WEEK 8, 2021
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
Upon turning to the age of 100 recently, a former U.S. Secretary of state had this to say about trust: I’ve learned much over that time, but looking back, I’m struck that there is one lesson I learned early and then relearned over and over: Trust is the coin of the realm. When trust was in the room, whatever room that was — the family room, the schoolroom, the locker room, the office room, the government room or the military room — good things happened. When trust was not in the room, good things did not happen. Everything else is details.
Schultz, now considered to be America’s elder statesman stated a lot of wisdom. He’s one of only two Americans to have held four cabinet posts – State, Treasury, Labor and OMB. America needs leaders of this stature. Our world needs more of this kind of leadership. While Schultz wrote about great wisdom, the Bible writes about even more.
According to King Solomon, wisdom is gained from God, “For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding” Proverbs 2:6. … “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” Proverbs 3:5-6. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. James 1:5. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever! Psalms 111:10
Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered. Proverbs 28:26. Don’t trust your own mind, but get wisdom from above. It must be an important goal for all Christians, as it appears 367 times in the King James Bible.
It’s been said that knowledge comes from education, but wisdom comes from experience. Wisdom is knowing what you don’t know. Knowledge will bring you to power, but wisdom brings respect. As Malcom Forbes said: The dumbest people I know are the ones who think they know it all. Real knowledge is the ability to know ones ignorance.
Be careful to not think you know anything just because it has been written, this is particularly true in this supersonic, cyber powered world of rapid factual transmission of allegedly false facts and news. Investigate on your own and be sure that the Bible is the best place to begin.
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SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES
A Christian pastor in China was recently imprisoned and fined for refusing to join the state-supported church. A mob attacked the homes and shops of Christians in Egypt. Terrorists slit the throats of three Christians in Indonesia and beheaded a fourth.
Pew Research Center reports that government restrictions on religion have risen 65 percent since 2007, when Pew began its survey. The level of social hostility has doubled over this time.
Could that ever happen in America?
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THE PANDEMIC:
Wherever you live in the world, you have likely encountered a global pandemic, social isolation, economic slowdown, and civil unrest. Whether or not you have been personally affected by any of these factors, you almost certainly know someone who has. Mental well-being has suffered as a result.
In the USA, according to the CDC:
• 40% of people have experienced a mental or behavioral health condition related to the coronavirus epidemic.
• 1 in 4 have experienced symptoms of depression—4X higher than previous years.
• 1 in 10 had considered suicide at some point during the last 30 days—an increase of 100% from previous years.
• 13.3% of Americans have begun or increased substance use to cope with stress related to the epidemic.
Our mental well-being suffered greatly during 2020.
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QUOTES YOU CAN USE
“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24 (NIV)
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10
Jesus came to save you from yourself. Jake English
Noah was locked in an ark while God was preparing a whole new world. During these days, God is doing the same for each of us.
A world that is different, but one we know little about. Martha Moore
Considering the current state of the World, Truth and Tradition have never been more important.
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