February 1, 2014 – Proverbs 3 – Life giving words

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

As we venture through the Psalms and Proverbs portion of our reading it will take on more of a devotional thought and less of the passage teaching of the New Testament study.

How do you view the Word of God? Do you see it as some historic book telling the story of God? This is a proper view of God’s Word, but not a complete view. Do you see it as a book for of rules and regulations that will help you get to heaven? This too is a correct but incomplete view. I think a full understanding of God’s Word is present in the first few chapters … “My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.” (Proverbs 3:1-2 NIV)

God’s Word does give us insight into His story, and it does teach us the life He calls us to live. But His Word is so much more. His word teaches us a healthy lifestyle. It teaches us that we are the caretakers of the earth. It teaches us much more than rules and regulation. And Solomon’s Words instruct us to internalize and live by the Word of God, words that give life and prosperity in Him. 

January 4, 2014 – Proverbs 1 – Steering Clear of Sinful Men

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

What Does this Passage Say?

• On Saturday’s and Sunday’s we will pause from our reading of the New Testament and read through the books of Psalms and Proverbs. Some Saturday’s we will read through Proverbs and all other weekend days we will read through Psalms.
• The book of Proverbs was written by Solomon the third true King of Israel, the son of David, born to Bathsheba. Solomon ruled over Israel during an amazing amount of peace and was able to lead the nation into great wealth and prosperity. Solomon was also privileged to construct the Temple of God.
• Proverbs are often short statements sometimes standing alone giving wisdom and guidance. Proverbs begins by sharing its purpose. It then moves on into advice concerning wisdom.
• Our thirty-one day (that’s how many chapters are in Proverbs) may not follow the new structure of the Bible reading plan. That will be due to the random nature of Proverbs. However, there will be one thought that I will typically pull from that days reading.

 What is this passage teaching?

• The first couple chapters of Proverbs will concern wisdom. Wisdom is an import part of life. Seeking sound wisdom is important. In our reading today Solomon warns us to be wise against the invitation of Sinful Men. This invitation is often the destruction of many. What a brilliant place for Solomon to begin.

 How can I apply this passage to my life?

• How often do you fall into sin simply on your own? It may happen on occasion, but often the sins we struggle with, the sins we stumble upon have been introduced to us by others. Solomon warns it is wise to not let sinful men entice you, to not give in to them. What wise advice. Steer clear of situations where you may be tempted. Steer clear of friends that may drag you away from serving and following God with all you are. There is profound wisdom in the words of Solomon.  

June 21 – 1 Kings 10-11 & 2 Chronicles 8

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from 1 Kings 10-11 & 2 Chronicles 8. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

We have finally come to an incredibly sad time in our reading of the Bible. We began our reading looking at the beauty and majesty of all that Solomon had acquired. He had certainly made the nation of Israel unlike any before or since. It was the only nation in existence operating under the leadership of the one true God. The blessings, the riches, their importance was all the result of God’s work! Sadly though, with all his wisdom, Solomon still could not overcome it.

We quickly shift from the beauty and majesty, the parade of riches Solomon is able to take the queen of Sheba on, to the proclamation of destruction. Solomon has let false worship into the nation through his many pagan wives and concubines. With all his wisdom he still was not wise enough to follow the commands and decrees found in God’s law. His choices have now set the nation of Israel on a downward spiral ultimately to destruction.

What lessons can you learn from this? Maybe the best is to listen and accept wisdom, but always measure that wisdom against the wisdom of God found in his word. No matter how good others wisdom is if it does not jive with God’s word then the wisdom is faulty. Trust in God first and foremost!

At West Side we believe highly in prayer. We are asking people to join with us in praying daily for West Side. If you would like to join us please click here and subscribe to receive daily emails containing a short prayer request for West Side. We appreciate your partnership.

June 20 – Ecclesiastes 7-12

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from Ecclesiastes 7 - 12. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

 

Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art

In our reading today there was a lot of talk about death. There is a truth that exist that the most common fears in America remain the fear of public speaking and death. It is often joked that most people would rather be the guest of honor at their own funeral than the speaker at their own funeral. Many have a great fear of death … a fear that is fairly valid.

There is fear because death is unknown. What does it feel like to die? What exactly happens when we die? We are fearful because well, we do not really know the answers. There are not many who have died, who have really died, and come back to tell us about it. We do not really have the words of Lazarus, or the widow’s son Jesus raised to life, or even the son Elisha brought back from death. Jesus did not really talk about the dyeing experience. So our Biblical examples kind of leave us with no information on what dying feels like.

However, with that fear, we can also have some peace. The Bible paints a beautiful portrait of what waits those who belong to Christ after death. It is something I am looking forward to. Solomon seemed to have a grim view of death … “The living at least know they will die, but the dead know nothing. They have no further reward, nor are they remembered.” (Ecclesiastes 9:5 NLT) But we know there is a reward … in Christ there is eternity in Heaven before the throne of God. The reward is not for the death, the reward is for the life we live. Remember that as you live each day, drawing ever closer to your own physical death.

At West Side we believe highly in prayer. We are asking people to join with us in praying daily for West Side. If you would like to join us please click here and subscribe to receive daily emails containing a short prayer request for West Side. We appreciate your partnership.

June 19 – Ecclesiastes 1 - 6

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from Ecclesiastes 1 - 6. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art

Ecclesiastes is the third book we have come to penned by King Solomon son of King David. If you remember Solomon wisely asked for wisdom from God when given anything he wanted to ask for. God blessed him because his request pleased God. We have read and seen the blessing God bestowed on Solomon; giving him the privilege of building the Temple, a magnificent palace, and all kinds of great wealth. According to Solomon’s writings in Ecclesiastes Solomon denied himself nothing and in doing so learned an important lesson.

Solomon learns this … “History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9 NLT) and … “We don’t remember what happened in the past and future generations, no one will remember what we are doing now.” (Ecclesiastes 1:11 NLT) How true those words are. Sure we might have new inventions … the iPad I do my reading on and preach my sermons form was not something old turned new. But what is on it is nothing new … I am still reading text, taking in information, reading a Bible that found its completely nearly two thousand years ago. The sermons I write, filled with what I think are the freshest ways to say the same things, have all been preached before. Sure the iPad may be new, but what is on it was simply done in a different way before.

So why don’t we learn from the generations before? I think the answer is found later in the reading. History books can teach us a lesson. People can share what they have experienced. We can have all the head knowledge available. But I think too we need the experience. “Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life.” (Ecclesiastes 5:18 NLT) It is good to learn from our own mistakes. It is good to enjoy life. It is good to find pleasure where God intended pleasure. It is good to make mistakes. Mistakes only make us stronger, they only teach us a lesson, they only mold and shape us the way God intends us to be.

Learn from the generations that have come before. Avoid major catastrophes. But enjoy life. Learn from your own mistakes. Pass those lessons along to the next generation.

At West Side we believe highly in prayer. We are asking people to join with us in praying daily for West Side. If you would like to join us please click here and subscribe to receive daily emails containing a short prayer request for West Side. We appreciate your partnership.

June 18 – Proverbs 27-29

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from Proverbs 27-29. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

 

Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art

Every morning it is typically one of the first things I do. If you are like me you probably do it some time as well. You stumble out of bed, head off to the bathroom and look at your face in the mirror. The mirror shows a reflection of how well you slept the night before. Depending on the length of my hair it also shows me how crazy and disheveled I must look.

Mirrors are very useful. They allow us to see what others are seeing in us. They allow us to groom and prepare ourselves for the day. The allow us to see parts of ourselves that we cannot see with our own eyes. We can see our own face, our necks, and our backs all with the use of a mirror. They help us know how we look or even to investigate something we have felt, but could not see, but certainly know it is not supposed to be there.

Solomon compares the heart to a reflection … “As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person.” (Proverbs 29:19 NLT) Sadly when things go bad, and a negative reflection is given it never happens in a controlled environment. In a controlled environment many are able to cover their true desires and motives. But in an uncontrolled environment, when things seem to get out of hand, when surprises arise, it is then that the true person is reflected.

In a previous life I used to work for a lawn service. One day we were doing some landscaping and I was running a flower bed edging machine. I got into some roots that killed the edger and when I went to restart it I accidentally put my hand on the muffler missing the piece where I normal found my grip. Immediately I had burnt my hand pretty badly. My reaction was not filled with cursing, but was not without the complaints. One of my co-workers came to me later amazed that I had not dropped a few f-bombs in reaction to the pain as he shared he would have. He asked my why. I was able to share my faith because of my reaction to the uncontrolled environment. I simply shared that because cursing was not a part my normal conversation, when the uncontrolled environment presented itself, my true person was reflected in my actions.

Examine your person, examine your life, what reflection are people seeing when you enter an uncontrolled environment? What would your heart reflect about you? Would you be proud or would you want to run and hide?

At West Side we believe highly in prayer. We are asking people to join with us in praying daily for West Side. If you would like to join us please click here and subscribe to receive daily emails containing a short prayer request for West Side. We appreciate your partnership.

June 17 – Proverbs 25-26

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from Proverbs 25-26. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art

Balance … Do you have it in your life? Look at a few of today’s proverbs again … “Do you like honey? Do not eat too much, or it will make you sick! Don’t visit your neighbors too often, or you will wear out your welcome.” (Proverbs 25:16-17 NLT) Honey is amazing. Spending time with friends and neighbors can be a wonderful blessing to life. God gave us honey to sweeten our food to provide pleasure. God gave friends and neighbors to do life with. God did not create us to not enjoy life. Pleasure is certainly a part of his creation.

However all of that must be measured with balance. Too much of a good thing might just turn to a bad thing. Ever spent a day eating too many sweets? The feeling at the end of the day is not a pleasant one. Ever have that pesky neighbor who always wants to talk? Ever spent a ton of time with friends and family around the Christmas holiday season and realize at the end of it you need some time alone? Balance is crucial to enjoying the pleasures of this life.

Balance is not just for the pleasures. Balance is for so many other areas of life as well. Find balance and you may just find the true pleasure God created for your life.

At West Side we believe highly in prayer. We are asking people to join with us in praying daily for West Side. If you would like to join us please click here and subscribe to receive daily emails containing a short prayer request for West Side. We appreciate your partnership.

June 12 – 1 Kings 7 & 2 Chronicles 4

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from 1 Kings 7 & 2 Chronicles 4. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

Photo Credit: bibleQ

Our reading today began with Solomon constructing his personal palace. In reading the details of Solomon’s palace we first might get the idea that Solomon built a much bigger and better home for himself than he did for God. However that is not necessarily the case. I want to turn to the words of James Smith, Old Testament professor and scholar. He writes ….

The palace complex dominated the outer court which surrounded the temple mount. This complex was thirteen years in construction. This longer period spent on the palace does not argue for selfishness on the part of Solomon. On the contrary, his piety caused him to build the temple first. The temple construction was much faster because (1) David had gathered enormous quantities of materials in advance; (2) Solomon employed a special force of laborers on the temple; and (3) the temple was small in comparison to the palace complex. The place complex consisted of five major buildings. 1. The house of the forest of Lebanon. 2. The porch of pillars. 3. The hall of justice. 4. The palace. 5. House of Pharaoh’s daughter. [1]

Solomon’s palace may have been bigger than the Lord’s Temple, but we have to remember it served a different purpose. God’s Temple was the place where God resided and offerings to God were made. The palace was the home of Solomon, it was the treasury and armory for the nation, it was a gathering place for people waiting to see the king and for court appearances, it is where court proceedings took place, and it was the home to Pharaoh’s daughter. So while much larger, we must remember it served more than one purpose. The palace had to be large to serve its role.

At West Side we believe highly in prayer. We are asking people to join with us in praying daily for West Side. If you would like to join us please click here and subscribe to receive daily emails containing a short prayer request for West Side. We appreciate your partnership.

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[1] Smith, James. The Books of History. Joplin: College Press, 1995. 435. Print.

June 11 – 1 Kings 5-6 & 2 Chronicles 2-3

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from 1 Kings 5-6 & 2 Chronicles 2-3. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art

Because of bloodshed David did not get the privilege to build the Temple to become the home of God. That responsibility was left to his son Solomon. When Solomon began construction he chose the site for the Temple as the site his father David had purchased from Araunah the Jebusite to stop the plague of death that was attacking Israel. There is an interesting theme I want to draw from.

When David went to purchase the threshing floor, Araunah wanted to essentially give it to him along with everything necessary for the sacrifice. David would not have it. He replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on buying it, for I will not present burn offerings to the LORD my God that have cost me nothing.” (2 Samuel 24.24 NLT) David would not offer sacrifices that would cost him nothing. He had to pay for what he was going to offer to God.

Now Solomon is building the Temple of God. For portions of the construction Solomon desired to use Cedars of Lebanon to adorn the Temple. He received those from David’s dear friend, King of Tyre, Hiram. In doing so he offered to pay whatever the cost Hiram desired (1 Kings 5:6). We find later in the reading what Solomon provided for the timber and the men to cut it … annually 1000,000 bushels of wheat and 110,000 gallons of pure olive oil (1 Kings 5:11).

Solomon like his father chose to not accept anything to offer to God that he did not purchase. He did not want his offering to God (the Temple was certainly an offering to God) to cost him nothing. Let me ask you, do you seek things for nothing? Do you try and offer to God something that cost you nothing? I hope not! I hope the God you call master, savior, creator, and leader of your life is worth sacrifice; is worth offerings that cost you something.

At West Side we believe highly in prayer. We are asking people to join with us in praying daily for West Side. If you would like to join us please click here and subscribe to receive daily emails containing a short prayer request for West Side. We appreciate your partnership.

June 9 – Proverbs 19-21

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from Proverbs 19-21. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

There are so many wonderful proverbs in our reading today. I am struggling to pick just one. However you could pick up many different themes if you were to string a few together. There are thoughts on hard work verses laziness. There are thoughts on honesty verses dishonesty. There are thoughts on financial fitness verses poor money management. Instead of me teaching a devotional thought, chime in with your devotional thought in the comment section below.

At West Side we believe highly in prayer. We are asking people to join with us in praying daily for West Side. If you would like to join us please click here and subscribe to receive daily emails containing a short prayer request for West Side. We appreciate your partnership.

June 7 – Proverbs 13 -15

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from Proverbs 13 - 15. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

This is a hard lesson to learn … “If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise. If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding.” (Proverbs 15:31-31 NLT). This is a hard lesson to learn because when we hear the term criticism we immediately think negative thoughts. Merriam Webster dictionary defines criticism as “the act of criticizing usually unfavorably” or “a critical observation or remark.” We hear criticism and we think negative because criticism isn’t something easy to hear and may even be the cause of some personal pain.

But when you pair it with the word constructive criticism it changes the entire meaning … well sort of. The criticism is still possibly hurtful and painful, but it is given not to harm but to build up. Building up is what we think of when we hear the term constructive. A construction worker builds homes, business, and buildings. So while criticism may be hard to hear and process, analyze if it is constructive or not. If it is, learn from it because hopefully it was coming from someone who wanted to build you up and make you a better person. Read the proverb again and take those words to heart.

At West Side we believe highly in prayer. We are asking people to join with us in praying daily for West Side. If you would like to join us please click here and subscribe to receive daily emails containing a short prayer request for West Side. We appreciate your partnership.

June 6 – Proverbs 10 - 12

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from Proverbs 10 - 12. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

God loves for his children to be honest. Read these proverbs again … “The LORD detests the use of dishonest scales, but he delights in accurate weights.” (Proverbs 11:1 NLT) or “The godly are directed by honesty; the wicked fall beneath their load of sin.” (Proverbs 11:5 NLT) or “The LORD detests people with crooked hearts, but he delights in those with integrity.” (Proverbs 11:20 NLT). Detest is used twice to describe God’s view of dishonesty. Detests is a strong word.

Let me ask you do your actions in life please God or do you give him opportunities to detest your actions? That is a question you must ask yourself whenever weighing between right and wrong.

At West Side we believe highly in prayer. We are asking people to join with us in praying daily for West Side. If you would like to join us please click here and subscribe to receive daily emails containing a short prayer request for West Side. We appreciate your partnership.

June 4 – Proverbs 4-6

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from Proverbs 4 - 6. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art

I am firmly established in my belief that one of the greatest sins of our modern age in America is debt. Unfortunately most American’s have some level of debt. Some of that debt is credit cards, other debt is for vehicles and homes, some for a college education, and then so many other forms of debt. What is the driving factor behind this debt problem? It is the want of too many things. Unfortunately in our current financial market it is hard to not acquire some level of debt. If you wait until you have the money to buy a home you may never purchase a home. That is because the cost of a home is multiple years’ salaries. While not ideal, taking a loan out for a home is almost a necessary evil.

However, we have so many other levels of debt that are caused by the root of wants over needs. In our third chapter of reading, Proverbs 6, we see wise advice against what we call today cosigning. Cosigning is the act of putting your name on a loan document saying you will be responsible for the loan if the person taking it out fails to pay. Our reading calls this foolish. Read again Probers 6:1-5. We call it cosigning, the passage calls it by another name, but no matter the name God’s Word says it is a foolish practice. It says to save yourself from it!

I think we can take that a little further. We will see in other places in these Proverbs that taking in any level of debt is a foolish thing. Whether it is cosigning a loan or incurring your own debt, debt is foolish. Live within your means. Purchase only what you have income for. Do your best to acquire as little debt as you can. I realize that taking out a mortgage, or acquire emergency debt may be necessary in our financially inflated world. When we get our debt under control and minimize it as much as we can, I believe we will be honoring God on an entirely new level.

By the way, I am writing this as someone with too much debt. I have two credit card levels of debt, a mortgage, some medical, a vehicle loan, and student loans. My goal is in seven years to be entirely debt free minus my mortgage payment.

At West Side we believe highly in prayer. We are asking people to join with us in praying daily for West Side. If you would like to join us please click here and subscribe to receive daily emails containing a short prayer request for West Side. We appreciate your partnership.

June 3 – Proverbs 1- 3

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from Proverbs 1 - 3. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

The book of Proverbs was written by King Solomon, the third God appointed King of Israel, son of David born to Bathsheba. In the beginning of Solomon’s reign God grants Solomon anything his heart desired. Solomon wisely asked for Wisdom. As a wise king he wanted his people to be wise and so he wrote proverbs to help his people be wise. God choose to include some of those in His word for us to learn from. Proverbs is unlike any other book in the Bible. In many books you can pick up a general theme or story from a chapter or section of scripture. This is not always the case with Proverbs. Many of the proverbs we find are short independent statements. However, the first several chapters of proverbs deal strictly with seeking wisdom in our lives.

I love the way chapter two starts out … “Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God.” (Proverbs 2:2-5 NLT) Let me ask you … do you pursue wisdom in your life? Do you track it like you would a deer in the woods or a treasure in the earth? Do you want to gain the knowledge of God? Do you want him to teach you, speak to, and mold you to be like him more and more? To gain wisdom is to draw nearer to God; to become more like him. That is noble goal for your life.

At West Side we believe highly in prayer. We are asking people to join with us in praying daily for West Side. If you would like to join us please click here and subscribe to receive daily emails containing a short prayer request for West Side. We appreciate your partnership.