PROVERB OF THE DAY (Proverbs 18) 1. A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment. 2. A fool has no delight in understanding, But in expressing his own heart. 3. When the wicked comes, contempt comes also; And with dishonor comes reproach. 4. The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook. 5. It is not good to show partiality to the wicked, Or to overthrow the righteous in judgment. 6. A fool’s lips enter into contention, And his mouth calls for blows. 7. A fool’s mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul. 8. The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, And they go down into the inmost body. 9. He who is slothful in his work Is a brother to him who is a great destroyer. 10. The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe. 11. The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own esteem. 12. Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, And before honor is humility. 13. He who answers a matter before he hears it, It is folly and shame to him. 14. The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, But who can bear a broken spirit? 15. The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. 16. A man’s gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men. 17. The first one to plead his cause seems right, Until his neighbor comes and examines him. 18. Casting lots causes contentions to cease, And keeps the mighty apart. 19. A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, And contentions are like the bars of a castle. 20. A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; From the produce of his lips he shall be filled. 21. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. 22. He who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the LORD. 23. The poor man uses entreaties, But the rich answers roughly. 24. A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Guidelines for living. August 18th, 2026 3 Steps to Finding a New Direction. This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” But you said, “We will not walk in it.” Jeremiah 6:16 Jeremiah the prophet was a man who needs to be rediscovered today. The circumstances surrounding his life and world have so many parallels to life today. How so? Well, for one thing, instability had gripped the world. Jeremiah’s beloved nation was about to be chewed up by the powerful tiger of Babylon. Social structures were failing too. Families were being torn apart; truth and morality had been sacrificed in the process. The priesthood had become politicized. No wonder Jeremiah seemed out of sync with his day—an old prophet who castigated the moral and spiritual decline. No wonder he was publicly scorned and privately castigated. There is a text in the book which bears his name which needs to be emblazoned on the conscience of every parent: God expects more, something more of His children, than that which satisfies the world. God spoke to Jeremiah, here’s what He said, “Stand at the crossroads and look; [and] ask for the old paths, [and] ask where the good way is, and walk in it” (Jeremiah 6:16). There were three parts to that advice: First, go back to the crossroads, back to the place where you took the wrong path, and look. God is saying, “Hey, you’ve been down the wrong road. You’ve learned that it didn’t bring you the peace or contentment. Now stand there—mentally speaking—take a look down the narrow road, the one that seemed to be less exciting, and realize it was here you went wrong. Let’s stop for a moment. Is it ever too late to acknowledge that you went wrong? You may think so, but in reality, it is not. A thief on the cross, seeing his life ebb away minute by minute, came to that place; he cried out, “Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He went back to the crossroads and took the right path. Before you go back to the crossroads—that fork in the road where you went wrong—you must stop what you’re doing and mentally look back. Often, we think, “It’s too late for me.” Not so, friend. Coming to the end of the year is a time for reflection and to go back if you missed the right path. Step number two in this process is this: “Ask for the old paths where the good way is.” In reality, prayer is asking. It is saying, “God, I went wrong. You know that, and now I admit it. I don’t want the future to be a rerun of the mistakes of the past. Forgive me, show me the right way to go.” Israel had missed God, and in spite of their waywardness, God promised to help them if they would only come back to Him. He said, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3). God will do the same for you as well. Step number three in this process of finding the right direction is this: When you have found the good way, “walk in it.” This is a matter of simple obedience, of putting your feet in a straight line in the direction you know God wants you to go. And with that simple step of obedience comes a great promise. God said, “you will find rest for your soul.” God did not force them, He invited them. Sadly, Israel rejected God’s invitation. Don’t do it, friend. Going back to the fork in the road requires courage and humility. Resource Reading: Jeremiah 6:1-30

~. . . And the evening and the morning were the 229th day. Good Morning, God's Beloved. On this 230th day of 2026, let's just celebrate the Joy and Wonder of being in Love. Be it Heavenly or Earthly . . .==> "Most important of all, love each other deeply, because love makes you willing to forgive many sins." [1 Peter 4:8] [And as you RESPECT and LOVE one another as hard as you can, Please PLAY NICE, PRAY for one another, Distance-CHECK on your neighbors, and Keep a SMILE on your Faith.] (For more videos like this, subscribe to my YouTube channel, MelzMark Video Productions, at www.youtube.com/[VStMelz]) https://youtube.com/watch?v=j281GSy476E&is=gvjrq3R9WeAJc4F6

Let's talk about it. What if the greatest problem in our lives isn't that we have too little time for God? What if the problem is that 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗲? We still pray. We still worship. We still read our Bibles. We still go to church. We still serve. But somewhere along the way, God becomes something we fit into our lives rather than the One around whom our lives are built. And Numbers 1 gives us a picture that we should not miss. When Israel was in the wilderness, God gave Moses specific instructions concerning the tabernacle. The Levites were to camp around it. And the rest of Israel was to camp according to their tribes and standards. Why? Because the tabernacle—the place representing God's dwelling among His people was at the center. Israel's camp was not randomly arranged. Their lives were literally organized around the presence of God. The Lord said: “𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗽 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘆...” (v53) Think about the picture. The tabernacle was in the middle. The Levites surrounded it. The tribes surrounded them. 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗼𝗱'𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲. That was more than an arrangement of tents. It was a picture of how God's people were meant to live. God was not supposed to be somewhere on the edge of Israel's life. He was not an afterthought. He was not something they visited when they had time. 𝗛𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿. And perhaps that is where we need to stop and look at our own lives. Because whatever sits at the center of your life will eventually determine the direction of everything around it. If comfort is at the center, your decisions will revolve around comfort. If money is at the center, your life will revolve around gaining and protecting it. If approval is at the center, your peace will depend on what people think of you. If success is at the center, your worth will rise and fall with your achievements. Even ministry can become the center. Even family can become the center. Even good things can take the place that belongs to God. When God is no longer at the center, everything else slowly begins to take a place it was never meant to occupy. Israel's arrangement in Numbers reminds us of something we often forget: God was not meant to be placed somewhere within the arrangement of our lives. He is meant to be the center around which our entire lives are ordered. But here's where the gospel becomes beautiful. God didn't merely tell Israel to arrange their camp around His presence. 𝗛𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺. And then, centuries later, something even greater happened. John 1:14 says: “𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗹𝗲𝘀𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝘄𝗲𝗹𝘁 𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝘀.” The God who dwelt among Israel in the tabernacle came near to us in Jesus. Christ entered our wilderness. He came into our brokenness. He came into our disorder. And He came not merely to become part of our lives, but to become the center of them. God can be in our lives without being at the center of our lives. You can give Him an hour on Sabbath and still organize the rest of your week around yourself. You can pray to Him and still make every major decision without Him. You can serve Him and still build your identity around something else. You can carry His Word and still arrange your life around your own desires. So today, don't simply ask: “Where is God in my life?” Ask: “What is my life arranged around?” What sits at the center? What determines my priorities? What controls my decisions? What gives me my sense of worth? Because whatever is at the center will eventually shape everything around it. Israel had a center. And that center was the dwelling place of God. We have Christ. So let Him be more than a part of your life. Let Him be the One your life revolves around. Not in the background. Not on the edge. Not when you have time. 𝗔𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿. Because when Christ is at the center, everything else can finally find its proper place.

A Nugget of Truth. Every believer should desire more than success, recognition, or earthly achievements. The greatest reward is to stand before Christ and hear Him say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21). That moment will not belong to those who simply knew about Jesus, but to those who trusted Him, remained faithful, and endured to the end. Our lives are temporary, but the choices we make for Christ have eternal significance. The apostle Paul finished his race with confidence because he had kept the faith, knowing that “there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness” (2 Timothy 4:7–8). Whatever trials, sacrifices, or temptations we face today are small compared to the joy of being welcomed into God's kingdom. Therefore, let every decision, every prayer, and every act of obedience be done with eternity in view, for “be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).

Daily Bible Lesson. THE HIDDEN POWER OF SALT IN THE BIBLE: WHY GOD USED SALT SO OFTEN Have you ever wondered why salt appears over and over again in the Bible? It was never just a seasoning. From Genesis to the New Testament, salt carried deep spiritual meaning. It represented purity, preservation, faithfulness, covenant, wisdom, and even judgment. Let's explore what God was teaching through salt. 1. ELISHA USED SALT TO HEAL THE WATERS OF JERICHO 📖 2 Kings 2:19–22 After Elijah was taken to heaven, Elisha arrived in Jericho. The people said: «"The city is pleasant, but the water is bad and the land is unproductive."» God instructed Elisha: «"Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it."» Elisha threw the salt into the spring and declared: «"Thus says the LORD, 'I have healed these waters; from now on neither death nor miscarriage shall come from them.'" (2 Kings 2:21)» Immediately the waters became pure. Notice something important. The miracle was not in the salt. The salt was simply an act of obedience through which God demonstrated His power. Spiritual meaning: God can cleanse what sin has poisoned. He can restore what seemed permanently ruined. When God speaks, even bitter waters become life-giving. 2. EVERY GRAIN OFFERING HAD TO INCLUDE SALT 📖 Leviticus 2:13 God commanded Israel: «"Season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings."» Why? Because salt preserves. It resists corruption. It symbolized that Israel's worship should never become spiritually corrupt. Spiritual meaning: God desires worship that remains pure, faithful, and sincere. Our devotion should not spoil with compromise. 3. GOD ESTABLISHED A "COVENANT OF SALT" 📖 Numbers 18:19 God told Aaron: «"It is a covenant of salt forever before the LORD."» Again in: 📖 2 Chronicles 13:5 God declared that He gave David the kingdom by a covenant of salt forever. In the ancient world, salt was valuable and enduring. A covenant sealed with salt symbolized permanence, loyalty, and faithfulness. Spiritual meaning: God does not abandon His promises. What He establishes, He is faithful to keep. 4. JESUS CALLED BELIEVERS "THE SALT OF THE EARTH" 📖 Matthew 5:13 Jesus said: «"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?"» Salt preserves food from decay. Likewise, believers are called to preserve truth in a corrupt world. We are meant to influence the world—not be influenced by it. Spiritual meaning: Christians should slow the spread of moral decay by living holy lives, speaking truth, and reflecting Christ's character. 5. JESUS SAID TO HAVE SALT IN YOURSELVES 📖 Mark 9:50 Jesus taught: «"Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness... Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with one another."» This points to inward spiritual character. Spiritual meaning: God desires hearts marked by wisdom, humility, holiness, and peace. 6. PAUL COMPARED OUR WORDS TO SALT 📖 Colossians 4:6 Paul wrote: «"Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt."» Our words should preserve life, bring wisdom, and point people toward Christ. Instead of spreading bitterness, believers should speak words that heal, encourage, and build others up. 7. SALT WAS ALSO A SIGN OF JUDGMENT The Bible also uses salt to represent desolation when people reject God. After the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah: 📖 Genesis 19:26 Lot's wife looked back in disobedience and became a pillar of salt. Her story stands as a warning against longing for the sinful life God has called us to leave behind. Later, Scripture describes lands under God's judgment as barren and covered with salt. 📖 Deuteronomy 29:23 📖 Judges 9:45 These passages show that the same symbol could represent either blessing or judgment, depending on humanity's response to God. WHAT DOES SALT REPRESENT IN THE BIBLE? Salt symbolizes: • Purity • Preservation • Faithfulness • God's everlasting covenant • Holiness • Wisdom • Gracious speech • Healing through God's power • A warning against corruption and disobedience THE GREATEST LESSON Salt itself has no supernatural power. The Bible never teaches that salt possesses mystical or magical abilities. Whenever God used salt, it was because He chose it as a symbol or as part of an act of obedience. The power was always God's—not the salt. Today, God still heals bitter lives. He restores broken families. He renews weary hearts. He preserves those who remain faithful to Him. The same God who healed the waters of Jericho is still able to transform what seems impossible.

Amazing Facts Daily Devotionals A Taste for Something Good. August 18th, 2026 Humans have about 10,000 taste buds on their tongues, yet insects have the most highly developed sense of taste—using their feet and antennae. Have you ever taken a bite of some food and suddenly tasted something bitter? (At one potluck, I put some peanut butter on my desert only to discover it was actually vegan cheese spread. Not pretty!) Your first response is to spit it out. Of the five senses of the tongue, bitterness is the most sensitive at picking up something that tastes disagreeable. Perhaps that was God’s intention, as many toxic plants have naturally bitter compounds. The taste threshold of bitterness is measured in relationship to quinine, which is given a reference index of 1. In 1958, scientists discovered a chemical called denatonium, the bitterest substance ever found. It has a threshold of 1,000! This aversive agent is added to poisonous matter to prevent people from accidentally swallowing something that might harm them. Researchers have also discovered a couple of substances that are extremely bitter to some people but are virtually tasteless to others. Evidently, the genes of some people make them “supertasters” when it comes to identifying certain bitter compounds. Solomon gives strong medicine to his son in Proverbs 5, urging him to shun immorality at all costs. He speaks from personal experience. It’s odd that the wisest man who ever lived made some of the most foolish choices in the area of lust. To all men he warns that what might seem sweet in the beginning ends up being bitter in the end. He illustrates the remorse and disastrous consequences of breaking the seventh commandment with a perennial plant that grows in the temperate parts of Northern Africa called artemesia. The shrub was used as an ingredient in flavoring some alcoholic drinks and in some spices, but the strong bitter juice of the plant is unfit to eat in your typical lunch salad. God wants us to be supertasters at sensing the poisonous temptations of Satan. Through Solomon’s example, the Lord calls to us to “pay attention!” We can learn from Solomon’s experiences and be saved from a taste of bitter grief. Lord, I make a promise to keep my eyes on you today and to keep my thoughts pure. I choose to turn from every polluted pathway. Additional reading: Proverbs 5:1–14 Key Bible Texts My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding: (Proverbs 5:1 KJV)

Tu seras béni dans la ville, et tu seras béni dans les champs » Deutéronome 28 Everything works out for our good. Don't depend on others to be successful, as the Lord has ordered blessings to follow you. God Bless

How often when life is busy are we asking God for his hand to move- we want the miracle, the breakthrough, the job, the recovery, the house, the healing, the wife/husband and children. Family are we coming to God only to see he's hand and miraculous works or are we pursuing the Face of God with a longing for a deeper understanding and relationship with our King. Our father wants us to have all things good, but let us not be so distracted by chasing the miracle that we forget to pursue he's face and that intimacy with him. Let us pray today that we cry like Moses did to see God's glory. May the peace of God be with you all

From Death to Life Many of us unfortunately know what it feels like to lose a loved one. And we've longed to have just a few more hours with them here on earth. John 11 tells the story of Lazarus—a man who died but, by the power of God through His Son, Jesus Christ, was brought back to life four days later. It was a miracle. What was dead became alive again! And yet, we only know that Lazarus’ physical body was resurrected. In this passage from Romans, Paul writes about a different type of resurrection—the best kind of resurrection. Unlike Lazarus, Jesus' resurrection wasn't merely physical, but also one of the Spirit. It wasn't temporary, but permanent. But before Jesus’ resurrection, he willingly faced a painful, slow, emotional death. Jesus died that death for you. He suffered on the cross for you. He bore the weight of all sin and affliction so that you might live with Him forever. The Bible tells us how this story ends, but on the day that Jesus died, the people who loved Him did not know its end. They mourned, they grieved, they wept. Jesus' death felt final, but it wasn't. You might have a friend or family member who’s far from God, who doesn’t know the good news that comes after mourning. Or you might be in that same period of uncertainty—feeling like you don’t know the rest of the story.  When you've been united with Jesus by accepting the truth that He died in your place, as well as His free gift of grace, you can know that you have passed from death to life—forever! Your eternity is secure with Him. You can have joy and hope, and you can share it with others.