Focus your direction!

Ponder this: Where are you going? Oh be careful little feet where you go…..

Proverbs 4:23–27 (NKJV) 23Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. 24Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you. 25Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you. 26Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. 27Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil.

If your ways don’t change what will be the result?  Get back focused on how God wants you to live! What will be the result if you don’t change your ways? NOW is the time to make a change and focus on the way God wants you to live!

Keep the Heart and Control the Mouth!

Keep Your Heart! 

Ponder this: Stop your deceit and cursing! Oh be careful little mouth what you say….

Proverbs 4:23–27 (NKJV) ²³Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. ²⁴Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you. ²⁵Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you. ²⁶Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. ²⁷Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil. 

God’s commands for the bullied and the bully.  Our mouths must remain in control!

Seek God's Favor!

Seek God’s Favor!

Ponder This: God cares about our actions!

Proverbs 3:3–4 (NKJV) 3Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, 4And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.

Hang on to mercy and truth.  Bullying others or retribution to bullies is not showing mercy and does not find favor with God or man.  It is time we have individuals begin to seek favor with God!

Spiritual Heart Scan!

Speech reveals the heart.

Matthew 12:24b "For our of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks."

If it is coming out of their mouth it is in their heart. If the heart condition is not addressed the mouth cannot truly change. This gives us the challenge to check our own hearts by listening to what is said, and it gives us the opportunity to recognize what is in the heart of those we are hearing communicate.

Time For A Treasure Hunt!

Ponder this: How hard are you looking for God’s wisdom?  Don’t give up, he promises that you will find it! 

Proverbs 2:1–6 (NKJV)1 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;

What Does God Hate?

Many people speak of God as only a God of love, but God hates some things. In fact, Scripture says these things are an abomination to Him.  They are in other words extremely disgusting to Him, loathing to Him.

Proverbs gives us seven things that fall into this category:

Proverbs 6:16–19 (NKJV) ¹⁶These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: ¹⁷A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, ¹⁸A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, ¹⁹A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.

1.    A Proud look - James 4:6 (NKJV) ⁶But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”   God, in Scripture, always favors the humble.  Bullies are often far from humble they think they are superior to others.  Yet, the bullied often respond in pride which builds conflict with those around them and often escalates a situation.

2.    A lying tongue – God commands us to put off lying and to speak the truth in love.   Eph. 4:15; 25 Unfortunately, both the bully and he who is bullied is often guilty of not being honest.  Hence, Proverbs challenge Proverbs 18:13, 17 (NKJV) ¹³He who answers a matter before he hears it, It is folly and shame to him. ¹⁷The first one to plead his cause seems right, Until his neighbor comes and examines him. 

3.    Hands that shed innocent blood – These are the bullies who attack unprovoked, and just delight in hurting others.  Though these situations are growing, after questioning teens, they still seem to be the minority of bullying cases.

4.    A heart that devises wicked plans – Notice here; this is an issue of the heart, there is no inference that this has even been carried through, but simply the thoughts.  Many a bully, and she who is being bullied, can be guilty of planning evil in their hearts.  Unfortunately, many a parent and grandparent encourage this type of thinking, as well.

5.    Feet that are swift in running to mischief – There are many individuals that are in a hurry to be unrighteous, to say unrighteous things in response to others, to act in unrighteous ways toward others.  God, in His hatred toward mischief, does not differentiate on whether it was verbal, or physical; He still hates it!

6.    A false witness who speaks lies – How many individuals are false witnesses because they fail to tell the whole story, and be honest with those who are trying to deal with a solution?  How many twist the story to their advantage, never desiring the truth to be known?

7.    One who sows discord – How many people love the drama and stirring up others by telling stories, gossiping, and repeating how they were wronged instead of going to the individual and addressing the problem with truth?  Others fabricate stories to get others riled up and bring conflict, dissension, and fights to the groups and organizations of which they are part.

God is calling us to repent and turn from our sin to righteousness.  John 1:9 “If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  If we are going to find a true “bully solution,” both the bullied and the bully are going to have to be honest with themselves, and God and deal with their sin by putting it under the blood of Christ and choosing a different way of life!

The Bully Solution - Getting to the Heart of the Matter

Having watched the growing epidemic of “Bullying” in the media, as a pastor, youth pastor, former school teacher, and teens, we, like others believe it is past time to respond.  Unlike others, we want to address several key issues that seem to be missing from the news reports, websites, and community groups that are gathering and/or rallying to deal with this black-eye of our society.

Without addressing foundational issues, one can only address the symptom and does not get to the heart of the problem.  In the coming weeks and months we at “The Bully Solution” will work to address foundational issues related to bullying, some of which are:

·  * Moral absolutes

·  * Human value

·  *Authority

·  * Love

·  * Conflict resolution

We will encourage you think, study, and change with us, so that we can bring about change in our towns, cities, schools, and eventually our culture and thereby bring about “The Bully Solution!”

We are open to questions, and as time allows, we will respond with answers.