Diligence- Lessons from My Father

 Diligence

May 29, 2026

Proverbs 10:4-5 (NKJV) 

4 He who has a slack hand becomes poor, But the hand of the diligent makes rich. 5 He who gathers in summer [is] a wise son; He who sleeps in harvest [is] a son who causes shame.

I think this was my father’s life verse. At least, yhis was a constant refrain in my youth. Hard work was a way of life on the farm and anyone who was slack in his labors was despised above all others! Any neighbor who’s field was covered in weeds was considered a poor farmer; poor in both money and esteem. Allowing a field to be overgrown was like allowing the thief to rob your house. Harvest time was a particularly busy time. There was a limited time between when the crops ripened and when the winter snows started, so all harvested had to be done in the shortest time possible. It was particularly disastrous if a farmer was injured or sick at harvest time, but fortunately, all his neighbors would pitch in and help. In a farm community, if one had a poor harvest, all had a poor harvest. We looked out for one another.

The only exception to working hard every day was Sunday. Many farmers facing the pressure of getting the corps planted in spring or harvested in fall would work through Sunday. Fortunately, my father honored the sabbath and we took off work every Sunday to go to church. That taught me an important lesson that work was important, but honoring the Lord was essential. No amount of work would make a farmer rich if he neglected to honor the Lord who provided the sun, the soil and the rain. My father knew the source of his life and taught us the same.He was diligent in both work and worship. What a blessing to be raised that way.

  Proverbs 11:24-25 (NKJV) 

24 There is [one] who scatters, yet increases more; And there is [one] who withholds more than is right, But it [leads] to poverty. 25 The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself.

The other important life lesson that my father taught me was to give to the Lord. Our church taught that we were to honor the Lord with our time, talents and treasure. Just as a farmer must sow seed in order to reap a harvest, everyone must sow tithes and offerings in order to reap blessings from the Lord. We were not rich farmers, but we always shared out of what we had. No one in our community would go hungry or was neglected when they were ill. We took care of one another which was our reasonable service to the Lord. There was a richness in this way of life that far surpassed the riches of the world. What we lacked in money we made up on care for one another. Our modern communities could use a little more of that attitude.

So listen to the wisdom of Solomon. Work hard, give unto the Lord, and worship Him in all you do.

Wisdom

 Wisdom

May 28,2026

Proverbs 9:9-10 (NKJV) 

9 Give [instruction] to a wise [man,] and he will be still wiser; Teach a just [man,] and hewill increase in learning. 10 “The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One [is] understanding.

This is one of my favorite proverbs. My birthday was yesterday, and I do hope that I have learned some wisdom in my 77 years (That’s two 7’s, double perfection!) Certainly, in all my learning, I have learned one thing, that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. I have observed many who proclaim themselves wise, but who’s deeds end in destruction. But the man who is truly wise honors the Lord with all of his being, and prospers in a way that the wicked cannot know.

Another scripture that speaks of seventy and seven is in Matthew 18:

Matthew 18:21-22 (NKJV) 

21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me,and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

There is also great wisdom in this verse. One thing I have learned in all my years is that forgiveness is the oil that soothes relationships and is essential to maintaining a happy life. I have seen many lives ruined through unforgiveness and bitterness. How much misery could be avoided if people would learn the wisdom of forgiveness! So if you would permit me to teach you one thing from my 77 years, let if be this, that “to err is human, but to forgive is Devine”, but even humans can forgive when they appeal to heaven for grace and love. I have many faults, but this one thing I have learned; fear the Lord and forgive your brother, and you will be much happier and wiser for it.

Dedication of the Temple

 Dedication of the Temple

May 22, 2026

2 Chronicles 5:11-14 (NKJV) 

11 And it came to pass when the priests came out of the [Most] Holy [Place] (for all the priests who [were] present had sanctified themselves, without keeping to their divisions), 12 and the Levites [who were] the singers, all those of Asaph and Heman and Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, stood at the east end of the altar, clothed in white linen, having cymbals, stringed instruments and harps, and with them one hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets-- 13 indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers [were] as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, [saying:] “[For He is] good, For His mercy [endures] forever,” that the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud, 14 so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.

1 Kings 8:10-11 (NKJV) 

10 And it came to pass, when the priests came out of the holy [place,] that the cloud filled the house of the LORD, 11 so that the priests could not continue ministeringbecause of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD.

The dedication of Solomon’s temple was one occasion in the Old Testament where the manifest presence of the Lord was so heavy that the priests could not stand to minister. The lesson for us today is when we fully dedicate ourselves to worshiping the Lord, His presence will encompass us so that we can do nothing in our own power. We will be totally reliant on the Lord to work through us to accomplish His purposes in the earth. Surely this is a worthy goal! Paul put like this:

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so thatthe power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

We are most able to do mighty things for the Lord when we are weak in our own power. That is a hard lesson for most of us who were taught to be strong and self reliant, but in the Lord, it is His power and authority that matters. So today, dedicate your body, your temple, to serve the lord, to worship His holy name, and let the presence of the Lord work mighty things through you.

Come Let Us Worship

 

Psalm 95:1-7 (NKJV) 1 Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. 3 For the LORD [is] the great God, And the great King above all gods. 4 In His hand [are] the deep places of the earth; The heights of the hills [are] His also. 5 The sea [is] His, for He made it; And His hands formed the dry [land.] 6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. 7 For He [is] our God, And we [are] the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice:

Under His Wings

Under His Wings

May 16, 2026

Psalm 91:1-10 (NKJV) 

1  He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, “[He is] my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” 3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler [And] from the perilous pestilence. 4 He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth [shall be your] shield and buckler. 5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, [Nor] of the arrow [that] flies by day, 6 [Nor] of the pestilence [that] walks in darkness, [Nor] of the destruction [that] lays waste at noonday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; [But] it shall not come near you. 8 Only with your eyes shall you look, And see the reward of the wicked. 9 Because you have made the LORD, [who is] my refuge, [Even] the Most High, your dwelling place, 10 No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;

It is very timely that this passage from Psalms came up in my daily reading today, as we are once again in pandemic scare season. It’s funny how scary diseases only seem to strike in election years! anyway, the World Health Organization (WHO) has been issuing warnings about Hanta virus and Ebola outbreaks. Neither of these have affected anyone anywhere close to Americans shores, but nevertheless, we are supposed to be in a panic about them.

Thus, it’s good to remember that the Lord protects His own. When we dwell under the shadow of His wings, He will protects from every terror and pestilence and no plague shall come near our dwelling. Not that we shouldn’t take prudent precautions, but now is not the time to panic, just because the WHO says so. Trust in the Lord and seek His face and do not be afraid of the terror that comes by night. Make the Lord your dwelling place and no evil shall befall you.

I once knew a girl who was walking home from a late night class at the University of Pittsburgh. That is in a sort of scary neighborhood and it was dark. A suspicious looking guy came near her and she got frightened. She knew of this psalm but couldn’t quote it exactly, but she just shouted, “I’m covered with feathers! I’m covered with feathers!”. That was enough to scare the guy off or at least convince him that she was a crazy woman. Anyway, she was safe and got home without further incident. So remember to dwell in this shadow of the almighty and take refuge under His wings. 

Power and Authority

 Power and Authority

May 15, 2026

Luke 9:1-2 (NKJV) 

1Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. 2 He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

Matthew 28:18-20 (NASB)

18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given toMe in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Ephesians 1:19-21

19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

1 Peter 3:21-22

21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from theflesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.

Revelation 12:10-11

10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying,

“Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.

Yesterday, we were talking about becoming courageous. And the reason that we need to be courageous is so that we can carry out the great commission. And to preach the gospel and make disciples we need to have the courage to exercise the power and authority that He has given us. Through this power we can preach the Word with authority, heal the sick, raise the dead and  se the captives free. So, go therefore, and make disciples…

Becoming Courageous

 Becoming Courageous 

May 14, 2026

Acts 4:13

13 Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that theywere uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.

Acts 4:31

31 And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together wasshaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.

The lesson on “Becoming Courageous” at our mid-week Bible study was very interesting. The Bible is full of stories of courageous people who performed mighty deeds for the Lord, but the basic point of this lesson was that there was something that happened to these people to make them courageous. In the gospels, the apostles were often uncertain and fearful, but in the book of Acts, they are confident and spoke boldly even in the face of much opposition. What happened to them in the meantime? What transformed uneducated and untrained men into mighty men that performed great signs and wonders and who could speak the word of God with boldness?

The difference is Acts 2, the day of Pentecost. It was an encounter with the Holy Spirit that transformed them and filled them with courage. This gives hope to all of us who may think of ourselves as ordinary and not particularly courageous. It gives us hope that we also can be filled with the Holy. Spirit and be emboldened to do whatever the Lord calls us to do. It is the authority of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit who enables us to go forth and make disciples. Jesus gave the command in Matthew 28 to go forth, but it wasn’t until Acts 2 that the apostles were able to respond and preach the gospel to the nations. So take heart. You too can become courageous if you seek the Lord and ask the Holy Spirit to fill your heart with confidence and boldness.