All your possessions

 Proverbs 3:9-10 Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; (10) So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.

Gracious Heavenly Father, help us to glean what you would want us to learn from your word. Holy Spirit guide us as we read and think on your teachings. In Jesus' name, amen.

So, it has been a while since I have did any blog report. I am now home and getting back into this life in America. It is hard to see things as I once did. My life is not my own like I wanted to think. Or like I used to think. Being away for such a long to gave me such a perspective on what life really is. It is God's life and however He wants to use it He can. He created me! Why should I think I have any right to have what wasn't mine in the first place? God made everything I "own". So really all I have is His as well. And, how should we treat things that aren't ours? With respect, hence " Honor the Lord with your possessions" which aren't really ours to begin with. And when He gives us more, "And with the firstfruits of all your increase", We honor God by giving Him the firstfruits of what He gives us. This is one of the reasons we tithe. However, some may ask, how do we give the firstfruits of something like a car? Well, first off, you should Honor the Lord with it by not using it to take you places you shouldn't go. Then to give of the firstfruits to God by the dedication of the car to Him. All this means is just thank the Lord that He has blessed you with a car. If He blessed you with a lot of towels, I don't know just stay with me, Give the first one or ones away to someone who needs it. And for those of us who don't know what to do with something He has given us, pray about it. Prayer is one of the best ways to get sure info on what should be done. It's His anyway, why not just ask Him what He wants done with it.

Verse ten reminds me of Matthew 25:14-24 where Jesus taught a parable about a man who left his money with some of his workers and then went to a far country. Upon his return, some of his workers returned the money and then some. I'm reminded of this because of what their master said to them. "Well done, good and faithful servant. Because you were faithful with a few things I will make you ruler over many things, enter into the joy of your lord". So with verse ten, if we follow verse nine, means God will bless us with what He knows we can take care of. God wants to bless us but, why would a loving Father give something special to a kid who can't take care of it. My mom and dad got me a kitten when I was young, God gave me that kitten through my parents because He knew I would take care of her. I have so much to thank God for, He has blessed me with many things. Now, I think back to when I first got those things. I didn't thank Him for them, I didn't use some of them life I should've, and now the firstfruits of those things are gone. I don't want to go on a guilt trip but, I wish I could relive those moments and do it right. God has for given us of all that we have done and haven't done. So, yesterday is history, tomorrow a mystery but, today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.

Thank you Lord for your word and all you teach us through it. May we always be hungry for more of your teachings and your love. Amen.

Praise be to God for His blessing and love through them.

God's Word not mine

Proverbs 3:5-8 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; (6) In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. (7) Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil. (8) It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.

I don't know about you but, I am excited to hear what God has to say today! I feel like we can take on the world right now! I don't know what is going to happen today but, I have a peace about it, because God is in control.

God I pray that you will teach us something today that we can hold on to for the rest of our lives. Guide us by Your Holy Spirit in the things we do not know. Shine Your light on the darkness to reveal Your ways to us. And lead us into that place where You are. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

You know there are times when we need to look up words for the meaning and when we can do a whole study on those words? Today we won't do that. I prayed that God would guide my hands to write what He wants written. I have no idea what is going to happen. So, buckle up because here we go!

The first verse is easy to understand but, that is the dangerous part! Sometimes we see a verse like that and just go over it because we understand what it's saying. However, we do not take it to heart, perhaps because we know it but, don't want to acknowledge it. Have you ever listened to someone talk to you but, weren't really listening to what they were saying? You probably heard only a little bit of what they had to say and were thinking of how to respond while they continue to talk. "He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him" Proverbs 18:13. Often, too often, we don't listen as much as we speak. I again bring to mind the two ears and one mouth. Listen twice as much as you talk. Doing this very thing helps relationships with family and friends. However, I digress from what was really being said. We shouldn't skim over the bible and it's passages. Especially if we don't get what it is talking about. If it doesn't make sense, find someone like your pastor or someone you know is very mature in Christ and ask them what it means. Seek "wise" counsel for those kinds of matters. Not to mention pray and ask God to reveal it to you, which He sometimes answers those prayers by you asking your pastor or mature friend. For me, I would ask my pastor or my parents because I knew I could trust them and had confidence that they wouldn't lie to me or tell me what they wanted me to hear or do.

So, lets look at the verse now. Trust in the Lord with All your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. Sometimes the Lord brings us to places that don't make sense to us. He asks us to trust Him but, our minds get in the way. We think we know where we should go and God is being ridicules but, in fact we can't see over the hill in front of us! It's like a blind person saying to someone who can see, " I've done this kind of thing a hundred times! I can do it again!" In those times we should let go of our understanding and let Him lead. It's hard I know but, I also know that I can trust God with my life. He has never in the past let me down, why should I now not trust Him?



In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Another clear passage, but what does it look like in a practical sense? It says "in All your ways acknowledge Him" but, what does that look like? Prayer is one way to acknowledge Him. Have you ever prayed before a game with your family, a trip to the beach, or something else that doesn't seem like you need to pray about? Maybe your own health even though it is just a cold? Or perhaps a trip to the grocery store? It doesn't have to be a big and poetic prayer, just something to thank God and ask His blessing on what is going to happen. It is short and easy to do, it also makes me glad knowing He is behind me when I do say that short prayer. From there He has always guided me. He will never force His will on us and always wait for us to ask for His bless and guidance. Try it, just say a simple " Lord bless this time and show us your will". He will be faithful to show up and guide everyone who earnestly prays that prayer.

Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. Yet another clear passage. I love it when it is easy to understand. Do not be wise in your own eyes. To be wise in our own eyes is to not accept advice or seek advice from others. To think we know everything and have calculated every possible outcome. I have learn from chess that this is not possible to do. Your opponent will always have or do something you do not expect if you think you know everything. Likewise, Satan loves it when we think we can do it on our own because he knows we can't and will, at that point, be easy to trip up. Fear the Lord and depart from evil. Often times when we fall, it is because we slowly fed the beast. "A little here and there won't hurt" we think to ourselves. However they do hurt and maybe not even just us but, other people as well. We need to call sin what God calls sin. The little battles are almost more important than the big ones. We do well in fighting it when we win the little battles. It is harder to fight a bunch of small enemies than one big one and the small ones tear down our defence and make us weaker so that we can't even stand up to the big one. Guard yourselves from the little ones so that you can fight the big one.

It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones. All of these things, again, are from God. I take no credit from this, for God is the one in control of all things. Knowing this has helped me tremendously throughout my life and given me health and strength in a spiritual sense. And it will for you all as well. When we let go of our will and lay it before Him, life is just so much better. I can't even begin to imagine all the trouble I would be in without my Creator with me. I do know, however, that I would be dead if not for God's intervention in my life. I can't say the same for you but, I know He has done wonderful things for you as well. Just pause with me for a moment and think of all God has done for us, or just for you personally. Try and take a moment out of your day or week and just think of God's goodness, love, mercy, grace, and peace that He so freely give each and everyone of us.

"Lord, we praise you for your love. I thank you, personally, for saving me from taking my own life. For always being there and showing me your ways. Please help us to keep all of this in mind and take it to heart as we move on through Proverbs. Thank you Father".

Praise God for His word and willingness to help us when we ask for it.

Update on Life

    Hello all. It's been a while since I just posted what has been going on. So here is that post. We've been doing a lot of teaching and a few outreaches. We teach kids comprehensive reading and how to speak English. That happens Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays but, on Fridays we go to a school and teach only English to about 46 kids per classroom and there are 6 classrooms, you do the math. On Wednesdays however, we have the kid's club program where we play with the kids give them a meal and later do a lesson from the bible. We are currently going through the book of Genesis.
    The outreaches happened two days ago on Saturday the 22nd. They went very well and people did respond to them. They asked questions and some got saved! How great is that! God is awesome!
    Please pray for the ministry down here as my team and I are coming up on the end of our field time. It's easy to checkout early (in our hearts) and we don't want to do that. Please also pray for those who will be sent out to replace us. Thank you for your support and prayers.
    Samuel A. Miesner

Remember

     Proverbs 3:1-4  My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands;  (2)  For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you.  (3)  Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, (4) And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.
     Now is the time to go back and recount what we have learned through these chapters. As the first thing that is said in this is to "Not Forget". The best way to not for get is to go back over things we shouldn't forget. To write them down somewhere. There is a lot to go over but, I believe something worth being said is worth saying again. Thus, Proverbs were written so that we could hear what was said back then and reflect upon them. Not to mention the bible as a whole.
     These Proverbs are from God, since He inspired the entire bible to be written. Also since He gave Solomon the wisdom to write them. They are given to us, by God, to know wisdom and instruction. As well as understand the fear of the Lord. Again, it is reverent fear that is being talked about. God continues even in the third chapter to tell us to remember His commands. He knows us and knows we need to be reminded of things that are important. I have a hard time remembering and am very grateful that God tells me time and time again of things I need to know.
     Don't consent to sinners and their ways. They won't live long by the way they live, so why should we join them?
     Wisdom is easy to find, she calls out to everyone and in places where there are lots of people. No one can say " no body told me that was wrong" because everyone has a sense of right and wrong. And those that listen to wisdom will live without fear of evil.
     Again, in chapter 2, we are told to receive what we are being told. I love that God is so patient with me that He will, without resentment, repeat things He wants me to know.
     God is the giver of wisdom, so go to Him when you have a question. Go to Him in times of need and times of plenty. He is always there and there is no reason to not go to Him.
     Living righteously and wanting the same will help you in times of trouble. Like with those who are immoral and corrupt. If you truly live by faith, "the just shall live by faith", then you won't go to those people for help or anything because you know who they are.
     There is a lot more to remember and I do ask that you go back and read again the last two verses. Also, if it may help, read my earlier posts if you want. However, reading it for yourself will be more fruitful I believe. Write them down, read them again, and do whatever it takes to remember them. That is how we will bind them around our necks. Memorize the ones that sick out to you. The ones that the Holy Spirit shows you. It is very easy to read something over and over then say "I'm good, I don't need to memorize it now". I do that too often myself. Please don't make the same mistake. Remember, this is God's word we are talking about. The Creator of the universe! He sent us His word! Why would we not study it or memorize it?
     In closing, we should seek to find favor and high esteem in God's sight. Like Job did. By finding favor in God's sight man will falling in line afterwards. Who doesn't love a man who loves others?
     God help us to remember your word and who you are. Please forgive our forgetfulness and remind us of your love. No other will love us like you do and for that, will love and praise you. Amen
     Praise be to God for the ability to pray to Him, His reminders, and to study His word.

Act

     Proverbs 2:12-22  To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things,  (13)  From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness;  (14)  Who rejoice in doing evil, And delight in the perversity of the wicked;  (15)  Whose ways are crooked, And who are devious in their paths;  (16)  To deliver you from the immoral woman, From the seductress who flatters with her words,  (17)  Who forsakes the companion of her youth, And forgets the covenant of her God.  (18)  For her house leads down to death, And her paths to the dead;  (19)  None who go to her return, Nor do they regain the paths of life-- (20)  So you may walk in the way of goodness, And keep to the paths of righteousness.  (21)  For the upright will dwell in the land, And the blameless will remain in it;  (22)  But the wicked will be cut off from the earth, And the unfaithful will be uprooted from it.
     I know that there are a lot of verses today but, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. I want to connect three IBSs together, this being the last one. Identify, Acknowledge, and Act. Please go back and read the others if you need to. That is one of the reasons I call this one "Act".
     So, as we remember what was said in the first two IBSs, Identify and Acknowledge, we come to the reasons for them. Starting in verse 12 all the way up to verse 19 are some solid reasons why we should know who God is and acknowledge the fact of who He is. Verses 20, 21, and 22 are good reasons as well. These aren't the only reasons mind you. I can think of more reasons but, these will do for now.
     Ok, let us begin in verses 12 to 15. Read those verses again with me please. These are not nice people, nor are they "cool" as some might think they are. And those who think they are "cool" are those talked about in verse 14! People who speak perverse things are not easy for me to be around. Especially when they know what they are saying! The actual meaning of the word perverse is "to turn away, to distort, twist, to transform into something of an opposite character, and/or to turn inside out"! I tell you this because most of us hear the word perverse and think of people who speak about a woman's body parts or something like that. No, speaking perverse things can mean a whole lot more. Then we see that these people have left the paths of uprightness, purposefully, to walk in the paths of darkness! "How crazy is that!", we think, when we ourselves are capable of doing the exact same thing. All of are capable of turning away from what we know is right. Never think you are incapable of turning. That thought will sober you up and get you back to acknowledging the One who holds you in His arms. It is Him who keeps us from crooked paths and saves us from all manner of evil. Identify, Acknowledge, and Act.
      Now we come to the second reason this chapter gives us, the immoral woman as seen in verse 16-19. Now, immoral could mean more than just a seductress. Immoral means "wicked, unjust in practice, vicious, dishonest, and/or someone who habitually breaks the law". On a side note we are all immoral, for we all break God's laws but, through His Son we are not. However, back to the text. The thing that scares me about this woman is that her house leads to death and her paths to the dead! Then, if that's not enough, it says that "none" who go to her return, nor do they regain the paths of life. However, there is a small glimmer of hope for those who go to her. Not that we should ever ponder her paths, for the are unstable and we don't know them. As I said, the is hope but, it is small because once ensnared by this woman, it is extremely hard to get back on the right path. I've known people who fell to this kind of woman and have their lives back because they went to the only One who could give it back to them. However,  they have to live with the consequences of their actions. They don't live with the guilt so much but, they live with the pain they caused others. Some may have seen or heard they did this and say "he did it, why can't I?" or "I won't get caught like he did, I'm smarter than he is". No, no one gets away with this sin as well as all other sins! Identify, who is God? He can see everything that goes on! No one escapes His righteous judgment! Acknowledge, who He is and what He does for us and finally. Act upon what you know to be true!
     Which brings us to the last part of the chapter verses 20-22. These verses have another reason to Identify, Acknowledge, and Act upon what we have learned. They are also pretty easy to understand. Doing these three things helps you walk well, remain upright, and not get uprooted from the land. In following God, by faith, you save your soul. Notice the last verse, the wicked will be cut off and the unfaithful will be uprooted. These verses refer to the punishment of living this way. Being cut off or uprooted is like a capital offence punishment. Death sentence kind of stuff. Which also leads me to think of end times, when the entire world will be judged for how they have conducted their selves! Hell is the punishment for sin. All who have sinned will be sent there! That means all of are going to Hell! However, there is a great light that shines through our dark hour! Jesus came and paid the price for everyone! All we have to do is accept His sacrifice and, in faith, follow Him. Identify who Jesus is. Acknowledge what He has done. Then Act upon it! It is your choice to go to Him and ask for forgiveness and go with Him to heaven or go on living they way you have and pay for it later and forever, after you pay.
     I pray you choose Jesus, I pray you have taken the right path that goes to our saviour and leads to heaven. I don't want anyone to go to Hell.
     I will continue to go through the Proverbs and hope you are still with me as I go. We only just came to the end of chapter 2, 29 more chapters to go! I'm having fun, crying, and turning to God, how about you?
     Praise be to God for His love and His righteousness!

Acknowledge

      Proverbs 2:9-11  Then you will understand righteousness and justice, Equity and every good path.  (10)  When wisdom enters your heart, And knowledge is pleasant to your soul,  (11)  Discretion will preserve you; Understanding will keep you,
      First we looked at the one who gives wisdom and understanding. Now we are going to look at half of the benefit from acknowledging Him as such. It is just as important to know wisdom and understanding and to know where it comes from. Because we need to know and remember where to turn for more when we don't know what to do. Turning to God should be our first response to anything. And I mean anything, whether it is a small problem or not. Even if it isn't a problem, we need to inquire of the Lord like David did. I admit that I don't do this all the time, but I need to. I am His soldier, and should not do what I think is best but, should wait for His commands and act upon them to the very best my abilities. Which, by the way, He has given me those abilities as well. Nothing I have isn't from God in one way or another. There is no way that I can boast in myself and that is very important to understand. And something we all need to come to terms with.
      Now to the text, look at verse 9. After we identify who God is and what He does, in that He is the giver of wisdom and understanding. Then we understand why things are just, fair, and the paths we should take but, again we should ask the Lord which path unless He has already made it clear. We must understand that everything we do should begin and end with Him. We should begin the day with Him and end it with Him, as well as stay with Him throughout the day. However, beginning and ending with Him is very important. I have found this to be true in my own life, that everyday I began in His word and in prayer. Those days are some of the best days in my life, even if nothing went right. I had peace that all went according to God's perfect will and I did all I could for Him that day.
      Verse 10 is very interesting, is says "when". I can admit that I don't always like learning and can further say that it is an acquired taste for me. However, "when" I have acquired the taste for knowledge and wisdom, things become so much more clear to me. Like when I don't understand a word and search it out, I understand what is being said and can answer correctly. I just went with the guys here in Guatemala to watch the superbowl. I personally don't care for football but, it was nice to learn more about the crave of others and God can further even that and use the knowledge we learn for His glory! We could later be mentoring someone and because we learned something we didn't like, we can minister to that person. "Be all things to all men, so that we might win some". I love that God's word is so complicated and yet so simple.
      Now to verse 11. Planning ahead isn't a bad thing to do. However, God must, and I mean Must, be in the midst of that planning. Because, what soldier, or quarterback, doesn't bypasses his superiors? Does the quarterback make all the decisions? Does a private in the army make all the choices? No, all that they do comes from the one in charge of them. So, who is in charge of you? I know whom I serve and need to remember that daily, for if I don't everything falls to pieces. Know whom you serve. I mean know as in both meanings of the word. Know who, and come to know Him by reading His word. These are simple truths but, we need to be reminded of them constantly.
      I plan to continue in proverbs as to know more of my commander and His will on how I should live.
      Praise God for His words of wisdom and understanding, also that He gives it to us and we cannot boast in anything but, Him.

Identify

    Proverbs 2:6-8  For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;  (7)  He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;  (8)  He guards the paths of justice, And preserves the way of His saints.
    These verses are pretty straight forward. They all talk about the fact that God is the giver of wisdom. This may be something simple to us and we may say " I knew that" but, do we accept it? A lot of us want to say that we gained the wisdom ourselves. Do we in every moment of wise choices thank God for the wisdom and understanding? I know that I do not always do this. We make a good choice and then pat ourselves on the back when we should turn to God with praise and thanks. I don't care who you are, God is the one who deserves the praise and thanks for every good work. We here in Guatemala have just finished doing medical outreaches this week and have no reason to praise ourselves! God did all the work through us! He gave us the wisdom to handle everything that came our way. Also, when I say "our" God is included in that because He is always with us. And there is no situation where He is not with us, no matter the complexity of it. If it is a small matter, He is there. If it is a great matter, He is there! If it is a dire matter, He is there! In all these things we should call out to Him for wisdom and understanding to be able to handle it the right way. Then we should turn to Him with praise and thanks regardless how the matter turned out, because God knows all and we don't. Have faith that He works all things for good.
    I pray this has helped you all as it has helped me. I plan on turning to God for wisdom and understanding for all matters that come "our" way.
    Praise be to God for His instruction, wisdom, and understanding.