Randering Through Proverbs: Day 3

My thoughts on Proverbs chapter 3 (all emphasis mine):

⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; ⁶ in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight...

²¹ My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion; ²² they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. ²³ Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble. ²⁴ When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. ²⁵ Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, ²⁶ for the LORD will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared.

Oh, how I needed to hear these sweet words today!  God is SO good!

I have never been one to get worked up over news of doom and despair (I learned a long time ago to take most of it with a grain of salt).  However, if we are to learn anything from history and basic principles of accounting and economics, our country is in big trouble.  We cannot ignore it any longer.  Even the most optimistic optimists are beginning to admit that our county's glass is much less than half empty.  If our government doesn't make some big changes soon, we will go the same route as countries like Bolivia, Yugoslavia and Great Britain have in the past.  And over the last couple of days, these thoughts have caused me a considerable amount of anxiety.

But that is not what this post is about.

This post is about God's goodness and his promises to his people.  It is about him reminding us to keep our eyes and our hearts focused on HIM.  It is about how, when we keep our eyes on him - when we keep focused on His truth...His power...His promises, he will make a way for us and keep our paths straight.

It is about how when we listen to him and not the world, we will have peace.  We will have no reason to be afraid and our" sleep will be sweet".  When we fear the Lord, we do not need to fear the world or any reports of "sudden disaster".  The Lord will give us peace and strength to get us through whatever may be ahead.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety upon him because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:6-7)

Oh, Lord, help me to keep my eyes on you!  Help me to trust in your Word and your promises and your love.  As an earthly parent, I would do anything for my children to protect and provide for them - how much greater is your love and your protection and your provision for your children.  Help me to remember that, at all times, and to trust in it.  For you are ever faithful.  Bring peace to my troubled heart and help me to find sweet sleep in your arms.  Amen.

Be blessed...

 __________________________________________________________________________

Your Turn!

What did you learn from Proverbs 3?

Are you focusing more on God...or the troubles of the world?

__________________________________________________________________________

My "Yes, I Am In Training" Diet

Here's my guilty confession for the day...

Ready?

This...is what I had for lunch today.

...

.....

.......

Oh, yeah...I am a woman in training. 

*sigh*

Me thinks, I best be getting to the grocery store for some healthier alternatives.

Day 2: Randering Through Proverbs

My thoughts on Proverbs Chapter 2 (all emphasis mine):

¹ My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, ² turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding— ³ indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, ⁴ and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, 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. ⁷ He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, ⁸ for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.  ⁹ Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. ¹⁰ For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. ¹¹ Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.

When I read through those verses, I could not ignore how many action verbs they included; accept, turning, applying, call (out), cry (aloud), look.  It reminded me that our relationship with Christ is work... and is active!  We cannot say that we want to have a vibrant relationship -  that we want to hear from God -  but then not put any effort into it!  We must turn to him, call out to him, cry out to him and accept what he has to say.

Because it is only then that we move on to verse 5: then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

I think, today, in our American culture, we want everything to be easy.  We like talking about God's love and God's grace and mercy.  But often, in all our talk about "grace" and "love", we forget that God is a holy god - a mighty god - one who is to be reverenced.  He is the ruler and creator of the universe.  He is the Alpha and the Omega.  He is the All in All and the King of Kings!  (Can I get an "Amen!")

We will stand in awe of the latest teen sensation, or rich businessman or sports star...but like spoiled little children, we often treat God - our provider, protector, creator and Savior -  like nothing more than a drive through restaurant - demanding what we want, when we want it.  

Ouch. And uff-da.

I have 3 beautiful children.  I LO-OVE my beautiful boys!!  But as much as I love them and would do just about anything for them, I would never allow them to treat me disrespectfully or as if I was just the local ATM.  In fact, I would be deeply hurt if the only time my children called or offered to spend time with me was when they wanted or needed something.  So why do we think it is OK to approach our heavenly Father like that?

God says "if" we turn to him, cry to him, call to him...in humility and respect and reverence, "then" we will find the knowledge of God.  Then he will pour out his heart to us.  Then he will share his secrets with us and give us understanding.  And that godly wisdom (not lazy, worldly, spoiled "wisdom") will guard us and protect us and keep us safe.

That's God's words and I cannot argue with that.

Be blessed...

Love's Not Easy...

Love's not easy...but it's worth it.  I will not try to say what Francesca Battistelli sings so beautifully...

If you cannot view the video, go here.

Wisdom for the Wise (AKA: Don't Be A Fool)

This ended up being a long post but bear with me.  I think it will be worth it.

______________________________________________________________________


I love the Word of God.

It is truly life unto my weary soul.  Even in my driest times, I have been able to open up God's word, read and and feel refreshed...strengthened somewhere deep down in my being that only God, my creator, knew existed.

And yet, even after 20 years of being a Christian, I still struggle with spending time in the Word on a consistent basis.  How this frustrates me!  Ugh and double-ugh!!

I would not skip a day without eating (though my waistline might suggest that's not such a bad idea.)  And those closest to me know what I'm like when I don't get my daily chocolate fix (ug-ly!)

But what about my daily "God fix"?

I need that more than anything.  If I am going to make it in this world, in this life.  If I am going to be a good mom, a good wife, a good friend...and so much more...I need to know what God has to say to me.  I need his guidance and direction and instruction.  And yes, sometimes even his discipline.

Proverbs 1:7 tells us "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline."

I am continually thankful for God's patience, mercy and grace - but I do not want to take that amazing grace for granted.  I don't want to be a "fool" and think I can just get by on my own - never lending him my ear or my heart.  Because I know that is selfish.  And because I know he has something much more beautiful planned for me than "just getting by."

So once again, as his "mercies are new every morning", I start fresh...

But where to start?  When I read the bible I tend to skip around quite a bit (cause this is just kind of how my brain works.)  I've always admired those people who can start in Genesis and read straight through.

What self-discipline!

What determination!

How bor-ing! (Oops, did I say that?)

No offense - honest!  I just can. not. do. that.

It's more like this: This morning I was in Psalms, Proverbs, Ephesians, Colossians and Isaiah. Now before you go being all impressed at my in-depth study skills, you must understand my line of thinking.  See I will start in Ephesians and read a few verses and then something will stick out to me, like "What did he mean by "empty" in that verse?"  Which will lead me to a little research - which will lead me to Psalms where I will read a few verses and then ask  "Why was the lamb in that verse "lowing" and not 'resting'?"  Which will lead me to Proverbs, where I ask "Should we even be talking about what 'the way of a man with a maiden' is?" (yeah, it's in there - I wouldn't make that up.)  Which sends me to  Colossians...and then Isaiah...and then...  You get the picture.  And by the time I get to Colossians, I no longer have any idea what I was doing in Ephesians.  So then the next day time, I sit down to read I have no clue where to start reading.

Is anybody else with me on this? *sigh*

But what is amazing about all this complete "randomness" is that at the end of my crazy, zig-zag trail there is always truth.  Though the "process" makes no sense to me (or anyone else), God knows exactly where he's taking me and what he wants to speak to me that day.  'Cause God is just kinda cool that way.

And that's why I refuse to give up and continue to dig in.

So here is my thought:  This morning after my random wandering and pondering through God's word I ended up in the 1st chapter of Proverbs and I remembered it is also the 1st day of the month... and there are 31 days in Proverbs...and 31 days in this month.  Hmmm...coincidence?  I think not.  Ha!

Now I know this is nothing new to a lot of people and there are people out there who have diligently read a chapter of Proverbs every day for the last 50 years.

But this post is not about them, it is about you and me. *wink & smile*

We have done this in our home over the years, but not recently, and so I am thinking it would a good way to help balance out my "random search method."

But here's the catch:  I want you to join me.  I am not asking much.  Just one chapter, once a day.  And then,  please, come back here and comment on a favorite verse or one thing that God spoke to you while reading that chapter.  Or maybe you want to be more like me (doesn't everyone?  Har-har.) and you just have a random "Why...?" or "What if...?" rolling around in your head after reading that day's chapter (Proverbs can do that to you.) I would love to hear what you have to say and what you're learning.  Hopefully, we'll learn from one another.  (And the accountability will be SO good for me.)

And since Proverbs is the "book of wisdom" just think of how smart we'll all be at the end of the month!

OK - Maybe you haven't read your bible in quite a while.  Maybe in a really long while.

That's ok - his mercies are new every morning remember?  This is a great way to get started again.  

All you have to do is open the pages.  And don't forget to ask God to speak to you - to reveal his word to you.  His word tells us "we have not because we ask not."  

Ask away and then watch and listen with your heart.

 Are we good?  Are you ready?  Great!  Get reading (and don't forget to comment back.)

____________________________________________________________________

To get us started.  Proverbs chapter one:

Two things really stuck out to me.

First, verses 4, 10, 15-16:  "The proverbs of Solomon...for...giving...knowledge and discretion to the young...My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them.  If they say, " come along with us"...my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths; for their feet rush into sin, they are swift to shed blood."

Oh, how this is the cry of my heart!  As a mother of three boys, there are few things I want more for them than to be able to avoid the pitfalls of this world.  I pray they would have Godly friends that would encourage them in their relationship with Christ and to not compromise their faith or to justify ungodly choices or behavior.  I pray they would not be deceived.  And like every parent, I pray they do not make the same mistakes that I did and that they would have the knowledge and discretion to see how easy it is to be distracted or led astray.

Second, verse 23: "If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you."

Ouch, that one hurt.  I so want to have the heart of God and to hear from him.  He wants to pour out his heart and his thoughts to us.  How amazing is that?!?  But when I think of all that I have missed out on because of my German stubbornness, my laziness or even my occasional apathy..."uff-da" is all I can say.  New mercies, Lord.  Thank you for your new mercies...

__________________________________________________________________________________

Your turn!

What did you learn today from Proverbs 1?

____________________________________________________________________