Proverbs 30

Wile reading Proverbs 30 one day i came across a part of scripture that i think 97% of all people would struggle with.

    "Two things I ask of you, O LORD; do not refuse me before I die: 8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God."  Proverbs 30:7-9

A man named Agur wrote this passage and he realized something most of us wont admit to. He ask God not to be deprived before he dies, for the Lord to remove falsehood and lies from him. Also to not let him be poor or be rich but to give him just what he needs to survive.
Most of us would ask God to remove falsehoods and lies, but how many would pray to God the bold prayer not to be poor or.......rich but only give me what i need. It's like saying God just pay my bills i don't need a savings account or money for retirement. Just keep a roof over my head and food on my plate.

One think i have noticed about myself, the times in my life when i did not have hardly any money when i did not know how we were going to pay the bills i looked so much more for God to step in and do something miraculous. But when my saving account has a little money in it i don't feel the urge to rely on God like i know i use to.

I want to pray like Agur did....
    "I am the most ignorant of men; I do not have a man's understanding. 3 I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.4 Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and the name of his son? Tell me if you know! 5 "Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him." Proverbs 30:2-5

Father i know i am nothing in you sight but let me follow you will, i can not understand your ways you are so much higher than me, but allow me to take shelter under you and provide for me so i may not beg for bread but also rely on you for my needs.

Are you upfront or in the shadows?

Are you upfront or in the shadows?


Joseph of Arimathea was the man who took the body of Jesus and wrapped him up and placed him in his (Joseph's) tomb. All the bible has to say about him is in these four verses Matt 27:57, Mark 15:43, Luke 23:51, John 19:38. Joseph was from Arimathea a Judean town about twenty miles from Jerusalem, and he was pretty well off (he had some money). He was a member of the council (or Sanhedrin), the ruling class of the Jews, and he did not want to see Jesus crucified. He was a man who followed Jesus and who like most Jews he was waiting to see the kingdom of God.


But we see that he keep his belief in Jesus a secret because he was afraid of what might happen to him, that was until he witness Jesus dying on the cross. On that day he decided to ask for the body of Jesus and placed him in Joseph's own tomb, this would obviously be a demonstration that he truly liked and followed Jesus.


Joseph had times like i am sure many people have, they believe in Jesus and want to follow his teachings but are afraid what other people might think or what they will say. I recently was watching a t.v. show with a scientist who you knew did not really believe in God, but something happened to his son and, when he had no were else to turn, no way he could help the situation, he turned to God to ask for help.


Please don't wait till something traumatic happens in your life to turn to Jesus and follow him, not just while you in your house but out in public and around you friends as well.


Matt 10:32-33
"Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

Are you a trader?

I watched a you tube video that i thought was pretty neat the other day and wanted to share it with you. It is only just over 2 min.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqQueZwIuzk


Are you willing to take the calling to be a trader, and live dangerously for Christ?  

When do we know we're ready?

All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Psalm 139:16

This week my family has had to battle some bad things. My grandmother Leona Evans had a stroke sometime late Saturday or early Sunday paralyzing her on her left side as well as some brain damage. This was not her first stroke but was the wost one. Now after a short stay in the hospital they have brought her home and put her under hospice care.
Although she has had some health problems over the past year you could tell that she knew it was coming to the end of her time here with us. She starting making funeral arrangements and getting everything in order. This got me thinking about when you know your time is coming and..... your at peace with it. I know I am still young and maybe have a wile (God willing) before I have to worry about it, but it still make you wonder what that moment will be like.

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, Ephesians 1:11

It's not always easy to just think about leaving our lives in God's hands, but in the end whether we choose to or not that how it ends up. Try to make the best of every opportunity we have with our short time together. Please take this time to think about  what God has done for you, what He has given you. So that even if tomorrow something happens you have something to be grateful for and realize that death here on earth is just the beginning of eternity.

Remember: "The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him."
                                                                                                   Nahum 1:7

Bread has to be eaten...

Today bread does not hold the same weight as it used to. Now we just use it to hold our sandwiches, subs, hot dogs, or our burgers together. Very seldom do you ever see a commercial for restaurant that talks about all the good bread they have, they always want to talk about what's in between the bread.

But not too long ago things are very different. When dinner was announced, everyone knew when they said “come and get it” what “it” was… bread. That’s the way it was in Jesus time. Now bread might have not been the only thing on the table, there might have been some fish for some vegetables around, and if they had any fruit it was normally dessert. Poor people may have ate barley bread, olives, and fruit. They even ate locust as a substitute for meat.

Of course it back then bread was a very labor intensive task, the grain had to be grounded into meal, then mix with water and salt to make the dough, then add the yeast to make it rise.

People knew that the bread that they ate was a very important part of their diet. That's why they all thought Jesus was a little crazy when he told them in john 6:35 “I am the bread of life he who comes to me will never go hungry”

The funny thing about bread is though is it no good if you don't eat it. Wither is wheat, rye, dare I even say white it does you absolutely no good if you don't eat it. If you stare at it for too long it will go stale.

This is where Jesus got into a little bit of trouble when he said that he was the living bread. How many of his listeners probably thought he was crazy. It even says in verse 66 that some of his disciples turned back and no longer follow him. Jesus had a good way with words, and a good knack at getting people to scratch their heads in wonder. Bread is one of the most common things but at the same time something vary important. Bread was honored in the Old Testament tabernacle and in the temple in the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies.

Jesus was connecting the lines between them; bread: common and yet uniquely holy, Jesus: human yet uniquely divine.

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." John 6:51