When thinking about true and sound wisdom, I have come to learn that this consists of two parts; the knowledge of God and of ourselves.
I have always tried to be a honest person and true to my friends. I hope they have shown me the same respect. For only by their honesty, I can be a better person and gain God's knowledge and wisdom.
So to have a happy and fulfilling life and reflect the love of God.
We can also invite the Holy Spirit to guide us on our journey as we experience our day to day life.
God has always blessed me and I am truly thankful for His gracious love.
(She is clothed with strength and dignity, she can laugh at the days to come"- v25)
Proverbs ends with the description of a wise life. Who would you choose to fill this description?
In this scripture, Proverbs has selected a ordinary wife and mother who lives in a busy house-hold and wider community. She has many demands but handles them with courage and gracefulness. She is respected for her serenity and kindness. Not easy skills to achieve of that time (I am sure) or of our times today.
We are all challenged by our ever changing world but how are we suppose to cope? How do we stop ourselves from being dragged into difficult situations?
Verses 10-31 are an acrostic, each one beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. All carefully ordered to describe her personality and beauty. I believe it is a guideline of how God wants us to live.
When I look at the wonders of God's creation, I see His strength and His power, bringing good to us all.
Always trusting and believing that I am protected and loved.
Nothing is impossible with Hope and Faith.
God's wisdom is all around us...
Praise be to God and thank you.
This has been a challenging scripture for me to understand in many ways.
The author of Ecclesiastes is thought to be Solomon but not everyone is sure. His goal was to seek out the meaning and purpose of life. He indulged himself in everything. Pleasure, drink, possessions, intimacy, great projects, empire building - granting himself nothing that the eye could see.
His conclusion was that if death ends everything, then the purpose of pursuit of wisdom is meaningless. Such a life with no eternal aspect is futile and the best we can expect is eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die.
However, if the focus of wisdom is life, it is important to recognize that eternity has been set in our hearts (Ecc.3:11) -"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from the beginning to end."
So from my understanding, I feel that the more wisdom and knowledge I gain, the better understanding I will have of the home that God has built for each and everyone of us.
Praise be to God.
Much of our culture is geared on denying aging and death instead of befriending it. If instead we were to see that it is part of our calling and know there is purpose to our life, that we are all unique and have so much to give. With this, I believe we will be rewarded.
What actions is God prompting you to take today?
Thank you for sharing - my God is a HEALING God! God bless x
Holidaymakers heading towards the sea are being asked to look out for the "common blue butterfly" to see if the struggling species is faring better at the coast.
For more details please visit www.bigbutterflycount.org
("Do not keep talking so proudly, or let your mouth speak such arrogance ...v3")
I read a article the other day about some researchers who conducted an experiment in which frogs were placed in separate glass jars and covered with lids to stop them from escaping (this didn't sit with me well but I continued to read it). At first the frogs kept jumping, trying to escape, but kept hitting their heads on the lids. Over a period of time they stopped jumping, so the researcher removed the lids but the frogs made no attempt to escape. Their investigation lead the researchers to believe that the frogs had formed a belief system that the top of the jar was as high as they could go...
There are many things to consider in the above paragraph but my main point is are we holding on to a limiting belief system and sabotaging our future? "I'm too young, too old, I'm a woman, I'm the wrong nationality, I'm disabled. I'm don't have talent and not educated. Or sometimes worse, are we using these examples as weapons against other people, which can be damaging... be mindful.
God see us all and knows what is in our heart.
I read a post today and it said "Listen and silent has the same letters... think about it."
Jesus thank you for your unconditional love, guidance and protection.
Thank you for sharing this video -
MasterOfLyrics
God bless x
(I have come that they may have life, and have it in full - v10)
When reading John 10, I recalled a time when I was visiting one of our town's shopping malls. I was waiting to get into a lift to get to my destination. I picked the smaller size lift as there was quite a lot of people using them and I wasn't in a rush. As I watched, people entered the other lift and off it went. A few minutes later the doors opened and to my surprise the same people were still in there. No one moved and off it went again. I was really puzzled as it happened again. The same people were still standing there. I looked up above the doors and I saw a glowing "red button". When the doors open this time, I alerted the people that the lift was broken and wasn't moving. So the people got out, but what really amazed me was that the people standing out in front of the broken lift. heard what I said and still got in the lift. It was absurd!!
Absurd means senseless and meaningless.The beauty of this scripture is that Jesus came to save us,"I am the good Shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me"-v14.
But do we listen to Him? Does His words fall on deaf-ears?
Just like a shepherd and his flock, the sheep know him, they know his voice and so they follow him. he care for them and will keep them safe. A hired man does not care, if a wolf should comes along, he will run away and leave them.
Jesus came to give us eternal life and we will never perish if we follow Him and listen to His word.
Psalm 150 -"Let everything that breath praise the Lord"- v6 Praise the Lord.
Amen.
Thank you for sharing these beautiful words in this video
('Go to the ant, you sluggard: consider its ways and be wise!'(6:6)
I remember when I was in my teens, having the privilege of visiting a family, who lived in a farm-house in the middle of the Swiss Alps. I recall sitting outside their home and as I looked up, I was surrounded by beautiful mountains. There was all sorts of green foliage at the bottom of them and the tops were dusted with snow. The sky was light blue and the clouds looked like cotton-wool, slowly floating above me. The hot air warmed my skin and the sun was glowing so intensely, I had to shield my eyes. I felt completely relaxed. It was the most peaceful place that I had ever been to and I was in awe by the whole experience. God's presence and the magitude of His wisdom was all around me. It was perfect. Looking back now, I have a better understanding, awareness and appreciation. I feel so blessed.
Proverbs encourages us to 'go to the ants' and Jesus directs us to look at the birds and consider the flowers, to see the recognition of God's wisdom that is written into the very DNA of creation.
To reflect and observe an understanding of God's character, so that we can have better knowledge, understanding and attitude in our daily life . To take more consideration and be aware of our actions, so that we can have peace in our hearts.
Creation is not just a backdrop of our lives, it declares God's glory. Not to mention His infinite grace and His love for all creation.
For this I am truly thankful and grateful Lord.
Thank you for sharing this delightful video -Massage Pro CE
It was brought to my attention, that there was a large amount of people on holiday in Cornwall and Devon that were being stung by jellyfish, which really surprised me... as I had not heard of this happening before! The realization of it all was not too hard to find. These beautiful God - given creatures are part of our existence and if we don't protect them, we are not protecting ourselves and future generations. Everything has a purpose. Thank and bless you for reading.
Thank you for sharing this reassuring video - National Geographic
There has been a dramatic decline in the population of Bumblebees in the countryside of the UK and other parts of the world. There are fewer wildflowers in the landscape and these beautiful creatures are struggling to survive.
Please bee mindful... I have lavender bushes, which helps them to pollinate and the smell of the flowers in the summer is lovely.
('after the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper' v1)
Karl A. Menniger quoted -'Listening is a magnetic and strange thing, a creative force. The friends that listens to us are the ones we move toward. When we are listened to, it creates us, make us unfold and expand'. Discernment is primarily about listening - listening to God in whatever way he chooses to speak and communicate with us. But do we hear him or our we even listening? In my "May blog, Paul Baloche song - The Same Love, is a perfect example..." Is our life occupied with so much, that we don't take 'time out' to listen to God!!
In this scripture, Elijah is travelling towards Horeb, trying to escape from Ahab and Jezebel. He is afraid and things are overflowing; exhaustion and resentment (I have had enough); disillusionment (I am no better than my ancestors); hopelessness (they have rejected Your covenant) and loneliness (I am the only one left).
It took forty days before Elijah's internal noise quietened enough for him to hear God in a gentle whisper but when he did, vision was received, energy replaced, loneliness banished and confidence that God is on His throne renewed.
We have all been exhausted and resentful. Felt disillusionment, hopelessness and loneliness. Maybe we should all be a little more aware ourselves, to hear God's whisper and allow Him to guide us in times of trouble.
Lord, help me to be still and hear your gentle whisper too.
Thank you for sharing this peaceful video - winterangel27
("Then I was beside him as a master craftsman; And I was daily his delight, Rejoicing always before him"-v30, NKJ)
When I thought about this scripture it reminded me of a time when I lost my house keys (we have all been there!!), trying to remember when I last had them and coming up with the plan to 'start from the beginning' and retrace my steps, eventually I found them.
'In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God'( John 1:1). Proverb 8 reflects that wisdom, was there from the beginning, 'I was appointed from eternity,from the beginning, before the world began-v23. The craftsman at our Father's side as He created the world. The wisdom that laid the earth's foundations perfectly for life. From reading various articles, I believe that the structure of the universe can be determined by a series of fundamental constraints that shape its contours and development. Had these been different, the universe would have taken a very different form and life as we know it, could not have existed. The design of the universe has enabled us to sustain life.
In God's wisdom, all creation have air to breathe, water to drink, food to eat and a place to stand. We are no accident and our lives have meaning. In God's great wisdom, He formed the universe and we were always part of the plan.
Praise be to our God.
(Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed-v35)
I remember taking my son to school one day and being in a complete rush. In my hast, I quickly parked the car and bolted out of the driver's seat. Not paying attention I turned and walked into the lamp-post by my car. in panic mode and a very painful, throbbing head. I took my son to school. Still on automatic pilot continued on my journey.
I was on a long road with not much traffic and as I continued to drive, I saw a car on the same side of the road, heading towards me flashing their lights. at that point I realized I was on the wrong side of the road. Thankfully, I pulled over and stopped. I was blessed that day.
It is so easy to get caught up in our fast pace lifestyle, going along and not caring for our own needs and being on the go all the time, not noticing the important things.
In this scripture Jesus is showing us that it is important to stop, spending time in prayer. Evan when everyone was looking for him, he knew his purpose and continued on.
Sometime it is easier to just keep going, as it could be a way of blocking out pain and ignoring that we are broken in some way, rather than allowing God to heal, restore and guide us.
With 'time wisdom' it encourages us to stop and listen to our loving Father's words of healing and direction. True fruitfulness and love comes from connection with God as my blog "Wisdom requires Strategy" video shows.
Thank you Lord for being my comforter - Amen.
(The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways-v8)
When I was younger, I used to smoke cigarettes and over time developed a "smoker's cough". It got so bad that I really had to stop smoking. As you can imagine, that is easier said than done. It had become the "norm", part of my everyday life. Most of the people I socialized with smoked too, temptation was all around me and breaking this habit was going to be tough, I tried so many times and failed, so I had to think of a strategy to help me stop. I had to change my routine, not put myself in temptations way and be very disciplined. It was hard work, my friends were very supportive, and helped me achieve my goal. I can safely say that I did it, my cough has gone and I feel much better.
It takes humility to develop a strategy, to recognize that our own strengths may not be enough when faced with temptation and that we are weak.
Prudence is the exercise of good judgement so that we can avoid danger or challenging situations. Having a regular plan can make all the difference and thinking about what we can do to make life easier. We are all creatures of habit and most of the time we are on automatic pilot and that is when we make mistakes and do foolish things.
God is always there to give us support.
Thank you Lord, your name is Holy.
(She[folly] sits at the door of her house on a seat at the highest point of the city, calling out to those that pass by)
I remember having to go to an hospital appointment, using my wheelchair and the journey consisted of me having to go by bus. There is quite an art to travelling in a wheelchair by bus as the area were wheelchair are placed now, used to be the luggage compartment years ago!! Anyway, due to health and safety you have to be placed in a certain position. We entered the bus and started to move me into the wheelchair compartment and being as it is very narrow, takes a little time.
I could see one of the passengers in front of me was getting very impatient and eventually he shouted out " Why don't you just walk?" in a very angry voice.
You could hear a pin drop, the whole bus went quiet, everyone was starring at him and his companion looked at me, red faced and said very quietly "sorry". At the time, I felting very embarrassed by his remark and it was kind of her to apologize.
In this scripture, it describes the invitation of wisdom and folly. Wisdom is built on understanding, counsel, knowledge, fortitude(courage), piety (humility) and fear of the |Lord (wonder and awe ). If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you: if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer(v12).
With the hustle and bustle of life it is not always easy to make the right choices and pressure can cause us to react foolishly, but it is quite clear throughout the bible that there is no middle way with God, we either walk the path of wisdom or the path of foolishness.
So how do we avoid folly? Maybe, try to be more compassionate in certain situations, be more aware of what we say or how we react to people. Ask for Jesus' guidance or ask a friend to pray for us.
Wisdom is not an easy journey and can be challenging(see "everything to me" blog post) but the knowledge, understanding and humility we gain from it, can help us to form the building blocks of our future and enhance our faith, so that we can fulfill our goals and dreams as God had (I believe) intended.
With an always changing world, fathers come in many forms. Some families could have two Dads or maybe an older brother. an uncle, grandfather, fostered father instead. In some case, sadly not by choice, a father might be absent. A close friend of the family, teachers, youth workers, might take the place, to name but a few and of course God our Heavenly Father, whatever the circumstances might be, he is always there.
Which ever one, this is for you and know that you are truly special and blessed.
(Pride only breeds quarrels but wisdom is found in those that take advice v-10)
The responsibility of a parent and teaching our children is not an easy task, especially these days, being a good role model is hard work and its difficult to admit that we don't always know the answer to every situations. We don't want to look like bad parents or let our children down.
The writer of Proverbs takes a different approach, "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom" (Proverbs 11:2). in other words its alright to not have all the answers. It is humility that enables us to ask and receive wisdom.
Pride blinds us and we are dependent on our own understanding and knowledge, we lack the capacity to accept others instructions and scorn them. We become "mockers" which is someone who does not listen to advice.(v1).
Humility is one of those virtues that can never be attained by focusing on it, however, there are things we can do that might help us to move forward in this area. Talking to a trusted friend, asking their opinion or advice, They might be able to suggest something that you never considered. Or maybe you could be the friend to give advice or help. You never know where it will lead you. We all need help and understanding sometimes...
("and this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in the knowledge and depth of insight")
What a beautiful prayer. Paul also talks about struggle.
I have been battling with a health condition for many years now and knowing God's will, is so important to me. I have had some pretty challenging situations and scary times with my condition. It has been very emotional and trying to look at a positive future has had its ups and downs. However, I know I am not alone in my journey of struggles (we all have them), knowing God is there, makes all the difference to me.
Discernment is the spiritual practice that accesses and seeks to understand what God is trying to say. Underlining the understanding of discernment, is the belief that God speaks to His people in different ways - that His desires of communication with us is far greater, than our desire to hear (my blog in May,"The Same Love" video by Paul Baloche, is a brilliant example). Discernment is important so that when we are confronted with testing times, we ask ourselves "What is God doing in this situation?, Is he asking me to act, to watch, to speak? Do I go ahead or wait, Do I have to forgive, be patient, make a plan or write a Post it...? In discernment our love grows in depth of insight.
" Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and minds in Jesus Christ".
Amen
"Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe"
Thank you Jesus for giving me courage and strength, in times of struggle.
There was a boy, whose family was very wealthy. One day his father took him on a trip to the country, where he aimed to show his son, how poor people live. So they arrived on a farm of a very poor family, as he considered. They spent there several days. On their return, the father asked his son,"did you like the trip?". "Oh, it was great dad", the son replied. "Did you notice how poor people live?", the father asked. "Yeah, I did", said the son. The father asked his son to tell in more detail about his impressions from their trip. "Well, we have only one dog and they have four of them. In our garden there is a pool, while they have a river that has no end. We have expensive lanterns but they have stars above their heads at night. we have a patio, and they have a whole horizon. We have only a small piece of land, whilst they have endless fields. we buy food but they grow it. We have high fences for protection of our property, and they don't need it as their friends protect them". The father was stunned. He could not say a word. Then the son added "Thank you dad, for letting me see how poor we are".
(The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom - v10)
This is a beautiful Psalm, it resonates how Awesome and Glorious our God is. The psalmist is describing his love and praise for God. Showing recognition to all the wonderful work that God has done, Majestic are his deeds and His Righteousness will endures forever. How Gracious, Compassionate, Faithful and Trustworthy He is. How Kind and Powerful He is by the wonders people have seen.
God's love for us, is a little scary to be truthful. "too good to be true" comes to mind. I am sure we have all felt like that at some point, when someone wonderful has come into our life. God has given us so much and we are blessed. Wisdom and Power does belong to Him and He wants to share it with us.
Job 12:7-10 "But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you. which of these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? In His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of mankind".
My life is always better when I put my trust in the Holy Spirit, He is my comforter.
2 Corinthians 1: 3-4 "Blessed be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God".
Amen.
Thank you for sharing this video, beautiful background..
What is the difference between wisdom and knowledge?
The dictionary defines wisdom as "the ability to discern or judge what is true, right or lasting". This is a pattern that occurs throughout the bible. Knowledge on the other hand, is defined as having information through experience, reasoning or acquaintance. God wants us to have knowledge of Him and what is expects from us. At the same time, having wisdom is just as important. Knowing facts about God and the bible is not all there is in having wisdom, it is a gift from God as well - James 1-5 explains in more detail. Wisdom is what God will bless us with, so that we can praise His name and live a better way of life. The book of Proverbs is a good place to study and know God's wisdom. Proverbs 1: 5 - "Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance". Knowledge is what is gathered over time by studying the Scriptures and the wisdom we gain will act on our knowledge. One compliments the other. This is our compass. 2 Corinthians 3: 17 "Now the Lord is Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom". We our truly "set free"... Praise be to the Lord.
(Yet it did not fall, because it had its foundations on rock- v25)
I remember in my teens, I was blessed to have the opportunity go on camping holidays in France, what a experience building the tents, by pegging the ropes in the soft soil, sleeping under the stars and listening to the wild life, most of the time it was wonderful. However, not so wonderful if the weather was not so great, fighting with the elements like wind and rain, Trying to stop the tents from disappearing off into the distance or pinning the ground sheet down with bags to stop the rain pouring in, feeling cold and tired... Looking forward to returning home to my nice warm bed and feeling safe and secure in our house.
I think learning God's wisdom is the same, the foundations have to be strong and deep rooted. So we can build on them.
In this parable Jesus emphasizes that it is not enough to hear his word, you have to act on them too. Wisdom is the foundation that will provide a secure basis for our life. It will give us strength so that we will not collapse when we have to face the storms in our own lives.
I am slowly learning how to put God's wisdom into practice with his support, knowledge and guidance.
Thank you Lord for being my rock.
One of my favourite stories as a child...
Thank you for sharing and performing so beautifully, this story.
