Thursday, February 26, 2009

Proverbs of My Father – 26 February 2009

My dear son,  

Today, take to heart what I'm telling you; collect My counsels and guard them with your life. Tune your ears to the world of Wisdom; set your heart on a life of Understanding. That's right—if you make Insight your priority, and won't take no for an answer, searching for it like a prospector panning for gold, like an adventurer on a treasure hunt, believe Me, before you know it Fear-of-God will be yours;  you will have come upon the Knowledge of God. 

And here's why: I give out Wisdom free of charge, I am plainspoken in Knowledge and Understanding. I am also a rich mine of Common Sense for those who live well, a personal bodyguard to the candid and sincere. I keep My eye on all who live honestly, and pay special attention to My loyally committed children. 

So now you can pick out what's true and fair, find all the good trails! Lady Wisdom will be your close friend, and Brother Knowledge your pleasant companion. Good Sense will scout ahead for danger, Insight will keep an eye out for you. They'll keep you from making wrong turns, or following the bad directions of those who are lost themselves and can't tell a trail from a tumbleweed, these losers who make a game of evil and throw parties to celebrate perversity, traveling paths that go nowhere, wandering in a maze of detours and dead ends. 

Keep wise friends, they will rescue you from the Temptress— that smooth- talking Seductress who is unfaithful to the husband she married years ago, never gave a second thought to her promises before God. Her whole way of life is doomed; every step she takes brings her closer to hell. No one who joins her company ever comes back or ever sets foot on the path to real living. 

So join the company of good men and women, keep your feet on the tried-and-true paths. It's the men who walk straight who will settle this land, the women with integrity who will last here. The corrupt will lose their lives; the dishonest will be gone for good. And so it shall be because I am the Giver of life and the Righteous Judge!

 

With love,

Your Father

 

Note: Scripture verses from The Message Bible

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Proverbs of My Father – 24 February 2009

My dear son, 

 

Today Wisdom has gone out in the street and shouts. You can find her in the city centers, and wherever you go, she will be constantly speaking to you. Even in the middle of the traffic she takes her stand. At the busiest corners she calls out and says: Hey! How long will you wallow in ignorance? How long will you feed your cynicism? How long will you refuse to learn? Make a decision today and follow Wisdom! I can revise your life.


Look, I'm ready to pour out My spirit on you; I'm ready to tell you all I know. As it is, I've called, but you've turned a deaf ear; I've reached out to you, but you've ignored Me so many times.  "It’s better for you to take My counsel seriously and don’t make a joke of My advice. If you refuse to take Me seriously, I'll turn the tables and joke about your troubles!


What if the roof falls in, and your whole life goes to pieces?
What if catastrophe strikes and there's nothing to show for your life but rubble and ashes? Is it then that you’ll begin to need Me? Then you'll call for me, but don't expect an answer. No matter how hard you look, for Me then you won't find Me. 

If you decide to hate Knowledge  and have nothing to do with the Fear-of-God,  if you decide that you don’t want My advice, and you brush aside all My offers to train you, well, you would've made your bed—and you will lie in it like that. But remember that carelessness kills and complacency is like suicide!


Here’s My advice, pay attention to me, and then relax. Now you can take it easy because you're in good hands.

 

With love,

Your Father

  

Note: Scripture verses from The Message Bible

Monday, February 23, 2009

Proverbs of My Father – 23 February 2009

Today, I decided to start something that I believe will become a blessing to many of my readers. I decided to start putting down various proverbs and words of wisdom given as instructions to me by my ‘Father’, here for all my numerous readers. I believe that these thoughts will also bless as many that read and believe in them.

 

My dear son,

 

Today and every other day, you must learn to start with God—the first step in learning is bowing down to God in acknowledgement of His position as your maker; only fools choose to disregard such wisdom and learning. Pay close attention, to these things I tell you; never forget what you learned at your mother's knee. Wear these counsels like flowers in your hair or like rings on your fingers.

If bad companions tempt you, don't go along with them. If they say—"Let's go out and make trouble. Let's beat up some old man or old woman. Let's go and show some people who we are so that they must respect us. Let’s join and share some top-quality loot. This is an opportunity for us to make a ‘big hit’ by some illegal means. Join us and enjoy the time of your life! With us, it's share and share alike!"—Oh, My son, don't give them a second look; don't listen to them for a minute. They're racing to a very bad end, hurrying to ruin everything they lay hands on.

Nobody robs a bank with everyone watching, yet that's what these people are doing— they're doing themselves in. When you grab all you can get, that's what happens: in this life, the more you get, the less you are!

 

With love,

Your Father

 

http://www.houseofvirtue.blogspot.com

 

Note:  Scripture verses from The Message Bible.

Friday, February 13, 2009

The Final Verdict in My Father’s Court...

A friend of mine sent me this interesting email recently, and I thought it would be worth sharing here. Enjoy the read!

After living what I felt was a 'decent' life, my time on earth came to the end.. 

The first thing I remember is sitting on a bench in the waiting room of what I thought to be a court house.

The doors opened and I was instructed to come in and have a seat by the defense table.

As I looked around I saw the 'prosecutor.'

He was a villainous looking gent who snarled as he stared at me. He definitely was the most evil person I have ever seen.

I sat down and looked to my left and there sat My Attorney,  kind and gentle looking man whose appearance seemed so familiar to me, I felt I knew Him.
 

The corner door flew open and there appeared the Judge in full flowing robes.

He commanded an awesome presence as He moved across the room I couldn't take my eyes off of Him.

As He took His seat behind the bench, He said, 'Let us begin.'

The prosecutor rose and said,


'My name is Satan and I am here to show you why this man belongs in hell.'

He proceeded to tell of lies that I told, things that I stole, and In the past when I cheated others. Satan told of other horrible perversions that were once in my life and the more he spoke, the further down in my seat I sank. 

I was so embarrassed that I couldn't look at anyone, even my own Attorney, as the Devil told of sins that even I had completely forgotten about.
 

As upset as I was at Satan for telling all these things about me, I was equally upset at My Attorney who sat there silently not offering any form of defense at all. 

I know I had been guilty of those things, but I had done some good in my life - couldn't that at least equal out part of the harm I'd done? 

Satan finished with a fury and said, 'This man belongs in hell, he is guilty of all that I have charged and there is not a person who can prove otherwise.' 

When it was His turn, My Attorney first asked if He might approach the bench.  The Judge allowed this over the strong objection of Satan, and beckoned Him to come forward.

As He got up and started walking, I was able to see Him in His full splendor and majesty.  

I realized why He seemed so familiar; this was Jesus Christ representing me, my Lord and my Savior. 

He stopped at the bench and softly said to the Judge, 'Hi, Dad,' and then He turned to address the court.

'Satan was correct in saying that this man had sinned, I won't deny any of these allegations. And, yes, the wages of sin is death, and this man deserves to be punished.'

Jesus took a deep breath and turned to His Father with outstretched arms and proclaimed, 'However, I died on the cross so that this person might have eternal life and he has accepted Me as his Savior, so he is Mine.' 

My Lord continued with, 'His name is written in the Book of Life,  and no one can snatch him from Me.

Satan still does not understand yet.  This man is not to be given justice, but rather mercy.'

As Jesus sat down, he said,
 He quietly paused, looked at His Father and said, 'There is nose that needs to be done.'
'I've done it all.'

The Judge lifted His mighty hand and slammed the gavel down and the following words bellowed from His lips..

'This man is free.  The penalty for him has already been paid in full.  'Case dismissed!'

As my Lord led me away, I could hear Satan ranting and raving, 'I won't give up, I will win the next one.'
ed Jesus as He gave me my instructions where to go next, 'e you ever lost a case?' 
Jesus Christ lovingly smiled and said, “for God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave Me up [His only begotten Son], so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Me shall not perish come to destruction or be lost, but have eternal (everlasting) life.”

 

Concluding Note

Dear reader, if you have doubts about your relationship with The Almighty God through Jesus Christ, or you wish to recieve His gift of Eternal life, then please feel free to pray as follows:

"Lord Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. Please forgive my sins and give me the gift of eternal life. I ask you to come  into my life and heart, to be my Lord and Savior. I want to serve you always." Amen

If you have just prayed this prayer or you have any questions about what you have just read please feel free to get in touch on houseofvirtue@gmail.com