On MAN's plans

 

Proverbs 3:5-6

King James Version

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; 

and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, 

and he shall direct thy paths.

Thank GOD, I'm a cat.

Trusting in the LORD alone.

Imagine, He even gifted me with NINE lives!

The Bible says man has only one life.

Hebrews 9:27

King James Version

27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, 

but after this the judgment:

And I'm just a tiny, furry, inconsequential creature.

But GOD loves me so.

All the more reason to be grateful to my Creator.

But man is a different story.

He is proud, vain, willful, envious, covetous, power-hungry.

In case you think I'm imagining it, I've got something to back me up.

SPIRIT and Scripture confirmed it.

Through real stories, parables, and GOD's laws.

Genesis 11:1-10

King James Version

11 And the whole earth was of one language, 

and of one speech.

2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, 

that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; 

and they dwelt there.

3 And they said one to another, 

Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. 

And they had brick for stone, 

and slime had they for morter.

4 And they said, 

Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, 

whose top may reach unto heaven; 

and let us make us a name, 

lest we be scattered abroad 

upon the face of the whole earth.

5 And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, 

which the children of men builded.

6 And the Lord said, 

Behold, the people is one, 

and they have all one language; 

and this they begin to do: 

and now nothing will be restrained from them, 

which they have imagined to do.

7 Go to, let us go down, 

and there confound their language, 

that they may not understand one another's speech.

8 So the Lord scattered them abroad 

from thence upon the face of all the earth: 

and they left off to build the city.

9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; 

because the Lord did there 

confound the language of all the earth: 

and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad 

upon the face of all the earth.

10 These are the generations of Shem: 

Shem was an hundred years old, 

and begat Arphaxad 

two years after the flood:

Jeremiah 22:13-17

King James Version

13 Woe unto him 

that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, 

and his chambers by wrong; 

that useth his neighbour's service without wages, 

and giveth him not for his work;

14 That saith, 

I will build me a wide house and large chambers, 

and cutteth him out windows; 

and it is cieled with cedar, 

and painted with vermilion.

15 Shalt thou reign, because thou closest thyself in cedar? 

did not thy father eat and drink, 

and do judgment and justice, 

and then it was well with him?

16 He judged the cause of the poor and needy; 

then it was well with him: 

was not this to know me? saith the Lord.

17 But thine eyes and thine heart are not 

but for thy covetousness, 

and for to shed innocent blood, 

and for oppression, 

and for violence, 

to do it.

Psalm 33:10

King James Version

10 The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen 

to nought: 

he maketh the devices of the people 

of none effect.

Psalm 33:11

King James Version

11 The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, 

the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

Proverbs 16:2

King James Version

2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; 

but the Lord weigheth the spirits.

Proverbs 16:9

King James Version

9 A man's heart deviseth his way: 

but the Lord directeth his steps.

Proverbs 19:21

King James Version

21 There are many devices in a man's heart; 

nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, 

that shall stand.

Luke 12:15-21

King James Version

15 And he said unto them, 

Take heed, and beware of covetousness: 

for a man's life consisteth not 

in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, 

The ground of a certain rich man 

brought forth plentifully:

17 And he thought within himself, saying, 

What shall I do, 

because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?

18 And he said, 

This will I do: 

I will pull down my barns, 

and build greater; 

and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

19 And I will say to my soul, 

Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; 

take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

20 But God said unto him, 

Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: 

then whose shall those things be, 

which thou hast provided?

21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, 

and is not rich toward God.

James 4:13-15

King James Version

13 Go to now, ye that say, 

To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, 

and continue there a year, 

and buy and sell, and get gain:

14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. 

For what is your life? 

It is even a vapour, 

that appeareth for a little time, 

and then vanisheth away.

15 For that ye ought to say, 

If the Lord will, we shall live, 

and do this, or that.

I'm not gloating.

Just thanking my lucky stars.

I'm happy not to have the intellectual capacity of man.

My needs are simple.

GOD, just GOD.

Related material:

GOD's WILL

Image: Clipart Library

On GETTING along with OTHERS

 

PEACE through JESUS

Colossians 3:12-15

King James Version

12 Put on therefore, 

as the elect of God, holy and beloved, 

bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, 

meekness, longsuffering;

13 Forbearing one another, 

and forgiving one another, 

if any man have a quarrel against any: 

even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

14 And above all these things put on charity, 

which is the bond of perfectness.

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, 

to the which also ye are called in one body; 

and be ye thankful.

How do we get along with others?

What will cause harmony?

How to prevent wars?

Or cat fights?

SPIRIT and Scripture have the answers.

We're featuring one Solomon chapter here.

An ounce of prevention is really better than TONS of cure.

Here are some verses on animosity prevention:

Proverbs 25:4-5

King James Version

4 Take away the dross from the silver, 

and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.

5 Take away the wicked from before the king, 

and his throne shall be established in righteousness.

Proverbs 25:6-7

King James Version

6 Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, 

and stand not in the place of great men:

7 For better it is that it be said unto thee, 

Come up hither; 

than that thou shouldest be put lower 

in the presence of the prince 

whom thine eyes have seen.

Proverbs 25:9-10

King James Version

9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; 

and discover not a secret to another:

10 Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, 

and thine infamy turn not away.

Proverbs 25:11

King James Version

11 A word fitly spoken 

is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

Proverbs 25:12

King James Version

12 As an earring of gold, 

and an ornament of fine gold, 

so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

Proverbs 25:13

King James Version

13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, 

so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: 

for he refresheth the soul of his masters.

Proverbs 25:14

King James Version

14 Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift 

is like clouds and wind without rain.

Proverbs 25:15

King James Version

15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, 

and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

Proverbs 25:17

King James Version

17 Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; 

lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.

Proverbs 25:18

King James Version

18 A man that beareth 

false witness against his neighbour 

is a maul, 

and a sword, 

and a sharp arrow.

Proverbs 25:19

King James Version

19 Confidence in an unfaithful man 

in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, 

and a foot out of joint.

Proverbs 25:21-22

King James Version

21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; 

and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, 

and the Lord shall reward thee.

Proverbs 25:23

King James Version

23 The north wind driveth away rain: 

so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.

Proverbs 25:24

King James Version

24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, 

than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.

Proverbs 25:25

King James Version

25 As cold waters to a thirsty soul, 

so is good news from a far country.

Proverbs 25:26

King James Version

26 A righteous man falling down before the wicked 

is as a troubled fountain, 

and a corrupt spring.

Proverbs 25:28

King James Version

28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit 

is like a city that is broken down, 

and without walls.

Related post:

PEACE through JESUS

Image: Pexels

HOW do YOU know you NEED GOD?

 

Proverbs 11:2

King James Version

2 When pride cometh, 

then cometh shame: 

but with the lowly is wisdom.

How do you know you need God?

As born again, I'd ask:

"When did we not ever?"

But, if you're not born again, stubborn, vacillating, indifferent, unsure, still on a high, well, let SPIRIT and I count the ways.

We definitely need God when:

We're sad.

We're lonely.

We're lost.

We're confused.

We're stumped.

We're dumbfounded.

We're confounded.

We've been humbled.

We feel defeated.

We're tired.

We're broke.

We've been humiliated.

We've humiliated.

We're angry.

We're depressed.

We're vengeful.

We're proud.

We feel invincible.

We feel superior.

We've got everything. (Or so we think.)

That pretty much sums up the moments we need God.

Being the way we are, we forget God when we're on a high.

When we're feeling low, we begin to remember God.

Such is man's nature.

And yet, we have the nerve to wonder:

Is there a God?

Is He listening?

Is He paying attention?

Why does He allow stuff to happen?

Where is He?

Those are legit questions.

But only a genuine born again, one who LOVES God, who LOVES Scripture, who LOVES doing God's will, who LOVES being obedient, who LOVES being corrected by the Lord, who LOVES being taught by Spirit, who LOVES waiting for the LORD's return any moment now, can understand the ways of the LORD.

Whether we know it or not, whether we admit it or not, without JESUS, we can do nothing.

And that's a fact.

John 15:5

King James Version

5 I am the vine, 

ye are the branches: 

He that abideth in me, and I in him,

 the same bringeth forth much fruit: 

for without me ye can do nothing.

Related post:

BORN AGAIN classics

Updated 3 March 2023