715. Bill & Judy's Monthly Ministry Update (#22) - December 27, 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.

[00:00:23] Let's open in prayer today. Father God, thank you. Thank you for this year that we've had. Lord, you've given us so many blessings. We just want to be grateful and thankful.

[00:00:34] That's all we can do is to say thanks to you. We love you, Heavenly Father. Bless this podcast today and bless everyone who's listening. In Jesus' name, Amen.

[00:00:45] Today we're reading Proverbs 27 beginning with verse 1.

[00:00:49] Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth. Let another man praise you and not your own mouth, a stranger and not your own lips.

[00:01:01] A stone is heavy and sand is weighty, but a fool's wrath is heavier than both of them. Wrath is cruel and anger a torrent, but who is able to stand before jealousy?

[00:01:16] Open rebuke is better than love, carefully concealed.

[00:01:21] Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. A satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb,

[00:01:30] but to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

[00:01:35] Like a bird that wanders from its nest is a man who wanders from his place.

[00:01:42] Ointment and perfume delight the heart, and the sweetness of a man's friend gives delight by hearty counsel.

[00:01:49] Do not forsake your own friend or your father's friend, nor go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity.

[00:01:59] Better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.

[00:02:03] My son, be wise and make my heart glad that I may answer him who reproaches me.

[00:02:11] A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself. The simple pass on and are punished.

[00:02:18] Take the garment of him who is surety for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he is surety for a seductress.

[00:02:27] He who blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it will be counted a curse to him.

[00:02:35] A continual dripping on a very rainy day, and a contentious woman are alike.

[00:02:42] Whoever restrains her restrains the wind, and grasps oil with his right hand.

[00:02:49] As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

[00:02:56] Whoever keeps the fig tree will eat its fruit.

[00:02:59] So he who waits on his master will be honored.

[00:03:03] As in water, face reflects face.

[00:03:07] So a man's heart reveals the man.

[00:03:10] Hell and destruction are never full.

[00:03:13] So the eyes of man are never satisfied.

[00:03:16] The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold.

[00:03:21] And a man is valued by what others may say of him.

[00:03:25] Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain,

[00:03:31] yet his foolishness will not depart from him.

[00:03:35] Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, and attend to your herds.

[00:03:41] For riches are not forever.

[00:03:43] Nor does a crown endure to all generations.

[00:03:48] When the hay is removed, and the tender grass shows itself,

[00:03:52] and the herbs of the mountains are gathered in,

[00:03:54] the lambs will provide your clothing, and the goats the price of a field.

[00:04:00] You shall have enough goat's milk for your food,

[00:04:03] for the food of your household, and the nourishment of your maidservants.

[00:04:10] Well, today, what scripture spoke to you, Bill?

[00:04:12] Well, as we close out the year, I really want to focus on verse 17.

[00:04:17] And verse 17 is one I often make reference to on my daily podcast.

[00:04:23] It says,

[00:04:23] As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

[00:04:30] And this is one of the most really important verses, I think, in the Bible.

[00:04:35] We need to have one or two good Christian friends that we can rely on,

[00:04:43] regardless of when it is.

[00:04:45] Any time of the day, any time,

[00:04:49] sometimes we have need of someone who will pray for us.

[00:04:53] And it's got to be somebody other than your spouse.

[00:04:57] Of course, your spouse is going to be your best friend.

[00:04:59] But it's important to have someone of the same sex that you can go and seek counsel from.

[00:05:07] Your thoughts on that, hun?

[00:05:09] Well, yeah.

[00:05:10] I think the first person I think of is you praying for me,

[00:05:14] because we're together all the time.

[00:05:16] And then I think of my sisters next.

[00:05:18] I've got two, and my daughter, who I think about calling.

[00:05:21] And any time that I want prayer, that's who I reach out to, now that mother's gone.

[00:05:26] And which verse would you like to talk about today?

[00:05:29] Well, I think because we're ending the year, this is kind of says,

[00:05:34] be diligent to know the state of your flocks and attend to your herds for riches are not forever.

[00:05:39] I think a lot of us make New Year's resolutions about things, lose weight,

[00:05:45] be more diligent in our Bible reading, be more diligent in our finances, get things in order.

[00:05:54] And I think that that's what that's talking about is that we just need to be diligent and know the state of our affairs

[00:06:01] and watch over the things that God has so abundantly given us.

[00:06:05] You know, and that's really good.

[00:06:07] And, you know, I have just finished a study on scripture verses that can guide your life,

[00:06:14] because I know there are times when people tune in for the first time.

[00:06:19] And I know there are people who listen to this podcast from time to time that, you know, aren't really reading scripture on a regular basis.

[00:06:26] And I think it's important that we know at least some scripture verses that when Satan comes and tries to attack us,

[00:06:34] that we have an answer and we can battle back to him and don't just let him eat our lunch, so to speak.

[00:06:41] So anyway, as we close out the year, I kind of like to go over four things.

[00:06:45] You know, I often do a monthly portion of our podcast on places that we've been.

[00:06:53] So now we are recapping the entire 2024 year.

[00:06:58] And I think back of what we've accomplished, where we've been.

[00:07:02] We went, we took my first cruise this year in May and we did Nassau, the Bahamas,

[00:07:08] and we went to Bimini, the Bahamas.

[00:07:10] And then we also took a trip to Europe, which was fantastic.

[00:07:14] We saw five countries.

[00:07:15] We had a great time.

[00:07:17] I know we've talked about that on a couple podcasts.

[00:07:19] But later in the year, we actually went to Cape Cod for four days and visited there.

[00:07:25] And that was wonderful.

[00:07:27] And then we also took our, you know, our yearly trip to Branson, had a good time.

[00:07:33] And then we also went to Tulsa for a while.

[00:07:35] So, you know, as usual, we've done quite a bit of traveling and traveling is just so important.

[00:07:41] I know it is for me and I believe it is for you too.

[00:07:45] We have seen all 50 states.

[00:07:47] You know, we've been to Europe twice now.

[00:07:49] There's a third time we've been to Europe and we've also been to Australia.

[00:07:53] So, Hun, just looking back at this year, what would you just like to say are the highlights of what we did this year?

[00:08:01] Well, I think God has truly blessed us to be able to take trips like this.

[00:08:06] And for me, I wouldn't have seen half of the trips or seen half of the things I've seen or gone on the trips I've gone on if it weren't for Bill.

[00:08:15] Because he's the one that really kind of pushes that direction.

[00:08:18] He loves to drive.

[00:08:20] So he's able to get us places.

[00:08:22] And when we were in Europe, he did all the driving and that turned out that we saw a lot because of that.

[00:08:28] If we didn't, if we had not had a car, we would not have seen anything like what we saw.

[00:08:34] So, you know, that's a real blessing that he likes to do that.

[00:08:38] Yeah, you know, and you know, when I think back on this year, you know, some, you know, it's it.

[00:08:43] I often hear this question when we let people know we've been on a trip is what did you like most?

[00:08:48] And, you know, one thing I really feel about leaving the leaving our place here is whenever we leave.

[00:08:56] I like every place we go.

[00:08:58] I really do.

[00:08:59] I like to try to stay in the moment.

[00:09:01] I try to, you know, just live life day by day, whether we're here or whether we're on vacation.

[00:09:09] But, you know, when you go to places, just try to be friendly to people.

[00:09:13] You know, try to see if you can maybe pray for people and use every trip, every time you leave the house as a ministry opportunity.

[00:09:23] Your thoughts on that, hun?

[00:09:25] Yes, I, when we did go to Europe, we did pray for a few people.

[00:09:29] And I know even on the cruise, you were able to speak to some people.

[00:09:32] So that was good.

[00:09:34] Yeah, I believe that it's just the way we interact with people.

[00:09:39] And that's just been a blessing.

[00:09:42] So we've also had guests in our house this year, and that was really fun.

[00:09:47] Had a couple of really close friends, a teacher friend of mine and also a lady that we went to Karis Bible College with.

[00:09:56] That was a lot of fun to have her here.

[00:09:58] And then we had some visitors from Nassau, too, who came to see us and they were from school.

[00:10:05] So those were just great little visits that we had throughout the year.

[00:10:10] You know, what I really would like to try to encourage everyone listening today is make your home available to people.

[00:10:18] And not just necessarily your friends.

[00:10:21] I mean, they can be people you don't even know.

[00:10:23] But I mean, we are to be hospitable.

[00:10:26] And one of the things that the Bible teaches us and that we should learn as Christians is, you know, be kind to people.

[00:10:34] I mean, if you see someone, I mean, invite them over, you know, or invite them over to, you know, maybe just have a meal.

[00:10:41] And it's okay to do that.

[00:10:43] But I really think a home should be somewhere where please, please, people are welcome.

[00:10:49] Right.

[00:10:50] And, you know, we've had a Bible study this year, too.

[00:10:54] And people enter our home for that.

[00:10:56] And so that's that's really good, too, because the more you get to be with people, the better friends you become.

[00:11:03] And and that's really important, too, because we haven't lived here that long, a couple of years.

[00:11:08] But it's you know, it's it's not always easy to make good friends.

[00:11:14] But the lady across the street is my friend.

[00:11:17] And of course, I have my family close by.

[00:11:19] So that that's really good.

[00:11:22] And the state of the yard bill, you you spend he spends really an enormous amount of time.

[00:11:28] We have a half acre.

[00:11:29] He loves to play out in the yard.

[00:11:32] He I just leave him alone, really, except I sometimes complain a little bit about the dirt that comes in the house with him.

[00:11:40] But but he really enjoys just playing with the flowers, separating them, making new plants out of them.

[00:11:47] And it's very excited every time he sees a new flower.

[00:11:50] You know, and it's I kind of look at my garden as the Garden of Eden.

[00:11:56] And I kind of cannot help but think in the book of Genesis when, you know, God walked with Adam in the garden, you know, and he just communed with God.

[00:12:06] And, you know, I'm not playing golf nearly as much.

[00:12:10] Many of you probably don't know that I actually on one podcast stated that God had mentioned to me that I had put golf above him and he told me he didn't want me to, you know, make such an idol out of the game of golf.

[00:12:25] And so I'm not playing golf nearly as much as I used to.

[00:12:29] And because of that, a lot of my time that I'm seeking God is now in the yard.

[00:12:35] And so a lot of times I pray over the plants in the yard.

[00:12:40] I do that.

[00:12:41] I love to water them pretty much all the time.

[00:12:44] I try to water at least four or five days a week because we live in Florida.

[00:12:48] It's not like a lot of people listening to this podcast who may be in Colorado still.

[00:12:55] That have snow on the ground.

[00:12:57] And, you know, when winter comes, you just shut down for four months and you don't think about the yard.

[00:13:02] But I mean, right now, here we are December 27th and it's 75 degrees outside.

[00:13:08] So azaleas are blooming and the hibiscus still get flowers.

[00:13:12] So, you know, so anyway, I was going to talk about our final point is our review of our ministry.

[00:13:20] And pretty much Judy makes a point of mentioning that her primary ministry is taking care of the grandkids.

[00:13:27] So, you know, I'd kind of like to just take a step back as we finish 2024 and take stock of this year with our children, with our grandchildren.

[00:13:39] And, you know, just give a summation of your thoughts.

[00:13:43] You know, the grandkids just keep growing up and they grow like weeds.

[00:13:47] You know that.

[00:13:48] I mean, they're just it's amazing how fast they grow.

[00:13:51] And for those of you with younger kids, I just want to tell you cherish these moments, especially if you have small kids.

[00:14:01] Take lots of pictures.

[00:14:03] Go out.

[00:14:04] Enjoy parks.

[00:14:06] Go to playgrounds.

[00:14:08] Go to the pool.

[00:14:09] Go to the lake.

[00:14:10] Enjoy time with them, because when they start growing up, all of a sudden you are not nearly as important as you have been in the past.

[00:14:21] And that is a hard pill to swallow when that happens.

[00:14:25] So anyway, go ahead.

[00:14:26] Give your thoughts on our flock.

[00:14:29] Well, I just love my little flock and I don't want to refer to them as growing like weeds.

[00:14:35] They're growing up like beautiful flowers.

[00:14:38] And we're trying to tend them.

[00:14:40] You know, it's a challenge to keep the balance in everything because I like to just give in to their every wish, really.

[00:14:49] I love to please them, make them happy.

[00:14:51] And yet sometimes we have to say, no, you can't have a popsicle at breakfast.

[00:14:58] I look at the children and how they're growing and think of my own children and how quickly that time passed.

[00:15:06] We are in a different place now.

[00:15:08] We're not working full time.

[00:15:09] So we can spend more time with them and have the young one that's not in school yet with us even during the day because we're not working.

[00:15:18] So that's really good.

[00:15:20] Whereas when I was busy and teaching and just life was so hectic, it was just it was a challenge.

[00:15:28] So try to be as supportive as I can.

[00:15:30] I know I wish that I could do much more to help out.

[00:15:34] So, Bill, I do a lot with the grandchildren, but you spend your time in the yard and the podcast.

[00:15:41] And you want to talk about that, recap the year for that?

[00:15:45] Well, you know, the main thing I really kind of want to talk about is my Bible reading.

[00:15:50] And, you know, if some of you are tuning in for the first time, I would just like to, you know, let you know that I do have a YouTube channel.

[00:15:59] And it's the same title as this wisdom today with Bill Kelly, K-E-L-L-E-Y.

[00:16:08] And I have four separate playlists.

[00:16:11] So I really would like everyone to know that I have my daily teachings, which is Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

[00:16:20] And then I have a separate playlist called Testimonies.

[00:16:23] And every Tuesday I have a special guest or a couple on and let me review in January.

[00:16:33] So January is going to be a treat.

[00:16:35] There are four Tuesdays in January, and I'm going to have a couple, Gary and Young on.

[00:16:42] They are still in Colorado.

[00:16:43] They are both graduates from Karis Bible College.

[00:16:47] And then on the 14th, I'm going to have Scott Williams.

[00:16:50] He also is a third year graduate from Karis Bible College.

[00:16:55] On the 21st, I'm going to have Chris Roberts.

[00:16:58] She is also a third year graduate from Karis Bible College.

[00:17:02] And then on the 28th, I have a special treat.

[00:17:05] I have Connie Rivenbark, and she is a member of the church that we're attending in Florida right now.

[00:17:12] But as far as the Bible reading goes, I have now completed 45 of the 67 books in the Bible.

[00:17:22] So there's 22 books in the Old Testament and 23 books in the New Testament.

[00:17:28] So if you go to the reading of the King James Bible, all I do is read chapters.

[00:17:37] And I have almost read 700 of the chapters.

[00:17:42] And then my fourth playlist is lessons from the Psalms.

[00:17:47] And I'm happy to say that I've read 81 of those that have been posted.

[00:17:54] And so as far as these ongoing projects, the Bible, I do not believe.

[00:18:00] I was hoping to finish in 25.

[00:18:03] It looks like it'll probably be closer to August of 26 that I will finish that project.

[00:18:08] And I believe it's probably going to be April or May of 26 that I'll finish the Psalms.

[00:18:14] So that is a recap.

[00:18:17] I think it's been a good year.

[00:18:19] I'm pleased with where the podcast is.

[00:18:21] More people are listening than ever before.

[00:18:25] And, you know, that's a good thing.

[00:18:27] And anyway, what I'd like to do is just open it up to you and give you a couple minutes as we close out the year.

[00:18:35] Tell people a little bit more about Jesus and why they should receive him prior to the end of the year and lead them in a prayer.

[00:18:45] Tell you what, I don't know what people do without Jesus in their life, without God.

[00:18:53] It's not easy.

[00:18:55] It's not easy anyway.

[00:18:57] But having Jesus as your friend, walking close with you, being there, answering your prayers, just being in communion with you.

[00:19:07] We had our pastor talk this last week about how God finds he created you for his pleasure.

[00:19:14] And we don't really think about that so much, that that's what God did.

[00:19:21] He really just created us for his pleasure.

[00:19:24] And he loves us so much.

[00:19:27] And we need to just meditate on that and think about that.

[00:19:30] He loves us.

[00:19:31] We don't have to perform.

[00:19:32] He created us to do certain things.

[00:19:34] And if we are walking in that way and being successful at it, it brings him pleasure.

[00:19:41] It brings him joy to see that.

[00:19:43] And I often think, sometimes my grandkids will just look at me and just say, I love you, Juju.

[00:19:49] And it just melts your heart.

[00:19:50] And I think that that's the way God feels.

[00:19:52] If we look at him and say, God, I just love you.

[00:19:56] I'm not coming to you asking anything.

[00:19:58] We just say simply, I love you and I thank you.

[00:20:02] I thank you for what you've done in my life.

[00:20:05] And there are things that people are getting nervous about right now.

[00:20:10] Things are going on in our society, our world.

[00:20:13] We need to pray for all that.

[00:20:14] Pray for our government.

[00:20:15] Pray for things that are going on.

[00:20:18] Pray for a smooth transition.

[00:20:20] As far as the presidency is concerned coming up.

[00:20:24] Those are all things that are on people's minds.

[00:20:27] But I tell you what the Bible says to not be fearful.

[00:20:30] He's with us every step of the way.

[00:20:32] And if you don't know him and you would like to live with that peace, that's what he is.

[00:20:37] Jesus is peace.

[00:20:39] He's our shalom.

[00:20:40] And if you would like to do that, just say, Jesus, come into my heart.

[00:20:44] Forgive me of my sins.

[00:20:46] Cleanse me from all unrighteousness.

[00:20:49] And I purpose to live my life for you.

[00:20:52] I want us to be friends.

[00:20:53] I want to walk and talk with you.

[00:20:56] And I want that peace that passes all understanding.

[00:20:59] And I thank you for that, Jesus.

[00:21:01] In your name I pray.

[00:21:03] Amen.

[00:21:04] All right, friends.

[00:21:05] So this is the last time that Judy will be on this podcast until the 31st of January.

[00:21:12] So five weeks from now, we will have episode 23 of our monthly ministry update.

[00:21:20] But until then, may the Lord bless you and keep you.

[00:21:24] The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you.

[00:21:29] The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

[00:21:33] Friends, this is the weekend.

[00:21:36] Go out with your family.

[00:21:37] Take your kids along.

[00:21:39] Have a great day.

[00:21:40] Have a great time.

[00:21:41] Remind them of how much God loves them and how much you love them.

[00:21:45] And I will see you back on Monday as we further explore wisdom.

[00:21:50] Wisdom.

[00:21:51] To the world.