11-26-09
Proverbs 16:9
Planning and planning, there is a continuous flow of never ending plans. Day in and day out plans are being made. Arrangement to do this and arrangement to do that, we frequently arrange and rearrange what we do and how we do it. Even in the midst of the arrangement plans are still being made.
Ingrained in plans are expectations, one of which relates to its connection to the goal. The plan establishes a coherent direction so that the goal may be reached. Contrary to the expectation, Proverbs tells us that it is not the plan that establishes direction; instead it is the Lord.
The Lord provides the mobility needed to engage in a direction. This not doubt would give the impression that the one carrying out the plan was able to accomplish the goal when in actuality it was the mobility provided by the Lord. There is a tendency to under-mind what is behind the scene and bestow credit on what is at the fore-front and obvious.
Consider for a moment the parcel. Although the heart may devise the contents of a parcel, it is the Lord that determines the direction of that parcel. It is as though the Lord determines the packaging, the address to where the parcel will be delivered, the method of delivery, the influence to ensure the parcel is delivered and the one to make the delivery.
This is good news for those who trust in the Lord because they have this assurance – the Lord is the director of their plan.
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Sunday, May 23, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Proud in Heart
11-25-09
Proverbs 16:5
Among all parts of an individual the heart is examined the most. The mannerisms, the plans, and the character are all products of the heart. When the heart develops character it has established itself into a mode defining who it is, what it will be and what it will do. The Lord recognizes the character, some of which is pleasing and some a turn off. Proverbs talks about the heart that is a turn off to the Lord.
Pride may not be recognized as a character that causes offense but Proverbs describes the proud in heart as an abomination to the Lord. Pride carries with it several implications, one of which relates to an unjust assumption of superiority. This assumption produces an arrogance that makes one feel as though they are better than another. The attitude, action, posture and mannerisms that comes out of the arrogance is contrary to the very nature of the Lord.
The second implication relates to leadership. With a proud heart the direction and conduct establishes certain attitudes that declares who is in charge. The attitude literally takes charge and attempt to invoke itself. The proud in heart can be recognized by their boastfulness and snobbish behavior. These are a disgrace to the Lord.
The heart is the part of man that the Lord inhabits and its disposition is a major concern. It is looked at intently and intensely. It is used as a source from which blessings and curses are imputed. Our duty is to develop it, protect it and ensure it is kept free of the forces that render it a disgrace.
Proverbs 16:5
Among all parts of an individual the heart is examined the most. The mannerisms, the plans, and the character are all products of the heart. When the heart develops character it has established itself into a mode defining who it is, what it will be and what it will do. The Lord recognizes the character, some of which is pleasing and some a turn off. Proverbs talks about the heart that is a turn off to the Lord.
Pride may not be recognized as a character that causes offense but Proverbs describes the proud in heart as an abomination to the Lord. Pride carries with it several implications, one of which relates to an unjust assumption of superiority. This assumption produces an arrogance that makes one feel as though they are better than another. The attitude, action, posture and mannerisms that comes out of the arrogance is contrary to the very nature of the Lord.
The second implication relates to leadership. With a proud heart the direction and conduct establishes certain attitudes that declares who is in charge. The attitude literally takes charge and attempt to invoke itself. The proud in heart can be recognized by their boastfulness and snobbish behavior. These are a disgrace to the Lord.
The heart is the part of man that the Lord inhabits and its disposition is a major concern. It is looked at intently and intensely. It is used as a source from which blessings and curses are imputed. Our duty is to develop it, protect it and ensure it is kept free of the forces that render it a disgrace.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
What causes a rejoicing Heart?
11-23-09
Proverbs 15:30
Light is a form of energy that allows sight through illumination. With light the eyes gain perception which can be used to escape dark, closed, restricted and void conditions. We seldom recognize the eyes as a source of light to the heart but Proverbs says the eyes not only give light it rejoices the heart.
How does light in the eyes rejoice the heart? Eyes have a direct bond with the heart which allows information to be exchanged. The light in the eye is a form of understanding capable of elevating the heart to the point where it rejoices. There are several ways the light of the eyes can cause a rejoicing heart.
Firstly, the heart has expectations and the light of the eyes provide the heart with the realization of those expectations. The heart rejoices for the arrival of what is expected.
Another way the light of the eyes rejoices the heart is through deliverance. The light provided to the heart is a form of deliverance that pulls the heart away from a depressed demoralized state into one of rejoicing. This deliverance provides feelings that stimulate joyfulness, happiness and a sense of freedom.
Another way the light of the eyes rejoices the heart is by gifts. The light of the eyes is a type of gift the heart receives that is beyond ordinary. It is personal and it provides the heart with rejoicing only the individual can fully understand. When this sort of joy is received it causes an out burst of laughter in unprecedented situations. It will produce a smile in the midst of loneliness. It can breathe a sense of happiness that tickles from the inside. This light is healthy, youthful and spontaneous. It can pop on you at any time.
Open your eyes and rejoice in the light
Proverbs 15:30
Light is a form of energy that allows sight through illumination. With light the eyes gain perception which can be used to escape dark, closed, restricted and void conditions. We seldom recognize the eyes as a source of light to the heart but Proverbs says the eyes not only give light it rejoices the heart.
How does light in the eyes rejoice the heart? Eyes have a direct bond with the heart which allows information to be exchanged. The light in the eye is a form of understanding capable of elevating the heart to the point where it rejoices. There are several ways the light of the eyes can cause a rejoicing heart.
Firstly, the heart has expectations and the light of the eyes provide the heart with the realization of those expectations. The heart rejoices for the arrival of what is expected.
Another way the light of the eyes rejoices the heart is through deliverance. The light provided to the heart is a form of deliverance that pulls the heart away from a depressed demoralized state into one of rejoicing. This deliverance provides feelings that stimulate joyfulness, happiness and a sense of freedom.
Another way the light of the eyes rejoices the heart is by gifts. The light of the eyes is a type of gift the heart receives that is beyond ordinary. It is personal and it provides the heart with rejoicing only the individual can fully understand. When this sort of joy is received it causes an out burst of laughter in unprecedented situations. It will produce a smile in the midst of loneliness. It can breathe a sense of happiness that tickles from the inside. This light is healthy, youthful and spontaneous. It can pop on you at any time.
Open your eyes and rejoice in the light
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
The Heart of the Righteous Studies
11-21-09
Proverbs 15:28
Finding solutions to problems, addressing concerns or simply getting directions are essentials for mental and emotional stability. At some point questions will arise, whether they come from within or without, being able to find the answers provide a sense of satisfaction that dissolves confusion and frustration. Unfortunately, some answers do not always come when needed, nor are they placed in an easy to retrieve location. Effort and time has to be invested to search for answers. Typically the answers that are in hard to reach locations carry a lot of weight and they require patience and investigation to retrieve.
Too many answers are given at whim. The heart of the righteous takes the time to study before answering. In fact, it is not uncommon for the heart of the righteous to prepare in advance before providing an answer.
The heart of the righteous represent several things, these include:
• A high level of respect for the answer in that time is taken and effort used to study. Contained in answers are solutions that can calm trouble, address concern or instill a sense of security. These answers are directions that facilitate movement, plan a course or escape potential harm. The righteous recognizes this and studies.
• A high level of regard for correctness. Quite often the right or best answer is often confused with the answer that sounds good. Challenges and uncertainty carries a degree of desperation and anxiousness which can distort what is best with what what sounds good. By studying, the righteous heart is able to provide the best answers with a high level of confidence to decrease uncertainty and overcome challenges.
• A high level of quality in representation. The heart of the righteous is prepared to make the extra effort to ensure what is given adequately reflects what is at work on the inside. A reputation is at stake in the answer and the heart of the righteous studies to keep it.
The mouth of the wicked releases evil. Little to no regard is given for what comes out of the mouth and the impact carried. The mouth of the wicked does not hold or know such reserve so a continuous out pouring of what is useless exists.
Proverbs 15:28
Finding solutions to problems, addressing concerns or simply getting directions are essentials for mental and emotional stability. At some point questions will arise, whether they come from within or without, being able to find the answers provide a sense of satisfaction that dissolves confusion and frustration. Unfortunately, some answers do not always come when needed, nor are they placed in an easy to retrieve location. Effort and time has to be invested to search for answers. Typically the answers that are in hard to reach locations carry a lot of weight and they require patience and investigation to retrieve.
Too many answers are given at whim. The heart of the righteous takes the time to study before answering. In fact, it is not uncommon for the heart of the righteous to prepare in advance before providing an answer.
The heart of the righteous represent several things, these include:
• A high level of respect for the answer in that time is taken and effort used to study. Contained in answers are solutions that can calm trouble, address concern or instill a sense of security. These answers are directions that facilitate movement, plan a course or escape potential harm. The righteous recognizes this and studies.
• A high level of regard for correctness. Quite often the right or best answer is often confused with the answer that sounds good. Challenges and uncertainty carries a degree of desperation and anxiousness which can distort what is best with what what sounds good. By studying, the righteous heart is able to provide the best answers with a high level of confidence to decrease uncertainty and overcome challenges.
• A high level of quality in representation. The heart of the righteous is prepared to make the extra effort to ensure what is given adequately reflects what is at work on the inside. A reputation is at stake in the answer and the heart of the righteous studies to keep it.
The mouth of the wicked releases evil. Little to no regard is given for what comes out of the mouth and the impact carried. The mouth of the wicked does not hold or know such reserve so a continuous out pouring of what is useless exists.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
A Merry Heart Continues to Feast
11-20-09
Proverbs 15:15
The troubling experiences that come from day to day are unfortunate. Financial losses, foreclosures, job difficulties, stressful living conditions, challenging confrontations, demanding situations, medical illness and bad health all cause some level of affliction. No one is exempted, as long as there is life their will be afflictions. Some have learned how to make the most of these experiences, some have used them to their advantage and sadly, some find themselves trapped in the horrors attached to them. Since we all must have afflictions it is important to know how to deal with them. Proverbs offers a solution, a merry heart.
A merry heart is happy and filled with joy. This heart knows how to find something to celebrate even in difficult situations. It is grounded in the knack for festivities that can form an environment of celebration and excitement. Perhaps having a celebration in troubling or grieving times seems odd and difficult. How can a person with financial struggles have a party? How can a person who recently lost a love one be happy? What about the job stress, marital tension, accident victim or homeless child? You really can’t.
What Proverbs offers is more than a one time event designed to move us past our troubles. Instead it is an internal quality designed to enable us to face any affliction with a festive demeanor. Such a heart is not restricted to difficult times but it stays with you helping to find joy in the simple things, leading you from one celebration to the other. Regardless of how many or how evil the affliction may be the merry heart has the capacity to deal with and address all of them.
Thank you Lord for a Merry Heart and for enabling us to escape the traumatic impact of evil.
Proverbs 15:15
The troubling experiences that come from day to day are unfortunate. Financial losses, foreclosures, job difficulties, stressful living conditions, challenging confrontations, demanding situations, medical illness and bad health all cause some level of affliction. No one is exempted, as long as there is life their will be afflictions. Some have learned how to make the most of these experiences, some have used them to their advantage and sadly, some find themselves trapped in the horrors attached to them. Since we all must have afflictions it is important to know how to deal with them. Proverbs offers a solution, a merry heart.
A merry heart is happy and filled with joy. This heart knows how to find something to celebrate even in difficult situations. It is grounded in the knack for festivities that can form an environment of celebration and excitement. Perhaps having a celebration in troubling or grieving times seems odd and difficult. How can a person with financial struggles have a party? How can a person who recently lost a love one be happy? What about the job stress, marital tension, accident victim or homeless child? You really can’t.
What Proverbs offers is more than a one time event designed to move us past our troubles. Instead it is an internal quality designed to enable us to face any affliction with a festive demeanor. Such a heart is not restricted to difficult times but it stays with you helping to find joy in the simple things, leading you from one celebration to the other. Regardless of how many or how evil the affliction may be the merry heart has the capacity to deal with and address all of them.
Thank you Lord for a Merry Heart and for enabling us to escape the traumatic impact of evil.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Heart of Understanding
11-19-09
Proverbs 15:14
The form of the heart determines how the heart will function; aligning the pursuits, outlining the course of action and issuing the working orders. Proverbs tells us the heart that has understanding seeks knowledge.
The presence of understanding has made a design in the heart which fixed its operation to seek after knowledge. In this fixed position, the heart performs as an explorer on a quest. It is active, inquisitive and full of purpose. It has the courage to venture into unfamiliar territory. It is eager and curious to search for information, organizing itself while aiming toward its intent.
The question that pops out, ‘why knowledge?’ Knowledge is what feeds the heart. Knowledge determines what is to be desired, interprets how what is desired is desired and gives the fulfillment of the desired. With knowledge, the heart that has understanding is satisfied. Knowledge fill the needs of understanding without it there would be a void and inability to grasp the concepts of life. Knowledge’s ability to grasp the concepts is what enables understanding to have a mental hold and be separated from the fool.
While the understanding heart is on the exploration of knowledge the fool is being nourished by foolishness. It is noted that the appetite of the fool is toward what is known to be senseless and ridiculous. How the fool is able to ingest this folly is a product of his form. The fool is not known for his work nor his decision making ability. What he is known for is his appetite and behavior, both of which point toward what is useless.
The person that has a heart of understanding will go after knowledge. This heart provides the motivational drive, emotional stability and astute focus towards knowledge. This can be seen in the type of books read, the quality of conversations and the activities that hold the attention. This person is not only recognized for who they are but also for what they do.
The drive of the heart of understanding is often criticized for its purposeful pursuits. People don’t usually see things the way the Word of God has it. In fact, when what is written in the Word is put into action and emotions it takes discernment to uncover the Word at work. So don’t be quick to judge, look for what the Word is doing.
Proverbs 15:14
The form of the heart determines how the heart will function; aligning the pursuits, outlining the course of action and issuing the working orders. Proverbs tells us the heart that has understanding seeks knowledge.
The presence of understanding has made a design in the heart which fixed its operation to seek after knowledge. In this fixed position, the heart performs as an explorer on a quest. It is active, inquisitive and full of purpose. It has the courage to venture into unfamiliar territory. It is eager and curious to search for information, organizing itself while aiming toward its intent.
The question that pops out, ‘why knowledge?’ Knowledge is what feeds the heart. Knowledge determines what is to be desired, interprets how what is desired is desired and gives the fulfillment of the desired. With knowledge, the heart that has understanding is satisfied. Knowledge fill the needs of understanding without it there would be a void and inability to grasp the concepts of life. Knowledge’s ability to grasp the concepts is what enables understanding to have a mental hold and be separated from the fool.
While the understanding heart is on the exploration of knowledge the fool is being nourished by foolishness. It is noted that the appetite of the fool is toward what is known to be senseless and ridiculous. How the fool is able to ingest this folly is a product of his form. The fool is not known for his work nor his decision making ability. What he is known for is his appetite and behavior, both of which point toward what is useless.
The person that has a heart of understanding will go after knowledge. This heart provides the motivational drive, emotional stability and astute focus towards knowledge. This can be seen in the type of books read, the quality of conversations and the activities that hold the attention. This person is not only recognized for who they are but also for what they do.
The drive of the heart of understanding is often criticized for its purposeful pursuits. People don’t usually see things the way the Word of God has it. In fact, when what is written in the Word is put into action and emotions it takes discernment to uncover the Word at work. So don’t be quick to judge, look for what the Word is doing.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Merry Heart
11-18-09
Proverbs 15:13
We often become the by-product of what is in us; that is what is at work in the heart. The beliefs that frame our mode of thinking, the forces that stimulate our emotions and the desires that influence our choices not only steer us through the ups and downs of everyday life, but also produces our persona.
Proverbs speaks of the impact of being merry and sorrowful upon the persona. A merry heart is defined by the pleasures at work within it. The existing pleasure has the power to develop a recognizable character equated with what is merry. It is interesting to note that what is in the heart works on the countenance. The heart makes the effort to take moments of pleasure and use it to bring into view facial expressions that are happy, optimistic, willing and in a good mood.
In contrast when the heart has sorrow the spirit is broken. The spirit is that part of man created by God to represent the characteristics of God. This is the part of man that gives life and our persona. When sorrow enters the heart the impact is negative. This negativity filters through feelings of grief, shame, sadness and disappointments. As the negativity intensifies feelings of misfortune is elevated to sorrow and broke the spirit. The broken spirit is like a stream which has become disturbed, interrupted or polluted. Because the flow of life is interrupted the broken spirit does not function properly. Without intervention life which flows from the spirit becomes null and dysfunctional.
It is impressed upon every person to develop what is in their heart to the point where merriness rules and sorrow is made few. We must not allow misfortune to deepen itself within us. It presence limits and degrades the quality of life we are meant to have. The moments of pleasure God has allowed us to enjoy should feed our hearts over and over again. The constant feeding will enable us to be familiar with the countenance of cheerfulness and a life of blissful peace.
Let happiness reign and you will have less pain, let sorrow remain your life it will drain. The life we live is but a step to an eternal walk
Proverbs 15:13
We often become the by-product of what is in us; that is what is at work in the heart. The beliefs that frame our mode of thinking, the forces that stimulate our emotions and the desires that influence our choices not only steer us through the ups and downs of everyday life, but also produces our persona.
Proverbs speaks of the impact of being merry and sorrowful upon the persona. A merry heart is defined by the pleasures at work within it. The existing pleasure has the power to develop a recognizable character equated with what is merry. It is interesting to note that what is in the heart works on the countenance. The heart makes the effort to take moments of pleasure and use it to bring into view facial expressions that are happy, optimistic, willing and in a good mood.
In contrast when the heart has sorrow the spirit is broken. The spirit is that part of man created by God to represent the characteristics of God. This is the part of man that gives life and our persona. When sorrow enters the heart the impact is negative. This negativity filters through feelings of grief, shame, sadness and disappointments. As the negativity intensifies feelings of misfortune is elevated to sorrow and broke the spirit. The broken spirit is like a stream which has become disturbed, interrupted or polluted. Because the flow of life is interrupted the broken spirit does not function properly. Without intervention life which flows from the spirit becomes null and dysfunctional.
It is impressed upon every person to develop what is in their heart to the point where merriness rules and sorrow is made few. We must not allow misfortune to deepen itself within us. It presence limits and degrades the quality of life we are meant to have. The moments of pleasure God has allowed us to enjoy should feed our hearts over and over again. The constant feeding will enable us to be familiar with the countenance of cheerfulness and a life of blissful peace.
Let happiness reign and you will have less pain, let sorrow remain your life it will drain. The life we live is but a step to an eternal walk
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