Proverbs 1 ~ a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck

We have a New Year. And resolutions to have new attitudes. From looking at the stars far away, choices we are to make and the prayer for God to bless us this 2015 Year.

We are looking forward in expectation for God's face to smile upon us.

How will we find God's help us make good choices and wise decisions?    



Proverbs 1
1 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

2 To know wisdom and instruction,
to understand words of insight,
3 to receive instruction in wise dealing,
in righteousness, justice, and equity;
4 to give prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the youth—
5 Let the wise hear and increase in learning,
and the one who understands obtain guidance,
6 to understand a proverb and a saying,
the words of the wise and their riddles.

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.

8 Hear, my son, your father's instruction,
and forsake not your mother's teaching,
9 for they are a graceful garland for your head
and pendants for your neck.


20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street,
in the markets she raises her voice;
21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out;
at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing
and fools hate knowledge?

23 If you turn at my reproof,
behold, I will pour out my spirit to you;
I will make my words known to you.
24 Because I have called and you refused to listen,
have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,
25 because you have ignored all my counsel
and would have none of my reproof,
26 I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when terror strikes you,
27 when terror strikes you like a storm
and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
when distress and anguish come upon you.

28 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;
they will seek me diligently but will not find me.

29 Because they hated knowledge
and did not choose the fear of the Lord,
30 would have none of my counsel
and despised all my reproof,
31 therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way,
and have their fill of their own devices.

32 For the simple are killed by their turning away,
and the complacency of fools destroys them;
33 but whoever listens to me will dwell secure
and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”


2 Thessalonians 3 16 
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.

17 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.


We are indeed looking 
for a sign 
of genuine blessing. 
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The first requirement would be that we are not taking from God, but instead looking for the blessing of His to be with all of us. God did not intend to arrive full of grace and truth - being the Light of all of mankind - to bless only us.

Light by the very nature of Light is to grace - all. 

 God blessed Abraham, to be a blessing to millenniums. Hezekiah was blessed to be an archaeological and Word of God treasure to understand the how high, deep and wide looking for God's blessing can be to all of us.

God is Pro Instruction and Anti-Condemnation. Hence the Words of the New Testament - no condemnation in Jesus Christ. Romans 8. We do not do away with the Law, but realize Jesus fulfills our gaps and encourages weak knees and drooping hands not to flag.  God wants our determination and faith. This passage is giving us the challenge to be in His Grace.

God starts with His 10 Laws. They are orderly. And gives us His Son who says worship God in Spirit and in Truth.

So Decision Making. 
We run to the new library - Google. Instead, we need to carefully consider the source. Even the word 'google' makes you remember the computer phrase - garbage in - garbage out.

We want our source to be genuine and good and loving. 
So the equation equals = God.

We need resources from God.
We are blessed today to have Rick Warren and Joel Olsteen available just for immediate instruction in a godly manner. I'm grateful my Church, HopePointe Anglican Church, is easy to find. We are blessed with genuine Godly instruction today.

HOWEVER, what God wants is you. Be yourself. He is passionate for you, as Your Father. He wants your thoughts, not repeating old phrases like a heathen to Him. 

God has no care for mindless servitude and platitude. Conversation where you tell Him what He said and He gets to have that conversation with your real self. That is what God wants - you to be the best you He created. God doesn't need child death for Him to want to bless you with good fortune, like the false gods of the Old Testament He wanted us to be away from. He wants you to see you in His creation and have you see the good as well.  God sees Good. You are His Creation.

Zeal!

We want God to be zealous about us. 
And He gave us brains to discern what He is telling us. We want to be able to face decisions in action, path and words. 

Circle of Fire for God, uncircle our direction.

I have a friend who is a retired doctor and to watch him in Decision Making is important. It's a display of wisdom. This is how he faces our new clients with his decision making ability from Medical School and in emergency situations.

1. He applies himself to the decision in attention and will not be rushed. Decision Mode.
2. He discerns the situation carefully by listening.
3. He always repeats the facts.
4. And then he applies the facts. Not in panic, in logic, in prayer, in goodness. He is a godly doctor trained in decision making.
5. He treats others as part of the team. See one, teach one, watch the next person do one.

He is orderly. Like God set out the Commandments starting with God and making a logical set of directions.

We want the Wind of the Holy Spirit to direct us and not just circle. We set up a framework for decision goals.

Our first step is to decide how we will make decisions - logic, self, impulse, flowchart, prayer, asking advice, from whom, journal facts, rethink old stories and events???
Wisdom is speaking in this Passage of Scripture.

Discern Blessings in Decisions

1. God 
tells us the facts to His blessings. Spend time with Him often. Jesus did this.

Matthew 23:37
How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!

Father God, I will be willing! To be gathered by You.

2. Love yourself.
Do this in good health and truth. Apply Joy and Self-Control. Often be a place to refresh God's Deep Love in who you really are.

2 Timothy 1:16-27

16 May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains, 17 but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me earnestly and found me— 18 may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that Day!

Father God, I will be willing! To be refreshing to God.

3. Love others. Guard your heart. Jesus did not run to the Temple to display being the Glorious Resurrected Messiah. We're calling that avoid Pigs in the Temple!!! Use humor in life. Often. Jesus did Often Show Mercy. Love the People God Puts In Your Life. Especially the ones who show mercy.

Hebrews 6:7

For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God.

Father God, I will be willing! As far as it depends on me, I will live at peace with everyone. Refreshing You!

Decision Making in God is different than decision making in the College of Business. 
"Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy night!!!"


God tells us life Will Test our metal. Jesus told us there would be days like this. In John 16:33 Jesus says: "In This World You Will Have Trouble. And Jesus overcomes the World."

Who ya gonna believe? The toothpaste casino adds? God was right. Our decisions will be tested and all shook up. Jesus said the house would have the winds assailed. The house that stands believes in Him. Like Hezekiah. Hezekiah had the whole Assyrian Empire about to knock down all his life, efforts and history. His earthly father had established an out to tear the Temple apart and give up the gold by convincing the people to worship away from the Temple. Hezekiah believed God and had the most successful kingdom apart from David himself.

Einstein is greatly quoted saying the definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over and expect different results. 
That might be true.
However
the Olympians would say differently. People trying to support their families in business find doing the right thing over and over eventually sees results. 

And we fail to see = having a name that means reliable, kind, dependable actually gets us respect often unreported to the individual with the good name. We fail to feel the Love God is giving us for our diligent care. We have to see with our eyes of faith - Love and Care will continue to be appreciated by God and streams forth like light from the clouds unannounced.

God tells us the Heavens proclaim the Glory of God. 
Usually no noise is heard.
 The Glory of God is Love. We should remember as we see the sky proclaim Glory that God is for US.

God notices when we bring Heaven to earth.

Father God, I will be willing! To see with eyes of Faith.







 

When you know that the Season is Changing. And the Wind of the Holy Spirit is needed. Or you are just hopeful to have change.

Pray. Earnestly tell God the reasons. Stay in truth and in gratitude for Jesus - within the Law of the Spirit.

When Trouble threatens to swamp your lifeboat. Listen when people accuse you or give you half false data, usually they have learned how to misdirect. Look for truth. Truth Pilate asked about. We are told in Romans we know Truth. Lean upon God. Great struggles in the Bible tell us to look at the One who is Good.

Sometimes we have to remember where to look for real goodness - God.

Pray for the Holy Spirit who is Jesus Christ the Lord!

Romans 8:26
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

Jan Karon's famous Mitford books tell us about Father Tim praying the prayer that is Always Successful - Thy Will BE Done. And then the timing - well that is His!!!

Father God, I am willing! I will cast my cares upon You. You Love me. I will strengthen and rest in You.

The Noah Step. The difficult one.

Are you doing your life right? Did you mess up God's purpose for your life? Is your life meaningful?

Guess. What. Moses could have asked this question. Many times, even as he went up Mount Nebo to see the Children of God go forth into the Promised Land.

Gratitude.
Our honest prayer for honest situations. 

We are not large enough to be perpetually punished. Jesus took our sins. We might face overcoming poor decisions. It's when we give up in the gloom of unworthiness, then we have stepped out of the Light of His Love.

We might foolishly try to put our selfishness first again and again - but we cannot blame God for that. God did put us here to grow up to go Home to Him. Even the Prodigal Son had to grow up some. To find some humility.

It's a Promise. The Word of God is Fulfilled. God's purpose for our lives will be good.

Do we Really believe God has good purpose for us?  Similarly, the demons that shrieked at Jesus had a continual shriek "What purpose do you have for me God? What will You do to me?"

Would God call us not to be us? Does He love us as we are and give us Gifts and Talents to fit in to His Plan.

Jeremiah stood fast.

Jeremiah saw terrible, terrible times. Being a prophet - he said, he didn't really want the job. God surely did not smite Jeremiah in vengeance for wanting better. Peter wanted away from what he grasped was very large and Good.

Jeremiah looked on the purpose God had for him and chose to believe God is Good. And His Word to me is for a Hope and a Future. In the midst of despair, Jeremiah bought an Estate. And you bet your boots that after the third round up to enslavement in the Babylonian Empire - Jeremiah remained. And after the war was basically done - more foolish people tried to escape to Egypt. Did Jeremiah? No. Because the Lord knew that His plans for Jeremiah were for Good.

God created us to be us. 
How radical if God said to me - you are not someone else? 
To find our highest purpose is to be in grace of His plan. The plans of God are done by God. Moses didn't bring forth the Exodus - this required generations. 

We want to live well doing our part. Especially journal gratitude of the good things. Feel free to even text yourself. Good News.

God is God. We do not confuse His Plans. Look up. The One who Loves you is Good. Alleluia!!!

Father God, I am willing! When the water is stirred up even by my own frustrations and even greater when good things surround me - I will look to You in the expectation of the adventure Life has for me. You are Abundant Life. I will drink deeply of Living Water and see Love.In Jesus I ask Your Blessings on us and look for the Victory. In Your Righteous, I ask for every good thing to do Your will. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Ephesians 5 

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 

and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us 

and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, 

but rather thanksgiving.
5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 

6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.

8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 

and find out what pleases the Lord. 

11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 

13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper,

rise from the dead,

and Christ will shine on you.”

15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 

16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 

17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. 

Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Word of the Lord is our blessing.  Thanks be unto God. 

 

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