Following Wisdom… April 26- May 3, 2010

We thank God for His wisdom!   That is the purpose of this entire article.

Here’s a great definition of Wisdom: Wisdom is knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action; sagacity, discernment, or insight.

Most of us are familiar with the Wisdom of Solomon.   Two women approach him to say that a baby is their’s.  Both seem sincere; so he orders the baby to be cut in half.  One woman seems okay with it, but the true mother basically says:  “Give it to her.”  This allows Solomon to know just who the real mom is.   That’s wisdom.

The bible says that wisdom is important:

If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or fault-finding, and it will be given him. James

1: 5                Thank God for His wisdom!

I’ve heard hundreds of prayer requests and people always want wisdom.

How much better it is to get skillful and godly Wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. Proverbs 16: 16

Wisdom is better than gold!   Read it.  I know it is true.  For five years, we had a flood in our library that we kept fixing.  At one point the room was an eyesore with a horrible smell full of our household castaways.    That room gave me great anguish.  I prayed about it often.   One day after I prayed seeking an answer…God gave me a task that made no sense at all.  It seems He wanted me to drive to the post office and mail some money to a friend.

So, I did.  I kept thinking that maybe I would end up seeing a long-lost friend inside the post office.  I got there, mailed the card and just hung around waiting for some one I knew to walk in.  After an hour, I went home.  On the way home I met the drain commissioner who told me about a free project where the flooding could be fixed for free to the tune of $7,000.00!   I still praise and thank God for His wisdom which caused us to have victory over a problem that did not seem to go away!   It’s now gone!

I have so many stories like this…stories about following wisdom.

Would this have happened on its own?   It hadn’t.   That’s my answer.

For it is written, I will baffle and render useless and destroy the learning of the learned and the philosophy of the philosophers and the cleverness of the clever and the discernment of the discerning; I will frustrate and nullify [them] and bring [them] to nothing. 1 Corinthians 1: 19

I heard a story about a college professor who was an atheist and wouldn’t come out and say it.  In order to influence his students he gave them a writing assignment on the Book of Job.   Of course his interpretation was jaded and anti-God.  Because he had done this for years he was all prepared to “shoot down” those who disagreed with him.  Most of the students were too intimidated to disagree with him.  And even worse, his gross misinterpretation was believed by many.  He had no Godly wisdom…but he only had his interpretation.

For this world’s wisdom is foolishness (absurdity and stupidity) with God, for it is written, He lays hold of the wise in their [own] craftiness. 1 Corinthians 3:19

I’d love to know what ever happened to the college professor …

Thank You Father for giving us the Wisdom to know what we need to know and how to handle it!

Why Wisdom? April 20-27, 2010

Give me understanding, that I may keep Your law; yes, I will observe it with my whole heart. Psalm 119:34

Some music to listen to…as you read…He’s Just That Kind of God by Wanda Davis and The St. John’s Baptis Choir

Behold, You desire truth in the inner being; make me therefore to know wisdom in my inmost heart. Psalm 51:6

For the Lord gives skillful and godly Wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 2:6

This is so simple.  I am on a budget and I need God’s wisdom on all of my expenditures.  Let’s go back a little…

my neighbor’s had a gorgeous set of wicker chairs for their porch.    I told them how much I liked them.  That was two years ago.  I thought to myself that if I  ever get a moment of free time…I’m going to look for some chairs like that.   I was going to need some wisdom on this…so I gave it to God.  I knew I’d get some…but I forgot about it.

I did…look at Garage Sales which is one of my favorite pastimes.

Well, about a month ago I turned the corner in my car and  lo and behold…  my neighbors were moving and decided not to take the chairs with them and put them on the curb.  I picked them up and decided to get cushions.

Before I even had time to go in a store some people who live about a mile from here…put some beautiful cushions at the curb. All they needed was a good scrub!   I scooped them up!

This happens all of the time.  It’s something new…but I can get used to it.  The fact that these “events” keep happening to me…is not because of any “smartness” or “understanding” or “favor” that I have other than from God…and I am thankful

But, to answer the question:  “Why Wisdom?”

When I have a problem…I do not need a solution.  I need the BEST SOLUTION!   God’s way is always a better way than man’s way.    He says so and has shown me.

For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Time and time again…God has proven Himself!   I want to operate with His wisdom; never my own!

I Will by Israel Houghton (MP3) April 16-23, 2010

Play Here

Stand Up Straight! by Gene McGuire April 16-23, 2010

“The integrity of the upright will guide them….” (Proverbs 11:2)

COMMENT: Since, in these daily messages, I often tell you about some of my indiscretions, I feel I have the liberty to relate to you an incident in my life that demonstrates how the Lord is changing me. A couple of weeks ago I picked up a CVS/Pharmacy advertisement and  was delighted to see that a particular vitamin that I needed was on sale. By purchasing  one bottle, the second one was free. I made a list of other needs and hurried over to CVS. I was surprised to see that they did not have a sign on the vitamins indicating the sale, but that didn’t stop me.  As The cashier was ringing everything up, I saw that she had not given me the second bottle of vitamins free. I told her about her mistake and she made the correction. When I got home, I realized that I didn’t get the sales price on the Fixadent I had also purchased. I searched the advertisement I had used and discovered that the sales were for the previous week. I suspect the cashier simply took my word since I was a regular customer and she trusted me. Now the “old Gene” would have said: “Well, I made a mistake but no one is hurt; CVS has plenty of money, they won’t miss it!” However, I am a changed man regarding such matters and I immediately went back to the store and returned the “loot”. Isn’t it great when “practicing righteousness” becomes second nature without giving it a second thought?

SCRIPTURE STUDY: Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 3:18 and James 1:22

WISE SONG LYRICS: HE’S STILL WORKING ON ME, TO MAKE ME WHAT I OUGHT TO BE. IT TOOK HIM JUST A WEEK TO MAKE THE SUN AND MOON, THE EARTH AND STARS, JUPITER AND MARS. OH HOW PATIENT HE MUST BE. . . .HE’S STILL WORKING ON ME.

Just a thought, not a sermon

Speak To The Rock! by Gene McGuire April 15-22. 2010

“Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly. . .” (Numbers 20:11)

COMMENT: You know the story. God told Moses to speak to the rock and it would yield water to the complaining Israelites. Because of this act of intemperance, God did not allow him to enter the Promised Land. Although we Christians have a better Covenant, when there is a lack of self-control in our lives, God’s ability to use us is diminished. Paul tells us to habitually put to death the evil deeds prompted by the body.(Romans 8:13)  In 1Cor. 9:27 we are admonished to buffet our body (discipline it by hardship) and subdue it. Gene’s translation: “Make a decision that, by the power of the Holy Spirit, you will ENSLAVE your body and enforce necessary restraints on its desires. Your spirit man is the master and your body the slave.”

SCRIPTURE STUDY: Proverbs 15:10  Galatians 5:22,23 and 1 Peter 2:8

WISE SAYING: GIVE THE DEVIL AN INCH AND HE’LL BE A RULER.

Just a thought, not a sermon.