Bud-and-Flourish

A heart at peace gives life to the body,      but envy rots the bones. -  Proverbs 14:30 (NIV) Scripture teaches us that not all wisdom is from God. Some of what looks and sounds wise is actually rooted in something far more dangerous. James 3:14 reveals that danger, and the book of Numbers shows us exactly how it plays out in real life. “But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.”  James 3:14 (NKJV) Bitter envy is a sin that lurks beneath the surface yet masquerades itself as genuine wisdom.  It often expresses itself through spiritual language, concern, and criticism. Self seeking carries the connotation of one who is merely interested in what he/she can gain. It’s a motivation to get what one wants often at the expense of others. Together they form a psuedo wisdom that appears spiritual but serves a lie rather than the truth.   Numbers 12: Envy Disguised as Concern Numbers 12 gi...

When we think of heroes, we often picture soldiers, doctors, firefighters, or police officers. But during World Wars I and II, one of the most unlikely heroes came in the form of a small, feathered messenger: the carrier pigeon. Carrier pigeons—also known as homing pigeons—were trained to deliver critical messages across battlefields. They possessed an incredible homing instinct that allowed them to fly hundreds of miles back to their home lofts, often under extreme danger. Trainers gradually increased the distance from their home base to strengthen this ability, and when a message needed to go out, it was attached to the pigeon’s leg. These swift messengers flew only one way— from their release location back to their home —making them reliable and invaluable in times of war. Among these brave birds, one stands out:  Cher Ami , a small but mighty pigeon whose courage saved countless lives and cemented his place in history. During the Meuse-Argonne Offensive on October 4, 1918, the ...

Herd Mentality Herd Mentality: The tendency of individuals in a group to think and behave in ways that conform with others, rather than as independent thinkers. (Merriam Webster) The Power of the Mind The human mind is truly fascinating. It’s estimated to have a storage capacity of around 2.5 million gigabytes! Think of all the information we’ve consumed over the course of time. Everything from socioeconomic factors, peers, family, political affiliations, social media, music, popular trends, culture, religion, and even denominational beliefs influence how people think and live today. But we must ask ourselves: How have we allowed these things to shape our thoughts, values, beliefs, and behaviors? Proverbs 23:7 NKJV – “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” With so much information coming at us daily — some subtle, some blatant — whatever we consume the most of will eventually shape our character and show in how we live. Conformed or Transformed? Romans 12:2 NKJV  ...

  Photo by  Ben White  on  Unsplash 1 Peter 1:13-16 NKJV 13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

Amos 5:21-24 21  “I hate, I despise your religious festivals;    your assemblies are a stench to me. 22  22 Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings,   I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings,      I will have no regard for them. 23  23 Away with the noise of your songs!      I will not listen to the music of your harps. 24  24 But let justice roll on like a river,      righteousness like a never-failing stream! God is Love but, His love is not without standards.  We cannot worship God any kind of way and expect Him to accept it.  More than the location of where we worship is how we worship.  The heart of the worshiper is what matters most to God right along with worshiping God according to His standard.   John 4:19-24 NKJV Putting on a mask, pretending to be someone we are not is extremely off putting to ...

Has your walk with the LORD become gilded? Gilded- having a pleasing or showy appearance that conceals something of little worth. Based on pretense, deceptively pleasing 1 of 4 link   Deception Proverbs 26:23  KJV Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross. Burning Lips; fervent lips in some translations Potsherd- broken earthen vessel;  broken piece of pottery Dross- impurities, waste, worthless matter, scum or from the melting process of metals Likened to a piece of pottery covered with silver to mask the brokenness and impurities by which it is truly covered. Part 2 -Hypocrisy  Hypocrisy- pretense of piety, insincerity; a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue; a pretender : pretending, masquerading, and acting like something you are not.  It’s being two-faced, putting on a show.  Hypocrisy and deception go hand in hand and it is an   act  that always displeases God. In Matthew 23 Jesus confront...

Jesus Cleanses the Temple (John 2:13-17) 13  Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.  14  And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers  [ b ] doing business.  15  When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables.  16  And He said to those who sold doves,  “Take these things away! Do not make   My Father’s house a house of merchandise!”   17  Then His disciples remembered that it was written,  “Zeal for Your house   [ c ] has eaten Me up.”