Sport

Proverbs 10:23
Doing wickedness is like sport to a fool,
And so is wisdom to a man of understanding.

This seems like an appropriate verse for April Fools Day. I hope you are being kind and not pulling any crazy stunts.

It may be one thing to pull a prank or tease your friends into believing you have won the lottery for the day, it is entirely another to make a sport of people. Many people are game players. Putting the pieces into place in order to get their way. Little thought to the misdeed or long term consequences of their trickery.

I have been known to do this very thing myself. Yes, me. How about you? Ever guilt someone into getting something you wanted? Have you ever played "games" in a relationship to either get in better or get out of it entirely? Ever talked someone into doing something you were suppose to do? This list could go on.

We can be in such a hurry to get our way that we don't always consider the wiser way to go. Sometimes we can manipulate situations for our instant gratification and not see the consequences to others, or even ourselves. Next time you catch yourself telling a "little" lie that seems harmless, remember you are called to choose a wiser way.

Please continue to pray for Becky G this week.

Undefined, Day 2

Are you a list person? I use to not be. The older I get, the more lists I make. I have recently become a couponer and my grocery shopping list has become so specific, even my detail oriented husband is worried about me.

I think lists can be a good thing. I know they keep me on track and keep me focused. I know they prevent alot of forgetfulness during hectic days. Like our Friday praise and prayer list, it helps me to keep track of all of the needs that my loved ones have. I have a list for all of things I want to do in my life, places I want to see, things I want to experience. These lists are the ones that give me goals and courage to try new opportunities.

Even though my lists make most of my life more organized and less hectic they can also be a distraction from living. On errand days, I can be so list oriented that I am short with my children that they didn't get the memo that laughing and having a good time are not on the list and take more time then we have to waste. I have even given my husband "the look" when he slyly places something in the grocery cart that shouldn't be there. More often then not whatever thing he picked is usually the thing that makes for a great family night.

Lists make me think about the Pharisees. They were so focused on their rules and their ideas that they couldn't see the gift in Jesus.

Matthew 9:10-13 Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining at the table in the
house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were dining with Jesus
and His disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples,
"Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?" But when
Jesus heard this, He said, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. 13"But go and learn what this means: 'I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,' for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Can you imagine what the Pharisees were thinking. "Hold up, wait a minute, my list, this isn't what the King of the Jews was suppose to sound like." They must have felt panicked, maybe they were concerned he was leading people away from their God. It can be difficult to see the truth that is right in front of us when it doesn't come with the definitions we have given it. Sometimes, religion lives in the undefined not in the boxes we have so gently placed it.

Matthew 13:14-15 "In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled,
which says, 'YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND; YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE; FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL, WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR, AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES, OTHERWISE THEY WOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES, HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN, AND I WOULD HEAL THEM.'

Please continue to pray for Sue O this week.

The O's of God, Day 2

The O's of God, Day 2

Omnipotence is defined as the almighty God's expectation for human beings to obey Him, and He holds them responsible for their thoughts and actions. He has created all things and sustains them by the Word of His power. He is the all-powerful Lord.

Interesting how our thoughts are just as important as our actions. That God can sustain all things by the Word of His power. Are there things that have died because of our words? Are there things that are being sustained because you speak life into them? Who speaks life into you, who sustains you?

Omnipresence is defined as the nature of God who is not like the other idols and God's that can only be worshiped in one place or that are dead and buried. God reveals Himself in the Bible as the Lord who is everywhere. God was present as Lord in all creation, and there is no escaping Him. He is present in our innermost thoughts. Even as we are formed in the womb, He knows all the days of our future.

Omniscience is defined as the knowledge of God, who knows our thoughts from afar. He is acquainted with all our ways, knowing or words even before they are on our tongues. He needs to consult no one for knowledge or understanding. He is the all-knowing Lord who prophesies the events of the future.

The following Psalm is one of my favorites. Take a moment to read it. If you can print it out, put it somewhere that will remind you of who God is and who you are because of Him. Read it often, commit it to heart, believe it.

Psalm 139

1 O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.
5 You hem me in—behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, [a] you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to [b] me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand.
When I awake,
I am still with you.
19 If only you would slay the wicked, O God!
Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!
20 They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD,
and abhor those who rise up against you?
22 I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

Please Continue to pray for Kathy L. this week.

Lord, today I pray for the elections. That you will be in this moment with us, our thoughts and our actions. Will you hep us to focus on you and your Word. If we haven't voted yet, Lord, I pray that you will help us to vote so that it pleases you. Lord, I pray that we understand our importance as Christians in deciding who will be our leaders. Mostly, Lord, I pray that you be honored in this election.

Understanding

Day 1

Understanding: "to be prudent, act wisely, give attention to, ponder, prosper"

tebunah: the act of wisdom/understanding, it is used 42 times in scripture...

Understanding is rarely used without the words wisdom or knowledge. One description from Wikepedia says "...knowledge is the simple awareness of bits of information. Understanding is the awareness of the connection between the individual pieces of this information. It is understanding which allows knowledge to be put to use...."

We will take a look at a lot of the aspects of understanding in scripture. I don't know that I can define it with a tangible word for word description. I can tell you that it is an important part of our lives and an important step in growing in grace. If you want your roots to go deep, it goes farther then just the reading and "knowing". You need to put the pieces together and find out how they apply to you, your life and your relationship with our Lord and Savior.

Colossians 1:8-12
8and he also informed us of your love in the Spirit.
9For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
10so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously
12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.

Day 2

Out of curiosity, how many self-help books do you own? How many Christian living books? How many have you read? I can tell you my book shelves are full with many I have read and many that are book-marked for the someday I get back to it. I have an incredible thirst for knowledge. I love to read and learn. I like to believe that in all of my book smarts and knowledge I find a better understanding of my faith and who I am in Christ.

I have found that there are differences in finding answers to questions and getting understanding. I have questions, a lot of questions. Thank God for Google (most of the time). The thing I find with understanding is that it takes it to the next level. As a Christian I know that God is the Creator. I didn't understand the greatness of calling Him Creator until the birth of my first daughter. All of the pieces and parts working together to form a beautiful child. Add to that the experiences of standing beneath the great Redwood trees or floating on the Mississippi. Our God is amazing and my understanding of His amazing creativity is still very small.

Proverbs 1:1-7
The Usefulness of Proverbs
1The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:
2To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding,
3To receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness, justice and equity;
4To give prudence to the naive, To the youth knowledge and discretion,
5A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel,
6To understand a proverb and a figure, The words of the wise and their riddles.
7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Day 3

Proverbs 2:2,3,6..
2Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding;
3For if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding;
6For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Why do I need understanding?

What will I get with understanding?

Where do I get understanding?

I love the Proverb above, mostly because it reminds me that it is not with my mind, but with my heart and worship and relationship with the Living Word that I will find the understanding that I seek.

We would love to hear from you. If you have had an experience where wisdom and knowledge went to the next level to understanding would you share it with us, add it to the comments at the end of this blog. If you would like to share your answers to these questions, please share those too.

Day 4

"Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything."~2 Timothy 2:7

"We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ This is the true God and eternal life." ~1John 5:19-20

Really?! Everything?!

Yes, for all of you doubters out there. God has been there, seen it and wrote a book about it. He gave you a living spirit that guides you, protects you and helps you. He Created all of the beauty that surrounds you for goodness sakes. I know he wants you to understand the love he has for you. I know He has given you freedom through His grace and mercy. I understand that we are new, born again, because of His sacrifice and our faith.

Day 5

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ~Jeremiah 29:11

God's Word is full of amazing promises. Including the one in Jeremiah that has been written in thousands of graduation cards this past month. God has plans for you. God wants to give you hope, a future.

It is easy as Christians to walk around wondering why we are going through the trials It is frustrating to struggle when we have the Spirit of God living inside of us. It becomes even easier to become bitter and resentful in today's world when we rarely wait for anything. Our impatience in a grocery store line carries over into our faith.

What if you need a little wisdom, a little knowledge and a little experience before you can carry out the plans God has for you? What if God wants you to get understanding so that you can do His will in your life?

"The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your acquiring, get understanding." ~Proverbs 4:7

Heavenly Father~Praise your Name for all of the blessings and abundance and health that you have pored into my life and the lives of those around me. Thank you for your beauty and strength. Forgive me for all of the time I spend reading and googling and gaining knowledge from places other then you. May I spend more time desiring your knowledge and understanding not only with my mind but in my heart and in my worship. Remind me Father that in the midst of my everyday life that you are giving me the opportunities to know you and understand you in my experiences. May my life be a poring out of your love and beauty. ~In Jesus Precious Name.