Exciting Conversations!

There is almost nothing better than an exiting conversation between two great friends. I recently had a wonderful conversation with my father, we were together about two hours and the time just passed as we discussed politics, religion, sports, and the economy. It was great to talk with each other, not asking for anything not needing anything just talking. After we parted I continued to reflect on how many time we talk to our loved ones and friends having great conversations just like the one I had with my father new and interesting, exiting conversations. Then I began to think of how prayer to God is just that - a conversation. The problem is many of us always have the same one sided conversation with God our Father every time we pray. I wonder how many of us would keep our friends around if every time we talked it was for just five minutes and they did all of the talking asking for the same list of things daily? Chances are we would not like to talk to them and probably would terminate our friendship.

Friends what I am getting at is when we pray and have conversations with God they should be as fresh, exciting and new as the ones we have with our friends and family. God wants to be an intimate part of our life- let's have the wisdom to let God in. Today start having some EXITING CONVERSATIONS WITH GOD!

Proverbs 9

¹ Wisdom has built her house;
she has carved its seven columns.
² She has prepared a great banquet,
mixed the wines, and set the table.
³ She has sent her servants to invite everyone to come.
She calls out from the heights overlooking the city.
⁴ “Come in with me,” she urges the simple.
To those who lack good judgment, she says,
⁵ “Come, eat my food,
and drink the wine I have mixed.
⁶ Leave your simple ways behind, and begin to live;
learn to use good judgment.”

⁷ Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return.
Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt.
⁸ So don’t bother correcting mockers;
they will only hate you.
But correct the wise,
and they will love you.
⁹ Instruct the wise,
and they will be even wiser.
Teach the righteous,
and they will learn even more.

Be Well, P.J.

What are you seduced by?

Many people read the early chapters of the book of proverbs and take them literally to degrade or downplay women , painting them in a negative light. I offer for us today that the so called promiscuous women in proverbs chapter 7 is not just a physical women but anything that we allow to seduce us. Therefore I put forward the question, what seduces you?

Proverbs 7:21-27

²¹ With persuasive words she led him astray;
she seduced him with her smooth talk.
²² All at once he followed her
like an ox going to the slaughter,
like a deer stepping into a noose
²³ till an arrow pierces his liver,
like a bird darting into a snare,
little knowing it will cost him his life. ²⁴ Now then, my sons, listen to me;
pay attention to what I say.
²⁵ Do not let your heart turn to her ways
or stray into her paths.
²⁶ Many are the victims she has brought down;
her slain are a mighty throng.
²⁷ Her house is a highway to the grave,
leading down to the chambers of death.

We must ask ourselves what really seduces us, what calls us out at night, what do we crave? If we find that theses things deter us from our relationship with God we must remix the situation and flee from them expeditiously.

Dear God grant us the wisdom to know what we are attracted to that is harmful for us and give us the strength to overcome the desire for these things and desire to be closer to you. Amen!

Until next time love P.J.

Don't committ to what you can't handel

Many times some of us out of kindness, foolishness or compassion take on others burdens that we can not honestly bear. While we are dealing with our own trespasses out across moral boundaries, past engagements in promiscuous behavior that resulted in depression, fear, guilt, and shame. We try to not deal with these things and assist with others. Therefore I have reflected on this text from Proverbs 6:

Proverbs 6

Warnings Against Foolish Acts

¹ My son, don't put up money for what your neighbor owes. Don't agree to pay up for someone else. ² Don't be trapped by what you have said. Don't be caught by the words of your mouth. ³ Instead, my son, do something to free yourself. Don't fall into your neighbor's hands. Don't be proud. Hurry and make your appeal to your neighbor. ⁴ Don't let your eyes go to sleep. Don't let your eyelids close. ⁵ As a deer frees itself from a hunter, free yourself. As a bird frees itself from a trapper, free yourself.

God does not tells us to hate or abandoned our neighbor, but do not be a slave nor abused by your neighbor. However we should help ourselves & families 1st- then if ABLE assist others. How can we help others when we are fighting for our lives and sinking?

Dear God, today we pray for our neighbors and ask that you guide us into right decisions while keeping us away from attaching ourselves to people who want to bring us down. In Jesus name we pray Amen.

What have you learned from your mistakes?

So today is Monday all over again, & I'm thanking God for it! Today was not promised to me and my loved ones, the simple fact that we are still here is taken as great blessings. Despite how thankful I am, I am still a sinner saved by grace. Today my devotion has led me to proverbs 5, let's look.

Proverbs 5: ²¹ The Lord watches a man's ways. He studies all of his paths. ²² A sinner is trapped by his own evil acts. He is held tight by the ropes of his sins. ²³ He will die because he refused to be corrected. His sins will capture him because he was very foolish.

We all have sinned and will continue to sin in some form or fashion but the scripture challenges us to change, allow ourselves to be corrected and to learn from our former failures. So I ask you rhetorically what have you learned from your mistakes, what have you learned from your sins? History teaches us that if you have not learned from something chances are you will repeat that act or action in the future. However if you do learn you will avoid those mistakes in the future. So again I ask what have you learned from your mistakes?

Dear God, today we just ask that you teach, correct and guide us. In Jesus name Amen.

Living a Perfect Life?

At first glance it seems almost seems impossible to live a perfect life. I mean who could be perfect - no except Jesus Christ. Thinking about perfection and how to attain perfection this morning led me to our scripture for reflection, let's look:

Romans 5:6-11 (New International Version)

⁶ You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

⁹ Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! ¹⁰ For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! ¹¹ Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

This scripture speaks to the human condition, and I hear the theology of John Wesley screaming out about how we can not be perfect in the sense of having no fault. However we can be perfect as Christians or achieve Christian Perfection. We can live perfect Christian lives by each and everyday living better, making better decisions, doing better today than we did yesterday because we are reconciled to God through Jesus and are saved through his life and blood.

So friends get to it, start living into your perfect life- look back at yesterday and live even better today, stepping your game up for tomorrow!

Dear God help us to know that our current condition does not determine our final destination. God show us how we can grow into more perfect people daily, in Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Enjoy your weekend- I love you P.J.

What are you asking God for? It can begin today!

Scripture tells us that King Solomon was the wisest person to ever live, because he asked God for wisdom. What are you asking God for today, peace, prosperity, health, love, forgiveness etc? We all need to ask God for something then trust that it will be received, and live into our calling. All persons are called for purpose, all persons have God given gifts unique to them alone. This month lets explore the proverbs of Solomon.

Proverbs 1

¹ These are the proverbs of Solomon. He was the son of David and the king of Israel. ² Proverbs teach you wisdom and train you. They help you understand wise sayings. ³ They provide you with training and help you live wisely. They lead to what is right and honest and fair. ⁴ They give understanding to childish people. They give knowledge and good sense to those who are young. ⁵ Let wise people listen and add to what they have learned. Let those who understand what is right get guidance. ⁶ What I'm teaching also helps you understand proverbs and stories. It helps you understand the sayings and riddles of those who are wise.

Main Point

⁷ If you really want to gain knowledge, you must begin by having respect for the Lord. But foolish people hate wisdom and training.
Until next time be well.

Raise your voice, shoot go ahead and YELL!

Some people always wanna start stuff, they are always looking for trouble, or looking to disrupt happiness and cause commotion. Rest assured that these persons intrusions on your life will only last a while, however despite there annoying presence we are still called to preach, to lift our voices, to yell the good news of God at all times.

Isaiah 40: 6-8 ^{6 -8}A voice says, "Shout!" I said, "What shall I shout?"

"These people are nothing but grass,
their love fragile as wildflowers. The grass withers, the wildflowers fade,
if God so much as puffs on them.
Aren't these people just so much grass? True, the grass withers and the wildflowers fade,
but our God's Word stands firm and forever."

^{9 -11}Climb a high mountain, Zion.
You're the preacher of good news. Raise your voice. Make it good and loud, Jerusalem.
You're the preacher of good news.
Speak loud and clear. Don't be timid! Tell the cities of Judah,
"Look! Your God!" Look at him! God, the Master, comes in power,
ready to go into action. He is going to pay back his enemies
and reward those who have loved him. Like a shepherd, he will care for his flock,
gathering the lambs in his arms, Hugging them as he carries them,
leading the nursing ewes to good pasture.

Don't be afraid to yell sometimes, people around might need to hear it, perhaps it will even deter those in you immediate area waiting for the next opportunity to do you harm. Raise your voice shoot go ahead and YELL!!!

Dear God, give us the voice & the mind to speak on your behalf at all times. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.