Short Term Solutions – Have Long Term Consequences

Posted by & filed under Mikes Blog.

Short term solution always have long time consequences. What do I mean? Think of any solution the government has come up with in the past that we are not paying the consequences for today.

 

Almost 2/3 of our taxes are to pay for short term solutions of the past, called entitlements. When we think government has the solutions to our problems then government becomes the problem.

 

Obama said it best when he was talking about Trump, “What is he going to ,wave a magic wand and create these jobs.” Government does not solve problems, they only give us short term fixes that have a black hole at the end of them sucking the life and energy from everyone around it. So listen to the people running for office and you will see that the only thing they offer are short term solutions, and that WILL have long term consequences.

 

What is needed is to bring back the dignity of the individual. There is no such thing as an individual with dignity when government tries to solve our problems. Part of dignity is respect! I hear people saying, “Earn my respect.” Respect is never earned, but always given. You should respect your parents, teachers, our elected officials, our neighbors, the policeman, all those who fight for us in wars; everyone! Be proud of who you are, and what you do that benefits not only yourself but others. It is okay if you do not go to college. It is okay to work with your hands.  Some of the happiest people I know work very hard with their hands. Some of the saddest people are educated people who have degrees in a field they do not like, but only chose it because of the money it pays.

 

Next, bring back the wholesome family unit. Listen to what the government says. They think they know more in how to raise our children than we do. Their goal is to control the minds of our children, so that our children do not think for themselves but rather how government wants them to think. A good example of this is at our colleges today; when someone speaks that thinks differently – they want to shut him/her down. This is the by-product of a society that thinks government has the solution to our problems. When the family unit is strong then our country will be strong.

 

When government takes control it is always giving us short term solutions that will have a long time consequence that does not have a good effect on society.

The Proverbs 31 Woman – Chapter 41 – Home of the Just

Posted by & filed under Carols Blog.

The Bible has been called all sorts of things by all kinds of people who judge God’s Word when they could be wonderfully changed by God’s Word. The Bible continues to live on by transforming one bewildered mind after another, one meaningless life after another, one broken marriage after another, one dysfunctional family after another, and the Day is coming when the world will be transformed by God’s Son reigning on this earth, as promised.

 

Ignorance is a choice. Ignorance is Satan’s breeding ground. God makes sure that the truth about His Son comes to us all as many times as needed. His grace has appeared to all people for it is His will that no one dies under the guilt-load of their sins, but that they die “in Christ” who takes that guilt from us when we confess our sins and trust Him as our Savior.

 

No one will stand before God our Creator and Judge with any excuse for their ignorance concerning God’s Son and what He came down to earth to do for us, or for not knowing about His Son’s coming back to reign on the earth. God’s Word to us has remained and will remain available to anyone in any generation and His Word takes priority over the words of man.

 

The Lord will not hold us accountable to what anyone else wants us to learn and believe. We are to judge all teaching by God’s Word. His Word (the Bible) is the most important book to read and study. Devotionals are nice for bed-time reading but never to replace your own personal time with the Holy Spirit in the Bible. What others learn from opening up God’s Word themselves is not how we fellowship with the Lord, and hear from Him direct.

 

God wants us to be ‘heads’ not ‘tails.’ We are to follow Him and not others; not follow the crowd nor follow the majority. God’s children are to be leaders like Jesus. We are to be His helpers ready to help in the way He tells us to help, not to be those who are helplessly looking to others. God will prosper those who understand their God-given purpose in life; for they are wise – knowing how to use what God has generously given them.

 

The faithful woman knows all God’s promises and she won’t forfeit one of them for a temporary thing in this world. She will not be tempted to doubt that God will make good all His promises in time. This is why she is most confident with who she is, most content in life and most careful with her words and ways with people, especially with her husband and children.

 

The woman that God honors can make ‘accurate’ judgments about herself and her future, about her husband and children, about the culture she lives in, about her friends, about everything – because she lives by God’s love, God’s order and God’s promises. She condemns evil by what God calls evil. She commends righteousness by what God calls righteousness. The Spirit of God in her makes her a good judge of character knowing who can be trusted and who shouldn’t be trusted. Not even her beloved children can pull the wool over her eyes.

 

The godly woman is a student of the Holy Spirit where He instructs her about her own heart, her marriage, her family and home. Her daily attendance with the Holy Spirit is perfect because in her opinion she has no better teacher and friend.

 

Who is teaching you? What are you feeding your spirit and soul each day?

 

The homes of God’s people are to always be ready for guests and strangers – of the Lord. Since women don’t see their homes as the Lord sees their homes they keep busy with the ministries in their church buildings. “Come to my church!” has replaced “Come to my home” and worse, “Come to my church has replaced our telling our testimony to someone and adding, “Come to Jesus!”  We have even made the church service the way and place to invite people to come to Jesus. And yes, people can get saved by coming to our church. People need to hear your testimony more than a sermon. They need to be in your home and with your family more than in a church building where people are not always their true selves.

 

I believe that hospitality at home is one way that makes Christianity powerful and persuasive.

 

Is the Lord free to fellowship in your home? Is He free to have people over in your home where they are treated as He would treat them? In the home of the righteous is where the Lord gets to show off what He’s done for His servants who live there. Impartial and generous we are to be with His love for people. In the home of God’s saints you will see how His truth and love has been most effective.

 

“The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesses the habitation of the just.” Proverbs 3:33 (Webster Bible Translation)

 

Red Herring

Posted by & filed under Franks Blog.

Proverbs 22:17-19,21  “Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach,  for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips.  So that your trust may be in the Lord, I teach you today, even you, teaching you to be honest and to speak the truth, so that you bring back truthful reports to those you serve?”

 

When I think of the passage above in Proverbs I thought about some of the different fallacies that are circulating in our society, and how important it is for us to understand so that we are not trapped by them and at the same time be able to give, like Proverbs says, an answer that is ‘ready on your lips.’

 

Probably one of the most important lessons to learn is how to think logically. This, I believe is where Proverbs come in dealing with the fallacies that we face today.  Thinking properly, we also learn how to recognize bad reasoning.

 

A fallacy is an error in logic and it is something that we have much of today. This is why Proverbs is important, because it will expose bad logic and help us to logically think things through.

 

Red Herring fallacy. Whenever we introduce something irrelevant into an argument, this is known as ‘a red herring’ – we are avoiding the question.

 

A red herring is a dead fish that has started to become ripe and smelly. Dog trainers used red herrings to train tracking dogs. They would lay out the scent of a raccoon or whatever they wanted the dog to learn to track and let the trail become old, they would drag the red herring across the trail and off in a different direction and train the dog to stay on track and ignore the red herring smell.

 

So a red herring is a distracting scent trail. A red herring is when someone brings up and irrelevant topic which distracts us from the real question. We might be discussing or trying to answer a particular question, but soon find that we are off in a different direction and completely away from the original question. Someplace in the conversation ‘a red herring’ was introduced.

 

When someone introduces a red herring, he may be saying something which is true, although irrelevant. Red herrings are often good arguments. The only problem is, they do not prove the point being argued – they prove something else.

 

A red herring is a debating trick used to throw an opponent or the audience off-track. One of the problems with a red herring is the appeal to ignorance. In other words, if we cannot prove that he is wrong then we often conclude that he might be right. It is often very difficult to prove a negative. In other words if we cannot prove Martians do not exist, conclusion is that they probably do exist.

 

Another aspect of the red herring argument is in regards to irrelevant goals or functions.  This type of arguments makes a good case for what it is trying to prove, but what it is trying to prove is irrelevant to the case at hand.

 

Another aspect of the red Herring is what they call the straw man fallacy.  The difference between the straw man and the irrelevant thesis is that the speaker is trying to disprove or discredit an opponent’s position, rather than prove a thesis of his or her own.

 

An example of a “straw man fallacy” is how, for example, all religious conservatives are lumped together under certain labels like homophobes or under hate speech. To lump all those who believe that homosexuality is wrong with violent thugs who beat people up is to distort the position of those who speak out with honesty and with compassion that homosexuality is wrong and that we should call those who actively engage in it to repentance. In other words a ‘straw man’ is the type of argument against a position that is not really the position held by the opposition.

 

 

 

 

Learning to use our minds!

Posted by & filed under Franks Blog.

Proverbs 1:5 “Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.”

 

Proverbs 12:15 “The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.”

 

James 1:19 “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”

 

When I was writing my weekly letters on Ecclesiastes the one thing that Solomon kept bringing out to his son Rehoboam was the need for wisdom. With all of your getting – get wisdom seemed to be the criteria that Solomon was trying to get across to his son and to us. The problem is that when we get old enough to realize how short life is that we begin to realize how valuable it would have been if we had learned wisdom early in life.

 

I would say that one of the most important lessons in the book of Proverbs is that we should work hard to use our minds to understand things. This means that we will have to stretch and exercise our minds and not let our minds grow fat and flabby. One of the problems we face is that we try to avoid using our minds as much as possible. We need to change that!

 

As Christians we have the obligation to use our minds to serve God. We must exercise our minds just as we exercise our body. We need to develop an inquiring mind.

 

Some years back I read a little booklet called The Awesome Power of the Listening Ear. This book brought out how many people solve their own problems by being able to have someone to listen to them. As they began to talk they realize their own solutions. Often, we find that people enjoy telling what they think more than listening to what others have to say. It is in listening to others that we begin to learn things.

 

Solomon said in Proverbs 1:5 “A wise man will hear, and will increase in learning, and a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel.” A spirit of listening goes a long way to communicate and attitude of humility.

 

How do we know if someone is showing humility and has a desire to listen?

 

  1.   He is more interested in hearing what other people have to say than in having them listen to him. Humility brings respect for others and for their thoughts.
  2.   He places a modest value on his own opinions – he admits that other people often have better ideas than he does.
  3.   He willingly admits when he doesn’t know something. If he does not understand something, he is open about it.
  4.   He is willing to question his own position on an issue.

 

A person who loves to listen is another ingredient to having an inquiring mind. When we are forming an opinion on an issue, it is often a good idea to collect other people’s viewpoints on the issue. Proverbs 11:14 says, “Where there is no guidance the people fall, but in abundance of counselors there is victory.” Here Solomon is telling us to not only get guidance from a wise man, but from many wise men.

 

Why are many counselors good? If they all gave us the same advice we would not learn anything, but when there are many different points of view, we can observe and learn. Listening to all these different view-points can help us choose what is the best advice. Part of an inquiring mind is to be diligent in learning about alternative views.

 

In these letters we will be looking at some of the different fallacies being presented through media, entertainment, our judicial system and government and at times even from the pulpit.

 

Loving Myself?

Posted by & filed under Carols Blog.

My Christian friend and I were talking, and she shared how hard it is for her to “love herself.” I thought, “Is that what we’re supposed to do, love ourselves?” “Can we really do that?” “What did Jesus teach us about love?” Then I began to see the deception of the enemy in my friend’s struggle in thinking she needs to learn to love herself.

 

When I asked her those 3 questions that came to mind (which I believe was from the Holy Spirit), she quickly saw the deception, and said, “Well maybe the word is ‘accept’ myself.” Yes, that’s it!

 

So then, what stops us from being able to accept ourselves? Why do we get so down on ourselves, even to the point of taking anti-depressants, or getting drug or high on something, or even wanting to kill ourselves?

 

What came to mind about how we learn to accept ourselves instead of hating ourselves is by learning what God thinks of us. How do we learn that? We learn about God’s love by reading His Word, but with God’s Spirit teaching us! (The devil also knows how to teach God’s Word from his perspective – in order to deceive us.) We learn about God’s love by seeing Him work in our lives as we call on Him by faith and hope in His promises.

 

Sure, you can listen to what other people tell you about how wonderful you are, or what you mean to them, but it’s not as powerful as when GOD TELLS YOU. God’s words in the Holy Bible are those ‘seeds’ of truth we need to have sown in us when we are struggling with serious matters about ourselves, or any matter about life. God is the creator of life and the sustainer of life, and our Judge in the end of our lives. Wouldn’t it be wise to go to His Word to learn about LOVE?

 

The Bible is jam-packed with ‘truths’ about God’s love for us. Even throughout eternity with the LORD we will be ever-learning about the love of God. For the Bible says, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind can conceive or imagine what God has prepared and planned for those who LOVE Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9

 

The Bible also tells us that we are unable to love like we should until we fully understand this truth: “We love him, because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19

 

God hates sin, but God loves every sinner. Bottom line: We need to get over ourselves and get going with the Lord who literally showed us God’s love and acceptance – on the Cross.

 

I remember way back when my dear mother used to go to church with me and Mike and our kids. I thought it was odd that every time she came – she would go forward for salvation at the end of the pastor’s message. Finally I asked her why she keeps going forward to be saved, and she said, “Because I don’t feel saved, I feel guilty.” Wow, who do you think is doing his best to speak THAT into my dear mother? So I told her, “Mom, you don’t need to keep going forward to be forgiven and saved; once is enough. You simply need to start reading God’s Word (Holy Bible) to know how much God loves you, what His purpose is for your life, all that He has given you and that He will never leave you on your own.”

 

Why are we not expected to “love ourselves?” I believe it’s because “love” is not self-centered, nor self-serving, nor self-exalting. Let me ask this question: What do we see in our American culture today about the ‘love of self?’ In how many ways today – are children learning that to love themselves is most important before you can love others? What is wrong about loving myself? What is the danger in loving myself?

 

Well where does love come from? Did it originate in man, or from our Creator? If you go in search of answers to all this, and you neglect God’s Word, you will miss the truth altogether. You will be deceived!

 

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” 1 John 3:16

 

So I would assume therefore, that I am NOT to love myself because “love” is not selfish, not self-absorbed, not full of oneself. Like John the Baptist said: “Jesus Christ must become more important while I become less important.” (John 3:3) In other words, I must think far less of myself and think more of and upon Him. I need to die to myself – so that I can live in Christ Jesus. AND, the Holy Spirit is in us to help us do that step by step!

 

My friend told me that she felt that God was leading her to get into a personal study of the Scriptures about love starting with Romans 8. I’ll bet she comes away healed and whole after her study!

 

There’s no greater power on earth or in heaven – than the ‘truth’ about the love of God! And we know what Jesus said, “The TRUTH will set you free.”

 

The Lord’s apostle, James, wrote that we should love our neighbor as our self. But this is telling us to love ourselves; we already have that problem.

 

It’s not about me! It’s all about Jesus Christ!

 

The Proverbs 31 Woman – Chapter 40 – Orderly Life

Posted by & filed under Carols Blog.

I’ve heard so many people say that they feel “peace” in our home. A peaceful home has God’s order in it.

 

If we reject God’s laws of order then we become part of the increasing chaos and hostility in society. God’s family on the earth is God’s pillars in society. When the ‘family’ is out of order – so goes the nation and so goes the world. And, as we’re seeing today with the reprogramming of natural life in the way God created – the “orderly life” is nowhere to be found except in the life and home of “the godly.” No matter how bad it gets in this sin-sick world God’s family will keep to the truth and love of God, trusting Him at His word and for His promises to them.

 

“….for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” Philippians 2:13

 

As a parent it excites me when I hear of my children’s and now my grandchildren’s discoveries in God’s Word. Then with the ‘results’ showing up, as they apply God’s words to their everyday life and to their relationships, OH WHAT JOY FILLS MY HEART! If it fills my heart, can you imagine how God’s heart feels?

 

I believe God is more excited than we are when we grasp His truth, and come to understand the wisdom and love behind all His commands and laws for relationships, health, and justice; and when we begin to long for the eternal life of His glorious Kingdom.

 

The Bible tells us that the former things of how man existed on earth with all his unfaithful works throughout time, will not be remembered. The earth with its curse has been man’s testing ground for what each man and woman will do with God’s Word and His Son as their Savior. Jesus Christ will return to renew all things that God once called “good,” even the earth because of all the blood and death in it. And, even the heavens where Satan has been with his armies of demons planning to overtake the world. All evil and rebellion, and even God’s original curse of death on mankind are thrown into the eternal lake of fire – to make way for the LIFE that is truly life. (Job 1:6-7, Isaiah 42:3-4 and 65:17-25, Revelation 20-22)

 

I thank my heavenly Father for who He is and that He does NOT change. We change, but He can not change; for HE IS the GREAT I AM. This is why we can trust and depend on the Lord God who is not like any man.

 

I find peace, hope and joy in the fact that our Father God never changes, and His perfect order will be restored on earth with mankind living according to God’s design. We will be changed (in death or rapture) so that we can live forever with God, with a new body for our eternal spirit and soul. God’s will, as it is in Heaven will be on earth just like Jesus prayed. Whatever Jesus said and prayed – you can count on happening. Whatever God told His servants the prophets – it will happen. God has never changed His mind or His plan for the good of mankind.

 

“Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. I am making everything new! Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Revelation 21:3-5

 

When the true sons and daughters of God are in control – all things work together for good. When the wicked are in control – nothing good happens for anyone. People go into hiding when the wicked are in control. But when the righteous ‘in Christ’ take control – well, let’s just say that mankind has NEVER seen, nor heard, what God has prepared for those who love Him!

 

If we, God’s people, disobey God and His laws then we can only expect the Father’s righteous judgment at some point. God will have His way for the good of mankind’s future. Father God gives each human being plenty of time to come to the knowledge of the truth and make a decision for or against His Son. No one will have an excuse for ‘not knowing’ when we all stand before God on Judgment Day. (Romans 1:18-32)

 

It is God’s will and great pleasure to see His faithful children shining examples of how to live out their orderly lives on earth enjoying God’s favor and grace on them. This is how we become His witnesses sharing with others what the Lord Jesus has done in our life.

 

Because the godly woman brings godly love and godly order into her home – her husband and children praise her. She regards them as royalty and is careful and generous with each one.

 

An orderly life comes before any spiritual outreach. You can’t have a credible ministry outside your home if your husband, children and household are being denied your duties as God designed for a wife and mother. God has not given men the responsibilities He has given to wives and mothers. When Christian wives and mothers expect or hire others to do what is theirs only to do so that they can step out into a so-called “ministry” the family falls apart, the marriage falls apart, God’s Word is maligned and God is mocked.

 

At the end of our life on earth, if God’s praise and reward does not await us then all we’ve worked for has all been in vain and even what we believed we had earned, will be forever lost.

 

Woman of God, do not let anyone judge you for living according to the standard of God, because God has said that without holiness no one will see God and enjoy His Kingdom. (Hebrews 12:14) Do not let anyone or anything disqualify you for the crown of faithfulness that awaits you when you appear with Christ in glory.

Series on Fallacies – Fallacy #1 – Words

Posted by & filed under Franks Blog.

We live in a world of great deception. It is a world where we find fallacies operating in our debates, TV ads, daily conversations and especially in the political realm. It is important for us to understand these fallacies in order that we too are not deceived. These 14 fallacies are the ones most usually used.

 

Fallacy #1 – WORDS

 

Proverbs 18:21 “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

 

In his essay called “Politics and the English Language,” George Orwell shared a crucial insight about the decline of language: “A man may take to drink because he feels himself to be a failure, and then fail all the more completely because he drinks. It is rather the same thing that is happening to the English language. It becomes ugly and inaccurate because our thoughts are foolish, but the slovenliness of our language makes it easier for us to have foolish thoughts.”

 

Mike Bauman says, “Sloppy language makes sloppy thought possible.” In Orwell’s “1984,” the masses are fed redefining slogans like “War Is Peace,” “Freedom Is Slavery,” and “Ignorance Is Strength.” We are in a cultural war and in this battle is often on the use of words. How do we define and redefine words? Language is very important and like Proverbs says: “The tongue has the power of life and death.”

 

In the next few weeklies for this I want to write about some of the fallacies that are out there influencing us whether we know it or not. These fallacies have to do with how we use words and how we frame our arguments.

 

The ‘opinion makers’ of this world (those who use words to make a living) are framing their arguments in such a way that they are moving society down a slippery slope. We are told in the Word: “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” Mark 7:21-23 (KJV)

 

Also the Word says: “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45

 

In this New Year there are two resolutions that the Lord has laid upon my heart.

 

First, we need to get the Gospel out to all mankind. What the above verses are telling me is the need to see the heart of man changed and only the Gospel can do that. Wealth, government legislation, education, better standard of living, or like we say here in USA pursuing the American dream (whatever that is), will not change the heart of man. Only the Gospel can do that and we, the church, have a tremendous obligation to do just that using the gifts, abilities that the Lord has given us.

 

Secondly, we must learn to frame our arguments wisely. Ideas have consequences and some of the ideas that are being bandied about will have a dastardly affect upon us and our children and grandchildren. One of these deadly ideas that is being brought forth is that ‘matter is all that exists.’ In this idea there is no spiritual realm. This is why when the tragedy strikes most of our ‘opinion makers’ had no answers let alone solutions.

 

We need to understand and be able to explain it wisely that in this modern age God is still on the throne and He is sovereign over the nations and human history. “All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, for dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations.” (Psalms 22:27-28)

 

To do this we need to learn to think biblically and understand the fallacies that are circulating in our media, entertainment, government, family, market place and yes, even the church.

 

 

Because – Therefore

Posted by & filed under Franks Blog.

We know that with every action – there is a reaction. In other words, we have a ‘because – therefore’ situation.

 

We see this coming out constantly in the prophetic writings in the Old Testament. For example: Ezekiel 26:2-3 “’Son of man, because that Tyrus hath said against Jerusalem, Aha, she is broken that was the gates of the people: she is turned unto me: I shall be replenished, now she is laid waste: Therefore,’ thus saith the Lord God; ‘Behold, I am against thee, O Tyrus, and will cause many nations to come up against thee, as the sea causeth his waves to come up.’”

 

Because of the action of the people of Tyrus speaking against Jerusalem, therefore we see the reaction that follows in the rest of the chapter of Ezekiel 26.

 

One of the most powerful things that God has given to us is a free-will and the ability to choose. What do we choose? We need to keep in mind that there will be a reaction to what we choose, whether it is positive or negative.

 

Do we consider the advice of Deuteronomy 30:19: “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.”

 

Here we have a because (life and blessing) and therefore (death and cursing) set before. Which one do we choose? Whatever we think about the most will grow and this refers both to the positive and negative ends of the spectrum.

 

We cannot control all our circumstances, but we can control our reaction to them. It is important when we come into trauma (and we will come into one) our thinking needs to be in harmony with Scripture, like Colossians 3:15 “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.”

 

October 7, 2017 was a turning point in my life. My wife of 51 years came to me with a terrific headache like she never had before and when we went to the emergency, we found out that she had a brain aneurysm. The next day the aneurysm was secured with coils, but one slipped and brought about further damage to the brain that affected the left side of her body: arm, leg, short term memory, as well as left peripheral vision gone.

 

There was nothing we could do about our circumstance, but what about our reaction to it? We chose life. Every morning I would ask my wife: “What day is this?” She now responds saying: “This is the day that the Lord has made and we will be happy and rejoice in it.”

 

By reacting this way we are now finding that our ‘therefore’ is becoming a positive action. My wife is improving with her left arm. She walks a mile with me holding hands (to help keep her stable) in the near-by park. I see signs (small at this time) of short-term memory responding. By choosing the right course (scripturally) we are finding that the brain which is malleable is being altered in the right way.

 

What is positive for my wife and I because of the choice we made, can also become negative by the choice we make, and wire the brain in a self-defeating attitude.

 

Colossians 3:15 says, “Let the ‘peace of God’ rule in your hearts.” I often wandered just exactly what did that mean. Dr. Caroline Leaf shed some light on this in her book SWITCH ON YOUR BRAIN when she said: “Your heart is not just a pump; it helps with decision-making and choices, acting like a checking station for all the emotions generated by the flow of chemicals from thoughts.”

 

WE have found that when we made a decision, we sensed a peace within and then there have been other times when we did not have that sense of peace within. Could it be, Like Dr. Caroline Leaf brings out, that our heart is “acting like a checking station for all the emotions generated by the flow of chemicals from thoughts.”

 

One lesson that stands out for me in this time of trauma with my wife is the importance of the Scripture. Why? Because our mind needs to be set on that which is right and true, and the only thing in this world that gives the truth for the right thinking, and the right direction to go – is the Holy Scriptures.

 

Let Philippians 4:8 be our thought: “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 praiseworthy — think about such things.”

 

Remember what Paul said in 2 Corinthians 10:5: “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

 

We gain by bringing our thoughts into obedience to Christ!

 

 

The Proverbs 31 Woman – Chapter 39 – Character Building

Posted by & filed under Carols Blog.

The godly character that you have helps your husband become the man of God he was intended to be. The ungodly character that a wife holds on to can hinder her husband from becoming the man of God he is to become. This does not mean that your husband has no responsibility of his own, or that God is impotent in any way. It only means that you as his wife have the responsibility from God to build up the right spirit, outlook and disposition in yourself so that you can be all you need to be as your husband’s helpmate, and the mother of his children. God will be generous with a helpmate like this.

 

God favors the wife who helps her husband with his responsibility as the provider of his family. She is determined to do her best to live within her husband’s means so she can be at home with her children. She protects her husband’s masculinity by being content with what they can afford and making their home-life happy and peaceful.

 

If her husband doesn’t make enough to provide for his family – she goes to God believing He will help her to see how they can live on less, and to find bargains, or to see a way she can still be at home with the children while bringing in a little more income. When there are no more children at home she is free to work outside the home, but she never expects her husband to come home from work to an empty house and to fix his own dinner. If she must be absent she has prepared a meal for him before she leaves. She has left a note for him showing her loving thought of him.

 

Pampering herself with massages and facials is not the thinking of a virtuous woman. Spending money on physical improvements so she can feel better about herself is not her way. She is convinced that true beauty comes from godly character, and that relaxing is about her peace with God. Her early morning time with the Lord does for her what worldly women believe body treatments do for them.

 

A wife is not capable of knowing her husband’s full worth and potential. God is the only one with this knowledge and vision. God has not allowed women to fully understand men, nor men to fully understand women. We just need to respectfully enjoy and benefit from our distinct differences by working together for our Father’s glory and pleasure. It’s about “completion not competition.” God puts two people together who will do amazing things with Him. So don’t try to completely understand your husband or you will ruin your marriage. Some things are best left as mysteries. I finally gave up and I’m a happier woman because of it and my husband is happier too.

 

Wife, God forms your character through your faithfulness and honest prayers. Your good character is built as you love and serve your husband and take all your concerns to the Lord. You don’t need to be worried about the “what ifs” if your faith is in God and His promises. Your faith in what God has said in His Word is stronger than all your doubts and fears.

 

The quiet and gentle spirit of a humble praying wife can win the meanest man over to kindness and faith in God. This is one of the wonderful things done by a wife’s “humble submission.” (1 Peter 3:1-6) Submission is not to be done out of fear, but out of faith in what God can do that He claims in His Word.

 

God does not expect any woman to keep taking the “mean” behavior of her husband as though it was her lot in life. Your heavenly Father releases you from your marriage contract if your husband continues to abuse you because you are His daughter living under HIS ROOF. (Numbers 30:3-5)

 

Your heavenly Father can break your word/vow/promise if He did not agree with it. He can break it at any time He sees fit. While you are living under your earthly father’s roof (authority and protection) your father also has the right to break your word/vow/promise that you make to someone – if your father sees that there is something not right with the man you have given your word to. This of course is talking about a good father with common sense.

 

Abuse and adultery are two legitimate reasons for separation and/or divorce. In the case of adultery you have the option to forgive him so that the two of you can work out the problem with help. In the case of adultery – most the time a wife is just as much to fault as the husband is. What leads up to the act of adultery should be taken seriously and personally. Most the time the reason a husband starts noticing other women is because his wife is not paying attention to him; not concerned for his physical and emotional needs, or for his job and challenges in life.

 

In the case of physical abuse you will need to separate and go to God for what you need to see about your husband and understand about yourself. Most times, an abusive man has come from being abused himself. (Most times, a woman will chose a man based on how she was treated by her father.) Keep a spirit of forgiveness and keep praying for God to heal him and set him free from his deep wounds. Temporary separation is good; it gives you both the time to think, get close to the Lord in His Word and prayer, and get the help you need – so you can truly heal and be free to come back together and live the life God intends.

 

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalms 147:3

 

“I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them….Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He will understand them. The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.” Hosea 14:4-9

 

In many cases an abusive person remains that way because no one loves him enough to pray for him, or because he refuses the extended hand of the Lord; the help and deliverance he truly needs. If one is unwilling to change, then a divorce is inevitable unless the willing one commits to putting up with it in order to pray and trust God to work. If both are unwilling to change then a divorce is inevitable, but a divorce won’t help either of you, it will only ruin the next relationship you enter into.

 

God works meanness out of a man when someone begins to pray for God’s good to come. Sometimes He works it out by removing him off the face of the earth. Sometimes He works it out through personal hardships and losses. But in any case, God works it out with His loving kindnesses. God’s loving kindness will be revealed through pain and suffering. The same is true for a “mean wife.”

 

When you see hardship, loss or death happen to your husband – do not give way to fear. Entrust yourself, and your children, to the Lord. Remain steadfast in prayer with the hope of God’s promises. This hope, the hope that is anchored to God’s love and principles, will never disappoint you. God makes every one of His promises good to the promise clinger. Don’t be afraid of what is happening to your husband, how it will affect you and the children. Believe me; God knows exactly how to touch your husband without it hurting you and the children.

 

Many times your husband will amaze you with how foolish he can be, but be careful not to judge him for it. Remember that God isn’t finished with him, or you yet. (God has an appointed time when all will be judged.) Most adult men still think and act like boys who haven’t learned how to control themselves and aren’t taking their manly responsibilities seriously enough. But, they don’t need ‘mommies’ anymore and they don’t need their wives to ‘criticize’ them either. They need a wife with godly character and a God-appointed man to lead them on in what men are all about. Pray for one!

 

Above all, don’t forget what you first saw in your husband that you liked so much to marry him. Only God can change your husband. God sees us finished, but we don’t have this same privilege or advantage point.

 

Women don’t fully understand what makes a man into a godly man and because of that blissful ignorance we are only responsible for how well we live up to God’s standard of a woman so that WE grow up in the character that pleases our Father God.

 

Women have believed (the lie) that to be just a wife, mother and home-maker is not impressive or praiseworthy. That’s because worldly women are not impressed with the life of the woman God honors.  The so-called women’s movements with their protests and marches are nothing more than women showing their resentment of true womanhood and their extreme anger with God. Yet, their Creator Father says His design of womanhood is the highest honor and calling a woman can have.

Wisdom without Knowledge is Destructive

Posted by & filed under Mikes Blog.

Daniel 12:4 says that “in the end times knowledge will increase.” I thought this was interesting that it just says knowledge and not wisdom.

 

Wisdom is knowing what to do with knowledge. Could it be that in the last days we will have whole societies that know a lot of things but cannot figure out how to use it in their lives properly?

 

Every generation prior to mine have said that they wanted to make life better for the next generation. I have to say that my grandchildren will not have as good a life as I have. This brings up the question, why? Could it be that the times they live in with so much accessible knowledge, there is the great lack of wisdom? A good example of this is to listen to the foolish talk today about  the sanctity of life for endangered animals but refuse to protect the life of a child in the womb, now even killing the living breathing child after birth. What a SERIOUS lack of wisdom!