy life! Praise God He tells us specifically how to walk in all the good that He has for us. Praying that you will… Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you
Praise God – life is full. So full of God’s love – and opportunities in every area. Life can get busy – before we know it we have so many irons in the fire – so many projects and goals and dreams and trying to fit them all in, understand the opportunity cost of doing one over the other. Often times the good is the worst enemy of the best. Life can be messy. Emotions and obligations and dreams and aspirations all contend in the mosh pit of life – but the diapers still need to be changed and the trash needs to be taken out… No wonder people struggle. Praise God – There’s a book for that. God's Instruction Manual for smashing success in life - in every area, not just one or two. The only way to find success – is to find the One that holds it. There is no success apart from Him – the God who made you and loves you and has good for you! Any other pursuit than pursuing Him, His love for you and his plans for you – which are like no other… only yield false success – temporary – fools gold. But lasting success is found in Him. Praying that PRISM – those five things you can do every day in God’s Word – is constantly drawing you back – it’s the source of your success... Asking the Holy Spirit to reveal truth for you for today – from this book of truth. God has the corner on the market when it comes to wisdom and truth. He is wisdom and truth – there is no wisdom or truth apart from Him. The more you seek, the more you find. No thanks, I’ve had enough blessing, and success for today... What? No one would ever say that. Would you pass up a $100 dollar bill lying on the sidewalk – and no one is around who might have dropped it? Nah, I’ve got enough – I’m good – I’ll just leave it there. Do you know the three things that have been most responsible for increasing my desire – my appetite for His Word, my consistency in this book of success - that have helped me be consistent at a whole new level? PiVAT, PRISM, and my Daily Call. PiVAT – getting God’s plan for me for today – has established order – where there used to be chaos. Before dinner every night – I know what He just told me to do tomorrow – not only the number one thing, but the other things He has chosen to reveal so far… The second thing that is making me more consistent in His Word is the pattern of PRISM – those five things I can do - in His Word every day - that keep me coming back! Not a religion, not a checklist – just an opportunity to find another $100 bill on the ground - another insight that will increase my success – and it’s teaching me how to hear and obey quickly. Starting PRISM, just asking the Holy Spirit – to reveal the truth He specifically has for me from God's Word - for success for today – so I understand what He told me to do in PiVAT, and how to do it with the excellence that represents Him. And doing it out loud - declaring what God just said - to fill my heart. Just the pattern and something I can do next - has made that time with Him in His Word a treasure hunt, not a burden. His Word is that success book which will change your life forever – separating you from your peers and your past – not in pride but in humility and wisdom, effectiveness - in quality of life, and the joy that only comes from walking in God’s wonderful plans for you. But the third thing that has most established my consistency in His Word – is a Daily Call. This simple obedience to His Word in Hebrews 3:13 – to exhort one another daily... There are times – more than several – that the busy-ness of my day – the things that God told me to do – combined with the distractions of a few rabbit trails I got suckered into… expired my day without really taking the time in PRISM – so crucial to my joy and my success. Without that Daily Call at 7:30 or 8:00 in the morning – I'd probably say to myself - I'm just too tired, i'm just going to bed and try to do better tomorrow. But that call – they are going to show up with fire – they are going to have something God gave them – revelation from His Word and the confirmation and affirmation testimony of their walking in it. That testimony that not only makes them overcome – but challenges me to do the same thing! I just don’t want to show up tomorrow with nothing. So I spend that last time of the evening – instead of Netflix, the News, or some other “just need some downtime” activity... I spend that time with Him. I overcome the guilt the devil tries to put on me – saying you’re just doing it out of religion, not relationship. Oh shut up! That’s a lie and you know it. I don’t mean to be rude or presumptuous with the devil, I fear God more than Him, but I’m not foolish to be arrogant. But sometimes you need to just tell him and yourself like it is. He’s always lying. Jesus said come unto me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. His Word always gives my mind a rest – and lets my spirit rise to hear the truth that He gives – for my blessing, for my success, and also the encouragement of my Daily Call Partner - like His encourages me. I want to be sure I'm carrying my weight... And every time I come back to PRISM – His Word at the end of the day – even for no other reason than not wanting to show up empty handed – for my Daily Call. God has ALWAYS given a blessing from it. Like He was just waiting for me – not taking offense that it took me so long – just waiting for me to come so He can share His love and His success with me - so He can add to that testimony I have to overcome with. Praying that PiVAT has you obeying, PRISM has you believing, and your Daily Call has you overcoming. It’s a life like no other! - No matter what is happening around you - good times or hard times - He is the wisdom and the success you need. It’s how you walk in the good that He has for you at all times! Praying that you’re coming back to Him – all day long. That your faith is increasing with your praise, and your obedience – so His Joy is your fragrance - that draws others to Him. Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you.
Praise God – PRISM will change you! He leads you in your PRISM – those five things you can do every day in His Word. He does it to change you – to change the way you think and talk and act – so you understand what He is telling you to do in PiVAT each day – in His way that brings success. Praise God – what kind of God would love us that much – to teach us how to be successful in every way? So thankful! God continuing to teach me… Psalm 116:7 Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you. Wow – this is street-level practical instruction – that we will obey and implement or ignore and miss out on. Be at rest – O my soul. Speak to your soul (your mind, will and emotions). The Holy Spirit through your spirit wants to teach your mouth to take authority over your soul (your mind, will and emotions). “Be at rest! Take rest. Choose rest once more. You had it, but you left it. You’re struggling – because you forfeited control from your spirit to your soul (your mind, will, and emotions) Instead, speak God’s Word to it to bring them under submission – coming under His mission. Be at rest – stop striving and kniving, trying to figure it out, fussing and fretting, doubting and dreading – This is the LORD – who has been good to you - The Supreme Authority – The One with all power loves you with an everlasting love. He has been good to you. That alone is deserving of rest. He has been, He is, and always will be - and do - good for those who fear Him – The fear of the LORD is for right here, right now. Speak to your soul – tell it to be at rest, because the Power of the Universe – is your Heavenly Father, the Friend that sticketh closer than a brother. He's your Instructor and Teacher, your Savior and Sustainer, your Helper and Protector, He's your Deliverer. Be at rest – let Him handle it. You just obey what He’s telling you to do. Leave His job to Him – He’s the best ever at getting things done – at doing good for you. He always has. You just praise, you just be thankful, you just remember what He’s done! And how good He has been, you just give a testimony – so you overcome, you just rejoice because you will see Him do good again and again. You will see Him make a way out of no way. You will see him make the crooked way a highway. You will see Him do the impossible, you will see Him be faithful, you will see Him bring good all the days of your life – if you will walk in His Way – the way He has chosen for you. PiVAT will keep you on His path for you – PRISM will give you His understanding of it – so you can walk in the fullness He has for you. Your Daily Call – will keep you overcoming and thriving in it. Praying that you will develop this skill and this habit: Speak to your Soul – tell it to be at rest – tell it to submit – to come under His plans for you at this time, for this day, in this hour. He will be faithful today, tomorrow – and forever. Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you.
I love how God’s Word does not just address the action but the motive, not just the branch but the root. God continuing me in the theme of gracious. Psalms 116:5 – The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The LORD protects the simple-hearted; when I was in great need he saved me. – O Praise God – have you ever been in great need? If you’re reading this He saved you. Things might not have always worked out the way you wanted, but He has always saved you. He’s the God who saves! The words of the wise are gracious – so it’s not a surprise that the LORD is gracious and righteous. He is the source of all wisdom. He is wisdom, so God’s words are always gracious – kind – ready to forgive offenses and impart unmerited blessings. His Word is righteous – righteous words make righteous. Kind words are always what the wise use, the righteous use… It’s who God is and what He does. He is full of compassion, that’s why His words are gracious. If you have the compassion that He has – your words will too be gracious. You will see people the way God sees them – who they could be – who they will be, not what they are or do right now. What are you full of? compassion or condemnation? The LORD protects the simple-hearted. Simple-hearted is singular of heart – consumed with one target – the knowledge of God and the things of his heart -not other ambitions mixed in. It didn’t say He protects the simple-minded – the simpleton – a silly person, a person of weak intellect, a trifler, a foolish person – who won’t listen, who hears God’s voice but will not heed – their perverse lips always making an excuse why they are not obeying. Simple-minded – an artless, unskilled or undesigning person – lacking in mental acuteness or sense. This is a moral weakness, not a genetic deficiency - those who don’t respond, who don’t follow their lead blocker... But the Simple-hearted – those with childlike faith, having no fraudulent designs, ordinary people, the innocent - Simple-hearted – not complex or mixed, not containing guile or deception, pure of heart and motive – humble – single of heart – these are the ones who are always positioned under His protection. Praying that you will grow in simpleness of heart - consumed with the single motive – of the fear of the LORD – which results in the Love of the LORD for others. Praying that He will grow your compassion – so you words will be gracious, kind, forgiving, quick to impart blessing – so God’s wisdom will protect you and increase you – so that your house and your life will be full of the treasures of the LORD. The more that PiVAT and PRISM become your priority throughout your day – following His plans, and learning His commands – the more He can lead you and guide you, and protect you and provide for you. The more wisdom will grow in you! Your PiVAT Weekly – will grow you in singleness of heart – His plans for you this week – nothing else. And if you’re faithful in your Daily Call – overcoming two by two - the wisdom God grows in them – He will also grow in you! Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you.
Obedience is a funny thing - it brings the unexpected. You can’t know what it will bring until you do it. And once you do it – it brings things you didn’t expect. When God told me to do PRISM – those 5 things you can do in every day God’s Word – it also came with some things I didn’t expect. I’m surprised at how often God does things things through my PRISM time – totally separate from the Praise the Word, Read the Word, Insight from the Word, Study the Word, and Meditate on the Word – within PRISM itself. Three of the things I didn't expect are - Comebacks, Themes and Veins of Gold. First I’m amazed at how many times – the very next day – God has me come back to the very same PRISM verse - the exact verse I SOAP-ed out yesterday – but a completely new and entirely different revelation. It’s really amazing how many times that actually happens. God’s Word is unending – unfathomable in it’s depth of wisdom, knowledge, understanding and practical application. It literally transforms you every time you come back to it. The Holy Spirit will never run out of new things to reveal. The next unexpected thing God does in PRISM – is themes. It seems like He will lead me in themes – a revelation that I need to address or develop in my character that He keeps building upon or doubling down on - multiple days in a row (like wisdom, or praise, or words). And the third unexpected thing that amazes me about PRISM and what God does through it when He show’s me a vein of gold. In the sales world they used to refer to a vein of gold as following the path that the sale leads you to. Rather than cold-calling - a referral from the same lead or sale leads to another sale and then another. I can’t tell you how many times the S.O.A.P. verse I get from Praise the Word – leads to the same truth from the S.O.A.P. verse in Read the Word, the Insight from the Word verse from Proverbs and even an additional Study the Word verse that all reveal that very same issue, or truth, or character quality. It's like God is trying to broaden my understanding. It’s like He has the same consistent message through the whole day’s PRISM – just leading me step by step in how to do it, and become it. Maybe He realizes I’m just a little slow sometimes, or maybe He just has so much that He needs me to grow in – so He can get me to the next thing that He’s been waiting to help me do! So thankful for PRISM - that habit that keeps me coming back to His Word. It’s life, it’s hope, it’s wisdom and success and encouragement, and specific instruction – it really is God loving you through His Word. He still speaks! Every time you do PRISM – you are talking with Him, getting a real conversation, not a drive-by - where He actually communicates specific things that you need to know! Praying that the Holy Spirit keeps drawing you back to PRISM throughout the day - it’s life for you. All the good stuff He has for you – comes from it. Praying that PiVAT has you obeying, that PRISM has you becoming - and your Daily Call has you overcoming with the testimony that He gives. Praying that you will join or start your next PiVAT Small Group - so that everything God reveals will be multiplied through the testimony of people who just want to fully obey like you. Like Jesus did... Can’t wait to hear what He reveals. Praying that comebacks and themes and veins of gold will lead you to be more like Him - fully prepared for the next level of good that He has for you. Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you.
God says His Word divides between bone and marrow. It’s not meddling, it’s just telling the truth. Hebrews 4:12 - For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Basically – it exposes things – even in you and me. God reminding me recently - Ecclesiastes 10:12 – Words from a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but a fool is consumed by his own lips. At the beginning his words are folly, at the end they are madness, and the fool multiplies words. Wow. You can tell a wise man by what he says, by what comes from his mouth. Before you ever speak to others, you have first spoken to yourself. Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks, and what you have spoken has filled your heart with what is coming out. Always speak wisdom to your heart. Praise the Word – will fill your heart with wisdom. The words of the wise are always gracious – favorable, kind, friendly, benevolent, merciful. Gracious – disposed to forgive offenses, and impart unmerited blessings. Their words are always kind, the wise use their words to build – never to tear down. Have you ever had a group of friends who continually dis and burn and slam each other? They say were only joking – like the fools the Bible says deceive their friends and say ‘I was only joking.’ These people like circling vultures – just waiting for someone to say something that doesn’t come out right – so they can make fun of it or them. Negative humor – ‘we’re just having fun with each other.’ That’s fun? Like crabs in a barrel always trying to climb over another – thinking it makes them higher. This is the exact opposite of gracious - what God says the words of the wise are. And since the words of the wise are always gracious – those who words are not… cannot possibly be wise. If you do the opposite of what God says is wise – what does that really make you? Dis – current webster – slang – to treat with disrespect or contempt – to find fault with, criticize, a disparaging remark. The wise never dis, burn or slam people. Why? 1) Their words are gracious – that’s how you can tell they are wise. 2) It’s the opposite of the Fear of the LORD. The fear of the LORD is to turn from evil – it’s either life or death. Anything that displeases God, or mistreats others, those who fear the LORD turn from it. Why? Because they are humble – that’s why they Fear God and obey His Word – part of the fear of the LORD. That’s why their words are gracious – they say nothing harmful – also part of the Fear of the LORD. The words of the wise are gracious – uplifting, protecting, not hurtful or harmful – not even in jest. So what about you? Yeah, my friends and co-workers sometimes do that… So what about you? When someone says or does something awkward – do you divert attention – or let the awkward silence become the noose around their neck? Do you look at them with a smirk on their face, just waiting for them to dig themselves deeper, so you can crack another joke. Do you really take pleasure in the discomfort of others? Do you think it makes you look better than them? It just exposes you as lacking wisdom. If you are making a joke at someone else’s expense – your humor is false, underdeveloped, like the person what can’t think of any words with more digits than four letters. Not a sign of intelligence… What does your humor reveal about your heart? I’ve told my son and daughters – you can tell a man by what he looks at and what he laughs at. Making a joke at someone else’s expense or discomfort – is in truth – putting them in a lower place – and you in the higher place. But wait… I thought humility was just the opposite – me taking the lower place – so someone else can have the higher. Exactly - that’s what humility is… which along with the fear of the LORD – is where wisdom begins. Are your words gracious, kind, protecting? The wise can sense an awkward situation forming for someone – and they immediately intervene, they save them from embarrassment – before the fact when possible, but even after the fact. They redirect negative attention from people. Like a mother bird will fly within inches of the grasp of a predator about to discover the nest of her young – she will distract their attention at the risk of her own life. This is what laying down your life – looks like. Is this you? or do you magnify the negative attention on them – enjoying their awkward or embarrassing position? If you do, your words are not gracious – you are unwise. Young lady – if that boy will tease you in public, enabling or allowing his friends or others to laugh at your expense - that is not the one God has for you. The man of God that He will lead you to will know what laying down his life for you looks like. He will always protect you - from mortal danger, or even a joke at your discomfort or expense, he will never allow it much less participate or instigate it. So do we really love one another? Are your words gracious – kind, favorable, merciful. Are you wise? And do your words prove it at all times? Praying that you would Praise the Word – PRISM will soak you with God’s wisdom – and make folly uncomfortable to you. Praying that you will fill your heart out loud with God’s Word – so wisdom will overflow there, and every folly will be replaced… so you will lay down your life for others, as Jesus has laid down His life for you. Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you.
I just love how God’s Word gives wisdom for real things. Ecclesiastes 10:5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun, the sort of error that arises from a ruler: Fools are put in many high positions, while noblemen occupy low ones. I have seen slaves on horseback while princes go on foot like slaves. An inevitable test in every life… how do you handle injustice? When bosses or those in leadership promote the wrong people. Maybe you didn’t get the job or job promotion you thought you deserved, or maybe you’re just scratching your head at some things… Mis-promotions come from corruption or incompetence. Either way, it’s not the first time, nor will it be the last. But what does that have to do with you? A lot. Whether it directly impacts you or not… How will you react? Step 1: Be Humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time. It’s a pre-requisite. Maybe you are 100% right, but maybe there are other factors you aren’t privy to. Be humble. God’s Word says – it’s the start of promotion. Step #2 Trust in the LORD. LORD – Supreme in Authority. All jobs, titles and companies are His. The wealth of the world belongs to Him and he distributes it as He wishes (I Samuel 2:7), So do all jobs promotions, and titles. He brings down one, and exalts another (Psalms 75:6). This is not fatalism, He is not corrupt nor apathetic. People are in positions of His choosing or His allowing. He is a God of justice and mercy and He is the God who loves you and has good stored up for all who fear Him. Step 1: Be Humble – there are some things of this situation or God’s greater plan, that you do not know. He is in heaven and you are on earth – so let your words be few. Don’t catch diarrhea of the mouth – grumbling and complaining about what you don’t think is right. It’s still something that God is fully aware of and in full control of. Step #2 – Trust in the LORD. Don’t think about the injustice. Read the PRISM Topic – Life Purpose and Direction. Get busy doing your job! What He has assigned for you to do at this time, Until a promotion comes – do better where you are! Don’t worry about other people – God will never call you to give an account of them… Step #3 - Choose Praise. Cultivate it in your life. God said in everything give thanks – for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. This is one of those everythings… It’s time to give thanks. It’s time to Praise. He has been so good to you and when you know that He is developing you for good – you know that delays have Divine Purpose. He has something for you to grow in right here, before He grows you in the next place He has for you. Don’t be the cause of the delay, use the delay or injustice to Practice Humility, Trust, and Praise. If it’s an injustice that He’s calling you to do something about – the Holy Spirit will be unmistakeably clear. We are to stand up for those who can’t speak for themselves. But it will still be in Humility, Trust, and Praise. Praying for you that you would always practice humility – you might not know everything, that you would practice trust – by obeying where you are, and that you would practice praise – so you’re always praising, never grumbling and complaining. Praying that in humility, you would trust Him fully and praise Him greatly. He loves you, He’s faithful, He’s at work right now, for His glory and your good. Love you all, dad |
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April 2021
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