SNOW DAY = WORSHIP DAY

A  snow storm has swept the city and other parts of the tri-state area and many of us are rejoicing in the fact that we are getting some much needed time off from work. Many of us are delighted to have the chance to kick back, play with the kids, catch up on all the episodes of Law & Order you recorded on DVR or complete the crossword puzzle without having the person who sits next to you on the subway looking over your shoulder.

Instead of being busy doing nothing turn this snow day into a worship day. Blast your favorite praise and worship songs. Or tune into 1190am on the radio or log on to their website for the best in praise and worship songs http://wlib.com/ . Curl up with the bible and let the word refurbish you. Spend some time in your secret closet (mine is the bathroom) catching up with Jesus.

To the moms and dads who are rolling your eyes at the screen, muttering to yourself that you have a house full of kids how am I supposed to worship God. Here are some suggestions:

• Read the word aloud as a family. It's never to early to for kids to begin learning scripture. Today is the perfect day to teach them that worship isn't only for Sunday or for inside the church.

         Try reading Ephesians 6:1-4 and Deuteronomy 5:16 (Obedience to Parents)
         For teenagers interested in going their own way try Proverbs 1:1-19

• If you need quiet time with the most high park those kids right in front of the television, pop in their favorite DVD or hookup the Wii while you hideout with the bible in your bedroom or bathroom.

          Read Psalm 143 to get you started and let the Holy Spirit Guide you through the scriptures
          If it's been awhile since you've had this quiet time with Jesus Read Psalm 139

• Maybe it's been awhile since you had a talk with the Lord. When I say talk I mean a conversation. Maybe it's been awhile since you sat at his feet without presenting him with a To Do list. Then do the same thing in the previous bullet get right on your knees, put a throw pillow under your knees or one of those teddy bears that the baby isn't using and pray.

          Father God, I come before your presence in the precious name of Jesus, thanking you for
         all that you have bestowed upon me______________________.  Continue until the DVD stops
         or the baby gets up from his nap

• For you single folk hit Romans 12 and Romans 15

Maybe you're still turning your nose up at this post, maybe you're murmuring that you spend your day talking to God but obviously you don't spend enough time with him or you would know that you should not be murmuring or complaining, "Do all things without murmurings and disputings..." Philippians 2:14 It is essential to the believers' relationship with Christ that there is some time set aside to nurture the relationship. We set time aside for our fleshly  relationships, we must set aside time for God. It is in prayer that we are strengthened. In all things that we strive to do  Jesus is our example; though he was full of the spirit of God, "For it please the Father that in him should all fullness dwell;" Colossians 1:19; though he always communed with God, "I and my Father are one." John 10:30,  he still set aside private time for worship/prayer, God, "And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed." Luke 5:16

Now go quickly and worship the Lord in spirit and in truth. God Bless You!

WISDOM WEDNESDAYS: THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE BEGINNING OF KNOWLEDGE

Every scripture has a divine and intended purpose for each one us. Some are directly aimed at us and some serve a learning tool but all are given by God so that we will profit and grow in the grace and fear of God.

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." II Timothy 3:16-17

Today we will focus on the scriptures the Lord provided us via Solomon in Proverbs. Much wisdom can be garnered through reading the bible but in Proverbs the Lord is making an attempt to spell it out for us as plainly as possible, what is wisdom and how can it be acquired. This is the purpose of Proverbs. They were designed to give knowledge to us simple folks, they are instructions for living a just and prosperous life. Knowledge doesn't just spring up from reading the word but from the fear of the Lord. Satan knows the word yet he is not wise because he has no fear in his heart for the Lord.

This fear is not terror, or the kind of fear the seizes you when you walk down a dark street, but a reference, a love, a respect, so strong that you would be afraid to displease your Lord, you would be afraid to break His heart. This fear is the beginning of knowledge.

"The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel; To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.  Proverbs 1-7

But the wisdom is not imparted to you just by reading the words but like all of the word it must be eaten. So, sit down and grab a bite, knosh on it, meditate on it and prove that you are wise, only fool.s despise wisdom and instructions. If are you are wise the word will cause you to increase in learning.

TESTIMONY TUESDAYS: IS TESTIMONY IMPORTANT

Many churches no longer provide their members with the opportunity to testify. But here at The Carpenter's House you may testify every Tuesday, to the goodness of the Lord. Of course, you shouldn't just testify on Tuesdays or Sundays but use every opportunity you have to talk about the Lord to believers and unbelievers. We are to be helpers of one another's joy and our joy as believers should come from rejoicing in the wonders of our God but how can we do that if we don't testify. Unbelievers need to know that Jesus is God of everything, that he is a way-maker, a healer, and a deliverer but how will they know that if we never testify to them. Your testimony also does something for you.

You are an overcomer, you declare it, you say it to encourage yourself when times get rough. But, what is it exactly that makes us, the believer, overcomers and what is it that we have overcome? There are two things that make us overcomers, the blood of the Lamb and our testimony. When we testify we overcome Satan.

"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." Revelation 12:11

Each time we testify a chain is broken, we overcome the devil who has reigned so long in our life. We overcome every battle that confronts us, every obstacle the seeks to sway us from our walk with Christ. Each time we testify we proclaim that God's way is right, we put down our own lives and pick up the life of Christ.

Don't dismiss testimony from your relationship with Christ. Instead take every opportunity presented to you to testify. Including this one:

THE CARPENTER'S HOUSE is ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS FOR TESTIMONY TUESDAYS.
Please send all submissions in a Word document as an attachment to divinetutors@yahoo.com. Submissions should be between 100-300 words. Please include a little bit of info about yourself.

TODAY'S FORECAST: SLIGHTLY CLOUDY WITH A POSSIBLE THUNDERSTORM

The firmament, it's one of those things we neglect in life. Sometimes we don't look at the sky until it's changing colors. When the sun goes down we admire all the shades of orange and pink we've never seen in a box of crayola crayons. When our bright blue sky turns into a dismal grey we glance up with every step we take waiting for a beam of sunshine to break through the clouds.

There's a storm headed this way; directed at each and everyone of us. Instead of looking to the Lord while the sun is shining many of us (myself included) wait until the skies that line our life turn grey, we don't seek out Jesus' face until we are immersed in complete darkness. By then it's too late to escape the storm in one piece. All of us will take a beating but the only ones who will make it out unscathed are those who are wise enough to be rooted and grounded in Christ Jesus.

"Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth these sayings, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house and it fell not for it was founded on a rock." Matthew 7:24-25

This wise man's house did not fall because it had a sure and stable foundation. What about you? Do you find yourself leaning on the rock one day then walking away from it another day. Then he is not the foundation of your heart. Jesus said he would liken the those who hear his words and do them unto this wise man. It's time for us to come out of mediocrity and let Jesus be the rock he said that he was going to be. First, by becoming not just hearers of the word but doers also. (James 1: 22)

Jesus can only serve a foundation for you if your house is built upon him and established in his word. Once a house is built does it move? No, of course not, it is fixed in that one spot. Let your heart become a house, allow Jesus, the solid rock to serve as the chief cornerstone so that you will be able to bear the storm headed this way.