10-20-09
Proverbs 7:24-25
After uncovering the ways of an adulterous woman, Proverbs gives the application one must apply to avoid getting caught up in her ways. The application is extended not only to young men but to all men. It is not limited to males but it includes females, particularly those who admire her benefits and aspire to be like her.
The application Proverbs give is this, do not let the heart decline to her ways and do not go astray in her path. It is interesting to note that the heart has to take a decline in order to get caught up in her ways. The implication is that the heart is on the correct path and in order to get caught up with an adulterous woman the heart would have to deviate from it correctness. The correct path that the heart deviates from is not made clear in the passage, but what is clear is the wrongness of the ways of an adulterous woman and any path that leads to her and any action that comes from her should be avoided.
What is a declining heart? A declining heart is a heart that pulls an individual from their state of correctness. It causes the individual to move downward and become less than who they really are. As the heart declines there is a continual loss of strength and purpose. Among all forms of destruction the declining heart is among the worst because its source of corruption is found within. There is no one to blame. There is no other who can take responsibility except the one who has the heart. What ever the declining heart has is gradually lost. The progress made turns into digression. The standards it established are lowered. Instead of advancing and moving ahead it gets worse and becomes less.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Man's Honor
09-03-09
Proverbs 5:7-13
Honor means splendor, majesty and authority. It is an imposing form and appearance. It has subtle qualities of superiority and position. The one who has honor invokes a sense of amazement and satisfaction in the minds of others.
Honor is a quality given to men, with it they are able to gain respect from those around them. A great challenge men have with honor is keeping it in tact. Many opposing forces exists which attempt to strip men of this God appointed grandeur.
The way a man presents himself speaks to the kind of honor he imposes. This presentation of himself is subjected to the opinions of the beholder who in turn respects him based on what is interpreted. When a man acts irresponsible he degrades the honor imbedded in him. Care must be taken to act with high levels of moral accountability. A man must be respectful in speech, modest in behavior and prompt with his time. When a man acts irresponsible he gives away his God given initiator that is designed to bestow honor upon him. Some things are not meant to be given away. A man’s honor is one of them.
Proverbs 5:7-13
Honor means splendor, majesty and authority. It is an imposing form and appearance. It has subtle qualities of superiority and position. The one who has honor invokes a sense of amazement and satisfaction in the minds of others.
Honor is a quality given to men, with it they are able to gain respect from those around them. A great challenge men have with honor is keeping it in tact. Many opposing forces exists which attempt to strip men of this God appointed grandeur.
The way a man presents himself speaks to the kind of honor he imposes. This presentation of himself is subjected to the opinions of the beholder who in turn respects him based on what is interpreted. When a man acts irresponsible he degrades the honor imbedded in him. Care must be taken to act with high levels of moral accountability. A man must be respectful in speech, modest in behavior and prompt with his time. When a man acts irresponsible he gives away his God given initiator that is designed to bestow honor upon him. Some things are not meant to be given away. A man’s honor is one of them.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
What the Heart Keeps
08-30-09
What the heart keeps dictate the outcomes of life.
If the heart keeps sadness, happy moments will be few.
If the heart keeps anger, peaceful moments will be few.
If the heart keeps grudges, friends will be few.
If the heart keeps pain, health will be few.
If the heart keeps traditions, innovations will be few.
If the heart keeps casually, commitments will be few.
If the heart keeps selfishly, unity will be few.
If the heart keeps procrastinating, advancements will be few.
The same principle is true if the hear keeps wisdom, foolishness will be few.
If the heart keeps understanding, confusion will be few.
If the heart keeps knowledge, ignorance will be few.
If the heart keeps life and success, death and failure will be few.
The heart is the safe that keeps our relationship with God secure.
The best place to preserve what is said is to keep it in the heart.
What the heart keeps dictate the outcomes of life.
If the heart keeps sadness, happy moments will be few.
If the heart keeps anger, peaceful moments will be few.
If the heart keeps grudges, friends will be few.
If the heart keeps pain, health will be few.
If the heart keeps traditions, innovations will be few.
If the heart keeps casually, commitments will be few.
If the heart keeps selfishly, unity will be few.
If the heart keeps procrastinating, advancements will be few.
The same principle is true if the hear keeps wisdom, foolishness will be few.
If the heart keeps understanding, confusion will be few.
If the heart keeps knowledge, ignorance will be few.
If the heart keeps life and success, death and failure will be few.
The heart is the safe that keeps our relationship with God secure.
The best place to preserve what is said is to keep it in the heart.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Heart as Keeper
08-3o-09
Proverbs 4:20-22
Proverbs is instructing the son to keep the words given to him in the midst of the heart. Keeping the words in the heart enables them to always be in his face. He would constantly have to deal with the words in every decision. The words would permeate his thought patterns and eventually dictate the behavior of his life.
Keeping involves dealing with the uncomfortable feelings caused by the presence of the words of Wisdom in the heart. Undoubtedly there are times when the words of Wisdom will conjure unpleasant feelings or cause what appears to be pleasant circumstance to be avoided. Removing the words of Wisdom from the midst of the heart is not an option. The unpleasant feelings must be endured. The result for doing so far outweighs the displeasure.
Although the words kept in the heart gives the impression of the son being responsible, the reality is quite the opposite. The words kept in the midst of the heart are intended to keep the son and lead him into the blessed life. The words of Wisdom kept in the heart over time will keep the son. By instructing on which path to take, by selectively limiting options, by dictating what must be done the words actually ward off situation and experiences designed to bring harm and misfortune. As the son keeps the words of Wisdom in the midst of the heart, the heart keeps the son.
The heart is an organ of transformation. It is the place where words gravitate into action and beliefs are solidified into attitudes. By keeping the words of Wisdom in the midst of the heart the son’s life is literally transformed into a healthy successful life.
Proverbs 4:20-22
Proverbs is instructing the son to keep the words given to him in the midst of the heart. Keeping the words in the heart enables them to always be in his face. He would constantly have to deal with the words in every decision. The words would permeate his thought patterns and eventually dictate the behavior of his life.
Keeping involves dealing with the uncomfortable feelings caused by the presence of the words of Wisdom in the heart. Undoubtedly there are times when the words of Wisdom will conjure unpleasant feelings or cause what appears to be pleasant circumstance to be avoided. Removing the words of Wisdom from the midst of the heart is not an option. The unpleasant feelings must be endured. The result for doing so far outweighs the displeasure.
Although the words kept in the heart gives the impression of the son being responsible, the reality is quite the opposite. The words kept in the midst of the heart are intended to keep the son and lead him into the blessed life. The words of Wisdom kept in the heart over time will keep the son. By instructing on which path to take, by selectively limiting options, by dictating what must be done the words actually ward off situation and experiences designed to bring harm and misfortune. As the son keeps the words of Wisdom in the midst of the heart, the heart keeps the son.
The heart is an organ of transformation. It is the place where words gravitate into action and beliefs are solidified into attitudes. By keeping the words of Wisdom in the midst of the heart the son’s life is literally transformed into a healthy successful life.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Retained in the Heart
08-27-09
Proverbs 4:1-4
Proverbs 4:1-4
The passage adopts the tone of a father who is genuinely concern for the well being of his children. He beckons his children into an understanding relationship and promises to give them good doctrine. The father also encourages his children retain his law.
To retain is to keep; that is to hold in position for an extended period. When the heart retains words it absorbs those words into the thought patterns. These thought patterns take control of the mind making the words apart of itself. As a result ownership is established and understanding increased. In this passage the heart is the retainer for the words of the father.
The heart has the ability to take what is said and turn it into a human characteristic (personify). By retaining words the heart not only keeps those words, it also take ownership and uses them at will. The heart as a retainer takes words and turns them into action. It takes thought and turns them into behaviors. It takes what is heard and turns it into what is seen. It takes the linguistic and turns them into an experience. The heart is a retainer.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
All the Heart Trust
08-26-09
Proverbs 3:5-6
Proverbs directs us to put all the heart in the Lord. No worries, no regrets only confidently resting in the Lord as the sole keeper. When all of the heart is submitted to the Lord confidence is at its best, doubt at its weakest and security is made strong to the point where it over powers our understanding.
Trust is an invitation to release apart or all of yourself; it is an exchange that enables you to receive what you do not have and it is an opportunity that helps you to be, do, go and look like what you ordinarily are not capable of being, doing, going and looking like.
The Lord has provided a way for us to excel beyond our capabilities and receive a God directed course in life. An ‘all the heart trust’ contains the essence of our worship, element of our service, the extent of our relationship, the potential of our power, the core of our character and the magnitude of our experiences. All we have left to ourselves from an ‘all the heart trust’ is acknowledgment of God. It is God that did it, made it, brought it, and kept it. It is all God and God alone.
With the heart as the mechanism with trust our lives transcend into an environment know only to God. While in that environment we gain experience that dissolves troubles, confuses understanding and at the same time releases a level of confidence that gives peace.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Proverbs directs us to put all the heart in the Lord. No worries, no regrets only confidently resting in the Lord as the sole keeper. When all of the heart is submitted to the Lord confidence is at its best, doubt at its weakest and security is made strong to the point where it over powers our understanding.
Trust is an invitation to release apart or all of yourself; it is an exchange that enables you to receive what you do not have and it is an opportunity that helps you to be, do, go and look like what you ordinarily are not capable of being, doing, going and looking like.
The Lord has provided a way for us to excel beyond our capabilities and receive a God directed course in life. An ‘all the heart trust’ contains the essence of our worship, element of our service, the extent of our relationship, the potential of our power, the core of our character and the magnitude of our experiences. All we have left to ourselves from an ‘all the heart trust’ is acknowledgment of God. It is God that did it, made it, brought it, and kept it. It is all God and God alone.
With the heart as the mechanism with trust our lives transcend into an environment know only to God. While in that environment we gain experience that dissolves troubles, confuses understanding and at the same time releases a level of confidence that gives peace.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Tattooed in the heart
08-23-09
Proverbs 3:3-4
Most people engrave their images on their flesh in the form of tattoo. Tattoos come in many different shapes, styles, colors and words. The artistic designs are found all over the body. If it is admired, really admired it is tattooed.
Proverbs call for us to write two behaviors in the heart, mercy and truth. Write implies more than keeping a record. It refers to the unchangeableness and binding nature of the Word of God. God said it, it is fixed and it will occur. As a result of the bind or tattooing, we will have what is pleasantly agreeable in the presence of God and man, and we will have good success.
God’s style of tattoo involves behaviors not images that are engraved in the heart and not the flesh. Beyond the cool fashion trend, God’s motive is to tie us to certain behaviors so that they become our habits for life. It is a matter of obligation that implies personal involvement beyond the rule of law.
By heightening the awareness of our relationship and setting a standard on how favor and success is obtained in heaven and on earth, Proverbs puts out a formula for success. Our relationships are more than mere interaction so how we exercise our rights, generate loyalty and release generosity is calculated toward success or failure, favor or foe.
Your first and most important tattoo should be in your heart.
Proverbs 3:3-4
Most people engrave their images on their flesh in the form of tattoo. Tattoos come in many different shapes, styles, colors and words. The artistic designs are found all over the body. If it is admired, really admired it is tattooed.
Proverbs call for us to write two behaviors in the heart, mercy and truth. Write implies more than keeping a record. It refers to the unchangeableness and binding nature of the Word of God. God said it, it is fixed and it will occur. As a result of the bind or tattooing, we will have what is pleasantly agreeable in the presence of God and man, and we will have good success.
God’s style of tattoo involves behaviors not images that are engraved in the heart and not the flesh. Beyond the cool fashion trend, God’s motive is to tie us to certain behaviors so that they become our habits for life. It is a matter of obligation that implies personal involvement beyond the rule of law.
By heightening the awareness of our relationship and setting a standard on how favor and success is obtained in heaven and on earth, Proverbs puts out a formula for success. Our relationships are more than mere interaction so how we exercise our rights, generate loyalty and release generosity is calculated toward success or failure, favor or foe.
Your first and most important tattoo should be in your heart.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Wisdom in the Heart
08-20-09
Wisdom speaks in various forms including that of a mother, father, friend and lover. In Proverbs 3:1-2, Wisdom presents herself as a mother directing her son to remember the laws she introduced to him. she also instructed him to let his heart protect the commandments. Wisdom has imparted her gifts in the form of laws and commandments and now she is urging her son on how to treat the gift he now has the responsibility to embody.
Length of days affords the son a duration of existence that covers great lengths of time and not shortened. Long life affords him a special quality of existence that’s beyond the average life. This sort of existence is an added benefit as a result of following the instruction. In addition to length of days and long life Wisdom adds peace that confirms itself through safety, health and wealth.
By ensuring the heart keeps Wisdom’s commandments the son is able to live with all of the promised benefits. The heart acts as the conduit that leads into the life of promised benefits. It is an agent of protection, promotion and wealth that’s reliable for safely securing life. The heart is also an agent with options in what it does holds or focuses on. Wisdom encourages her son into a good life by bringing his attention to his heart.
Wisdom speaks in various forms including that of a mother, father, friend and lover. In Proverbs 3:1-2, Wisdom presents herself as a mother directing her son to remember the laws she introduced to him. she also instructed him to let his heart protect the commandments. Wisdom has imparted her gifts in the form of laws and commandments and now she is urging her son on how to treat the gift he now has the responsibility to embody.
Length of days affords the son a duration of existence that covers great lengths of time and not shortened. Long life affords him a special quality of existence that’s beyond the average life. This sort of existence is an added benefit as a result of following the instruction. In addition to length of days and long life Wisdom adds peace that confirms itself through safety, health and wealth.
By ensuring the heart keeps Wisdom’s commandments the son is able to live with all of the promised benefits. The heart acts as the conduit that leads into the life of promised benefits. It is an agent of protection, promotion and wealth that’s reliable for safely securing life. The heart is also an agent with options in what it does holds or focuses on. Wisdom encourages her son into a good life by bringing his attention to his heart.
Quality of existence relates to the situations and discussions we deal with on a daily basis. E
Proverbs tells us that Wisdom adds to the length of days and increases the quality of existence. The level of peace is directly associated with the quality of life. Peace brings in welfare, health and safety. There is a sense of tranquility and wholeness with comfort and harmony. With peace there is prosperity in all aspects of life, that is health, wealth and relationships; ‘Shalom’. Life is a journey with vicissitudes.
Every day people are placed in situations and circumstances that facilitates their movement and challenges their quality of existence. Wisdom increases the quality of life and level of peace, regardless of the situation or circumstance. It stabilizes our mobility and neutralize the challenges to our quality of life.
Wisdom provides the stability people to carry them through trouble times.
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