Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Make wise choices

Dear Friends:
As we focus on the final days of Christ this week, reflect on His temptations and His decisions. We're faced with temptations and decisions every day and the consequences can set the tone for personal and professional lives.

Who do you go to when you need to make a decision? Do you act on emotion, logic, or your world view? Who or what informs your world view?
In Matthew 4, when Christ was led into the desert and tempted by the enemy, He knew the Word. Shouldn't we do the same? When Jesus was hanging on the cross, He called on His Father. As Christians, we have the same access. Maybe we should call on God before calling a friend.

Review the verses below and think about making wise choices. If you rely on the Word, you won't go wrong.

Stay blessed and make wise choices,
K.

Proverbs 2

The Benefits of Wisdom

1 My child,[a] listen to what I say,
and treasure my commands.
2 Tune your ears to wisdom,
and concentrate on understanding.
3 Cry out for insight,
and ask for understanding.
4 Search for them as you would for silver;
seek them like hidden treasures.
5 Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord,
and you will gain knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord grants wisdom!
From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest.
He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.
8 He guards the paths of the just
and protects those who are faithful to him.

9 Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair,
and you will find the right way to go.
10 For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will fill you with joy.
11 Wise choices will watch over you.
Understanding will keep you safe.

12 Wisdom will save you from evil people,
from those whose words are twisted.
13 These men turn from the right way
to walk down dark paths.
14 They take pleasure in doing wrong,
and they enjoy the twisted ways of evil.
15 Their actions are crooked,
and their ways are wrong.

16 Wisdom will save you from the immoral woman,
from the seductive words of the promiscuous woman.
17 She has abandoned her husband
and ignores the covenant she made before God.
18 Entering her house leads to death;
it is the road to the grave.[b]
19 The man who visits her is doomed.
He will never reach the paths of life.

20 Follow the steps of good men instead,
and stay on the paths of the righteous.
21 For only the godly will live in the land,
and those with integrity will remain in it.
22 But the wicked will be removed from the land,
and the treacherous will be uprooted.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Pray about Everything

Dear Friends:
Happy Holy Week!
I pray that all has been well and that you remain in perfect peace. Today's message is brief but designed to help us maintain a peaceful presence to the outside world.

In all things, pray. There is so much to do and so much to worry about but if you know who you are (and whose you are), you can rest assured that God answers prayers.
Don't worry about the outcome, God knows your needs and He knows how to respond. He will handle the situation so that others will see the good He's done and be drawn to Him. Our responsibility is to stay faithful and know that God's will will be done. No need to fret or worry- just trust and know.

In the meantime, stay blessed. It's good to be with you all again.
K.

EPHESIANS 6:18 (NIV): And pray in the Spirit on all
occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With
this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying…
PHILIPPIANS 4:6 (NLT): Don’t worry about anything;
instead, pray about everything.

Prayer: Dear Father, I know You
care about every aspect of my
life and that You want to guide
me in every decision and
choice I make, so I come to
You daily, as a spiritual act of
discipline, seeking Your insight
and perspective because You
have the answer to every unanswered
question in my life.