"Compromise of your faith destroys your integrity."
I still believe God's Word is the guide for our everyday lives. Preaching yesterday about families reminded me that American culture should not tell us how to interpret the Bible. We must be on guard to not fall in the trap culture sets for us. If we believe one part of the Bible, we must believe it all. Paul with the help of the Holy Spirit gave good instruction on how the family should operate. If we are going to live blessed lives, we must align with the Bible; even our families. Joshua said, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." If we continue to compromise our faith around our family, we will not be blessed and our faith will be invalid in their eyes.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Reading the Bible
Lately my wife and I have been sitting down with the kids every night before bed and reading the Bible to them. You would think we should have been doing this for a while now but we have not. We started in the book of Psalms and then read a part of John. Sometimes the kids listen and sometimes they do not. It is hard to get them to listen to the not so exciting parts.
I remember when my dad used to do the same thing. My brother and I would wonder why we would have to sit and listen to the "boring" parts. As I got older, I began to understand all the Bible is important and even though my kids don't like all the parts of the Bible, they will begin soon to appreciate all of it. We have to do the same thing as adults. We read all the Bible and don't skip over the "boring" parts. Those parts may just have the answer we are looking for. So I am going to keep reading and so should you.
I remember when my dad used to do the same thing. My brother and I would wonder why we would have to sit and listen to the "boring" parts. As I got older, I began to understand all the Bible is important and even though my kids don't like all the parts of the Bible, they will begin soon to appreciate all of it. We have to do the same thing as adults. We read all the Bible and don't skip over the "boring" parts. Those parts may just have the answer we are looking for. So I am going to keep reading and so should you.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Solid or hollow?
When we arrived in Jackson last night, I saw the remains of an old tree in my in-laws' yard. The tree fell during a storm and all that is left now is the stump. When I looked at it this morning, I noticed how hollow the stump was and I wondered how it stood like that for so many years. It looked like a strong tree from the outside but the thickness of the wood was only five inches thick. The rest of the tree was hollow.
While driving, my wife informed me that one of my teachers at Central Bible College had pasted away. The article in the Memphis newspaper told a wonderful story of a man whose life was solid. Everyone in the article told about his faith and love of God, his character and devotion to ministry. Here was a story of a man whose life was solid and the people around him knew it!
As I turn 35 today, I am reminded that our lives can be either hollow or solid. The difference is Jesus. I want Him to fill my life and keep me from "falling over in the storm.". Thank you Dr. Arnold for being a great example to me.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Jackson, TN
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Walking through Proverbs 2:6,7
The Bible says,
For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly:
Proverbs 2:6,7 (NKJV)
I have seen a number of articles lately referring to common sense. Many of them insist that common sense has died. As much as that would seem to be true, people need to know where common sense or wisdom comes from. The real reason common sense seems dead is because people are spiritually dead. True wisdom comes from God. As long as people do things on their own, they will lack that wisdom they need.
The Bible tells us that God has wisdom stored for the upright. All they need to do is ask. If we would just let God revive us and we would ask, God would give us the wisdom we need to make it in this life.
Hide your Word in our hearts that we won't sin.
For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly:
Proverbs 2:6,7 (NKJV)
I have seen a number of articles lately referring to common sense. Many of them insist that common sense has died. As much as that would seem to be true, people need to know where common sense or wisdom comes from. The real reason common sense seems dead is because people are spiritually dead. True wisdom comes from God. As long as people do things on their own, they will lack that wisdom they need.
The Bible tells us that God has wisdom stored for the upright. All they need to do is ask. If we would just let God revive us and we would ask, God would give us the wisdom we need to make it in this life.
Hide your Word in our hearts that we won't sin.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Walking through Proverbs 1:20-22
The Bible says,
Wisdom shouts in the streets. She cries out in the public square. She calls to the crowds along the main street, to those gathered in front of the city gate:
"How long, you simpletons, will you insist on being simpleminded?
(Proverbs 1:20-22, New Living Translation)
Wisdom seems to be taking a vacation in America today. Everywhere you look people are acting more and more foolish. The news is filled with stories of people doing stupid things and no one seems to know why. We have misplaced wisdom and responsibility with something else.
The Bible is clear that as Christians we are to live our lives with wisdom. The verse here tells us that she is calling out to help us. Wisdom wants to help but people love rejecting her for ideas they think are smart. In the end though, most people realize they should have listened first to wisdom.
You would think that as believers in God, we would listen when God tells us to do something. Many times we believe we are smarter than God and He should listen to us. Every time I tried to do it my way I fall flat on my face. The older I get the more I understand wisdom is for my benefit and the more I listen the better I am for it.
Let's remind ourselves that wisdom is and should always be our best friend.
Lord God,
Help us hide Your word in our hearts, so we will not sin.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Walking through Proverbs
The Bible says,
My child, listen when your father corrects you. Don't neglect your mother's instruction. What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck. (Proverbs 1:8,9 New Living Translation)
A cry has gone out all around America. Where are the parents? Most children today are orphans. Either they don't have one parent or the other, or they are neglected by their parents. The parents feel their children will not listen and they abandon teaching to other.
God intended instruction to be passed down from parents to their children. Just because we have schools does not mean we leave all the teaching to them. There are some things that still need to be taught by parents. One of those things is love. Why we love, how to love, who we love, are just a few examples that parents need to teach their children.
It is not too late to pass on to our children the real lessons they need to learn. We need to remember their future depends on it.
Lord God,
Help us hide your word in our hearts, so we will not sin.
My child, listen when your father corrects you. Don't neglect your mother's instruction. What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck. (Proverbs 1:8,9 New Living Translation)
A cry has gone out all around America. Where are the parents? Most children today are orphans. Either they don't have one parent or the other, or they are neglected by their parents. The parents feel their children will not listen and they abandon teaching to other.
God intended instruction to be passed down from parents to their children. Just because we have schools does not mean we leave all the teaching to them. There are some things that still need to be taught by parents. One of those things is love. Why we love, how to love, who we love, are just a few examples that parents need to teach their children.
It is not too late to pass on to our children the real lessons they need to learn. We need to remember their future depends on it.
Lord God,
Help us hide your word in our hearts, so we will not sin.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Walking through Proverbs
The Bible says,
Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. (Proverbs 1:7 New Living Translation)
I would rather not use the word "fear" and "God" in the same sentence, but I did not write the book. Fear in this sentence though has more to do with respect than fear. In our search for knowledge and truth, many want to leave God out. They refuse to believe that God has anything to do with it. God has everything to do with it.
As a believer, I should know that real truth and knowledge come from God. If I am going to find the answers, I need to go to God first. So many times we go to God last. We wait until all other sources fail us before we ask Him for the answers. Let's stop ignoring God in our search for knowledge. Let's stop being foolish.
Lord God,
Help us hide Your word in our hearts, so we will not sin.
Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. (Proverbs 1:7 New Living Translation)
I would rather not use the word "fear" and "God" in the same sentence, but I did not write the book. Fear in this sentence though has more to do with respect than fear. In our search for knowledge and truth, many want to leave God out. They refuse to believe that God has anything to do with it. God has everything to do with it.
As a believer, I should know that real truth and knowledge come from God. If I am going to find the answers, I need to go to God first. So many times we go to God last. We wait until all other sources fail us before we ask Him for the answers. Let's stop ignoring God in our search for knowledge. Let's stop being foolish.
Lord God,
Help us hide Your word in our hearts, so we will not sin.
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