I finished Psalms am in Proverbs now in my devotions. Proverbs is a fantastic book. Every time I'm in it I love it. Such GREAT practical wisdom and knowledge. In fact the "purpose statement" that Solomon gives for the book is found in chapter 1 v. 3 when he says "Their purpose (of these proverbs) is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair." I am an underliner, marker, and writer when I read the Bible or really ANY book. I seem to retain things better if I mark them. Proverbs is one of those books where if I didn't limit what mark, I'd underline nearly every verse and have notes all over my pages. Here are some insights from this wonderful book that I've noted this time through.
Lots of stuff on money in Proverbs. Fitting for the sermon series we are about to go through. The next two talk on that.
Proverbs 1:9 --- "Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money; it robs them of life." Funny how we think if we get money we get life.
Proverbs 3:9 --- "Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce."
Proverbs 4:23 --- "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life."
Proverbs 8:13 --- "All who fear the Lord will hate evil." WOW! Their are a lot of people that claim to fear the Lord then, that according to this, don't.
Proverbs 10:16 --- "The earnings of the godly enhance their lives." Why? I think because they are willing to hold it with open hands.
Proverbs 11:4 --- "Riches won't help you on the day of judgment, but right living can save you from death." Which is better, money or righteousness?
This next one I love. It spawned a comment from Grant in a sermon during our Unplugged sessions where he said "Where there is people...there's poop!"
Proverbs 14:4 --- "Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest." Apply that to church life. Without people, the church stays clean, but you need strong people to reap a harvest of more people. The more a church grows the messier it gets, but isn't that the point?
Proverbs 15:11 --- "Even Death and Destruction hold not secrets from God, how much more does He know the human heart."
Listen to this next one. Read it today.
Proverbs 19:17 --- "If you help the poor you are lending to the Lord --- and He will repay you!" WHAT? Then why don't we help the poor more. Psalms says that God owns the cattle on a thousand hills. And if we help the poor we're actually lending to God and HE will repay us. That is an AWESOME verse! Goes right along with Matthew 25 when Jesus says "Whatever you have done for the least of these (poor, needy) you have done for me." WOW!
Proverbs 20:24 --- "The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?" MAN, is that a church planting verse. We so often try to understand all God does (WHICH WE CAN'T, that's why He's God and we're not) instead of just chasing after Him and following Him wherever He goes.
There are a few samples. TONS more I wrote in my journal or marked in my Bible. Good stuff.
Following Christ,
Jeff
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Hey there.
I was a first time guest at Element church today, however, seeing as how I didn't have a pen, and I didn't want to ask for a pen from a friend because I'm a little lazy, I didn't fill out the guest form. haha.
So, I'm Jeremiah- a friend of Morgan's(clark), and Jon Ware.
I really enjoyed the service today, and make it a plan to attend next week and beyond that.
I'll tell you what was really awesome though man, is that your sermon today tied in with what my Pastor back in Sterling(CO) had discussed on the Christmas Eve service. He talked about a friend who recently passed who said he was free of fear of death, and that he was ready to be with Jesus(he knew he was nearing his death)... but he was living with no fear of death which means we can live now, and by living now like you said(through Christ) we can do what we were called to do and that's share the word instead of not reaching out of our comfort zone.
I thought that was cool to see at the same time two different places/churches/pastors that it was evident what God was doing.
That the Holy Spirit was moving.
There's nothing but upside with what's going on at Element.
Thanks to all who made it a pleasent experience!
-Jeremiah
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