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Proverbs 19:21

There are many thoughts in the heart of a man,
But the counsel of the Lord abides forever.

Personal Challenge

We live in the Information Age, a time in the history of mankind where unlimited information is at the fingertip of every man, woman, and child. That makes this Proverb all the more powerful today. With information comes misinformation, or what we are calling today, “Fake News”. With our pride and arrogance applied to this information, all that we get is opinion. The heart of man will take information to whatever end that meets their desires. It is only through the counsel of our Almighty God, the source of Wisdom, that we can apply the information available to us in a way that will glorify Him and edify our fellow human. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

John 12:46

I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.

Encouraging Words

If you have ever been caught in the middle of a dark place, or situation, without a source of light, it can be very unnerving. As a camper, and one that has done backpacking and camping for over 50 years, I have been in some scary situations with the lights gone out and no source of replenishment. Bring this into our spiritual life. We do live in a dark world. And sometimes this dark world can look pretty scary. However, Jesus promised us that He came into the world to be our light and to eliminate the darkness in the world from our lies. He is the flashlight that will never run out of energy, the candle that will never blow out. We can live our lives confidently knowing that He will be our light to show us the way at all times. Glory be to God!

Psalms 143:1 (142:1 LXX)

O Lord, hear my prayer; Give ear to my supplication in Your truth;
Answer me in Your righteousness;

Encouraging Words

Unlike so many of the religions of today, and throughout the history of mankind, our God is alive and ever present. He hears our prayers. He does give ear to our supplication. He also responds to our prayers and petitions, but from His place of truth and righteousness, which is why the answers are often different than what we desire. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

Proverbs 19:20

Hear, my son, the instruction of your father,
That you may become wise in your last days.

Encouraging Words

We live in an age where so many are saying that we should abandon the ideas and teaching of those who have gone before us because society believes that they are either outdated or messed things up. Poppycock! So much of who I am, how I work, my values, and my core beliefs come from the teachings of my father and my mother. I have also learned from their mistakes and their accomplishments. If I desire to be wise in my later years I need to cherish their instruction. Glory be to God and thank you, Father, for such special parents.

John 12:25-26

He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.

Personal Challenge

Sometimes I find myself asking the question “Do I really want to follow Jesus?” Thankfully, those times are few and far between, however, it is still a question that needs to be answered. God has spent the entire span of human existence trying to show us His immense love for us, trying to woo us back from the sinful world that Adam and Eve ushered into this world. It is because of this love, a love that I have felt in my life, and seen manifested in the lives of so many that I have known, that I keep answering this question with a resounding “Yes!”. I know that the life that He asks me to hate for Him is this temporal, worldly life, He wants me to hate that life and to love the eternal life that He has given to me through His death. He wants me to serve Him and to follow Him all the time and especially in the midst of this temporal life that I have been born into. By doing this, loving Him, serving Him, following Him, then I will constantly be in His presence and be honored by the Father. Glory be to God!

Psalms 140:3

Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth,
A door of enclosure about my lips.

Personal Challenge

The tongue is possibly one of the most difficult parts of our body to control and it is the one that can inflict the most damage to those around us. We need the help of our Lord to control it and the grace of our Lord to repair the damage caused by it. Only He can empower us to use it properly. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

Proverbs 18:10

The name of the Lord is of great strength,
And when the righteous run to it, they are exalted.

Encouraging Words

There is so much power just in the name of our Lord. He is the one to call out to in times of trouble and need, for He will respond. He is the one to praise in times of blessing and glory, for He deserves the credit. He is the one to be exalted for He loves us. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

John 11:25-26

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

Encouraging Words

Do you believe this? This may be one of the most powerful and important questions of all time. Do we really believe Jesus when He claims that He is the resurrection and life and that all who believe in Him shall never die? Do we truly believe that our eternal life begins when we put our trust and

belief in Him? If we do, then why do we keep living our lives as if He never existed? Why do we strive so hard to be in control of our lives and abandon God? Why do we flee from loving our neighbor in ways that only a child of God could? It is because we so often say that we believe but still hold on to our doubts and our desires to be in control. I believe, but I need my God to purge any remaining doubts from my heart and mind. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!