And the Winner is

Perhaps a quick post for today. I have had a day of reading, playing with the Grands and preparing a pot of soup for supper – not much time invested in writing today.

You may recall I upped my book reading goal this year; and I am happy to report I have begun book 2. It is The Harbinger by Jonathan Cahn. I’m about half way in it and I HIGHLY recommend it to you.

And speaking of books, the winner of tonight’s drawing is Jodi! I’ll be contacting you via email for your snail mail address and will get your copy of When You Don’t Know What to Say out to you shortly.

Return with me very briefly to yesterday’s Text: Proverbs 15:6

6 The home of the righteous is a storehouse of treasure, but the earnings of the wicked bring trouble.

via Prov 15:6 KJV;CJB – In the house of the righteous is much – Bible Gateway.

What are the treasures in our homes? What do we value most? And is what we value most what the FATHER values?

Good questions for this 8th day of 2014 — care to share?

Kathie

That’s Blunt!

The home of the righteous is a storehouse of treasure, but the earnings of the wicked bring trouble.

via Proverbs 15 KJV;CJB – A soft answer turneth away wrath: but – Bible Gateway.

The home of the righteous.

Is a home the same as a house?
I suppose for the context of the Text it is but the word is home and home does paint a different color on the walls of our mind, doesn’t it? The home is painted in shades of warmth, a glow that invites. And house could be shades of warmth but it might just as easily be cold and unfamiliar, but then the Text does say the home of the righteous. And that for sure would be colors of warmth, acceptance, love, comfort, peace, joy, and refuge, … . And such a home is what? A storehouse of treasure.

A storehouse.
1. a building in which things are stored; warehouse. 2. a repository or source of abundant supplies, as of facts or knowledge.  via storehouse – definition of storehouse by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia..

A source of abundant supplies.

The home of the righteous is a source of abundant supplies.

What is supplied abundantly in the home of the righteous?
Well, whatever it is it is a treasure; the LORD says so!

Treasure: 2. a thing or person that is highly prized or valued via treasure – definition of treasure by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia..

How much highly prizing and valuing is going on in our domiciles?
What are our treasures? Perhaps identifying our treasures will confirm to us whether our residences are homes or houses and whether they are righteous or wicked.

Righteous or wicked? That’s blunt!

This I know. Positionally, this home is righteous based solely on the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF JESUS CHRIST imparted here by faith. In practice, this home needs some improvement and Proverbs 15:6 is helping!

Blessings my Friends on this 7th day of 2014.

Kathie

Fresh Again

Surely I knew this. Surely I have seen it before. But today it is fresh again.

16 You did not choose me, I chose you; and I have commissioned you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last; so that whatever you ask from the Father in my name he may give you.
17 This is what I command you: keep loving each other!
via John 15 KJV;CJB – I am the true vine, and my Father is – Bible Gateway.

It’s a popular doctrine in Christendom: when two of us agree and ask (pray)  in JESUS’ name then we get what we prayed for.  Right? I mean we like that doctrine and we readily accept it but are we right to believe it as I just stated?  Based on today’s fresh again, I think not necessarily. I think there is a condition to the ask what you will in HIS name and we will receive. And I think if we do not meet that condition we can agree all we want, but we do not have a guarantee that we will receive.

So what is the condition?
I’m glad you asked. Read again the Text.
What has He commissioned us to do?
Bear Fruit. Fruit that lasts.
What kind of fruit lasts?
The kind that receives an eternal reward. (I Corinthians 3:14-16)

Am I bearing such fruit? Perhaps reading verse 17 will clarify.
What does it say?
Do I love people? (John 13:34-36).
If I am not loving people, especially my brothers and sisters with me in the Christian Faith, then I can be sure that I am not bearing fruit that lasts. I can be sure if I am not loving others I am not demonstrating Galatians 5:21-23.

Yikes! All this could be depressing; a real downer! Because I can tell you right now I DO NOT LOVE PEOPLE PERFECTLY ALL THE TIME! I do not always bear good fruit that will last! There are some days, I am a REAL STINKER by anyone’s standards, especially mine!

But today I have hope! Today I am encouraged! Why? Because He has again shown me this Scripture. He has again reminded me what He requires of me. This means He is NOT done with me and today I have the opportunity to do well in His name!! That is good news! Today I am assured there is hope for me that I can bear good fruit that will last and I can be trained by the HOLY SPIRIT to love as He has commissioned and the day will come when I can be assured that when I ask in His name I will receive!

Please, please take this little nugget with you today: If the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD is still speaking to you, if a little light has come on in your heart today as you have read His Word, that is a SURE PROMISE that HE is NOT finished with you. Today you can lift your will to HIM and start again!!

Blessing Friends on this 6th day of 2014.

Kathie