He who diligently seeks good seeks favor, but evil comes to him who searches for it. He who trusts in his riches will wither, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf. He who troubles his household will inherit wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise. The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, but lawlessness takes away lives. If the righteous is requited on earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!
Richard Craig, Author at GraceAndWorks - Page 45 of 59
By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is mightier than a strong man, and a man of knowledge than he who has strength; for by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory. Wisdom is too high for a fool; in the gate he does not open his mouth. He who plans to do evil will be called a mischief-maker. The devising of folly is sin, and the scoffer is an abomination to men. If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.
It was December in the mid 1990″s. My wife and I left Las Vegas on a Christmas trip to Lincoln, Nebraska. The trip was going fine and was uneventful. We stopped in Rawlins, Wyoming for gas. It was cold, dark and stormy. We got back on the interstate and went about 30 miles when we rounded a corner and there was danger on the highway. There had been an accident and the highway was blocked with Semis. We had nothing to to but go in the ditch. After an abrupt stop by a guard railing, we were unharmed. The car was a total wreck and as we sat there wondering what to do, a patrolman came to the car and took us to his vehicle. We told him what had happened and he then called a tow truck to come get us and the car. The tow truck driver then took us to his little truck stop out in the middle of nowhere (About 60 miles from Laramie). He and his wife were lifesavers as they took us to Laramie on icy roads, late at night and found us a motel room. Thank you Mr. tow truck driver and your wife for being so gracious in the time of a cold, dark, stormy night. The rest of the story is we rented a car and went on to Lincoln and had a wonderful Christmas with our kids and Grand kids and made it back to Vegas safely.
The reason I told this story is because life can also become cold, dark and stormy. We find ourselves traveling along just fine. Then around the next corner we find danger and find ourselves in the ditch and get stopped abruptly. This can happen from a multiple of things. The loss of a job, alcohol problems, drug addiction, suicidal tendencies, family problems, etc. The thing we need to realize is, God can calm the seas. He can calm the winds. He can make the storms stop. He can turn the darkness to light. IF WE WILL LET HIM!! Let God be your tow truck driver, and He will be the same gracious person that will help you and put things back in line so you can get on with your life in a timely manner. God says, “Obey my commands and I will prepare for you a place,” One of my favorite verses in the Bible is 2nd Timothy 2:15 and following. It says to study and show yourself approved. If you do that, you will know the commands God wants you to obey and your life will be warm, filled light and calmness. I can say this because I have experience.
SMILE God loves YOU!! Have a good day all.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all men generously and without reproaching, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways, will receive anything from the Lord.
And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is an unrighteous world among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the cycle of nature, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile, and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by humankind, but no human being can tame the tongue–a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brethren, this ought not be so.
If any one thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this mans religion is vain. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him? If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.
Unfaithful creatures! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
Unfaithful creatures! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
I knew there would be water come out of the faucet, but none came out when I turned it on–called the plumber!! I knew the lights would come on when I flipped the switch. but they didn’t–called the electrician!! I knew the car would start when I put the key in the ignition and turned it, but it didn’t–called the mechanic!! You see I had faith that these things would happen, when they didn’t, I called the professional.
I knew my life was just going fine and stay that way, then it went sideways–tried to fix it myself!! That didn’t work so well. Here’s the question I have for you, why did I call the professionals for plumbing, electrical and auto, yet when my life went sideways I tried to fix it myself instead of calling on the “Professional? The “Professional” being God.
Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. We are to have no doubt about our faith, believing in Jesus and not being ashamed of the Gospel. Faith rests on God’s power. As we go through life, we walk by faith not by sight. We need to be sincere, have a firm belief, and through that faith, Christ will dwell in our hearts. This kind of faith will shield us from evil. Our faith will grow and be strengthened by studying and hearing God’s word. If we have a sincere heart and continue our works in the Kingdom, Jesus will help us in perfecting our faith.
Ephesians chapter 4 tells us there is only one faith. It works through love, encourages us, and prompts us to act. Next time there is trouble with your life, don’t try to fix it yourself–call on God!! FAITH OVERCOMES THE WORLD!!
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