IN GOD WE TRUST

 BIBLE STUDY #8 PROVERBS 2:1-8

NETTIE-ISM: I was reading Proverbs 2 and was thinking about what has been going on in my own life and then I read verse 9. It is amazing how much smarts is found in Scripture!

PROVERBS 2:9 THE VOICE

With this wisdom you will be able to choose the right road, seek justice, and decide what is good and fair

Isn’t it amazing? Think about all these: Social Justice Warriors, people declaring Black Lives Matters, and groups like ANTIFA that have their own form of justice. 

Proverbs 2:1 instructs the hearer to take the advice of someone wiser, the source of wisdom. What is wisdom? It is the ability to apply knowledge in an appropriate manner. Wisdom helps a person apply understanding.

PROVERBS 4:7 KING JAMES VERSION

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. 

I am always fascinated by the words of individuals both with PhD’s from universities and those from the street. They are so smart in their own mind, wise in their own eyes (Proverbs 3:7), and to the people who follow them but on the outside looking in they sound ignorant. An example is those who believe in Climate Change which used to be global warming. 

The climate is always changing which is why we have seasons and the technology is always improving which is why we have more data. But this biggest problem with climate change fanatics is: there is not unanimous consent to this theory. I don’t know any elders who believe in climate change / global warming.

Wisdom is developed when we accept the teachings of our God fearing elders and follow the word of GOD. “With this wisdom you will be able to choose the right road, seek justice, and decide what is good and fair.”  What we see today is people disregarding wisdom and developing their own form of equality- which is not equal. 

With true wisdom there is a reverential respect for God, the Bible calls it a “fear”. We have so much love for Him that we do not want to disobey Him. We know and therefor believe that He is the Final Authority! God is Sovereign. 

This nation, the United States of America, was founded on the principal of: “In God We Trust”.  Many want to change this to: “In man we trust.” These individuals are driven by self-centeredness, arrogance, lack of humility, self-righteousness and greed. Unfortunately, America has been tainted by those who are out to disregard the wisdom of the elders and the Truth found in Scripture. 

Proverbs is the Book of Wisdom, today we see people reject the book which is why there is no peace. Jesus is Justice; no Jesus,no justice, no peace; know Jesus, know Justice, know peace.

                                                                                    written by Marsha L F Randolph

NETTIE-OLOGY /NETTIE-ISM reflects the opinions of and is the soul property of the author MARSHA L F RANDOLPH. All rights reserved- do not use without permission. Disagreeing with what is written is not offensive to the author a disagreeable comment will be deleted. 

PROVERBS 2:1-9 NEW KING JAMES VERSION

My son, if you receive my words,

And treasure my commands within you,

2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom,

And apply your heart to understanding;

3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment,

And lift up your voice for understanding,

4 If you seek her as silver,

And search for her as for hidden treasures;

5 Then you will understand the fear of the Lord,

And find the knowledge of God.

6 For the Lord gives wisdom;

From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;

7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;

He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;

8 He guards the paths of justice,

And preserves the way of His saints.

9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice,

Equity and every good path.

WHOSE FAULT IS IT?

BIBLE STUDY #7 PROVERBS 1:28-33  

NETTIE-ISM: There is enough blame to go around! Yep, we all slept this one! But, I believe, it starts when we step away from our Creator. 

PROVERBS 1:28-33 KING JAMES VERSION

28  Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: 

29  For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: 

30  They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. 

31  Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. 

32  For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. 

33  But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil. 

The bottom line, as I conclude Proverbs chapter one, we are suffering the consequences of our actions. 

The information has always been available but we thought we knew a better way. We thought we could do it faster, easier and with greater success than YHWH has done it. 

So, what are we supposed to do now? LISTEN TO HIM! See verse 33, the remnant is always protected. 

                                        written by Marsha L F Randolph

NETTIE-OLOGY /NETTIE-ISM reflects the opinions of and is the soul property of the author MARSHA L F RANDOLPH. All rights reserved- do not use without permission. Disagreeing with what is written is not offensive to the author a disagreeable comment will be deleted. 

ARE YOU TIRED OF THE CHAOS YET?

 BIBLE STUDY PROVERBS 1:23-26  #6

NETTIE-OLOGY: I resist the desire to hide from the world! Even if a person is not a Trump supporter how can they think voting Democrat is a good thing when the Democrat Party is supporting the chaos we see?

PROVERBS 1:22-27 NEW KING JAMES VERSION

22 “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge.

23 Turn at my rebuke; surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.

24 Because I have called and you refused,I  have stretched out my hand and no one regarded,

25 Because you disdained all my counsel, and would have none of my rebuke,

26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes,

27 When your terror comes like a storm, and your destruction comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.

These words are for the Children of YHWH, they are for the people who call themselves Believers. ““How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?”  This what the New Testament says:

HEBREWS 5:12-14 KING JAMES VERSION

12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Today’s Believers, not all, can’t even teach their children. They are fed milk messages also known as: Messages of Encouragement, Motivating Messages, or Positive Words. These weekly words are for babies, aka immature Believers. Babies need protection from hard times, we should be able to handle the trials that are around us but many cannot. 

“How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?” Solomon is not talking about loving “simplicity” as In living a modest lifestyle. He is referring to Believers lack of desire to seek more knowledge. That verse, twenty-two, ends with: “Fools hate knowledge”.

Heres a verse I quote quite a bit:

2 TIMOTHY 3:16 THE EXPANDED BIBLE

All Scripture is ·inspired by God [breathed out by God; L- God-breathed] and is useful for teaching, for ·showing people what is wrong in their lives [refuting error; rebuking], for correcting faults, and for ·teaching how to live right [training in righteousness].

YHWH’s word is necessary to teach: point out errors, correct and educate us on how to live.  This is important because it is written: “In the world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33); we are going to have problems like the Wuhan Virus and we should be able to deal with it. 

Today’s Believer’s did not reject all knowledge, just the stuff that they did not want to hear. Pastors do not preach against: homosexuality, abortion, spousal or child abuse, drug addictions and such because people don’t want to hear it- they may give it a casual quick mention but nothing with any meat on it.

I believe, a Nettie-ism if you will, YHWH removed his hands off of America and allowed the virus to plague this nation and the world. We had to be reminded of what it is like to not be in His presence. 

As Solomon speaks YHWH speaks and He, God, says: “Because you disdained all my counsel,

and would have none of my rebuke, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, when your terror comes like a storm, and your destruction comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.” Is the Creator laughing at us? Yes!

• Look at you! Running around with mask on afraid of a virus that Jesus died so you would not have! 
• Look at you! Running to the government for help when God can supply all of your needs.
• Look at you!  Afraid to die of a disease you do not have, YHWH did not give you a spirit of fear!
• Look at your church leaders. The doors of the church are closed because the government said to close them not God.  

Are you tired of the chaos yet? Verse 23 of this study says we should have turned, we should have repented, when the virus first came. Instead people ran to the store to stock up on supplies and hand sanitizer. Are you at verse 27 yet? “…When distress and anguish come upon you.”

We serve a merciful God. He loves us despite us! 

PROVERBS 1:28 NEW KING JAMES VERSION

28 “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.

Unfortunately, there are consequences to our actions. 

                                                                                              written by Marsha L F Randolph

NETTIE-OLOGY /NETTIE-ISM reflects the opinions of and is the soul property of the author MARSHA L F RANDOLPH. All rights reserved- do not use without permission. Disagreeing with what is written is not offensive to the author a disagreeable comment will be deleted. 

SUBJECT TO INTERPRETATION

 BIBLE STUDY: PROVERBS LESSON #5

NETTIE-ISM: Now this has nothing to do with Proverbs but, a Facebooker commented to me that the Bible does not speak of people going to heaven or hell when they die. I believe eventually we will spend eternity either with our Creator or apart from Him. I believe when we die our bodies return to the ground. I believe our spirit returns to the Spirit of GOD. And, I believe our souls sleep until the resurrection. Not everyone believes what I believe, many people believe in a variation of this others believe I am 100% off base. I will not know what is true and what is not true until I am in His presence. 

PROVERBS 1:20-22 NEW KING JAMES VERSION
20) Wisdom calls aloud outside; she raises her voice in the open squares. 21) She cries out in the chief concourses, at the openings of the gates in the city she speaks her words:  22) “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge.

I consider myself a simple person but not simple-minded. I am not materialistic, nor do I tend to go along with the crowd to get along. However, I struggle with the simple style of many of today's churches. 

This get’em in and get’em out church mentality that facilitates growth and allows the church goer to fulfill their weekly or bi-weekly obligations is loved by many. Unfortunately, though the coffee and donuts are great, being served wisdom would be better. It takes time to help people develop an understanding of His ways.

ISAIAH 55:8 KING JAMES VERSION

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 

We have eliminated much of the ‘old’ ways in exchange for a simplified way of doing church and life. We have dumbed down our personal relationship with GOD. 

“Wisdom calls aloud outside” (Proverbs 1:20a). isn’t that interesting? Now I know this is subject to interpretation but as I read it I could see the Spirit standing outside the doors of the church wanting to come in. What are the chief concourses that is spoken of in verse 21? It is like the highest point, a place in which positions wisdom to be heard. No one is listening to wisdom. No one is listening to the Truth of YHWH’s words.

1 CORINTHIANS 1:2-21 NEW KING JAMES VERSION

20) Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?  21) For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

In order to make the word of GOD more palatable many churches have become more like the world. It is interesting to see the number of people who are attending Global Vision Church during this COVID-19 time. The church is meeting: outside, under a tent, close together, in the summer heat of Tennessee. The world demands air conditioner in the summer and heat in the winter; they also don’t need a long message. When I listen to Pastor Greg Lock of Global Vision church I hear a message that is not politically correct but biblically sound- he has not submitted to the ways of the world. 

YHWH speaks in Isaiah and reminds us: His ways are not our ways. Verse 22 of Proverb ends with:“Fools hate knowledge”.   

                  written by Marsha L F Randolph

NETTIE-OLOGY /NETTIE-ISM reflects the opinions of and is the soul property of the author MARSHA L F RANDOLPH. All rights reserved- do not use without permission. Disagreeing with what is written is not offensive to the author a disagreeable comment will be deleted.

OUR INFLUENCES

 BIBLE STUDY PROVERBS LESSON #4

NETTIE-ISM: Just plain Nettie! I remember when I did the study of Song of Solomon, and shared it.  (Shaking my head.) It started out good but then I became mindful of the fact that people were reading what I wrote and my writing changed, I think it was confusing- so not me. 

Proverbs is the Book of Wisdom. I am amazed at how the words written can be applied to anything. Someone, I know said her Pastor recommended reading the Proverbs, one chapter a day, to learn about finances. There Bible is filled with principles that can be applied to multiple areas of our life. 

When I started this journey, a few days ago. I was thinking: I would glean a few verses here and there and be totally amazed, I am blown away! I see why the world is so out of order today. My ideology is being confirmed by the book of Proverbs.

MATTHEW 6:33 NEW KING JAMES VERSION 

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Today we do not have “Kingdom Seekers”. I was part of a Vineyard church once and the message was one of encouragement and tolerating endurance but not aggressively seeking the Kingdom. 

Many church going individuals have a false sense of security as it relates to their faith- I believe. 

MATTHEW 7:21 NEW KING JAMES VERSION

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

A church that preaches encouraging messages is supporting the individual not YHWH. 

2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17 NEW KING JAMES VERSION

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for [a]instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

The Word of YHWH is not just for encouragement but it is always needed to do the work of GOD!

I don’t go to church to learn about me, I go to learn about Him. 

2 TIMOTHY 4:2 NEW KING JAMES VERSION

Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

So, what does all that have to do with the book of Proverbs? Solomon teaches: the basis of wisdom, knowledge and understanding is the word of Elohim. 

Today we have many outside sources of information that influence our life choices, including the church. Many of us, including myself, were heavily influenced by our church leaders. In pursuit of a better life we did the things the church leader said we should do, BUT GOD.

For me there is always a “but God” moment. 

REVELATION 1:8 NEW KING JAMES VERSION

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

I am writing this on Thursday, September 3, 2020. Many churches are closed because the government told them to. People are walking around with mask on their face and hand sanitizer in their pockets out of fear of getting a disease. Others are vandalizing communities, terrorizing individuals just because they want to. What we see is not the way of the Lord. 

JAMES 1:5 NEW KING JAMES VERSION

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 

In my private time I have been praying for the nation asking Abba for wisdom- He lead me to the book of Proverbs. My original intent was to just write my entires in my journal, like I usually do but I think I should share this personal journey with everyone. 

I am writing as plain ol’ me, Nettie a.k.a. Marsha L Randolph. Come with me as I seek wisdom; come with me as I seek to be influenced by the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. 

                                                          written by Marsha L F Randolph

NETTIE-OLOGY /NETTIE-ISM reflects the opinions of and is the soul property of the author MARSHA L F RANDOLPH. All rights reserved- do not use without permission. Disagreeing with what is written is not offensive to the author a disagreeable comment will be deleted.

SUFFER NOT THE CHILDREN

 BIBLE STUDY: PROVERBS LESSON #3  PROVERBS 1:8-19

NETTIE-ISM: Why is it that: Whatever is going on is discussed in whatever I am reading in the Bible? 

I look at what is happening in America today with the various rebellious groups, ANTIFA and Black Lives Matters, not to mention Occupy Wallstreet from a few years ago. Families are in disarray; father’s are either physically or emotionally absent, mother’s find greater satisfaction outside of the home than inside. 

DEUTERONOMY 9:13 KING JAMES VERSION

Furthermore the LORD spake unto me, saying, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people: 

Has America become such a rebellious nation that we will suffer the consequences of our actions for generations to come? 

PROVERBS 1:8-19 NEW KING JAMES VERSION

8 My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother;
9 For they will be a graceful ornament on your head, and chains about your neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.
11 If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait to shed blood; let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;

12 Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go down to the Pit;
13 We shall find all kinds of precious possessions, we shall fill our houses with spoil;
14 Cast in your lot among us, let us all have one purse”—
15 My son, do not walk in the way with them, keep your foot from their path;
16 For their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.
17 Surely, in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird;
18 But they lie in wait for their own blood, they lurk secretly for their own lives.
19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; it takes away the life of its owners.

Far to many parents are not parenting our children. “So, my son, pay attention to your father’s guidance, and do not ignore what your mother taught you—” (Proverbs 18 THE VOICE). This has allowed demonic forces to influence them. While one generation is creating havoc in the street and the unborn are being slaughtered another is being abused sexually. 

Who is warning our children? “My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them.” (Proverbs 1:10 NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION). 

I see it! I see the rising number of young men being murdered, the number of child deaths and I hear of the thousands of abortions done daily. “My son, do not walk in the way with them, keep your foot from their path; for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.” (Proverbs 1:15-16 NEW KING JAMES VERSION)I see the growing number of young people who reject the Word of YHWH; they reject the tradition of going to church that their parents have. I see mothers crying in the street, angry, because their child is dead.

Solomon warns us: 

PROVERBS 1:18-19 THE VOICE

These men lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush only themselves! Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the life of those who get it.

Our children are lead to their own destruction. 

ISAIAH 54:13 NEW KING JAMES VERSION

All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children.

There is no peace among our children because Yeshua, Jesus, is not being taught. Do you have a personal relationship with Him?

                     written by Marsha L F Randolph

NETTIE-OLOGY /NETTIE-ISM reflects the opinions of and is the soul property of the author MARSHA L F RANDOLPH. All rights reserved- do not use without permission. Disagreeing with what is written is not offensive to the author a disagreeable comment will be deleted.

FEAR YHWH BE AFRAID OF MAN

BIBLE STUDY: PROVERBS LESSON 2 1:1-7 

NETTIE-OLOGY: There are three books in the Bible I love to read and meditate on: Job, I have read it more than I have read the entire Bible; Song of Solomon, not only is it a sexy read but it is an intense read; and Ecclesiastes, I have yet to unpack the simplest of its’ writings. But, I have never really had an interest in the book of Proverbs until now.

It is hard these days to obtain “wise counsel” (verse 5). 

This is where it begins: The words of King Solomon written for all those who do not want to repeat his mistakes. Many people read a chapter a day, I cannot because I have been known to meditate on one verse for weeks. 

PROVERBS 1:7 THE EXPANDED BIBLE

Knowledge begins with ·respect [fear; awe] for the Lord, but fools ·hate [despise] wisdom and ·discipline [self-control; instruction].

YHWH is the creator of everything. “All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1:3 King James Version)If we digest that fact, and allow it to be absorbed into our souls we will understand how ignorant we are. I am a finite being serving an infinite Creator; anyone who accepts this understands the importance of His word.

The beginning of knowledge is the realization that His words are powerful. He said: “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11 KING JAMES VERSION) No man or beast has that much power but a fool believes he does. 

There are many foolish people on earth today that will deny the power and authority of YHWH. They hate wisdom and discipline, they reject the Truth that is found in the gospel and proclaim their own truth. 

 “A wise man will hear and increase learning,  And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel”, Proverbs 1:5. It is not the wisdom of man that makes one wise but the wisdom that comes from the Creator of heaven and earth. In verse 2 of Proverbs 1, King Solomon says you need “to perceive the words of understanding”. This is not about book learning. 

PROVERBS 1:1-7 NEW KING JAMES VERSION

1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:

2 To know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding,

3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity;

4 To give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion—

5 A wise man will hear and increase learning,

And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,

6 To understand a proverb and an enigma, the words of the wise and their riddles.

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

 It was my mother who pushed me to YHWH and away from foolishness. I asked my mother: Why did she not get the last two credits she needed to obtain her degree? My mother simply responded there was no need.  She would not have made more money, she would not have obtained more knowledge than she was getting via her life experiences and she would not have had been able to create any better connections than she already had. My mother also knew a lot of church leaders from a variety of denominations, they did not impress her either.

PROVERBS 1:7 THE VOICE

Let us begin. The worship of the Eternal One, the one True God, is the first step toward knowledge. Fools, however, do not fear God and cannot stand wisdom or guidance. 

                                                     

                        written by Marsha L F Randolph

NETTIE-OLOGY /NETTIE-ISM reflects the opinions of and is the soul property of the author MARSHA L F RANDOLPH. All rights reserved- do not use without permission. Disagreeing with what is written is not offensive to the author a disagreeable comment will be deleted. 

 

BELIEVER SEEKING WISDOM...

 NETTIE-PLAIN: I find myself at a pivotal point in my life in which I do more praying than talking. I still have opinions but I seek wisdom.

JAMES 1:5 NEW KING JAMES VERSION

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

We all need wisdom that come from YHWH and not man. As we look around today we see: fear, anger, confusion and rebellion.

I am taking you with me, I will be exploring the book of PROVERBS. This will take more than 31 days. I would suggest you take your own notes, cross reference your own bible or do as I do utilize BIBLE GATEWAY. 

One of the first Bible verses I remembered, not memorized was Proverbs 4:7, it struck to me as intensely as Matthew 6:33 has. 

PROVERBS 4:7 NEW KING JAMES VERSION

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. 

Many Bible scholars have knowledge, very few have understanding and even fewer have wisdom. 

ROMANS 12:16 THE VOICE

Work toward unity, and live in harmony with one another. Avoid thinking you are better than others or wiser than the rest; instead, embrace common people and ordinary tasks.

I believe, one of the major devisions we have today in the “church” is the pseudo-hierarchy. We are divided by a multitude of concepts- be it by college degree: PhD, Masters, B.S. etcetera; or title: Pope, Apostle, Bishop, Evangelist, Prophetess, etcetera; or denomination / theology: Baptist, Methodist, Charismatic, Catholic, and so forth. 

Yeshua said: “every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.” 

Matthew 12:25 (King James Version) 

And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

The church is falling apart. The people OF Yahovah Eloheem are falling. But there is hope:

PSALM 91:9-16 THE VOICE

For you made the Eternal [your] refuge,the Most High your only home. No evil will come to you; plagues will be turned away at your door.

He will command His heavenly messengers to guard you, to keep you safe in every way. They will hold you up in their hands so that you will not crash, or fall, or even graze your foot on a stone. You will walk on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the lion and the serpent underfoot.

“Because he clings to Me in love, I will rescue him from harm; I will set him above danger. Because he has known Me by name, he will call on Me, and I will answer. I’ll be with him through hard times; I’ll rescue him and grant him honor. I’ll reward him with many good years on this earth and let him witness My salvation.”

The answer is always Lord God- Yahovah Eloheem. I challenge you to join me as I seek His wisdom amongst man’s chaos.                                                             - Marsha