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Worship the King

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I just got back from a long weekend in NYC. What a blessing that the Lord afforded me this trip! My travelling companions were my two sisters…another blessing. We’ve never had the opportunity to take a trip together. Many fun and special memories were created during our time together in The Big Apple. What did we do?

  • Took a carriage ride through Central Park
  • Went to Columbus Circle
  • Good Morning America
  • FAO Schwartz
  • The subway!
  • Battery Park
  • Staten Island Ferry
  • Statue of Liberty
  • Trinity Church
  • Ground Zero
  • New Amsterdam Theatre – Mary Poppins
  • Broadway and Times Square
  • Macy’s
  • Calvary Baptist Church on 57th
  • American Girl Store
  • Rockefeller Center
  • Top of the Rock
  • Saw the Empire State Bldg.
  • Radio City Music Hall
  • NBC Station
  • Plaza Hotel

One of the greatest blessings of our weekend was the opportunity to attend church on Sunday morning at Calvary Baptist. This church is right on the street and is ministering to the city in unbelievable ways. When we entered the doors we were greeted by members of the church. As the service started and the organ music swelled in that beautiful building we lifted our voices together and sang, O Worship the King. My heart overflowed. As we worshipped I thought to myself, “A huge city like New York City seems much smaller when you gather together with other believers to ‘worship the King.’

It is our privilege to travel and see the country, but it’s an even greater privilege to find a place of worship while we are away. What a God we serve!

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Always learning

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Recently while in the home of a family with school-aged children, the subject of school was brought up. The eleven year-old son spoke up, “Why did you have to ruin the night and talk abut that? I HATE school.” His father was quick to remind him that one will always be learning while they’re alive. Of course, the young son was not especially encouraged by this thought, but my mind has gone back to that conversation as I’ve studied Titus 2 this weekend.

Titus 2:11, 12 says, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness, and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.” It is by the grace of God that salvation is revealed to ALL men. Not all accept it. They have a volition and they either choose God’s grace gift, or refuse it. However, ALL that are saved are discipled by God’s grace. It is His grace that teaches us that we must deny ungodliness. This verb (“denying) emphasizes the firm resolve of the believer who heartily refuses to participate in the world system. It is by His grace that we can refuse it!

How do we continue to be sanctified, trained, and taught? This first thing is to live soberly. This means to be sensible; mentally stable and disciplined. Is this possible in today’s busy lifestyle? Yes! This word indicates that the Word of God is so well incorporated in the soul that the Christian’s standards of life are God’s standards. As we read the Word the Holy Spirit teaches us what we should do and not do. Instead of being directed by our feelings, the opinions of others, or some worldly philosophy, our directives are guided by the sensible mind that is disciplined enough to study the Word of God and obey it. We will find ourselves moving on steadily, growing in our Christian lives rather than jumping around “helter-sketler.”

May we allow the God that saved us to teach us today; to help our minds to be stable. Class starts as soon as you put your feet on the floor. Be encouraged – our Instructor gives us what we do not deserve (and what my 11 year-old friend wants from his teacher) – grace!

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The Foolish Woman’s Feet – part 2

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A godly friend is such a blessing. This is the person who is consistent in their walk with God. Even though they may be facing difficulties their faith is strong, they’re trusting in Him, talking about His goodness, and encouraging those around them with their life. This is a wise woman that will keep her eyes on the path before her; not being distracted from the right way, and drawing others to love the Lord more, not because of her lack of trials, but because of them. She is on the “upward way” and that’s where she takes others.

As we continue to look at the Foolish Woman we read in verses 25 and 27 of Proverbs 7 this warning: “Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.” Here is a reminder that we never sin alone. Anyone that would spend time with this woman is going to be taken downward, because that’s where her feet are leading her. One would not go away encouraged or strengthened. We know that we cannot lead anyone to a higher spiritual level than we are ourselves. Though this foolish woman is “religious” as we see in verse 13, we detect no form of godliness in her, therefore her feet are leading her astray. They can lead no other direction but downward.

Let’s “keep pressing on the upward way, new heights we’re gaining every day, still praying as we’re onward bound, ‘Lord, lead us on to higher ground.'”
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The Foolish Woman’s Feet – Part 1

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Have you ever felt overwhelmed when you look at your calendar and see the marks of all the places you must be in the next week? Of all the appointments, meetings, and plans that lie before you? Someone has wisely said. “beware of the barrenness of a busy life.”

A person can be running all day long and not really accomplish anything worthwhile. We see this example in Proverbs 7:11b-12 “her (the foolish woman’s) feet abide not in her house: Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.” As we watch the foolish woman in this part of the passage we see that she is stirred up. She’s running here, then there. Her feet do not stay in her own home. How will she accomplish what needs to be done there? As we talked about yesterday, she doesn’t accomplish anything there and now we see another reason why. This woman has a home, but she is not a keeper of it. She has a husband, she may have children, but that’s not her focus. She’s here and then there, always having to be involved in activities.

Our culture feeds this kind of frenzied life. Has it caught you up into it? Do you find yourself just always having to have something to do? Do you find yourself discontent at home? There’s nothing wrong with wholesome activities, but if we have to be doing something, our restlessness may be covering up a foolish heart.

In Proverbs 31 we find the virtuous woman going out and doing things, so what’s the difference between her and the foolish woman? When the virtuous woman is out of her home she’s looking for ways to benefit and serve her family, or the place in which God has given her to serve. Her priority is to bless her husband and children.

Proverbs 14:8 “The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way.” As we consider our way today, let’s ask the Lord if our busyness is due to wisdom – or from foolishness instead.