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It is my desire to give us something to keep us focused, to keep us excited, determined to reach our goal. We should also be a light and an encouragement to others. The future is going to be rough. Scripture foretells of a great tribulation about to come upon mankind. How then can we keep focused when we face these times of trials?

What kept the saints of old on track? What was it that caused some to die for something better than what this life had to offer? What can keep you enduring until the end?

Yeshua (Jesus) told his disciples not to be all caught up in the physical…

Matthew 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness...

From now on when we refer to ‘The Kingdom’ it will not only refer to the realm we are to experience in Yeshua now but also the Kingdom of Heaven or the Kingdom of God. That will be the time when Yeshua returns to establish His rule here on earth. When the saints will no longer be physical flesh and blood, but spirit; that is having eternal life. Future messages will focus on various aspects of the Kingdom of God, which is our goal.

What did Yeshua (Jesus) preach? What is the gospel?

Mark14-15 … Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."

It will be our purpose to show, from Scripture, the kingdom of God and what it could entail. Stay with us as it is the goal of our salvation. There is only one way into that kingdom, Yeshua the Messiah.

Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike.

Acts 14:22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God."

2 Thessalonians 1:5 …a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.

1 Corinthians 6:9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?

1 Corinthians 15:50 Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God... (read all of chapter 15)

Colossians 1:13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,

1 Thessalonians 2:12 so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

2 Timothy 4:18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Hebrews 1:8 But of the Son He says, "YOUR THRONE, O GOD, IS FOREVER AND EVER, AND THE RIGHTEOUS SCEPTER IS THE SCEPTER OF HIS KINGDOM.

Revelation 5:10 "You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth."

James 2:5 Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?

Revelation 12:10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come…

2 Timothy 4:1 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:

If we are to reign and rule with Yeshua, the King, we best be learning and focusing on our future. This can be done by being completely yielded to our King now. To listen to His direction through the study of Scripture, through meditation and prayer.

Father may Your Kingdom come and Your will be done!

The purpose of the book of Proverbs:

Proverbs 1: 2 To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding,

3 To receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness, justice and equity;

4 To give prudence to the naive, To the youth knowledge and discretion,

5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel,

6 To understand a proverb and a figure, The words of the wise and their riddles.

It is our purpose to search the book of Proverbs for the instruction of our Savior:

Matthew 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness...

And as Proverbs 1:3 states To receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness, justice and equity;

Through careful study of the Proverbs we find it is the Spirit speaking to us.

Our creator made no little plans; He has a great and glorious plan. He has given us that plan, it is written down for us and with the help of His Spirit we can be a part of that plan. All He asks is that we repent of our ways and believe Him, and to: seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness...

1. What made the wise virgins wise?
2. What New Testament book begins with the words, "In the beginning"?
3. Where was the ship headed on which Paul suffered shipwreck?
4. To what people in 2 Corinthians did Paul boast about the eagerness in Achaia to help?
5. When Aaron was consecrated as a priest, what animals were offered?
6. What woman and her family were spared when Jericho was destroyed?
7. Who said, "Prepare me a kind of tasty food I like…so that I may give you my blessing before I die"?

In our pursuit of humility:

In Jesus we see how both as the Son of God in heaven and the Son of Man on earth, He took the place of entire subordination and gave God the Father the honor and glory due Him. Andrew Murray

In our emulation of the Son of God we also must give the honor and glory to the Father, just as Yeshua did. Humility is the very root of our striving for the Kingdom of God. It is the very virtue that allows God to be all.

I am not so sure about these - but someone was creative …

In George Washington's days, there were no cameras. One's image was either sculpted or painted. Some paintings of George Washington showed him standing behind a desk with one arm behind his back while others showed both legs and both arms. Prices charged by painters were not based on how many people were to be painted, but by how many limbs were to be painted. Arms and legs are "limbs!" therefore painting them would cost the buyer more. Hence the expression "Okay, but it'll cost you an arm and a leg.

As incredible as it sounds, men and women took baths only twice a year! (May & October) Women always kept their hair covered while men shaved their heads (because of lice and bugs) and wore wigs. Wealthy men could afford good wigs. The wigs couldn't be washed so to clean them, they could carve out a loaf of bread, put the wig in the shell and bake it for 30 minutes. The heat would make the wig big and fluffy, hence the term "big wig." Today we often use the term "here comes the Big Wig" because someone appears to be or is powerful and wealthy.

Early politicians required feedback from the public to determine what was considered important to the people. Since there were no telephones, TV's or radios, the politicians sent their assistants to local taverns, pubs and bars who were told to "go sip some ale" and listen to people's conversations and political concerns. Many assistants were dispatched at different times. "You go sip here" and "you go sip there." The two words "go sip" were eventually combined when referring to the local opinion and thus, we have the term "gossip."

Needless to say, personal hygiene left much room for improvement. As a result, many women and men had developed acne scars by adulthood. The women would spread bee's wax over their facial skin to smooth out their complexions. When they were speaking to each other, if a woman began to stare at another woman's face she was told "mind your own bee's wax." Should the woman smile, the wax would crack, hence the term "crack a smile." Also, when they sat too close to the fire, the wax would melt and therefore the expression "losing face."

What weighs the same whether it is large or small? ... A hole

I show a different face to everyone, but I have no face of my own. Who am I? ... A mirror

You can tell a dogwood tree by its bark.

Sammy had just completed his first day at school. Back home, his mother asked him what he had learned. Sammy said, "Not enough. I have to go back tomorrow."

A father said to his son, "Isn’t it wonderful how little chicks get out of their shells?" His son said, "What gets me is how they get in."

The best way to get in touch with a fish is to drop him a line.

If your nose was twelve inches long it would be a foot.

My petunias are long and scraggly. A sign that summer is coming to an end. My planters have long past hit their peak and now are over grown and lanky. It makes me sigh with regret. It seems like I just planted them and eagerly waited for the blossoms and now it is time to start thinking about taking cuttings to start for next years flowers to be.

I am reminded of the scripture (Ec 3:2 A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest.) change is inevitable. One has to simply look forward to the next season. Fall, Sukkot, rejoicing and brilliant leaves are definitely something to look forward to.

The week seemed to fly by as Bill and Mabel set about cleaning and making the place presentable for Mr. Hargrove’s visit. Bill used the mule to pull out a few old stumps in the yard next to the barn and cleared away some brush near the house. Mabel was starting to feel better with color returning to her cheeks. Her appetite began to pick up and she started to add a few pounds to her skinny frame. She found enough energy to piece together some old faded material to make curtains to decorate the two windows in their cabin. She swept the rugged wooden floors and cleaned the best she could.

Bill had gone to the neighbors and offered his services to obtain fire-wood and enough to buy some flour, shortening and yeast. Mabel was a good cook when she had the energy to spend the day laboring over a hot wood cook stove.

Sure enough as Doc Benson had said Mr. Hargrove and another man arrived as stated. Mr. Hargrove introduced Bill and Mabel to his personal assistant that would become Bill’s tutor for the next year. He was a tall Dutchman named ‘Van’; that was all he was called, simply Van.

Mr. Hargrove had Van drive the carriage with him and Bill to the next farm land he had purchased. The first property they visited was south of Bill’s rental farm. It was being abandoned by the share holders because the older couple’s children had grown, leaving the share-croppers life for work in the industrialized North. They checked the condition of the well, barn, house and cleared land. They rode around the property looking at the condition of the fences and checked the soil for erosion and clay/sand make-up.

From there they traveled east to the next property. It also was in poor condition with an older couple trying to eke out a living best as they could. Mr. Hargrove assured them they could remain there rent free if they could maintain the buildings and care for some beef cattle he wanted to raise on this place. They could raise their own crops and garden without charge. He would give them a couple of dairy cows to supply the milk and butter for themselves and the rest of his workers on his estate. This would include Bill, Mabel, Van and the McBride household on the property north of them.

The older couple, known as the Smith’s, were delighted to accept the offer. Bill was told to make two copies of these conditions. Both he and the Smith’s were to sign it, one copy for Bill and one for the couple. Bill was instructed to keep his copy and to be responsible for its keeping. He was to report every six months, by mail, as to the progress of this contract.

Riding north along the river they came to the McBride parcel. This was quite different from the rest of the estate in that it was crossed by a large stream. The land was slightly rolling with green fields and what appeared as rich fertile soil. The McBride’s were a healthy happy lot with five children, ages 5 to 15. The father was a blacksmith by trade and had made quite a few useful tools to help farm the land making it easy to produce crops that paid his share and enabled him to supply his family with clothes, food and a good education. Mrs. McBride was well known for her community social work in caring for the needy, winning the best preserves contest at the county fair, and she also was a mid-wife.

Mr. Hargrove had already been here and made himself known to them. It was time to introduce Bill and Van to them. He also told them they would be receiving free milk and butter from the Smith’s. As a favor to him he asked them to occasionally check in on the Smith’s and tend to any of their needs at his expense. The expenses would be handled through Bill when his tutorship would end. A copy of the land agreement was handed to Bill for future reference.

It was now late as they headed back to the Bill’s place. They arrived to find a meal of bread, wild honey, beef stew and tea waiting for them. Mabel was in a good spirit as she greeted them. Her tiny frame seemed to show forth a will unseen before. Mr. Hargrove asked Van to give thanks; then they ate and enjoyed the meal. Being so late Bill offered Mr. Hargrove his bed while Mabel would sleep in a corner of the cabin he had partitioned off for her since day one. Van and Bill would head for the barn and sleep there for the night.

Next morning Van and Bill were at the pump washing up when Mr. Hargrove joined them. Bill went in to check on Mabel and get the coffee on. Soon the four of them were sitting around the little table enjoying eggs, coffee and bread with fresh churned butter and honey.

Mr. Hargrove set the tone of everything; he would return to his business. Van would occupy the abandoned farm house. Bill would follow the teachings and instruction of Van. Bill would be responsible for all communication via letter to Mr. Hargrove; he would report the progress of the development and implementation of the estate and the welfare of the tenants. Van would have a bank draft to cover all expenses as to the development of the estate according to the master plan. Once the plan was implemented the rental share would be used to enhance the estate to be self sufficient and prosperous.

With that instruction Mr. Hargrove bid them farewell and left. Van turned to Bill and Mabel and said, "We have our mission. Let us pray."

Next time: Bill is tutored in more ways than one.

1. Readiness - Matthew 25:1-13

2. John - John 1:1

3. Italy - Acts 27:6, 41

4. The Macedonians - 2 Corinthians 9:2

5. A young bullock and two rams - Exodus 29:1

6. Rahab - Joshua 6:25

7. Isaac - Genesis 27:2-4