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.     

Baccalaureate

Acts 1:14a “These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer…"

June, time for celebrations! First on the agenda, graduation. This year, the student I’ve been assigned to aide, graduates with his class after four years of high school as a deaf student. With only 20% hearing and cerebral palsey issues, he reads lips and excels as a leader in his classroom. He TA’d in economics, and this last semester, acted in his drama class!  Yes, I am proud of him. 

So, this next week I’ll be helping him navigate all the different events scheduled to celebrate this accomplishment and serving at the graduation ceremony myself, which I am excited about.

There are a lot of events!              

Prom

Finals

Award Banquets

Senior meetings

Senior dedication video

Yearbooks

Grade checks

Final projects

Pick up Cap and Gown

Sunset in the Quad, and talent show

Senior Memories Nite

Senior Breakfast

Graduation practice

Disneyland

Final practice and panoramic picture

Graduation

All-night Party. 

Do you see anything missing?

I do.

bac·ca·lau·re·ate

noun

1.a religious service held at an educational institution, usually on the Sunday before commencement day.

It’s not a part of the activities anymore.

We literally send them off without a prayer, a public one, that is. I’m assuming it’s no longer “politically correct.” 

When Christ ascended into the Heavens, his last days were filled with many “activities” with his apostles. He was preparing them for their own “graduation” of sorts, leaving them with a “diploma” of the Holy Spirit. They had the power of knowledge through this gift, a promise that God’s Commencement was internal through the Spirit.  They returned to the upper room, and they devoted themselves to prayer. (Read the book of Acts to see how their “college years” went). 

The class song at my school is by Imagine Dragons,

 It’s Time.  Here’s the first stanza: 

So this is what you meant

When you said that you were spent

And now it's time to build from the bottom of the pit

Right to the top

Don't hold back

Packing my bags and giving the academy a rain check.

It is time.

Time to pray.         

Father God, I pray for the 2013 high school graduating class.  I pray for my own school where you placed me these last 4 years, my fellow teachers and administrators. I pray for my Special Ed students, and the student I worked with and their families. What I ask Lord, is for your grace in their life. I ask for your protection, your leading, your guidance and that the Holy Spirit, the Great Counselor, be an integral part of these young men and women, who soon will embark upon a world that refuses more and more to acknowledge You. Help those who know You to stand strong in their faith and to seek Your wisdom in the many decisions soon pressing upon their lives. Go with those Lord who choose to serve this country in the military.   Thank you for the opportunity to serve You in my job.  Amen

Song of Praise for a Soldier

Isaiah 42:10-13

New International Version (NIV)

Song of Praise to the Lord

¹⁰ Sing to the Lord a new song,
    his praise from the ends of the earth,
you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it,
    you islands, and all who live in them.
¹¹ Let the wilderness and its towns raise their voices;
    let the settlements where Kedar lives rejoice.
Let the people of Sela sing for joy;
    let them shout from the mountaintops.
¹² Let them give glory to the Lord
    and proclaim his praise in the islands.
¹³ The Lord will march out like a champion,
    like a warrior he will stir up his zeal;
with a shout he will raise the battle cry
    and will triumph over his enemies.

Sing to the Lord a new song

  

you who go down to the sea and all that is in it, 

you islands, and all who live in them 

Let the wilderness and its towns raise their voices;
    let the settlements where Kedar lives rejoice.
Let the people of Sela sing for joy;

                            Let the people of Sela sing for joy;

                                          let them shout from the mountaintops.
                             Let them give glory to the Lord

                                   and proclaim his praise in the islands.
                               The Lord will march out like a champion,
                                   like a warrior he will stir up his zeal;
                       with a shout he will raise the battle cry
                                  and will triumph over his enemies.

Father God, we sing, we pray a song of praise for a soldier today.Thank you for our sons and daughters, our brothers and uncles, our own fathers and mothers, for friends who served, for friends whose children now go, who serve our country as a warrior for freedom. We pray for their security, their leadership, their fellowship, but mostly we pray for their hearts. Fill them with courage, both in the battlefield and as they face the realities of home, a different battlefield. Heal the wounded, Lord. We sing a song of praise Lord, for those who paid a price, gave their all for us in sacrifice; we pray for their families. Lord, bring comfort to those who do not return, but live forever in our hearts. Fill us Lord with the same courage, to soldier on for peace, for forgiveness, for triumph over our own enemies, whatever keeps us far from Home. Let us march to the drum of Hope, proclaiming Christ is Lord of all. Amen. 


Written in honor and memory for my friend Tammie,  her son Josh, KIA in Afghanistan last summer. God Bless America, God Bless our troops. 

Josh and his canine soldier buddy, Sirius.