We're trying to make it to Sunday School today. We haven't been back there in three weeks. I miss the class.
Small Banks Face Financial Challenges. After bailing out the largest banking institutions in 2009, one financial expert says that there is "really very little lifeline available for the small institutions that are suffering." As a result, John Kanas (whose private equity firm bought BankUnited of Florida three months ago) predicts that as many as 1,000 smaller institutions will go under over the next two years. We pray for domestic policy advisors and leaders in Congress to deal with this issue that is so critical to American families.
10 God loves all who hate evil,
And those who love him he keeps safe,
Snatches them from the grip of the wicked.
11 Light-seeds are planted in the souls of God's people,
Joy-seeds are planted in good heart-soil.
12 So, God's people, shout praise to God,
Give thanks to our Holy God! (The Message)
"He shows from the very nature of God, that we cannot be judged and acknowledged to be his servants unless we depart from sin, and practise holiness. God is in himself the foundation of righteousness, and he must necessarily hate all iniquity, unless we could suppose that he should deny himself; and we have fellowship with him only on the terms of separation from unrighteousness."
(Commentary from Heart Aflame: Daily Readings from Calvin on the Psalms)
"True Life"
Weekend Reading
One of the biggest challenges we have in America today is answer the question, "How do we glorify God with our money?" God has blessed many Christians in the USA with considerable wealth. Even those in our country who are below what we consider the "poverty level" are much better off than many in "third world" countries.
We can glorify God by investing in the kingdom of God. Sounds overly simplistic, but not necessarily so. There are many organizations that call us, sometimes on a daily basis, asking for support. Not all of them are reputable. Many of them are scams, just out to get money. I have found some that very little of the donated money actually goes to the cause. "But when we Christians give with a pure and joyful heart to the poor and needy, support the church, and help fund a missionary, we are laying up treasures in heaven." We don't really need to see an immediate return on our investment, because we know that sometimes it takes time to see results.
We need to remember that everything we own belongs to God. He has merely loaned it to us. We must resist getting caught up in worldly things and worldly attitudes. We must rely on God, who has provided us with everything we need for life and godliness. This is "true life."
"How Honest"
Proverbs 12:22
Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
but those who act faithfully are his delight. (ESV)
God hates lying. Even to the point of telling someone their cookies tasted good when we, in fact, haven't even tried them yet. (Author's example.) How many times do we exaggerate or manipulate a story to serve our purposes?
Some may find the cookie example to be nit-picking. But remember Daniel? The Bible says that his enemies could find no corruption in him. They would have taken any inconsistency that they could find, but the found nothing. Daniel was a man of absolute integrity. Our goal should be the same.
I will say, however, that there are places in Scripture where God rewarded a lie. "Whaaaaat??" you might say. It's true. The Hebrew midwives lied about the babies that were born, and God blessed them. Rahab, the harlot (or innkeeper, depending on how you want to translate that) lied about the Hebrew spies when she hid them in her inn. She was rewarded with her family's life when Jericho was destroyed. So don't always assume a lie is wrong. Just most of the time. The only excuse is if it somehow advances the kingdom or purposes of God.
Let me also always be reminded that everything I have came from you. I pray for good stewardship of the resources that you have provided to us. I pray that I will not get caught up in the ways of the world when it comes to financial matters. I fear that, in many ways, I have, and pray for deliverance from any worldy attitudes. Keep us generous when it comes to money, and possessions. We always try to give to various charities, and not just for tax purposes. We honestly feel compelled to help those causes and people. Keep us that way, Father.
I also pray that you keep us from unrighteousness in our lives. I pray that you compel me towrads holiness. I pray that you cause me to desire your face. Let me seek your face, Father.
Grace and peace, friends.