The Fuel Which Ignites

Proverbs 20:1

 

 

1Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

 

You and I already know that God blessed King Solomon with much wisdom because he asked for it. You and I both know that King Solomon was termed the wisest and wealthiest king in the Old Testament. So a king who is wise by God's hand gave you and I insight into the behavior of man thousands of years before. Remember the Word says there is nothing new under the sun. So there is no behavior that has not already been seen. It may be new to you, but God has seen it all. The NKJV Study Bible records the translation of this verse as: "Wine mocks the one who drinks it and the strong drink makes him loud, aggressive, and without self-control. Intoxicating drinks have often led to great misery and suffering. They can lead people astray and cause them to do foolish and abusive things." Have you ever wondered why when people get drunk they get extra loud? Have you ever wondered why when people get drunk they seem to get in a fighting mode? Have you ever wondered why when people get drunk they seem to loose their capacity to think straight and have control over their reflexes? When I was on campus in college, we had visits regularly by the campus police as they said most of their weekends were spent trying to save young people from alcohol poisoning. What does it mean to mock? Merriam-Webster's Dictionary says it means to 1) treat with contempt or ridicule 2) delude 3) defy 4)to mimic in sport or derision. So basically being intoxicated can get you to a place where what you are drinking is making a fool of you. Deluding means to mislead, deceive, trick. So being intoxicated can get you to the point where you see things that may not be present. Wine and Spirits- they are called spirits for a reason. Let's look at it from it a different perspective.

 

The translation said it can make a person aggressive, without self-control and even abusive. I recall being at comedian Dick Gregory's 80th birthday celebration at a comedy house in Washington, D.C. There he mentioned how alcohol often plays a factor in abuse. Well, the word is true. In the most recent cases of domestic violence involving former Baltimore Ravens player Ray Rice, R&B singer Kyle Norman from the group Jagged Edge both were very much intoxicated. Kyle Norman tried to choke his fiancé to death and attempted to shove the engagement ring he gave her down her throat. Even in the domestic violence situations I witnessed growing up, most times, drunkenness was a factor. It brings out what is hidden, deep-rooted. Alcohol is no excuse for abuse but it can bring out anger that is already there and ignite it ten times greater than what it is there. My personal refusal to drink was long before I understood it in the word of God but rather because alcoholism is a disease and I have seen the disease and wanted no part of it. The word states that God's people are not to be drunk with wine but rather with the Holy Spirit. How can you hear the Spirit of the Lord when you hear the spirit of something else tricking, deceiving and misleading you? It's something to think about. What you do is between you and God that is for sure. But when you harm another because of your actions then it's everyone's problem. Being intoxicated with alcohol can be a fuel which ignites something horrible including loss of freedom and/or life. "You are your brother's keeper." You can be joyous and happy without being intoxicated as long as you love life, your own and that of others.

Is the Love Obvious?

Song of Solomon 1:2, 9

 

2Let him kiss me with kisses of his mouth-for your love is better than wine. 9I have compared you, my love, to my filly among Pharaoh's chariots.

 

We are in the commercialized season of love. Love is everyday. How so? The expressions of love are made known in many ways. It's not just about how you feel but how you treat one another, time spent and how you are willing to do and care for one another.

 

The Song of Solomon is the "book of love" in the Old Testament. There are some very hot and heavy moments in the Song of Solomon. Yes, even in the Bible there is a place for romantic love. Remember, love is at the core of Christian life. There are many types of love but the first human relationship ever established on earth was between man and woman. Next to your relationship with God, this is a very important and influential relationship. The Shulamite woman and Solomon were obviously in love just from the scripture above. Yes, even in the life of believers, there needs to be some passion in your relationship. Passion should be fueled by love not lust. Love requires respect, care, devotion. It is noted in the NKJV Study Bible that banquets by the royal families consisted mostly of wine and thought to be the best item of consumption for celebration. The Shulamite woman emphasized that the love Solomon provided was better than wine. And no, they were not talking about intercourse itself. For it was not customary for a man and woman to consummate their relationship with intercourse until after the official marriage ceremony. And though it may seem that Solomon compared the Shulamite woman to an animal, according to the animal chart in the NKJV Study Bible, a filly was the finest of Egyptian horses. Their love for one another was very obvious. The question for you: is the love obvious? Love can never be boxed into one day or even a week. True love has no end. The strongest earthly bond is to be the marital bond as noted in Song of Solomon chapter 8. The problem is the bond between man and woman is taken for granted, misused and abused. The bond between man and woman has even been taken out of context and made to be some casual occurrence. It is not. It is a powerful one that if not nurtured correctly can leave a lot of scar tissue. But if nurtured correctly can be one full of support, companionship and passion. Your bond should not be casual. It ought to have purpose. Your bond of love ought to be obvious and have direction, not just because a day has been designated to do so. Is the love obvious?

Special Announcement

Good Evening Everyone,

 

I hope you are enjoying the Super Bowl festivities and the commercials. I was told to make this announcement to everyone so I want to be sure you know. I am officially a contributing writer for The Divine Voice Magazine  http://www.thedivinevoicemag.com/. Be sure to subscribe! A review of my latest book, "Shh Don't Tell" will also appear in the next issue. I praise God for He is worthy to be praised!! I thank God for this humbling opportunity as well as The Divine Voice Magazine and the GCV Network.

 

Blessings and love to you,

 

-Joy

Train Up a Child with Knowledge and Wisdom

Proverbs 22:6

6Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

  

As much as the scripture above makes sense, some do not realize that the habits children are taught or "caught" will stay with them. Even if they are not beneficial and potentially dangerous they will have them. I work in an educational environment and meet many people from different walks of life. But last night, I was really disturbed by what I witnessed. A young man with his younger sister and mother were present. I was meeting the other family members for the first time. We were having casual conversation when suddenly, the young sister decided to say what she had done earlier that day. She yelled to her older brother that she wanted to go outside and play in the snow. He thinking nothing of it, didn't bother to check that she was properly dressed to play in the snow though it was cold outside. This young girl who could be no more than 11 said she had recorded herself, via phone outside in her under garments playing in the snow. Seriously!  I stopped what I was doing with the older brother and proceeded to speak to the young girl to explain how much of an absolute unacceptable behavior that was. The mother chimed in. I let the young lady know about predators and that she is never to do so such a thing. I looked her directly in her eyes to reiterate this and even let her know that I unfortunately know from experience without going into detail. I kept asking if what I was saying was crystal clear. The mother then began to say never to take half-naked pictures of herself to display. I asked again, was it clear. She still had the look on her face like she didn't get what the big issue was. I hope that was a wake up call for the mother.

Now, why am I telling you this? The conversation that was had in front of me, a complete stranger, should've been had a long time ago. I reminded the brother to never let his sister out of the house without first checking to make sure she is properly dressed with hat, gloves, etc. I said she could've suffered frost bite, etc. And being the adult in the house at the time, it was still his responsibility. Now I also know a few other things that were expressed in a previous meeting by the young man and now I see what he meant. Parents, I will address you. Do not think it is someone else's responsibility to explain to children about predators, sex or anything else. You are the first teachers. The teenage years are often too late to discuss these topics. Children are under attack in their infant and toddler years. Have you not seen the news? And an alarming but true statistic, 85% of the time, children are abused by someone they know. It does not matter that the subject is uncomfortable to you. It's supposed to be uncomfortable. More importantly, IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU. It's about the young life God has given you charge of. And many of you are afraid to read my book, "Shh Don't Tell." This is exactly why you ought to read it. A fellow co-worker and psychologist said, "the young girl lacks attention and is a prime target for a predator."  This statement goes along with what I learned in a previous meeting.

God continues to remind me why He gave me the project and the next steps. It's on behalf of children like the one I met last night. Talk to your children so they do not end up on the news or milk cartons please. Train up a child with knowledge and wisdom. That means you have to have knowledge and wisdom too. Hosea 4:6 says we perish from a lack of knowledge, children included.

Something Meaningful

Proverbs 14:3

 

3In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride, but the lips of the wise will preserve them.

 

How many times have you come across a fool? Jesus even referred to people as being fools in parables. Merriam-Webster's dictionary defines a fool as a person who lacks sense or judgment. The second definition is one who spends time idly, thoughtlessly or even in ignorance. A fool does just that. But how many fools do you know who don't even know they are fools?  What you hear from them is a lot of arrogance and pride yet they are positive that they make total sense. With that being said, those who are wise, you hear wisdom from their mouths and they are not idle. Wisdom comes from God. You cannot gain wisdom doing idle things. You gain wisdom by seeking God. You gain wisdom by being in the presence of godly council. You gain wisdom by being with those who are where you are trying to go. Wisdom is actually stated as one of the spiritual gifts from God. It is the same gift which God bestowed to King Solomon. He asked for it and God gave it. Wisdom is found in the opposite place where fools reside, in idle things.

 

I cannot tell you how many times I come across those who are occupying their time with foolish things. But what is so appalling is they really believe they know what they are doing and are perfectly fine doing it. One of the definitions for insanity on dictionary.com is extreme foolishness, folly, senselessness. So being a fool can be equated on some level with insanity though this is not to make light of anyone dealing with mental disorders. But a fool who keeps speaking foolish things and continues in foolish things without a desire and drive to become wise seeks his or her own end. Is that not insanity? Did not God say in His word that people perish from a lack of knowledge? Did not God say in His word that in all things get understanding? If you dare not gain wisdom, knowledge and understanding and then act on them you are wasting your time. And you don't even know how much time you have remaining. All you know is the time you have used up. With the time you have remaining, are you spending it wisely? With the time you have remaining are you spending it with people who mean you well, want to see you succeed and have a common goal of wanting to be better, do better? With the time you have remaining are you spending it doing the things you were put here do? With the time remaining are you saying something meaningful?

 

P.S. If you have not signed up for the writers teleconference on www.getyourjoyinthemorning.com time is running out! This event will not happen again anytime soon.

Happy New Year!

To every reader and bystander whose eyes grace the screen,

It's by faith that one finds purpose and healing.

We wish you and your family a very wonderful New Year! May you grow in your faith and love of Christ in 2015 and may you understand the beautiful gifts God placed inside of you to use for His glory. And as the Word says, "your gifts will make room for you and place you among great men."

Get to Work

Genesis 41:44

44Pharoah also said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no man may lift his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt."

How did Joseph get to be second in command only to Pharaoh over a vast and wealthy land? The answer. God gave Joseph a dream. The dream God gave Joseph was back in chapter 37. Joseph believed in his dream. He just didn't know how he was going to get there. God took Joseph through so many steps, including adversity, to shape and mold him to the leader God needed him to be in order to rule a land. Joseph had many practice runs of being "faithful over a few things." And then just as Jesus said in the parable of the Talents, "I will make you ruler over many things."  But how did Joseph get there? He kept his dream in the forefront of his mind, he worked hard, and with each opportunity God blessed him with he remained grateful and faithful.

How many of you did God give a dream to? Have you kept it in the forefront of your mind? Have you gone to work on it? When God has given you the opportunity to move forward with your dream, are you faithful? Sometimes God presents opportunities at "uncomfortable" or "inconvenient" times to see how you will respond. Have you taken seriously the dream and vision He entrusted you with? We are coming up on New Year's. So many people create resolutions of what they plan to do but often fail to follow through. How many times have you bypassed the dreams and visions God gave you? Why?

Do you know that each place where you spend money or each product you purchase started as someone else's dream and vision? Do you know that each time you spend money at Starbucks, hair/nail salons, clothes, stores, they are all someone else's dream and vision actualized. So you walk around with and wear someone else's vision yet you do not see the value in moving forward with the dreams and visions God gave you. Does it make any sense? Whether that dream God gave you is a business, service, book, etc, you only have a finite amount of time to get it actualized. You just don't know how long that is. Wouldn't it make more sense to sacrifice those Starbucks visits for a month or two to start working toward what God gave you? But you don't know how you say? If you ask God to open doors, show you where to go and who to talk to in order to move forward, He will do it. But when He presents it to you, do not grumble. If you are not willing to invest in you, why should anyone else?

I am holding a teleconference in January. It will be the last one for quite some time. Visit www.getyourjoyinthemorning.com for details. If what is being offered relates to what God has given you to do, then register. If not, and God has given you something else to do, stop devaluing your dream and vision and get to work.