Strife, it's cause and how to avoid it.

Pro 13:10 By Pride comes nothing but strife. But with the well -advised is wisdom.

The book of Proverbs has much to say about this subject, i.e strife, or contention. And here in 13:10, we are told it's cause, and we are told how to walk in wisdom, or not to have strife.

The cause of strife is pride. Pride means, arrogance, and presumption. So, the it's arrogance that brings about strife.

Arrogance, as defined Biblically, means, pomp, swelling, or proud. It's to have an attitude of self importance. That's how the dictionary defines it to. "having an exaggerated sense of one's own importance or abilities. It's to be puffed up with conceit.

Self admiration, egotism, self-regard, smugness, big-headedness, vain glory.

It's the opposite of humility. That is pride is the direct opposite of humility.

But, with the well advised is wisdom. Or "those who receive counsel" is wisdom.

We do not naturally have God's wisdom. It must be given to us, and we must receive it.

And, if we are the kind of people who can receive counsel, it will help us not to walk in pride, and it will help us not to cause strife and contention.

So, Lord, here we are. People who need counsel, people who would want to receive counsel. Your counsel. Will You help us this day to be humble, to be receptive to You, and to have Your wisdom, and avoid being the cause of strife and contention.

We truly do love You, and we need You more then we know. Thank You Lord. In Jesus name. Amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier

3 things that can come into our lives

Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.

This verse tells us of several things that can come into our lives.

It might be more appropriate to say that there are a total of four things that are mentioned in this verse.

Let's count them.........pride, shame, humility, and wisdom.

Two of these are really from within us, and they serve as the basis for what will happen to us as the result.

First of all......Pride.....it comes from within, and when it comes, it brings shame.

Pride means insolence, or presumptuousness, also translated, arrogance......If we are walking in this, we will then have shame....it comes with pride, or from pride.....Shame means disgrace, and dishonor.

So, pride and shame go together.

Then, we have humility and wisdom. To walk in humility, means that we walk in a lowly way, or a modest way. Sometimes it's defined as having an accurate view of oneself. We are just earthen vessels.

But, if we are humble, then we will have wisdom. Meaning, the skillful man, to have our wits about us.

Well, Lord, help us to be humble and avoid shame, and have wisdom.

We love you, in Jesus name.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Blessed is the man.........

Hello, and blessings to you today.

The following verse actually tells us, or describes for us a "Blessed Man"

Blessed means to be happy, and it comes from a word meaning to go straight, to make progress, to advance.

And, it simply means to be happy.

It is clear from reading the Bible that people often pursue being happy, but come up empty. But, on the other hand, many people find themselves happy because they have simply followed the Lord and find that happiness is a by-product of that relationship. It's an actual promise from God that if a man lives a certain way, he will find happiness in his life.

So, here's one of the scriptures that lays it out for us.

Proverbs 9:34

"Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors"

Three things are said here about this happy man. He listens to God, He Watches, and He Waits.

The happy man Listens. This means to hear and it means to obey. So, hearing the Lord, and obeying Him are part of our being happy.

The happy man also Watches. This means to be alert, to be awake, to keep watch. Jesus often talked about this attitude of mind and heart. So did the apostles.

The happy man Waits. This means to keep, guard, observe, give heed.

So, one of God's simple but effective and true prescriptions for happiness. To Watch, Listen and Wait.

Lord, we desire Your blessings in our lives, they are the best experiences of our lives down here on earth. Would you please fill us with Your wisdom, and help us to Watch, Listen and Wait upon You.

In Jesus name.

Pastor Bob Grenier

A thought about overcoming.

Ro 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

What a blessing here in Romans, how the Lord teaches us about overcoming evil.

As you can see, first of all He tells us "Do not be overcome by evil"

This would mean then, that it's entirely possible for us to not be overcome by evil. The Lord would never instruct us, and teach us to do something if it was not possible to do.

The word overcome means, to conquer, to get the victory.....So, we are not to be conquered by evil. ( Evil by the way, means, to hurt, destroy, harm.

Going on in this verse, we are to then conquer evil by or with good. Or that which is good. Good also means benefit, useful, pleasant, agreeable, happy, upright and honorable.

So, those are the ways by which we can conquer evil, it's by good.

A prayer..... Lord, thank You for Your Word. Would You please guide each of us to walk in the ways that are good, pleasant, upright, happy, and beneficial to others, May we personally experience overcoming evil in our own lives, and may we be tools in Your hands to bring that victory to the people we are in contact with.

Thank You again Lord...

Pastor Bob Grenier

God's way to keep us from adultery

Hello, and good morning to you. In reading my daily reading today, I was in Proverbs 7, and while it's something I read at least once a month, ( I try to read a chapter of Proverbs everyday ) I was struck by the first few verses.

I saw this as God giving us His prescription, to keep us from adultery. ( which of course is so prevalent today, and is so destructive, as the later portion of the chapter spells out )

First of all........Realize who you are. You are God's Child, ( my son ) you have a relationship with the Father through Jesus Christ the Son. You are not your own, but you have been bought with a price, and you belong to God. You are part of His family, You are His child.

Second......and, these all have to do with our Father's Word, the Word of God ( Jesus is the Living Word of God having come in the flesh ) But, here's what's said about how we are to relate to the Word of God.

Keep My Words

Treasure My Commands within you

Keep my Commands and live

And my law as the apple of your eye

Bind them on your fingers.

Write them on the tablet of your heart

Say to wisdom, you are my sister

And call understanding your nearest kin

There are 8 things said there. All of them having to do with God's Word.

I find it helpful to take each of those exhortations, and to really think about what they mean.

They are all directing us to a very personal intimate association with the Word of God.

There is alot more to say about these exhortations, but I've got to run.

Last thing is, that there is a promise from the Lord that if we keep His Word as mentioned above, that His Word will keep us from the immoral woman, and from the seductress who flatters with her lips.

Finally, the rest of chapter 7, is an explanation of what happens to the man or person who is not kept from immorality and adultery, and it explains in depth what happens

I hope this has been helpful to you.

Pastor Bob Grenier

One thing can lead to another

Prayer for Gods will is heard, and answered..,we have vision for on/going work in Japan. Stepping out in faith, taking a venture of faith, will no doubt generally lead to something fruitful for the honor and glory of God. I think that has happened on this trip. And, as we step forward into those things, the process will repeat itself again. Truly one thing can lead to another. So, Lord, lead and guide, and bless abundantly.

Pastor Bob Grenier


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Location:In the air, heading to LAX

Leaving Japan

Well, we have had quite a week. First we visited an area that was completely devastated by the 2 events, the earthquake, followed by the Tsunami. There met people who in one case had a family business that had been in operation for over 100 years......they lost everything, but they survived by going up to the top floor of their home. In fact, they called out to their neighbors to come and join them in their house, but they said no, and wound up being swept away before their eyes.

The purpose of our visit to the devastated area was to see how the Lord may be leading us to help with relief efforts in the months ahead. That plan seems to be coming together.

We also participated in a 2 day Annual Pastor's Conference, with about 200 in attendance. It was a blessing, and through all of the times of sharing and prayer, there was a constant theme of trusting in the Lord in the face of difficulty.

Some of you who may be reading this blog, may have experienced or be experiencing your own personal earthquakes and Tsunami's. Here in Japan, they have had over 1200 aftershocks.....And, you may also be experiencing the on-going effects or additional incidents and difficulties in your own life as well.

It's my prayer for you today, that God in His being the God of all Comfort, may give that to you today.

God is with you, and He will not forsake you, that is what the Bible says.

Also, the Bible teaches us that God is always working out a plan in and through the circumstances we find ourselves in.

May God help you to simply believe Him. He is faithful.

Blessings of His grace and peace be upon and in your life.

Pastor Bob Grenier