A Bible! A Bible!

By Queenie1

Are you reading your scriptures? I pondered this question when I was preparing to speak with my clergyman.

I thought about it but then I thought I have so many responsibilities at home, work and church. I thought it’s so hard to read a whole chapter a day every day but I realized that I was only making excuses for myself. I justified in my own mind that I had done some good things to help others and that I didn’t really need to read my scriptures.

Inside my heart felt heavy and I felt this deep longing for something that was missing in my life. I needed something to pick me up to face my daily challenges. I wasn’t quite sure what it was that I needed.

At church over the next several months as I was talking with different friends they had told me how daily scripture reading had changed their lives. They seemed to have a lot more peace and contentment than I did. They also seemed to feel the spirit of the Lord a lot more than I did.

When I went home I started to ponder and think about the changes I seen in my friends lives from daily scripture study. I wondered if it would be good for me too. I wondered if daily scripture study would bring me the positive changes in my life that I so desperately needed! I decided to set a goal and to start reading my scriptures daily. At first it was hard and very difficult but I tried to set a time to read the scriptures daily.

As time has passed I have read my scriptures cover to cover. I have realized that reading the scriptures daily has brought into my life a great peace. My life seems to have more purpose and I seem to be a lot happier than I was before.

Reading the scriptures daily has also given me more knowledge and understanding than I could get from anywhere else. The scriptures are full of life stories and how people chose to live their lives, how they dealt with their problems they encountered. I discovered in the scriptures that the problems the people encountered daily are really not so much different than what I encounter today thousands of years later. Our world is different than in the Bible times but people and their relationships to one another are really the same. There’s a lot to learn and understand from the past and peoples choices that can help us in our lives today here and now.

I look forward to more knowledge and understanding as I continue to read and study my scriptures again and again. Imagine what I will have learned after a life time pursuit of studying the scriptures!

Scripture Treasures - Job 1:21

And said, "Naked came I out of my mothers womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away: blessed be the name of the Lord.




We came into this life with nothing and we will return to our creator with nothing. Everything we have in this life God has given to us and he can take it away from us again. We really don't own anything everything belongs to our father in heaven. We are all stewards over what we have and he can take it from us at anytime that he wishes.

God created the earth, the planets, the stars, and the heavens and every living thing upon this earth and we are indebted to him for even our lives and our salvation!


Queenie1

Wisdom or folly? You Choose

Who is she?

"She is as awesome as a goddess, as playful as a small child, as comfortable as a mother's arms, as challenging as a prophet, as satisfying as a table laden with food, as mysterious as a lover hidden among the lilies."

She, of course, is Wisdom.

Isaiah 55 (Invitation to the Spiritually Thirsty) speaks the same message to that of Proverbs 1-9, though it is the LORD who speaks. This proves the synonymity of the LORD and Wisdom. Until we approach both simultaneously we cannot think like God, "'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the LORD." (Isaiah 55:8 TNIV)

The final chapter of Proverbs' introduction gives opposing parties the chance to faceoff.

Wisdom stands in the blue corner and her table is adorned with game and scented wine; her servant-girls have personally issued the virtuous invitation: "You who are simple, turn in here... lay aside immaturity, and live, and walk in the way of insight." (Proverbs 9:4a, 6 NRSV)

Standing in the red corner is Ms Folly. Her table is bare and looks simple: bread and water. But her invitation is deceptive. She says, "Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant." (Proverbs 9:17 NRSV) Those going Folly's way will end up dining with the dead.

Wisdom knows most will reject her offer, even some so-called godly people. She has seen so many go to their dire ruin for rejecting her attractive and ever-sensible offer.

The last chapter of the introduction to Proverbs has the motif of 'the last chance--make your choice' about it.
And this is how life works. At different junctures throughout we're asked to consider and then decide regarding wisdom. Time and again we'll make the wrong decision--and we pay for it; but God, in his eternally long-enduring grace continues to dish up the same offer. Only when we're physically dead will it be too late.

The point is when will we finally choose to accept it?

Copyright © 2009, S. J. Wickham. All Rights Reserved.

Steve Wickham is a registered safety practitioner (BSc, MSIA, RSP) and a qualified, unordained Christian minister (GradDipBib&Min). He also has training and leadership Diplomas. His passion in vocation is facilitation and coaching; encouraging people to soar to a higher value of their potential. Steve's key passion is work / life balance and re-creating value for living, and an exploration of the person within us. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Wickham

Home Education Insights - Wisdom Booklet 32 - How Does God Silence His Detractors?

A lot of people have heard of the expression "Hallowed be Thy name", and may have wondered what God does to silence his detractors who are opposed to Him and therefore clearly not "hallowing" his name. This article will explore the important question of what God uses to battle his enemies.

The thoughts set out in this article review another aspect of my research in wisdom from the Bible and is part of our home education program. We'll start with Psalm 8. We'll ask the question, "Whom will God use to silence those who damage His name?"

Psalm 8 verse 2 states "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger." Its true that coming into close contact with young children changes a person's perspectives on life. However it may appear to some that there is no logical reason for God to claim that babes and sucklings would help defend his reputation against His enemies, his avengers and detractors.

When I think about how young children change a person's perspective on life I think of a time when I was having lunch with two business men. They were both in their late 50s or early 60s and they were both very successful business men. One turned to the other and with a big grin that was caused by looking at his grand baby and he said, "Having grand children really changes things doesn't it?

Perhaps God can use family situations like this to change a hard heart into one that thanks God for creating grand children too? That would be an example of hallowing God's name.

Another aspect of how God uses babes and sucklings to battle his detractors could be seen in the fact that Jesus Christ came into the world as a baby. That is all ancient history, and one could be excused for saying that this remarkable fact is not going to help God to keep his name hallowed today.

In my opinion an example of how children affect people's perspective is seen in this following incident cited in our history resource about Jonathan Goforth.

Jonathan Goforth had been treated badly by the locals in China and was fleeing from persecution, he approached a village for some refuge. The village people looked at him as a foreigner and refused to accept him and those traveling with him. They were not about to show mercy to one representing God' name.

At the time of the Boxer Rebellion Christians were thought to drink the blood of children, and the locals were quite ignorant of the facts. But when the local village men saw how badly the missionaries had been treated, and that Mrs Goforth and children were with him they allowed them to have shelter. God's name and his followers were respected and held in higher esteem, partly because they had children with them.

Often times I have been commended for the behaviour of my children in public. I believe that many people have a dim view of a Christian family until they meet one with children who can behave in public.

Parents cannot enjoy children that are well behaved in public unless they demonstrate God's love to the children at home by training them in what is acceptable behaviour. One way of doing this is by spending time with them and acting out appropriate behaviour for certain situations. This can done during home education times with father and mother as well.

The Bible clearly shows us that God is three persons, the head person is God the Father. Therefore there is a parallel relationship between God the Father and his children who are all Christians, and the earthly father and his children. If we have children that respect authority and their father or grandfathers one can see that they are providing a model of respect for God the Father.

This parallel relationship also provides weight to God's claim that he uses children to "hallow" his name, that the enemies and detractors may have no reason to laugh at God.

This last point is seen nowhere clearer than where a person who is professing to be a Christian, or a Christian leader has children that are clearly not demonstrating respect for their parents or those in authority. That is a bad advertisement for God, and gives occasion for his enemies to laugh at Him.

Laughing at God is opposite to hallowing His name.

Our home education program can be be found at http://www.ati.iblp.org/ati/ Neil Smith is a Financial Adviser in New Zealand and organizes Father Daughter Events in New Zealand. He writes articles on his insights about father-daughter relationships to assist other fathers in understanding more about this important relationship. Neil leads his family in the ATI home education program. His website is http://www.fatherdaughterevents.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Neil_A_Smith

Further Benefits of Moral Wisdom

The NIV title of Proverbs 3 is a little unimaginative, but it proves the point. The moral, spiritual and practical paybacks of securing wisdom are endless. It is simply the best way. And we don't look far for reason. Most of these chapter 3 verses state reason enough.

The continued subject of the father's speech is, of course, the son--the object is his upbringing. These proverbs, chapters 1-9, are really about the parental duty of a sound moral upbringing to the biblical standard. (Much of which seems altogether too difficult for us with our own children in this age--but is that simply an excuse?)

When we read the imperative language we get insight that compels us; no, we don't have a choice if we love our children and we also abide in truth. The wise, godly parent will therefore hold fast to Proverbs.

Well known almost more than any other couplet of verses, and very much underpinning, is the passage:

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths" -Proverbs 3:5-6 (NRSV).

An entire life could be rightly based on those two verses alone, though in reality we need to know more about God to know how to trust him and follow him. But faith is a relatively simple concept.

But, this chapter introduces other important theological concepts, like discipline.

If only we were able to hear and heed the following consistently in our lives:

"My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in" -Proverbs 3:11-12 (NIV).

The LORD's discipline can be any setback in life as God allows all things that happen to happen. Our pain is not the point--it's merely a signal that something is wrong; our disciplined responses are the point. Pain is good in this way. It's an activator. We have the opportunity to respond the right way.

The following three verses place importance on the son gaining understanding, presumably as a result of the LORD's discipline--for that is how understanding is truly gained--in the midst of battle. Understanding is more precious than anything, a truly eternal possession.

And these verses simply lead to the crowning verse in the Jewel of Proverbs 1-9, in my view.

"Long life is in [Wisdom's] right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor" -Proverbs 3:16 (NIV).

For these three reasons we're supremely blessed. A long life is a fulfilled life, content with its lot, however it has turned out. Riches are spiritual riches primarily, but almost certainly (though not always) meaningful (i.e. spiritually meaningful) material riches of tangible variety are in abundance also. Honour comes in the form of a right and just reputation of a person of integrity--no cheap possession.

Wisdom is the 'tree of life' to all those who embrace her (3:18), casting the net back to Genesis and forward to Revelation. The tree of life analogy is intrinsically a biblical metaphor; reward for right relationship with God.

The rest of the chapter consists the origins of Wisdom, which came before Creation, an urging to cling fast to Wisdom (verse 21-26) and some notable warnings to follow the path of wisdom. It concludes with five 'do not' proverbs which lead to outcome statements: two negative and one positive.

If there is a hinge in Proverbs 1-9 it is chapter 3 with its richness and range.

Copyright © 2009, S. J. Wickham. All Rights Reserved.

Steve Wickham is a registered safety practitioner (BSc, MSIA, RSP) and a qualified, unordained Christian minister (GradDipBib&Min). Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Wickham