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In these verses in Proverbs we find a comparison between a merry heart and a sorrowful heart. Verse 13 tells us that you can tell the condition of a man's heart by looking at his countenance (his facial appearance). When people are happy, you can tell by the sparkle in their eyes, their smile and their cheerful attitude. When they are older, they will even have what we call "smile wrinkles" instead of the wrinkles caused by frowning. Indeed, facial looks reveal a lot about a person. Even children speak up when they see someone who is unkind. Just by observing the countenance on someone, they might say, "That is a mean man."


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Affordable Podcasting $5.99 a month includes Web Hosting We all have experiences in our lives that cause us to be broken-hearted about an incident. The scripture tells us that if we allow this sorrow of heart to continue, it can break our spirits.

How can we get over heart break over the loss of someone or something? We must give the person or situation to the Lord and ask Him to remove the sorrow and grief from our hearts. We can keep the good memories of a lost loved one, but we must not allow the enemy to torment us with the grief of our loss. God will replace the emptiness we feel from the loss of a mate, a child, a friend or a home, if we ask Him to do this. Jesus died on the cross, not only to give us eternal life, but He also died to take our grief and sorrows. Jesus Christ, on the cross bore all of our iniquities, pain, sickness and sorrow. Since He took them, we do not have to take these things, but rather receive our salvation, healing, deliverance and peace by faith.

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Thoughts for the Day

As we continue to look at the wisdom in the book of Proverbs we see that individual righteousness influences corporate righteousness, especially when a righteous person is in a position of leadership. Truly "no man is an island" unto himself. Each of our individual actions will have an effect on those around us. We can influence the world by our good deeds or our evil deeds. We each have a choice as to how we will live. Verse 10 tells us that when there are good reports in a city, the city rejoices. The city also has shouts of joy when criminals are arrested or evil is overthrown in a city. It is sad to say in our day, there seems to be more reports of evil than reports of good. When leadership is corrupt in high places, it filters down to all levels of our society and whole cities suffer.

In countries where there is democracy and the people are allowed to vote, the people have a responsibility to elect qualified moral leaders to their leadership posts. The devil uses lies to keep many people from voting. He wants to keep godly men and women away from the voting booth and get the candidates of his choice elected instead. If we do nothing, it makes it easy for the enemy to help those who could become the wrong leadership for our nations. Here are some of the lies the devil whispers to people to attempt to keep them from voting:

"My one vote doesn't count anyway." "I'm disillusioned by the whole political process." "I'm already too busy to take the time to cast an informed vote, so I just don't vote at all." "Politics are corrupt anyway and as a Christian I don't want to be involved."

These are just some of the excuses that people use to justify their failure to exercise their civil responsibility to vote. Only heaven will reveal the many opportunities that we had to change things for the better in our nations, yet we failed to do so because we did not use our right to vote. We do not realize the privilege we have to be able to have a voice in the choice of who shall be our leaders and what kind of laws should govern our land. If we were to go to a country that did not afford its people this right and live under the usual dictators that rule those countries, we might be more thankful for this advantage.

The heart of God is expressed in the Bible for His concern for government leaders by telling us that we should pray in this vein when we look at the admonition in the following verses:

1 Timothy 2:1-4: "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. "

Should we not assume that if the Lord would have us pray for leaders, would He not also want us to use every opportunity to assist in electing the leaders that would be the best ones for promoting peace and righteousness? Yes, Jesus, himself said in Luke 20:25: "And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's."

If we have been given a civil responsibility by government (Caesar) to vote, we should take that opportunity. Caesar was the Roman emperor at that time, so Jesus was telling them they were to pay their taxes, as well as support the work of God. These scriptures tell us as Christians that we are to be good citizens as well and pay our taxes. As good citizens in our nations, we should not leave the operation of the government to ungodly men if we have opportunity to change things. How can we prevent that? One way is to use our one vote wisely. We will be accountable before God as to how we voted. Another iss(continued)

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Thoughts for the Day

These verses in the book of Proverbs describe the ways of a prostitute, with a warning of the deadly fate that awaits those who embrace her. The description of the whore in verse 13 is one of a foolish woman who is noisy and open to all forms of evil. She is willfully reckless and knows nothing of eternal values. Verses 14 and 15 describe her at the door of her house inviting the upright men to come in. She even finds her way to the "high places" or places of influence in the city, tempting those men to join her in "stolen waters" and "the eating of bread in secret." This is simply a description of forbidden sexual pleasures that are done in secret. Those that lack understanding and are easily led astray by their lust, will turn into her house (verse 16). Men who go there, will join the past transgressors that embrace death, and the whore's ways. Ultimately they all will end up in hell unless they repent and turn to God (verse 18).

The deeds of wicked women are recorded in the Bible so that we might observe their lives and learn the consequences of sin. One of the most wicked women in the whole Bible was the woman known as Jezebel. Her complete story is told in chapters 16, 18, 19 & 21 of 1 Kings and chapter 9 of 2 Kings. Jezebel was a strong woman in intellect and will. The scripture does not mention that she had any of the finer, nobler feminine qualities. She was savage and relentless. This proud and strong minded female carried out her foul schemes unmercifully. Her evil plans included murder of an innocent man, to seize his property because her husband, Ahab desired it for his own. She was a gifted woman, yet she prostituted all her gifts for the furtherance of evil and her misdirected talents became a curse. Persuasive, her influence was wrongly directed. Resolute above other women, she used her strength to destroy a king and her own offspring, as well as pollute the life of a nation. Jezebel was an ardent idolater, who also practiced witchcraft, as she sought to convert Israel to Baal worship. Her own life ended in a horrible tragic death as she reaped what she had sown.

Perhaps one of Jezebel's worst traits was that she was a dominating and controlling wife. Ahab was like a puppet in the hands of his overpowering wife. Spineless Ahab did not resist the evil scheming of his ruthless wife. In this marriage, Ahab was the weaker vessel, with a wife who mocked at what conscientious scruples he did possess. It could have been that Ahab was more luxury-loving and sensual than cruel, but under the complete domination of a ruthless woman, he was forced to act against his finer feelings. Today, many women are falling under this same "Jezebel Spirit" as they want to rule their households and husbands. They are determined to have their own way and are not submitted to the Lord. True submission involves both husband and wife submitting to the Lord; then, they are able to submit one to another in love. Men can act like "Jezebels" too if they have a domineering attitude over their wives. Women like Jezebel, who have led their husbands astray, are still doing it today.

However, women who move in faith and obedience to God can be responsible for influencing their husbands in the things of God. As this kind of woman prays and reaches out in love, the whole atmosphere of the home can change. It would be quite a revelation to take inventory of how many men came to know the Lord Jesus as a result of the faith of some woman. I have heard of thousands of testimonies of men who were saved as a direct result of a praying mother, wife or girlfriend. Jezebel may have led her man astray, but God has used many women to bring their men back to Him. Allegiance and submission to the Lord bring miracles of deliverance to entire families.

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Proverbs Day 49 (KJV):

Proverbs 8:15-17:(KJV): "By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. 16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth. 17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me."

Thoughts for the Day

Our study in the book of Proverbs continues with an emphasis on the value of having God's wisdom. These verses tell us that good rulers in the earth will rule justly, by using the sound wisdom that is recorded in the Bible. Any student of history knows that throughout the ages the most prosperous and blessed earthly kingdoms have been those that had a Christian influence coming from the leadership of those nations.

Historically, when true Christianity came to any region, those who were practicing Christ's commands would began to reach out to help the poor, the oppressed, the sick, and needy. Most of our present day hospitals, charity centers, orphanages and rescue missions were all founded by Christians in keeping with the Biblical commands of Christ to demonstrate His love to a needy world. God has always been interested in helping the weak, the feeble and afflicted. Ungodly societies destroy their weak, helpless and burdensome members.

We are praying that the ungodly practice of abortion will cease in all nations that now legally allow and encourage it. This practice does not show the love of God toward babies or basic respect for human life. Rather, it is an unloving act that is adversely affecting all of society. The more we harden our hearts to the idea of protecting the sanctity of human life, the more susceptible we all become to violent crimes against humanity. Regardless of what those who believe in abortion rights claim, most abortions are not done to protect the mother's life or some other so-called valid reason, but rather to allow the parents to escape their responsibility of caring for the little life they had a part in creating. Most abortions are done out of pure selfishness. The mother and father simply did not want a child to interfere with their plans. The Bible teaches we are to overcome selfishness, not encourage it. We need to reverse the law in our land that allows abortions so freely, as the soul of our nation has accepted a practice that we will all regret. The consequences of murder is "a life for a life" and this will mean the loss of much life in any nation that practices abortion unless the people repent.

Numbers 35:33: "So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it."

In verse 17 of Proverbs 8, the Lord says, that He will love those that love Him. How do we show love for God? We show it by loving one another and keeping His commandments. If we desire to have His favor and love, then we must seek Him "early" or to put it another way, we must seek Him early enough, before His patience and mercy runs out and we are faced with severe judgment on our nations. We must repent and turn back to God and obey His commandments.

Prayer for the Day

Dear Heavenly Father, We do ask you to forgive the sin of murder, due to the abortions in our nation. Lord, this sin of murder began with the sin of lust and selfishness. Deliver Your people from these sins. Help me Lord, to overcome my own selfishness, and be willing to lay down my wants for the sake of the kingdom of God. Help me to think of others and their needs, and not concentrate so much on my own needs. Thank you, that You are taking care of my needs, so that I can help and bless others. Lord, I pray for the leaders of our nation. Give them wisdom, protect them from harm, give them strength and health. Turn our nation back to the Christian principles that it was founded upon. Thank you, Lord for being merc(continued)

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Proverbs Day 48 (KJV):

Proverbs 8:14(KJV): "Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength."

Thoughts for the Day

Proverb's theme of God's wisdom runs throughout this book. These verses tell us that God's wisdom will give us sound counsel. Many people today are seeking their counsel in the wrong places and most of the time, the advice they are receiving is not based on God's Word, but rather, is usually telling people to be selfish and look after "number one." So many are going to fortune tellers, psychics, card readers, astrology books, etc. The Bible warns us that this type of counsel is not only wrong, but is opening one's spirit up to a form of witchcraft. When people are seeking advice from anyone who claims to have supernatural powers, (other than the true power of Christ and His prophets, and servants;) they are committing a sin, that the Lord calls an abomination.

Deuteronomy 18:9-15: "When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.
10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,
11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
13 Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.
14 For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.
15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken."

These verses in Deuteronomy mention several very wicked things these nations were doing, because they did not know God. They were using divination, astrology (observering the times), and getting their advice or counsel from enchanters or witches and wizards. They were seeking the dead (necromancy) and having seances (consulting with familiar spirits). They were even offering their children to the god Molech to be burned (verse 10). Our civilized world today thinks how ghastly that was for people to murder their own children. However, our modern society does the same thing by committing abortion. Many nations of the world are killing their children before they are born. This is murder and is also an abomination in the sight of God.

God does not want us to seek counsel in the wrong places. He wants to direct us and give us His understanding. He declares that He is wisdom, understanding and strength. Moses wrote the book of Deuteronomy and in Verse 15 he tells us that we are to seek the true Prophet, Jesus. If God shows us something that we should do and we feel we could not possibly do it or face it, His promise to His children is to give them the strength to accomplish it. One of the greatest scriptures we can quote for strength is found in the New Testament:

Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

We are also told that the way to overcome is not to rely on our own strength and wisdom, but to look to God for for His counsel and His advice and His strength to obey Him. He promises to give us the strength to resist and overcome the temptations that we face. We are told in Ephesians 6:10: "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." He did not tell me I had to be strong in my own strength, but rather, to "be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." I can rely on Him for all I need, He will give me His might. I can trust the Words of the Bible to be the right advice. I can t(continued)