Pursue Excellence

Dusty

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Pursue Excellence

1 Timothy 6:11


11But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.

As this New Year unfolds we think of all the things that we want to accomplish and have this all computed in our heads . I'm going to loose x pounds , I'm going to pay off my credit ... but how many ever stick to all the I ams?

Let's just put all these thoughts aside and pursue who we know will never fail us and He will give us our daily direction as we put everything in prayer to Him . ... Let's start New !!!

S.... Stop making excuses
T ... Take inventory of your life
A.... Act in Faith
R... Re- Focus your thoughts
T ... Trust God .

What is the meaning of pursue ? .... It means to chase , persist , track down
Exellence is what we can do when we pursue God . By striving for excellence with God , we are partnershiping with Him . We are running from our old ways and chasing after God .

Verse 7 tells us : For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.

In other words by living according to God's standards we will have the fear of God which means to say the Awe of God and knowing that we serve an awesome God .
 
I have been meditating on 'excellence' for a while also but have not written down all the thoughts going around in my head :)
 
I have been meditating on 'excellence' for a while also but have not written down all the thoughts going around in my head :)

I am waiting for you to put those thoughts down . Excellence is something I want to strive for and I have a book The God Chaser that i have not read for a long time and need to pick it up again .My and your goal is to be the best through Jesus Christ as He perfects us and puts us through lifes trials . As we are put into the fire for perfecting we will come out as silver . And silver is like a mirror where we can see the reflection of God in us .

Psalm 66:10
For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver.
 
The thoughts are like many pieces of a puzzle and they are not coming together yet so I'll have to wait until they do :)
 
The thoughts are like many pieces of a puzzle and they are not coming together yet so I'll have to wait until they do :)

Ok No problem ...

OUr theme this month at church is " Pursuing Excellence " so I will have more as well . We have also been asked by our pastor to seriously consider something for 2010 ... and that is only you and God need to know .

I will need my Bible , a pen , and a notebook and some kleenex. Then get somewhere for an hour letting the Bible be my inspiration and the pen and notebook for recording what the Holy Spirit reveals to me .... about me .

The kleenex are for the tears and to expect some. Start with a few moments of ernest prayer asking God to show me how to make a real change for 2010 and turn to Proverbs chapter 1 .... Read proverbs carefully and prayerfully expecting the Holy Spirit to point out areas in your life that need change and document everything in your notebook . There are 31 Chapters in Proverbs and 31 days in January so each day read one chapter ... You can still catch up .
 
In order for me to pursue excellence , I need to let the Holy Spirit purge all the unwanted stuff that does not belong in my life and as I do this challenge I believe God is going to show me things that only He knows about me and that is why I need to record them . So I will not be telling these intimate things that are just between me and God .

Proverbs is an excellent place to start.
 
As I read and study more and more into proverbs , I am beginning to understand that wisdom is one of the aspects of pursing excellence , cause if we don’t have wisdom , proverbs says we are a fool .Those are pretty harsh words to swallow ….. just say them again “ FOOL “ .

In Proverbs 8:11 we are told that wisdom is more precious than rubies and nothing you desire can compare to her

Another verse that stands out is 8:13 To fear the Lord is to hate evil . I hate pride .and arrogance , evil behaviour and perverse speech . .As Christians the Holy Spirit does reveal this to us and as we strive for excellence this is one verse that should be in the for-front of our behaviour. We need to obtain wisdom from God and not of ourselves .

As proverbs unfolds for me , I am finding that I need to depend more upon God for His wisdom and again when I act on my own without consulting God then I am being foolish .

When I obey His teaching , I am promised God’s provision of health and wealth ( And that . does not necessarily mean monetarily ) . Solomon , if you recall asked God for wisdom and he lacked for nothing ….. but as he became more confident in trusting himself and others instead of God that became his downfall when he disobeyed and fell into sin.

We must seek wisdom from God and run from foolishness.

Proverbs 9:10 …. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding .

God’s wisdom is far greater than human understanding.
 
Question .... Why do you suppose that wisdom is always spoken about as a woman in Proverbs?

Not exactly a woman, but something having a feminine gender. Hehe :)

In english grammar (I'm not good at it), somethings are regarded as female. Like the word ship for example. Sailors would use "she" when they refer to the word ship that they're on.

But it was all clarified in the New Testament. That wisdom in proverbs is Christ. And He is a "he".
 
Not exactly a woman, but something having a feminine gender. Hehe :)

In english grammar (I'm not good at it), somethings are regarded as female. Like the word ship for example. Sailors would use "she" when they refer to the word ship that they're on.

But it was all clarified in the New Testament. That wisdom in proverbs is Christ. And He is a "he".

Hi John ... Thanks for that answer . That always puzzled me . I guess i can add that guys call their cars " She " as well and most hurricanes are " she " names .

I actually found out later after I asked that question as was looking it up and it says Wisdom in Proverbs ,: the idea of wisdom is frequently personified as a woman , or as a supernatural being who was with God at the time of creation whom we know like you said, Jesus Christ.

It also said that it might also reflect the influence of Israel's neibours .... for example the goddess Maat ( Whom we also know that Egypt at that time worshipped many gods) Well this goddess was described as the first creation of their creator godiin their culture and she stood for justice and orderly life and the wise Egyptian men wore charm necklaces picturing this goddess .


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I guess i can add that guys call their cars " She "
Hehe, that's right :) If ever I'll get a car in the future God willing, I'll also give it a female name.

or as a supernatural being who was with God at the time of creation whom we know like you said, Jesus Christ.
Yup, yup, we all know that:

The same was in the beginning with God.
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.


It also said that it might also reflect the influence of Israel's neibours .... for example the goddess Maat ( Whom we also know that Egypt at that time worshipped many gods) Well this goddess was described as the first creation of their creator godiin their culture and she stood for justice and orderly life and the wise Egyptian men wore charm necklaces picturing this goddess .
I'd like to think that Israelites' belief influenced more other nations' myths, and not the other way around :)
 
picturing this goddess . I'd like to think that Israelites' belief influenced more other nations' myths, and not the other way around :)

Yes me too and that is just some one's writings and I guess we can take it at face value , knowing that down through the years it is just that " documentation" and I just put it there for interest.. On the other hand the Israelites , originally coming from all that Idol worship in Egypt probably still had some of the old ways instilled in them and that is why God was so patient with them .
 
Some questions as you
and I read through Proverbs this month ....

What kinds of things are proverbs meant to teach ? ( 1:1-6) And what is the source of true wisdom ( 1:7 ; 2:4-7 )

Wisdom teaches what is right and just and fair( 2:9 ) ..... contrasting " fools who live in darkness and headed for death ... Why do you think wisdom is the right path ?

To have wisdom menas taking the path or road that leads to life .... How do we know that we are on the right path? And how do we find guidance when making important life decisions. ?
 
1 Cor. 1:30But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption
 
Wisdom teaches what is right and just and fair( 2:9 ) ..... contrasting " fools who live in darkness and headed for death ... Why do you think wisdom is the right path ?

The path of wisdom is our path with Jesus Christ and as we grow in the knowledge of Him , He will direct our path. As we learn more about Him ... He gives us more wisdom which remains in our heart when things go wrong.
 
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