Psalm 119:105 THIS IS A FIRST!

Have you ever just taken a verse a face value and never tore into it? I have heard since I was a kid that "the word of God leads you through life" - Sure... I believe that. But explain that to me...

Well this may be old to you... but it's a first for me:

It sure is fun to meditate on scripture...

"Thy word is a lamp to my feet..."  - this indicates looking at where you are presently standing. This is an illumination at yourself and your present position, stance, situation, heart attitude, etc... Notice he is looking at his own feet. He is looking at his own condition. The beginning of it all is an inward look. The word of God must first shine it's Light on and at you! ( ie. "Get the log out of your own eye first"...)

"And a light to my path..." - This is in addition to the first. Yes the Word of God leads us through life. But it starts with us... then when your heart and "feet" are in the right place it then can lead you in the right direction. Something tells me God is more concerned with who you are more than where you are going. Compare yourself to the Light of scripture rather than to the people around you... they sin, you'll compromise. Scripture is perfect, you aren't. You'll deceive yourself... scripture will tell you the truth. You want to look at the world... scripture makes you look at God. This is Who we were created to look at... we just get distracted way to easily...

also look at Proverbs 6:23

What is the purposes of the Commandments? ( see Romans 7:5-25 )

What is it's teaching? ( Galatians 3:24 )

What is the purpose of reproof and discipline? ( Hebrews 12:5-11 )

also look at James 1: 21-26

-scott

Thoughts on Psalm 119:97-104 / James 1-4:17

All in the context of "wisdom" - defined as the knowledge of how to regulate one's relationship with God, knowing how to judge circumstances and "life situations" that we find ourselves in and how it ( the circumstances) plays in our closeness to God. You can see what's happening around you and determine what it has to do with you and God... what He is doing and why. The Greeks just observed the course and motions of the heavens, ascending to the mountain top to gain a better view of all things around them. Watching the sky to determine the course of the storm. What is a godly man to be looking at and watching?

Skillful, watchman, experience, prudent, balanced, truth, sensible, expert, wise.

How are these character traits developed?

Read Psalm 119:97-104 and at the same time read James chapter 1 through chapter 4:17

Key points:

Wisdom gained through hard times and trial...

Learning to know the difference between trials and temptation...

Being real... ( an effectual doer of Gods word not just appearance only )

So speak and so act...

The heart of man as seen (heard) through the man's mouth... 

Pure, Balanced...

Peaceful closeness to God...

Making the right decisions in one's daily walk...

Best,

-scott

Decisions, Wisdom, Understanding, and seeing in the Fog

Question:

How do you make a decision when everything around you seems to be in a fog? Are you even supposed to make a decision? Are you being led by God into a fog for discipline and training or did you stray into yourself - or both? Which way do I go; which way do I turn? Do I stay here until the fog lifts or do I try to walk in a certain direction? Do I ask the typical question, "What is the will of God" or do I accept the fact that He is in control and this fog is part of His will? ( by the way... I'm not asking if we should consider if He is in control. He is...) The ultimate question is if I know He is in control why do I so often act like He's not! 

I have noticed that foggy days can be nice...

The air smells cleaner...

Things seem to slow down a bit...

My focus becomes more narrow ( this is a good thing if you tend to work too much like me)

My coffee tastes better...

I take smaller steps...

I ask more questions and stop assuming and taking things for granted... ( I don't want to step in anything )

I'm afraid of moving to fast and hitting something or someone and hurting them and myself...

I get very concerned about every move I make... I don't want to make the wrong one.

I pray more...

I read more scripture...

I look harder...

I meditate more...

I listen more... ( hopefully speak less )

I stop reacting quickly to things... I tend to analyze everything and every detail...

...and in a crazy way things become more clear.

uh... Thank You Lord for foggy days!

Read:

Psalm 119:97-104; 105-112

James 3:13-18

-scott

Where are you at?

Well, it's been a while since I have posted anything. I have been reading a lot; just to busy to actually post anything. 

In spite of all the economic and political issues we seem to be hearing daily, things are good... God is still Sovereign, and nothing has slipped by Him. We just have our priorities out of order as a people. Seems like we are back to the tower of Babel all over again trying to build our little thing to reach the sky. As Jeremiah said, ( and I paraphrase) "You cut down a tree... burn part of it and warm yourself... make the other half into an idol and bow down to it!??!" Man continually worships and serves the creation rather than the Creator... Man continually professes to be wise and shows himself the fool. And God continually gives man over to a depraved mind... Just listen to the nightly news and you will hear it daily... man showing just how ignorant he can become when he refuses to acknowledge God. God sits on his thrown and scoffs... and so He should. 

Where does wisdom come from? Where is understanding? Where is "True Knowledge" found?

Where can we get trustworthy council? Where can we lean and hope? Where is security? Where is comfort? Where can we just escape? ( yes you can put down the remote and the video game controller) - SCRIPTURE! 

Read Psalm 119:97-104, 105 ( I won't comment yet, but would love to hear yours )

I've also started reading through Kings and Chronicles... along with finishing up teaching in the Book of John. 

Where are you at? 

How Much do We take God for Granted?

I'll be honest; the past few months have been a struggle. I guess it really started around the holidays, and continued through the first of the year. Nothing but business and a crazy schedule...mixed with free time and a lack of discipline on my part. A week of missing solid times in the Word easily turned into a month and so on. With my travel schedule the way it was I missed the solid accountability of my brothers at church and became more influenced by work. My mind has been pulled away from meditating on Gods Word and my discipline to stay in it has been replaced with a discipline to work. Not saying that my work is wrong... Just saying my priorities are out of whack... and I have found myself truly missing the Lord. It is amazing how faithful He has remained to me when I haven't been very faithful to Him. It's also amazing how empty you can become without spending valuable time with Him... A confirming affirmation to me that I am truly born again is the simple fact that I used to not feel this way when I went a short time without reading the scriptures. I used to not long for Christian brothers to just be around... It used to not feel like the world had actually been lifted from my shoulders when I walked through the church doors. I used to not feel like I had abandoned my best friend when I left my Bible on the shelf. Now I do.

All that brings me to Psalm 119:97-104. Interesting timing... I won't type it all, but read it.

I'll comment on 97... ( I will later go back to 89-96)

"O how I Love Thy law! It is my meditation all the day." - 119:97

All I have to do is give you the lexicon definition for "love" with it sitting in the verse it is in, in context with the month I have had... and you should see where the conviction hits the hardest.

Love - ( as used in verse 97 ) An ardent vehement inclination of the mind and a tenderness of affection at the same time. Used to describe the close attachment between parents and children... the close ties of friendship. Jesus instructed us to "Love" (using this word) God more than anything else or anyone else, which Jesus indicated was one of the two main pillars upon which the entire O.T. rested.

Do you love the word of God like this? Or like me... have you taken it (and Him) for granted lately? When will my stinkin' flesh come to the reality that it isn't just putting a book on the shelf but actually God Himself... - Oh God forgive me.

-scott