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Live Smart

Posted on July 7, 2013 by Mark Shields

We starting a new sermon series today at my place of worship called “Wisdom for Life”. Today’s message is titled “Live Smart”. All messages are on the podcast at the link within the post. I’ll be adding some comments and videos throughout the evening about this post.

This Day With God - A Spiritual Journey

If you are not able to attend your local church service today (traveling, health condition, etc), I invite you to a podcast of the church I attend. We are starting a new sermon series called “Wisdom for Life”. At this link: Pastor’s Podcast, you can see each message live on Sunday mornings at 9:45 AM Central Time Zone. It also can be reviewed and used for Bible study and small group discussion. For today’s message, click on the one titled Live Smart. Below is the outline.

1. THE WISE PATH

“Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand is a proverb in the mouth of
a fool.” – Proverbs 26:9

2. THE AUTHENTIC PATH

“When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his
tongue is wise.” – Proverbs 10:19

3. THE PROCRASTINATION PATH

“The sluggard buries his hand in the…

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Live Smart

Posted on July 7, 2013 by Mark Shields

1. THE WISE PATH

“Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand is a proverb in the mouth of
a fool.” – Proverbs 26:9

2. THE AUTHENTIC PATH

“When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his
tongue is wise.” – Proverbs 10:19

3. THE PROCRASTINATION PATH

“The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not even bring it
back to his mouth!” – Proverbs 19:24

4. THE RIGHTEOUSNESS PATH

“When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the
righteous stand firm forever.” – Proverbs 10:25

5. THE DISCIPLINED PATH

“Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates
correction is stupid.” – Proverbs 12:1

6. THE GENEROSITY PATH

“The leech has two daughters. ‘Give! Give!’ they cry….” – Proverbs 30:15a

7. THE RELATIONAL PATH

“If a man loudly blesses his neighbor early in the morning, it will be
taken as a curse.” – Proverbs 27:14

8. THE COMPASSION PATH

“He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward him
for what he has done.” – Proverbs 19:17

Wisdom’s Value (minofeducation.wordpress.com)
Live smart (disciplesofhope.wordpress.com)
Daily Verse: Proverbs 3:11-12 (faithfulprovisions.com)
What Is A Proverb? (practicalbibleteaching.wordpress.com)
Wisdom: The Principal Thing (holyspiritinspired.wordpress.com)

Posted in Sermon Outline | Tagged Bible Study, Book of Proverbs, daily verse, God, Lord, sermon series, sluggard, Solomon, thornbush, wise path | 3 Comments

Our Tools in Decision Making

Posted on July 6, 2013 by Mark Shields

In reading Esther 1, we see how unwise choices cause unpleasant predicaments. There is a lesson and the lesson is that we should be smart and use the tools that help in decisions; lessons from the Bible, the Holy Spirit speaking to us deep in our hearts, and consulting with others who have gone through experiences.

The comedian, Tim Allen once said that women now have choices. They can be married, not married, have a job, not have a job, be married with children, unmarried with children. Men have the same choice they’ve always had: work, or prison.

So we see throughout history that times have changed yet in some cases not changed at all. In preparation for reading the book of Esther, I found out that there is no mention of God in the whole book. It reminds me of today’s times where there is a push to eliminate any mention of God in our public discourse.

We also learned from reading Esther 1 and writing about it in the post yesterday about using good judgment. We learned about a king who had too much alcohol and his judgment was terrible. He also relied too much on the counsel of a few of his people instead of consulting with God in prayer like this video points out. Word of God Speak – MercyMe.

For the Lord gives wisdom, and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. – Proverbs 2:6

Questions for Reflection to Help in the Study of Esther 1-4 (thisdaywithgod.wordpress.com)
Should Christians read the Book of Esther? (orthodoxyandheterodoxy.org)
The Irresistible Power of Virtue (mfmdelaware.wordpress.com)
God’s Word Speaks (rogertharpe.wordpress.com)
God’s Purpose For Your Family (essentialthingdevotions.com)

Posted in Esther | Tagged Bible, book of esther, Church, comedian tim allen, Esther, God, Holy Spirit, Lord, MercyMe, public discourse, Tim Allen, unwise choices | 2 Comments

Using Good Judgment

Posted on July 5, 2013 by Mark Shields

King Ahasuerus is Xerxes, king of Persia from 486 to 464 B. C. who ruled a vast kingdom of 127 provinces. In reading Esther 1, he gave a luxurious feast and we get a picture of the great wealth of the kingdom. Couches made of gold and silver and wine served in golden goblets.

English: Vashti Refuses the King’s Summons, painting by Edwin Long (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In that society, men and women socialized separately. The passage says that queen Vashti held a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes (v. 9). As the endless party started to get boring, king Xerxes wanted to show off his beautiful queen so he told one of his men to get her. When Queen Vashti got the news, she refused to take part in the king’s request.

The king was ticked off. He wanted his queen to flaunt her stuff in front of his men friends. He was so furious at Queen Vashti that he gathered his law team together to see what could be done. They decided to draw up a decree that Vashti could never enter the presence of King Xerxes and that he could give her royal position to someone else who was better than she (v. 19). The point being made was that in his kingdom, all women would respect their husbands and do exactly as told. Each man would be ruler over his own household (v.22).

The position of women in the society during the reign of Xerxes is much different than the freeing of women that we see in the teachings of Christ. A good lesson to take from today’s reading is that the Lord reigns and we should let Him overrule the madness or foolishness of mankind.

Common sense tells us that contempt in wives produces wrath in a husband and strive in families. The queen named Vashti’s didn’t want to intermingle among the men as the king wanted and king Xerxes saw this as a lack of respect. The king then made some decisions when in a bad mood instead of consulting with God in prayer and waiting for better days.

Be sure and visit again tomorrow for more thoughts on the book of Esther as we continue this thrilling story of a Jewish girl whom God uses to save her nation.

Esther 1. Queen Vashti defies King Xerxes. The King dethrones Queen Vashti. (KJV). (bummyla.wordpress.com)
Banished: Queen Vashti’s Plight (joseardila93.wordpress.com)
Watch The Book of Esther (electjfs.wordpress.com)
My Biblical Heroes: Vashti (rodalena.com)
Ahasuerus-Xerxes (biblicalpeople.wordpress.com)

Posted in Esther | Tagged Ahasuerus, book of esther, Christ, Esther, God, golden goblets, king ahasuerus, king of persia, king xerxes, queen vashti, Vashti, Xerxes, Xerxes I of Persia, xerxes king of persia | 3 Comments

Have a Happy 4th of July

Posted on July 4, 2013 by Mark Shields

God has blessed America with amazing sites across this land. Since today is America’s Birthday, I wrote a poem about some of these sites at this link: Happy Birthday America.

Lord, we are thankful that you have blessed America in the past and we pray for a future of happiness by hoping in You alone. The ONE who can prosper an economy, provide national security, and help a nation be just in national affairs. Help our people so they can show other nations that true happiness is found in You.