A life of balance & purpose!

Proverbs 7 & 8

Proverbs 7 & 8

Proverbs 7 again creates a strong mental picture of how dangerous sexual sin can be.  The warning against this particular sin is so prevalent in the book of Proverbs; I am sure our heeding these warnings will be to our great benefit.  When we study, we receive greater understanding and with understanding we have the power to make better decisions.  Study The Word and grow in Christ.

Proverbs 8 speaks to the need to seek God in all we do…everyday.  It is really vital to our success, our peace of mind and our spiritual growth that we spend time in the Word, in prayer & fasting, and in fellowship with other believers.  We are not meant to live this life alone.  The more I seek the Creator instead of the creation the more I excel, the clearer my purposed becomes, and the less selfish I am.  Seek wisdom, get understanding and flourish.

Proverbs 6

Proverbs 6

This chapter really speaks to those free-loaders that want to do nothing but gain everything.  They want the good life at the expense of others ‘brow sweat’.  You know, it’s those folks who always have an excuse for why they haven’t paid their bill, gotten a job, gone to school and can never tell you what happened to the money you gave them last week.  I can’t say it better than verse 11 NLT (New Living Translation)-Poverty will pounce on you like a bandit.  Further down in this chapter the very wise Solomon tells of the 7 things the Lord detests (hates very much) they are:

Proverbs 6:17-20 (Amplified Bible)-“¹⁷A proud look [the spirit that makes one overestimates himself and underestimates others], a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, ¹⁸A heart that manufactures wicked thoughts and plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, ¹⁹A false witness who breathes out lies [even under oath], and he who sows discord among his brethren.”  Life is can be sweeter when we seek to please God and follow His guidelines for living. 

 

The remainder of the chapter gives some tips and warnings.  The tips are simple listen to the advice you parents give.  You can avoid ‘making your own mistake’ when you heed the tips of those that have been there and done that.  Lastly, it warns again to watch out for the lure of sexual relations with anyone other than your spouse.  It always leads to tons of hurt, loss, and even death.

In His Power,

Kisha G.

Proverbs 4

Proverbs 4

This chapter was all about wisdom and how we should be in constant pursuit of it.  When we take time to inject ourselves with Biblical truths, prayer time, and other avenues of learning, we can rest assure that it is time well spent and that it will yield great rewards in the future (near and far).  The hard part is actually making time to get this wisdom.  As a busy homeschooling mom of 5, time seems like it never stops for things that I really need to do or want to do.  However, this really isn’t the case though.  I make time for things that I think will benefit me, things that make me feel good, and of course, those things that will wreak havoc if not attended to immediately; I think the latter is called “the daily grind”.  Seeking wisdom takes me back to the earlier chapters that tell us how important good planning is.  When I plan my spiritual development time then I get it done.  When I don’t or when I neglect it, I say things like, “I’ll get to it before bed” or “I’ll do it at their quiet time” but this delay always leads to more and more delays until it just simply loses its place on the agenda…well, you know until tragedy hits.  It’s kind of like when someone gets sick.  They no longer want burgers, cokes, fries, and cookies, nope…When we are sick, we go to the healing foods like vegetable soups, fruit and vegetable smoothies and lots of water.  We should take a lesson from our body and nurture our spiritual life which is really nurturing our external life before the tragic need arises.

In His Power,

Kisha

Proverbs 3

Proverbs 3 and Luke 2 comments

Ok, so I am totally enjoying this personal devotional time.  You can never go wrong reading & praying about Proverbs.  Luke on the other hand is an in-depth view written by Dr. Luke that gives lots of details and makes lots of statements that I have to pause on and wonder why that thought was left in history for us.  I say all that to say that my postings on Luke may be slimmer in the beginning as it requires more time devoted to dissecting the real ‘meat’ of it all to gain significant understanding & enlightenment.

Proverbs 3 was just stuffed with life enriching wisdom…it should be, right…It’s Proverbs?  LOL  Ok so, to begin, the chapter let’s you know that remaining loyal and showing kindness will not only please God but turn the hearts of humans.  It makes sense though if I practice doing good to others in need (big or small) then people will remember me as a person who is loyal to my convictions and store me mentally as a person who has their back.  We all need people like that, right?  Verse 5 & 6 are vital to finding & maintaining mental peace while we live in this world, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.  Seek His will in all you do, and He will direct your path.”  Seriously, I pray about everything or at least I try to…when I go to get my hair done, when I’m planning vacation, when I need to know what is important for the day, and so on and so forth.  This really helps me to feel secure in my decision making because I know that with the Holy Spirit dwelling in me  then I will follow its lead and when things don’t turn out like I expected well, I can trust that I am still protected and that God knows best.  Verse 7 in paraphrase:  Don’t have the big head.  I made you!  Boast only in me (The Lord).  Verse 9-The subject of money is always a touchy subject so here it is in paraphrase, real brief:  Give God (the church) your first which is your best and then pay your bills and then give to the poor, needy and sick.  You will be blessed in ways that you could not conceive; you will be protected from things that you don’t know are coming.   Remember that old school acronym: J.O.Y. Jesus, Others, Yourself!   Verse 11-when you do wrong (outward display or inward heart sins); you get punished. ..Just like a parent does a child.  Discipline helps us to grow.  It’s painful, challenging and sometimes long but the other side of a well trained person is excellence. Verse 21-speaks again about the importance of good planning, I can’t stress it enough.  Planning makes for a smoother ride in every area of life.  Seriously, I can’t control all aspects of my toddler’s behavior but my ‘schedule’ makes for controlled chaos and I can deal with that!  I believe in setting goals, planning and asking God (sharing my heart with Him).  Like Joyce Meyers say’s, “I rather have 10% of something good instead of 0% of nothing “(I think I said that right)!

In His Power,

Kisha G.

Proverbs 2

I love Proverbs, don't we all need nuggets of wisdom to help us get through life and keep us on track!  I know I do!  I wish I had been more in tune in my early years but no looking back.

Verse 3 say’s Cry out for wisdom and understanding.  This say’s to me look young lady, don't think you can do it alone.  Don't think any concern is too small for me.  You have not because you ask not, and when your motives are wrong well...

Verse 7-11-When I practice godliness, faithfulness and integrity, I will be protected from the unseen, I will be filled with knowledge & good sense, He will guard my path and I will know the right course of action in any situation.  Doesn’t these promises just invigorate your being.  When I seek to be more like Christ then I can trust that the blessings & promises will follow automatically.  Verse 11 say’s Wise planning will watch over you.  I love this verse because I am a planner.  I do have day’s when I wing it and I have moments when I don’t plan.  I have had many times when I didn’t plan properly and things went awry.  Planning things like goals, dreams, career plans, marriage, children, daily agendas, exercise, Bible study, financial purchases and so forth have proven to make things go smoother in my life and my home.  Pre-planning also allows for more flexibility and put’s stewardship over all that God has given me!  Planning helps me to make sure that I accomplish the things that are truly important to me because with so many things vying for your time it is easy to get off track.

The remainder of the chapter speaks to the pride that one can muster up when they slip into an adulterous situation.  Please know that adultery is not just the physical act of the sexual encounter but it can include the lust of the eyes, the inappropriate conversations, the emotional relationships that feed you that aren’t coming from your spouse, the inappropriate emails & contacts one might engage in or view and I’m sure more can be added.  When our relationship with Christ doesn’t remain the main & most important thing in our lives, we will find ourselves in all types of situations that are unfruitful and that feed our sinful nature.  When we meditate on things that aren’t pleasing to God, we open the door to be captured by the seduction.  Only God can give us the wisdom and love we need to withstand the ‘big head syndrome’ and to overcome the ‘I need it however I can get it urges’.

In His Power,

 

Kisha

Proverbs 1 & Luke 1

This year I am working on reading Proverbs every day and beginning study in the Gospels.  Here are my thoughts on the specific areas that spoke to me during this season.

Proverbs 1

Verse 19-Do not be greedy for gain the pursuit will rob you of life.  This is so true. I spent many the years seeking careers based on the amount of money they would bring in instead of pursuing my God given passions.  I know many people who live their lives in the shadow of making big bucks.  Being blessed financially is not a sin, no it is a blessing so that you can further the Good News and help those less fortunate.  When we seek to use all our loot for personal gain, well that is where the problem begins.  When we seek money more than we seek God then we are really headed down the path of disappointment and major let down because nothing satisfies like the Heavenly Father.  Pursue the Creator not the creation.

Luke 1

Wow, I can expand (and I think I will later) on this chapter but my time now is limited.  It is so awesome and thought-provoking  Will re-read it and post again later.  I suggest you re read it and use commentary.  I currently read from the New Living Translation and use Bible Gateway to view it in other versions.

 

In His Power,

 

Kisha G.

I want to be like...

Often times we hear of people singing songs, “I want to be more like you” and quoting scriptures, “give your life away” and “My life is not my own” but do we actually want to be like Jesus?  Do we actually desire to imitate the life of Jesus?  Do we truly want to do the things He did, respond the way He responded, care for the things He cared(s) about and give up the things He did? 

 

I think at times in our life we do want to be “all we can be” for Christ but like the rich man, we can’t foresee giving it all up.  Even when we go hard for a while for whatever reasons we slowly slip back into our fallen way of doing life.  For me, when I am barely in my Word my mind is off the things of God and focused on my selfish wants and ‘my’ family responsibilities.  When I ignore the plight of the needy, I find that all I think about is what I could have more of or how things would be better “If I had”.

 

So what can we do to get or stay on fire?  I don’ think one can change overnight but I think you can commit to change and act on it daily. 

 

Tips for change are below; implementing them will be the more challenging part!

 

· Stay in your Word daily, make it the first thing you do for yourself.

· Pray throughout the day for guidance, knowledge & strength.

· Join a study or fellowship group-this can help enrich your journey.

· Find a way to give to others via your time, talents  & treasure.

 

 

In His Power,

 

Kisha

Leviticus

I’m doing a study of Leviticus on a recommendation from my husband.  He actually gave me this idea a few weeks ago but you know…it’s Leviticus.  I started today with learning the setting of the book, the core ideas I could learn for today’s practical application and then I read chapter one along with study notes.

 

Well, chapter one would seem straight out of a horror movie if you are unaware of the meanings behind the methods.  As I read about all the sacrifices that were made in order to have a right standing with God, I began to really think about my own sins-now and previous sins.  The animals in the story are replacements for the human sinner.  I wonder how different folks would be if they had to use these practices today. 

Here it goes:  Today Johnny decided to cut off the vehicle that was going too slow because he was in a rush to get to his lunch meeting.  During his meeting with the top executives of a Fortune 500, he decided that it was necessary to engage in elicit jokes about the waitress.  He is a Christian but the thought of losing the big deal outweighed his morals for the moment.  Finally the meeting is over and he heads home to meet his family but not before stopping for gas.  Upon his arrival to the pump the previous gas consumer pulled away leaving his wallet on top of the gas dispenser.  Johnny decided to look inside and finds several hundred dollars.  He decides to take the wallet with him instead of turning it in.

Johnny is now home: he meets his wife in the backyard (she knows about his sins from the cell phone conversation on the drive home) to decapitate a young pigeon, remove its feathers, drain blood on the side of the altar,  tear the bird apart & burn it on an altar.  All before heading in to kiss the kids & eat dinner!  Gross, right?!

 

Now imagine that with each sin, we had to do all this to ourselves.  Well, we’d all be dead huh!

 

Thank God that Jesus came and took our place on the cross.  He built an everlasting bridge for us so we don’t need to use weird rituals in order to commune with our Holy God.  We do however have to keep ourselves in check because it has become too easy to treat sin casually and think half-heartedly of the awesome sacrifice that was made for us.

 

Accountability & right relationships…a great way to hold up a standard of holiness through your daily life.

 

Nakisha 'Kisha' Guzman

www.balancedandpurposed.com

Enjoy life today; yesterday is gone & tomorrow may never come!

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Idol or Item

The following is a brief test that can help you find any hidden idols in your life.

 

1.        I can not go one day without____________________________________.

2.       I would prefer to spend most of my free-time___________________________.

3.       I think most often about____________________________________________.

4.       My 1^st hour of awake time is spent doing__________________________________.

5.       I spend most of my thinking about and researching ___________________________.

6.       What person, thing, food or idea do I have an unquenchable desire for___________________________.

7.       I sacrifice the most for _____________________________________________________________.

 

Often times we become so self-righteous and unconsciously prideful that we don’t realize the idols we have placed before God. 

 

Priscilla Shirer say’s it so well when she wrote, “Your god is what you seek.  It’s what you love, trust in, worship, serve and allow to control you.”

 

Our God is forgiving and abounding in grace.  Ask him to reveal your hidden areas, repent and make Him the priority.  Your best life depends on it!