June 2021 – Page 3 of 3 – Sonshine's Journal

June 10, 2021June 10, 2021

How do others see you?

Proverbs 22 “Are you a Kind Person?”

Prov 22:11: The one who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious Prov 22:18 For it is pleasing if you keep these sayings within you, and they are ready on your lips.

Do you want to demonstrate the Fruit of the Spirit? Then begin by looking deep within your heart. Does it love others and God? Listen to yourself as the Proverbs writer asks: are your words gracious or kind? Have you filtered each word through the grid of scripture? Have you prayed: “O Lord, place a guard over my mouth! Protect the opening of my lips!” [Ps 141:3] The writer reminds us that it is pleasing and gratifying when you keep this admonition close to yourself.

As you pray, ask the Holy Spirit to put a guard much like an army sentry over your mouth. Our words begin in the mind before they ever escape out of our mouth. Like a light switch in the off position, our heart’s switch is either in the on or off position. How often do we want our own approval more than God’s? Remember these words: “Certainly my tongue does not frame a word without you, O Lord, being thoroughly aware of it.” [Ps 139:4]

Instead, be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you. [Eph 4:32]

June 9, 2021June 9, 2021

Are you a true friend?

Proverbs 19 As Solomon sat in his throne room, receiving people, we can see how practical he was at solving their problems and giving wise advice. He noted from his many interactions that poor people were either accepted or rejected by society, much like James saw. He stressed that “Wealth adds many friends, but a poor person is separated from his friend.” [Prov 19:4] He noted that when a poor person came into his presence with a problem, he was often by himself, but friends, family, and acquaintances were by his side if a wealthy person came in. So we wonder why because we often hear this saying: blood is thicker than water. What Solomon was seeing was that money or wealth was the contributing factor, not blood. He noted that it was selfishness on the part of those who were wealthy themselves in these cases. One author said that we as a people are inherently selfish, greedy and we think of self first and foremost.

Remember the rich man in Luke 16:19-31? He had no use for Lazarus in life, but in death, he requested he come and minister to him. How unlike our Jesus who said “I will never leave you and I will never abandon you.” [Heb 13:5]

You can tell a true friend because they stick with you through thick and thin. That is Jesus!

June 8, 2021June 8, 2021

Let God fill your post-it-notes with His plans

Does this picture remind you of your day?

Proverbs 16 reminds us of our days which are filled with the mundane. We make plans to go to the market, drop off some mail at the post office, make three healthy meals for our families, and do laundry that n.e.v.e.r. seems to end. Do we stop to ask the Lord what His plans would be for our day? Proverbs 16:1 and Proverbs 16:9 give us a new perspective. We have good intentions; we want to do these sundry tasks not just because they need to be done but because we have good heart motives. Yet here is the question; do we stop to rest in His sovereignty as the day unfolds, and the unplanned circumstance just happens? Are our hearts pure as well as our motives? Do we thank him and ask that He guard our tongue and direct our steps?

In between verses 1 and 9, which are bookends, we find some wise counsel. We might make our plans, but they are only established or made firm when we commit them to the Lord, for He alone works all things for His purposes, just as Romans 8:28 says. “we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

Our challenge is to begin each day asking the Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do today that will bring you honor.

June 7, 2021June 7, 2021

How to have a peaceful home

Proverbs 14 and 15 How to have a peaceful home

In our reading, we are learning the principle of choosing our words carefully for they reveal our heart. James noted that “The tongue represents the world of wrongdoing among the parts of our bodies. It pollutes the entire body and sets fire to the course of human existence—and is set on fire by hell.” [James 3:6] Solomon noted that “a joyful heart makes the face cheerful, but by a painful heart the spirit is broken.” [Prov 15:13] Yet, we are not left to our own for God has given us the indwelling Holy Spirit. “He will teach [us] everything and will cause [us] to remember everything [Jesus] said…” [Jn 14:26] If we listen carefully, we can hear him “behind [us], saying, “This is the correct way, walk in it,” [Is 30:21] Listen to counsel of Solomon on how to have a peaceful home.

14:1 Every wise woman has built her household, but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands. And 15:1 A gentle response turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath.

God has given us speech which we can choose to use for good or evil. Only the Holy Spirit can guide us in the paths of righteousness. Today listen for the Holy Spirit and choose how you will respond not just with words, but also your countenance for both, reflect your heart.

June 6, 2021June 6, 2021

Beware of the Winking Eye!

Proverbs 10 One can learn much from the eye. The Proverbs author reminds the reader that a winking eye or the shifty eye reveals a scheming person who seeks to move from thinking a terrible deed to executing that deed by signaling the plan to unscrupulous companions. The expression “winks the eye” refers to secret signs or hidden messages sent to an accomplice. As the king, David learned early on how to detect those who were using this hypocritical signal. He was aware of this strategy and prayed: “Do not let those who are wrongfully my enemies rejoice over me; Nor let those who hate me without cause wink maliciously.” [Ps 35:19]Solomon also noted this pattern and why he wrote this as wise counsel to his sons and others.

Why do we need to be wary of these patterns? He who winks the eye uses subtle or secretive means. In contrast, he who would be wise is thus forewarned and prepared against this hypocrisy. Those who are wise will learn to identify and avoid those persons.

Beware of these by befriending them so that you are secure in your integrity.

June 5, 2021June 5, 2021

Proverbs 7: How to raise a wise child

Prov 7 “Instruction Manual”

Recently an author wrote to young men/women about life after high school. It was interestingly similar to an instructional manual and could have come right out of Proverbs 7! To the gals: If a guy calls you at 2 AM to “hang out,” he is not boyfriend material! To guys and gals: go to church, not just because your parents instructed you to do it, but because it is there that God speaks, and you need to hear his voice. Now is the time to strengthen your relationship with God and follow his plan. To guys and gals: keep your morals and standards high. The author asked: Will it be challenging? Absolutely! Will you feel like the minority? Absolutely! Should you change to fit in? Absolutely not!

It is not a sin to be simple, but it is a sin to not grow from simpleton to maturity. “But solid food is for the mature, whose perceptions are trained by practice to discern both good and evil.” [Heb 5:24]

Be careful of becoming the fool: “Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways – do not wander into her pathways; for she has brought down many fatally wounded, and all those she has slain are many.” [Prov 7:25]The warning is clear. “when desire conceives, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is full-grown, it gives birth to death. Do not be led astray” [James 1:15]

Are you the parent of a simpleton because of their age or because of their naiveté? Increase your parenting skills.

June 4, 2021June 4, 2021

How to be wise!

Prov 5 There is an old saying, “loose lips sink ships.” Solomon wisely counseled his children to avoid that which seduces. It is tragic that later in Solomon’s life, his many wives turned his heart away from God. Seduction is one of Satan’s tools to disarm and destroy. He does it by twisting scripture, adding half-truths, or just offering what sounds and looks good. Yes, Solomon’s words have a profound warning ‘seductive words are smoother than olive oil.’ Eve was his first victim; King David was another. Will we add to his quiver with our lack of paying attention to these words of counsel? Solomon is offering to us the fruit of falling for Satan’s tools of seduction.

That leaves us with the question: How does one avoid being seduced as Eve was or as King David? First, we must be attentive to wisdom which is prudence in action. Secondly, we must pay close attention to the understanding of those who are wiser than us. Thirdly, we avoid Satan’s seduction by this counsel: ‘Guard your heart with all vigilance, for from it are the sources of life.’ [Pro 4:23] And “love God with all your heart, with all your mind, and with all your strength and love your neighbor as yourself.” [Mar 12:33]

Whose voice will you listen to today?

June 3, 2021June 3, 2021

The Path of the Righteous

Prov 1-3 The believer’s goal is to hear, “well done thou good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord.”

Goal 1: Learn/acquire wisdom. We want to learn wisdom so that our lives will be profitable and be found worthy of the judgment seat of Christ, where our works will face the refining fire.

Goal 2: Gain discernment or the ability to discriminate between that which is true and false. “But solid food is for the mature, whose perceptions are trained by practice to discern both good and evil.” [Heb 5]

These goals begin when we build on the foundation of the “fear of the Lord.” [Prov 1:7] In contrast, fools “despise wisdom and instruction.” Therefore they cannot be overcomers and are likened to the man in Jesus’ parable who built his house on the sand, and when life’s storms came, his home was destroyed. In contrast, the wise man built his house remained secure upon the rock.

Where are you in your quest to be a wise person? It all depends on your desire to persevere/persist in gaining wisdom and utilize it to scrutinize your every decision as we filter it through the Word of God so that we can run the race and earn the prize! It is a choice that God gave us. What will you do?

June 2, 2021June 2, 2021

A Picture of Christ’s love!

Song of Solomon Ch 1-8 The author, supposedly King Solomon, shares intimate details about his life as king, husband, lover, and friend. It may be that he recorded this as one would record a day in their diary. Many scholars differ on the intents and purposes of this letter. However, it is thus inspired by God:

“Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” [2Tim 3:16]

Many have seen to choose the phrase “his banner over me is love” to describe the groom’s intense love for his bride. “Now his banner over her was not, “Clean the house!” or “Try harder next time!”; instead, his banner over her was “LOVE!”

David Colburn sums up for us a perspective on this book in prayer: Lord, your love for those who have accepted Jesus as Lord is beyond any human comparison, but that is the best we can do as we attempt to comprehend it. May I praise you and rest in the encouragement and peace that comes from knowing that you love me with a passion unmatched anywhere in this world.

Do we have such intense love for Christ?

June 2, 2021June 2, 2021

“How to Meditate on God’s Word”

Psalm 119 Here is a simple method for reading and pondering the words of scripture. Begin with a series of questions. For example, in the first stanza of 119, there are just eight verses. Try asking, as you read, some or all of these questions.

Follow this example:

What words are repeated?
1. blessed
What attribute of God is noted?
1. God has ordained His precepts; therefore, God is worthy of our praise, for He is a God of order and design for men.
Is there a contrast or a comparison noted?
1. Those who follow in God’s footsteps are blessed. In contrast, those who do not are shamed.
Which synonyms are given?
1. Precepts, ordinances, law, statutes, commands
Is there a result from the psalmist meditation that you could apply to your life?
1. No shame comes to those who focus on God’s commands.
Is there a command that I need to obey?
1. Learn God’s just regulations, keep God’s statutes
Is there a challenge given?
1. I will keep God’s statutes.
Is there a plea to God for some area of his life to which you can relate?
1. Do not abandon me; pray that my heart is predisposed or steadfastly directed towards knowing and applying God’s precepts.
Is there a verse that I can take with me all day today?
1. [Pick your own]