Deep Waters, Fountain, and a Bubbling Brook

Proverbs 18:4
The words of a man's mouth are deep waters; The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.

Deep waters, fountain of wisdom, a bubbling brook. Don't let those three words pictures esquape your minds. From your mouth should flow the wisdom of God. A well-spring of wisdom as deep as deep waters, flowing and abundant like a fountain, fresh and clean as a bubbling brook.

Matthew Henry says "to be an intelligent knowing man has in him a good treasure of useful things, which furnishes him with something to say upon all occasions that is pertinent and profitable". Words that make no noise, but never run dry. Our words should be pertinent and profitable.

Wisdom comes from God, from studyng the Bible, from listening to wise men, and from reading wise men. It also comes from experience and from watching wise men.
Proverbs 18:15
The mind of the prudent acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. My beloveds, seek after knowledge, wisdom and unerstanding, that you may have something to say upon all occasions for His glory.

The Winning Weapon

Life on earth is a continuous battle against sin. Temptations abound. So, beware. Be educated. Be skilled. The only way to fight sin and temptation is knowing, understanding, and using the Word of God, your weapon.

Don't waste time as the battle has already started. Once saved, you members wage war against the Spirit. (Galations 5:17: For the flesh sets its desire agianst the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another) Your members, coupled with the devil and the world, make an unformidable foe. You will lose everytime without the sword.

This week I woke at 5 am on a Saturday. Hooray! I will get up, knock out my Sunday School lesson, and be able to concentrate on my beloveds during the day. However, for one whole hour, 5-6 am, I paced back and forth from the coffee pot, praying, arguing, complaining and fighting with God. I want a dining room and an addition to this house, or better, a new one. Now.

After one hour, I went into to your father and confessed my sin to him. It then dawned on me that I had not been in the Word. I didn't even know where my Bible was. I opened my Bible to James 4: and as soon as I read it, the chains were broken. I was free. Free from the bondage of sin. Consequently, I was able to happily study the Bible and prepare for my lesson without any thoughts of materialism.

Gaining national freedom required a fight. Same with sin. Freedom from sin requires a fight. However, instead of real guns for the battle, the Word of God is your weapon. The winning weapon!!! It never fails.

Praying for Your Wives (Husband)

Proverbs 18:22

He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord.

A good wife is a great blessing. Seek a godly wife through “care and prayer”. She will be as a rare jewel; she will have exceeding worth.

Matthew Henry says: she will not only contribute to your comfort in life, but will also “forward you in the way to heaven” A good wife (or husband for Laurie) is a sign that God delights in a man to do him good and has mercy in store for him, for this, therefore, God must be sought unto.

I'm praying, my beloved ones, for godly spouses. May the Lord bless you and multiply you May you walk with Him and fear Him all the days of your lives.

Trust God

A couple of weeks ago, God gave Dad a promise. it was Jeremiah

This greatly encouraged your Dad in light of the fact that the church is about 20,000 behind budget.

Having had to walk through financial shortages many times, we knew we could trust Him.

Well, today at church the offering was $23,000. That may not completely cover the deficit, but in narrows it to a tiny margin. Praise Him. He is faithful. Don't become fearful with money shortages. Make sure you give to the Lord what He requires, spend frugally, and trust Him with the rest.

The Bookshelf

The Bookshelf.
Precious Ones, I have been praying for bookshelves for years. Seriously, I have. My goal was to find them at garage sales, thrift stores, Salvation Army, anywhere second hand. However, they seem to be few and far between, that is, the good ones anyway.
So today, having grown impatient, I broke down and bought one first hand! I had received some birthday money which I used to help pay for it. PTL it was on sale! I wouldn’t have bought it otherwise. (Don't ever buy anything full price).
When I arrived back home, God gave me this verse and I just want to share it with you.
I Timothy 6:17
Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.
Remember to never idolize the things of this passing world. They will burn. He is good. He gives you things for you to enjoy. But, beware, they are never to take His place. He must be your first love. He must be your delight, not the vain things of this world.

What is the antidote for loving your things more than God?
Repent: James 4 and get in the Word.
David says: Ps 119:47
And I shall delight in Thy commandments, Which I love. Love and delight in God and in His Word.

Faith vs Fear

Beloved ones,
Sometimes it looks like the promises are vaporizing. The chances of rain and promised mercy are dwindling. Nothing promised is materializing.
This is a test. No doubt, fears will creep in, feelings of abandonment will take over. Nip it in the bud. It quickly turns to bitter jealousy (which is demonic according to James 4) and sinful distrust.
The only antidote in this dangerous situation is the Word of God. The Word will build your faith. With that faith, you can run, you will mount up as eagles. Is 40. So, stay hunkered down in the Word.
Strive to grow in faith. The purpose of your trials.
Heb 11:1 Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not yet seen.
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

if your way is dark, trust in the Lord. (Isaiah 50) Don’t try to fanagle your way to get your desires met, wait on Him. (Streams in the Desert March 30)
Stay faithful. Just as Jesus was abandoned on the cross, wrath poured upon Him, He still said “My God, My God” Although you may feel like it, you have not been abandoned, so You must say: My God, My God. And as Job boldly says in his afflictions Job 19:25 As for me, I know that my redeemer lives.
While you wait, humble yourselves, listen to Him, talk to Him, develop the tongue of disciples. Learn all you can in the dark. He will bring forth your righteousness as the noonday.
See Streams in the Desert, march 30 and File entitled Faith vs Fear.