540. Bill & Judy's Monthly Ministry Update (#14) - April 26, 2024

[00:00:06] Welcome to Wisdom Today. My name is Bill Kelley and I'll be your host. In this podcast we will be exploring the book of Proverbs.

[00:00:15] Soak in prayer today. Father God, we thank you for all your blessings. We thank you for this day. We thank you for your love for sending Jesus.

[00:00:30] We thank you that the word that we're going to listen to and read and hear together, that it's a light to our feet and a lamp to our path and we give you praise. In Jesus' name, amen.

[00:00:41] This is Proverbs 26 beginning in verse one.

[00:00:46] As snow in summer and rain and harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool, like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, so a curse without cause shall not alight.

[00:01:01] A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey and a rod for the fool's back. Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.

[00:01:19] He who sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence, like the legs of the lame that hang limp is a proverb in the mouth of fools. Like one who binds a stone in a sling is he who gives honor to a fool.

[00:01:40] Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools. The great God who formed everything gives the fool his hire and the transgressor his wages.

[00:01:55] As a dog returns to his own vomit, so a fool repeats his folly. Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

[00:02:07] The lazy man says, there is a lion in the road. A fierce lion is in the streets. As a door turns on its hinges, so does the lazy man on his bed. The lazy man buries his hand in the bowl. It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.

[00:02:28] The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly. He who passes by and meddles in a quirl, not his own, is like one who takes a dog by the ears. Like a mad man who throws firebrands, arrows and death is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, I was only joking.

[00:02:51] Where there is no wood, the fire goes out. And where there is no tail bearer, strife ceases. As charcoal is to burning coals and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindle strife. The words of a tail bearer are like tasty trifles, and they go down into the inmost body.

[00:03:15] Fervent lips with a wicked heart are like earthenware covered with silver dross. He who hates disguises it with his lips and lays up deceit within himself. When he speaks kindly, do not believe him for there are seven abominations in his heart. Though his hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness will be revealed before the assembly.

[00:03:42] Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him. A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it, and a flattering mouth works ruin.

[00:03:59] And was there a particular verse that spoke to you today that you'd like to share?

[00:04:05] Verse 27 says, whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.

[00:04:12] And that just speaks to me that you need to not look at, it just makes me think of Haman and how he built the gallows to hang Mordecai.

[00:04:24] And he ended up hanging on it, that when you judge other people, hate other people, try to snare other people, that's going to come back on you.

[00:04:34] Yeah, it sure will. Anything else that you would like to add?

[00:04:39] No, but I'd like to ask you what is your scripture for the day?

[00:04:42] Well, I'm going to talk about verses 18 and 19. It says, like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, I was only joking.

[00:04:59] Friends, I really think the type of relationship we have with our neighbors is very important.

[00:05:06] And I don't like this deceit that they're talking about here.

[00:05:11] I don't like the idea of playing tricks or trying to do April Fool's jokes with neighbors.

[00:05:19] We should let our neighbors know, our neighbors should know the type of people that we are, that we're Christians.

[00:05:27] They should know that they can be honest with us, they can trust us not to do things like that.

[00:05:35] So that's the one that spoke to me today.

[00:05:38] And, hon, you know, it has been a while since we've last met, but really it's been a pretty quiet month.

[00:05:45] I think of all the months that we've done this, this is probably the most quiet.

[00:05:51] Really nothing has been going on out of the ordinary.

[00:05:55] We were able to take a brief five-day trip to Myrtle Beach and we took two of the grandkids with us.

[00:06:02] So I'd like for you just basically to give one or two takeaways from that trip that you really enjoyed the most and why you are glad we went on that trip.

[00:06:15] Well, my takeaways are it's always great to have time to spend with the grandchildren.

[00:06:22] And they were, they're the two middle ones, so we don't get to spend a lot of time alone with them.

[00:06:30] And that was really nice to be able to just have a little bit more time with them individually instead of all the kids together at once.

[00:06:40] And you just realize how quickly the time passes, the older one she's getting more into friends now.

[00:06:48] And it's just really special to be able to spend time with the grandkids.

[00:06:53] And now my grandson the other day when I came to the house, he just, he and I opened the door.

[00:06:58] He goes, do you, do I love you?

[00:07:01] And it's just so precious to have them react to you like that.

[00:07:06] You know, it's always good.

[00:07:08] And, you know, I am thinking that we're getting ready to take two trips.

[00:07:14] And, you know, before we went to Keras when we took trips, I really didn't think about the possibility that it is like a mission trip.

[00:07:24] But I am viewing these trips that we're going to be taking as mission trips.

[00:07:30] So anyway, I like the idea of expecting good things to happen on these trips.

[00:07:37] And, you know, it kind of brings me back to our mission trip last year when we went to Alaska in March.

[00:07:44] And of course there we had an agenda.

[00:07:48] But here when I look at this as a cruise, my idea is this that every morning when you get out of bed before we get out of bed,

[00:07:58] I would just simply say a prayer.

[00:08:00] Father God put someone in my path today that we can be an example to and that we can share the love of God with.

[00:08:09] And I think if you pray that on a daily basis, I believe God is going to bring people into our path during this cruise

[00:08:19] that we're going to be able to witness to and also share the good news with.

[00:08:24] What are your thoughts on that?

[00:08:26] I think it's good everywhere you go. You need to be an example of how Christ is and just to show His love to everyone that you meet.

[00:08:35] So, and I think you do that in many different ways just by kind words, smiles.

[00:08:42] When things happen along the way that could be frustrating, you are able to take things in stride and not get upset about it.

[00:08:51] To think of other people first instead of yourself, to be generous and courteous to people who wait on you.

[00:08:59] All those kind of things.

[00:09:02] And I also think it's important how we treat each other.

[00:09:06] And people are looking at us.

[00:09:09] I think people look at people all the time.

[00:09:12] And a lot of times you don't really think that it's that big a deal, but it is always nice when you're with someone and looking at someone.

[00:09:23] And people are really, I don't know, it's almost like, wow, they're in love.

[00:09:28] And you know, when people, couples treat each other that way, you notice them.

[00:09:36] And I think we have an opportunity to do that.

[00:09:39] And I look forward to that.

[00:09:41] But gosh, it's always gracious.

[00:09:43] It's always good to be gracious, to be kind, to be loving in any situation.

[00:09:48] And you always have an opportunity to be friendly and to show the love of God in any situation, in any conversation, anytime you meet any single person.

[00:09:59] And I am looking forward to that.

[00:10:02] And then we're also going to be taking a trip later this summer back to Europe, which we haven't been in a while.

[00:10:09] And I'm looking at that at the same way because I know in Europe a lot of people do not know the Lord.

[00:10:17] And I am looking at opportunities and my expectations are really quite high.

[00:10:23] So what are your thoughts about going to Europe as well?

[00:10:27] I definitely as a mission field.

[00:10:30] So one thing that would be interesting is the language barrier, just being able to communicate.

[00:10:39] But you communicate with people with more than words.

[00:10:42] So I know that when we were in Italy and we were trying to explain to someone who didn't speak English, we use a lot of hand gestures.

[00:10:52] And he totally got what we were talking about.

[00:10:54] So you can communicate in a lot of different ways.

[00:10:58] You know, it's we haven't been to Italy.

[00:11:01] I was thinking about it since 2006.

[00:11:04] So it has been 18 years since we have been to Europe.

[00:11:09] So I am really looking forward to that.

[00:11:12] And my idea of Europe, I want to go see castles.

[00:11:16] I want to go see cathedrals.

[00:11:18] And we are hoping to go to Austria as well because I really would like for you to see the countryside.

[00:11:24] Hopefully we will be able to spend one or two like excursions in Austria.

[00:11:30] Because one week we are actually going to be staying in Italy at the other week in Hungary.

[00:11:36] So we are not actually spending a night in Austria.

[00:11:40] So I am hoping to take day trips and hopefully just even if it is just for an hour or two,

[00:11:46] I really would like for you to see how beautiful Austria is.

[00:11:51] So anyway, I am looking forward to going to Hungary.

[00:11:55] And I have not been to Hungary before.

[00:11:57] And you know the idea of going to Budapest, which I've heard many good things about.

[00:12:02] So anyway, it's going to be a treat and I'm really really looking forward to that.

[00:12:07] So anything else that is on your heart right now that you'd like to share with the audience?

[00:12:14] Well I think that I've just been thinking a lot about what's happening in our society.

[00:12:21] And just all the cultural shifts that have happened and how important it is to really be in tune with God

[00:12:32] and to put Him first, put Him first and everything.

[00:12:35] It's what the First Commandment says.

[00:12:37] Put God first and that we just really need to practice that every single day and to think about that.

[00:12:45] And God over everything else and no other God but Him.

[00:12:49] Yeah, you know when you think about the Ten Commandments and they're really not that difficult.

[00:12:55] You know there's Ten Commandments, you know, they shall not steal and kill and commit adultery.

[00:13:01] You know all these things basically we're thinking about other people, you know, as well.

[00:13:08] And we're not thinking about ourselves but we're thinking about being kind to other people.

[00:13:14] And if we do that, of course the Bible says love your neighbor.

[00:13:19] Love God, love your neighbor and if you treat people well and love them

[00:13:24] you will not be breaking any of these Ten Commandments.

[00:13:29] Anything else that you'd like to share that God has on your heart?

[00:13:33] Well, I'm just thankful.

[00:13:35] Thankful for His love, thankful for my family, thankful for everything that He's given us.

[00:13:43] And I'm just thankful.

[00:13:46] You know it's so easy to not be thankful.

[00:13:51] But you know there's a passage in Scripture you know and they were not thankful.

[00:13:56] And you know it's hard to really be a solid Christian and living an abundant life

[00:14:04] unless you are thankful.

[00:14:07] We need to be thankful, we need to be humble and we need to be gracious and kind.

[00:14:14] I sit there and think of Galatians chapter 5 and talk about the fruit of the Spirit.

[00:14:20] And friends, once you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior

[00:14:26] those automatically come to you.

[00:14:30] They are part of who you are and it's just a matter of drawing them out.

[00:14:36] We can be kind to people.

[00:14:39] We can be forgiving towards people.

[00:14:43] Even if we don't want to do that, we have the power because the Holy Spirit dwells inside of us.

[00:14:53] Right.

[00:14:54] Yep, the Holy Spirit without Him, without Jesus we can do nothing.

[00:14:59] So we rely on the Holy Spirit.

[00:15:03] The Holy Spirit is the teacher you know and you know I just highly encourage people to continue

[00:15:11] to get into the Word of God.

[00:15:13] And I know I don't talk about that all the time if you listen to this podcast on a regular basis.

[00:15:19] But friends, reading the Bible should be every bit as important to you as eating a regular meal every day.

[00:15:27] It's important that you get into the Word of God and if you truly want to become more and more like Jesus

[00:15:35] we need to know more about Him.

[00:15:37] We need to know what His nature is and who He was when He was on earth.

[00:15:43] And of course we can find that out by looking for red letters in the Bible.

[00:15:48] Of course if you go to the four Gospels they're full of red letters.

[00:15:53] Those are the words that Jesus spoke while He was on earth.

[00:15:56] And we should always pay a little bit more attention to red letters than regular black letters.

[00:16:03] Your thoughts on that?

[00:16:04] Well I agree.

[00:16:07] The red letters are important and all of it's important.

[00:16:10] I'm really enjoying reading through the Bible this year again.

[00:16:14] And that's what I would suggest.

[00:16:17] You know every time you read through the Bible something new comes about.

[00:16:22] It's not the same thing.

[00:16:24] You read it and you think wow, that happened?

[00:16:28] I don't remember reading that before and yet you did another time.

[00:16:32] But there's just so much to read.

[00:16:34] And it's just really such a blessing that we have the Word of God.

[00:16:39] Many people before us did not.

[00:16:42] And that we're able to actually sit down and read it.

[00:16:45] It's just truly a blessing.

[00:16:48] You know we can learn so much through the people in the Bible and the mistakes that they made.

[00:16:54] And you know we often find ourselves being critical of the mistakes that people made in the Bible.

[00:17:01] But you know whenever I am tempted to do that it just reminds me of humanity

[00:17:08] and how basically we all fall short of the glory of God.

[00:17:13] And you know when you think about Peter denying Jesus three times

[00:17:18] you think about Judas Ascariot.

[00:17:20] You know even he went back and tried to give the 30 pieces of silver back

[00:17:27] and said I've made a mistake.

[00:17:29] You know I've done this.

[00:17:31] Even he tried to redo what he had done.

[00:17:35] And you know there's just so many good stories in the Bible.

[00:17:40] You know all the good stories, everything.

[00:17:44] It doesn't matter Old Testament, New Testament.

[00:17:47] Every single book is important.

[00:17:50] And there's a reason why every single book is in the Bible.

[00:17:54] Your thoughts on that?

[00:17:55] Well it doesn't sugarcoat things.

[00:17:57] It really doesn't.

[00:17:58] It just tells it like it is.

[00:17:59] Brutally honest you know I read some things and I think wow

[00:18:03] I wouldn't have put that in there probably if I had written it or if I were God.

[00:18:08] I would have want people knowing that about me but yet here they are.

[00:18:14] These stories of the great failures of people and the great successes

[00:18:19] and the great love that they had for God too.

[00:18:23] Well that's really good and here we are now friends it's going to be about five weeks before we come back.

[00:18:30] We're not going to be back until I believe it's a 29th of May.

[00:18:34] So anyway what I'd like for you to do Han if you would is just go ahead

[00:18:39] and just give your thoughts for anyone who has not yet received Jesus

[00:18:45] and why they need to do that and then close us in prayer.

[00:18:50] Well I know many people have questions and God does not mind questions.

[00:18:55] I just think that if you have questions take them to God

[00:19:00] and ask him and he will answer.

[00:19:02] God does not turn his back on anyone who is trying to seek him out.

[00:19:08] I would say that if you don't know God and you don't have Jesus in your life

[00:19:13] you've never accepted him that you're really missing out,

[00:19:16] missing out on a peace that no matter what happens in life

[00:19:20] you got this peace inside of your heart that will see you through things.

[00:19:25] So if there's anyone out there that's never accepted Christ just repeat this prayer after me.

[00:19:31] Father God I thank you for sending Jesus.

[00:19:34] I thank you that he died on the cross for my sins and that he rose from the dead.

[00:19:39] I ask forgiveness.

[00:19:41] I want to walk with you.

[00:19:43] I want you to lead me.

[00:19:45] I want you to guide me.

[00:19:46] I want that peace in my heart and I thank you for coming into my heart

[00:19:50] and I vow this day forward to live for you in Jesus' name. Amen.

[00:19:56] Thanks son.

[00:19:57] It's so good and welcome to the family of God who ever said that prayer.

[00:20:01] Now may the Lord bless you and keep you.

[00:20:05] The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you.

[00:20:09] The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

[00:20:14] Friends, this is the weekend.

[00:20:16] Take out your kids.

[00:20:18] Have a good time with your spouse.

[00:20:20] Let them know how much God loves them and how much you love them.

[00:20:24] And I will see you back on Monday morning as we further explore wisdom today.