When I was a child and teen both my church and Kansas City Youth for Christ offered classes on how to win other people to Christ. As part of the classes we had to go out and go door to door knocking on the door and try to win souls. Guess how well it did? Terrible. For one I was nervous as can be. And those people weren't open to listening. They usually slammed the door in my face. No....this method did not work for me at all. It was actually very discouraging because I knew ultimately my job is to win souls to Christ..and I knew there is no way that it was going to happen this way!
Fast forward about 25 years. Several years ago a book/study called Becoming a Contagious Christian became very popular among churches. This study worked for me! It taught that the best way to win others to Christ is to let them see your life. Let them see how much better life is for you with Christ in it. Make them see by watching you that they need Christ. I can handle that much better.
Of course there is a flip side. There are always people watching and waiting for us to mess up. This is why we need to be so careful to try our best to live wisely. In other words...we need to practice what we preach. Will we mess up? Yes, but 'they' are watching to see how we handle that too.
God didn't call all of us to be Bible Thumpers. But He did say that we are to win souls.(vs 30)
Take heart! You will be rewarded. And your enemies? Their punishment will be even greater than your reward. (vs 31)
~Tonya~
Friday, September 9, 2011
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Proverbs 11: 29
The wind. Do you like it? I don't at all. Well, except for one that blows in a good thunderstorm. But for the most part wind is annoying. I have always had ear problems and that wind whipping around my ears just annoys me to no end. I could go on about it's annoyances to me. But lets think about the characteristics of wind.
What does it look like?
Smell like?
Taste like?
hmmm---we've pretty much come up empty here.
Stirring up trouble within your family (personal family or church family) will leave you with...NOTHING but an annoyance.
As for the second half of the verse...the 'fool' talked about here is the person who refuses to accept Christ. Please take a few moments to read Revelation 20:1-6. If these verses confuse you, please feel free to ask questions. But, basically it is just how our verse in Proverbs says, "The foolish will be servant to the wisehearted."
I am not trying to start a discussion on the end times (maybe someday!); however this is a good illustration of what the author of Proverbs is trying to say to us.
~Tonya~
What does it look like?
Smell like?
Taste like?
hmmm---we've pretty much come up empty here.
Stirring up trouble within your family (personal family or church family) will leave you with...NOTHING but an annoyance.
As for the second half of the verse...the 'fool' talked about here is the person who refuses to accept Christ. Please take a few moments to read Revelation 20:1-6. If these verses confuse you, please feel free to ask questions. But, basically it is just how our verse in Proverbs says, "The foolish will be servant to the wisehearted."
I am not trying to start a discussion on the end times (maybe someday!); however this is a good illustration of what the author of Proverbs is trying to say to us.
~Tonya~
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Proverbs 11:28
Do you watch Iron Chef? I, for one, really just do not like tv. But I allow Seth to watch some mom-approved shows of an evening. One show that Seth loves is Iron Chef. I was watching the judging part a couple of nights ago and it reminded me of our study of Proverbs. Those judges took little bites, savoring each piece. This episode happened to be about some kind of fish from Hawaii. The judges would take a bite, move it around in their mouths, purposefully finding each and every taste, spice, and finally would savor and enjoy the meat. Then they would discuss the bite. What did they taste; what did they feel?
This is the same as we are doing in this study of Proverbs. I love that we are taking little savory bites. I hope that you are taking the time to take each verse apart. Look for all the different 'spices' so to speak. Ultimately look for the meat. Chew on it, savor it, gain strength from it.
What is the meat of verse 28?
This is the same as we are doing in this study of Proverbs. I love that we are taking little savory bites. I hope that you are taking the time to take each verse apart. Look for all the different 'spices' so to speak. Ultimately look for the meat. Chew on it, savor it, gain strength from it.
What is the meat of verse 28?
Can't view the photo? It is the remnants of a large fire. Everything is gone.
Except one lone flowering plant. She is beautiful and all dressed in pink.
I think her name might be Righteousness.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Proverbs 11: 27
Google. A word that has become a common word around the world. Even this blog is powered by Google. But where did it all start? As a search engine. A little tool used so that people could easily find what they are looking for. A little tool that has literally changed the world. Think about it...how many times a day do you use something "powered by Google"?
Searching. Everyone is searching for something. And I am not talking about googling here. People are searching for love, happiness, riches, and knowledge.
Searching. Everyone is searching for something. And I am not talking about googling here. People are searching for love, happiness, riches, and knowledge.
The above is a photo of the Greatest Search Engine known to man.
Just think of how it could change the world if everyone used the Bible for their search engine?
Oh, lets forget about everyone...that won't happen and we know it.
But how much would it change the world if just the Christians used the Bible as their search engine?
Today as you are going about your daily tasks, make it a good day.
Become more "Powered by God" and less "Powered by Google."
~Tonya~
Monday, September 5, 2011
Proverbs 11: 24 - 26 Giving or Grabbing
Hello everybody! I hope you are enjoying a restful holiday weekend! My daughter told me that I was too long-winded on these posts, so I'm going to try to keep it to a minimum, but still give us something to think about. Ready?
Are your hands giving hands, or grabbing hands?
I realize that I have over-simplified things, but it kind of boils down to this. These three verses all speak about virtually the same thing, and promise us spiritual, emotional, and perhaps even material bounty. We are looking at a person who scatters, and a person who waters -- these are terms for giving. Giving freely and fully, whether offerings or kindly acts, is compared to refreshing dew and showers on a thirsty land. These offerings and kindnesses often come back to us and bless us, and we also feel happy because we have given cheerfully . . . see, we get "watered," too! By contrast, the person in these verses who "withholds" is sure to be disliked, and "tends to poverty" --- this can be poverty because they are not paying just debts, not providing what is necessary for the family, or it can be a poverty of the soul. We forfeit the blessing of God and the joy of giving when we are not gracious and generous to others.
The commentary I read said "God blesses the giving hand, and makes it a getting hand." Remember in the Gospel of Luke, Christ says, " Give, and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." (Luke 6:38)
In today's language, I guess Solomon would have admonished his son to "Pay it forward!" Leave me a comment and let me know what you think......
Are your hands giving hands, or grabbing hands?
I realize that I have over-simplified things, but it kind of boils down to this. These three verses all speak about virtually the same thing, and promise us spiritual, emotional, and perhaps even material bounty. We are looking at a person who scatters, and a person who waters -- these are terms for giving. Giving freely and fully, whether offerings or kindly acts, is compared to refreshing dew and showers on a thirsty land. These offerings and kindnesses often come back to us and bless us, and we also feel happy because we have given cheerfully . . . see, we get "watered," too! By contrast, the person in these verses who "withholds" is sure to be disliked, and "tends to poverty" --- this can be poverty because they are not paying just debts, not providing what is necessary for the family, or it can be a poverty of the soul. We forfeit the blessing of God and the joy of giving when we are not gracious and generous to others.
The commentary I read said "God blesses the giving hand, and makes it a getting hand." Remember in the Gospel of Luke, Christ says, " Give, and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." (Luke 6:38)
In today's language, I guess Solomon would have admonished his son to "Pay it forward!" Leave me a comment and let me know what you think......
Friday, September 2, 2011
Proverbs 11:23 Whaddya mean, I'm not righteous??
Hi ya'll! Tonya had a rough night with a little one, so I'm filling in for her....
I don't mean to be irreverent here, as I type that title above the post.... I'm wondering if some of us were thinking that, when we read this verse:
Pro 11:23 The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
Does that mean that if we have a thought or desire pop into our head that isn't "good," that we're not righteous? Wow, if that were the case --- that sends a shudder up my spine; how about you?
That is not what Solomon is saying here, though. Let's take this verse apart, like a mechanic working on a car, and then see if we can put it back together, shall we? (And we'll cross our fingers that we have no parts left over when we're done! I just hate it when that happens when we are repairing our vehicles! LOL)
Ahem. I digress. Alright, the part that is bothering us is the part that says, "only good," right? But if we back up to "desire" it is actually a Hebrew word meaning "delight" --- that's the key! Do we delight in the good things that happen to those around us? Do we desire that those around us have the good, the pleasant in life? Are we wishing hurt to anyone, or are we delighted when God shows mercy and favor to others? I think we are on the right track here, because the root of the word "good" in the verse has these meanings: better, bountiful, ease, merry, joyful, pleasant, and more.
Turn over the coin --- the delight, or expectation of the wicked? The wicked want God to move and force their passions and revenge on others, to even remove those that are an obstacle to them. They want to take advantage of the troubles that other people have, and they desire that those folks should have even more troubles!
Let's keep this verse in our hearts this weekend, maybe even put it on a card on the fridge?
Psalm 37:4 Delight thyself also in the Lord, and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Let's try to desire the best for others --- let's strive to be like the righteous, not the wicked!
I don't mean to be irreverent here, as I type that title above the post.... I'm wondering if some of us were thinking that, when we read this verse:
Pro 11:23 The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
Does that mean that if we have a thought or desire pop into our head that isn't "good," that we're not righteous? Wow, if that were the case --- that sends a shudder up my spine; how about you?
That is not what Solomon is saying here, though. Let's take this verse apart, like a mechanic working on a car, and then see if we can put it back together, shall we? (And we'll cross our fingers that we have no parts left over when we're done! I just hate it when that happens when we are repairing our vehicles! LOL)
Ahem. I digress. Alright, the part that is bothering us is the part that says, "only good," right? But if we back up to "desire" it is actually a Hebrew word meaning "delight" --- that's the key! Do we delight in the good things that happen to those around us? Do we desire that those around us have the good, the pleasant in life? Are we wishing hurt to anyone, or are we delighted when God shows mercy and favor to others? I think we are on the right track here, because the root of the word "good" in the verse has these meanings: better, bountiful, ease, merry, joyful, pleasant, and more.
Turn over the coin --- the delight, or expectation of the wicked? The wicked want God to move and force their passions and revenge on others, to even remove those that are an obstacle to them. They want to take advantage of the troubles that other people have, and they desire that those folks should have even more troubles!
Let's keep this verse in our hearts this weekend, maybe even put it on a card on the fridge?
Psalm 37:4 Delight thyself also in the Lord, and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Let's try to desire the best for others --- let's strive to be like the righteous, not the wicked!
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Proverbs 11:22
Isn't that pretty? What you don't think so?
How about this one:
There, not even one of you can say that one is pretty.
I looked up the commentary on this one and I really love the way Matthew Henry describes this verse,
"It is lamented that beauty should be so abused as it is by those that have not modesty with it. It seems ill-bestowed upon them; it is quite misplaced, as a jewel in a swine’s snout, with which he roots in the dunghill. If beauty be not guarded by virtue, the virtue is exposed by the beauty. It may be applied to all other bodily endowments and accomplishments; it is a pity that those should have them who have not discretion to use them well."
Did you get that picture in your mind? A woman who does not live her life with discretion might have outward beauty, but the beauty is wasted...kind of like a pig digging in a pile of doo doo with his nose ornament.
Beauty is not so beautiful when you've got that big nose ring sticking out for all to see.
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