Category Archives: Wisdom & Guidance

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

October 2, 2014

Posted under

Holy Spirit, Wisdom & Guidance

MAPPING OUR WALKS

I advise you to obey only the Holy Spirit’s instructions. He will tell you where to go and what to do, and then you won’t always be doing the wrong things your evil nature wants you to. For we naturally love to do evil things that are just the opposite from the things that the Holy Spirit tells us to do; and the good things we want to do when the Spirit has his way with us are just the opposite of our natural desires. These two forces within us are constantly fighting each other to win control over us, and our wishes are never free from their pressures. [Galatians 5:16-17 (TLB)]

Realizing that my power walks had become more like leisurely strolls, I recently got an app called “Map My Walk” that keeps track of my mileage and pace. Now that I’m using it, I’m walking faster and farther and enjoying it more. The app knows exactly where I’ve been and how long it took me to get there; there’s no more fooling myself about how far I’ve walked or how much effort I exerted. Moreover, the app doesn’t care if I’m tired or the weather is hot and humid. It’s made me accountable! Of course, I do have to remember to turn it on before I go walking.

Let us never forget that we don’t need to have an app on a Smartphone to map our daily walk in life. We have the Holy Spirit within us and He will, indeed, make us accountable. If we’re wandering off course, He’ll tell us. If we’re lingering when we should be jogging or rushing when we should take our time, He’ll either prod us to get moving or slow us down. He’ll even point out the errors in our ways and, like my walking app, the Holy Spirit isn’t much interested in excuses! We just have to remember to listen to His voice and follow His instructions!

Now glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes. [Ephesians 3:20 (TLB)]

 

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

September 8, 2014

Posted under

God's Grace & Love, God's Word: The Bible, Wisdom & Guidance

THE BOOK OF LOVE

At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike.” [Matthew 11:25 (NLT)]

“Who, who-oo-oh, who wrote the book of love?” we all sang while listening to the oldie station on the car radio. Then a small voice from the back seat piped up, “I know who wrote the Book of Love: Jesus!” I’m pretty sure The Monotones didn’t have this interpretation in mind when they sang the song back in 1958, but there was wisdom and understanding in the child’s simple statement. We all probably have the Book of Love sitting on our book shelves, although we call it the Bible. Best of all, we all know its author! Now, whenever I hear this song (and since my husband loves old rock ‘n’ roll, I hear it often), it has become a song of praise and thanksgiving for me. Why not pick up the Book of Love and read a bit today!

The Book of Love
[Warren Davis, George Malone and Charles Patrick]

I wonder, wonder who, who-oo-ooh, who
Who wrote the Book Of Love
Tell me, tell me, tell me
Oh, who wrote the Book Of Love
I’ve got to know the answer
Was it someone from above
(Oh, I wonder, wonder who, mmbadoo-ooh, who)
(Who wrote the Book Of Love)

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. [Romans 8:38-39 (NLT)]

 

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

July 23, 2014

Posted under

Attitudes & Behavior, Temptation & Sin, Wisdom & Guidance

LOOK INTO OUR HEARTS

Jesus told this story to some people who thought they were very good and looked down on everyone else: “A Pharisee and a tax collector both went to the Temple to pray. The Pharisee stood alone and prayed, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people who steal, cheat, or take part in adultery, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I give one-tenth of everything I get!’” [Luke 18:9-12 (NCV)]

Sometimes we’re more interested in appearing good than being good. Sometimes we’re more concerned about besting our neighbor than being our best. Sometimes we’re more interested in pointing out the failures of others than admitting our own shortcomings.

Lord, forgive us; we are sinners all.

“The tax collector, standing at a distance, would not even look up to heaven. But he beat on his chest because he was so sad. He said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ I tell you, when this man went home, he was right with God, but the Pharisee was not. All who make themselves great will be made humble, but all who make themselves humble will be made great.” [Luke 18:13-14 (NCV)]

Everyone with a conceited heart is disgusting to the Lord. Certainly, such a person will not go unpunished. [Proverbs 16:5 (GW]

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

June 18, 2014

Posted under

Challenges & Difficulty, Patience & Perseverance, Wisdom & Guidance

WE CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST

2014-6-18 2-crop

In every way we’re troubled, but we aren’t crushed by our trouble. We’re frustrated, but we don’t give up. [2 Corinthians 4:8 (GW)]

Lord, give us the wisdom to know when we just need to push our way through or even climb over the obstacles in our lives and give us the strength to do it. Please Lord, also give us the wisdom to know when it simply makes more sense to find our way around life’s obstacles. Give us the fortitude and willingness to try Plan B, and when that doesn’t work to try Plan C or even D. Thank you for your guidance, strength and encouragement. With you, all things are, indeed, possible!

The key to life is how well you deal with Plan B. [Stephen Dias]

I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me. [Philippians 4:13 (GW)]

2014-6-18

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

May 3, 2014

Posted under

Attitudes & Behavior, Family, Friends & Fellowship, Love & Works, Prayer, Wisdom & Guidance

You Can’t Please All of the People All of the Time

But if any of you needs wisdom, you should ask God for it. He is generous to everyone and will give you wisdom without criticizing you. [James 1:5 (NCV)]

Let the peace that Christ gives control your thinking… [Colossians 3:15a (NCV)]

I recently completed a birthday gift for one of my grown children: a photo book filled with forty years of pictures. What with scanning, editing, sorting, compiling, and captioning, this project took several months. At one point, what started as a labor of love simply became labor. What went wrong?

In an attempt to make the “perfect” gift, things had gotten out of perspective. Not only was I concerned about the recipient’s reaction to the book, but I also agonized about everyone in the extended family as well. Would they like it? I second guessed each photo choice and its placement. Did I have too many shots of one person or not enough of another? Had I covered each event to everyone’s satisfaction? Was everyone represented? Did everyone look good in every photo? Would my idea of humor be funny to others? I began to dread sitting at the computer and, as my deadline approached, I had a heavy heart.

Finally, I did what I should have done in the first place: turned this project over to God. He reassured me that if my true motivation was love and if I followed His guidance as I worked, every choice would be the right choice. He reminded me that my best effort is all He asks of me and it is all anyone else should expect. Perfection is not required, just love. From then on, before logging onto Shutterfly to work, I said a brief prayer asking God for His guidance. The last twenty pages went faster and far more smoothly than the first eighty, simply because I let love motivate me and trusted God to guide me.

Lord, help us to remember that we need to be more concerned with pleasing you than with pleasing anybody else. May we keep in mind that the only reaction over which we have any control is ours. Thank you, for your gift of love and for blessing us with encouragement, confidence, and guidance when we share that gift with others.

Do everything in love. [1 Corinthians 16:14 (NCV)]

Please yourself…then at least someone will be happy with your decision. [From “Deep South” by Nevada Barr]

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

April 30, 2014

Posted under

God's Word: The Bible, Wisdom & Guidance

Who Built Your House?

2014-4-30Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash. [Matthew 7:24-27 (NLT)]

We can establish our careers, our homes, and our families, but without God at their center, they won’t flourish; they might even crumble and fall apart. We can try to protect our lives, but without Christ as our foundation, we may collapse at the first challenge.

There is only one secure foundation: a genuine, deep relationship with Jesus Christ, which will carry you through any and all turmoil. No matter what storms are raging all around, you’ll stand firm if you stand on His love. [Charles Stanley]