Wisdom, Yes, There is an App for That!

Proverbs 8:17 "I love those who love me; and those who diligently seek me will find me." 

Wisdom. It's knowing the right thing to do and/or say at the right time and pleasing God as you do it. Wouldn't it be great if there was an app for that?

Well,  actually there is. It's called God's Word, The Holy Scriptures, The Bible.

In Proverbs Chapter 8, all the downloadable info and instructions are there.

Wisdom is omnipresent. Wherever our spiritual soul dwells,

...the highest mountain
                                    ...a crossroad, freeway
                                                                       ...our living rooms and kitchens
                                             
Wherever out paths take us,
                                            ...a city council meeting,
                                                                                  ... a doctor's office,
                                                                                                                 ...a coffee house
Wisdom is for all men, for men to teach to their sons.

There is no virus in God's wisdom. It is not crooked or preverted.

Some may try to buy wisdom, but silver and gold to not equate with it's value.

Wisdom does not sit at the same table as pride, arrogance, evil and ugly, mean words.

Wisdom hangs out with discretion and knowledge. (That's praying and studying).

Wisdom is powerful, yet understanding,
                                                             rich yet righteous,
                                                                                          honorable and just.

Wisdom watched and applauded as the heavens and earth whirled together at God's commanding breath. Like a construction site Superintendant, Wisdom oversaw the building of the foundations of creation,the depths of the sea, the rising up of the pillars of mountains, the rooftop skies above and the flowing rivers that sustain life.

Wisdom rejoiced in all Creation.  

Wisdom knows who loves, who seeks after Him, and those who are diligent...
Those who are humble, who are true...

WILL FIND ME!

"Listen, says Wisdom. Keep my Ways, He instructs. Do not neglect Me. Watch for me. I hang out where you can find me. Are you looking in the right places? Are you only going so far where you are comfortable, set in a routine, afraid you may have to give something up to get me?

Maybe so.

But in return, this is what I give you...
                                                            LIFE!

If I am not what you seek, I'm afraid your injuries become fatal."


Lord, every minute of every day, decisions in life affect us. To have the promise of Godly discernment, counsel and wisdom is a gift of the Holy Spirit. I seek Your wisdom and I ask that you provide a generous portion in these times. Lead me to the righteousness of your Word and inscribe onto my heart Your Truth. I long to do the right thing at the right time and above all else, please You, my Lord and my Savior. Amen.
                                   
                                 

Standing in the Gap

Ezekiel 22:30 "And I searched for a man among them who should build up a wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one." We'll tune him in this Sunday; Nik Wallenda, acrobat Extraordinaire. He's undertaking once again a feat of bravery, of faith, of well-prepared and practiced steps over the greatest chasm in North America, the Grand Canyon.  I watched as many others did, his last act, literally walking over the cascading immensness of the powerful Niagra Falls, June 15, 2012 http://www.niagarafallstourism.com/events/nik-wallenda-2012/  A lot of preparation, a lot of history goes before him.  With the name Wallenda, he is not the first. His legacy goes back several generations. His great grandfather, Karl Wellenda, founder of the Great Wallenda four-person-pyramid cycling team, created the family business. He died doing what he loved, leaving a legacy. We'll watch and like before I am sure, Wallenda prays out loud while walking across the wire, to his heavenly Father. Well of course, you say, who wouldn't in that situation! In a conversation with my spiritual sister last night, we talked about prayer. She'll text me often and it will be simple, like: "Pray,  talk soon."  We know what to pray for, for each other. We know the history, and we know the evil that blows from all directions, seeking a push, even a slight tap over the edge.  Prayer focuses us on the Super Natural power of God. In the book of Ezekiel, God looked around at His people and sadly, their lives had fallen away from the Lord.  They worshipped idols, committed lewd acts, disrespected family members, did not honor the Sabbath, cheated, lied...the list goes on.  God looked for someone, someone who would "build up a wall", "stand in the gap"...walk the high wire in faith; someone to pray for the heart of Israel. God asks us to do the same for those whose lives lie on the  canyon floor, who live beyond the boundaries of eternity, walking unbalanced in a windy world of uncertainty.  God calls us to stand and walk in the gap,  prayer acrobats for the faith, for the gawking crowd of almost believers and for the faithful, in the process of transformation. It's a legacy I want to live on. ...and what if he falls? I know the answer to this one.  WE KEEP WALKING, ONE STEP AT A TIME AND GRACE GETS US TO OTHER SIDE, where we'll see things differently. Hope awaits us, pulls us in and never stops holding on. Stand in the gap for someone, pray a hedge of protection, build a wall of prayer around someone. And when that someone stands before the Lord one day,  God can say, "I FOUND someone to pray, their steadfast focus turned your heart towards me. Welcome Home." Obedience pleases God. And God forgets what happened in the depths of the canyons.  He sets us free to do the Amazing, the Accomplished, the Acrobatic, the Annointed, the Appointed. Lord, Prayer is such a privilege, such a gift of connectivness to you Father through the Holy Spirit. It is so easy to lose our balance, fall away to sin and despair. We need to practice our knee-bending, perfect our head-bowing, work-it out in the quiet space of our prayer closets, by praying for the saints. Someone stood in the gap for me, and I am grateful.  Continue to spur me on, praying for those whose lives hang in the balance, with no direction Home.  Thank you for your protection and angel armies. I trust in the training it takes,  I trust in You.  Amen.

Raise Your Banner

Song of Solomon 2:4 Let him lead me to the banquet hall, and let his banner over me be love. Today is Flag Day. You can go the website below and read for yourself the history of this day. Our Stars and Stripes symbolize and bring great emotion to many across this great land. It represents triumph over foes, courage, patriotism, rememberance and celebration. Every state is represented by each star and the 13 stripes represent the Colonies and the struggles and resolve of this country's forefathers to form a united nation under God.  Latley we've seen it raised at Ground Zero, covered coffins of our fallen heroes, and found in the rubble of hurricanes and tornadoes. Despite a sorrowful time, the flag represents a will to survive, to conquer our fear, a brotherhood that we as Americans are in this together and will rise up again, always.  And we do.   Our Heavenly Father has a banner, a flag over us as his children.  It represents His love, His protection, His sovereignty. The colors are magnificent and it shines in the darkest places. It is unburnable and indestructible.  It promises us strength through our battles, conquest over our fears and celebration in our blessings.  Raise up your American Flag to honor our country.  Raise up your banner for the Lord to proclaim His goodness, His promises that His love carries us through and to testify His unwavering grace.  Father, thank you for the Red, White and Blue. Freedom is precious and may I never take it for granted. For those soldiers, living under our flag in a foreign desert or anywhere away from family and friends, bring peace and remind them of home and Your love as they gaze on the American flag. Thank you for your Love banner over me and my household. May it bring peace in my words and deeds to Your glory, Amen God Bless America.  History of Flag Day: http://www.usflag.org/history/flagday.html

It is Still Called "Today"

Hebrews 3:13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “today,” lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

We all know a “Debbie Downer,” a “Negative Nate.” They only see the struggle, not the strength, the evil, not the good, the sweat and labor, not the finished product, the mistakes, not the chance to try again. They live their life in a pit of discouragement and a raincloud follows them around.

It’s hard to be around these people.

I know there existed a time in my Christian life, I felt that way, probably acted that way.  Overwhelmed, tired, crabby, hopeless.

You know what the problem was? Really? ME! My circumstances were not ideal. People and stuff did not seem to want to cooperate, but the sin of complacency, of idleness and hypocrisy hardened my heart.

The Word stagnated on my desk, no involvement in ministry and accountability, and my prayer life? Well, let just say I needed a major tune-up and then some.

When I thought things couldn’t get worse, I found a spiral notebook, and my journal days began. I dated the pages, and I wrote, and wrote.

TODAY…this happened and that happened…blah, blah, blah.  My journals, a conversation with ME, suddenly started turning into a conversation with HIM. Happening gradually, God began to encourage me in His quiet, loving voice and I began to feel hope again, as my words sought after His Words.

The Holy Spirit, the Great Encourager, longs to massage our attitudes and change our names. When we allow His voice to fill our hearts, listen to His Words to gain wisdom, and ask for His strength to walk a different path in our head, we can be around ourselves again, and bring the overflow within us to become encouragers to others.

Lord, Every day, this world in desperate need to know Your hope God, discouraging things are happening around us every minute.  In this week of graduations and hopeful futures, help me, help Your church, to thwart the deceiver of discouragement. I bow my head and praise You for the Grace of yesterday, the Good things of TODAY, and the HOPE of tomorrow. TODAY God, encourage me, and help me TOMORROW, to pay it forward. To You be the glory, Amen.