Friday Proverb – Words Can Feed Souls

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Can we think too much about what we say?  Not according to the Book of Proverbs.  Almost from start to finish, the Proverbs contend that our words have great ability to do harm or good.  I think of parents who speak unguardedly in their children’s presence, and then are shocked when later, the little ones repeat verbatim EVERYTHING their parents said! 

Well, it’s not just children who record our words – our every thought and word is recorded in heaven.  Thankfully – if we are saved under the Blood of Christ – we will not have to pay for our verbal refuse.  But that does not give us license to say whatever pops into our heads. 

I beseech you to have the mind of Christ – and filter everything you say and do through the Bible.  And you can only do that by being immersed (baptized) in His Word to the point that His Word becomes a part of you.  You are what you eat – after all! 

pharisee and the publican

Proverbs 10:20-21

20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver:the heart of the wicked is little worth.

Indeed – the Pharisee and the Publican are an exemplary picture of this Proverb.  As Christ said – the Publican was “justified.”  That means his humble words were – “as choice silver.”  The Pharisee’s self aggrandizing was of very “little worth.” 

21 The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.

Certainly, Paul is our master example of Christian speech and behavior.  His written words, authored by the Holy Spirit,  have “fed many.”  Just with his Epistles, we can lead a sinner to a saving knowledge of Christ.  Think how remarkable that is.  In China – people are happy just to have one page out of the Book of Romans!  They are known to sleep with it, love it, and memorize it so they can pass it on to another.  Are the words of Mohammed, or Joseph Smith, revered in such a fashion?  Hardly.  Those who feed on the words of false shepherds will “die for lack of wisdom.”  And that death will be ETERNAL DEATH IN THE LAKE OF FIRE! 

Which brings to mind what the work of a believer is.  To spread the Gospel of Christ to the whole world.  It is not righteous or wise to keep it to yourself.  If you are reading this, and you do not know what it means to be “saved,” please read the following:

(1).  Admit you are a sinner (have disobeyed God). 

 Sin separates man from God.  Imperfect man cannot come into the presence of a perfect God. 

       “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”  -1 John 1:8

(2).  Repent (be sorry for and turn from your sins, to a new life in Christ).

“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.”-Acts 3:19

(3).  Salvation is available only through Jesus Christ.

       “Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man comes unto the Father, but by me.”  -John 14:6

       “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”  -1 Timothy 2:5

       “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”        -Acts 4:12

(4).  Accept the free gift of eternal life through Christ.  

You cannot earn salvation by your own efforts.

       “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  -Romans 6:23

“For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves;  it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast.”                    -Ephesians 2:8,9 

       “That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved.  For with the heart man believes unto righteousness;  and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”  -Romans 10: 9,10  

(5).  Do it now. 

“…behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”  -II Corinthians 6:2

  (Jesus said) “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice,  and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”  -Revelation 3:20

       Receive Christ as your Lord and Saviour Now

http://www.prayerfoundation.org/plan_of_salvation.htm

sage

Wednesday Wisdom

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1 Samuel 15:22-23 KJV [22] And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to hearken than the fat of rams. [23] For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, He hath also rejected thee from being king.

Friday Proverb – Mischief Makers

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Proverbs 10:23

 It is as sport to a fool to do mischief:

It would be presumptuous and proud to think that only the behavior in the illustration qualifies as mischief.  Any act of mischief  – vandalism,  gossip, back-stabbing, pilfering, cheating, cruelty, bullying, flirtations, or the host of evil things that people do qualify as mischief; because the persons who do such things, never think that what they are doing is of any consequence.  It is “sport” to them. 

They are fools! 

but a man of understanding hath wisdom.

Living Water

Sitting at the feet of Jesus is where true wisdom and understanding is to be found.  As we can not sit at His physical feet at this moment in time, we can sit at His spiritual feet by going to church and reading His Word.  The more His Holy Spirit fills us – the less chance we have of playing the fool.  If we put Him on the back-burner, there is every chance that we will commit some sort of mischief, that we do not think is very serious. 

If we think in our minds that “It’s not that big of a deal.  It’s not like I killed somebody,”  then we are making sport of the mischief we are doing, and are counted a fool. 

Fill your time and mind with His Word – and there will be no chance for mayhem and foolishness. 

sage

Friday Scripture

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1 Peter 4:7-10 KJV

[7] But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

[8] And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

[9] Use hospitality one to another without grudging.

[10] As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

Friday Proverb – The Wicked Will Always Counter Attack

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Did you ever feel that every time something good happens – something bad follows?  There is a reason behind that – and his name is Satan.  Since the beginning, he has mustered a response for every movement the Lord has made.    A close examination of the church ages, shows  Satan made a counter attack at each significant uprising of the church.  The same thing happens in individual lives, and in the national and international arena. 

Proverbs 11:11

By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted:

In every instance, even following the 1st and 2nd Great Awakenings – Satan has launched a counter attack almost immediately. What was the evil one’s response to the Age of Missions, Great Awakenings, and the Philadelphia Church Age?   False philosophies, and cults.  Higher “criticism,” Darwinism, progressive education, and Freudian psychology.  On top of those four philosophies, which have infiltrated the education system – the major cults also rose during this time.  Mormonism, 7th Day Adventism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Christian Science,  Unitarianism, and Armstrongism.  Every single one – still active and growing in this time.

but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.   

We should not be disheartened or discouraged when the president vetoes the bill we want passed, or a judge overturns a pro-life, or pro-traditional marriage bill.  A close study of the Bible and secular history reveals that the tide of evil will always thwart the upright, and will continue to do so until the Lord Jesus Christ returns to set things right.  This is why beloveds – the evil one is working so hard, because he knows his time is short!  Liberals and progressives may be riding high now – but I would not want to be in their shoes for anything in the world.  Their victory is only temporary.  Very temporary.

Revelation 20:11-15

11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

sage

Saturday Bake – Rustic Italian Bread

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In an effort to restore this blog to what it was before my blogging partner lost his mind, I will begin posting the Saturday Bake again.

Today’s Bake is rustic Italian bread, made in the bread machine. It is excellent spread with butter and garlic bread topping, then broiled or toasted.

1 & 1/4 c. warm water

2 T. Powdered milk or Nido

2 T. Olive oil

2 T. Sugar

1 t. Sea salt

3 & 1/3 c. Bread flour

1 t. Dried Marjoram

1 t. Dried basil

1 t. Dried thyme

1 & 3/4 t. Yeast for rapid Bake (or)

3/4 t. Yeast for regular Bake.

My bread in the picture is on a crumb saving breadboard. This simple yet ingenious contraption is a cutting board that catches the crumbs from the bread. Once finished, the crumbs can be saved and used in cooking, in meatloaf, or as a topping for Mac & cheese etc.  I just tip the crumbs into a large glass jar and put it in the freezer. There are many recipes that call for bread crumbs…

I got this crumb saving bread board from Amazon over 10 years ago and it is still in great condition. I wipe it clean with a damp cloth and that’s it. It is made from bamboo! 

Sage

Friday Proverb – Hold Your Tongue!

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Gossiping, backstabbing, and lying – are all traits that should never be named in the Body of Christ – but they are there all the same.  Hidden jealousy, covetousness, and bitterness don’t really stay buried – they ooze out of our mouths with the greatest of ease – but leave a sticky coating that is hard to escape from.  Words once spoken can never be taken back. 

Proverbs 10:18-19

gossiping

18 He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.

Wow!  Hiding hatred with lying lips. . .  how awful.  But it’s all too true.  We comfort ourselves by sugar coating what we are doing, thinking we are not hurting anyone, but it puts us in the category of fool no matter what the reason.  Cutting up someone’s appearance, children, marriage – whatever – is nothing more than slander.  If it’s not something you can say directly to the person – then  do not say it!  This includes tearing apart the pastor’s sermon in the car on the way home from church.  Repeating something you’ve heard is a dangerous and shameful practice.  So is embellishing and exaggerating something that may be true in order to make it more interesting to your listeners.

slander, lying, and gossiping are all acts of self centeredness.  they are the hallmark of the baby christian.  this sin is one of the greatest detriments to the furtherance of the gospel to a lost and dying world.  it is a demonstration of the opposite of love – which is hate. 

talk too much

 19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin:

Did you realize that the more you talk, there is more chance of you saying something wrong?  The odds are against you.  Those who run-off at the mouth, are notorious for putting their foot in that same mouth.  Even when you are not talking about yourself (which most talkers do) you are still feeding your ego, by holding your listener(s)  hostage.  Parents – this includes lecturing of your children or spouse.  Less is more in this case, and in every case.  The longer your spiel – the greater chance you will sin, and sin big, during the overflow.


 20but he that refraineth his lips is wise.

There is a reason why God gave us two ears, and only one mouth!

sage

Friday Proverb – In One Ear And Out The Other?

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Any parent knows, that part of training a child is continual reminding.  This is called “instruction.”  Once the child “retains” the instruction, he will apply it to his actions and decision making. 

The act of training is not the province of parents alone – for our Heavenly Father is forever about the business of instructing us – and we – like recalcitrant children – do not always “retain” the teachings. 

soil teeming with life

Since even the very ground we walk on, instructs us and reveals to us His glory and majesty – it behooves us to take notice of the lessons being offered, and to “keep” them within our hearts that they may be applied to our daily walk.  The things that we need to learn, are not always obvious! 

Proverbs 10:17

 He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.

There is a famous song, dedicated to stopping and smelling the roses, and counting your many blessings along the way.  Nice, but superficial.  In the image of the great tree above, we can see that underground, the tree is even bigger than what is obvious.  Could the tree survive without that massive root system?  No.  Nor can we flourish with out going deep, and holding onto the Word of God with tenacity, in the same way that the roots of the tree takes up water and nutrients from the soil.  The Bible has so much to teach us, that if we put it aside for worldly pursuits and  concerns – our plans will topple like a tree with no root system – and we will be nothing more than drift wood.

sage

Friday Proverb – Where Do You Put Your Trust?

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The most miserable sin of self justification, is a sin we all contend with.  Continually attempting to explain why we do the things we do (even alone in our minds) does not “sit well” with our Sovereign Creator.  Oh – to be free of this flesh and with the Lord for ever . . .

Proverbs 11:28

 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; 

At right you see the Parable of the Rich Fool aptly portrayed. 

Luke 12:19-21

19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

The Lord in no way states that material possessions and riches are wrong.  The issue at hand, is where we put our trust.  Many Christians have fallen into the general hype of “hoarding.”  It is interesting to note, that some of the super-stars of television’s “Extreme Couponing,” are professing Christians, one even a youth pastor!  There are dozens of conservative news sites which have their own brand of food storage systems, and right leaning financial advisers beat the drum of buying gold and silver – from them – of course.

There is NOTHING wrong with stockpiling.  Nothing.  Joseph wisely stored food against the prophetically revealed famine.  But we must never, never trust in food stores or caches of precious metals to save us.  Our faith is not ever to be in anything of this world.  If we are walking closely to Jesus – all of these things will grow dimmer and dimmer as we mature in Christ.  We will not fear anything that “might” happen in the future – simply because we already know our future…

Together with the LORD in eternity. 

but the righteous shall flourish as a branch. 

Looks good!  That is how we appear (metaphorically speaking) when we allow the righteousness of Christ to rule in our hearts.    Every truly born-again believer possesses the righteousness of Christ – and is completely capable of bearing much fruit.  The child of God may require a great deal of pruning in order to bear prolifically.  This is chastening from a Father to a son.  Praise Him for it.  Take it and learn of Him.  Is your trust in your IRA, or a basement full of freeze-dried food stores?  Or is your trust in Him alone?

Jeremiah 17:7-8

7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.

8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

Keeping our hearts and minds on the Lord becomes easier the more we read the Word, fellowship with other believers, and turn from the world.  In a sense, we need to repent of the world every moment of every day – because we are living in it while being housed in very weak flesh.  To put it in perspective, we are not unlike sailors long at sea – being lured to their deaths by the call imaginary sirens among jagged rocks.  Or a thirsty soul in the desert – seeing a mirage and swallowing mouthfuls of sand instead of water.   What the world presents to us – is a trick of the devil.  It has the appearance of something we are convinced that  we need – but will in reality – only destroy us.  It is of utmost importance to spread the Gospel.  It is of very small importance to stockpile food and gold.

sage

For the Lord’s Day – What Wondrous Love is This – Vine Vigil Valentine

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What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul.

When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down beneath God’s righteous frown,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul, for my soul,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul.

To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will sing;
To God and to the Lamb, I will sing.
To God and to the Lamb Who is the great “I Am”;
While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing;
While millions join the theme, I will sing.

And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on.
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing and joyful be;
And through eternity, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
And through eternity, I’ll sing on.

“What Wondrous Love Is This” is a Christian folk hymn, sometimes described as a “white spiritual“, from the American South.[1] Its text was first published in 1811, during the Second Great Awakening, and its melody derived that of from an English popular ballad. Today it is a widely known hymn included in hymnals of many Christian denominations.[2]

The hymn’s lyrics were first published in Lynchburg, Virginia in the c. 1811 camp meeting songbook A General Selection of the Newest and Most Admired Hymns and Spiritual Songs Now in Use.[3] The lyrics may also have been printed, in a slightly different form, in the 1811 book Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Original and Selected published in Lexington, Kentucky.[4] (It was included in the third edition of this text published in 1818, but all copies of the first edition have been lost.[4]) In most early printings, the hymn’s text was attributed to an anonymous author, though the 1848 hymnal The Hesperian Harp attributes the text to a Methodist pastor from Oxford, Georgia named Alexander Means.[5]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_Wondrous_Love_Is_This

John 15:13

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

The Vine Vigil wishes all of our followers to know the greatest gift and love that can be had at any price.  The free gift of eternal salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.  No greater love hath man than this – and He did lay down His life for His friends.

Sage Brush

Friday Proverb – You Will Always Find What You Are Looking For

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I told my Bible teacher that I spend far too much time being astonished at what people do – rather than praying for them.  Our LORD tells us that we are like dogs, and repeat the same offenses over and over again – eagerly swallowing sin as a dog does his own vomit.  The underlying question is – why?  Why do sheeple persist in making the same (and quite obvious) mistakes over and over again? 

The answer to that question is contained within our hearts.  If my own heart were truly righteous, I wouldn’t spend so much time in a state of incredulity, and instead, would be delving into the Word of God and praying for those who continually fall into sin (myself included.) 

THE FACT IS – IF WE ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING ROTTEN – WE WILL FIND IT

Proverbs 11:27

 He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.

Applying logic to this Proverb, it becomes quite obvious what we should be seeking after (that is, if we desire to reflect the righteousness of Christ to the world.)  Seeking good, is the same as seeking God, because only God is good.  Jesus and only Jesus should be the mantra of the righteous believers of God.  

The Lord says that if we are seeking after mischief, we will find it.  Haman sought mischief, when he machinated the hanging of Mordecai.  Yet – it was Haman who was the receiver of all the mischief he had devised in his own heart.  In the same vein of thought, does this mean that others are contemplating my behavior and sinfulness?  Very likely.  This is a deep thing of God for us to take in.  While we are to earnestly contend for the faith and rebuke sin, we must be ever vigilant to avoid hypocrisy.  If, I, myself, have a besetting sin which I continually fall back into, how can I righteously judge a fellow believer who does the same?  Herein is the patience of the saints.  We must strive daily to die to ourselves, and let the righteousness of Christ shine forth to a dark and dying world.  It is a struggle we must all partake in, until the LORD calls us home.  

sage