FRIDAY, November 14th, 2008

Well, If you did not come to our video event last night you missed out on many laughs and a really fun time. After I post these devotions I will edit some of the videos that we made.

Yesterday was a very encouraging day as far as the devotions go! It was INCREDIBLE to see some new faces on there!

I was talking to someone yesterday who said that they did not really get much out of the devotions and so I want to take a second to tell you how to get the most out of these devotions

1. Don't just do them to win some free wings. Do them because YOU WANT TO!

2. Don't just read the passage to get it over with. Read it to learn something about yourself and about God.

3. Don't stress out about reading it. If you really don't understand something then just move on, if you don't really understand anything, then move on, you will tomorrow.

4. Pray before you read and ask God to show you something that you need to change about yourself!

5. Pick one or two lessons and meditate on them for a few minutes. Really think about how you need to apply the truth and then keep those truths on your mind all day long!

Ok, hopefully that helps some of you out! I promise you that the last thing I want is to waste teenagers time, but I guarantee you that reading God's word is NOT a waste of time, to be honest it is probably the most valuable thing that you can do with your time!

Proverbs 14

1 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.
2 He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.
3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
5 A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.
6 A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.
7 Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.
9 Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.
10 The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.
11 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.
12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.
14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.
15 The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.
16 A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.
17 He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.
18 The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.
21 He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.
22 Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.
23 In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.
25 A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.
26 In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.
27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
28 In the multitude of people is the king's honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.
29 He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.
33 Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.
34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
35 The king's favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.

In a passage like the one above there are probably too many principles to keep on your mind all day long. The best thing to do is to read through the passage maybe twice and then write down the verses that really spoke to you the most...

There were several verses that were very profound in this passage, but I need to meditate on the verses that spoke to me personally the most.

Verse 4: Do you know what that verse means? Here it is: Oxen make work alot easier, but if you are going to have oxen then you are going to have to deal with alot of crap. ( I cannot believe I just typed that, I never say that word but It really fits better than any other word... It is such a disgusting word, but THAT IS THE POINT!!!)

There are some things in life that are good but they may bring some bad things along with it... I think of families. Your family is good, but if you have a family you are going to have to deal with some problems.

Being a youth pastor is good, but not always a clean job. If I am going to be ministering to teenagers, I am going to have to deal with some stuff that might be pretty smelly (figuratively)

VERSE 9: Fools make a mock at sin. I could park here all day long! Ouch! Why is it that 80% of the tv shows that we watch are full of fools making fun of sin? Why is that a problem? God sees sin as what caused his Son to be crucified on a cross... Then we go and laugh at it?? Not a good thing!

I KNOW THIS IS TOUGH, I know there are some really funny people that can do a great homosexual impression or something, but God says: DON'T MAKE FUN OF SOMETHING THAT I CALL DANGEROUS! That is something worth me meditating on today!

Verse 12: There is a way which seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death... Boy have I seen this one before!! I can think of some people right now, and this verse completely applies... It seems right to go on living in sin, it seems right to watch this or that, it seems right to do this or that with your boyfriend or girlfriend, IT SEEMS RIGHT!!!!!!! SO WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BE WRONG WITH IT??

God's word says that mans heart is deceitful above all things... if it seems right, we need to take a step back and compare it to Gods Holy Word.

If it seems right, then it will probably lead us to a path of death and destruction in the end.
That is something to meditate on!