💥 Mini Podcast: Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. (Proverbs 3:7)

 

 

(This podcast was previously published on June 16, 2021) 

 

So many people want to be wise of themselves and have other people praise them for their wisdom.  Not only is this way very dangerous, but it can be deadly to us.

God knows the future.

If we try to plan out things without asking God, we can easily destroy ourselves with the unexpected.

Proverbs 14:12  There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Concerning wisdom:

James 1:5   If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

God knows the future!

So often a person who plans without consulting God will later say, "If only that hadn't happened."

💥💥💥💥💥

💥 Scriptures:

 

Hebrews 9:27-28  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for HIM shall HE appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

***

 

Proverbs 16:20  He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.

***

Psalm 37:39-40  But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: HE is their strength in the time of trouble.

 

40 And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: HE shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in HIM.

 

***

 

Psalm 146:3-6  Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. 

 

4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. 

 

5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God: 

 

6 Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: Which keepeth truth for ever:

   

 

💥💥💥💥💥

💥 II Corinthians 4 (Reading through the Bible)

 

Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;

² But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

³ But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: ⁴ In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

⁵ For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

(We don't speak by our own wisdom and fleshly thinking, but we speak the Word given us by God, making Jesus Christ, the Word, our Lord.)

⁶ For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

⁷ But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

⁸ We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair. ⁹ Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

¹⁰ Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

(Keeping our own flesh "dead", crucifying our flesh and not allowing it to take over as it once did, therefore Jesus comes forth in our body since we keep our flesh as dead.)

¹¹ For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

¹² So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

¹³ We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;

¹⁴ Knowing that HE which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

¹⁵ For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

¹⁶ For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

¹⁷ For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

¹⁸ While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

💥💥💥💥💥

💥 Mini Podcast: In all thy ways acknowledge HIM, and HE shall direct thy paths (Proverbs 3:6)

 

 

(This podcast was previously published on June 14, 2021) 

 

James 1:5   If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Everything depends on this:  "Was it God telling me to do this thing?"

How do you know it was God?

If it was God telling you to do this, you can go forward in confidence.

Joshua 1:9  God says:  Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

If God confirms to you that "this" is what HE wants you to do, then you can go forward with assurance knowing the following.

Proverbs 21:30-31  There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.
The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.

💥💥💥💥💥

💥 Scriptures:

1 Corinthians 1:30  But of HIM are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in The Lord.

 

 ***

 

Psalm 145:14 The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.
 

***

Psalm 18:1-3  I will love THEE, O LORD, my strength.

 

2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in WHOM I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

 

3 I will call upon the LORD, WHO is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

 

***

 

Proverbs 1:33  But whoso hearkeneth unto ME shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

 

*** 

 

Matthew 24:12-13 (Jesus said of the end times) And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

 

***

 

Galations 5:22-25  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 

 

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

 

24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 

 

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

 

 

💥💥💥💥💥

💥 II Corinthians 3 (Reading through the Bible)

 

Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?

² Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:

³ Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

⁴ And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:

⁵ Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; ⁶ Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

⁷ But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: ⁸ How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?

⁹ For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

¹⁰ For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.

¹¹ For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.

¹² Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:

¹³ And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: ¹⁴ But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. ¹⁵ But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.

¹⁶ Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.

¹⁷ Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

¹⁸ But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

💥💥💥💥💥

💥 Obeying the word given by God, regardless of circumstances

 

Barbara Preston, member of the body of Christ

 

Recently my husband and I were unable to find a small bottle of eye drops which was always kept in the same place in the refrigerator.

They are drops my eye doctor prescribed for me and are specifically made for my eyes and I use them every day. I had used them earlier that same day and was sure I had put them back in the refrigerator in the place they were always kept.

But my husband and I had both looked in the refrigerator and neither of us could find them. I had no idea what I had done with them.

I then prayed, asking God to please help us find my eye drops and when I did, I immediately heard ... LOOK IN THE REFRIGERATOR.

I had just finished looking in the refrigerator and had not seen them but I believed this was God speaking to me, so I reopened the refrigerator door, looked in, and instantly I saw the little bottle in a location I did not remember putting it!

My husband, who is not born again, asked me how I found them. I started laughing and told him that I had asked God to please help us find these eye drops and God said to look in the refrigerator and I did that and found them!

 

*** 

 

Comments from Pam Padgett, member of the body of Christ

 

When I read of Barbara hearing "Look in the refrigerator" right after she had already done that, I laughed, thinking of how unexpected this word from the Holy Spirit would be.  But, when Barbara did as she heard from the Holy Spirit ... looking in the refrigerator ... that is when she saw the eye drops.
 

This reminds me of the account we have in Luke 5 in which Simon and those with him had fished all night and caught nothing. But when Jesus told him to go back out and let down the nets he did it, obeying the word given him by Jesus, and they caught a great multitude of fish.

4 Now when HE (Jesus) had left speaking, HE said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at THY word I will let down the net.

6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. 

 

💥💥💥💥💥 

💥 Mini Podcast: Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5)

 

 

(This podcast was previously published on June 13, 2021) 

 

If we have the Word of God on the subject, that is all we need!  We can go forward securely when we have heard from God.

James 1:5   If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Proverbs 21:30-31   There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.  The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.

If God has told us something, there is no counsel against that Word.

Example:  A word from God to me concerning a court trial:  "Don't testify"  and how everyone around me fought against that word given to me by God.

💥💥💥💥💥

💥 Scriptures:

 

Micah 6:8  HE hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

 

 ***

 

Isaiah 55:10-11  For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

 

11 So shall MY (God’s) word be that goeth forth out of MY mouth: it shall not return unto ME void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

 

***

I Corinthians 15:58  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

 

 

💥💥💥💥💥

💥 II Corinthians 2 (Reading through the Bible)

 

But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness. ² For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?

³ And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.

⁴ For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.

⁵ But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.

⁶ Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.

⁷ So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.

⁸ Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.

⁹ For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.

¹⁰ To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; ¹¹ Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

¹² Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord, ¹³ I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.

¹⁴ Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place.

¹⁵ For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:

¹⁶ To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life.

And who is sufficient for these things?

¹⁷ For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

💥💥💥💥💥

💥 Mini Podcast: Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted (Psa. 107:17)

(This podcast was previously published on, June 8, 2021) 

 

Sometimes we are bringing problems upon ourselves.

I did this as a new Christian.  And I suffered more than I had to suffer until I recognized that I was causing the problem to come upon me.  

(On this Podcast I will tell of this situation and how I got free.)

Psalm 107

4 They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.

5 Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.

6 Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and HE delivered them out of their distresses.

7 And HE led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.

8 Oh that men would praise the LORD for HIS goodness, and for HIS wonderful works to the children of men!

9 For HE satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

10 Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;

11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:

17  Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.

19-20  Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and HE saveth them out of their distresses.

HE sent HIS word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

Remember to pray, asking God to give you wisdom before you do anything.

James 1:5   If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

💥💥💥💥💥

💥 Scriptures:

 

Psalm 25:4-5  Shew me THY ways, O Lord; teach me THY paths.

 

5 Lead me in THY truth, and teach me: for THOU art the God of my salvation; on THEE do I wait all the day.

 ***

 

1 Peter 4:14  If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part HE is evil spoken of, but on your part HE is glorified.
 

***

Psalm 28:7  The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in HIM, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise HIM.

 

***

 

Proverbs 3:5-8 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

 

6 In all thy ways acknowledge HIM, and HE shall direct thy paths.

 

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

 

8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

 

*** 

 

 
John 14:15-18  Jesus said:  If ye love ME, keep MY commandments.

16 And I will pray the Father, and HE shall give you another COMFORTER, that HE may abide with you for ever;

17 Even the Spirit of truth; WHOM the world cannot receive, because it seeth HIM not, neither knoweth HIM: but ye know HIM; for HE dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

 

💥💥💥💥💥

💥 II Corinthians 1 (Reading through the Bible)

 

 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:

² Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

(Peace comes from God.  The only way we can have peace when we are troubled is by turning to God in prayer and allowing God to reestablish us.)

³ Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

⁴ Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

⁵ For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

⁶ And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

⁷ And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.

(We suffer with Christ when we see people going opposite to Bible.  But even in this we are comforted when we pray over that which we have seen.)

⁸ For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:

⁹ But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
¹⁰ Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that He will yet deliver us;

¹¹ Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

¹² For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

¹³ For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end;

¹⁴ As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are our's in the day of the Lord Jesus.

¹⁵ And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit; ¹⁶ And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judaea.

¹⁷ When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay?

¹⁸ But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.

¹⁹ For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in Him was yea.

²⁰ For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

²¹ Now HE which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;

²² Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

²³ Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.

²⁴ Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

 

💥💥💥💥💥

💥 Fellowship with those who have walked in faith

Pam Padgett, member of the body of Christ

 

For a little over 6 years, Joan Boney lived at my house.  There was joy and peace in daily being around someone who truly sought to do the will of God, turned to God with problems, and who spoke truth.  At times since Joan died last May, I have been aware of feeling a little "void" in my life, not being around another person with the Holy Spirit as had been the case for the previous 6 years. 
 

I've asked God if there might be someone near where I live who has HIS Spirit that I can be around, but up to this point have not been shown any such in the neighborhood. 

 

Although some say they are Christians, I find they don't share anything of God.  And when I share something of God, they either wander away, or they smile and nod and then change the subject.  Once in a while a neighbor may say some religious-sounding words, but I'm often a little troubled and realize later that their actions show a trust in the ways of this world, not in God.   There is no unity of the Spirit.  
 

So I have found myself rather alone in the midst of a neighborhood of people who smile and wave and say "friendly" things, but we really have little in common.  (Others reading this may have the same experience.)

A few days ago I was talking with God about this. Not long afterward, I was reminded of Enoch, the great-grandfather of Noah, who walked with God. (Genesis 5:24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.)

In Hebrews11:5 we are told the following about Enoch ...

By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

And in Jude vv. 14-15 we are told how Enoch prophesied against the ungodly, warning of the judgment of God.

We know of the great wickedness in the world before God destroyed the world by flood, saving only Noah and his family and animals. Genesis 6:5-6 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And it repented the Lord that HE had made man on the earth, and it grieved HIM at HIS heart.

The ungodliness Enoch saw in his day reminds me of the ungodliness around us in the world today, and I find it edifying and faith-building to read that Enoch walked with God and pleased God and spoke the word of God.

While thinking about these things, I was reminded of a book Joan and I wrote together in 2017 ... Faith Building Moments from the Old Testament and Today. I felt very strongly led to read in that book, so I downloaded it and began reading.

I laughed when I read the Preface which Joan wrote in that book, for it describes so well what I was feeling ...

"No friends? Alone? Trying to be friends with people who grieve you? Even with church people who grieve you? Thinking of disobedient children and relatives and mates?

To have joy, stop and turn to the great men and women of faith in the Bible and fellowship with them at night. Rejoice in them. Let them be your friends."

==

It really has been a joy and strengthening to me to read accounts we have been given of those who have walked in faith.  One evening I found myself turning away from a show I had been watching on tv, wanting to read about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego instead! 

As I read Psalm 107:7-9 recently, I thought of how it feels as though I have been led to a "city of habitation" and that God satisfies my longing soul, and fills me with goodness as I've been reading about these people of faith.

Psalm 107:7, 9 And HE (God) led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.

9 For HE satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

I'm so grateful to God for helping me in this, and smile at how differently HE answered my prayer than what I had expected.

Also, it might be helpful to others to consider reading about those who have walked in faith.  

 

(The book Faith Building Moments from the Old Testament and Today is available at amazon.com)

 

*** 

Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

 

*** 

 

Comments from Linda Rodgers, member of the body of Christ

 

The information you sent concerning no "real" Christians to be friends with at your home.  I have experienced the same thing and I just turn to God and ask HIM to help me and make me feel whole again in this area.  I have found that God never fails me and soon I am feeling better.  

 

As I follow this path, I am made more and more aware of God's healing power and help.  Soon I can carry on as I should.  

 

I am now reading "Faith Building Moments from the Old Testament and Today".  Thank you so much for suggesting this book. I  am starting to read it now.  It's fulfilling to me to read the stories of the people in the Old Testament and their accomplished trials of life with God by their sides.  Thank you so much for suggesting this book.  I had to laugh at the Preface Joan wrote also, so true!  I know there is always hope when God is with us. 

 

 

💥💥💥💥💥 

💥 Podcast: Seeking our wisdom from God. HE knows the future!

 

 

(This podcast was previously published on May 19, 2022) 

 

A promise from God to us:

James 1:5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

💥💥💥

Proverbs 2  God says:

1 My son, if thou wilt receive MY words, and hide MY commandments with thee;

2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;

3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;

4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;

5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of HIS mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: HE is a buckler (shield) to them that walk uprightly.

8 HE keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of HIS saints.

9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.

💥💥💥💥💥