Proverbs Scripture Reading - Proverbs 10:7

Proverbs 10:7 English Standard Version

7 The memory of the righteous is a blessing,

    but the name of the wicked will rot.

Morning Scripture Reading - Ecclesiastes 7:7

Ecclesiastes 7:7 English Standard Version

7 Surely oppression drives the wise into madness,

    and a bribe corrupts the heart.

Evening Scripture Reading - 1 Kings 4:29-34

1 Kings 4:29-34 English Standard Version

29 And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the seashore, 30 so that Solomon's wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt. 31 For he was wiser than all other men, wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol, and his fame was in all the surrounding nations. 32 He also spoke 3,000 proverbs, and his songs were 1,005. 33 He spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of the wall. He spoke also of beasts, and of birds, and of reptiles, and of fish. 34 And people of all nations came to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and from all the kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom.

Psalms Scripture Reading - Psalm 104:19-23

Psalm 104:19-23 English Standard Version

19 He made the moon to mark the seasons;

    the sun knows its time for setting.

20 You make darkness, and it is night,

    when all the beasts of the forest creep about.

21 The young lions roar for their prey,

    seeking their food from God.

22 When the sun rises, they steal away

    and lie down in their dens.

23 Man goes out to his work

    and to his labor until the evening.

Proverbs Scripture Reading - Proverbs 10:6

Proverbs 10:6 English Standard Version

6 Blessings are on the head of the righteous,

    but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

Morning Scripture Reading - Ephesians 3:14-19

Ephesians 3:14-19 English Standard Version

Prayer for Spiritual Strength

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Evening Scripture Reading - Acts 18:9-11

Acts 18:9-11 English Standard Version

9 And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” 11 And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

Psalms Scripture Reading - Psalm 104:16-18

Psalm 104:16-18 English Standard Version

16 The trees of the Lord are watered abundantly,

    the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.

17 In them the birds build their nests;

    the stork has her home in the fir trees.

18 The high mountains are for the wild goats;

    the rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers.

Proverbs Scripture Reading - Proverbs 10:5

Proverbs 10:5 English Standard Version

5 He who gathers in summer is a prudent son,

    but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame.

Morning Scripture Reading - 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

2 Corinthians 5:16-21 English Standard Version

16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Evening Scripture Reading - 1 Peter 5:6-7

1 Peter 5:6-7 English Standard Version

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Psalms Scripture Reading - Psalm 104:14-15

Psalm 104:14-15 English Standard Version

14 You cause the grass to grow for the livestock

    and plants for man to cultivate,

that he may bring forth food from the earth

15     and wine to gladden the heart of man,

oil to make his face shine

    and bread to strengthen man's heart.

Proverbs Scripture Reading - Proverbs 10:4

Proverbs 10:4 English Standard Version

4 A slack hand causes poverty,

    but the hand of the diligent makes rich.

Morning Scripture Reading - Genesis 12:1-3

Genesis 12:1-3 English Standard Version

The Call of Abram

12 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Evening Scripture Reading - Nehemiah 9:7-8

Nehemiah 9:7-8 English Standard Version

7 You are the Lord, the God who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and gave him the name Abraham. 8 You found his heart faithful before you, and made with him the covenant to give to his offspring the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Jebusite, and the Girgashite. And you have kept your promise, for you are righteous.

Psalms Scripture Reading - Psalm 104:10-13

Psalm 104:10-13 English Standard Version

10 You make springs gush forth in the valleys;

    they flow between the hills;

11 they give drink to every beast of the field;

    the wild donkeys quench their thirst.

12 Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell;

    they sing among the branches.

13 From your lofty abode you water the mountains;

    the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.

Mid-Week Message - Confusion in an Uncertain World

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.  Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you what path to take."  Proverbs 3:5-6  (NLT)   

When I was a college student outside of Dallas, Texas in the late 1970's, one of the fun nearby activities was Six Flags.  I forget how many times friends and I went there but it was something we always looked forward to.  That was back when I would get on a roller coaster, which I wouldn't even think of doing today!  

I don't know if it is still there, but one of the attractions was an anti-gravity house.  If you have ever been through it, you know firsthand how confusing it was.  The floor slanted.  Chairs hung from the ceiling at odd angles.  Balls rolled uphill.  If it weren't for the wall and a railing, I'm not sure I would have been able to stand!  It was designed to confuse the mind and it was successful.  

There are days now when I see all that is going on in this world and I almost feel as disoriented as I did in that house.  There seems to be an attempt to change everyday life into something that is off-kilter, creating confusion.  The "norms" that we are familiar with are being questioned and challenged which creates a sense of being off-balance and needing something to hold onto.  

What are we to do when life seems to be spinning out of control?  How do we remain standing upright and secure when it feels as if the very ground under our feet is collapsing?  

If you are a parent, think back to when your child was learning to walk.  After having to be supported, there comes the day when the first independent steps are taken.  As we encouraged them to walk from parent to parent, they kept their eyes on our faces.  There they found encouragement, approval and excitement about what they were accomplishing.  If they looked away, they fell.  

Likewise, we have a Father to keep our eyes on as we navigate this world.  Although we may be unsure about our next steps, He guides us.  In Him we find encouragement.  He is our source of direction and support.  And it is important to remember that just as Peter was able to walk on the water as long as he kept his eyes on Jesus, so we need to keep our focus on our Lord.

Change is happening around us at an overwhelming pace, even as we attempt to continue to deal with all the issues in our own lives.  Quite frankly, it can seem like too much to take in.  Proverbs tells us to seek God's will in all we do and He will show us what path to take.  In Him we find peace in the turmoil and direction in the darkness.  Our own understanding is limited, but He knows and sees all of our days in one glance.  Fear not, beloved.  Place your confusion and worries in His hands and follow where He leads.  The only sure way is His way.  God bless.  

Proverbs Scripture Reading - Proverbs 10:3

Proverbs 10:3 English Standard Version

3 The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry,

    but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.

Morning Scripture Reading - Isaiah 46:8-11

Isaiah 46:8-11 English Standard Version

8 “Remember this and stand firm,

    recall it to mind, you transgressors,

9     remember the former things of old;

for I am God, and there is no other;

    I am God, and there is none like me,

10 declaring the end from the beginning

    and from ancient times things not yet done,

saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,

    and I will accomplish all my purpose,’

11 calling a bird of prey from the east,

    the man of my counsel from a far country.

I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass;

    I have purposed, and I will do it.

Evening Scripture Reading - Mark 12:32-34

Mark 12:32-34 English Standard Version

32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. 33 And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Psalms Scripture Reading - Psalm 104:5-9

Psalm 104:5-9 English Standard Version

5 He set the earth on its foundations,

    so that it should never be moved.

6 You covered it with the deep as with a garment;

    the waters stood above the mountains.

7 At your rebuke they fled;

    at the sound of your thunder they took to flight.

8 The mountains rose, the valleys sank down

    to the place that you appointed for them.

9 You set a boundary that they may not pass,

    so that they might not again cover the earth.

Proverbs Scripture Reading - Proverbs 10:2

Proverbs 10:2 English Standard Version

2 Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit,

    but righteousness delivers from death.

Morning Scripture Reading - Deuteronomy 4:32-40

Deuteronomy 4:32-40 English Standard Version

The Lord Alone Is God

32 “For ask now of the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and ask from one end of heaven to the other, whether such a great thing as this has ever happened or was ever heard of. 33 Did any people ever hear the voice of a god speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and still live? 34 Or has any god ever attempted to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, and by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and by great deeds of terror, all of which the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? 35 To you it was shown, that you might know that the Lord is God; there is no other besides him. 36 Out of heaven he let you hear his voice, that he might discipline you. And on earth he let you see his great fire, and you heard his words out of the midst of the fire. 37 And because he loved your fathers and chose their offspring after them and brought you out of Egypt with his own presence, by his great power, 38 driving out before you nations greater and mightier than you, to bring you in, to give you their land for an inheritance, as it is this day, 39 know therefore today, and lay it to your heart, that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other. 40 Therefore you shall keep his statutes and his commandments, which I command you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land that the Lord your God is giving you for all time.”

Evening Scripture Reading - 1 Kings 18:20-21

1 Kings 18:20-21 English Standard Version

The Prophets of Baal Defeated

20 So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel. 21 And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word.

Psalms Scripture Reading - Psalm 104:1-4

Psalm 104:1-4 English Standard Version

O Lord My God, You Are Very Great

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul!

    O Lord my God, you are very great!

You are clothed with splendor and majesty,

2     covering yourself with light as with a garment,

    stretching out the heavens like a tent.

3 He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters;

he makes the clouds his chariot;

    he rides on the wings of the wind;

4 he makes his messengers winds,

    his ministers a flaming fire.

Proverbs Scripture Reading - Proverbs 10:1

Proverbs 10:1 English Standard Version

The Proverbs of Solomon

1 The proverbs of Solomon.

A wise son makes a glad father,

    but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.

Morning Scripture Reading - Hosea 10:1-4

Hosea 10:1-4 English Standard Version

1 Israel is a luxuriant vine

    that yields its fruit.

The more his fruit increased,

    the more altars he built;

as his country improved,

    he improved his pillars.

2 Their heart is false;

    now they must bear their guilt.

The Lord will break down their altars

    and destroy their pillars.

3 For now they will say:

    “We have no king,

for we do not fear the Lord;

    and a king—what could he do for us?”

4 They utter mere words;

    with empty oaths they make covenants;

so judgment springs up like poisonous weeds

    in the furrows of the field.