Do you know this woman? Have you ever seen this woman?

Probably not, unless you learned of her in a history class. Her name was Rosie the Riveter  a cultural icon of the United States, representing the American women who worked in factories during World War II.

While many of the men were off fighting a war somebody had to step up and pick up the slack and our women did just that. Those were days gone by and days that have almost been forgotten. We don't hear about many Rosie's to today. Someone had to sacrifice their time, talents and abilities, to much was at stake to much could be lost and would have had no one took on the burden. Wow, that word "sacrifice" is almost an unknown term these days, less we forget here's what Merrian-Webster Dictionary says "sacrifice means to suffer loss of, give up, renounce, injure, destruction or surrender of something for the sake of something else.  There are many things we can offer up, give up and suffer loss the question; are we willing? The best example of sacrifice is found in the pages of our Bible in the book of John chapter three and in verse sixteen. There we read that God showed His love for each of us in that He was willing to sacrifice His only son, willing to suffer loss, give up. Remember there is always a reason behind the sacrifice. What was God's reasoning? God's love was so strong for you and I that He gave His only Son so that you and I could have could have everlasting life and never perish. 

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Don't miss it "should not perish;" 

1 John 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

Simply He that has Jesus has everlasting life; and he that has not Jesus shall perish.  Don't miss what was sacrificed for you! 

Hidden Talent

It happen every year 100,000 people show up to make a tune that will that will put them on the stardom trail. But there's a slight problem they can't carry a tune so instead of becoming a star they are laughed at. The question is what were these people thinking? What made them think they could sing in the first place? How do 100,000 people who can’t carry a tune in a bucket show up to audition for American Idol? Somebody lied to them. At some point in their lives, somebody told them that they could sing. They might have thought they were helping by making them feel good or building self-esteem. We've all had those in our life that have tried to help by lying to us and most of us have listened. Let’s get real there are certain things we can't do matter how hard we try. I remember sometime back singing in by truck and I said to myself "that's not bad." The next day I was so excited I took my tape recorder with me. I had decided that I wasn't going to let this hidden talent escape, slip, through the cracks. As I drove down the road I began to tune up; you know I wanted to be ready as I could when I made my first my first recording. I was now ready, I reached over turned on the recorder and began to sing. What a beautiful sound, I was amazed to say the least that, that musical sound was coming from me; I had now found my hidden talent. I finished the song reached over and turned the recorder off. It was now time to hear this master piece. I was so excited; I pull off to the side of the road to be the first to hear what I had just completed. I hit the play button and off it sounded, it was so..........I think I heard dogs howling for two blocks. I decided to let that hidden talent of mine stay hidden. What happen? What was I thinking? Somebody had lied to me and sad to say I was that somebody. I wonder if we're not the greatest liar in our lives. We tell ourselves weren't not ambitious we tell ourselves we can't lose weight. Could it be we are lying to ourselves? I don't know a out you but I have caught myself more than once lying to myself; and by the way after many years I do sing solo now; so low you can't hear me.

Thankful

Colossians 3:15    And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Colossians 3:16    Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Colossians 3:17    And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

When I was a boy my mom and dad taught me to say thank you. When someone would do something nice for me I would say "thank you." I am grateful to my parents for teaching me to be thankful. In the verses before us I see three things to be thankful for.

#1- We are to let the peace of God rule in our heart and be thankful.

#2- We are to let the word of Christ dwell in us richly. Allowing God’s Word to dwell in us richly we will have a merry and grateful heart that shows by our thankful songs.

#3- We are to show our thankfulness in what we say and do.

Make a decision to focus today on what is rather than what isn't; what you have rather than what you don't have. Focus on what God has been doing in your life.

If we have Christ we are rich therefore be thankful.

Romans 10:12    For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

RAGE

Proverbs 14:16 A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil:

but the fool rageth, and is confident.

I'm interested in that word "RAGETH" for this is the only time this word is spelled like this.  John Gill says it means to "RAGE"(but the fool rageth, and is confident; he fears neither God nor men, he sets his mouth against both; he "rages" in heart, if not with his mouth, against God and his law, which forbid the practice of such sins he delights in;)

I looked up the first time the word "RAGE" was mention; the first time was in;

2 Kings 5:12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.

Here we read of Naaman a great man, a man of great courage in the face of danger, but he had a problem, he was a leper. When he was told what to do to be healed of his leprosy  he became angry and said their is another way so he turned and went away in a "RAGE." He in his own mind may have swelled up in pride, he told himself that this man named Elisha apparently didn't know to whom he was talking too. But thank God for his servant who wanted him to be healed so he told him this;

2 Kings 5:13 And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?

What's the most important thing? Do it your way or do it God's way? Do it the way your were told no matter what you think and be healed or do it you your way and be wet and stay the same!

Naaman almost allow his anger and rage to doom him. Thank God for someone else who pleaded for him on his behalf. Don't get to confident in yourself, learn to depart from evil that's what the wise man does; "A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil:"

Broaden Relationship

  In 1996, Reformers Unanimous began as a small Bible study in the basement of North Love Baptist Church in Rockford, Illinois.   Steve Curington had a burden to help those held in bondage to sin and addiction - a place he himself had once been held by Satan's snares. Today, Reformers Unanimous has started over 900 chapters across America and in several foreign countries, doing exactly what it set out to do....reach the addicted.  However, it has done MORE than that.  Reformers Unanimous is a great tool to use to reach the addicted, but it is also a GREAT discipleship program for anyone desiring to begin or broaden their relationship with Christ.  RU has helped thousands of people develop of personal, intimate walk with the Lord. At the Reformers Unanimous Recovery Ministries office, we are blessed to receive countless testimonies from people whose lives have been transformed by Christ through the tool of Reformers Unanimous.  Here is a testimony that was recently received that brought a smile to our face and a "pep" in our step!********************* When I got into the RU program, I initially came to "shut my son up". He had been encouraging me (nagging, I thought) to attend.  From this first part, you can tell where my walk with the Lord was!  Way off!!  I was a Christian, but a very lazy, unconcerned, and, (really, I guess) uncaring person.  I attended church Sunday A.M. only- No Sunday School, no P.M. service, and certainly no mid-week service.  I read my Bible spasmodically. I did tithe (always) and had pretty good prayer life.   I don't know what I expected my first night; and frankly, I still can't describe it to anyone - but I was hooked!!  I loved it! The program especially appealed to me, as I am extremely competitive. The challenges just "spoke" to me. It was me against the book and other classmates at first, and then God really got a hold of me as the Scriptures, the definitions, the essays, and especially the journaling began to bring about a real change in my life. I don't think I've missed more than 3-4 Friday nights in two years.  RU is really my lifeline. I tell everyone about it, pass out tracts, and just want everyone to know what God can and will do for you if you are willing.I am an older person, and memorization sometimes gives me trouble, but God is faithful and I always get it done. I am now a group leader and I know that the RU program, other than being saved, is the best thing that ever happened to me!  Praise God for His faithfulness, even when we don't deserve it!

Hear, Receive, Enter, Attend, Keep

Proverbs 4:1Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father

and attend to know understanding

Proverbs 4:10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings

and the years of thy life shall be many

Proverbs 4:14 Enter not into the path of the wicked

and go not in the way of evil men

Proverbs 4:20 My son, attend to my words

incline thine ear unto my sayings

Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence

for out of it are the issues of life

The first thing we are to do is to "HEAR" Instruction

The second thing is to "RECEIVE"  Sayings

The Third thing is to " ENTER NOT" into the path

The fourth thing is to "ATTEND" to My Words

The fifth thing is to "KEEP"  your Heart

Our Heavenly Father will give His children instruction from the Word of God and in order for that child to get it he or she must hear with a listening ear. Once the child hears with a listening ear they will receive willingly the sayings and that will give them  extended life. After the Child of God hears and receives they should know enough to stay clear of the path of the wicked and evil. Now the child of God is hearing and receiving the Word of God which is keeping them off the path of the wicked. It has caused something else to happen they find themselves attending. The child of God is reading their Bible, they are also studying their Bible, they are showing up to where their Heavenly Father can teach and show them what He is doing and will do in the lives of His children. In return the child of God is keeping what he or she has learned not in their head but in their heart. Once the heart has been changes everything else will too

Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also

Did you notice what and how that was said? It's not where your heart is their will be your treasure; Oh no it's where your treasure is there will be your heart. Treasures draw hearts! Question; what is drawing me? What is my treasure

Matthew 12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh

What do I spend most of my time talking about? All I have to do is listen to what I say. Is most of my talk condemning others? Complaining about what I don't have? Building myself up making ME look good? All I have to do is listen to myself talk for I can't control it; what's in my heart will come flowing out my mouth.

Known Truths

Proverbs 1:1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel.

Proverb➡ A short sentence often repeated, expressing a well known truth or common fact, ascertained by experience or observation;

The expressing of a well known truth or common fact of Solomon the son of David king of Israel.

In this book of well known truths we will be taught well known facts by Solomon the wisest man to ever live. In some cases we will be taught in areas where he failed such as with women. He will teach us the things to watch out for such as the "strange woman."

Proverbs 2:16 To deliver thee from the strange woman,

even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;

Lust:

Proverbs 6:25 Lust not after her beauty in thine heart;

neither let her take thee with her eyelids

The Drunkard and the Glutton:

Proverbs 23:21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

Greed:

Proverbs 15:27 He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house;

but he that hateth gifts shall live.

Just to name a few facts that Solomon will teach his readers.