Proverbs 19:14
House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the Lord.
It's great to be a man of God with good looks. Your good looks are a gift from God, but don't give your good looks credit for causing your wife to fall hopelessly in love with you.
Mister Good Looking, your wife married you because God moved on her heart to do so. How do I know? That's any easy question to answer: "The Bible Tells Me So."
Pick up your Bible and turn to the Book of Proverbs, Chapter 19, verse14. Now, read the Word of the Lord: "House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the Lord."
Proverbs 19:14 makes it clear that there are somethings money can't buy, and good looks can't acquire. Parents can leave children houses and lands, jewlery, cars and toys; but parents can't leave their children prudent husbands and wives. When one is blessed with a prudent wife, one can be sure that the only way one has such a wife is because God gave the blessing.
If one could inherit a wife in the same way one inherits houses and lands then the poor would find themselves without prudent wives. Thank God for God, who gives prudent wives to the rich as well as the poor.
If your wife is clever, wise, careful in how she goes about walking, talking, and speaking she is prudent. If your wife is capable of handing business affairs, and solving conflicts and problems; she is prudent. Why don't you give God a shout out praise now. Good job! I can hear you here in Oklahoma City, shouting out, "Praise the Lord!"
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
When God Becomes Our Enemy
WHEN GOD BECOMES OUR ENEMY
But they rebelled, and vexed his Holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them (Isaiah 63:10 KJV)
In life there are many things I don’t want to experience, the horrible and painful encounters of life. And yet I know that in this life there are fiery trials (I Peter 4:12). When the fiery trials of life come, I have an anchor, it’s God’s unchanging hand. You know the song, “hold to his hand, God’s unchanging hand, build you hopes on things eternal, hold to God’s unchanging hand.”
This is a great song, but we better be sure that we are doing what God tells us to do before we put our faith in God’s unchanging hand. If we are not doing what God requires we can forget the song, “Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand,” because God’s hand is not there for us to hold onto when we do our will and not God’s.
In the book of Isaiah, Chapter 63, verse 9, we read that God is afflicted whenever Israel is afflicted. Not only that, but the angel who stands in the presence of God saves Israel, and God redeems Israel, and carries them on God own back. But when Israel rebels against God, and vex God holy Spirit; God turns against Israel and become Israel’s enemy. When God becomes Israel’s enemy God fights against Israel.
This text makes it clear, that God’s hand is changeable. God’s hand changes when we change. As long as we do the will of God, God’s hand is there for us to hold. But when we let sin run like a river through our lives, we vex the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit can’t live in an unclean temple; unclean in heart, mind, and spirit.
Let’s take a minute and stop singing, “Hold to God Unchanging Hand,” in our hard times to take a good look at the enemy. We might just be surprise to find that the enemy, fighting against us is God. Let’s get it together, we don’t want God to fight against us, because that’s a fight we can’t win.
But they rebelled, and vexed his Holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them (Isaiah 63:10 KJV)
In life there are many things I don’t want to experience, the horrible and painful encounters of life. And yet I know that in this life there are fiery trials (I Peter 4:12). When the fiery trials of life come, I have an anchor, it’s God’s unchanging hand. You know the song, “hold to his hand, God’s unchanging hand, build you hopes on things eternal, hold to God’s unchanging hand.”
This is a great song, but we better be sure that we are doing what God tells us to do before we put our faith in God’s unchanging hand. If we are not doing what God requires we can forget the song, “Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand,” because God’s hand is not there for us to hold onto when we do our will and not God’s.
In the book of Isaiah, Chapter 63, verse 9, we read that God is afflicted whenever Israel is afflicted. Not only that, but the angel who stands in the presence of God saves Israel, and God redeems Israel, and carries them on God own back. But when Israel rebels against God, and vex God holy Spirit; God turns against Israel and become Israel’s enemy. When God becomes Israel’s enemy God fights against Israel.
This text makes it clear, that God’s hand is changeable. God’s hand changes when we change. As long as we do the will of God, God’s hand is there for us to hold. But when we let sin run like a river through our lives, we vex the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit can’t live in an unclean temple; unclean in heart, mind, and spirit.
Let’s take a minute and stop singing, “Hold to God Unchanging Hand,” in our hard times to take a good look at the enemy. We might just be surprise to find that the enemy, fighting against us is God. Let’s get it together, we don’t want God to fight against us, because that’s a fight we can’t win.
God is God of the Fat Not the Skinny
God Is God of the Fat not the Skinny
Psalms 65:11
You crown the year with your goodness; and your paths drop fatness. (Ps. 65:11)
In the time of David, when God crowns the year with goodness, everything is fat because God walks through the land and the people follow. When God walks and the people follow God’s path, every step God makes drop fatness. The fatness of God drops upon the pastures of the wilderness, and so the wilderness has fat pastures for grazing animals.
The little hills of the wilderness rejoice because of fatness, everything is green and beautiful. Flock cloth the pastures and corn covers the valley. The fatness of the valleys gives life that compels the valleys to shout and sing.
This is the year for the people of God to pray that God crowns the year with goodness. And yes, we also want fatness; but fatness belongs to those who follow God’s path. One cannot expect fatness if one is not walking God’s path. Those who walk in the footsteps of God walk in the fatness of God, while those who follow their own path boast about being skinny.
Psalms 65:11
You crown the year with your goodness; and your paths drop fatness. (Ps. 65:11)
In the time of David, when God crowns the year with goodness, everything is fat because God walks through the land and the people follow. When God walks and the people follow God’s path, every step God makes drop fatness. The fatness of God drops upon the pastures of the wilderness, and so the wilderness has fat pastures for grazing animals.
The little hills of the wilderness rejoice because of fatness, everything is green and beautiful. Flock cloth the pastures and corn covers the valley. The fatness of the valleys gives life that compels the valleys to shout and sing.
This is the year for the people of God to pray that God crowns the year with goodness. And yes, we also want fatness; but fatness belongs to those who follow God’s path. One cannot expect fatness if one is not walking God’s path. Those who walk in the footsteps of God walk in the fatness of God, while those who follow their own path boast about being skinny.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Saturday, April 3, 2010
WHAT IS JESUS DOING IN THE GRAVE?
WHAT IS JESUS DOING IN THE GRAVE?
I Peter 3:18-20
Jesus is crucified Friday, on a cross and buried by Joseph of Arimathaea (Matthew 27:57-60; Mark 15:45-46; Luke 23:50-53 and John 19:38). All four Gospel writers agree that it is Joseph of Arimathaea who buries Jesus. We have no doubt that Jesus is in the grave, but what is he doing? Is he resting from his labors? No, Jesus is in the earth preaching the Good News.
In the first letter of Peter, Chapter 3, verses 18-20 we read that Christ suffers on the cross for the sins of humanity. Christ, the Innocent, suffers for humanity, the guilty to bring humanity to God. On the cross Christ dies in the flesh, but God keeps his spirit alive. The spirit of Christ preaches the gospel to disobedient spirits of dead humans who live in the prison of death.
The spirits of those who are dead in the flesh live, just as the spirit of Jesus lives. Jesus is not in the grave preaching to the spirits of all the dead. He only preaches to the spirits of the disobedient people who live in the days of Noah. While Noah builds the ark God patiently waits for the people to repent but they refuse, and so only eight souls save from drowning in the flood.
The end comes when the living and the dead face the Judge to give an account of their lifestyle ( I Peter 4:5). This is why Jesus, dead in the flesh, but alive in spirit preaches to the disobedience spirits in the grave. These disobedient spirits died in the flood because they would not repent of sins. They died for their sins, but now Jesus dies for the sins of humanity which includes disobedient spirits who died in the flood. Jesus preaches to disobedient spirits so that they repent and live in the spirit with God eternally (I Peter 4:6).
I Peter 3:18-20
Jesus is crucified Friday, on a cross and buried by Joseph of Arimathaea (Matthew 27:57-60; Mark 15:45-46; Luke 23:50-53 and John 19:38). All four Gospel writers agree that it is Joseph of Arimathaea who buries Jesus. We have no doubt that Jesus is in the grave, but what is he doing? Is he resting from his labors? No, Jesus is in the earth preaching the Good News.
In the first letter of Peter, Chapter 3, verses 18-20 we read that Christ suffers on the cross for the sins of humanity. Christ, the Innocent, suffers for humanity, the guilty to bring humanity to God. On the cross Christ dies in the flesh, but God keeps his spirit alive. The spirit of Christ preaches the gospel to disobedient spirits of dead humans who live in the prison of death.
The spirits of those who are dead in the flesh live, just as the spirit of Jesus lives. Jesus is not in the grave preaching to the spirits of all the dead. He only preaches to the spirits of the disobedient people who live in the days of Noah. While Noah builds the ark God patiently waits for the people to repent but they refuse, and so only eight souls save from drowning in the flood.
The end comes when the living and the dead face the Judge to give an account of their lifestyle ( I Peter 4:5). This is why Jesus, dead in the flesh, but alive in spirit preaches to the disobedience spirits in the grave. These disobedient spirits died in the flood because they would not repent of sins. They died for their sins, but now Jesus dies for the sins of humanity which includes disobedient spirits who died in the flood. Jesus preaches to disobedient spirits so that they repent and live in the spirit with God eternally (I Peter 4:6).
Face An Uncertain Future With Faith
Ecclesiastes 11:4-6
Face An Uncertain Future With Faith
Don't fear buying your home. This is the time to act, not fear. I know the economy is not good, but I also know that God is good. You can afford a home, so buy it. Listen, I have a word for you from God. That word comes to you from the book of Ecclesiastes, Chapter 11:4-6. The writer of the book appeals to you to know the future is uncertain, not just to you, but also to all of us. No one knows the future, and so we act without knowledge, we call action without knowledge, faith.
Listen to the writer of Ecclesiastes: Whoever observes the wind will not sow. (11:4a) Now the wind is the economy. If you look at the economy you can forget sowing. And so, don't look at the wind. The second part of that verse reads, whoever regards the clouds will not reap (11b). If you look at the clouds, unempoyment, you will not reap (purchase your home). So, forget the rate of unemployment, and purchase your home. Your have a job today, don't look at the clouds of tommorrow.
The next verse, 5, reads: just as you do not know how the breath comes to the bones in the mother's womb, so you do not know the work of God, who makes everything.
The next verse, 6, reads: In the morning sow your seed, ( you are young, this is your morning season) and at evening (growing old) do not let you hands be idle; (even the aged must not fear purchasing a home) for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.
We don't know about tommorrow, but we do not that God is with us today and in our tommorrow. And so, Ecclesiastes appeals to us to forget the wind and sow ( act:do); and forget the clouds and reap (act:do).
Go in faith, that's all we have, but it's also all we need. Remember, faith without works is dead (James 2:20). You have faith, now go and get your home, your wife, your car.
Face An Uncertain Future With Faith
Don't fear buying your home. This is the time to act, not fear. I know the economy is not good, but I also know that God is good. You can afford a home, so buy it. Listen, I have a word for you from God. That word comes to you from the book of Ecclesiastes, Chapter 11:4-6. The writer of the book appeals to you to know the future is uncertain, not just to you, but also to all of us. No one knows the future, and so we act without knowledge, we call action without knowledge, faith.
Listen to the writer of Ecclesiastes: Whoever observes the wind will not sow. (11:4a) Now the wind is the economy. If you look at the economy you can forget sowing. And so, don't look at the wind. The second part of that verse reads, whoever regards the clouds will not reap (11b). If you look at the clouds, unempoyment, you will not reap (purchase your home). So, forget the rate of unemployment, and purchase your home. Your have a job today, don't look at the clouds of tommorrow.
The next verse, 5, reads: just as you do not know how the breath comes to the bones in the mother's womb, so you do not know the work of God, who makes everything.
The next verse, 6, reads: In the morning sow your seed, ( you are young, this is your morning season) and at evening (growing old) do not let you hands be idle; (even the aged must not fear purchasing a home) for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.
We don't know about tommorrow, but we do not that God is with us today and in our tommorrow. And so, Ecclesiastes appeals to us to forget the wind and sow ( act:do); and forget the clouds and reap (act:do).
Go in faith, that's all we have, but it's also all we need. Remember, faith without works is dead (James 2:20). You have faith, now go and get your home, your wife, your car.
Easter Time Is Women Time
MARK 16:1-8
EASTER TIME IS WOMEN TIME
In Mark’s gospel, two women, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome (Mark 16:1) know something that no one else knows: “Jesus is not dead, but alive.” These two women hear something that no one else hears, because they do something no one else does. Mary and Mary bring sweet spices to the tomb of Jesus to anoint him. Imagine these two women anointing Jesus, not with oil, but with sweet spices.
We should not be surprise to find these two women at the tomb of Jesus with sweet spices. Why? They were with Jesus in his time of trouble as he hangs on the cross, and anyone who is with you in trouble is also with you in death. Mark tells the story of Mary and Mary presence with Jesus as he dies, hanging on an old rugged cross. “There were also women looking on afar off: among them is Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome. Who also when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered to him; and many other women which came up with him to Jerusalem. (Mark 15:41-42).
The story of Mary and Mary reminds us that it pays to serve Jesus. Listen, these two women hear the news, “Jesus is alive,” only because they come to anoint his body. The disciples did not come to the cross to see Jesus crucified, because they fear the Romans. Remember Peter denies Jesus three times because he fears death. We do not blame the disciples for being afraid of Roman soldiers. Every one fears a brutal death.
Fears keeps the disciples far from the cross where Jesus dies. The disciples were not with Jesus is trouble, so it is no surprise that they did not come to the tomb to be with him in death, knowing their fear of Roman soldiers. Mary and Mary had some fear of Roman soldiers; this is why when Jesus dies on the cross they stand “afar off.” Even though they stand “afar off,” they conquer their fear, and come to the cross to be present with Jesus in death.
This is why Eastertime is the time to remember and admire the courage of Mary and Mary, women like Sojourn Truth and Rosa Parks, forerunner of Dr. King. It is God who sends John to prepare the way for the ministry of Jesus, the Christ; and it is God who sends Rosa Parks to prepare the way for the ministry of Dr. Martin Luther King. And so as we celebrate the “Rising,” of our Lord and Savior, Jesus, the Christ we praise God for brave women of all times, ages, and generations. Let the women of God, and the men, rise and say something:” Amen!”
EASTER TIME IS WOMEN TIME
In Mark’s gospel, two women, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome (Mark 16:1) know something that no one else knows: “Jesus is not dead, but alive.” These two women hear something that no one else hears, because they do something no one else does. Mary and Mary bring sweet spices to the tomb of Jesus to anoint him. Imagine these two women anointing Jesus, not with oil, but with sweet spices.
We should not be surprise to find these two women at the tomb of Jesus with sweet spices. Why? They were with Jesus in his time of trouble as he hangs on the cross, and anyone who is with you in trouble is also with you in death. Mark tells the story of Mary and Mary presence with Jesus as he dies, hanging on an old rugged cross. “There were also women looking on afar off: among them is Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome. Who also when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered to him; and many other women which came up with him to Jerusalem. (Mark 15:41-42).
The story of Mary and Mary reminds us that it pays to serve Jesus. Listen, these two women hear the news, “Jesus is alive,” only because they come to anoint his body. The disciples did not come to the cross to see Jesus crucified, because they fear the Romans. Remember Peter denies Jesus three times because he fears death. We do not blame the disciples for being afraid of Roman soldiers. Every one fears a brutal death.
Fears keeps the disciples far from the cross where Jesus dies. The disciples were not with Jesus is trouble, so it is no surprise that they did not come to the tomb to be with him in death, knowing their fear of Roman soldiers. Mary and Mary had some fear of Roman soldiers; this is why when Jesus dies on the cross they stand “afar off.” Even though they stand “afar off,” they conquer their fear, and come to the cross to be present with Jesus in death.
This is why Eastertime is the time to remember and admire the courage of Mary and Mary, women like Sojourn Truth and Rosa Parks, forerunner of Dr. King. It is God who sends John to prepare the way for the ministry of Jesus, the Christ; and it is God who sends Rosa Parks to prepare the way for the ministry of Dr. Martin Luther King. And so as we celebrate the “Rising,” of our Lord and Savior, Jesus, the Christ we praise God for brave women of all times, ages, and generations. Let the women of God, and the men, rise and say something:” Amen!”
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Psalm 18: 29
Running and Leaping
For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.
(Psalm 18: 29 KJV)
God did something for David that I want God to do for me, and that you want God to do for you. God empowers David to run through a troop, and leap over a wall. His life is a meeting with battles and he wins every one, running through the battle, conquering soldiers. Many times David escapes his enemies, leaping over walls. This text, Psalms 18:29, is David’s testimony of the power that God gives him to win every battle. It is God who wins, because God gives David strength to run and leap.
What God did for David, God did for Nelson Mandela, who runs through the troop on Robben Island where he is imprison for 27 years to freedom. He runs and then he leaps over the wall of apartheid, knocking it down carrying his people on his back. God did the same for Barack Obama, who runs through a troop to become President of the United States of America, and leaps over the wall of impossibility to sign a Health Care Reform Bill.
John McCain was a North Vietnamese prisoner of war for five and a half years where he suffers torture, but he outruns the troop and reaches freedom in 1973. After set free, McCain keeps on running until he leaps over the wall of injustice, writing the John McCain Detainee Amendment, banning inhumane treatment of American prisoners of war, even those at Guantanamo Bay.
We want God to do for us what God did for David, Nelson, Barack, and McCain. When we do what we do on behalf of others God is with us, empowering us to run through troops and leap over walls. Let’s become the running and leaping generation and continue David's legacy. I’m looking to see you soon on the highway of life, running through a troop and leaping over a wall. Amen! Amen!
Running and Leaping
For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.
(Psalm 18: 29 KJV)
God did something for David that I want God to do for me, and that you want God to do for you. God empowers David to run through a troop, and leap over a wall. His life is a meeting with battles and he wins every one, running through the battle, conquering soldiers. Many times David escapes his enemies, leaping over walls. This text, Psalms 18:29, is David’s testimony of the power that God gives him to win every battle. It is God who wins, because God gives David strength to run and leap.
What God did for David, God did for Nelson Mandela, who runs through the troop on Robben Island where he is imprison for 27 years to freedom. He runs and then he leaps over the wall of apartheid, knocking it down carrying his people on his back. God did the same for Barack Obama, who runs through a troop to become President of the United States of America, and leaps over the wall of impossibility to sign a Health Care Reform Bill.
John McCain was a North Vietnamese prisoner of war for five and a half years where he suffers torture, but he outruns the troop and reaches freedom in 1973. After set free, McCain keeps on running until he leaps over the wall of injustice, writing the John McCain Detainee Amendment, banning inhumane treatment of American prisoners of war, even those at Guantanamo Bay.
We want God to do for us what God did for David, Nelson, Barack, and McCain. When we do what we do on behalf of others God is with us, empowering us to run through troops and leap over walls. Let’s become the running and leaping generation and continue David's legacy. I’m looking to see you soon on the highway of life, running through a troop and leaping over a wall. Amen! Amen!
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Pslam 69:13
GOD ANSWERS PAYER WHEN WE ARE READY FOR THE ANSWER
But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O Lord, in an acceptable time (Psalm 69:13a).
When we pray God does not always answer us because the time is not right for God to answer. I know we believe that God is a right now God, but that is not always true. God is a right now God if the time is right. Our God refuses to answer our prayers if what we ask God to do prevents us from doing the will of God, or prevents God’s will in the lives of others.
Don’t you remember that God sends Jesus into the world, only when the time is right. God waits for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacobs to do God will in the earth. Then God sends all the prophets into the world, and lastly God sends John, to prepare the way for Jesus. And then when the time was right God sends Jesus, born of a virgin, name Mary.
Yes, in the fullness of time God sends Jesus (Galatians 4:4) That means that God sends Jesus into the world when the time is right for the world to need a Savior. God is a timely God, who knows our time and answers not our prayer if the time is not right for us, and others.
In the book of Psalms, Chapter 69:13a, the writer of the book of Psalms knows that God answers only at an acceptable time. And so David prayers that God answers his prayer when the time is acceptable. David knows God answers prayer at a determine time, and so he prays knowing that Gods answers his prayer when the times is right.
Not unlike David we must pray and patiently wait for God to answer our prayer. God hears us, and God answers us when God decides the time is right for us to receive that for which we prayer.
GOD ANSWERS PAYER WHEN WE ARE READY FOR THE ANSWER
But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O Lord, in an acceptable time (Psalm 69:13a).
When we pray God does not always answer us because the time is not right for God to answer. I know we believe that God is a right now God, but that is not always true. God is a right now God if the time is right. Our God refuses to answer our prayers if what we ask God to do prevents us from doing the will of God, or prevents God’s will in the lives of others.
Don’t you remember that God sends Jesus into the world, only when the time is right. God waits for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacobs to do God will in the earth. Then God sends all the prophets into the world, and lastly God sends John, to prepare the way for Jesus. And then when the time was right God sends Jesus, born of a virgin, name Mary.
Yes, in the fullness of time God sends Jesus (Galatians 4:4) That means that God sends Jesus into the world when the time is right for the world to need a Savior. God is a timely God, who knows our time and answers not our prayer if the time is not right for us, and others.
In the book of Psalms, Chapter 69:13a, the writer of the book of Psalms knows that God answers only at an acceptable time. And so David prayers that God answers his prayer when the time is acceptable. David knows God answers prayer at a determine time, and so he prays knowing that Gods answers his prayer when the times is right.
Not unlike David we must pray and patiently wait for God to answer our prayer. God hears us, and God answers us when God decides the time is right for us to receive that for which we prayer.
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