Growing in Grace

A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. -Proverbs 22:1 (NIV) Immanuel Kant once said,"It is not necessary that whilst I live I live happily; but it is necessary that so long as I live I should live honorably." Is this true, or is this some old-fashioned view of values? Many would rather have a shiny, new car than an untarnished reputation. What are some examples of treasured names? -John, the apostle, was called "the disciple whom Jesus loved." -David was called "a man after God's own heart." -Abraham was called "the friend of God." -Abraham Lincoln was called "Honest Abe." Just think of the many people through the ages who, at the very mention of their name, make you think of the good that they stood for or fought for: Mother Teresa, Florence Nightingale, Corrie ten Boom, Elisabeth Elliot, and Billy Graham. But there are so many others whose names are not famous, b

There is not wisdom, no insight,  no plan that can succeed against the Lord.  The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord. -Proverbs 21:30-31 (NIV) When we read the Bible cover to cover we see that life is full of humanly impossible, insurmountable situations. Even for God's people, life is sometimes very complicated. Over and over again God's people were outnumbered in battle. They were out of food. They faced dilemmas with no answers. Then they turned to God with empty hands and expectant hearts. Over and over again we read of God giving them unusual answers and solutions. In all their circumstances (just like us) they had choices. Should they trust their natural instincts, or should they trust the Lord? Some, like King Saul, repeatedly refused to leave the final decisions in God's hands. Stubbornly they used their own carnal weapons and natural wisdom. Short term, it looked good. Long term, it was a disaster. But others, l

Despite their desires, the lazy will come to ruin for their hands refuse to work . -Proverbs 21:25 The lazy "refuse to work." It's not that they can't; it's simply that they won't labor. The Hebrew word for labor means "to advance, to deal with, to commit, to prepare, to practice, and to finish." When we procrastinate, we are refusing to get to something we know we should or to finish what we started. Photo Credit How do we break the habit of putting things off? Proverbs 6:6-8 says, "Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter." The ant is a picture of diligence. The word diligence means "putting care and effort into what one does." Ants are focused, always moving forward. I love when you put something in their way - they hardly stop. They just go around it an

Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love will find life, righteousness, and honor. -Proverbs 21:21 What motivates you? What gives you the motivation to get out of bed, get dressed, and start your day? Do Photo Credit you have a high and noble passion and purpose for living? If you were to die tomorrow or even next year, would you say, "I made the right choices"? Of all the things that we can desire and pursue in this life, there is nothing like the pursuit of God. Jesus said, "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all else will be added to you" (Matthew 6:33, paraphrase). Mary Barrett, a worship leader, had a bucket list. Just weeks before she passed away, her husband drove her to Nashville to record just one more worship CD. She often sang the song below. To her, the words were her anthem. Give me one pure and holy passion. Give me one magnificent obsession. Give me one glorious ambition for my life, to know and follow h

Photo Credit After waiting many years for God to fulfill His promise of descendants for Abram, we read in Genesis 16 that Sarai decided to take matters into her own hands and gave her handmaiden to Abram as a wife. As soon as Hagar conceived, the Bible says she despised Sarai. In return, Sarai treated Hagar harshly. Hagar fled into the wilderness. The angel of the Lord met her there and told her to return to Sarai. He promised to multiply her descendants through the son she would bear. Hagar was to call him Ishmael. In response, Hagar called the name of the Lord, "a God who sees." God saw what happened to Hagar. He knew all about her distress and saw her run away. He sent an angel to let her know she was cared for by God. Like Hagar, "God loves us. He sees everything that happens to us. We cannot run away and hide from Him. God also sent Hagar back home to deal with the painful situation with Sarai. God does not want us to run away from our problems. He want

It is better to live alone in the desert than with a (crabby), complaining wife. -Proverbs 21:19 Matthew Henry said, "It is better to have no company than bad company." Let's look at the key factor here that makes a woman a misery. It's complaining. This comes directly from unthankfulness. We can get so busy fixating on what we don't have that we completely forget and completely miss out on the blessings that we do have. Photo Credit Wives, this is a warning. If we make our husbands feel like they can't do anything right, they will eventually stop trying. So what is the cure for a crabby, complaining heart? It's a thankful heart. Colossians 3:15 says, " Let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. . . And always be thankful ." -The One Year Wisdom for Women Devotional;  by Debbi Bryson; August 18; p. 241 I'll never forget the wedding of a friend that took place in Palmdale. The pastor used this proverb in hi

The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just than when we offer him sacrifices. -Proverbs 21:3 Enoch was a man who lived at a time in history when men were dangerously wicked. But contrary to the trend and flow of others, Enoch walked with God."  He was known as a person who pleased God " (Hebrews 11:5). What does it mean to please the Lord? The above proverb gives us an important clue: the Lord is pleased when we do right. When we read about Enoch, we're not told of any big and mighty deeds that he accomplished. He just lived his life, facing whatever came his way. The big and little battles that take place requiring us to make choices and surrender are seen, applauded and empowered by the same God who Created everything. We must choose. Will we choose to walk with God? May we sense His presence, honor His ways, and hear His voice saying, "Well done." " We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual w

Another name of God is El Shaddai . We begin to learn about the meaning of this name in the book of Genesis. In Genesis chapter 17 we read that when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him. This was twenty-four years after God had promised Abram He would make him a great nation. Abram and Sarai were waiting all those years for God to give them a child; and by this time they were way past the age of having children. In verse 1, when God appears to Abram He tells Abram, "I am God Almighty." This is the meaning of God's name El Shaddai. "God is the almighty One, the powerful or mighty One. God is all-sufficient. He is all we need." (p. 59) When Abram meets God, he falls on his face. God promises Abram he will be the father of a multitude of nations. How is it that even though Abram is 99 years old and without children, God can still fulfill His promise to Abram? "There is only one way: through El Shaddai . God is all-sufficient

This part of our study was very appropriate in light of the election yesterday. . . Photo Credit Another name for God is El Elyon . The first time this name for God is used is in Genesis 14. In this passage there is a war between four kings and Abram's nephew, Lot, is taken captive. In response, Abram gathers his trained men to go after and rescue Lot. Abram defeats the kings and retrieves his nephew. Following this victory, the king of Sodom went out to meet Abram. Melchizedek king of Salem was a priest of God Most High. We read his blessing in verses 19-20: "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand." God's name in verse 18 is God Most High. God Most High delivered Abram's enemies into his hands. This Hebrew name El Elyon , God Most High, shows us some important things about God. God is the Possessor of heaven and earth. God is sovereign; this means He is

Photo Credit In Psalm 139 we read in the first four verses that God knows us. He knows when we sit down or stand up. He is intimately acquainted with all our ways. He knows it all. Verse 13 says that God formed our inward parts; that we were woven together in our mother's womb. We are the Designer's creation; completely designed by the hand of God. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. Because of this, verse 14 tells us we should give thanks. God's works are wonderful. Our frame was not hidden from God. All the days ordained for us are written in God's book. When we understand that God is our Creator, it should change how we see everything. "Are you thankful for the way God made you, or do you gripe and complain? Do you feel like a misfit, a mistake, or an accident? If you do, then you have believed a lie because God shows you right in His Word that HE is the Creator and no one else. There are no mistakes. He forms us and weaves us. We are fearfully and wond

The name used for God in Genesis 1:1 is Elohim . This word designates God as God. It means "to fear" or "to reverence." The first part of the word, El , means "mighty" or "strong". It is the word we use to refer to Almighty God. The im ending is important as it is a plural ending. Photo Credit   In Genesis 1:1 we read that God was in the beginning; that He created the heavens and the earth. God is our Creator. Elohim then, is the word for God as Creator.  Photo Credit In Genesis 1:2 we see that the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. This Spirit of God is the Holy Spirit Both were present at Creation. Photo Credit In John 1:1 the apostle tells us that the Word was in the beginning; the Word was with God and the Word was God. So there are three claiming to be God. Photo Credit John 1:3-4 says that "He" was in the beginning. We know from John 1:14 that the One who became f

I think you all know that junk food isn’t good for you. Good food, like vegetables and fruit, milk and meat is much healthier for your body than ice cream sandwiches, cupcakes and candy bars. Good food will make you healthy and strong and help you grow. Too much junk food will just make you sick. The same is true about the things you think about. It is easy for us to think bad thoughts. Many times we have bad thoughts because we’ve put bad things into our minds, perhaps by watching violent TV programs or playing violent video games. Maybe we play with friends who use rough language or we listen to a certain type of music. What does God want us to think about? Photo Credit God wants us to think about good things. In Philippians 4:8 Paul wrote the kinds of things we are to think about. He said, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praisew