"A Quote For The Weekend"

"I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence I can reach for; perfection is God's business"

-- Michael J. Fox

A Quote For The Weekend

"I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence I can reach for; perfection is God's business"

-- Michael J. Fox
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Coach Otis Henderson
Christian Cultural Center
718-306-1000, ext. 1341 (office)
917-217-4619 (mobile)
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

"Don't Ever Give Up!"

Good morning!
Spring has sprung, no? What a beautiful morning here in Brooklyn, NY!! Thank God!!

Our bold print is verses 17-18, NLTse:

Proverbs 23:17-18
17 "Don't envy sinners, but always continue to fear the Lord."

18 "You will be rewarded for this; your hope will not be disappointed."

Have you been praying for something in your life? Do you have a desire to accomplish something great for God- to bless others? Do you have a dream that you know can only be accomplished with God's help? I have several dreams like that!

Well, this passage reminds us not to look at the success of others. We are to reminded that if we maintain a reverence for the Lord and live our lives applying the wisdom that we learn here --- we will NOT be disappointed!! NO MATTER what it looks like! People willl disappoint us and circumstances may look bleak - but IF we fear the Lord we will be rewarded and our hopes will not be disappointed!!!

I don't know about you, but I needed to hear that word!! We are human and sometimes get distracted by "what things look like"; but God will never disappoint us!! "The fear of the Lord is the begininng of wisdom" that will guide us to trust fully in the Lord!

So, don't look at circumstances...keep your faith and focus on the Lord!!

"Choose Them Wisely"

Good morning, Wise Ones,
It's really inspiring to see you each morning, dedicated to studying Proverbs...

Our bold print are verses 24-25, the Message version:

Proverbs 22:24-25
24 Don't hang out with angry people; don't keep company with hotheads.

25 Bad temper is contagious — don't get infected. THE MESSAGE

This passage is pretty straight-forward in and of itself. I just want to continue the thought to the next logical step: this also applies to people with other bad habits - not just being hotheaded or angry people...

Have you ever hung out with people who complain all the time? (By "hang out", we mean people we spend alot of time with, not just a casual acquaintance) When you hang out with people who complain all the time, soon you find yourself complaining about everything too!! Then, before you know it; everything annoys you and you are constantly complaining!!

So please, as we have discussed MANY times before, choose your friends wisely!! You - we, are influenced by the company that we keep...

Make the choice to be wise!!

To "See" Is a Gift!!

Good morning everyone!
It's great to see you again after a great weekend!!!

Our bold print today is found in verse 12, NLTse:

Pr 20:12

"Ears to hear and eyes to see— both are gifts from the Lord."

The ability to hear and see are physical gifts given to us when God created us! We need to thank God and not take that for granted!! However, I want to bring your attention to the spiritual side of this "gift", as well... Provebrs 22:3 says this:

Pr 22:3

"A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it." NIV

As those seeking to be wise, we need to see more than just the physical! We need to watch where we go, what we do, and foresee (see it before it happens) danger; or the wrong paths. In verse 27 of this chapter, it states, "the Lord directs our steps...", but we must pay attention to the details of our life and not just wander around without a purpose. That is how you end up on the wrong path....

"Well, how do we "see" stuff, Coach?" If that is your question, then I take you back to my favorite section of Proverbs, guys:

Proverbs 2:6-9
6 For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

7 He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.

8 He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him.

9 Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go.

Make the choice!!!

"Wisdom Teaches Control"

Good morning,
I pray your morning is going well! Pay someone a compliment today - no matter how you feel! When you add value to someone's life; it makes YOU smile too...

Our bold print today is verse 27, NLTse, and is another one of those verses that just says it all!!:

Proverbs 17:27

27 "A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered."

It's another verse about our mouths! "A truly wise person uses few words" - a wise person knows that it is not always good to say everything on your mind. The NIV actually says "uses words with restraint" or control. The last part of the verse just instructs us AGAIN, to have self-control. As we have discussed in previous posts...self-control is a choice!

I will close this post by bringing your attention to a companion verse that relates so well to our bold print:

James 1:19-20 (NIV)
19 "My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, "

20" for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. "

Make the choice!!

"Compass or A Clock?"

Good morning all!
I am sorry I missed you guys yesterday. I had a SUPER early meeting in the City and ended up doing my devotions on the express bus. I forgot to post my bold print from my mobile phone. Please accept my apology...OK? But, I am SURE that you received your own bold print from Proverbs 15 yesterday... :)

OK, we are going to do something different today. My bold print is verse 9, NLTse; but the comments will come from another source. I get an online monthly leaership devotional emailed to me from the NLT website. Today's fit so well with my bold print, I decided to share it with you...

Proverbs 16:9

We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.

Compass or Clock?

A friend said, “My problem is that I have surrendered my time to work, to other people, and to bad habits.”

That truly is the problem, not only for my friend but also for many of us. We should first surrender our time to God. God owns it anyway. Unfortunately, we often ask God to wait in line for leftover time. No wonder life seems out of sync! We need help with our task to manage properly what has been entrusted to us until Christ returns or wants it back, and that includes our time.

Think about a compass and a clock. Two very important tools with two very different purposes. One would be wise not to confuse the two. To surrender our time to God is to be governed by a compass rather than to be controlled by a clock. A compass provides a sense of direction, purpose, vision, perspective, and balance. A clock measures duration, the expenditure of time. A compass determines effectiveness—doing the right tasks. A clock determines efficiency—how long it takes to accomplish a task. Each has its place. But, the compass must come before the clock; therefore, effectiveness before efficiency. The “mega priorities” of the compass subordinate the “mini priorities” of the clock.

A compass, therefore, becomes a symbol of an internal guidance system that provides us with our values and convictions based on God’s Word. This non-negotiable governs our lives. In the same manner that the magnetic force pulls the compass needle, it is God who governs the drive of our lives. We surrender to his force.

Our time should be surrendered to God daily. I asked a friend who is engaged in many pursuits successfully how he managed it all. He said, “I give my first minutes to God, then I commit the remainder of the day to his Lordship. And amazingly I work more effectively and efficiently.”
Have you surrendered your time to God? Is your future in his hands?
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If you like the comments from the NLT website, click here http://www.newlivingtranslation.com/ to visit their website and sign up for email devotions. (they are great also because they don't spam you)

Hope that was a blessing to you!

"Choose To Control Your Anger"

Goos morning, Family!
I trust you are all well today! As I make this post today, I am listening to Darwin Hobbs' song, "We Worship You Today"...tremendous song!i

Well, today's bold print is verse 29, NLTse. This is one of those verses that really don't need much expounding. It pretty much says it all:

Proverbs 14:29

"People with understanding control their anger, a hot temper shows great foolishness"

We who want to be wise must control our anger! If we don't control our anger we "do foolish things" (verse 17) and show that we lack maturity and understanding. Having said this, we all know that controlling your anger is not always easy, but it is clear if we are instructed to control our anger, it means that IT IS A CHOICE!

So, make the choice: Control your anger and show that you have understanding!!

"The Path of Safety"

Good morning Ye Seekers of Wisdoom, :)

I trust you all celebrated "The Resurrection of Jesus" with your family and friends! We had a wonderful time at our church, CCC in Brooklyn, on Good Friday and Easter. The time of fasting for a week focused my attention and gave me a NEW understanding of Christ's sacrifice...Thank You Lord!! I am more focused than ever before...

Today's bold print is found in verse 6 today, the NIV:

Proverbs 13:6

"Godliness guards the path of the blameless, the evil are misled by sin."

Godliness as defined is: "conforming to the laws and wishes of God" (dictionary.com). To us as Christians, we know we become godly after we accept Christ into our hearts and then we want to live a life of gratitude by being obedient. So, godliness in this context is obedience....agreed?

When we are obedient, our path is guarded because we are in the place (or on the path) of God's protection. We are obeying His commands and instructions and that is a place of safety!!

I hinted at the principle above; but here it is officially, as quoted from a great man that I know: "Our greatest place of protection is obedience to God's word"! No "ifs ands or buts"; OBEDIENCE! So, just to continue the thought....WHAT KIND OF PATH DOES DISOBEDIENCE TAKE YOU ON? Hmmmmm...do you want to be on THAT path???

Make the wise choice, folks: choose OBEDIENCE!!

"The Hardest Easy Way..."

Good morning!!
This is a awesome time for us as Christians when we remember what Jesus went through for US!! We will never really know "how much it cost to see our sins upon that cross", as the song goes... BUT, WE THANK HIM, DON'T WE??!!

Our bold print today is in verse 19, the NLTse:

Proverbs 10:19

19 "Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut."

I call this bold print "The hardest easy way to stay out of trouble"!! How many times has our mouth gotten us into trouble? More accurately put; how many times has our lack of control of our mouths gotten is into trouble? Many times? More times than you or I care to count, right? If we kept our mouths (our big "yaps") shut more, we would have so much less stress and trouble wouldn't we?

I love the way the NKJV puts it:

Proverbs 10:19

19 In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise. NKJV

So, we agree that when you talk to much you are going to sin, but verse 19 tells us we can do something about it...RESTRAIN them!! We CAN control over our mouths! But, to do that it's "gonna" take some real wisdom and common sense, no? Well, we KNOW where to get those attributes from, don't we? (Prov. 2)....We have talked about it enough!!!

So, the easiest way to stay out of trouble is to keep mouths under control; restrained! But, it is the hardest thing to do without wisdom and understanding, which our God grants to those that follow His instruction.

So, make that choice to pursue wisdom --- it teaches us how to keep our BIG YAPS shut!! :)

I love you guys!

Devotions: Breakfast of Champions!!

Good morning!
I pray that you have an awesome day! Learn something new today and add value to someone's life by paying them a compliment...that act will add value to YOU too!

We are going to go off script today. Many of you are observing a week of Consecration leading to Easter. At my church, Christian Cultural Center (CCC) in Brooklyn, NY, we call it Consecration Week; and we are fasting (one meal a day), watching what we intake as far as TV and music so that we can focus in on our lives and let God speak to us about what we need to purge. I have felt God's presence in my life in a profound way!!

The whole purpose of this blog is to share my daily morning devotions with you. But, this is just part of my devotions and I decided to share my entire pattern with you! This is not original by any means; I first heard it from one of my mentors who shared it at a staff meeting in 2006 and it has stuck with me ever since. I hope it is a blessing to you:

Pastor Bernard’s Time Tested devotion strategy:

1. Start in the Word (Proverbs-a-day) before praying. God speaks to us from the Word and it sets God's personal agenda for US!! It is not based on our desires – but on His Word!(always let God set His agenda first!)

2. Then go onto a time of prayer based on what you read…
3. THEN go into a time of making your requests known to God...
4. Then enter into Praise & Worship

Make your devotions the most important meal of the day! It's your choice...

Wisdom's Rewards

Hello my friends,
It's a good day today. It will be even better as we take another step in our search for wisdom in Proverbs.

Today's bold print is found in verses 17 and 35, NLTse. It is also very simple and to the point today. Read the entire chapter and take note of all the awesome things that come to those who love wisdom and search earnestly for it.

I love how our bold print is simple, & yet SO profound:

Proverbs 8:17

"I love all who love me. Those who search will surely find me."

Proverbs 8:35

" For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord."

So, make the choice and search for wisdom - the rewards are life & favor from the Lord!!

Apply For A "Grant"!!

Greeting Students of Wisdom!
Thank you for joining me today! I pray that you have an awesome day...

Our bold print will start in verse 7, NLTse and Amplified versions; but we will look at a few other related verses, ok?

Proverbs 7:7
"I saw some naive young men, and one in particular who lacked common sense" (NLTse)

Proverbs 7:8
"And among the simple (empty-headed and emptyhearted) ones, I perceived among the youths a young man void of good sense" (AMP)

If you read the whole chapter, it instructs young men about avoiding the temptation of the immoral woman. In earlier posts, we discussed that this warning instructs us all to resist all kinds of temptation in our lives!!

I chose verse 7, because the verse singled out one young man "devoid (or lacking) common sense" and because of that void he fell for the temptation. In verses 1-4 of this chapter we are instructed to "guard the commands [of Proverbs], to tie them around your finger as a reminder ["store them" as we have discussed], and write them "deep into your heart". This addresses the "empty-headed and empty-hearted" condition described in the Amplified version.

In essence, this verse is teaching us that because of his lack of common sense, the young man fell for the temptation. Therefore, if he had common sense - HE would be able to resist the temptation!!! What do you mean, Coach? Read this:

Proverbs 2:6-9 (NLTse)
6 For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.
8 He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him.
9 Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go.

I think you know what to ask God for now, right? So, make THAT choice right now and EVERYDAY!

"Seek To Have Good Advice In Your Life"

Good morning all!
It is fantastic to see you all today!! I have a feeling you are seeing good changes in your life as a result of our study of Proverbs. Am I right? That's what studying the Word does...

So, let's get to work on getting a little wiser today. Let's look at chapter 6, verse 23 in the Message version:

Proverbs 6:23

"For sound advice is a beacon, good teaching is a light, moral discipline is a life path. "

To put this in context, the verses before this one speak about remembering and listening to your parent's advice. To "tie them around your neck" so you don't forget them. (We have heard that phrase alot, no?)

Now, some of us have been blessed with godly parents who have given us good advice. We didn't always listen when we were younger, but as we matured we've realized just how good their advice was! However, I know that some of you may have not had that experience and I want to speak to you right now - but you can all listen :). If your home/family life was not filled with good advice, you can make the choice to change that by the people that you choose to have in you life right now. Here are some ways:

1. Find a mentor: We have already talked about finding a mentor. The importance of having someone who can "speak into your life", because you have given them permission.

2. The company you keep: There are also the people you choose to be friends with; "hang out with". If you SURROUND yourself with successful, honest and moral people; the good advice will FLOW!!

3. Finally, you also have your "heavenly Father" who gives you incredible advice from His Word!

These are just some of the ways you can choose to bring good advice into your life. And as our bold print tells us, "Good advice is a beacon, and light, and moral discipline is a life path" (a journey and not just a destination). We should be "life learners" in the area of moral discipline!!

Make the choice to bring good advice into your life!

How Do You "Store"?

Hello and good morning!
How are you today? Have you said something nice to someone today??? :-)

Our bold print today is verse 1, NLTse:

Proverbs 3:1
"1 My child, never forget the things I have taught you. Store my commands in your heart."

We all agree that studying Proverbs has been enriching our lives, no? The consistent study has changed my life -- and I am finding wisdom!!

My question to us - the bold print today is a question that comes from what verse 1 tells us to do: how do you store the commands that you have been reading in Proverbs? A great quote that I always use is: "Truth unrehearsed is soon forgotten". Yes, we get some great instruction and wisdom-filled verses in Proverbs, but if you don't "store" them in your heart, then their value will pass right by you...

I previously shared with you my system of how I review Proverbs as an alert in my Outlook calendar each day. I will record 2-4 favorite verses from today, for example, and when the alert rings I stop to take time and review and meditate on them. I used to call them Proverbs alerts, not I call the P-Gems...(Proverbs gems)

Do you have a system? My system is great when I am disciplined to use it. Sometimes the alert will ring and I will put it off til later - which never comes. But, when I stop and review the "gem"; many times it helps me avoid traps that are about to occur. (Ex.- my mouth gets me in trouble and Proverbs is full of verses admonishing me to keep my mouth shut (Prov. 17:28) - and it helps refocus me to discipline my mouth that day.

So, what are you going to do about this? What is your system to store the commands in your heart? Are you being disciplined in following your system consistently? The next verse shows us the benefit of storing commands in our heart: "If you do this, you will live many years, and your life will be satisfying"

Make the wise choice to store and be disciplined!!

Wisdom and Relationships

Hello, folks!
It is great to see you all again this morning!!

Let's get right to work on becoming wiser people, shall we? We are in chapter 2, verse 12, NLTse:

Proverbs 2:12

"Wisdom will save you from evil people, from those whose words are twisted."

We need to make wiser choices about our friends and who we hang out with! Staying away from the felons and "America's Most Wanted" is not so hard because those type evil people are obvious and we sorta automatically avoid them! The more "covert" or subtle evil types (they say the right SOUNDING things and "seem" nice) are the ones that catch us by surprise...then before we know it we are following therm down the wrong path!!

We need to use the wisdom that GOD GRANTS (v. 6) and the Bible says we will stay away from evil people and people who deceive us ("whose words are twisted"). Since God grants it, LET"S ASK OUR FATHER FOR IT! We will receive it -- free of charge.

So be wise in your choices and ask God to grants you wisdom to wisely choose our friends!

Reminder: The Purpose of Proverbs

Good morning everyone!
It's April already!! Time truly flies...

Today's bold print is chapter 1, verses 2-3, NLTse:

Proverbs 1:2-3

2 "Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise.

3 Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair."

I thought we should stop and be reminded why we study Proverbs. What are the benefits?

I observe many leaders and have found that the great ones are wise enough not to try and expound on certain things sometimes. They realize that all that needs to be said -- HAS been said and that's how I feel about these two verses. They clearly state the purpose of Proverbs and what can be gained by studying them.

So, make the wise choice today and meditate on these verses and re-commit yourself to living a disciplined and successful life!!