God – Keeping Sexual Purity “Real” – PROVERBS 5 – [6]

February 20, 2015February 20, 2015buildafoundation Leave a comment

God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin.  Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor…  –  1 Thessalonians 4:3-4
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15 Drink water from your own well—

    share your love ONLY with your wife.

16 Why spill the water of your springs in the streets,

    having sex with just anyone?

17 You should reserve it for yourselves.

    Never share it with strangers.

¹⁸Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you.
    Rejoice in the wife of your youth.
¹⁹She is a loving deer, a graceful doe.
    Let her breasts satisfy you always.
    May you always be captivated by her love.
²⁰Why be captivated, my son, by an immoral woman,
    or fondle the breasts of a promiscuous woman?

Solomon doesn’t hold anything back in these next few verses of Proverbs 5. Can you believe this is God giving us these intimate/detailed guidelines?

That’s our Creator.

He tells it like it is. He keeps it real. He knows our hearts, He knows all people, No one needs to tell him what mankind is really like. – John 2:24-25, He knows our weaknesses. He warns us because He loves us and wants to protect us.

Although He doesn’t force us to choose His way, He gave people freewill. He doesn’t want us to feel hopeless and confused.

The promise God gave the Israelites, 3,000+ years ago, is true for us today, as well. Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, (pleading, begging, my add) that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! – Deuteronomy 30:19

What a powerful and hopeful verse!!

God wants us to be aware that our actions have consequences, both positive and negative.

Would I be a good parent if I didn’t tell my children that “doing” drugs is harmful to themselves and others?
Would I be a good parent if I told my children that having sex outside of marriage is nothing more than a “good” time, with no physical or emotional repercussions?
Would I be a “good” parent if I simply let the culture drive my children’s decisions, so they could experience “real life”?

If we, sinful people, know how to give good gifts (protection and warnings, my add) to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him (who follow Him, my add). – Matthew 7:11

We might not want to believe this, but we’ve all experienced the fact that we can’t change other people. Even if the advice, support, and guidance we’re giving them is right on target, some people would rather touch the fire to be sure it’s hot, rather than listening and heeding the advice of those who have already been burned.

As Solomon writes in the Book of Ecclesiastes, History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. There’s nothing new under the sun. – Ecclesiastes. 1:9

I urge and remind myself, and others –

DON’T just listen to God’s word. DO what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. – James 1:22

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Are You Attempting to “Do Life” on Your Own???? – PROVERBS 4 [1 OF 1]

February 1, 2015February 1, 2015buildafoundation Leave a comment

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. – Matthew 11:28

___________________________________________

Click on this link http://biblehub.com/nlt/proverbs/4.htm to read Proverbs 4.

Many of the verses may seem similar to what we’ve learned in Proverbs 1-3, (See Categories in sidebar to read previous posts).

I’ve highlighted a few key verses from this chapter below.

6 (IF YOU) DON’T turn your back on wisdom,

(THEN) for she will protect you

(IF YOU) Love her, and (THEN) she will guard you.

7 Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do!
And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.

8 IF you prize wisdom, (THEN) she will make you great.
(IF YOU) Embrace her, and (THEN) she will honor you.

14 DON’T do as the wicked do, and DON’T follow the path of evildoers.
15 DON’T even think about it;
DON’T go that way. Turn away and keep moving.

18 The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,
which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.
19 BUT the way of the wicked is like total darkness.
They have no idea what they are stumbling over. (They don’t even realize that they are on a destructive path because the path is not lit with knowledge and guidance from God’s Word)

VS.

23 Guard your heart above all else,
for it determines the course of your life.

26 Mark out (set goals, have a plan) a straight path for your feet;
stay on the safe path.
27 DON’T get sidetracked; (following the latest fads or people’s “great” ideas)
keep your feet from following evil.

There is no good reason for us to attempt to “do life” on our own. God loves us and wants us to have a rich and satisfying life – John 10:10

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. – Hebrews 4:1

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Which Way to Turn? Which Way to Turn??? – PROVERBS 3:21-32 [6]

January 26, 2015January 27, 2015buildafoundation Leave a comment

With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bear with one another in love.
Ephesians 4:2

21 My child, DON’T lose sight of common sense (applying experience, knowledge) and       discernment ( good judgement based on experience and knowledge = wisdom)
Hang on to them,
22    For they will…
        1. Refresh your soul.
            They are like jewels on a necklace.
23    2. They keep you safe on your way,
        3. Your feet will not stumble.
24    4. You can go to bed without fear;
        5. you will lie down and sleep soundly.

25 You DON’T need be afraid of sudden disaster
      or the destruction that comes upon the wicked, for the
26   1. Lord is your security.
       2. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.

27 DON’T withhold good from those who deserve it
when it’s in your power to help them.

28 If you can help your neighbor now, DON’T say,
“Come back tomorrow, and then I’ll help you.”

29 DON’T plot harm against your neighbor,
for those who live nearby trust you.

30 DON’T pick a fight without reason,
when no one has done you harm.

31 DON’T envy the oppressor (someone who dominates or inflicts stress on someone)
or copy their ways.
32 Such wicked people are detestable to the Lord, but
1. He offers His friendship to the godly.

In the above verses you will see a series of DON’T(s), and the results of heeding those warnings. (See words in bold print for DON’T(s), and underlined numbers for the results).

Remember these principles when faced with making a decision that falls into the “gray” area. Recalling AND Applying God’s Word will clear the “debris”, and enable you to see the “wise” choice. (As you may notice, the “wise” choice is in the murky water. Look closely. It’s often hard to see until it’s been filtered out with God’s Truth, leaving the “wise” choice clearly visible.)

Now that we know all the positive results that come from following God’s guidance, hopefully the next time we find ourselves at a crossroads, we’ll have a good idea which path to choose.

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My Life is Sooooo Busy…..

January 23, 2015March 18, 2015buildafoundation Leave a comment

Don’t worry, or be anxious, about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. – Philippians 4:6

Today, I would like to share a poem, written on a beautiful wooden plague, that I bought years ago at a church auction. It sits on the dresser, next to my bed, as a reminder of what happens when I/we try to “do life” on my/our own, apart from God.

Our lives can get so busy, that before we know it, we’re caught up in the rat race. So much of our day is taken up with “stuff”. Some necessary, and some, not so much. We forget that God loves us, and has a plan for our day. He wants to give us a rich and satisfying life – John 10:10. Have you ever felt like you were carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders? Or wondered if it were possible to lighten the burden you were experiencing?

Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30

I hope this poem is a blessing to you – 🙂

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Wisdom – Pointing the Way —> PROVERBS 3:13-20 [5]

January 21, 2015January 27, 2015buildafoundation Leave a comment

It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. – Psalm 118:8

13   Joyful is the person who finds wisdom,
    the one who gains understanding.
14 For wisdom is more profitable than silver,
    and her wages are better than gold.
15 Wisdom is more precious than rubies;
    nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 She offers you long life in her right hand,
    and riches and honor in her left.
17 She will guide you down delightful paths;
    all her ways are satisfying.
18 Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her;
    happy are those who hold her tightly.

19 By wisdom the Lord founded the earth;
by understanding he created the heavens.
20 By his knowledge the deep fountains of the earth burst forth,
and the dew settles beneath the night sky.

In verses 13-18 we see the value of wisdom emphasized and reemphasized. (See words in bold print). The benefits of wisdom are all fantastic!!! Seeking and following wisdom enables us to navigate life.

It is like having a personal tour guide, pointing the way.

Wisdom is so powerful, verses 19-20 says, it was By wisdom and understanding the Lord founded the earth, and created the heavens.

We could compare wisdom to binary code. To those who don’t know what it is or how to apply it, it simply looks like a bunch of ones and zeros. But for those who “get it”, and “apply it”, the possibilities are endless.

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“Coffee Anyone?”, asks God

January 13, 2015March 18, 2015buildafoundation Leave a comment

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous… Psalm 139:13-14

As I read my Bible this morning, I came across a verse in the Book of Luke that caused me to pause. When this happens, it reminds me of a record player when the needle gets stuck in a groove and keep repeating the same words or melody over and over and over.

It’s at this point that I have a choice to make. Ignore the prompting to reread, and move on, or stop to reread and ponder.

When it comes to Bible reading “they” say, “you have to cover “X” amount of chapters, verses, etc., and stick to your Bible reading plan. If you don’t, you’ll never finish reading the Gospels, or the Psalms, or the Old Testament, etc. And you’ll certainly never finish reading the entire Bible.” It’s at this point that I ask myself, who’s “they” anyway??

I approach reading the Bible a bit differently. To me reading the Bible is similar to talking with someone on the phone, texting, or meeting for coffee. It’s all about the relationship. It’s not a one-way conversation, it’s the sharing back and forth of feelings, facts, experiences, hopes, etc., between two people. How silly it would be if I met someone for coffee and whipped out my “thoughts” list, and started rattling it off? And then, when I was finished reading my list, I’d get up and walk out the door?

When you see the above scenario in writing, it seems ludicrous. Who would ever ask to meet a friend for coffee and read off a list? Not to mention walking out without saying goodbye, or thanks for listening. Yet, how often have we, myself included, interacted this way with God?

I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve sat with a friend, started on one topic, and ended up touching of several others before the first cup of coffee was finished. Or when a comment said in passing, turned out to be discussed in-depth. When I meet up with friends I don’t have a checklist. I’m getting together with them to catch up, and share what’s been going on in our lives. If we just talk about what happened today, and never get to last week or next week, who cares. This is what we needed, or wanted, to talk about now.

For me, this is the kind of relationship I have with God. So when I’m reading the Bible and get the feeling I should pause and reread. I pause and reread because I know that God has something to share with me. I ask Him, “what are you trying to show me? What do you want me to learn, to take with me today, to share with others, to change?” I also thank God for encouraging me in a particular area, where I am on the “wise path”, and thanking Him for all the blessings and provisions He gives me day in and day out. I read with anticipation, eagerness, and appreciation that the Creator of everything wants to talk with me. That He cares about me, and He loves our time together.

2 Timothy 3:16 says, All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. Sometimes God gives us a warning, sometimes encouragement, and other times redirection to get us back on track.

As Hebrews 4:12 says, The word of God is living and active… God wants to talk to us. He wants to help us with our daily struggles. He wants to bring us back to the safety of the “wise path”.

I once heard a pastor at Cornerstone Church in Ames, Iowa say, “it’s not how often or how much of the Bible you read, but that you live out what you’ve read. Don’t just read the Bible to finish it, read the Bible to change.”

Matthew 5:13-16

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Take a Step, Make a Choice, THEN… – PROVERBS 3:7-10 [3]

January 9, 2015January 27, 2015buildafoundation Leave a comment

The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. – 2 Chronicles 16:9

7   DON’T be impressed with your own wisdom.
     Instead, (IF you) fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
8   (THEN) you will gain renewed health and vitality.
9   (IF you) Honor the Lord with your wealth
     and with the best part of everything you produce.
10 THEN He will fill your barns with grain,
       and your vats will overflow with good wine.

Solomon continues IF/THEN comparisons in verses 7-10.

Solomon begins verse 7 with a warning. Don’t be impressed with our own wisdom. I like how the New International Version (NIV) puts it – Don’t be wise in your own eyes. Or the New Living Translation (NLT) – Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom.

Instead, as we read on in verse 7, we’re encouraged to take an action step and make a choice to turn away from evil.

The result of making a conscious decision to follow God’s ways, (THEN) verse 8, is renewal. Renewal is defined as replacing or repairing something that is worn-out, run-down, or broken. The principle is that when we choose to turn away from evil, our lives will be renewed. Our health and vitality (energy) are restored and replenished – we get a new lease on life.

God has not left us alone to navigate life. God, in His grace, has made available wise counselors, friends, internet, churches, etc. to us. He’s also made available to us an instruction manual, a “treasure” map – the Bible.

God loves people so much, not only did He give his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. – John 3:16, but through His daily provisions, which often go unnoticed or taken for granted. He wants to remove the guess-work and the groping around in the dark from our daily living and interactions. Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand! – Mark 4:9 (We hear with our ears, but there is a deeper kind of listening with the mind and heart that is necessary in order to gain spiritual understanding. – Life Application Bible)

Verses 9 and 10 give us a way to take action and honor God. It is our way of saying thanks, and acknowledging that all we have has been given to us from God. Our finances, our talents, our intelligence, everything that makes us who we are. What’s the use of saying you have faith if you don’t prove it by your actions? So you see, it isn’t enough just to have faith. Faith that doesn’t show itself by good deeds is not faith at all — it is dead and useless. – James 2:14,17

When we share with others, when we offer a kind/comforting word, when we hear of a need and meet it, etc., all these actions honor God. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me. – Matthew 25:35-36
And then, it is as though God says “thank you” right back to us for honoring Him. THEN He will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine. – v.10

Thanksgiving and blessings, thanksgiving and blessings, on and on, and on.

⁶Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. ⁷You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” ⁸And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. – 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

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Can Anyone Have Wisdom?? – PROVERBS 2:1-7 [1]

December 23, 2014January 27, 2015buildafoundation Leave a comment

The Lord shows no partiality to princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of his hands? – Job 34:19

1 My child, listen to what I say,
    and treasure my commands.
2 Tune your ears to wisdom,
    and concentrate on understanding.
3 Cry out for insight,
    and ask for understanding.
4 Search for them as you would for silver;
    seek them like hidden treasures.
5 THEN you will understand what it means to fear the Lord,
    and you will gain knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord grants wisdom!
    From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest.

Solomon again reminds us of the importance of wisdom in these first verses of Proverbs 2. They remind me of a parent talking to their child saying, “look at me, I have something extremely important to tell you. Are you listening? Do you hear me? These things I’m going to tell you are “life savers”/”joy givers”. Remember/apply what I am telling you!!!

Notice that these verses encourage people to be proactive.
Look at the words in bold print above. They are all action words.

It is through an individual’s desire to have wisdom, that they will find it.
Verse 5 tells us, as does Matthew 7:7 – that if you ask it will be given to you; if you seek you will find; if you knock the door will be opened to you. God wants everyone to have wisdom. He wants everyone to gain understanding of His Ways. He is the giver of wisdom.

But wait, there’s more…

Outward Show or From the Heart?? – ZEPHANIAH – 3i [17 OUT OF 17]

December 19, 2014December 19, 2014buildafoundation Leave a comment

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. – 2 Timothy 4:7

Then God, through the prophet Zephaniah, ends the Book of Zephaniah with strength and authority —

20)) On that day I will gather you together
    and bring you home again.
I will give you a good name, a name of distinction,
    among all the nations of the earth,
as I restore your fortunes before their very eyes.
    I, the Lord, have spoken!

This short, three chapter, Book of Zephaniah started out as a message of terror in chapter 1, but concludes in chapter 3 with a message of hope.

We read in this book that one man, King Josiah, attempted to reform the people of Judah/Jerusalem encouraging them, more like ordering them, to follow God. Although the people appeared to follow God, this was just facade (a way of behaving or appearing that gives other people a false idea of your true feelings or situation), because in their hearts they were far from God.

Hopefully reading Zephaniah has got you thinking about your own relationship with God. Is your relationship just an outward show? Do you go to church on Sunday, and don’t think about God again until the next Sunday? Or, when you leave church you get road rage when cars seemingly take forever to get out of the church’s parking lot? Or do you praise God in church, but with that same voice use God’s name in vain, or speak negatively about another?

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. – James 3:9

Because we are fallen people, everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard – Romans 3:23, we all need reminders, found in the Bible, of how to live life God’s Way. It is so easy to get caught up in the world’s expectations of us. Have this kind of house, this kind of job, send your kids to this kind of school, and on and on and on. But what God tells us is that what we need most is a Savior (Jesus). One who can free us from the bondage of our sins – anger, envy, greed, etc.

If you are currently living your life apart from God, or appearing outwardly to be a God-follower, but your heart is far from Him, honoring God with your lips, but your heart is far from Him – Matthew 15:8 you can choose today, right now, to exercise your free will and begin to experience restoration and healing in your life.

The message is close at hand, And that message is the very message about faith that we preach:

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” – Romans 10:8-13

Warning!!! – The Stove is HOT!!!! – PROVERBS – Chapter 1g – 1:29-33 [10 of out 10]

May 6, 2014January 2, 2015buildafoundation Leave a comment

LORD Almighty, blessed are those who trust in you. – Psalm 84:12

29)) Because they hated knowledge
    and did not choose to fear the Lord,
30)) and they would have none of my counsel
    and despised all my reproof,
31))  THEREFORE, they shall eat the fruit of their way,
    and have their fill of their own devices.
32)) For the simple are killed by their turning away,
    and the complacency of fools destroys them;
33)) BUT whoever listens to me will dwell secure
    and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”

We learned from verse 25, http://wp.me/p5nZpi-5E, that – People turn away from all my advice. They wouldn’t accept my warning. And here again in verse 30 we read, they despised all my counsel.
All people are in search of a road that leads to “happiness”. Yet, in verses 29-33, we read that people often end up making choices that take them on a curvy path. Their path ends up being curvy because the choose their own way vs. the Creator’s counsel and guidance – v.30.

The result of following our own way: They’ll GET their own way, for better or worse. Sadly, as verse 32 says, the simple are killed by turning away, by doing their own thing. Instead of heeding the warnings, like the stove is hot – don’t touch it, they proceed to touch, and… Again, it’s not that the person in this illustration was not warned, he was, yet he chose his own way. In this case, and often in our everyday choices, the result was/can be painful.