"The decision to give one's heart to Jesus is the last independent legitimate decision we ever make. Is that statement unsettling? It should be wonderful and exciting! After all, who can better manage our lives: the Lord of Creation, or we ourselves?"

[source]

Biblical Wisdom

As a group here, we are going through Proverbs during our morning devotions.  I admit that growing up I really thought that the Proverbs were just a bunch of nice little sayings that people say and never really saw the point to them.  But since we have been going through them I am learning all sorts of things, especially about how much I am lacking in Biblical wisdom!  

Today we focused on chapter 9 of Proverbs.  Sometimes I get confused because its too smart for me as I try and figure out what other meanings the verses could have besides talking about the lady of folly, etc...But today verse one is what really stuck out to me.  In our study questions we had a little side note that directed us to read 9:1 with James 3:17 in mind.  Here are the verses.  

Wisdom has built her house; she has carved its seven columns.

Proverbs 9:1 (NLT) 

But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.

James 3:17 (NLT) 

These two verses and their meanings have been floating around in my head all day long.  There has been so many little nuggets that I have gotten out of this since we looked at it this morning.  First of all columns.  What is a column, what is its purpose?  Its a support, a base, a pillar.  After thinking about this verse for awhile I had this picture in my head of these seven columns that the verse talks about, and the seven characteristics of wisdom that are listed in James 3:17.  I envisioned in my head myself and what my pillars are.  What are the things that are the base of my life?  Are they always Christ-like?  Reading the verse in James certainly struck something in me.  It was like a smack upside the head saying listen!  Are you basing your life off of Biblical things?  Are you truly being wise in a Biblical sense?  The verse is a little bit overwhelming to me, I admit.  There is no way that I can do all of those things by myself.  But as I write this now I am reminded that God alone can help us to accomplish that things that he has for us.  We cannot do it on our own.  These things are not easy to always do, but for me it is good to know what God expects of me.  

Thank you Jesus for your Word that is true and alive!  Help us all to live by your Word and remember that you don't expect us to do it all on our own.  Thank you for always being there and revealing these little nuggets in your Word when we need it most.  

Thought for Thursday.

"The probability of life originating from accident is comparable to the probability of the Unabridged Dictionary resulting from an explosion in a printing factory."


-Edwin Conklin

Thought for Thursday.

"There were ten lepers healed, and only one turned back to give thanks, but it is to be noticed that our Lord did not recall the gift from the other nine because of their lack of gratitude. When we begin to lessen our acts of kindness and helpfulness because we think those who receive do not properly appreciate what is done for them, it is time to question our own motives."


-Leaves of Gold

Thought for Thursday.

"There is only one basis for really enjoying life, and that is, to walk in the way in which God leads you. Then you are prepared to find delight in all sorts of wayward incidents....When a man is drifting through life, seeking nothing outside of self-gratification, the world must become increasingly a barren and forbidding wilderness. But it is wonderful how many delights fall to the lot of him who is led by God. For such a one the clasp of a friend's hand, a cool drink in the heat of noon, a merry salutation from a passing traveler, a glimpse of beauty by the road, a quiet resting place at night, are all full of unspeakable pleasure."


-Leaves of Gold

Thought for Thursday.

"Happiness is like manna; it is to be gathered in grains, and enjoyed every day. It will not keep; it cannot be accumulated; nor have we got to go out of ourselves or into remote places to gather it, since it is rained down from Heaven, at our very doors."


-Tryon Edwards

Thought for Thursday.

"It is a poor thing to strike our colors to God when the ship is going down under us; a poor thing to come to Him as a last resort, to offer up 'our own' when it is no longer worth keeping. If God were proud He would hardly have us on such terms; but He is not proud, He stoops to conquer. He will have us even though we've shown that we prefer everything else to Him, and come to Him because there is 'nothing better' left to be had."

-C.S. Lewis

Just Love Your God

It's been far too long since I have posted, and I really need to get back into this!  Sorry ladies!  


I've been on a roller coaster of emotions these past 5 months and have recently heard this song that has really spoken to my heart.  It is called Oh My Soul, by Audrey Assad.  There are very simple lyrics but a very powerful message for me.  

Rivers and stones and the trees of the field, they sing in the night
And a thousand tongues lay deep in your lungs to raise to the sky
Don't lie to yourself, o my soul—love your God.

Deep in your heart you feather and tar your folly and fear:
Expose them for the fools they are, and the world comes clear.
Don't lie to yourself, o my soul—love your God.

Your worries will never love you
They'll leave you all alone
But your God will not forsake you
O my soul.

The first time that I heard it, it brought me to tears.  I had been so caught up in so many different things that I forgot to just stop and love God and praise Him for what He has done for me and what He is doing now, even though it isn't always easy.  It made me think of the verse in Hebrews where God says that He will never leave us or never forsake us.  What an awesome promise!  What an amazing God that we serve!  How often do we get caught up in trivial things that don't matter?  How many times have I tried and tried to live my life without God and tried to do things on my own?  I need to daily give my life over to God, daily make an effort to simply love my God and bask in His wonderful presence.  That should be my number one priority each and every day.  

Serving, Loving, Praying.

It was just before the Passover Festival.
Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father.
Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
John 13:1

A couple thousand years ago a man, a perfect man, sat among his best friends.
He had spent every day of the past few years traveling with them, teaching with them, loving them.
Tonight they would share their last meal.

Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.
I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.
Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master,
nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
John 13:14-17

When Jesus knew that he was left with one final day on this planet,
he chose to spend it serving and loving people here on earth,
and spent hours into the night speaking to his heavenly father, the Almighty God.
If only we chose to spend our hours doing such things...
What would it look like?
Simply serving, loving, and praying...

"... just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,
and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Matthew 20:28

"Maundy Thursday is the day of the New Mandate, the New Command that Jesus gave. Love one another as I have loved you. Serve one another in the same way that you have seen me, the Master, serve you. In this way you will glorify my Father in Heaven. It is not just about remembering a last meal. Today is about remembering the last commands given us by the Lord." -here



Go serve someone today.
Show someone some love, truly care.
Spend time speaking with your heavenly father, bring your requests to him, rejoice with him, thank him...

A Peace Which Passeth Understanding.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,
shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7 {KJV}

Did you ever sing "Down In My Heart" when you were younger?
I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart {where?} down in my heart....
I don't think I ever really knew what I was singing when I sang the verse "I've got the peace that passeth understanding down in my heart" But lately that phrase has been stuck in my head.
I've been struggling with a couple of weeks of defeat/depression/anxiety. It's something I struggle with when I haven't been turning my worries over to God or feel like I've lost control of areas of my life.

I always got good grades in high school, not because I studied, but just because I can catch on to lessons {particularly math & science} pretty quickly {and then forget them immediately after the test... it's not a good way to learn}. I remember the one specific time in Trigonometry that I just could not grasp the lesson he was teaching and I got so frustrated I had to leave the room to cry! It makes me feel sick and panic-y when I can't understand something.

So, with my faith, sometimes I struggle with trying to completely understand God's plans for me and my loved ones, or trying to understand eternity and it gives me the same sick and panicked feelings. It's a struggle for me not to be in control and not be able to comprehend what is next.
Fill me in on the plan, God!
But I know that when I trust and obey God's word, I don't feel the depression/anxiety that I have been feeling lately. I know that when we follow God and actively search for his path for us, he gives us a peace that everything will be okay, a peace that covers all of our fear, a peace that God has something beautiful planned for us next, and it isn't my job to understand it all but simply to try and live how God tells us to.

I pray that God gives me the strength to do just that and a peace deep down in my heart that covers more than I can understand.

Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror,
but then we will see everything with perfect clarity.
All that I know now is partial and incomplete,
but then I will know everything completely,
just as God now knows me completely.
1 Corinthians 13:12