Just Food For Thought!

Proverbs 11

New International Version (NIV)

11 The Lord detests dishonest scales,
    but accurate weights find favor with him.

² When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
    but with humility comes wisdom.

³ The integrity of the upright guides them,
    but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.

⁴ Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath,
    but righteousness delivers from death.

⁵ The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight,
    but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.

⁶ The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
    but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.

⁷ Hopes placed in mortals die with them;
    all the promise of^[a] their power comes to nothing.

⁸ The righteous person is rescued from trouble,
    and it falls on the wicked instead.

⁹ With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors,
    but through knowledge the righteous escape.

¹⁰ When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices;
    when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.

¹¹ Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
    but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.

¹² Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense,
    but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.

¹³ A gossip betrays a confidence,
    but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.

¹⁴ For lack of guidance a nation falls,
    but victory is won through many advisers.

¹⁵ Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer,
    but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.

¹⁶ A kindhearted woman gains honor,
    but ruthless men gain only wealth.

¹⁷ Those who are kind benefit themselves,
    but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.

¹⁸ A wicked person earns deceptive wages,
    but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.

¹⁹ Truly the righteous attain life,
    but whoever pursues evil finds death.

²⁰ The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse,
    but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.

²¹ Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished,
    but those who are righteous will go free.

²² Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
    is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.

²³ The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
    but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.

²⁴ One person gives freely, yet gains even more;
    another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

²⁵ A generous person will prosper;
    whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

²⁶ People curse the one who hoards grain,
    but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.

²⁷ Whoever seeks good finds favor,
    but evil comes to one who searches for it.

²⁸ Those who trust in their riches will fall,
    but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.

²⁹ Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind,
    and the fool will be servant to the wise.

³⁰ The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
    and the one who is wise saves lives.

³¹ If the righteous receive their due on earth,
    how much more the ungodly and the sinner!

How Are We To Behave During the Storm?

Luke 8:22-26

One Day he got into a boat with his disciples and he said to them let us go across to the other side of Lake so they put out, and while that was selling he fell asleep. A windstorm swept down on the lake, and the boat was filling with water, and they were in danger. They went to him and woke him up shouting master, master, we are perishing! And he woke up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; they ceased and there was a calm. He said to them, where is your faith? They were afraid and amazed and said to one another, who then is this that he commands even the Wind and the Water and they obey him? Then they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee.

We had been in the Sea of Galilee all of 15 minutes  as our boat was turning around and we begin to head  back towards the shore  someone said  pejoratively what would happen if a storm came now, right out of nowhere? I looked  down at the amazingly calm waters of the Galilean sea and begin to take a quick inventory of the width,  and length  of the sea of Galilee. Briefly gazing along the shoreline and at other ships around us our  guide Ramseys told us the sea is over 150 feet deep. Realizing all of this I began to envision how afraid the disciples must have been stuck out on the sea in the middle of a horrible storm, nowhere to go, with no escape, nothing to hold on to. The disciples only had three options 1) Panic, 2)Wait, 3) or call on Jesus!

As we travel through the Holy Land we have been privileged to see great and historic places to our faith and the scriptures. We have been allowed to travel freely, eat great cuisine and take advantage of all that Israel has to offer. However we have also been challenged to the core of our hearts. The liberties that we are experiencing  have been denied to many who have been born right here. Many Arabic people born in the land live through daily storms. Storms filled with check points, unfair laws, racism and oppression, many live in a situation not unlike the twelve on the boat; where they can either panic, accept the situation and wait or turn to God. Today I have come to the realization that we al will have enormous storms in our life, that is a promise as sure as we need air to breathe. The realization I have come to is that we are not to feel defeated in the storms, it’s how we behave in the storms of our lives that give us power. I have been encouraged at how the Arabic/ Palestinian people I have encountered  have chosen to behave in the storm. They have not been defeated but have called on God to empower them , and they have the faith to endure until Justice prevails and ture love is unleashed in the land. I pray that you and I can use the examples seen here and behave the same way in the midst of our storms, by turning to God.

Finally, I remember the words or Rev. Charles Albert Tindely “ In the midst of tribulation, stand by me. When the host of hell assail, and my strength begins to fail, thou who never lost a battle, stand by me.” Dear God remind us how you have never lost a battle,  remind us how you are with us during the storms of life giving freedom to the captives and release from oppression for the oppressed.  Show us how to behave during the storm.

Scheduling Dream Time

ACTS 10:9- 23 (NIV)

Peter’s Vision

⁹ About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. ¹⁰ He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. ¹¹ He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. ¹² It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. ¹³ Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”

¹⁴ “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”

¹⁵ The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”

¹⁶ This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.

¹⁷ While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. ¹⁸ They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.

¹⁹ While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you. ²⁰ So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”

²¹ Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?”

²² The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.” ²³ Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.

Today's devotional scripture taken from Acts 10 is a wonderful passage because it challenges Peter to rethink the parameters of the CHURCH as it pertains to who is included as part of the church. On the topic of inclusion I could write hundreds of blog post, however for today God has directed my heart to focus on the on the outcome of verse 10, the importance of dreaming and visioning. According to the text Peter is on the roof when he falls into a trance or sleep like state, its during this time that Peter has a vision which changes the entire church. It's amazing to me how God speaks and directs us especially through our dreams and visions. This is why we must be intentional in scheduling dream time. 

Usually when tragedy strikes and trial happens many of us have trouble sleeping, resting and seeing the future past the climatic events of our life. During the worst of times and the best of times we as Christians must schedule monthly, weekly, even daily dream/vision time. Not just time to sleep and rest but intentional time to seek God, and time to imagine who God wants us to become. Taking time out to dream opens us up to new perspectives as well as challenging us to expand our horizions. 

Are you tired of doing the same old things, have you spent years going through the same old motions? When did you last take time out to dream and seek God's guidance in your life? Have you ever scheduled regular dream time? This is you invitation!

Dear God, encourage us to take time out daily to seek, hear and respond to your will by giving us the dreams the prophet Joel spoke of and life changing revelations like those bestowed upon Peter. God grant us new visions, let them began today. This is our prayer in Jesus name. Amen.

Capitol One for the past two years or so has been running ads with the slogan "What's in your wallet?" These commercials have proven to be catchy, entertaining and also witty!As I have read the text for today I could not but help to think about what's on the tongues and in the mouths of CHRISTIANS (Self-Proclaimed)?  The words of James are familiar and simple to most, but are they taken seriously? Today I only invite us to revisit with the intent to take them to heart! Ask yourself/ Challenge yourself to guide your tongue for 7- SEVEN straight days and I grantee the world will become a better place!

James 3

New International Version (NIV)

Taming the Tongue

3 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. ² We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.

³ When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. ⁴ Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. ⁵ Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. ⁶ The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

⁷ All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, ⁸ but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

⁹ With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. ¹¹ Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? ¹² My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Love P.J.

From Impossible to Imagining the Possibliities

Moving from impossible to imagining the possibilities. Some times in life we get so overwhelmed about our own situations locked in deep despair and sorrow it seems that our problems are the size of a Camel and our resources are the size of a needle. We even began to view our current situations as permanent life sentences to which we are held captive wishing that we could be liberated (from all negative issues holding us back) going freely to give testimony and sow the seed of love to all who will embrace it . We know how much God loves us and want's to be apart of our daily lives. When we get down, when we start  feeling left out, when we give up hope preparing for the worst. During these uncertain troublesome times we must look to God and lean on one another dismissing all things deemed impossible knowing that our God makes all things possible.

Let's look at the text today taken from Mark 10:17-31.

The Rich and the Kingdom of God

¹⁷ As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

¹⁸ “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. ¹⁹ You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.”

²⁰ “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

²¹ Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

²² At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

²³ Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

²⁴ The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is  to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

²⁶ The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”

²⁷ Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

²⁸ Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!”

²⁹ “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel ³⁰ will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. ³¹ But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” 

Beloved, as Christians and persons of faith we have the  responsibility of educating, feeding, clothing all we encounter along the road of our lives.  We must cease to bicker about trivial things that we can not change asking God for inspiration  and guidance that will help us to change the world around us in dramatic fashion for Christ.  As Jesus reminds us in today's text no one is good except God alone all the rest of us are sinners saved by God grace, and mercy. Focusing on these things always following God will lead us directly into the kingdom of heaven.  Remember our job is not to  change the past but to embrace the present making sure that our hearts, minds, and physical bodies are willing to follow where ever God leads.We are called to be living testimonies for God here on earth. Once we humble ourselves and allow God to work we will grow in faith and understanding knowing that God will never leave or forsake us!  

Dear God today provide us with  your word as we seek to spread the Good News. Send us out into the world reminding all that the doors once closed, the path's once blocked off have now been opened to your people, proving yet again that you make the impossible, possible. Thank you God for always making a way out of now way, thank you for being our light in the darkness.
 Enjoy your day, be well P.J.

Sound Investments

Recently Facebook went public, now it's stock is being traded worldwide. Millions of people have an opportunity to own a piece of the Facebook empire, investors large and small are currently seeking to store up profits based on the social media site that has taken the world by storm over the last fifteen years. As I watched last week all of the excitement about Facebook going public, I could not help but to ask myself the question what will be the next great idea that makes billions of dollars while inspiring millions of people to invest looking for financial gain. I am positive that twenty years ago there were no Twitter and Facebook pages, I am just as sure that in the next twenty years there will be new companies that will change the way we live and communicate, having similar effects on future generations.  Regardless of the next new invention, cure, or technical development that provides an opportunity for "SOUND INVESTMENTS" it all will one day pass.  As we go through life seeking to provide for our families, make ends meet and secure wealth for future generations we must not loose sight of the sound investments that provide the greatest rewards! Today I would like all of us to reflect on our investment portfolio determining for ourselves if we are investing properly and often enough to provide for our eternal security. We should invest without ceasing in Christ the solid rock, everything else is sinking sand and will soon pass away. Let's look: Luke 12:13-21

    ¹³ Then someone called from the crowd, “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.”

   ¹⁴ Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?” ¹⁵ Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”

   ¹⁶ Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. ¹⁷ He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ ¹⁸ Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. ¹⁹ And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’

   ²⁰ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’

   ²¹ “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”

Are you making sound investments in your relationship with God? I pray that you are/ will/ continue to make investments that will provide for your eternal lives. Dear God help us to invest with you and those who love us. Enable us to have both earthly and heavenly storehouses, give us the wisdom to know where to invest and when and why. Remind us always for the gospel of Luke's words in Chapter 12: 13-21, and God even when we invest unwisely please wipe our slate clean and provide us with a fresh beginning. This is our prayer that we invest in you as much and more than we invest in things of the world. Amen!

Why not start your new investment strategy today?
 Have a great day- Love P.J.

Seeing the big picture!

While reading various news articles and blogs as is my custom after morning devotion, I came across this article on CNN's website discussing why many groups that join the fight for or against homosexuality use pieces of biblical scripture to support their argument. The article can be found at:  http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/05/21/my-take-the-bible-condemns-a-lot-but-heres-why-we-focus-on-homosexuality/?hpt=hp_c3

My attempt is not to support or critique the article but to assert the claim that the bible can be misused and twisted, and has often been taken out of context. Many misuse the bible due to ignorance and by not looking at the BIG PICTURE. The bible consist of two Cannons of scripture broken into sections, the Hebrews cannon or (Old) Testament and the Christian Cannon or (New) Testament. Both sections of scripture should be read in context while also understanding content. We do God and one another an injustice when we take the sections of scripture or individual words out of context.  Millions of persons have been mislead, hurt and even harmed because of the blatant misuse of scripture.  Even after I read the article this morning by R. Albert Mohler Jr. some of the comments posted both for and against the article took biblical scripture out of context using harmful words and negative tones under the guise of Christianity or Atheism.  After reading the article and many comments my heart and mind reminded me of the following scripture taken from 2nd Timothy chapter 2. Let's look

Dealing With False Teachers

¹⁴ Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. ¹⁵ Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. ¹⁶ Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. ¹⁷ Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, ¹⁸ who have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. ¹⁹ Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” My final point and reflection suggestion for today is this: Until we look at the big picture in all things we will continue to bicker and become more divided choosing to harm one another instead of enter into loving and compassionate relationships. Regardless of the issue and your position we should reflect on how we can bridge the gaps of positive communication for the welfare of our entire society, then only can parties began to agree, but they first must began. Together let's look honestly at both scripture and our faith's as they pertain to our active lives and how we promote God's love in the world. Let's start looking at the big picture. 

I urge you to read the article and it's comments then form your own opinion. Love P.J.