Week 1 The Low-Risk Investment Everyone Should Be Making Now!
Has the economic unrest affected your finances? Investors today don’t know where to turn, but an often overlooked low-risk and high return investment is available to all. And, I want to share a bit of “insider information” (completely legal) so you can know about it too.
But first, I encourage you to rank the following concerns in order of their importance to you by completing the statement, “I am most concerned about issues related to . . .”
a. National Security
b. Retirement/Social Security
c. Economic Security
d. Eternal Security
Each of these areas requires an investment. Those prioritized the highest typically receive the greatest investment of attention, money, effort, and time.
Ironically, the one area of security listed above with which most people are generally the least motivated to make an investment is also the one which involves the lowest risk, the greatest return on their investment, and the greatest impact on every other item on the list. Not sure of the area to which I am referring? Read on.
I was enlightened on this most important area in which to invest through a conversation that took place some time ago between a houseguest and His hostess.
“As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed them into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord's feet, listening to what he taught” (Luke 10:38,39 NLT).
“But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me. And Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her’” (Luke 10:40-42 NLKV).
Did you notice that Martha thought the assistance of another human being was the solution to her problem? Jesus wisely pointed out to Martha that she was actually worried and troubled about many things. He encouraged her to invest her time in the one thing that is necessary, the one thing that her sister, Mary, had chosen, and the one thing that could not be taken away from her - sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening.
It’s true that Martha was in close proximity to Jesus. After all, they were in the same house. However, she was worried, troubled, and unaffected by His presence. Martha seemed oblivious to the fact that she needed to sit down and actually pay attention to His words.
Psalm 19:7-14 describes the return an investment of time in God’s Word brings - It has the power to - make wise, bring joy to the heart, enlighten, and even convert. This is time well spent and the profit margin is phenomenal! When you consider that this type of investment is also secure because God’s Word endures forever, this invitation of Jesus sounds too good to be true.
We are living in uncertain times and there are many things about which to be worried and troubled, but each and every concern is an opportunity for God to be God. Jesus is still with us and His exhortation to spend time with Him still stands. As a certain preacher I know very well often says, “It’s time to make time for the One Who made time!” When you do, you will discover the God Who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think (cf. Ephesians 3:20) and Who still says:
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28 NKJV).
Have a great week and be sure to spend some time on that which cannot be taken away - time in the Word and prayer - listening to Him. And you, too, will find rest for your souls in these restless times.
©2008 Lauren Fletcher all rights reserved
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Week 2 - Are You Withering or Prospering? - 3 Questions You Must Consider
Olivia, my four year old granddaughter recently noticed some beautiful red leaves on the grass near our Japanese Maple. She asked me to help her gather some of the fallen leaves to place in a bowl on my coffee table. Every fall, we use the bowl to display the acorns, pinecones, and beautiful colored leaves that we collect together. Eventually, however, the bright, multicolored leaves wither, turn brown, dry out, curl up, and have to be removed.
The Bible says that some people are like a tree that produces fruit, bears “leaves that do not wither”, and generally speaking, prospers.
“He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper” (Psalm 1:3 NKJV).
I want to be one of those people!
The key lies in considering 3 questions. We will only deal with the first question this week.
Question Number 1. Who are you associating with?
This question is worth considering because there are risks in bad associations!
One of the risks of bad associations is Bad Advice!
“Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, . . . ” (Psalm 1:1 NKJV).
I know what you are thinking - “I cannot avoid the ungodly!” The Bible doesn’t say to avoid them. It says not to walk in their counsel or advice. All wisdom and knowledge are not equal. Consider this verse:
"For you have trusted in your wickedness; . . . Your wisdom and your knowledge have warped you; . . .“ ( Isaiah 47:10 NKJV).
Contrast this verse with the following.
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. . . .” (Psalm 111:10 NKJV).
Another risk of bad associations is the strong temptation to follow others down a dangerous path -
“Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners . . .” (Psalm 1:1 NKJV).
It is difficult to resist walking the same path that those with whom we closely associate walk.
I recently attended a meeting where I knew I would be enticed to eat all sorts of delicious, yet sugar and fat laden dishes.
So, I ate a large bowl of oatmeal before I went, hoping to fill myself up and avoid the glazed doughnuts and cream cheese filled pastries. However, I was seated at the table with people who filled their plates and talked about how delicious their food was. What I saw, smelled, and heard convinced me to get up from my seat and walk in the very path they had taken - right through the buffet line. My original intention was simply to look at the enticing display of food, but looking led to taking and I walked back to my seat with food on my plate. I am disappointed to tell you that simply having oatmeal in my stomach did not deter me. I felt groggy all afternoon.
I don’t consider the food I ate sinful, but let’s look at the application in spiritual terms. We often believe that because we have God in our hearts, we can surround ourselves with people doing sinful things, watch them perform their sinful acts, listen to them talk about how much they are enjoying their sinful life, and yet not have any inclination to take the same path they are taking.
If we want to prosper in whatever we do, we cannot linger in a temptation filled path with people who are gladly giving in.
The third risk of bad associations comes from gathering or assembling with mockers, critics, and scoffers.
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful;” (Psalm 1:1 NKJV).
To speak scornfully is to mock, deride, or talk arrogantly. It involves showing contempt for someone or something. The word “seat” actually means assembly.
Do you ever sit in a group and speak contemptuously about a person or thing - your boss, your church, someone in a position of authority, your country, a family member or former family member?
“Do not be deceived: Evil company corrupts good habits" (1 Corinthians 15:33 NKJV).
"Make no friendship with an angry man, And with a furious man do not go,” (Proverbs 22:24 NKJV).“or you may learn his ways and get yourself ensnared” (Proverbs 22:25 NIV).
Are you dried up and withering . . . or hydrated, fruitful, and prospering? Consider your associations!
Check back next week for question 2 . . .
©2008 Lauren Fletcher all rights reserved
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Week 3: What Are You Talking About?
One of my children had a teacher who explained her grading scale for special projects in terms of what the students should do to obtain the grade they desired. The requirements for receiving a C on the assigned project contained an average amount of work. The requirements for an A, however, demanded a much higher standard of effort and excellence. Though it would not be easy, an A was still available to any student in the class, regardless of the student’s IQ. He just had to be willing to invest the time and effort. A blessed, successful life - according to God’s definition - is available to every Christian. Psalm 1 lists the requirements for the one who wants the very best God has made available.
Last week, I began asking a series of three questions that help evaluate how closely one’s lifestyle lines up with the requirements for a life that will be blessed and prosper. The first question was, “Who are you associating with?” Today’s question is, “What are you talking about?”
According to a theory of sociologists who study human nature, a woman speaks about 20,000-25,000 words a day, while a man speaks about 10,000.
What are you talking about? Politics, the economic crisis, decorating, children, grandchildren, recipes, problems, your job, hobbies, concerns … ?
Psalm 1:1-3 mentions a category that is attached to a blessing.
“Blessed is the man who . . . his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. . . . whatever he does shall prosper” (Psalm 1:1-3 NKJV).
Meditate comes from the Hebrew word hg'h' hagah, which means to utter, muse, mutter, meditate, or speak. Law is taken from the Hebrew word hr'AT (torah), which refers to direction, instruction, or law.
You may be thinking, “How would I manage to speak God’s instruction day and night?” I believe Deut 6:6-7 provides an illustration of how to do this.
“And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7 NLT).
I believe it is also beneficial to simply speak the direction and instruction of God as it applies to the events of our lives.
Speaking this way is a challenge because it involves transforming the mind and learning new speech habits, but, as with any new habit that is acquired, it becomes easier.
Here is an example of how I see this principle working in everyday life.
Suppose we are faced with a problem:
We have a choice.
We can repeatedly speak in detail about the problem - what caused it - whose fault it is - how unfair it is - the futility of it . . .
OR
We can refer to the problem from God’s perspective and speak what God’s Word says about it.
We can say . . .
“The LORD remembers us and will bless us . . . “ (Psalm 115:12 NLT).
“The LORD helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads. The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.” (Psalm 145:14, 18 NLT).
Speaking God’s Word is such a powerful and effective way to reinforce and fuse God’s instruction into our beliefs and then, our behavior.
After all, “. . . faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17 NKJV).
Are you eager to speak God’s word as it applies to life, but don’t know where to begin? Check out The Printable Resource and Talk Like a Winner
As you read your Bible, you will find other verses containing promises and truth you want to add to these lists.
Have a blessed week!
©2008 Lauren Fletcher all rights reserved
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Week 4: The Vote that Counts
A few of my seventeen years as a classroom teacher were spent teaching a Bible class at a Christian school. Among the 125 middle school students I taught was one particularly argumentative student who was hostile toward God and the Bible. In attempts to derail the Bible lesson for the day, she often tried to entice me to move to unrelated topics by raising questions about abortion, homosexuality, and other potentially explosive topics.
I kept a concordance on my desk and when she introduced a topic such as abortion, I used the concordance to look up references to verses using the word, “womb" . I would typically just read the verse connected to the topic she questioned and then move quickly back to the lesson I was teaching, letting the Bible speak for itself. She often tried to start a debate by saying, “But, Mrs. Fletcher, many people believe …” Her point was that her opinion or the opinion of others was equal to or superior to what the Bible says and could somehow overshadow what I had just read.
One particular day, without any prior explanation to the class, I was inspired to simply cut a piece of computer paper into strips, tape them to my white board, and label them A, B, C, and D. I then asked the students to vote for the strip they believed was 4 inches long. Every strip received some of the votes. After the voting, one student wisely asked me if I had measured the strips. When I told him that I had not, his reply was priceless. He said, “Then it doesn’t matter what we think!” I told him that he was absolutely right, retrieved a ruler from my desk drawer, and proceeded to measure each strip. One of the strips was ¼” off, but still not exactly 4” long. I then held up the Bible to the class and said, “This is God’s ruler and our thoughts and opinions must line up with God’s Word.”
In the words of my former student, “It really doesn’t matter what we think” if our thoughts are not backed by absolute truth.
Because truth matters . . .
We must vote!
". . . the complacency of fools shall destroy them” (Proverbs 1:32 NAS).
Because truth matters . . .
We must make sure our vote will not endorse, promote, and encourage further moral decadence in our country.
“Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34 NKJV).
“For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD. They rejected my advice and paid no attention when I corrected them. Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way, choking on their own schemes” (Proverbs 1:29-31 NLT).
"For the waywardness of the naive shall kill them, And the complacency of fools shall destroy them” (Proverbs 1:32 NAS).
Because truth matters . . .
We must realize that, as bad as the economy is, righteousness is to be preferred over riches.
“The law of Your mouth is better to me Than thousands of coins of gold and silver “ (Psalm 119:72 NKJV).
Remember to use your Christian Coalition voter’s guide and to measure your vote against God’s Word!
For more information on what the candididates believe and support, go to:
http://www.christianvoterguide.com/
In addition to getting information on where the presidential candidates stand on the issues, you can also click on your state and get information about candidates on the local and state level.
Have a blessed week!
©2008 Lauren Fletcher all rights reserved
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