THE THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Blessed is the man who trust in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out tis roots by the stream (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

Proverbs 6

We will camp out here for a fews blogs and discuss some OF the counsel and insights Solomon gives from this Book of Wisdom. Insights that are instruction for living life in a more positive and productive way. Insights on practical everyday conduct and common sense actions that we should be aware of and that we should know.
Verses 1-5 Speak of Co-signing for a friend. The basic counsel is not to do it. It is a great financial risk and if your friend doesn’t pay his/her debt it becomes your responsibility to pay and the people they owe will come after you. In verses 3-5, he instructs, if you have done this already, go and beg your friend to release you from this obligation. Do whatever you can to get him to pay his debt to make sure that you are not held responsible and that you might be release from having to pay this debt yourself.
The Bible speaks to all aspects of our lives and it speaks relevantly.
How do I ACT this out?
APPLY – Make sure you don’t co-sign for any loans for a friend, and if you have make sure they pay their debt completely and on time, and find out if you can get out of being the co-signer before the debt is paid. If not don’t take for granted that your friend will pay, make sure they pay.
COMMIT – Commit to reading one Proverb a day, every month. There are 31 Proverbs, one for everyday in a month, this will help you gain wisdom and learn the counsel from God on how to live a positive and productive life.
TELL – Tell a friend what you are doing and ask them to join you and share your thoughts with each other, daily, about the Proverb that you read for that day.

GOD BLESS YOU AND MAY YOU GROW IN WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE AND MAY YOUR LIFE BECOME RICH BY THE APPLICATION OF GOD’S WORD!

THE THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: From Manuel Scott Sr. as quoted by Manuel Scott Jr. “Jesus Christ is my Chief resource person, main mentor, and model in my struggle for moral fitness and social competence.”

Psalm 130

Are waiting and trusting God to do something in life? Are praying and hoping that what you are waiting for is in line with His will for your life? Are longing and looking over every horizon for the answer to your prayer and the expectation of your petition to come pass? Will know this, that God is going to fulfill your expectations and answer your prayers. He is not deaf that He cannot hear you. But He is perfect in His timing. He knows just when to manifest the answer to your request so that it might have the greatest possible benefit for you and for those around you. So that if those who are around you, know Him they will be encouraged and strengthen in their faith by what He does for you and if they don’t know Him that they might come to faith because of what He does for you. In either case know that your waiting and trusting is not in vain. He loves you and wants to use you in His plan to reach others.
So how do I ACT this out?
APPLY – While you are waiting don’t get frustrated or impatient, but Worship and praise Him, and every time the thought of what you are waiting for, comes across your mind, Thank Him that your answer is on its way!
COMMIT – Commit to continue to do what you have committed to the Lord you would do even before you came to your present situation. It was your faith and obedience that brought you to this point and it will be your faith and obedience that will see you through this point. Be Steadfast and faithful in serving the Lord!
TELL – Let all who you come in contact with know how you trust Him and rely on Him for all your needs, and that even this current need in your life He will meet.

MAY YOU EXPERIENCE THE BLESSINGS OF KNOWING THAT THE GOD YOU SERVE HEARS AND ANSWERS YOUR PRAYERS!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Albert Einstein: “Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.”

Psalm 90-97

What is missing today in the hearts of most men is a reverent awe of God. We are a society of people who say we honor God and yet we live our lives like He does exist. We want Him to help us, but we do nothing to show Him we respect Him. We want Him to protect us, yet we keep pushing Him away when tries to tell us how to live.
David in the Psalms above writes about His ever increasing awe and respect for God and who He is in his life and to the World at large. And he writes in such a way as to remind us that we should think of God in much the same way and live our lives in such a way as to reflect this knowledge.
How do We ACT this out?
APPLY – What do you believe about God? Where is he in the context of your life? Is He central to your belief system or is He an appendix, that tags along and you refer to Him when you need Him? Wherever He is in terms of the priority of your life will determine the quality of your life!
COMMIT – Whatever your answer is to the questions above change the place where you have God in your life and watch what a difference it will make. When you do, make a commitment to remind yourself of His place in your life and honor Him by living your life with respect to His position in your life. Now if this New place of God in your life means that you have to accept Him as your savior, then go our church website: ecclesiachurch.com, see the link on this blog. Click on “Prayer” and click on the phrase “Are You Saved!” and follow the information given you there.
TELL – Now tell a friend or prayer partner to help you be consistent in recognizing the new place of priority that you have given to God in your life and ask them to hold you accountable and to prayer for you.

MAY YOU EXPERIENCE A NEW FOUND PRESENCE OF GOD IN YOUR LIFE AS YOU RAISE HIS LEVEL OF PRIORITY IN YOUR HEART!

THE THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: “No one is adequate for abundant living who has not acquired the art and secured the strategy for using broken things. Broken things are not useless things!” (The Gospel for the Ghetto, p. 120, 123)

Psalm 61

There are moments in this Christian walk where we get truly and sincerely overwhelmed. Overwhelmed with expectations not being fulfilled. Overwhelmed with the constant attack against our faith, our hope, and our character. So tried of the up and down of emotions, pulling you one way and then another, that you long for, cry for and look for some kind of stability. That’s why the Psalmst cries, “Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.” We all need a rock from time to time, in midst of these things that so often overwhelm us. Paul tells us that, that Rock we long for is “Christ”, who is the author and finisher of faith and who is the one we can rely on to supply all of our needs according to His riches.(I Cor.10:4; Heb.12:2 and Phil.4:19)
So How Do We ACT this out?
APPLY – Take a moment and confess before the Lord what is overwhelming you right now! Articulate it specifically!
COMMIT – Now! make a commitment to make a positive statement about what you are overwhelmed about, believing as you do it will end very soon, if not today! For instance, if yours is deliverance for smoking. Say, today I am delivered from smoking and do your best, as God gives your strength, not to smoke today! And if He blesses you to see tomorrow do the same! Until the cravings and desires are gone!
TELL – Tell you prayer partner or friend what you have committed to do and ask them to support you in prayer and with accountability. To ask you each day how you are doing and pray for you to stand firm in your commitment.

MAY GOD BLESS YOU TO STAND EACH DAY ON THE ROCK WHO IS OUR STRENGTH AND OUR DELIVERER!

THE THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: “Give to the LORD the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come before Him. Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.” (1 Ch 16:29)

I Chronicles 14-16
The concept of reverence for God is something that we seem to be losing in our walk and worship. David recognized the presence of God is his life in every area. When he went to battle against the Philistines he sought the Lord’s counsel and direction, not once but twice as recorded in here chronicles, which gives the impression that this was a practice in his life. Even when he sought to bring the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem the second time, he sought the Lord’s counsel and direction. David demonstrates a respect and reverence for God, that we have come to take for granted in our lives and in our worship of God.
Some how with our casual, come as you are, attitude with our dress that has become a way draw people to church. We have also become casual with our attitude of holiness and reverence that God deserves. David made it a point to honor and respect God in everything he did for Him, making sure that His holiness and reverence were not violated or taken for granted, and as such God Bless him, his family and his nation.
So, how do I ACT this out? Understand that He is the Same, Yesterday, Today and Forever! The same God David worshipped is the same God we worship and as such He deserves the same reverence!
APPLY – Begin by examining how you worship privately in your quiet time. How is your approach to Him? It’s often amazing to me how we take great pains in preparing ourselves to meet such people as the President of the United States, the Queen of English or even Bosses and CEO’s of large companies. But we come to God any old way! Check how you are coming before Him, is it with respect and reverence?
COMMIT – If in your examination you find you need to make some changes, especially in the area of attitude, then commit to change your attitude about how you come before God. The best way I have found is by reading the Psalms. David had a great attitude of reverence for God, reading the psalms will help your attitude toward God!
TELL – Now tell others about what you have learned about reverencing and worshipping God. Tell them so they can be challenged by their approach to Him. Tell them so you can be held accountable in the follow through of your commitment.

MAY YOUR INTIMACY WITH GOD INCREASE AS YOU LEARN TO REVERENCE FOR WHO HE IS, NOT FOR WHO YOU WANT HIM TO BE!!!

THE THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: I Peter 5:10 “In His kindness God called you to share in His eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, He will restore, support and strengthen you, and He will place you on a firm foundation.”

2 Samuel 19-20

Sometimes we get in the way of our children being delivered by God. Such was the case with David and Absalom. Absalom was David’s son, who wanted his throne and sought to assassinate him in order to get it. Yet, David refused to raise His hand against his own child and chose to run from Absalom, to avoid killing him (disciplining him). Although Absalom made David’s life miserable and David hope some how to reconcile the situation without the death (disciplining) of his son. Despite the Law which commanded that a rebellious child be put the death, David sought ways not to obey that command. But the inevitable happen, God chose to allow Absalom to die. Because Absalom actions not effected David but they had effected the whole nation. But David could see that because he was so caught up in not allowing Absalom to suffer the consequences of his actions that he got in the way of his deliverance and as such the only alternative was his death.
Parent’s sometimes get in the way of their children’s growth and development by trying to keep them from going through hardships and struggles and not allowing them to suffer the consequences of their actions. The very things God used in you to make you strong is the very thing you try to keep your child from going through that will make them strong. I’m not saying we should let our children die, but David protected and shielded Absalom so, that he became a spoiled and selfish child who didn’t even have any concern or respect for his father. And as such many of us as parents are in the same situation as David, dealing with a child that we gave everything for, only now to reap disrespect and selfishness from them. You thought you were protecting them by not letting go through what you went through, but now they don’t appreciate nor recognize the grace they were given and you’re still trying to keep them from suffering.
How to ACT this out!
APPLY – Ask God in prayer to give you wisdom and discernment about your Children. Ask Him to show what you should do and not do for them. If you have trouble hearing that from God, seek counsel from someone you know and respect. Because the Bible does say in the multitude of counselors there is safety.(Prov.11:14)
COMMIT – Now do what you have been counseled to do concerning your children, while all the time praying for them that they will hear and see what God is doing in their lives to save their lives. And only do for them what you know the Lord would have do and not what they want you to do!
TELL – Your prayer partners about what the Lord has given you to do with your children so that they might agree with you in prayer concerning them and that they might hold you accountable to do only what the God gives you to do for them.

MAY YOU REAP THE DEATH OF THAT BAD LIFE YOUR CHILD IS LIVING AND THE NEW BIRTH OF A LIFE IN CHRIST THAT YOUR CHILD HAS COME TO KNOW!!!

THE THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:To God, Your life is a finished picture, beautifully painted on a canvas and He is watching parts of it unfold everyday – Pastor Ron Carpenter Jr.

I SAM.8-10
Showing kindness always benefits you spiritually and emotionally. The act of kindness always generates an emotions within that makes you feel good about yourself. Acts of kindness can be done for those who deserve them or those who do not. They can be given to the one who has shown you kindness or to someone related to the one who showed you kindness. Such is case the with David, Jonathan and Mephibosheth. Jonathan was dead, David loved Jonathan and never really had a opportunity show Jonathan how much he appreciated his love and kindness, even in the face of his very own father, Saul. So, David was moved to show his love and appreciation for Jonathan’s kindness to Jonathan’s Son, Mephibosheth.
How about you? How about showing some kindness to someone today?
How to ACT this out!
APPLY – Think of someone in your life or that you come in contact with on a regular basis, that you would like to do something kind for.
COMMIT – Now decide what act of kindness you would like to do for them and do it!
TELL – Talk with Lord about how He would have you do this and let the Spirit of God lead you in this act.

MAY GOD BLESS YOU AS YOU BECOME A BLESSING TO SOMEONE ELSE!

THE THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Integrity would rather wait, than do what is wrong! (From the Book: The Quotable Manuel Scott, Sr, Manuel Scott, Jr.)

I Sam.18-19
The Bible tells us let not the sun go down on your wrath (Eph.4:26). Because Proverbs 27:4 tells us, “Anger is cruel and wrath is like a flood, but jealousy is even more dangerous.” When you allow anger to influence your choices and decisions, you will suffer consequences that you WILL regret.
Saul’s anger and jealousy got the best of him. It cost him, his reputation, his kingdom, his relationship with children, his relationship the prophet Samuel, his relationship with God and eventually it cost him is life. He paid an ridiculously high price, for an emotion that God tells us not hold on to. For Ecclesiastes 7:9 says, “Control your temper, for anger labels you a fool!”
Do you have an anger problem, do things get on your “nerves” often? Does it seem like anything anybody does bothers you? Do you feel like you angry at something or someone almost all of the time? Listen, take note of Saul, read again what his anger, unchecked and uncontrolled, produced in his life and ask yourself, is your anger worth paying that high of a price? Are you ready to loss everything because your MAD?
How do we ACT this out?
APPLY – Saul’s anger got the best of him. Even to point that it open him up to demon oppression. If you sense your anger is a little out of control and you seem to be angered by things that after you calm down they really weren’t worth that kind of response. Then first thing you need to begin to do, is to pray specifically about your anger. Asking God to calm and quiet your spirit in response to the things that seem to bother you, and secondly seek a good Christian counselor, that you trust, to talk with them about your anger. Listen, sometimes just talking about it to the right person helps to bring it under control.
COMMIT – To praying about it now! And commit to making it habit that when you start feeling that way you feel when you know you are getting angry, to ask sincerely, that the Lord would calm your spirit.
TELL – Your pray partner or your accountability partners what you are struggle with and ask them to support you in pray regarding this issue and to check with you, whenever you agree, on how you are doing with your anger!

MAY YOU EXPERIENCE THE POWER OF GOD KEEPING YOUR HEART AND YOUR MIND IN CHRIST JESUS!

THE THOUGHT FOT THE DAY: “I know, Lord, that our lives are not our own. We are not able to plan our own course.” Jeremiah 10:23 (NLT)

I Sam.7-8
Isn’t is a amazing how quickly we loss sight of what the Lord is doing for us as we go through personal trails. How easy it is to forget the goodness of God when we are facing difficult times. How easily swayed we are by the influences and philosophies around us, rather than to stand firm on the Word of God.
Israel is just such an example. They were easily influenced spiritually because they quickly turned from God to worship the gods of the nations around them, and they were easily influenced politically because, although God ruled them, lead them and provided for them, they again wanted to be like the nations around them and wanted their own King. Not realizing they were rejecting God.
How easily we are deceived when we think that our ideas are so much better than God’s. How convinced we get, when we think that what we have in mind will work, if it is given a chance, and how stubborn we get when someone tries to show us, what the consequences will be if we pursue this line of thinking. Listen, sometimes God answering our request is not His will, but His judgement because of our unwillingness to obey Him.
So how do we ACT this out?
APPLY – Recognize those moments in your life where you were so convinced that if God were to do what you had in mind or if he were to allow something to happen the way you thought it should, how much better the situation would be and how much more glory he would get. Think about how it turned out. Now did it turn out because God did it your way or His way? What would have happened if He had done it your way? (BE HONEST) Remember that the next time!
COMMIT – Your attitude to the Lord, on a daily basis, through prayer. Yes, that’s right add your attitude to your prayer list and pray for it everyday, that it will seek only God’s will and God’s way in all that concerns you.
TELL – Your prayer partner to pray for you as well. That no matter how your situation makes you feel. Your attitude will always be to seek God’s will and way above all else!

MAY YOU EXPERIENCE THE GOODNESS AND MERCY OF GOD THAT HE PROMISES WILL FOLLOW YOU ALL THE DAYS YOUR LIFE!

THE THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: I am the Resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying! Jesus (John 11:25)

I Sam.4-5
Enemies are inevitable in our lives. Peter reminds us that our adversary the Devil is like a roaring lion, prowling about, seeking whom he may devour (I Peter 5:8). The Bible teaches us that we are at war and that there is a battle raging around us everyday. The key to our victory in this battle is based on how we reverence the presence of God in our lives.
Unlike Israel who had the presence of God in their midst, by the Ark of the Covenant, and did not reverence or recognize His presence until they were in their battle with Philistines. When they starting losing then they wanted the presence of God in their midst. But when the Ark of the Covenant arrived in their Camp, the presence of the Lord was not with them and they lost worse than they did before. BECAUSE GOD HAS NO INTENTION OF BECOMING A GOOD LUCK CHARM FOR ANYONE!
So how do we ACT this out?
APPLY – God’s presence needs to be reverenced and recognized in our lives at all times, if you are a believer, and that is done through obedience! If you are not a believer God’s presence is not with you, it is against you, as in the case of the Philistines who sought to keep the Ark (the presence of God) for themselves, but only found sickness, disease and death wherever they took it. You need to make sure that your life has been surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ (See “Are You Saved?” under “Prayer” on our website: See link on this blog) and you need to reverence his presence always!
COMMIT – Have you ever used God presence in your life like a good luck charm? Only calling on Him when you need help, but otherwise failing to spend time with Him in prayer and reading his word on a daily basis? If so make a commitment to change that conduct today. Set a time to meet the Lord in prayer, daily, it can be morning, noon or night. Whenever the time, set it and be faithful to it. Then read the word daily, go to Our website (See Link) and start the Daily Bible Reading program. You don’t have to start at the beginning, start with today’s date and go from there. Begin to reverence the presence of God in your life, Right Now!
TELL – Ask someone to become your accountability partner in this. Someone who will do this with you and check with you everyday to see if you have spent your time with the Lord. Someone you can help stay consistent, even as they help you stay consistent. Watch how God will Bless you life!

MAY THE SWEET PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ABIDE WITH YOU ALWAYS AND MAY YOU ALWAYS KNOW THAT HE IS WITH YOU EVEN TO THE END OF THE WORLD!