Lifelong Learner

 Happy Sunday!

"These are the wise sayings of Solomon,
    David’s son, Israel’s king—
Written down so we’ll know how to LIVE WELL and RIGHT,
    to understand what life means and where it’s going;
A manual for living,
    for learning what’s right and just and fair;
To teach the inexperienced the ropes
    and give our young people a grasp on reality.
There’s something here also for seasoned men and women,
    still a thing or two for the experienced to learn—
Fresh wisdom to probe and penetrate,
    the rhymes and reasons of wise men and women."(Proverbs 1:1-6 Message)

Are you a Lifelong Learner?  I hope so!  We can learn something new every day!  I've mentioned before how I get a daily email from Merriam-Webster with the Word of the Day.  It's interesting and enlightening.  Also, the Word of God, The Bible is overflowing with interesting stories, psalms, proverbs, and helpful wisdom.  My Sunday School students would gasp when I told them and showed them stories like the 2 Kings 2:23-24.  Are you familiar with this passage?  42 children decided they would make fun of the Prophet Elisha.  Bad idea!  He turned around and cursed them and two bears came out of the woods and tore the children to pieces.  OUCH!  2 Timothy 3:16 says, "The whole Bible was given to us by inspiration from God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives; it straightens us out and helps us do what is RIGHT."(Living Bible).  I imagine we can learn from this scripture that it's not good to make fun of bald headed men or God's Servants.

Let's purpose in our hearts to learn something new this week!  A new word, a new scripture, a phone number, a feature on your phone, are just a few options.

Love and prayers, Cynthia

THIS Day!

 Happy Sunday!

"This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."(Psalm 118:24 KJV).

Thousands of years ago the Psalmist wrote and sang this verse and it's still relevant!  THIS is the day!  Every day that we are blessed to see is “The Day”!  It's a day to be glad and rejoice!  Don't miss this!  It doesn't have to be what we consider a perfect day, for it to be “The Day”!  It is believed that the author of this Psalm was also the author of Psalm 27.  Listen to what he says in Psalm 27:2, "When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell."(KJV).  Sounds like he had challenges, opposition, and struggles but he understood he could choose what kind of day to have.

You may be wondering, how is this possible?  How can I rejoice and be glad when so many scary and crazy things are happening all around me? Great question.  So glad you asked!  The psalmist gives us a few tips throughout the psalm. Several times he encourages us, "O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever."(Psalm 118:29 KJV).   Thankfulness is key!  Being thankful and recognizing that we didn't get here all on our own.  Good or bad our parents kept us alive long enough for us to go it on our own.  We have had our needs supplied and so much more. We have to look past the mistakes and sadness and see the big picture. 

This is the Day!  We are alive and every day is another opportunity to be a Blessing!  In Psalm 118:17 he says, "I shall not die, but live, and DECLARE the works of the Lord."(KJV).  Who will you Bless today?  Who will remember you with a smile?  Who enjoys being with you?  Use The Day, this day to make a difference! Rejoice!  Be Glad!

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth

 Happy Sunday!

"The world is unprincipled.
It’s dog-eat-dog out there!
The world doesn’t fight fair.
But we don’t live or fight our battles that way—
never have and never will.
The tools of our trade aren’t for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture.
We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the TRUTH of God,
fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ.
Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity."(2 Corinthians 10:3-6 Message).

An acronym for BIBLE is Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.  The Bible is full of truth and wisdom that can help us to thrive everyday! Jesus said, "You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”(John 8:32 Easy-to-Read Version).  Don't miss this!  It's only the truth you KNOW that can help you. If you choose to remain ignorant you will suffer the consequences.  Hebrews 9:27 says, "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:"(KJV).

The Apostle Paul urged the Believers to use the tools God has given us to "Build Lives of Obedience and Maturity".  It's time to grow up!  We can't stay at the same level!  We need to move forward.  Are you dealing with the same issues you dealt with last year?  Go to the Word and find the answer.  Is the enemy telling you things will never get better?  Go to the Word and speak the Word like Jesus did!  When Satan came to tempt our Lord Jesus Christ, Jesus didn't waste a moment pondering what to say or do!  Immediately, He responded, "IT IS Written!"  The Devil didn't argue with Jesus!  He couldn't dispute the Word of God!  Jesus has given us the Authority to do the same!

No matter what it looks like, speak the Word.  Remind your enemy and yourself that the Word will never fail!  The Word always works, and we are destined to WIN when we know and use the Word.

Love and prayers, Cynthia

The Benefits of the Word

 Happy Sunday!

"Oh, how I LOVE all you’ve revealed;
    I reverently ponder it all the day long.
Your commands give me an EDGE on my enemies;
    they NEVER become obsolete.
I’ve even become smarter than my teachers
    since I’ve pondered and absorbed your counsel.
I’ve become wiser than the wise old sages
    SIMPLY by DOING what you TELL me.
I watch my step, avoiding the ditches and ruts of evil
    so I can spend all my time keeping your WORD.
I never make detours from the route you laid out;
    you gave me such good directions.
Your words are so choice, so tasty;
    I prefer them to the best home cooking.
With your instruction, I understand life;
    that’s why I hate false propaganda."
(Psalm 119:99-104 Message)

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Peace Not Confusion

 Happy Sunday!

"For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints."(1 Corinthians 14:33 KJV).

How do you feel when someone lies on you?  What about when your actions or words are misunderstood?  What about when you are misquoted?  I can only imagine it's not the best feeling.  Think about what God must feel when human beings lie on Him!  The Bible gives us some insight into His feelings.  Genesis 6:5-7 say, "God saw that human evil was out of control. People thought evil, imagined evil—evil, evil, evil from morning to night. God was sorry that he had made the human race in the first place; it broke his heart. God said, “I’ll get rid of my ruined creation, make a clean sweep: people, animals, snakes and bugs, birds—the works. I’m sorry I made them.”(Message). OUCH!

Remember when Moses was on the mountain with God, and the people decided to make a golden calf and worship it?  Exodus 32:9-10 says, "Then the Lord said, “I have seen what a stubborn, rebellious lot these people are. Now leave me alone and my anger shall blaze out against them and destroy them all; and I will make you, Moses, into a great nation instead of them.”(Living Bible).  Thankfully, Moses was able to remind God of the promises He made to Abraham, Issac, and Jacob.  Exodus 32:14 says, "So the Lord changed his mind and spared them."(Living Bible). 

Psalm 2:1-4 says, "Why are the nations so angry? Why are the people making such foolish plans? Their kings and leaders join together to fight against the Lord and his chosen king. They say, “Let’s rebel against them. Let’s break free from them!”  BUT the One who rules in heaven LAUGHS at them. The Lord makes fun of them."(Easy-to-Read Version).  While we are reviewing some of God's feelings or emotions, we definitely can't miss the greatest one of all, Love!  1 John 4:8 says, "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for GOD is LOVE."(KJV).  John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."(KJV).

God sent Jesus to pay the penalty for our sin.  God is not angry with us!  He loves us and wants the best for us.  BUT he won't force us to love Him back.  He is not the author or creator of confusion, the Devil does that.  God desires for us to enjoy "righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost."(Romans 14:17 KJV).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Pleasant Words

 Happy Sunday!

"Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones."(Proverbs 16:24 KJV).

I enjoy house plants.  If you visit my home this is immediately evident.  I rarely speak to my plants, but I can tell if they need water, food, or more light.  Scientific studies have proven that positive words spoken to plants have an effect on them.  Whether it's the vibration in the sound waves or the carbon dioxide, something really happens to the plants when they are spoken to.  The scripture above says pleasant words are even beneficial to Humans.

Jesus is our example.  He spoke to a fig tree in the Bible.  Matthew 21:18-20 says, "In the morning, as Jesus was returning to Jerusalem, he was hungry, and he noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went over to see if there were any figs, but there were ONLY leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” And immediately the fig tree withered up. The disciples were amazed when they saw this and asked, “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?”(NLT).  Why would Jesus curse that fig tree?  Great question, so glad you asked!  Fig trees produce fruit before they produce leaves.  That fig tree was a Hypocrite!  The Webster Dictionary 1828 defines hypocrite like this, "One who feigns to be what he is not; one who has the form of godliness without the power, or who assumes an appearance of piety and virtue, when he is destitute of true religion."

The Apostle Paul knew the power of words and encouraged Believers, "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers."(Ephesians 4:29 KJV).  What kind of words are you speaking to others?  What sort of words are you speaking to yourself?  Don't miss this! It matters what you say!  Jesus said, "The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very WORDS I have spoken to you are spirit and life."(John 6:63 NLT).

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."(Philippians 4:8 KJV).  Think on good things, and speak pleasant words!

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Don’t Be Intimidated!

 Happy Sunday!

"Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be SAVED, even by God himself."(Philippians 1:28 NLT)

The Webster's Dictionary 1828 defines intimidate as "To make fearful; to inspire with fear; to dishearten; to abash".  I had to also look up the word "abash" to get clarity.  Abash is defined as "to make (someone) feel embarrassed, disconcerted, or ashamed".  Don't miss this!  God commands us to not let anyone make us fearful, disheartened, embarrassed, disconcerted, or ashamed!  I know what you are thinking, but is it possible? Yes, it is! God never tells us to do anything that we are not capable of doing.

How can we accomplish this?  Great question!  I'm so glad you asked!  The Apostle Paul said, "For I am NOT ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."(Romans 1:16 KJV).  We have to know what we believe, and in whom we believe.  Romans 10:17 says, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."(KJV).  The Word of God has to be a priority!  The Word is described as food and water!  Just like you need nourishment to be strong for work and exercise, you must have a steady diet of the Word to be strong against the wiles of the Devil.  Our enemy is not just out to hurt us, discourage us, or sadden us, his end goal is to KILL us!  John 10:10 says, "The thief approaches with malicious intent, looking to steal, slaughter, and destroy; I came to give life with joy and abundance."(Voice).

Be encouraged!  No matter what happens God has already made the way for us to WIN!   Jesus paid the price for our salvation, healing, and prosperity!  He's promised to never leave us or forsake us!(Hebrews 13:5).

Love and prayers, Cynthia