Todays Walk With the Lord: Proverbs 17:12

Good Morning,

 

Proverbs 17:12 states: “It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than to meet a fool doing foolish things”.

 

This scripture caught my attention due to the blatant nature of the words. The message is saying that it is better to meet a bear who will most likely attack you and try to kill you because they are searching for their cubs and are very upset than to face a foolish person doing something foolish.

 

A foolish person doing something foolish could have many different outcomes, but I feel the intention of the message is that we have no clue what a fool will end up doing and what may happen to those around them when they are doing foolish things. Sadly, often the fool, themselves, has no way of knowing how the outcome is going to come about.

 

That is, it is potentially more dangerous to meet up with someone who is doing what they know to be foolish, and doing it anyway than to face an angry animal who you know is going to look to hurt you.

 

Knowing that you will be attacked gives you a chance to prepare your actions and responses. With the fool, you have no way to prepare because you have no way to know what may happen.

 

It is then safer to avoid them and the chaos they bring to our lives.

 

And if you are the fool, being foolish, maybe it is time to stop, if not anything more than to save yourself from the hardships you give to yourself and those around you.

 

I know in my past I have done some pretty foolish things, some downright mean things. I am happy that the Lord has forgiven my sins, but in addition, I am happy that the Lord has allowed me to be a more learned man and spend less time being the fool, doing foolish things.

 

Learning is a great tool to defeat the fool in us all.

 

Enjoy!

 

Sanford Berenberg

sanford@berenberg.net   

www.berenberg.net

Today's Walk With The Lord - Look to the Lord

Good Morning,

 

I have always wondered why Moses was truly denied entrance into the Promised Land.

 

Over the course of my life I had learned it was because he hit a rock with his walking staff, and God became angry with him. This just did not sit right with me. After all Moses did for the Israelites, I thought there would be some wiggle room given to Moses for over 40 years of service.

 

Part of my daily Bible reading is reading ‘Experiencing God, Day by Day’. Henry and Richard Blackaby have been great guides to help me get closer to God.

 

On the May 11th reading, it was explained that Moses had repeatedly not followed God’s commands and after each time, he had a price to pay. When he told God he could not talk to the people, he disobeyed God and as punishment he had to speak through Aaron. After 40 years, he continued to have to speak through Aaron.

 

Moses was frequently frustrated by the Israelites and their stiff necked, hardened hearts. Even after seeing God in action, the pillar of fire, the walls of water, the plagues, etc., these people still had doubts and fears.

 

Instead of looking to the Lord at these times, Moses gave into his temper and acted on his on, and in not in God’s way.

 

I now understand why Moses was denied entrance into the Promised Land.

 

More importantly, I understand where I must look whenever I get frustrated. When I get angry I should not vent, but rather take it to the Lord and look to him.

 

In looking to the Lord is the answer. I felt this truly last Saturday when I prayed for 30 minutes straight. I was floating on air at the end. I never realized the power of Prayer on me as I prayed for others.

 

It all makes sense, we need to look to the Lord for everything!

 

Enjoy!

 

Sanford Berenberg

sanford@berenberg.net

www.berenberg.net

 

 

Today's Walk: Colossians 3:23

Good Morning,

 

Colossian’s 3:23 says:

 

“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.”

 

There are times in my life when I really do not want to do something or the task at hand is dragging and I just want to get it over with. I suspect that I am not alone in those feelings.

 

Maybe if I just cut a few corners and shave off a little time, no one will notice. I used to think that and even though I know God and his nature, I would forget that while there was no one watching, God was watching. When no one seemed to care, God was there caring.

 

If I am going to do a sloppy job, then God will know.

 

If I get that feeling of trying to push something off to the side and do less than my best, I will stop and remember that I am doing this for the glory of God, not just for my boss or someone other person.

 

God deserves our best, and we should strive to give it to God each and every time.

 

It is hard to perform at our best each and every day, but remember, it is our intentions and desires which fuel our activities. If we intend to short change someone, then we intend to short change God. If we intend to give our best, then we do this for God and He will know.

 

Also, doing our best does not mean nose to the grindstone all the time, 110% effort, running around with your head cut off insanity 24/7. It means, right here, right now, what is the best you can do? Give it our best, but don’t push it over the line where we risk a heart attack, pulled muscles or migraine headaches. Our best is not a static level of performance, it is the best we can do at any given moment. For example, when I wake up, my best is not nearly as good as when I am wide awake in the afternoon.

 

Doing our best is a combination of physical, mental and spiritual effort which is intended to glorify God.

 

So when you next think to slack off. Remember who is watching.

 

Enjoy!

 

Sanford Berenberg

sanford@berenberg.net

www.berenberg.net

 

 

 

Bible quotes from ‘Experiencing God Day By Day’ by Henry T. Blackaby and Richard Blackaby.