Bud-and-Flourish

Isaiah 66:1-2 Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? 2 For all those things My hand has made, And all those things exist,” Says the Lord. “But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word Fear of the LORD means we give God great reverence, respect, honor and awe of who He is as well as great reverence for His word.  Do you tremble (reverence the word) or scoff at the word of God?  Do you feast on it, being nourished by all that it provides or has it become tasteless, dull and boring to you?  Do you obey it?  While we are not perfect, as we all fall short of God's glory (Romans 3:23), we should indeed be intentional about our relationship with God. Who do we really fear?  Are we fearful of what others say and think?  Remember, Proverbs 29:25 teaches that The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever tr...

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.”