If Your Heart is Wise

 

Proverbs 23:15-18 NKJV  My son, if your heart is wise, My heart will rejoice----indeed, I myself; 16 yes, my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak right things. 17 Do not let your heart envy sinners, but be zealous for the fear of the LORD all the day; 18 For surely there is a hereafter, and your hope will not be cut off.

 In this what they call the modern society, the world has large quantities of commercials to show you want you really want and need. They show you these exotic places of white glistening sand, and beautiful aqua colored oceans with waiters bringing some kind of drink in glasses with flowers decorating its opening. I saw one the other evening I told my husband when these folks make a reservation to exotic island, they should make sure that the camera crew, the sound media team and party instigators are there as well.

Because the couples’ wardrobe looks good on those doing the commercial, but may not fit the one going to exotic island. And the “one” going on this trip may not need an alcoholic beverage because they have had issues in their past with all kinds of liquor.  And will everyone still be dancing, kicking sand up with naked toes, and laughing without any control when the visit is finished and the plane ride is the next thing home!  Masks anyone?

I told my husband I wanted to go to this one car dealership who advertises constantly on T.V. and ask them if we could take out one of their vehicles for a test drive and ask them if I could drive it like their commercials show. I mean we can certainly see those who hi-jacked someone’s car do all kinds of jumps over barbed-wire fencing, flying over the top of an interstate exit and slam into a tree to prove it can stand the strain. But the looks of it on the outside  describes it only as that of destruction and of no use to anyone. And for those commercials, and I could list many here, but I am not sure what these people are trying to sell: only destructive type driving skills, destroy the new vehicle in short time by driving over gravel roads, snow and ice and traveling at 100 miles per hour or so to  prove what? For those who have hijacked someone else’s vehicle, some have taken this to the max for they certainly took it from those commercials! Well if they are demonstrating that, is that right for us to do?

My son, if your heart is wise, My heart will rejoice---indeed, I myself.  When our daughter was growing up, we were all about her education, then her development to live in a home and do work as others living within that home. There was things to been done in living under one roof. We expected her development to grow in the workplace and did not stop her from getting work as her grades always maintained that 4.0. She knew if she owned a car, she was going to pay for all its maintenance. There would be no forgetting insurance or any other thing connected to its maintenance.

Then Proverbs 23:16 yes, my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak right things. 17 Do not let your heart envy sinners, but be zealous for the fear of the LORD all the day; 18 For surely there is a hereafter, and your hope will not be cut off.

And this is a must for children to not curse their parents or any family member. Children as they grow are to respect their parents and I am certain some parents did not live unto their parenting roles as expected, but you have the parents you have been given by the Lord. Whether they be right or wrong, still it is God who will judge.  He has His eyes on those who He is looking to be His own children. And we are to obey His instruction when becoming that born again unto His kingdom which has come to us spiritually.

We are to speak right things. We are to speak right about our lives, about our parents and about the faith we have in our Lord Jesus.

Our faith is to demonstrate where our trust resides! A deliberate trust will reveal who we serve. And certainly God the Lord does not want the members of His church to follow the example of unbelief! Hebrews 4:2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who hear it. We are to not just hear Gods gospel of truth but we are to believe it. We are to share it, participate in it and yes be a companion to it! Partaking of Christ is a daily activity. We are to understand and live in cooperation to God’s kingdom, and it comes by the revelation of the Holy Spirit to us. It is the Holy Spirit revealing Jesus to us, to help us focus on adoring Him in His perfect reflection of God’s glory and by His blood, our minds are cleansed to serve him without hesitation.

It was the prophet Isaiah who penned words here in Isaiah 43:1-3, 5 Fear not, for I have redeemed you;  I have called you by your name; You are Mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. 3 For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; “Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, and gather you from the west;

Throughout His Word it is God Who has promised us His protection. And He is especially watchful to protect those who will carry out His great command! Those who will be His witnesses, whether in Seattle, Washington, or Lyle, Washington, whether it be in Tokyo, Japan or the Isle of Man. God can deliver you from those who might want to harm you in evil ways. He gave us parents that we might learn of Him and know Him. And for some today, many never had a parent to teach them of Jesus or the right way to live. Oh, they might teach them of being slaves to something, but not experiencing life that is free in Jesus Christ. And the Lord Jesus can deliver us from situations that are life-threatening, and deliver us into that peaceful place but He does not guarantee to cover our foolishness when we ourselves persist into putting our lives in those potentially dangerous situations. He is God and He abhors being tempted as if He needs to prove Himself and His power to us. ( example seen in Psalm 78)

As parents we have that desire that our children grow up safe and act as mature individuals showing responsibility to their own lives and for showing a compassion for their neighbors. And that “faith” thing appears in whether we truly trust in the Lord or just throwing some words around and see if they stick to anything.

 In Mark 16:17-18   NKJV   17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

 NOW this account is only given in the book of Mark!  We also know that there are presented here that point to the commission of the apostles: as in Matthew 28: 16-20 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20”teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen. ( and is also found Luke 24:36-49)

But it is here in the book of Mark that we are given this:  “signs will follow those who believe.” Now there are Christians who will deliberately handle snakes ( and yes this is tempting God), but in truth the very meaning has to do with trust that Christians are protected if they are bitten. We are reminded of Paul on that ship headed toward Rome. NO cruise ship and no islands of pleasure with music, men delivering mixed drinks to the cabana, nor people dancing toasting the day away, no this was on the island of Malta.

And the ship Paul was on, well, it fell apart into splinters, for the seas were rough and those who should have been paying attention to Paul’s warnings, decided they knew more about ships, and the seas, so these navigators, ship owners, and even a centurion made up their own minds about it! But warnings came by the Holy Spirit to stay put and you will know that even today, money speaks louder than words. Stay put and people go headlong into disasters!

Acts 28:1-6 Now when they had escaped, they then found out that the island was called Malta. 2 And the natives showed us un usual kindness; for they kindles a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold. 3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. 4 So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a  murderer whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.  5 But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 However, they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him,  they changed their minds and said that he was a god.

 

It was Luke the physician who wrote in Luke 10:17-20 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” 18 And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19”Behold, I give you that authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

He also recorded in Acts 5:12... . through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people."

BUT Mark says: Mark 16:17…. . these signs will follow those who believe."  He did not list who they were just that to all believers, to all Christians, regardless of when they live, they will have sings to follow them.

Well, for Paul he had prayed and the Holy Spirit revealed to him of the trip to Rome and what would transpire if they did not wait! In Paul what was revealed was a man led by the Holy Spirit in His power, love and sound mind. And is that operating within us? For any parent, we desire great things for our children and our grandchildren, but it will come by trusting in the Lord and praying for them. We desire our children and grandchildren to be the wise, to revere God, respect their parents who gave them a home to live in and the resources to grow and become what God intended. And prayer is the thing required to see it come to pass. Prayer is the major purpose for us to draw near to God for us to be comparing spiritual things with spiritual…that is …….spiritually discerning. And we do that  with the Holy Spirit for we will harmonize with God when we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us through prayer. With God’s Spirit we are eternally equipped to live eternally in peace and oneness with God, to hear what He has spoken & what He has done so that we do the same.  Praying stimulates our faith, helps us to trust more fully & to lean on & in His truth.  

Faith is paramount! Hopefully you will not be on a cruise distend to stormy seas, where the cruise director has never you locked down because of some corona-virus thing or the such? Psalm 37:37 Mark the blameless man and observe the upright; for the future of that man is peace.

Surely we will not be those who blame another for our failure if we have not prayed for our spouse, our children or neighbor? Surely we will not be those who whine and complain when our desire is not met for this nation or its leaders, if we have not touched God with prayer?  May we bring into remembrance His words spoken …so surely deliberate that we will not lead those astray in thinking we are all that, but that we are among His people, we are led by His power for His glory and in Him we will continue to see light, will see the wise among His own and declare His glory for He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Wait patiently in Him for in Him there is nothing to fear and nothing to be envious about! Amen.

 

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Is the World Dressing our Children?

Saw this most thoughtfully given encouragement on Tuesday the 13th of October. I usually am writing in the afternoon after my workout time. I had tuned to hear some praise and worship and missed the channel entirely. I had somehow picked the channel up one from the channel I frequent for worship. I tuned it on....raised the volume to hear.......and then went to the kitchen and ....got my ice water!  I was captured what this woman was speaking about the world dressing our children.
Of course, she was speaking of this coming Halloween Eve. She spoke of the importance of showing our children and grand-children that they are more than what movies can depict for them to be or become. This woman, probably a grand-mother today spoke on that which has been directed at our children and grand-children. Although she did not mention the title, you knew of what she spoke about.  She, a Jewish woman with the Hebraic heritage spoke how children, particularly girls need to know about the real Queen in the Bible. She immediately spoke of Queen Esther and how her normal life was forever changed when God showed up. The name of this Christian show was Rabbi Lapin on CTN.

I had tuned in today, but they were talking about those who cut themselves. It was very informative as well. But I was drawn back to yesterday's teaching on how we allow others to dress our "kids".
I also thought of Esther who was that young woman of courage. Although she was a stranger in that area, and had no living parents, she ultimately became Queen to an alcoholic, pagan king and saved a nation. Esther had Mordecai who raised her up after her parents death. She was one who faced a real enemy, never hurrying into anything, but taking time for fasting and prayer. She became the woman who acted on God's plan, even if it meant that she was going to perish. She certainly had the wisdom of God.

No, she did not turn anyone into an ice sculpture. She herself, encouraged those who were with her in facing an enemy who was not going to stop till he had seen the Jewish people annihilated. Serious things were going on in the land at the time of her life.

Where do we draw the line? Or should one be drawn.......to help our "kids" know they are more than that 45 dollar costume. How can we show them how we value them.........and teach them truth?

Now we certainly know  wardrobe styles change ..........for you certainly can tell that by looking in my closet and notice that right away. But I certainly do not dress as the world dictates.
I mean, if you look to Hollywood, most will not have much as covering anything that should be covered.
Now these are just my thoughts, but I am drawn back to some scriptures:

Proverbs 22:6
6 Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it.    NKJV

That "train up" means "chanak" narrow....discipline.......to dedicate. ( I think of the short amount of time one has in raising a child..........then they leave home.)

That "in the way" means a road......."a course of life".

Ephesians 6:4

4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.          NKJV

Of course this means to bring no wrath that you and your child participate in together, but bring that child up in training and admonition of the Lord. Teaching them that He is God in our lives, in our homes, circumstances, and those things we do throughout the year! It also means that the child will have reverence for God!
Admonish: to warn, to warn of wrong practices, to warn against danger

Music and certainly movies can play a role in what a child will think or do. If they are not brought up in the things of the Lord, they may look on the world as a harmless place to experience life. YIKES!

In the last thirty years, we can see darkness has taken the lead especially in October to lead people of all ages to dress up and present to others...... something they are not.
It is like at the recent "zombie" thing in Florida, and shot rang out...........one dead and several injured.
We can see some participate in things which bring no life. I am not sure why some think it is important to participate in such things. I know it bothered me when our daughter was young. And I was surely happy when it snowed on those days, because when it snowed, it was usually a blizzard. And you did not go out..........at all for anything!

What are we teaching our children when allowing them these things?

Well, Shelley, Jesus would not care about such. Did you ask Him about such things? What does the Bible teach us about dressing in things that are not bringing life to us? Well, Shelley, one can certainly dream. Yes, but what will our "kids" dream?

Jesus did not come to accommodate a culture, but He came to set up His kingdom. 

What if people got dressed up in those Dr. uniforms and went and fed the homeless?

What if teenagers got together...........made some sandwiches and went and fed the homeless?

What if we taught our "kids" to reach out to those "kids" who may not have that worldly costume to buy? What if we got together, made some stew, cornbread and fed like a neighborhood of people that night............instead?

Just thoughts here, remember.  I am just thinking what we could do differently to show people the "love" of Jesus.............in feeding them, bringing them a warm blanket or maybe some warm gloves. And talk about eternity with HIM!

What if we took that night and let others know about Jesus instead of worshiping the other?

What if we took our children or grand-children to visit the elderly in an old folk's home on that day? Well, Shelley that would scare my kids?    (and  queens with magic in their hands, ghosts, goblins, and witches don't) (the devil does not need a big "door" to enter your life and that of your children----all he needs is to get a foot hold into your home and family through one open area not guarded by God's word. He has had thousands of years to study mankind.)

Psalm 103:15-18

15 As for man, his days are like grass;

As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. 

16 For the wind passes over it, and it is gone,

And its place remembers it no more. 

17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting 

On those who fear Him,

And His righteousness to children's children, 

18 To such as keep His covenant,

And to those who remember His commandments to do them.   NKJV

What we allow our kids and grand-kids to do comes back to us. What seeds we sow, will produce a harvest!   When we are those who truly fear Him, then our children and their children are secure. Those who keep His commandments and do them. What did Jesus say?

John 13:34-35

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."    NKJV

      From the blog:  LEADING OUR CHILDREN BY GIVING THEM TRUTH  .......So when the

world sees us, do they see us as in the image of God our Father or of the world?

Hebrews 12:1-2....1  therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.   NKJV

That weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, can tangle one up in such a mess and delay God's plan for our lives.

"Well, everybody is doing it!" "Well. the pastor or the youth leader said the R-rated movie was okay to go see!"  "They think it has something to do with the Bible."  "Well, everyone else is going." 

No, they are not!

What if God is calling you to go on a missions trip around the world? You will take what you gathered in your heart from the R-rated movie and take it overseas to minister with  you too! And what about the anointing, is it possible to not operate in that which God called you to do when we spend time in and with those R-rated movies? (Just think about Samson and the anointing he had)

"Well God wants us to have fun!"  Yes, but will the fun be at the expense of our souls and those we try to minister life to? We are not to copy the behavior and customs of the world. WE ARE NOT TO FOLLOW THE TRADITIONS OF MAN. WE ARE NOT TO BE RULED BY A CULTURE.  JESUS DID NOT COME TO ACCOMMODATE OUR CULTURE, HE CAME TO SET UP HIS KINGDOM. Our transformation is to be in the new person, the 'new man' God intended.

(Check out my blog: Trading Glory for Sorrows........and find out more about Samson and how he lost his anointing) 


Are we showing our children that it is okay to dress up as the superhero? I know I have seen a few here in the neighborhood. But do the children know that "it is not real" that it is just a form of someone else's imagination? Well, Shelley, it is okay to dress-up! Is dressing up for our tomorrow's, the equipped in God with His Word and declaring truth or are we dressing up as one: a man in women's clothing, or a woman in man's clothing, or................???

Yes, seems like a fine line indeed! What will we do with it?

In closing: I leave you with this thought from scripture!
Matthew 27:15-26
15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. 16 And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" 18 For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy. 19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him." 20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor answered and said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" They said, "Barabbas!" 22 Pilate said to them, "What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said to him, "Let Him be crucified!" 23 Then the governor said, "Why, what evil has He done?" But they cried out all the more, saying, "Let Him be crucified!" 24 When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it." 25 And all the people answered and said, "His blood be on us and on our children." 26 Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.    NKJV

Having nothing to do with innocent blood, the people chose the murderer Barabbas. In reading about Barabbas, we find that he was guilty of that which both the Romans and the Jews considered a serious liability, but because of the Jews hatred toward Jesus, they chose the perverse to let the Prince of peace die! Each day we choose either life or death. I heard recently that anyone who takes an offense against the Lord and His divinity are the carnal minded. They are those who have the carnal hatred against anything the Lord is speaking or doing. We saw it in the above passage. Those priests, scribes and Pharisees hated Jesus and they wanted Him gone, so they could continue their living what they thought was holy to God. They were so wrong!
In mid 2004, I was going up my staircase at home.........at been praying and seeking a title for a message for Jail Ministry........ALL I HEARD WAS "GIVE ME BARABBAS!" And the Lord led me through how the world always chooses that which is something they can live with. If they are the carnal, they will choose that which is also carnal.
Are rallying with the world? Are we the "conduit" for which the world can flow through us to our children, or are we the "conduit" for which God flows from our heart to those around us?
What these people chose, came on them and on their children as well.

Father, thank You for Jesus, the Son of Your love. You gave us life through Your Son who took on the Cross with joy in His heart. In all  that was going on, He saw us and saw this day. Show us what to do in these situations. Is it right to dress our children and their children in that which appears as a lie and something of someone else's imagination? You certainly desire us to dream dreams, and see them come to pass. But we also know they are those You planted in us from the foundation of the world. Help us to see where we might be missing something that is totally wrong for our "kids" to participate in this month. Help us to speak wisdom and receive light in anything that is dark with the Halloween Eve event. Truly our children are an heritage from the Lord and we know that YOU have a plan for their lives. They are our future. Help us to keep them safe when we should be guarding their eyes, their ears, and their hearts from anything that might be presented as the good but is really evil to our children.
Father, I think of the book of Amos and what he presented to the people. As the prophet, he was NOT there to infuse them with faith, with confidence or even in zeal... But ........ he was there to fill them with doubt about their lives. He had to show them by YOUR hand and Spirit that what they were doing was wrong and they needed to recognize it. Amos sowed seeds that brought doubt to them that  their future was not as bright as they had thought it was. And it certainly was not a secure future if they continued to walk the pathway they were going.

Are we too, becoming so lax, they we are those, who are not following You correctly? Are we in Your eyes, the "wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked".........as we see in the Laodicean church in Revelation?

Father, we surely want our "kids" to have a wonderful childhood but not at the expense of their souls. As the believer's, and those who seek Your plan, is our future looking bleak ........is it one where there is no hope ........but ONLYa testing?

For Amos surely announced that God was NOT WALKING WITH THEM!
Father, we surrender our lives and those of our children and their children to You. Have Your way in them, and may they have life everlasting.  Today we take heed to ourselves and to all the flock among which the Holy Spirit has made us overseers to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. (Acts 20:28) May we bring praise and glory to Your name forever. Amen.

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