Proverbs 11 - 8.21.26
Scripture: Proverbs 11:3-6
“The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.
Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death.
The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight,
but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.
The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.”
Observation:
Integrity is a good guide. Those who are upright, faithful in following God’s commands, will know the way to go when you are true to yourself and who God created you to be. You will know what is right to do, even if no one is watching. In contrast the unfaithful are destroyed by their deceitfulness and double-sided approach.
When judgement comes wealth will be worthless. Being right with God because of Jesus redemption saves us from death.
Righteousness makes paths straight, but the wicked are defeated by their own wickedness.
Application:
God cares about me so much. I need to realize when wondering which way to go that integrity will guide me. God will deliver me and make my paths straight. I need to pursue righteousness and be faithful to what God has called me to do.
It is important not to focus on the unfaithful and the wicked. Their ways will bring them to ruin. They are trapped by their desires. I am thankful for freedom.
Prayer:
Father God, thank you for your truth. It is the perfect guide. Thank you for sending your Son to pay the price for my sin and redeem me so that I can walk in your righteousness. I am grateful that you deliver me and make my paths straight. I look to you for guidance. Thank you that you proved direction. Amen
- Cindy Howard
Acts 23. 08.20.26
SCRIPTURE
“The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.” (Acts 23:11)
OBSERVATION
Paul was a man well acquainted with persecution. Upon his conversion, Jesus had made clear to him that “he would be afflicted and endure suffering for HIS Name’s Sake” (Acts 9:16). Up to this point in Paul’s life, he had been stripped and beaten severely with rods, locked in dark underground prisons in chains (16:24), and dragged out of a city by an angry mob and stoned—left for dead, though he survived (14:19). Paul had been flogged, had nearly escaped death, was falsely persecuted, and run out of town countless times.
Here he is in Jerusalem on a mission to share all the amazing things God had done. Countless Gentiles received salvation. These Gentile believers sent their gift with Paul to give to this impoverished and persecuted Jerusalem church. There is little mention of this gift (24:17). Instead, there is a request for Paul to perform a ritual to appease the legalistic Jews who believed he had diverted and strayed from “the Law.” Paul graciously agrees, but the plan doesn’t work.
“Many are the plans of the human heart, but it is the decision of the Lord that endures.” (Proverbs 19:21 NAB)
In this one portion of the story, we see how many times God supernaturally intervenes:
1. At the Temple, Paul is being beaten and is about to be killed. But God sends a Gentile Roman commander—at just the right time—with a squad of 200 to stop the mob. They must chain Paul between two guards and lift him onto their shoulders because the mob is so intent on killing him.
2. Paul stands before the Jewish Council. “But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say by the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 10:19). But God inspires Paul to speak about his belief in the resurrection. This stops the meeting in its tracks when a violent conflict breaks out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, who hold opposing beliefs on resurrection. The Roman commander intervenes again, removing Paul to safety and returning him to his cell.
3. Paul could be easily discouraged at this point. But God lovingly and mercifully comes to Paul in a vision, saying, “Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have been a witness to me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome as well.” (Acts 23:11) In the midst of the storm—Jesus supernaturally comes to encourage Paul.
4. A small, important nugget. Once again, there is a plot underway to kill Paul, orchestrated by a band of zealots in league with the Jewish council. Paul’s sister and young nephew learn of it.
But God. God uses Paul’s young nephew (a boy we have never heard about before—and never hear about again) for this one special assignment: to go tell the Roman commander the details of the assassination plot. The commander listens, believes the young boy, and has Paul immediately and safely transported that evening out of Jerusalem to Caesarea.
APPLICATION
But God
The series we are currently in has caused me to understand a perspective I haven't focused on before: everything in our life is, "But God." I see it in this Scripture and I see it looking back over my life.
I wanted, and fully intended, to be an actress, following in my mother's footsteps. I got a part-time job at Broadway Northridge in sales. Nothing about that job would have deterred my plans, except that one day a cosmetic beauty advisor called in sick, and I was given the opportunity to work in Cosmetics. It changed my life.
For the first time, I had the opportunity to put everything I had learned from studio makeup artists into action. I sat everyone in my chair and told them how beautiful they were. It became a mission for me because I grew up with a gorgeous mom and never felt pretty myself. I saw the difference I could make in how women felt about themselves. That afternoon, the manager came down with a sales report and loudly announced that I had sold more than anyone else in the department.
Long story short, I went to Joseph Magnin and secured a permanent part-time position in Cosmetics while finishing my degree. Six months later, they created a Department Manager position for me. I went on to spend 27 years in Executive Management.
When I became ill, God wasn't done with me. He moved me into sewing. My husband and I started a small cottage business teaching heirloom sewing. During that season, God allowed both of us to minister to people through our work. Looking back, I can see He was preparing me for ministry.
I served on staff at Church on the Way for four years as an administrative assistant, and later, when I came to Desert Streams, I joined Pastor Gary on staff. Now I am in my fifth year serving as a remote Chaplain to more than 19 companies.
I am in complete awe of what God has done. I never saw it coming. I wanted to be an actress. That was my dream from the time I was a little girl. I am so thankful that God had a better plan. But God.
Even when everything seemed to be going wrong—even when I was diagnosed with an incurable auto immune disorder—this thorn in my side allowed me the blessing to be home to provide caregiving for both my mom and mother-in-law for nearly eight years. But God.
In my twenties, I went through a brief season of drifting when I dated someone who was not a believer. Our relationship became serious, and we talked about marriage. But God. I am so deeply thankful that God intervened in a supernatural way to close that door and end the relationship.
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew His people in advance, and HE chose them to be like His SON…” (Romans 8:28-29)
God will give us His Holy Spirit utterance—when needed, God will give us His Encouragement when needed, God will bring people at that right time and right places to assist us, sometimes even using those who might seem least likely or inexperienced. God is Sovereignly Moving—working out every single detail of our lives—and preparing us for Eternity. Where Real Life Begins.
“Don’t store up treasures here on earth—Store your treasures—in heaven” (Matthew 6:19,20)
PRAYER
Lord Jesus,
Thank you for Your Love that will always be greater than I will ever be able to comprehend. Thank You that Your Plans are perfect. Your Plans are so much better than anything I will ever understand. As the heavens are Higher—so are Your ways. Thank You for teaching me through Your word. Thank You for so many godly examples of faithful servants—and for so many new things to learn no matter how many times I read. There is so much to learn. Help me to lay down my expectations of how I think things should look. Help me to surrender to You. How will I ever experience Your Supernatural treasures if I am not willing to wade into the deeper waters. Help me to continue to be walking further and further away from worldly ties that seek to bind me; ambitions, earthly treasures, may they not have a hold on me. I desire to live for You. Show me the Way—Jesus—in this new season. Melt me, Mold me, FILL me, Use me.
In Jesus Name, amen.
“The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth to and fro—searching for those whose hearts are fully committed to Him—that HE may fully support them.” (2 Chronicles 16:9)
Tina L Kudelka
Proverbs 9 - 8.19.26
Scripture
Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious! But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead. (Prov 9:17-18)
Observation
Stolen water and food eaten in secret symbolizes sin. The pleasure of sin makes it exciting. The forbidden fruit is enticing. The temptation is strong. The secrecy makes it even more alluring. The Devil will whisper, “No one will know”. But sin brings consequences of death and destruction.
There is no sin that the blood of Jesus cannot wash away, upon true repentance. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). But the consequences often remain. David committed adultery with Bathsheba and got her husband killed. When confronted by Nathan, David repented truly with a broken heart. God forgave him completely. God even redeemed his sin. The Messianic bloodline came through Solomon, the son of David and Bathsheba! David finished well, and fulfilled God’s purpose for him in his generation (Acts 13:36).
However, the consequences of his sin were not erased. As prophet Nathan said, the sword never left his household (2 Sam 12:10). Terrible tragedies followed his family. His son Amnon violated his half-sister. In retaliation, Absalom killed his brother Amnon. David has to run for his life from his own son. Absalom is later killed. Another son Adonijah made himself king, and eventually got executed on his brother Solomon’s orders. This is a classic example of how consequences of sin followed through, even though the sin was forgiven.
Application
When Jesus taught His disciples to pray in the Lord’s Prayer, He instructed them to pray, “Lead us not into temptation” (Matt 6:13). Nobody is immune to temptation. We all face temptation to sin everyday. The forbidden fruit is tempting and looks sweet. But the end of it is destruction.
With every temptation, God provides a way of escape. God will not let us be tempted beyond what we are able to bear (1 Cor 10:13). In David’s case, the way of escape was the news that the woman he fancied was a married woman. When David saw her from the roof, and sent someone to find out who she was, they came back and reported to him, “She is Bathsheba …the wife of Uriah the Hittite” (2 Sam 11:3). David could have backed off, the moment he heard that she was someone’s wife. But David chose to continue to the next step and sin.
We are tempted when we are dragged away by our own evil desire and enticed, and then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death (James 1:14-15).
In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus told his disciples, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation” (Matt 26:41). We need to watch and pray so that we do not fall into temptation. God is able to keep us from stumbling and to present us before his glorious presence without fault (Jude 1:24). When we sin and grieve the Holy Spirit of God, let us listen to the still small voice of the Lord in our hearts, and quickly repent and correct ourselves and come back to right standing with the Lord.
Prayer
Dear Father, thank you for making me your child. I commit myself to obey you and live a holy life, as you have commanded, “be holy as I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). But Lord, I cannot do this on my own. I need your help. I know that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil 4:13). Help me to watch and pray so that I do not fall into temptation. And when I choose to disobey you and grieve your Spirit in word, thought or deed, please help me to quickly repent and come back to you. Help me to surrender my body as a living sacrifice everyday, and help me to renew my mind with your word every single day. May my life be a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to you (Rom 12:1-2). In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.
- Asha Chacko George