JUNE 19, 2018

PROVERBS 29: 25

"The fear of man brings a snare,

But he who trusts in the Lord

will be exalted."

Have you ever seen a cringing dog, one who makes itself subservient to the other, whether it be to another dog or a human?  Have you seen chickens who pick on one another with one poor sad piece of poultry half plucked before even facing the cooking pot, not done by humans but by its fellow flock?   Don't be chicken. 

Have you ever seen a simpering man making himself smaller so another can suck up all the air in the room to seem larger?  We used to see it in my husband's profession where the "lesser" would be fawning over the "greater" who had the PhD's after their name as attained in "the ego atmosphere of academia."

It is called man-fear.  The only way to be cleansed, rid of man-fear is under the unction of the Holy Spirit.  That means that pleasing God takes precedence so that no more thought is given to the self-importance of man.  Man can not lord his importance over another, since "lord" is spelled with a small "l," rather than the One who can rightly claim to be Lord over him.   Someone who is filled with the Holy Spirit becomes bold, almost reckless in their bravery to tell the Truth.  There is no room in that anointing for "lesserism."  Peter, after Pentecost, fearlessly proclaimed the Gospel regardless of what man could--and later would--do to him.   No man-fear ruled him like that which he quivered under when he denied Christ three times in the courtyard when accused of being seen with Jesus.  

Man fear.  It is not about extending respect with good manners and Christian love which we are called to offer to the brethren.  Fear comes from exalting man over God, worrying about what another man thinks above what you should think about what God thinks of you: pleasing God or pleasing man.  It is a snare.  If it is a snare, who sets the trap?  It is the work of the enemy of our soul.

Adam Clarke says, "How often has this led weak men, though sincere in their general character, to deny their God, and abjure (to renounce solemnly) His people!  See the case of Peter; and learn from this O Reader, that where the mighty have been slain thou wilt fall, unless thou call on the Strong for strength; and courage to use it.  Be not ashamed of Jesus, nor of His people, nor of His cross.  Glory in this that thou knowest Him, art joined to them, and are worthy to bear it. 

If you struggle with man-fear, ask and believe that God is strong enough and has the ability to give you such power.  For me, I had to study Scripture, then I had to ask myself, "where is the power?"

I had to believe it was offered, and then I had to ask for the cleansing so I could be filled, not with tongues, but with power to walk and talk like someone who is filled with Jesus Christ.  Trust in the Lord and believe what He promises He will do.  

JUNE 17, 2018

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

PROVERBS 29:3, 17

Robin, Laura, Jay

"A man who loves wisdom make his father glad."

"Correct your son, and he will give you comfort;

He will also delight your soul."

"'Delight unto thy soul,'

delights from the same root as Eden."

Al and baby Jay

"It may seem more easy and comfortable to let a child have his own way;

and troublesome to correct him for his fault's

but this is only purchasing present ease at the expense

of great future distress; therefore, however painful the duty,

correct him when he needs it." Chalmers.

Oh my, since we do not have an empty nest and still have a teenager in our home, we have a son who must still be disciplined.  Somehow we cannot overlook the sly purchase of a video game we obviously do not allow, and the effusive cover up worthy of our current FBI. These verses are timely advice for our not-so -pleasant Father's Day weekend.  Our complete comfort and delight is put on hold.

Hank and Maggie, the still-at-homers,

our parenting span covering 22 years

 first to last and after nearly 45 years,

6 children, 20 grandkids and 7 dogs!

"Children must not be suffered to go without rebuke when they do amiss."

Matthew Henry

On the other hand...

"Correct your son, and he will give thee rest;

yeah, he will give delight unto thy soul."

Coffman

Our Derrick, successfully launched and one to go...

"Ease of mind, satisfaction and contentment, freedom from all anxious thoughts and cares;

the correction being taken in good part, and succeeding according to wish and design.  

'Delight my soul; by his tenderness to his parents, obedience to them and respect for them."

John Gill

Our Tifani

I learned from my oldest son, such a good boy, something on his 39th birthday.  Since his wife was busy cooking his specially requested dinner on the very same day they got back from their vacation before she'd even had time to unpack, he kindly went out and bought himself his own birthday card, a very humorous one, of course.  So, I sent my man out to buy his own Father's Day present, a Giants hat and shirt.  He came back happy, so there you go.

Happy Dad, happy life!

JUNE 16, 2018

PROVERBS 29:6

"By transgression an evil man is ensnared,

But the righteous sings and rejoices." 

Sorry, I just can't get enough of this picture!

In my own heart, I need to remind myself to sing and rejoice.  I need to take my eyes off what is going on around me as I look for justice.  If there is an exhibit A--evil men entrapped by their sins--then Christians need to be exhibit B, singing and rejoicing.   Sometimes it comes naturally to sing and rejoice.  That's part of what happens when the body of Christ comes together.  However, sometimes this ol' world does not inspire much to sing about.  Our joy should not depend upon merely the here and now, but the hereafter.  

My Bible gives an example as a footnote to this verse.  It is Exodus 15:1ff, 

Moses' song on the other shore after the parting of the Red Sea...

"Then Moses and the sons of Israel sang this song to the Lord, and said,

'I will sing to the Lord, for He is highly exalted;

The horse and its rider He has hurled into the sea.

The Lord is my strength and song,

And He has become my salvation;

This is my God, and I will praise Him;

My father's God, and I will extol Him.

The Lord is a warrior;

The Lord is His name.

Pharaoh's chariots and his army

He has cast into the sea;

And the choicest of his officers

are drowned in the Red Sea.

The deeps cover them;

They went down into the depths like a stone.

Your right hand, O Lord, is majestic in power,

Your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy,

And in the greatness of Your excellence You overthrow

those who rise up against You....

Who is like You, majestic in holiness,

Awesome in praises, working wonders?...

In Your lovingkindness You have led the people

 whom You have redeemed;

In Your strength You have guided them

to Your holy habitation...

You will bring them and plant them;

in the mountain of Your inheritance,

The place, O Lord, which You have made for Your dwelling,

The sanctuary, O Lord, which Your hands have established.

The Lord shall reign forever and ever.'"

"Who is like You, majestic in holiness,

Awesome in praises, working wonders?"

Exodus 15:11

That's what should inspire our singing and rejoicing.

It is the right-eous thing to do.

It is also due to the One to whom we sing praises:

"Who is like You?"

Nobody.

Someday we will stand on the other shore looking back at the way God had parted the waters for us and at how the schemes of the devil were drowned in the deepest sea. There will be no shortage of singing and jumping for joy rejoicing going on in heaven!