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    • Listening for Wisdom’s voice

      Posted at 7:00 am by sneuhofer, on November 7, 2017

      Proverbs 9:6 Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight.”

      Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

      Proverbs 9 looks specifically at both wisdom and foolishness. Reading through the entire book of Proverbs I have “heard” wisdom’s voice – but did I apply the wisdom I heard to my life?

      In the very first verse of this Proverb I read “Wisdom has built her house.” When I think of building a house, I think about all the time that goes into the construction. So what I believe this verse “Wisdom has built her house” is saying is that I can’t expect to be wise all f a sudden. It’s a continual process that takes time. Wisdom begins by stopping my foolish ways (v. 6) and starting to respect the Lord (v. 10).  I have to grow in Him; learn from Him; listen to Him and to the advice of trusted others.

      It is important to stop here and define who a “trusted other” is. A “trusted other” is someone who has gained wisdom themselves by putting their faith, hope and trust in the Lord.  I urge you not to go to “friends” seeking guidance for your life when they themselves are not walking in the light of Christ. It is so important to seek out friends that have already obtained the wisdom we desire. Friends that haven’t obtained the wisdom we desire can lead us astray. Proverbs 9:17 warns “stolen water is sweeter, and food eaten in secret tastes better.” I know that I can get wrapped up in the “things” of this world. After all, if sin wasn’t so much fun no one would do it… right? Take a look at what the very next verse, verse 18 has to say. “But these people don’t know that everyone who goes there dies, that her guests end up deep in the grave.”

      Well meaning friends who don’t know Christ can lead us down a worldly path to death and destruction. I am trying to live a life that honors Christ, so it is up to me to seek out those friends who give me Godly counsel.

      Proverbs 9:11 tells us that when we live wisely; we will live life to its fullest – because wisdom adds years to our lives.

      Related reading: Matthew 7:13 – 14, Matthew 7:21 – 23, Galatians 6: 7 – 8, Matthew 6:24, Romans 6:23

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      Posted in Godly counsel, Godly relationships, trusted advisors | 0 Comments
    • How do you love someone you don’t know?

      Posted at 8:00 am by sneuhofer, on November 1, 2017

      2 John: 4 – 6 (MSG) “I can’t tell you how happy I am to learn that many members of your congregation are diligent in living out the Truth, exactly as commanded by the Father. But permit me a reminder, friends, and this is not a new commandment but simply a repetition of our original and basic charter: that we love each other (emphasis mine). Love means following his commandments, and his unifying commandment is that you conduct your lives in love (emphasis mine). This is the first thing you heard, and nothing has changed.”

      In John’s second letter, Christians are encouraged to remember the command we’ve heard from the beginning; love each other. We must live a life of love; the way God commanded us to live (v.6).

      When you love someone you want to be with them all the time. You think about them, anticipate conversations with them, you can’t get enough of them. They consume you. So think about this in the terms of how we go through our daily lives. If I am called to love God and love my neighbor as myself (Luke 10:27), I have to look inward and ask myself a few tough questions:

      • Am I spending time in God’s word everyday learning more about Him?
      • Am I talking to Him (praying) throughout the day?
      • Am I including Him in the events of my life?
      • Do I see others the way He sees them?
      • Do I love the people God loves? (yes, even the unlovable people)

      Based on these questions, I know I have some work to do.

      So, how about you?

      What about the people you don’t know…are you suppose to love them? If we are to love our neighbor, does that mean just the people that live on either side of us or are we suppose to look at the word neighbor differently? I think God wants us to love like He loves…and His word tells us that He loves EVERYONE. So much so that He gave his one and only son that whoever believed in Him could have eternal life with Him (John 3:16).

      So how do I love people I don’t know? Look carefully at where God is working around you. Let me give you a few ideas:

      • Go on prayer walks around your neighborhood or mall
      • Serve at a homeless shelter
      • Visit the elderly in a nursing home
      • Spend time with the parents of a sick child in a children’s hospital
      • Go to hospital waiting room and just pray over the people there (God may even give you an opportunity to minister to someone)

      Where is God working around you? He is at work in your community., you just have to look carefully. For example: He uses churches and other community organizations to reach people. So what are they doing?  What about going on a mission’s trip? When you hear the news does your heart draw to one story or another? God is at work! How can you be His hands and feet?

      May I challenge you today to find out where God is working around you and serve Him wholeheartedly – reach out with His hands – walk with His feet – hug with His arms – love with His heart. You will be amazed how blessed you feel just being a part of it all.

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      Posted in loving and serving others | 0 Comments
    • From temporary blindness to enternal sight

      Posted at 8:30 am by sneuhofer, on October 31, 2017

      John 9:39 (MSG) Jesus then said, “I came into the world to bring everything into the clear light of day, making all the distinctions clear, so that those who have never seen will see, and those who have made a great pretense of seeing will be exposed as blind.”

      Do you have your Bible out? Today’s post comes from John 9, you might want to follow along in your Bible.

      Have you ever wondered why God allows things to happen? I know I have, but each day that I grow closer to Jesus, I see that God will use our deepest hurt and make something beautiful. It is our job to trust His timing and process.

      In John 9, Jesus and his disciples come across a blind man who has been blind since birth. The Bible doesn’t tell us how old he is, but what we do know is he has never been able to see anything. One of the disciples poses a question, “Teacher, whose sin caused this man to be born blind – his own or his parents?” (v. 2)

      Jesus’ responded “Neither. This man was born blind so that God’s power could be revealed in him.” The disciples were getting ready to see Jesus perform another miracle. But how would Jesus open this man’s eyes?

      Jesus spit on the ground and started mixing it with dirt to make mud. He then placed the mud on the man’s eyes and told him to go wash in the pool of Siloam. The Bible tells us the blind man went and washed and came back seeing.

      What do you think the journey back must have been like? This man had been blind since birth; he had never seen another human being, a flower, a tree, a bird, the sun. Can you imagine what must have been going through this man’s mind?

      The man’s neighbors were there and they questioned if he was the same blind man they saw begging earlier. Wait? What?  If these people were neighbors wouldn’t they have recognized him? Can you just hear the former blind guy’s answer?

      “Look at me! You guys had to have seen me more than a few times. I have lived here my entire life! How can you even question…that I am the same man who, just minutes ago, couldn’t see ANYTHING! “Yes! Of course it’s me! I can see! I can see!”  Can’t you just him jumping and shouting with absolute exhilaration?

      Can you believe their response? It’s in verses 8 and 9.  “No” his neighbors said “it only looks like him!”

      I don’t know about you, but I kinda picture the former blind guy standing there with his jaw hung open in disbelief. Perhaps his response was something like “Hey guys… It’s me! It’s really me!”

      Everyone wanted to know how he got his sight. “Jesus… it was Jesus that healed me!”

      But the Pharisees didn’t believe the man had been blind since birth. So they sent for his parents. Throughout this entire story I can’t help but imagine what the former blind guy must have been thinking? “Ummm…hello??? I’m telling the truth! Jesus healed me. I should know this!  Why won’t you listen???”

      When the leaders asked the parents, they were afraid to step out of their comfort zone and told the Pharisees their son could answer for himself. They let fear of what people on this earth could do them trump the blessing of the miracle. One more time the Pharisees asked the man to tell the truth.

      I think by this point had I been the former blind man, there would have been “begging” in my tone.  Pleading with the Pharisees and the people in my neighborhood to believe me. His response to the Pharisees question, “All I know is that I once was blind but now I see!” (v25)

      Can’t you just hear the exchange? Of course, I hear it in my own words… “I’ve told you people what he (Jesus) did and how he did it… but it’s a miracle and I am amazed!!!  Aren’t you? You should follow him too… I know he can heal whatever illness you have.”

      I can just imagine the anger rising up in the Pharisees. They were blind to the truth of who Jesus really was. Sadly, because of their blindness, they threw the man out of the Temple.

      When Jesus heard about what had happened, he found the man and asked him one simple question. “Do you believe?” The man’s response, “Lord, I believe!” and the man worshiped him.

      The man gave up everything and followed Jesus.

      What would you have done if you were faced with a similar circumstance? Would you stand up, like this man did, for the One who healed you? Or would you be crippled with fear of what “man” could do to you?

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      Posted in spiritual blindness | 1 Comment
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