I Promise!

If my wife were to ask me to do something, say clean out the garage, I could respond in a couple of ways. 'No" would not be one of them. Here is what I was thinking.

• Sure, I will get to as soon as I can.
• I will see what I can do.
• Maybe next week I can get to it.
• I hope I have time to do just that.
• Not sure I can do that right now but I will keep it on my list of things to do.

These are not the most reassuring responses. But if I say, "I promise I will clean out the garage by Monday." Or if I say, "I promise I will do it today." My wife would believe that I would do it. First of all my word should be good enough but when you add the 'PROMISE' it adds an additional guarantee the work will be done.

God's word is true and what God says will come to past.

1 Kings 8:56 "Praise the LORD who has given rest to His people Israel, just as He promised. Not one word has failed of all the wonderful promises He gave through His servant Moses.

Psalms 12:6 The LORD's promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over.

Psalms 18:30 God's way is perfect. All the LORD's promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to Him for protection.

Psalms 91:4 He will cover you with His feathers. He will shelter you with His wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

Psalms 145:13 For Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule throughout all generations. The LORD always keeps His promises; He is gracious in all He does.

Romans 4:21 . . God is able to do whatever He promises.

Romans 15:4 . . . And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God's promises to be fulfilled.

So what has God promised you? Get ready because it's coming to past. It has too.

Getting Caught Up

Over the past number of weeks life has been running in fast forward. From an almost unreasonable amount of busyness at church to my son getting married, my house has been running and running fast.

Running fast isn't bad. However, you can't run fast ALL THE TIME. A time of slow down and a time of stop must follow this time of FAST. If it does not a time of break down will occur. Only God, the bible says, never sleeps nor slumbers.

Psalms 121:1-8 NASB
(1) A Song of Ascents. I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come?
(2) My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.
(3) He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber.
(4) Behold, He who keeps Israel Will neither slumber nor sleep.
(5) The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade on your right hand.
(6) The sun will not smite you by day, Nor the moon by night.
(7) The LORD will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul.
(8) The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in From this time forth and forever.



Excuse me, while I go catch a few extra ZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzz......

PEOPLE ARE [Unaware]

I mentioned a few weeks ago a book I had purchased, "People are idiots and I can prove it" by Larry Winget. The guy is an interesting writer and I think a life coach. As I said before you may want to buy the book because it is full of common sense things that would indeed help you in addition to the ten items I will discuss. Gene Gentz, Christian author, once said that biblical principles are still biblical principles that will work even when someone who is not Christian applies them. I believe that is the case with this author. Although I do not know this guys religious beliefs. So I will over the next weeks give you the biblical principles behind the ten ways people sabotage their success mentioned in "People are idiots and I can prove it." Here we go.

PEOPLE ARE IGNORANT [Unaware]

Proverbs 1:1-5 NASB The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: (2) To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding, (3) To receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness, justice and equity; (4) To give prudence to the naive, To the youth knowledge and discretion, (5) A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel,

In the title I replaced ignorant with unaware. Ignorant is a hard word but the basic meaning is you lack knowledge about a thing that you are capable of knowing. You are unaware. In fact many of us are unaware that we are unaware of things me need to know. Now this is not a sin it is human. You and I lack knowledge about a lot of stuff. I like to download from iTunes a series of programs from a TV show called "The Works." This show tells me things about stuff that I lack knowledge about. Motorcycles, tattoo's, guns, and parachuting are the most recent topics that I have gained some knowledge about.

Proverbs 4:5 NASB Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.

Years ago I wasn't being the best I could be as a husband. Funny thing was I didn't know I wasn't. I thought I was doing a good job. I got involved in Promise Keepers and learned I really didn't know much about being a husband. Through my involvement with PK I acquired the knowledge necessary to be a much better husband and man. The more I learned the more I realized I didn't know. Sound familiar. I was ignorant about things that I was capable of knowing that would help me.

James 1:5 NASB But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

The Bible is full of principles that you and I need to know to be successful in life. Relationships, finances, fulfillment of life, answers to life's major questions. Questions like, 'Who is God?.' 'Where are you going to spend eternity.' How do I handle a job loss?' 'What do I do when my children do wrong things?' 'What to do when I get sick?' 'What to do when life comes at me to destroy me?' 'Why do people not like me?' What is God's plan for me?' and many more questions we don't know too ask. So often we are ignorant of those things that we are capable of knowing.

Matthew 7:7-8 NASB "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.(8) "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

The Bible, a good church, a pastor who will teach you God's Word, a Sunday school class, a mentor are places and people we need in our life if we are to become all that God desires for us to become. Through these things we gain the knowledge that will improve our lives, strengthen our relationships and guide us through the good and bad times of life. Knowledge we don't know we don't know but really need.

If you know something but don't use it to your advantage and success, well then that leads us to the next reason people sabotage their success. See you next week.

Re-Gift Party was a BLAST!

For those of you, and there not many, who could not make it to the re-gifting party on Sunday from the Wisdom Seekers Sunday school class here are a few pictures to let you in on the great fun we had. Forty two people come over to Lee and Tonya's house for food (Outstanding) and to bless others with gifts they received that they wanted to pass on to others. Some were very nice and some, well, were not so nice. But in the end EVERYONE had a great time. Thanks to Lee and Tonya for opening your house to us. It was a blessing for all.