Reading Proverbs

We have started off 2017 by reading through Proverbs. Because of the way Proverbs is written, why don’t you start this coming week.

download it here: reading-through-proverbs
or from facebook: reading through proverbs

Here are the summary tweets from the first 4 weeks – Proverbs 1-20
Which Proverbs spoke to you?

Proverbs 1 Proverbs are about teaching wisdom, discipline, insight, how to live successful lives that are right, just & fair – learn from them #Prov1

Proverbs 2 Wisdom leads to understanding & insight, will fill you with joy & will save you from evil people & immoral people #Prov2

Proverbs 3 Store wisdom in your heart Live loyal, kind lives Don’t reject discipline Honour God with resources & you will sleep at night #Prov3

Proverbs 4 Hold to a healthy heritage, stay off the wrong way, don’t swerve from the right way, keep walking in the light #Prov4

Proverbs 5 Pay attention 2 wisdom Watch out 4 easy ways UR ways R watched by God Deeds of the wicked trap them-led astray by lack of discipline #Prov5

Proverbs 6 Don’t get trapped by lies Don’t be lazy Don’t devise schemes Don’t lust Walk in & by the light #Prov6

Proverbs 7 Keep my commands & U will live Guard my teaching as the apple of UR eye Bind them on UR fingers; write them on the tablet of UR heart #Prov7

Proverbs 8 Choose my instruction over silver, knowledge over gold Blessed are those who listen 2 me & keep my ways Those who find me find life #Prov8

Proverbs 9 Don’t rebuke mockers-they will hate U The fear of the Lord is the start of wisdom Knowledge of God is understanding #Prov9

Proverbs 10 Blessings crown the head of the righteous The wise in heart accept commands Whoever walks in integrity walks securely #Prov10

Proverbs 11 Honesty guides, dishonesty destroys The godless destroy w/ words knowledge rescues W/O wise leadership a nation falls #Prov11

Proverbs 12 Plans of  the godly R just-of the wicked deceitful Wicked R traped by their words Fools think their way is right-wise listen 2 others #Prov12

Proverbs 13 Careful words make 4 a careful life-careless talk can ruin all Wise think beB4 they act-fools dont-they brag about their foolishness #Prov13

Proverbs 14 Honesty doesnt deceive-false witnes lies Mean people paid in meaness Fear-of-God builds up, makes safe place, spring of living H2O #Prov14

Proverbs 15 Gentle answers deflect anger-harsh words make tempers flare Wisdom flows like spring water-fools are leaky faucets dripping nonsense #Prov15

Proverbs 16 We make plans but God has the last word God can’t stomach arrogance or pretense We plan the way 2 live only God enables us 2 live it #Prov16

Proverbs 17 Fire tests the purity of silver & gold, the Lord tests the heart. If you repay good with evil, evil will never leave your house. #Prov17

Proverbs 18 Loners who only care 4 self spit on comon sense Fools dont care 4 dialogue-they run off at the mouth Contempt 4 life is contemptible #Prov18

Proverbs 19 Best 2 B poor & honest vs rich & untrustable Let the angry face backlash of their anger-if U try 2 make it better U’ll make it worse #Prov19

Proverbs 20 Don’t say “I will get U for this” Let God handle the matter. Avoiding quarrels is a mark of honor, only fools insist on fighting #Prov20

Reading the Bible when you feel nothing

Someone asked me recently about reading the Bible when you feel nothing.

You sit down early in the morning, Bible in hand, coffee at your side. The world is asleep. Maybe, you’re still asleep. You wish you could get another ½ hour. Your eyes… they feel so heavy… You stumble your way through your daily reading. You try to jot down a note or two… pray… get your heart oriented for the day. You finish, and you feel… nothing.

You are still tired. No amazing revelations of glory. No deep sense of God’s abiding presence. No spiritual flashbangs or burning bushes.

Did anything really “happen” during your reading? Did the Bible make any difference? Why should you even continue when it just feels like you’re going through the motions?

Anyone ever feel like that?

Let me suggest a few reasons why we keep reading

IT’S A WAY OF ACKNOWLEDGING MY DEPENDENCE ON GOD

Regardless of what happens, reading God’s word is a statement that I need God; that I cannot survive on bread alone; that I’m not smart enough, strong enough, or clever enough to navigate this world apart from God. In God’s economy, only the weak survive. Listening to God through the Bible and his Spirit are clear ways of saying “I am weak. I need you God.”

GOD REWARDS THOSE WHO SEEK THEM

Hebrews 11:6 says, “It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him.” MSG

God responds those who seek him. Not those who feel him, or get warm fuzzies or feel spiritual electricity coursing through their being. When we read the Bible, we am expressing faith that God will meet us as we seek him.

READING SCRIPTURE IS PRIMARILY A PLANTING ACTIVITY

Psalm 1:3 describes the people who read and meditate on God’s word this way: “They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.

Trees grow slowly. If you look at a tree, it doesn’t look like it’s growing. Fruit only appears in a specific season and often not until the tree has reached a certain age. When you plant a seed, you have faith that you will eventually see the results.

Reading God’s word is often like planting seeds. We don’t see the fruit of it immediately, but eventually, we see it. If you ever wonder why some Christians seem so mature, it’s usually because they’ve spent many hours planting the seed of God’s Word in the soil of their heart.

Growth is slow. Fruit is slow developing. But it will happen.

GOD’S WORD PROTECTS ME

Going into the world without the protection of God’s word is like going into battle without any armour. It’s suicidal. The world, the flesh, and the devil are eagerly looking for opportunities to rip us to shreds: to deceive us; destroy us, lure us into traps; to absolutely ruin our life. The Bible says that the devil prowls about like a lion, like a wolf in sheep’s clothing, even like an angel at times.

The word of God protects us against the siren calls that beckons us. It shines light into the dark corners so we can see that the stuff which looks so attractive is actually destruction. The Bible is a lamp to our feet, a beacon in dark places, a shield, and a sword.

TAKE UP AND READ

There will be many times when I don’t read the Bible. When sleep or sickness or general laziness prevents me. But I know I can’t allow that to continue for long. My growth depends on it. My safety depends on it. My very life depends on it.

mended

On Sunday, 8 January we are starting a 4 part series
we are calling mended.mended-title

We’ve all been wounded.
We carry wounds from broken relationships, church hurts,
shattered dreams and our own foolish choices.

Sometimes the pain dulls over time, but often it never fully goes away.
In this 4 week series, we’ll explore an incredible and liberating truth:
Jesus can heal us because
he was wounded for us,
is with us
and has power to mend the wounded.