NOTES ON A PERSONAL LETTER

Yesterday we all received a personal letter from our Father. Today lets look a little closer at some of the points he made in that letter Proverbs chapter 3. We are going to start with verse one and let’s see what we find. If we miss something, or if something we don’t cover catches your eye, please let us know. We do like to hear from you.

Verse one tells us that we are not to forget the laws of God; and our heart is to keep His commands. If we do our life will be lengthened and peace will be added to you. A closer look: this is Old Testament and the promises that are made here are to all God’s children. Because Jesus came and died for us, we are not under the law. But the laws were there for a reason: to guide, direct and for obedience. With the Lord it is His way, there is no other way. We cannot change Him, He changes us. Look carefully it says to not forget the laws; it says keep My commands.

We are not to literally bind anything around our necks, nor can we write on our hearts. When we read and study the word it becomes a part of us. The neck supports the head and binding something will strengthen it. Our heart controls our body, without a brain we can live, without a heart we die. The heart is also the life source of our body, so it seems reasonable to put the word there.

Trust in the Lord with your heart, your life source, and lean not on your own understanding. It is not for us to figure out how He will do it. If He says He will, He will; so let Him. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths. What exactly does acknowledge mean?
Webster’s—to know, to recognize; to confess, avow, or admit the existence, reality, or truth of; to recognize the validity, force, or power of; to express recognition of; to express gratitude for.
Strongs—Hebrew to know [to ascertain by seeing] have knowledge.
So in all you do, know Him and He will direct you.

I found a tidbit of information that I thought I would share with you. Most of us have heard the expression yada, yada, yada, well guess what it means in Hebrew: have knowledge. Look closely at the spelling of yada: yaw-dah.

Don’t think yourself wise, know where it comes from, you are nothing by yourself. Fear God and depart from evil. If you are in evil, God is not there. So stay away from things that can hurt you and you will be healthy.

Honor God with your possessions. What you have came from God, you are not the owner, and it is in trust to you. And what He has entrusted to you then honor Him with it. The first fruits of your increase belong to God. What is that? Let’s say you get a 50 cent an hour raise, and you work forty hours a week, that is a twenty dollar a week raise. That first 20 dollars belongs to God. After that it is the usual 10% tithe. The increase belongs to God. Now I don’t know about you but I don’t have a barn or any vats with wine. God will fill our life’s with plenty to overflowing, be it our house, our wallets or our minds.

We are not to get angry from the chastisements of the Lord, when He corrects us. He corrects us because He loves us. He does not enjoy watching us get hurt. If your child continues to run toward the street after we talk to them, most of us will spank them, why, because we know what will happen if they run into the road? So it is with God. He desires for us to learn to grow from our mistakes, not to continue to make them.

Wisdom and understanding, just look at the promises that are given to us if we find and gain them. Nothing compares, our days are lengthened, riches and honor, ways of pleasantness, path of peace, life and happiness. Life, it's our soul, grace to our neck [remember it supports the head] walking safely not stumbling, not afraid, sweet sleep. Not afraid of sudden terror, not of trouble. God will be you confidence and keep your foot from being caught.

WOW I could just stop right there and shout, but I would wake up the house. I have to read that again. Nothing compares, days lengthened, riches, honor, pleasantness, peace, life, happiness, sweet sleep, no trouble. And on top of that God is my confidence and will keep me from being caught.

But wait a minute, how many of us Christians do you know that live like that? Are you living like that? OUCH! I could preach right now, if I was a preacher. This is the way we are suppose to be living. Being a Christian does not mean being poor, broke, sick from day to day. It means living life to the fullest every step of the way.

If somebody is due good then give it, if it is in your hand to do. If someone asks and you have give it. Now wait a minute I did not say to give money to everybody that asks, or anything else for that matter. This is where that wisdom and knowledge comes in. I know there are times I gave when I shouldn’t have and some times I could have and didn’t. It says to whom it is due, when you can.

This one touched my heart. Do not devise evil against your neighbor; he dwells by you for safety’s sake. I have a young neighbor who one night the Lord moved on me to pray for. I had no idea what was going on in the next yard as a trailer blocked the view and I was so strongly in prayer for this young man I heard nothing. There was a battle going on in my living room, a battle for his life. I found out the next day that at the same time I was praying he got in a fight and was stabbed twice in that yard. The doctor’s told him the two stab wounds were minor, but if either one of them had been a fraction of an inch different they both would have struck vital organs. Your neighbor dwells by you for safety.

If someone tries to cause strive with you without cause, he has not hurt you. What is that children’s saying: Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me. Words cannot hurt you, give it to God, forgive and ask God to forgive them and keep going.

Why would we even consider envying an oppressor or choose their ways. I do not want what they have, nor want it the way they got it. They are an abomination to our Father, while the upright have secret counsel with Him. A curse is on the wicked, He blesses the just. He scorns the scornful, but gives grace to the humble. The wise inherit glory and shame belongs to fools.

Oh what a wonderful God we serve. Have a wonderful day in the Lord. Take it one step at a time and before you know it you’ll be running the best race of your life. Don’t forget His promises, they do belong to you.

God Bless
rECj