Category Archives: Wisdom & Guidance

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November 9, 2013

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God's Word: The Bible, Wisdom & Guidance

Blueprint for Life

2013-11-9These words I speak to you are not mere additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundation words, words to build a life on. If you work the words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who dug deep and laid the foundation of his house on bedrock. When the river burst its banks and crashed against the house, nothing could shake it; it was built to last. But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a dumb carpenter who built a house but skipped the foundation. When the swollen river came crashing in, it collapsed like a house of cards. It was a total loss. [Luke 6:47-49 (MSG)]

God’s words are not mere suggestions; they are orders. They are the blueprints for our existence. If the carpenter changes the blueprint without the architect’s permission, the integrity of the structure is in jeopardy. It’s not just our integrity but our souls that are in jeopardy when we don’t follow God’s plan. God’s words are the foundation on which we must build our lives.

Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life. [Proverbs 4:13 (NLT)]

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in His excellent word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said – to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
[Attributed to John Keith, 1787]

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November 8, 2013

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God's Promises, Prayer, Wisdom & Guidance

Who Ya Gonna Call?

The Lord declares, “How horrible it will be for those rebellious children. They carry out plans, but not mine. They make alliances against my will. They pile sin on top of sin. … These people are rebellious and deceitful children, children who refuse to listen to the Lord’s teachings. They say to the seers, ‘Don’t see the future.’ They say to those who have visions, ‘Don’t have visions that tell us what is right. Tell us what we want to hear. See illusions. Get out of our way! Stop blocking our path! Get the Holy One of Israel out of our sight.’” [Isaiah 30:1, 9-11 (GW)]

God is our personal help line and yet we often refuse to use it. It’s usually not because we’ve forgotten about Him. More often, it’s because we really don’t want to hear what He has to say or do what He might tell us to do. As a result, we search for advice from everyone else, hoping to hear the answer we want. Like the rebellious children of Judah, we often prefer lies and illusions to the truth. When we seek God, we may not always like His advice, but we can be sure that it will be faultless and true. God’s way is rarely the easy way, but we can trust that it will be the right way!

This is what the Almighty Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: You can be saved by returning to me. You can have rest. You can be strong by being quiet and by trusting me. But you don’t want that. [Isaiah 30:15 (GW)]

 

 

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November 5, 2013

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Attitudes & Behavior, Bible Stories, Obedience, Wisdom & Guidance

Put First Things First (Haggai – part 1)

Now, this is what the Lord of Armies says: Carefully consider your ways! You planted a lot, but you harvested little. You eat, but you’re never full. You drink, but you’re still thirsty. You wear clothing, but you never have enough to keep you warm. You spend money as fast as you earn it. [Haggai 1:5-6 (GW)]

Does this situation sound familiar? Although these words were spoken by Haggai in 520 BC, they make me think of our nation, with its problems and dark mood today. Although the Jews had returned to Jerusalem fifteen years earlier, they hadn’t managed to complete the rebuilding of the Temple. More concerned with building their homes and lives than in completing God’s work, they were experiencing severe problems. Have we, like the ancient Jews, lost our sense of values and misplaced our priorities? When hard times hit, when we feel empty, when our best efforts seem futile, perhaps it is time to reconsider what takes precedence in our lives.

Lord, guide us in setting our priorities. Let us always keep you first and foremost in our thoughts.

This is what the Lord of Armies says: Carefully consider your ways! [Haggai 1:7 (GW)]

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November 3, 2013

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God's Word: The Bible, Wisdom & Guidance

In Six Words or Less

But in a church meeting I would rather speak five understandable words to help others than ten thousand words in an unknown language. [1 Corinthians 14:19 (NLT)]

Sometimes expressing our faith can be difficult and we get tied in knots trying to figure out, let alone explain, theological concepts like original sin, predestination and free will, the Holy Trinity, Judgment Day, grace or the Book of Revelation. I recently read of a professor who had his students write about difficult subjects by boiling them down to no more than six words. Perhaps we could try to do the same thing when putting our faith into words. It may help us focus on the essence of God’s message.

“God created. Man sinned. Jesus saves.”

“Jesus died so I can live.”

“The Holy Spirit lives in me.”

“God’s grace is love undeserved.”

A truly wise person uses few words. [Proverbs 17:27a (NLT)]

 

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October 28, 2013

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Obedience, Prayer, Wisdom & Guidance

His Will Be Done

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. [Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV)]

Sometimes, Lord, my prayers are more about me trying to convince you that my way is right rather than my asking you to show me your way. Open my heart, O Lord, to cheerfully accept your will. Lead me, so that I eagerly follow your course. Fill me with your Holy Spirit; may your will be done.

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10 (NIV)

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October 23, 2013

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God's Plan, God's Promises, Prayer, Wisdom & Guidance

Thank you, God, for Your Wisdom

Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it! [John 14:14 (NLT)]

Sometimes we get what we ask for and sometimes we don’t. If we don’t, we can’t let God’s rejection cause us to lose faith. Let’s admit it, we don’t always know what is best. In fact, I rarely do. The story of King Midas is a perfect example of our lack of foresight. The King wished that everything he touched would turn to gold. Sounds great, at first, doesn’t it? And it was, until he tried to smell a rose, eat and drink or, finally, to kiss his beloved child. When God says, “No,” he may well be protecting us from ourselves and our foolish desires.

Father, please give us patience when you seem slow to answer and acceptance when you deny our prayers. May we see your infinite wisdom and your unfailing love in your response to our requests.

I used to ask God to help me. Then I asked if I might help Him. I ended up by asking God to do His work though me. [Hudson Taylor]