Bragging On Jesus

Proverbs 6:9 How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep?

Arise From Your Sleep

Robin Aylor

When researching the common land slug, at first I found no benefits for their existence. Upon further inquiry I found that slugs eat dead and dying organic matter and thereby releases nutrients which enrich the soil. There is a European black slug that eats dung and also lays its eggs in it. After hatching, the larvae live in the dung for three to four weeks.

Look, God had a purpose in creating slugs. They are for his glory; but the focus of this proverb parallels their characteristic of living a life of very slow and little action. They are perceived as nasty, slimy and gross creatures that move slower than a sloth or the hour hand on a clock.

Laziness is clearly a bottom of the barrel existence that feeds off of worthless desires leaving a stench of selfishness and a trail of mucus to mark it's path.

Although laziness is a sin in itself, I suspect it can also be brought on by or in connection to other sins we commit.

Sin blinds us and stunts our growth. We loose our ability to focus and gumption to be motivated for righteousness. Do our intentional sins lead to procrastination in other areas of life? It surely causes blindness. Does it put us in a state of stupor to spiritual things. I believe from experience that sin fogs my mind and steals away joyful vigor in Christ causing a lateral exchange of what I treasure and delight in.

O sluggard rise up from your sleep!

This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. (Palms 118:24)

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Proverbs 6:25 Do not desire her beauty in your heart, and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes; 26 for the price of a prostitute is only a loaf of bread, but a married woman hunts down a precious life.

So I’ve written a poem here and just to explain it a little… each verse begins with one of the four sections of this passage.

Captured By Eyelashes

robin aylor

Do not desire her beauty in your heart

Though her lines and shape be works of art

When lust promises love by a-la-carte

Don’t look back, run away, escape, depart

And do not let her capture you with her eyelashes

You’ll get twisted and tangled with deep bloody gashes

When you try to escape you’ll be flung back to her latches

Like a black widow she will drain you and blow on your ashes

For the price of a prostitute is only a loaf of bread

Though a mere 60 cents in Bangladesh it is said

The dirty bomb she carries is worse than a nuclear war-head

On the soul of the man who when warned never fled

But a married woman hunts down a precious life

And the end of her slashes cut deep like a knife

For those who won’t listen it’s a lifetime of strife

And yet still there is hope in Jesus Christ

Today we’ll be looking at a crazy little thing called love. Well, it’s not really crazy…nothing could be more sane.. There’s many types of love.

Our focus is not, well, on erotic love as in making love… and not affectionate love as in friendship… and not really umm kinship as in love that’s connected to family and relatives… Today we will look at Agape love and how it can be a cure for a horrible epidemic that has been sweeping the globe for a long time. It’s like a disease that cripples peoples lives and makes them un-useful in God’s kingdom and his work. It’s an outbreak of an epidemic called depression.

So let’s begin looking at the cure. Agape love is the highest form of love. It is the type of love God has toward us when he gave his only Son to be paid the wages of our sin. Agape love within our life should come along side of the other types of love I mentioned strengthening the bond between friends as they walk through life together… improving the relationship of a man and wife in marriage and fortifying families making them more resilient.

Some of us may have been brought up by loving families; some maybe not. You may have parents who severely beat or even abused you… Friends sometimes use and abuse us also…

Whatever it was for you in your life, even with the best scenario no one has ever loved you perfectly. No human has ever shown us a perfect example of love. We are all broken sinners… that is, except one. Jesus, God’s only Son.

We’re going to read 1st Corinthians 13 and then make a connection to the topic of depression and see how love can help in a world where depression wants to rule the day.

Love Must Drive The Vehicle

1st Corinthians 13:1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is Hard and Impossible Without Christ

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 t does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Supremacy Of Agape Love

8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.

When we Won’t Need Vehicles

When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

Summery

13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

I was thinking about how it seems that one of satan’s major goals for believers is to keep us depressed. Today I want to talk about a cure for one kind of depression.

You might think depression is not the worst problem someone might face in this world but consider how it’s side effects connect us to many other problems that hinder us.

Stroke, heart attacks, insomnia, weight gain, weight loss, feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, irritability, difficulty concentrating, daytime fatigue, drug and alcohol use, thoughts of suicide, self pity… depression hinders good relationships. There can be physical symptoms, such as headaches, digestive disorders and chronic pain.

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Proverbs 14:21 Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.

Whirly Bird And The Change Family

by Robin Aylor

The whole Change family including Willy, his wife Shallshe and son Woody detested their neighbors the Be-livers who lived next door in a small house. The dad was Izza Be-liver and the moms name was Ima. Their daughter was Truly with her middle name after her Mom; Ima. Their sons name was Scouts Honor and he was named after his dad with his middle name Izza.

So there was Willy Change, Shallshe Change and Woody Change who lived next door to Izza Be-liver, Ima Be-liver, Truly Ima Be-liver, and Scouts Honor Izza Be-liver.

The reason the Change family detested the Be-livers was because young Scouts Honor Izza Be-liver's dog Whirly Bird too often and regularly was regular on their lawn. At times every day Woody would look out the window and holler to his mother: "Whirly Bird is depositing more soft serve mom!" It really wasn't that bad because it hardened into barney stones within 30 minutes and would have gradually released its miracle growth of nutrients into the Change's yard If it wasn’t for Willies obsessive hatred for Whirly Bird and the Be-livers.

On any given day one could hear Change family members yelling and watch them throw things at Whirly Bird. "You dab burn dog! get out o' my lawn!. Woody just ask his mom the other day: "Mom can I have a pump up BB gun for my birthday? I'll take care of that raskel pup". They called the dog pound to pick him up a few times but he always came back. Willy was so consumed with his lawn that he would check his yard for Whirly Burly phoo many times a day and he even had security cameras installed for that very reason. However there was more to his dislike than the daily dose of fertilization from Whirly Bird. The real reason for his bitterness was that he was jealous of the Be-livers life. Even though Izza Be-liver’s family was poor, Willy was envious of the way his family loved one another, and the way the people of town respected Iza, and how the townsfolk treated his family, and Willy was jealous for the heart of joy these Be-liver's had and the love and help they showed others. The Be-liver's were not selfish. Even within their small house, they took people in from time to time who needed help even giving them their beds and sleeping on the floor themselves, and they participated in supporting their community and loved worshiping God with friends at church.

Then one day the Change’s accepted the Be-liver's invitation to worship with them at church. During the sermon it seemed as though the preacher was speaking directly to them actually calling them by name. Speaking about matters of the heart the Pastor said: "Will he change? Shall she change? Would he change?” Then the pastor said "Only with Jesus can a person’s heart change and only with a changed heart can one be joyful in helping and loving others.”

Incidentally, the Change’s were changed that very night. From then on and for the rest of their life they began using their middle names. Willy Did Change, Shallshe Claimed Change and Woody By George Embraced Change. They found a blessed life in Christ, and also had an added bonus of the healthiest and greenest lawn in town... and if you were wondering... the Be-liver's dog Whirly Bird lived a long, well fed and happy life surrounded by friends all the rest of his days.

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Proverbs 11:11 By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown.

Taming the Untamable Beast

Daniel Castor

Let’s start today’s devotion off with a riddle.

I can come as soft as a whisper or as loud as a shout. And You better think twice before you let me slip out . I have the power to bless and the power to destroy. I can make quite a mess or bring peace and joy. What am I?

The answer of course is, “Our words”

This proverb reminds us of the power of the tongue. Not only can it do damage or bless on a small level, in one on one conversation. A husband using hurtful words to tear down his wife or a father speaking words of encouragement to his children... It can also Be used to bless or destroys on a large scale. Even entire cities can rise and fall by the words of those who reside in them. Less you think this is too far fetched The book of James compares the tongue to a flame of fire, a rudder of a ship and an untamable beast.

This is no joke. Our words have an affect on the direction of our lives. Our mouth can shoot forth words that are as destructive as fire. Sharp little cutting words can send wild fires of pain and sorrow into the ears of those who ear them. And this is something we all struggle with... Because James also reminds us that the Tongue is like a beast that no one can tame.

I don’t know about you but I have a lot of work to do in this Area. May God give us what we need to think before we speak. May God give us grace to tame the untamable and use our words to bless and build up rather than cut down and destroy

Proverbs 11:22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman without discretion.

Shady Joe's

“Shady Joe's impounds and tows” is

a used car lot with friendly faces and “so called” honest sales men. You walk in and they greet you with a cup of coffee and get a feel for what kind of vehicle your looking for. Such nice people you may think. After 3 hours of chit chat and paperwork and back stories and complements, the sales man says “ congratulations! Your approved! And I have just what your looking for.” He leads you to the lot and to a lifted truck. All the chrome is there, the interior looks great through the window. New beefy tires and aftermarket rims. Custom paint and tented windows. It truly is a beautiful truck and it’s in your price range. But, something’s odd...the salesman is pushing you to make a decision without starting it and he avoids popping the hood. He makes a big deal about all the features and what people will think of you while your driving it. You have a decision to make here. Buy the truck as you see it or be stern and demand to get the key and see under the hood. Who would buy it without starting it? The sales man hangs his head and reaches in his pocket then hands you the key. You set in the truck for the first time and you smell smoke and what you can only describe as something dead even though it’s been cleaned throughly. You put the key in the ignition and turn...nothing happens. You try again. And a 3rd time. Nothing happens. Ok. Let’s see what’s going on. You pop the hood and step to the front....only to find that there is no engine in the truck. None. It’s gone. It may look pretty, but it’s a worthless truck.

I believe this is where the phrase “ putting lipstick on a pig” comes from. It means to make something that is undesirable appear desirable.

This applies to multiple parts of our lives. Any thing we put in the place of God is ugly in comparison. We put a pretty bow on it and build it up so that it appears desirable.

In the context of today’s passage, a beautiful woman with makeup and jewelry and perfect hair and fancy cloths is a worthless woman of her intentions are to sin. To be worshiped and take someone’s eyes off of God. Or to seek self pleasure at the cost of destroying a family. Even on the screen, pretty women doing immoral acts for the viewers to set in a posture of worship to her is ugly no matter how beautiful the woman may be.

Don’t be deceived by the gold ring or makeup and designer cloths. Open your eyes and see that the most beautiful thing of all is Jesus and all that he offers to those who believe and trust in him.

Proverbs 14:18 The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

Prudence and Simplicity are basically opposites. Since Proverbs 8:12 says: “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,…” as though Prudence is a person I will call both Prudence and Simplicity female as Solomon does with Wisdom. Ok, so who are these ladies? Prudence is thoughtful and she seriously considers a matter before making a decision while Simplicity does whatever she wants in the moment and does not consider the consequences.

Simple Sally watches TV all day long. She's just keeping it simple. Apathetic Allen doesn’t want to get involved with others in messy relationships. He cares mostly about himself, thus keeping it simple. These kind of simpletons are relatives to the lady Simplicity and do not care to think about the consequences of their actions; they do not plan or care much about the future or their purpose in life but rather it is me, me, me and it’s now, now, now. The examples could go on and on because the world is full of self serving simple minded people who are consumed with their own instant gratification.

Though Prudence and Simplicity are opposite in nature, once Prudence makes a decision… in another context her path becomes simple.

She becomes simple with the simplicity of being single focused. Prudence doesn’t make up complicated excuses and rationalizations or deflections when presented with truth. She has already thought through the path she will follow. Truth is straightforwardly simple. Honesty is simple.

Only a person with simple child like faith can trust Christ. That is simple. But that kind of simplicity does not exclude prudence. In Luke 14 Jesus himself talks about thinking through your decision before becoming a disciple of Christ. Then he sums it up with verse 33:

So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

Though his way is hard, it is extremely simple in that it is straight and narrow in Jesus alone.

In Matthew 7:13-14 Jesus said: “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

Proverbs 11:24 One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. 25 Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. 26 The people curse him who holds back grain, but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it.

As We Give We Are Made Able To Give

Robin Aylor

Notice Solomon does not say "all" who give freely will each one always grow richer in money… it gives an example and says "one"… so sometimes it does happen. And he does not say that every person who withholds will become poor financially but he gives an example in contrast that we may learn. I think he is saying that when you see these two types of people in life and their relationship to money and giving, there is a lesson in it for you for all areas of life.

It seems to me that the next two verses show us the context of the passage. This time Solomon does not generalize but uses the inclusive relative pronoun “whoever” and gives the definite verb “will”. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched.

Therefore, some kind of blessing is definitely going to come on those who bring a blessing or more to the point of all three verses: whoever does any of the things Solomon mentions in these three verses will be blessed by God. Those who give freely, those who do not withhold when they should give, those who bring blessings on others and those who sell their grain when the prices are low so even the poor can afford it instead of holding it until the price rises. God gives blessings to those who are not greedy but generously love with Agape or the highest form of love…

2nd Corinthians 9:6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

But to what end does God bless us?

In 2nd Corinthians 9 the subject of Paul's discourse is not money. As in Proverbs 11:24 money is one example but the subject is unselfish giving… not clenching your fists and locking your doors but opening your heart to others. Not defending what you have as though it is your treasure instead of Jesus. If you read all of chapter 8 and 9 of 2nd Corinthians you will see some amazing ways Gods blesses those who love fellow believers. That is one of the callings of all Christians… to love one another… He blesses us that we might have joy and blessings to share with others.

Paul continues in 2nd Corinthians 9:11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.

A favorite of mine is John 15 where Jesus tells his disciples how he will bless… I believe all who abide in him and his word in them in the context he says… all who will carry out his mission of love to the world… and it’s all about his mission… not ours, but his toward unbelievers. Check it out and see if you don’t agree. He blesses that we may bless both believers and unbelievers for his glory.

Again our text says: “Whoever brings blessing will be enriched”. Can you see the unending circle of that kind of blessing? We bring a blessing to others in Christ name and we are blessed, and it keeps on going on and on, all for the glory of God and to the praise of his glorious grace!

Father, Thank you for giving us your joy and for blessing us in every way that we might bless others in your name and for your glory. As Paul shows us in 2nd Corinthians 8, even if we are in financial poverty if we abide in you, your blessings will overflow that we might point others to you. May we not guard our physical things as our great treasure but be generous in your name treasuring Jesus supremely in faith and with all joy. In Jesus name Amen!

Proverbs 14:17 A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated.

Ammonia and Bleach

Two Great Cleaners

That Don't Go Good Together!

Robin Aylor

Here Solomon mentions evil devices. I think a wicked heart can turn anything into an evil device. There are many devices throughout time that have by some been considered evil. Here’s a few... Think about theses and see if you believe they are evil devices in themselves or only when used by wicked men?

The buildings where Hitler sent thousands to be gassed to death.


The chemicals Saddam Hussain used on his own people.


What about the Internet
, TV, Books and Magazines?


Do you think these are evil devices in themselves: A rock,
 a knife
... a Gun?
 What about a Nuclear weapon?

A feather (for tickling)
?

Ok, that last one was only a joke although on occasion it has seemed like a torture device where my only screams were screams of laughter.

But it dose seem to me that there are some devices that were created by man specifically for evil purposes and other devices are made to be good but become evil devices when used for evil purposes. People who use things for evil purposes are not considered great role models but are held in disdain by whole nations.

Our text also tells us that a man who is quick tempered acts foolishly.

I can imagine an angry or jealous man loosing control and punching someone in the face... or a a crazed maniac of a dictator loosing his temper and ordering a nuclear missile.

Anger combined with the stupidity of a quick temper is like mixing ammonia and bleach. Its a disaster. When wickedness and ignorance come together even ordinary objects meant for good become evil devices and bring destruction to others.

But, here's the thing: a person cannot have discernment between good and evil unless they have seen truth. In order to make accurate judgments in our daily life we must be able to lay up every situation and decision along side of a just and accurate standard of never changing truth. That would be God's word; that would be the Word made flesh; that would be Jesus.

Jesus said in John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

If you know Jesus then you have the The Holy Spirit who guides us to truth - Jesus said in John 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

Father, please keep us from taking your creation and mixing it with a wayward heart to build evil devices. Please give us discernment, and keep us walking in your Word, your Spirit and your Truth today.

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Proverbs 11:23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good, the expectation of the wicked in wrath.

Robin Aylor

Whether it’s a book, movie or TV show, I don’t know of anyone who actually likes a bad ending to a story. Usually a bad ending I think would entail evil somehow winning out at the end of the day… Those kinds of stories don’t seem to sell at the box office. What if an evil ruler with his army conquers a just king and his kingdom?… then this new evil ruler kills the just king and takes his beautiful daughter to be his wife… if he then tortures the people of the kingdom and they live unhappily ever after… and finally the words appear… THE END… and the credits roll… No! No! I don’t know any stories like that.

...

I think justice ties up all the loose ends because deep inside God created us all with a moral compass.

Still yet for some crazy reason, in real life the wicked person decides to go ahead and follow his heart. All his desires for pleasure, wealth, power and prestige get him out of bed every morning and urge him on at work. His passions fuel his mind as he’s driving down the road… His appetite spurs him to look forward certain television programs, his private time on the computer, the weekend and nights on the town.

For some strange illogical “I’ve lost my marbles type reason” he seems to think that though his life story will include stepping on people throughout his life; pushing them off the ladder as he climbs up it seeking his own exaltation… Even so, he has told himself this time the story is going to end with the bad guy winning... "That's me getting everything I ever wanted and I will be the one that lives happily ever after".

Look… The one true King walked in fellowship with mankind. Remember he walked and talked with Adam and Eve in the Garden. Then an evil leader named satan came with temptation and brought sin into the world. And with sin, everyone and all creation was broken by sin and satan only wanted evil for man. Then, the True King walked among men again by sending his only Son inviting people once more to fellowship with God. He came to redeem the people chosen for him before the foundation of the world to be his bride… but they killed him on a cross and he was buried. The evil leader must have thought his armies had won. The true and just King was now dead… But as satan and his cronies waited… and waited... and waited... the credits did not roll. "The End" never appeared on the screen. Guess what... the evil one would not live happily ever after.

The best stories, even the best true story does not end like that.

You see, on the third day Jesus Christ arose from the grave!!! He gave his life and then defeated death and the power of sin that he might give his righteousness to his bride making her pure and holy… able to fight sin while in this world and then raise her up incorruptible to be with him forever…

Truth is… his resurrection was not the end; however, "The End" along with the "happy ever after" has already been written.

As our text indicates, the expectation of the wicked will end in wrath and the righteous ends only in good.

Revelation 20:10 says: and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. …15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

This is a good story with a good ending for those who have been gifted the righteousness of Jesus.

Justice will be delivered, good will win and evil will loose.

We also know who will be in the credits on every line.

As Jude 1:25 says: All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.

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