Believing the Wisdom

By Jen G. 2011

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:2-4

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As the mother of five children ages seven to 17, I have plenty of opportunities to fall into various trials and count it all joy. Goodness knows my patience is daily being built. If only I could let that patience have its perfect work!

More than anything, I find myself pleading for God’s perfect wisdom as I teach and train the children my husband and I have been given. The Lord promises that when I ask, He will give it to me.
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If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. v. 5

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If only I would believe the wisdom that He implants in my heart.

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But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. v. 6

Why is it that when I ask Him to give me the wisdom I so desperately need and he faithfully does, I turn around and say, “Really? You want me to do that? Well….I was thinking that maybe THIS approach would be better. What do You think?” And then….silence.

For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. v. 7,8

I am learning that when the Lord gives me direction in my life I need to follow it and not try to change His mind. If what my spirit is hearing is Biblically sound, then I can rest in knowing that the Lord is speaking in answer to my request for wisdom. The answer might not seem logical to my human mind, but He sees the end of the matter. The silence I hear is not a refusal to give wisdom, for it was already given. The Lord is simply waiting for me to choose His way and walk in it.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil. Proverbs 3:5-7

Prayer:
Father, thank You for faithfully giving me wisdom when I ask. I want to walk in that wisdom and not second guess what You have shown me. Let my life me an example of perfect trust in You.

Challenge:
This week read Proverbs 1:20 through chapter 4. Not only will it encourage you greatly in your personal walk, but if you are a mom it will give you great guidance in training your children. Wisdom is beautiful and something to be earnestly sought!

Jen G. 2011



The Journey

by Jen G. 2008 repost

I will come back and take you to be with Me that you may also be where I am. you know the way to the place I am going. John 14:3-4

When Jesus was having his last supper with the disciples, He did what all parents do before they leave their children for a while ~ He left instructions, gave some warnings, and reminded them of important things. Then He encouraged them not to be troubled, but to trust in God. After all, they knew where He was going and they were to come be with Him soon. Thomas speaks up and says, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" (14:5).

At this point, Jesus speaks what might be one of the most quoted verses in the Bible. "Jesus answered, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me,' " (14:6). Jesus was making it clear that He was the way provided to bridge the sin gap between the Father and human creation. How marvelous! But, Jesus is not only the Way, He is also the destination*. We are to walk in His Truth to have life. And...He is the Life!

The purpose of this journey is to be where He is, dwelling in Him.* Dwelling in Him makes all things bearable, all things clearer, all things worthwhile. Begin to look at your walk with Christ not just as a means to heaven, but as a daily opportunity to be close to Him in every circumstance. To know Jesus is to know the Father. To be in Jesus's presence is to be in the presence of the Father. We do not need to wait until the glory of heaven!

Prayer:
Jesus, please help me to always be aware that You are not just a means to an end, but that You are the Holy God dwelling in me. As I look at the baby in the manger let me see the man on the cross. Thank You for being the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Challenge:
This week, be conscious that every moment with Jesus is a moment in the presence of God. Sometimes we compartmentalize the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Although each has a specific function, each is also completely the One True God. Daily give thanks for the incredible privilege to dwell with Him each moment.
Jen G 2008

*Today in the Word, December 22, 2008

In Time of Need

By Jen G. 2011

"...incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; Yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright…” Proverbs 2:2-7

While away on an errand I received a call from an upset child about the actions of another child: hurtful words, an angry slap. I could feel the ‘waiting for mom to come home’ atmosphere upon my arrival. Even the dogs were quiet.

“Lord, please give me the words. I am not even sure how to approach this. Wisdom, I need wisdom. Now, Lord.”

The offending child was waiting for me. As we sat on the edge of the bed I was still pleading with the Lord to give me the words to speak into this young heart. We talked about what led to the sin.

“He had his hand over my mouth! I keep telling him not to do that! I got tired of licking his hand, so I just slapped him.”

I never dreamed that in my parenthood I would hear that excuse. “I got tired of licking his hand….”

After I squelched the rising fit of laughter, I heard the wisdom of the Lord come into my mind. At just the right moment He gave me insight into the deeper issue at hand and the words to speak to my precious child.

So many times I jump head first into correcting a child without stopping to beg for the wisdom of God I so desperately need. Why is that? Sometimes it is impatience on my part and other times it is simply because I forget. And yet, at other times it is because I do not really want His wisdom. I do not want the tender tone; I want to let the child know what I really think without concern for their well being or feelings.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21

Correcting my children is something I must do. Speaking truth into their lives is something I must do. Doing it in a way that brings life to their spirits and not death is vital. My words and tone carry much weight in the lives of my offspring. I must strive to use those words wisely each time I have opportunity to counsel them, regardless of how my sinful self desires to respond. Praise God that His wisdom is always available to me! All I must do…is ask.

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16

Prayer:

Father, help me to remember to come to You BEFORE I speak. Let me see the fruit of Your wisdom in my life. Amen.

Challenge:

Be quick to hear and slow to speak this week as you deal with the sin issues in your children’s lives. Stop and pray quietly, asking the Lord for His perfect wisdom in that moment. If your children ask what you are doing, tell them you are asking your Father for guidance. Not only will it show them that you rely on Him for help, but it will strengthen the relationship they have with you. Seeing you go to your Heavenly Father for help in situations will draw them to you when they need help. In turn, you take them to the Lord. It is a wonderful cycle!

Jen G. 2011



He Knows My Frame

by Mrs. B 2011

A bone-rattling noise from the radio interrupted my listening to worship music on the way to Texas last week. A series of storms had kicked up near Memphis that threatened to disrupt my travel down I40. I quickly called my husband, and he began tracking the storm system through the Internet. He said the best thing for me to do was to head due south in order to avoid the storms, even though that route was longer. As I traveled along, the meteorologist told of high winds, softball-sized hail, and funnel cloud sightings in the areas I was avoiding. My heart raced during the reports, yet calmed when my husband gave me minute-by-minute instructions on where to turn on country back roads. I could see angry dark clouds on my right and sun-filled clouds on my left.

My husband began to talk about the best place for my turning west in order to get back to the original path. I glanced to my right again, and I saw a huge funnel cloud stretching from the gray cloud-covering to the ground. Since I had never seen a tornado before (true confessions – I have only seen them on “Storm Chasers”), I hesitated to call it by that name, but I could hardly squelch the fear that was rising in my heart. My husband calmly told me that the storm was moving away from the direction I was going and to just keep driving. I gripped the steering wheel and heeded his instructions.



May 1, 2011 Sunday evening
The funnel was on the ground by the time I saw it, and weather reports have since confirmed a tornado in Somerville, TN, where this photo was taken. By taking the path that I did, I received only a few drops of rain. The storm soon weakened. Praise His Name!

Since we celebrated Passover recently, I was reminded of how the Lord took the Israelites on a longer route out of Egypt so that they would not fear. 

Now when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; for God said, "The people might change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt." Exodus 13:17

This path around the land of the Philistines took much longer to navigate, but God understood their hearts. Though they had just seen God work mighty miracles in their release from Egypt, they could have also been exhausted from the time of testing and faith-building. It was God’s mercy that led them on a longer route away from the possibility of war.

In much the same way, many of us have been going through times of testing and faith-building. Financial difficulties, relational troubles, deaths in our families, and many other circumstances may be facing us as dark clouds. Sometimes He calls us to charge into those clouds and storm Heaven for answers and breakthroughs. At other times, knowing our frame, He leads us to go around those clouds. Either way, our goal is to heed His instructions and trust Him for the outcome.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for taking me through the storms sometimes, and thank You for leading me around them at other times. I am grateful for Your guidance and Your Presence along either path. I trust You, and I will praise You no matter what comes.
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Challenge:

This week ask the Lord to help you trust His leading. When He calls you to pray and charge into the storm, do it with all you have. When He calls you to rest, rest with all you have, too, not fretting over the seeming inactivity. Obeying Him is never “inactivity” in the spiritual realm.

Mrs. B 2011



God said "Yes!"

by Jen G. 2011

I have recently been faced with a potential trial. So far it is simply an inconvenience, but it could very well turn into an ‘event’. Not surprisingly, my planned Bible reading took me to the book of Job this week.

Job “was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.” (v. 1) He was wealthy, had a great family, lots of stuff to make his life comfortable, and was intensely committed to the Lord. He even made regular sacrifices for his children just in case they sinned against God. His took his job as a father and priest of his home very seriously.

One day while Satan was in the presence of the Lord, the Father asked him what he had been up to. Satan responded that he had been going back and forth over the earth. I think it worth noting that Satan does not mention that he has been wreaking havoc or looking for someone to torment (although he probably was!). It was the Lord Himself who pointed Job out to Satan.

Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” v. 8

Satan’s ears perk up and he begins to mock Job and God. “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” (vs. 9-11) Satan basically dares God to test Job’s faithfulness and love for his Creator. And then…

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God said yes.

From this point on in the book, Satan is given permission first to strike Job’s family and possessions and then his personal health. And in all of this, Job never forsakes the knowledge that the Lord is sovereign. In fact, towards the end of the book, Job goes so far as to say, “Though He slay me, yet I will praise Him!” He is committed to the truth that the Lord holds all in His hands; that anything that touched him first passed through the righteousness and goodness of the Father, regardless of what it felt like.

Of the friends who came to minister to Job, only one seemed to hit the nail on the head. Elihu reminds Job of the omnipotence and goodness of God.

“Surely God will never do wickedly, nor will the Almighty pervert justice.” (34:12)

Whatever is being permitted to enter your life as a believer in Christ - medical problems, a wayward child, financial trouble, a tense marriage, sleepless nights, children with learning issues, fractured relationships, job loss, depression - take the counsel of Job to heart. “Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” (2:10) The trials we face give opportunity to grow closer to Christ and to become more like Him.*

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." James 1:2-8

Instead of falling apart – the normal human reaction – count it all joy that the perfectly-good-in-all-His-ways, sovereign God said “Yes!”

Prayer:

Father, I ask that You position my heart to receive what You are allowing in my life. Let my reactions to trials be a testimony of Your goodness. Let the trials refine me to be more like You. Amen.

Challenge:

Read the book of Job this month and ponder the reactions of Job and his friends in light of the trials Job was experiencing. Journal through your reading and make note of the passages that speak to you. How are YOU reacting to trials? We have a responsibility to let patience learned in trials to have its perfect work and to not be double minded.

*Note: Trials, whatever they are, are used to refine us and make us more like Christ. Sometimes those trials do come as a result of sinful actions on our part. Repenting of sin that has brought consequences in the form of trials will not necessarily remove the trial, but it will make you more like Christ if you push through and refuse to enter into that sinful behavior again. Nothing is beyond use for God’s glory when given to Him!

Jen G. 2011