Prescription for Living

God’s Word:  Matthew 7:26, 27,  Jesus said, “But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach.  When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards.”

Jesus’ Message to Me: (My interpretation of what Jesus is saying in these verses)These words of Mine, in this “Sermon on the Mount,” are given as a “prescription” for living a joyful life now and forever.

The purpose of this “prescription” is that you would take My words into your heart and put them into practice in your daily life. Only then will you realize the benefit of these action words I have given you.

Words are a vehicle to communicate from one heart to another.  I have shared My heart with you through these action words.  I chose My action words carefully to be sure and give you just the right “prescription” to help you live victorious.  But now it is up to you.  There is a big difference between reading My action words and actually taking the advice and making life-changes—putting them into action.

And to be sure the “prescription” is for you and only you—I have left you with more than mere action words. My Spirit dwells with the one who turns to Me in obedience and takes these action words to heart.  I will help you understand and put My teaching into practice in your life.  Oh no, I will never leave you alone. I’m there with you each step of the way.

Jesus’ Question for Me: Will you take My “prescription” and let it bless both your daily life and your eternal life?

Jesus’ Promise to Me: You are not alone!  I am with  you as your constant companion.

My Prayer to God

I praise You for giving this prescription that blesses my life abundantly—and then some.

I am sorry I too often ignore Your prescription, and then suffer for it.

Thank You for calling me back to Your prescription for joyful living.

Help me incorporate Your prescription for living in my daily choices.

Useless Prayers

God’s Word:  Proverbs 28:1-18

God’s Message to Me:

I have no use for the prayers of the people who won’t listen to me.  And how do you listen to me—you ask?  I speak personally to you through My Word—the Bible.  My Spirit interacts with your spirit and leads you to new levels of understanding—of peace and of joy.

Useless Prayers are always pleadings for selfish ends.  People plead “help me—save me—heal me—give me money—friends, etc.”  They only call on Me when in trouble.  They pay no attention to My Word that is there all the time to give guidance and strength.  And most often these people are in trouble because of their foolish choices.

To desert My Word is to embrace depravity.  To put My Word into practice gives one a reputation for wisdom—hang out with the wrong crowd—embarrass our family.  Embrace My Word today and I will guide you away from the depraved life and listen to your prayers.  You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

God’s Question to Me:  Will you turn to Me today so I will listen to your prayers tomorrow?

God’s Promise to Me:   You can’t whitewash your sins and get by with it; you find mercy by admitting and leaving them.

My Song to God:        Read Your Bible and Pray

Read your Bible and Pray,  talk with the Lord day by day.

New joys will unfold that were ne’re before told,

If you read your Bible and pray.

# 20 Blueprint for Life

God’s Word:  Proverbs 24:3,4,

God’s Message to Me:

Whatever you set out to achieve requires WISDOM.  You want to build a house?  First you must have a blueprint, then learn how it is done through study, experience and counsel from those who have built a house.  This applies to most everything you set out to achieve in this life.  Wisdom follows the blueprint.

It takes UNDERSTANDING to build a firm foundation.  Whether you are building a house, a business, a car or a dress—there is a blueprint to follow.  Unless you thoroughly understand what’s needed for the foundation—you may as well forget building.  So too with your life.    My Word—the Bible—provides you with the blueprint designed just for you.

Add KNOWLEDGE to your wisdom and understanding to assure success.  These three are needed throughout your life for whatever blueprint you choose to follow with your life.  Build a house, write a book, teach a class, or plant a garden.  Success is yours by following the blueprint, using wisdom, understanding and knowledge.  The Bible provides you with all three in abundance and will guide you along the path to success.

God’s Question to Me:  Will you choose to use My blueprint for living and help others learn how to apply wisdom, understanding and knowledge to their life?

God’s Promise to Me:   When you turn to the Bible—you will find a blueprint personalized just for your life.

My Song to God:      The B  I  B  L  E

The B-I-B-L-E

Yes, that’s the book for me

I stand alone on the Word of God

The B-I-B-L-E

Sterling Principles

God’s Word:  Proverbs 22:17-21

God’s Message to Me:

My Word—The Bible—is given as my love gift to bless your life.  By reading the Word you step into My presence and My Spirit interacts with your spirit.  I am there, waiting in My Word, to interact with and bless your socks off.  The one who truly wants to live victoriously will grasp the wisdom of interacting with Me—through My Word.

Proverbs 22 begins a list of 30 Sterling Principles—truths that will guide the lives of the wise.  Ignore them and struggle throughout your life.  Grasp them and you can rejoice even in the depths of despair.  I invite you to take to heart My wisdom that I am imparting through these 30 principles.

Discovering these principles are like discovering the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow—no, even better than that.  As you read them, pause and ponder and I will interact with your spirit so that you can enjoy the sweetness of understanding.  If you commit to living by these principles you will find the success in life that you had dreamed of.  Join me for the next 30 days as we mine the wonderful truths found therein.

God’s Question to Me:  Will you consider the truths of these 30 principles and let Me deepen your understanding of treasured living?

God’s Promise to Me:  I will never leave you nor forsake you.  I will be with you each step of this journey.

My Song to God:       Thy Word   by Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.

When I feel afraid,
And think I’ve lost my way.
Still, You’re there right beside me.
Nothing will I fear
As long as You are near;
Please be near me to the end.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.

I will not forget
Your love for me and yet,
My heart forever is wandering.
Jesus be my guide,
And hold me to Your side,
And I will love you to the end.

Nothing will I fear
As long as You are near;
Please be near me to the end.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.
And a light unto my path.
You’re the light unto my path.

Chalice of Knowledge

God’s Word:  Proverbs 20:12-20

God’s Message to Me:

Drinking from the beautiful chalice of knowledge is better than adorning oneself with gold and rare gems.  Ignorance is not bliss, it is amiss.  Knowledge opens up new worlds of understanding.  But, I must caution you, not all knowledge is beneficial.  If you will follow my advice in Philippians 4:8 you will open the beautiful chalice of knowledge. “Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.”

There is a vast world of knowledge at your fingertips. You have the right to explore whatever your heart chooses.  But always keep in mind that not all knowledge is beneficial or constructive.  I have created you with your passions and desires with the bottom line to use those abilities to make the world a better place for your fellow travelers.  It’s not all about adorning yourself with gold and rare gems.

Your knowledge can be as gold and rare gems as it goes about the world, sparkling into the lives of others.    Unless you are blessing others by using your knowledge it is fruitless.  The world seeks knowledge but to what end?  To benefit self.  Drink from my beautiful chalice of knowledge found in My Word and be a blessing to others and you yourself will find the blessing that satisfies completely.

God’s Question to Me:   Are you drinking from My beautiful chalice of knowledge—My Word—and using that knowledge to bless others?

God’s Promise to Me:  My Word added to the passions and desires I have give you creates a chalice you can offer your world that will bless and benefit their lives.

 My Song to God:   Open My Eyes   by Clara H. Scott 1895

Open my eyes, that I may see
Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key
That shall unclasp and set me free.

Refrain

Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready my God, Thy will to see,
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!

Open my ears, that I may hear
Voices of truth Thou sendest clear;
And while the wave notes fall on my ear,
Everything false will disappear.

Refrain

Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready my God, Thy will to see,
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!

Open my mouth, and let me bear,
Gladly the warm truth everywhere;
Open my heart and let me prepare
Love with Thy children thus to share.

Refrain

Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready my God, Thy will to see,
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!

Your Personal Tutor

God’s Word:  Matthew 7:28, 29,  When Jesus concluded his address, the crowd burst into applause.  They had never heard teaching like this.  It was apparent that he was living everything he was saying—quite a contrast to their religion teachers!  This was the best teaching they had ever heard.

Jesus’ Message to Me: (My interpretation of what Jesus is saying to me through these verses)

Now it is your turn to decide how you will respond to My teaching.  I’ve laid out all the basics for living a victorious life.  This is really a once size fits all generations teaching. These words of Mine will never be old-fashioned or need to be set aside for an improved version.  Relationships between people will never go out of style. 

The first group of hearers of this message just had their memory to hold these teachings. You have a better method of “hearing” these words.  You can read them—over and over,  And with each reading My Spirit will interact with your spirit, teaching you personally—one on one—just what will most help you live victorious. Yes, I am your personal tutor.

No, I will never leave you nor forsake you.  But I will not force myself upon you either.  As you turn your eyes to My Word and ask Me for understanding, I will reveal unto you things too wonderful for you to imagine on your own.  The Bible is a LIVING book.  All other books you simply read the authors words but in reading the Bible you are interacting with My Holy Spirit that will guide you into all understanding. And in the understand is joy unspeakable and full of glory.

Jesus’ Question for Me: Will you allow Me to be your personal tutor and guide you into all understanding?

Jesus’ Promise to Me:  I will open the eyes of your heart and reveal to you truths that will bless you through all time and eternity.

My Song to Jesus:  Joy Unspeakable    Barney E Warren  1900

I have found His grace is all complete,
He supplieth every need;
While I sit and learn at Jesus’ feet,
I am free, yes, free indeed.

Refrain:
It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,
Full of glory, full of glory;
It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,
Oh, the half has never yet been told.

I have found the pleasure I once craved,
It is joy and peace within;
What a wondrous blessing, I am saved
From the awful gulf of sin.

Refrain:
It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,
Full of glory, full of glory;
It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,
Oh, the half has never yet been told.

I have found that hope so bright and clear,
Living in the realm of grace;
Oh, the Savior’s presence is so near,
I can see His smiling face.

Refrain:
It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,
Full of glory, full of glory;
It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,
Oh, the half has never yet been told.

I have found the joy no tongue can tell,
How its waves of glory roll;
It is like a great o’erflowing well,
Springing up within my soul.

Refrain:
It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,
Full of glory, full of glory;
It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,
Oh, the half has never yet been told.