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<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">“<b>TWO
ARE BETTER THAN ONE” MINISTRIES</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Jim
& Marie Watt</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Tel:
<a href="tel:253-517-9195" target="_blank">253-517-9195</a> - Email:
<a href="mailto:jmbetter@gmail.com" target="_blank">jmbetter@gmail.com</a></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Web:
<a href="http://www.2rbetter.org/" target="_blank">www.2rbetter.org</a></b></p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><br></p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><a href="http://www.2rbetter.org/" target="_blank">
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</a></p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><b>MAY
13 - JAMES 4:13-5:6 - WISDOM IN PLANNING AND RICHES</b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><b>1.
4:13-14a (4:13-14) VAIN CONFIDENCE. <font size="3">“Come now, </font><font size="3"><i>you</i></font><font size="3"><span style="font-style:normal">
that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into this :city, and spend a
year there, and trade, and </span></font><font size="3"><i>get</i></font><font size="3"><span style="font-style:normal">
gain: </span></font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="font-style:normal">14
</span></font><font size="3"><span style="font-style:normal">whereas
you know not what is your :life on the morrow.” (NNT). </span></font></b><span style="font-style:normal"><u><span style="font-weight:normal">Here</span></u></span><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
is </span></span></span><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">a
</span></span></span><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Kingdom
principle we all need to remember! </span></span></span><span style="font-style:normal"><u><span style="font-weight:normal">None</span></u></span><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
of us have </span></span></span><span style="font-style:normal"><u><span style="font-weight:normal">any</span></u></span><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
guarantee of the future. Father, our trust must </span></span></span><span style="font-style:normal"><u><span style="font-weight:normal">always</span></u></span><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
be in </span></span></span><span style="font-style:normal"><u><span style="font-weight:normal">You</span></u></span><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">,
and </span></span></span><span style="font-style:normal"><u><span style="font-weight:normal">You
alone</span></u></span><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">!
</span></span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Hallowed
be your :name.</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">2.
4:15 TRUE CONFIDENCE. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“Instead
of your saying, If the Lord will, we shall both live, and do this or
that.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Father,
help us </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">always</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
to consult You in our planning; as our Senior Partner, supervise </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">all</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
our plans and decisions. Then we will be walking in a childlike way,
well-pleasing to You. Then we are always deferring to You, doing </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">Your</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
thing. </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Your
:kingdom come.</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">3.
4:16 VAIN BOASTING. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“But
now you glory in your :vauntings: all such glorying is evil.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">This
is a picture of both unregenerate and carnal man. We repudiate this
standard Father, and would be like </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">Jesus</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">:
meek and lowly of heart (Matthew 11:28:30). Let us lean harder on
You, Jesus, and come closer, day by day. </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Your
:will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">4.
4:17 TRUE ANALYSIS. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“To
him therefore that knows to do good, and does not, to him it is sin.”
</span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">What
a serious word! Father, write this upon our heart, deeply. If we love
You, we </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">will</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
be keeping Your commandment. O forgive us for our hard hearts:
knowing, or being able to know Your perfect will, and then
deliberately going our own way. </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Our
:daily :bread Give us this day.</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">5.
5:3 (5:1-3) RICH MEN WARNED. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“Your
:gold and your :silver is rusted; and their :rust shall be for a
testimony against you, and shall eat your :flesh as fire. You have
laid up treasure in </span></font><font size="3"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">the</span></i></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">
last days.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Father,
we would be rich unto You by laying up our treasure in </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">heaven</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">,
not on earth. We would live with eternity’s values in view! We
would have </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">true</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
perspective. </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">And
forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">6.
5:4 A CAUSE FOR WARNING. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“Lo,
the hire of the laborers who mowed your lands, which is of you kept
back, cries out: and the cries of them that reaped have entered into
the ears of </span></font><font size="3"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">the</span></i></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">
Lord of Sabaoth.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Rich
people who defraud the poor are noticed by You, Father. They who
forget the poor consult </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">not</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
their own interests. We </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">repudiate</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
such selfishness. </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">And
bring us not into temptation!</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">7.
5:5-6 CARELESS RICH: IN SLIPPERY PLACES. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“You
have lived delicately on </span></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">the
earth and taken pleasure; you have nourished your :heart in a day of
slaughter. </span></font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="text-decoration:none">6
</span></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">You
have condemned, have killed the righteous </span></font><font size="3"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">One</span></i></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">;
he does not resist you.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">We
fear Father, for the rich who carelessly and deliberately oppress the
poor. They are as sheep led to the slaughter! </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">But
deliver us from the evil </span></i><span style="text-decoration:none">one!</span></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><u><b>NOTE</b></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>:
4:14b (4:13-14) TRANSITOR</b></span><b><span style="text-decoration:none">INESS</span><span style="text-decoration:none">:
OUR LIFE! </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“For
you are a vapor that appears for a little, and then disappears.”
</span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">This
is like Psalm 90. Here is wisdom. Circumcise our hearts with this
truth Father, that we might evermore walk in it.</span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">In
the Old Testament - </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">Proverbs</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
is the Book of Wisdom, written by Solomon. He wrote 3 of the Old
Testament books: Song of Solomon as a young man: Proverbs as a father
for his children; and Ecclesiastes as a sad record of his later
sinning days, and how he finally returned to the Lord. Riches, wives
and horses ruined him.</span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">But
James is the New Testament book - and an update on the Book of
Proverbs. They </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">both</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
major on Wisdom, and Jesus is made unto us </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">Wisdom</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
by God - plus Righteousness, Sanctification and Redemption.</span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Wisdom
is especially needed by the Rich - they too often let their riches
carry them away from the heart of the Gospel. There </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">are</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
rich like Job, who use their riches for the glory of God - but the
majority of the rich forget the poor, the widow and the orphan - and
consume their riches on their own lusts. It </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">is</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
possible for the rich to be like Job. Jesus told His disciples how
difficult it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven - but </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">God</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
can make what is impossible - possible!</span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">These
11 verses </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">major</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
on the difficulties of the rich to be God-pleasing. We need to pray
for our rich friends, that they might read this passage - and then
call on the God of grace to help them to be like Job!</span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">Our
Psalm for the Day: 133:1</span><span style="text-decoration:none">-3</span><span style="text-decoration:none">
</span><span style="text-decoration:none">WHEN BROTHERS DWELL IN
UNITY. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“Behold,
how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! </span></font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="text-decoration:none">2
</span></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">It is
like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the
beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! </span></font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="text-decoration:none">3
</span></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">It is
like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For
</span></font><u><font size="3">there</font></u><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">
the LORD has commanded the blessing, life forevermore” (ESV). </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">In
the place of </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">unity</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">,
You have </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">commanded</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
blessing, Father! </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Hallowed
be Your :Name!</span></i><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">
</span></font></b></font></font>
</p>
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