January 14th deliberatePeople. post by Phil and Heather Joel + today's dP reading schedule:

Genesis 30:1-31:21 / Matthew 10:1-26 / Psalm 12:1-8 / 3:13-15

Standout verse:

Proverbs 3:13

“Happy is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding.  For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver and her gain more than fine gold.  She is more precious than rubies, and all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.”

Wisdom (i.e. knowledge and understanding of “who God is” and “how” He wants us to live) is a big deal to God.  In fact, the Bible says ”nothing compares to her” (wisdom).  True, Godly, wisdom (which stands in direction to the empty, finite wisdom the world offers) can only be found when we have a growing relationship with the Lord.  It’s through that relationship that He is able to pour out His wisdom upon us so we will be strong and well-equipped to walk out our life.  He deeply desires to “show us great and marvelous things we don’t know on our own” (Jeremiah 33:3).  Knowing that makes me happy!

January 13th deliberatePeople. post by Phil and Heather Joel + today's dP reading schedule:

Genesis 28:1-29:35 / Matthew 9:18-38 / Psalm 11:1-7 / Proverbs 3:11-12

Standout verse:
Proverbs 3:11-12
“My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor detest His correction; for whom the Lord loves, He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights.”

From a parent’s perspective, loving our children means being focused on shaping, guiding, disciplining and training them up to be passionate lovers of God, who walk in His ways and live for Him.  Parenting is a full-time job!  It requires our full attention and commitment to consistency if we hope to do our job well. 

Earthly parenting is a great parallel to our relationship with God - our heavenly Father.  He sees us (His children), much the same as we see our own children.  If He didn’t love us, He wouldn’t bother to correct us.  He corrects us so we will grow, mature and become the person He created us to be.  So next time we are in the hot seat of the Lord’s correction, let us not resist, but realize that it is because of our Father’s deep love for us that He wants to bring us out of our sin and error into a place of maturity and freedom.

January 12th deliberatePeople. post by Phil and Heather Joel + today's dP reading schedule:

Genesis 27:1-27:46 / Matthew 9:1-17 / Psalm 10:6-18 / Proverbs 3:9-10

Standout verse:

Proverbs 3:9-10
“Honor the Lord with all your possessions and with the first fruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty and you vats will overflow with new wine.”

When we recognize that our Father God is our ultimate provider (not ourselves, not others), we will joyfully lift up our first fruits recognizing that it is the Lord supplies us with all we need.  When we tithe, we are saying, “Lord, I acknowledge You as my true source and provider.  I praise You for Your abundant blessing in my life.  This offering of the first fruits of my labor is not only a thank offering, but further says, I trust in You Lord and I want my life to be under the covering of Your mighty hand.”

God promises that, as we put our finances before Him and faithfully tithe 10% of our increase (income), He will provide for us and bless us with plenty – our barns will be full and our vats overflowing (financially as well as spiritually).  God promises to give us over and above what we need.

January 11th deliberatePeople. post by Phil and Heather Joel + today's dP reading schedule:

Genesis 25:1-26:35 / Matthew 8:18-34 / Psalm 10:1-5 / Proverbs 3:7-8

Standout verse:

Proverbs 3:7-8

“Do not be wise in your own eyes.  Fear the Lord and depart from evil.  It will be health to your flesh and strength to your bones.”

Don’t “go it” alone.  Don’t be the “one in charge”.  We are fading flesh, our minds are small and finite compared to the vast, omnipotent mind of God.  When we place our trust and our lives in God’s all-powerfuhands and lean upon Him with yielded hearts that are in full pursuit of a relationship with Him, it will be health to our flesh and strength to our bones.

January 10th deliberatePeople. post by Phil and Heather Joel + today's dP reading schedule:

Genesis 23:1-24:67 / Matthew 8:1-17 / Psalm 9:13-20 / Proverbs 3:1-6

Standout verse:

Proverbs 3:5-6

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight.”

As we feed on the truth (the Bible), we will know the Lord more and more deeply.  As we seek to meet Him consistently, we will begin to trust in the Him with all our hearts.  This comes from spending time with Him, acknowledging Him (knowing Him), and being in a relationship with Him.  When we know the truth about God, it sets us free because we will learn to truly trust Him.

Let us not “lean on our own understanding”. That is, let us not separate our “regular life” from our “spiritual life”.  The two can’t be separated.  It’s wrong to ask the Lord to help us in areas that we think He might know more that us in and then say, “I got this one God” in the areas we decide to control.  That’s not the way God works.

Rather, in all our ways (every decision, every choice, every opportunity) seek the Lord.  He promises that He will direct our path!

When you haven’t been living this way, it will be challenging at first, but know that God is for you and He promises that as you press in to Him, He will give you strength.