"The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom;
And with all your acquiring, get understanding.
Prize her, and she will exalt you;
She will honor you if you embrace her.
She will place on your head a garland of grace;
She will present you with a crown of beauty."
Proverbs 4:7-9
If you replace "wisdom" with "Jesus" this is how it reads:
"The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire Jesus;
And with all your acquiring, get understanding.
Prize Jesus, and He will exalt you;
Jesus will honor you if you embrace Him.
He will place on your head a garland of grace;
He will present you with a crown of beauty."
Jesus is the answer. Proverbs 8:22-36 is another picture of Jesus. Jesus is the personification of Wisdom. He was with God from the beginning, He was the Master Workman of creation, He delights in the sons of man, He blesses those who listens to Him, and He is life.
One day when I was in the throes of extreme pain due to nerve damage, I questioned God on this. I said, "If Jesus is the answer, then what do I do when He is not enough?" The answer is to go deeper in with Jesus. Think about it for a minute. Jesus took all of the disciples to the Garden of Gethsemene. Then He took Peter, James, and John in with Him a little deeper, then He went deeper still by Himself as He pleaded with God. I went deeper in with Jesus, praying, reading, praising, and being in God's presence during that time of forced bedrest and pain. Jesus was enough!!! My faith grew, my understanding grew, my love for Jesus grew!
Proverbs says that wisdom starts by getting wisdom. Get Jesus, but then hold on and get more and more and more of Him. He will comfort, correct, challenge, and love you through anything this life can throw at you.
He has been enough through anger, depression, pain, surgeries, moves, loneliness, failures, successes, changes of all kinds and He has brought great joy!
Hint for the Day: Teach your children that Jesus is as real as you are. They can talk to Him, walk with Him, complain to Him, and sing to Him. He hears! He cares! He answers prayers!
Monday, April 16, 2012
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Kids of Truth
"I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth." 3 John 1:4
Math is important and so is reading, history, and science, but if our children have all of that and are not walking in truth, it will get them nowhere. I am at a homeschool convention in Memphis. There are hundreds of venders. There are thousands of good books, curriculum, cd's, etc... There is some really good stuff out there. I wish more had been available when we started homeschooling back in the late 80's. But the Bible does not change and in it is found truth. Many times at conventions I have asked someone if they have done a good study of Proverbs. It amazes me that anyone, let alone many people, actually reply, "Oh, we don't have time for Bible!" Wow!! That blows my mind. This is the same as saying, "I don't have time for food." Without food your body will die; without reading God's Word, your spirit will die and you will definitely not grow up!
Truth is the sum of God's word. (Psalm 119:160) Wisdom comes from knowing God's Word. Truth and Wisdom are the epitome of Jesus Christ. In other words, Jesus is the personification of truth and wisdom. Don't you want your children to be able to discern the truth of God's word from the falsehoods of this world? They can't learn that from a math book! We always start each day with individual quiet times - reading God's Word and praying. Then we get together and have a short Bible study on whatever Bible book we are reading at the time. Then we do math and English, reading, history, science, etc... We end each day in God's Word as well.
My kids may not be the most famous, the best dressed, or the most popular, but they are the wisest young men that I know. They have God's Word written on their hearts and they amaze me with their wisdom and understanding of God. When I am struggling, it is often one of our boys who say something that directs me to God's wisdom. One day I felt really discouraged because one of the boys had made the soccer team, but then the soccer team didn't happen because there were not enough boys trying out. I went to comfort this son who lookied at me and said, "It's okay Mom, God knows and has something else for me." That's truth! That's faith! That's my son!!! And I am so proud when they discern their world through God's word.
Hint for the Day: Be in the word of God with your kids. Tell stories, act out stories, draw cartoons, ask questions, put on puppet shows, etc... But be in the Word. Younger children can memorize small verses and older children can memorize whole chapters. Expect much in this area. Memorize together as a family. But - do it!!!
Math is important and so is reading, history, and science, but if our children have all of that and are not walking in truth, it will get them nowhere. I am at a homeschool convention in Memphis. There are hundreds of venders. There are thousands of good books, curriculum, cd's, etc... There is some really good stuff out there. I wish more had been available when we started homeschooling back in the late 80's. But the Bible does not change and in it is found truth. Many times at conventions I have asked someone if they have done a good study of Proverbs. It amazes me that anyone, let alone many people, actually reply, "Oh, we don't have time for Bible!" Wow!! That blows my mind. This is the same as saying, "I don't have time for food." Without food your body will die; without reading God's Word, your spirit will die and you will definitely not grow up!
Truth is the sum of God's word. (Psalm 119:160) Wisdom comes from knowing God's Word. Truth and Wisdom are the epitome of Jesus Christ. In other words, Jesus is the personification of truth and wisdom. Don't you want your children to be able to discern the truth of God's word from the falsehoods of this world? They can't learn that from a math book! We always start each day with individual quiet times - reading God's Word and praying. Then we get together and have a short Bible study on whatever Bible book we are reading at the time. Then we do math and English, reading, history, science, etc... We end each day in God's Word as well.
My kids may not be the most famous, the best dressed, or the most popular, but they are the wisest young men that I know. They have God's Word written on their hearts and they amaze me with their wisdom and understanding of God. When I am struggling, it is often one of our boys who say something that directs me to God's wisdom. One day I felt really discouraged because one of the boys had made the soccer team, but then the soccer team didn't happen because there were not enough boys trying out. I went to comfort this son who lookied at me and said, "It's okay Mom, God knows and has something else for me." That's truth! That's faith! That's my son!!! And I am so proud when they discern their world through God's word.
Hint for the Day: Be in the word of God with your kids. Tell stories, act out stories, draw cartoons, ask questions, put on puppet shows, etc... But be in the Word. Younger children can memorize small verses and older children can memorize whole chapters. Expect much in this area. Memorize together as a family. But - do it!!!
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Doing It All
"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Phil. 4:13
This verse has helped all of us get through a tough time or a tough day. Jesus is our strength in all that He desires for us to do. But I used to read this verse all wrong. I emphasized the word all and tried to do it all. Then when I failed, I questioned God. I tried to be the super mom, the super wife, the super daughter, the super friend, the super housekeeper, the super piano teacher, the super Sunday school teacher, the super cook, the super mentor, the super neighbor, and the super witness for Christ - all in the same day! Day after day! Yeah, I burned out big time.
The tears came whenever I would read a woman's magazine or a homeschool magazine. Those women seemed to be able to do it all and to do it all better than me! Their houses looked amazing, they dressed like super models, they cooked gourmet meals, they organized their closets, they found time to read real grown-up books, their children won awards, and their husbands called them blessed! I dimmed in comparison. So I would quote my Philippians 3:13 and try even harder!
Then, one day my husband saw me coming from my room in tears and asked what the matter was. I told him everything and how I fell so short at so much. He laughed. Yep, he's a real sensitive type! He laughed and asked me to look at the bylines of all those articles. As I did, I realized that no woman wrote more than one article. In other words, I was comparing myself to the expertise of a whole panel of woman. The world-class cook did not write an article on organization. The fashion model did not expound on baking her own bread. And the Mom whose kids won all kinds of rewards did not write reviews on the latest books! Hey, maybe I didn't have to do it all!
As I grew in my Christian faith, Bible understanding, and relationship with Christ, I began to accept my own strengths and weaknesses. I could write an article on raising kids, but you would never want to read something that I wrote about cooking a turkey! (That's a story for another day!) I also learned that the "all" of Phil. 4:13 meant all that God asked me to do or to go through. I didn't need to worry about how I would respond in someone else's circumstances. God gives grace to each of us as we need it. I just needed to look to Him for my strength in the matters of my life and laugh and cry with Him along the way.
There is freedom in this! Different stages of life require different skills, different reactions, and different strengths. I will trust God in all that I do because I will be about doing all that He asks me to do. He knows me and has a purpose and plan for my life that is different than the purpose and plan that He has for your life. I will not judge you or myself for what we do, rather I will praise God for the ability to do the things He gives me to do and I will praise Him for giving me the strength to do it!
Hint for the Day: List the things that you enjoy doing. Then list the things that you would like to learn to do. Finally, list the things that you don't ever want to do! (changing a tire would make that last list for me!) Then give your lists to God and ask Him to give you the strength for every day and everything that He allows to come into your life. Then do your best, pray for God's wisdom and guidance, and walk in freedom and joy!
This verse has helped all of us get through a tough time or a tough day. Jesus is our strength in all that He desires for us to do. But I used to read this verse all wrong. I emphasized the word all and tried to do it all. Then when I failed, I questioned God. I tried to be the super mom, the super wife, the super daughter, the super friend, the super housekeeper, the super piano teacher, the super Sunday school teacher, the super cook, the super mentor, the super neighbor, and the super witness for Christ - all in the same day! Day after day! Yeah, I burned out big time.
The tears came whenever I would read a woman's magazine or a homeschool magazine. Those women seemed to be able to do it all and to do it all better than me! Their houses looked amazing, they dressed like super models, they cooked gourmet meals, they organized their closets, they found time to read real grown-up books, their children won awards, and their husbands called them blessed! I dimmed in comparison. So I would quote my Philippians 3:13 and try even harder!
Then, one day my husband saw me coming from my room in tears and asked what the matter was. I told him everything and how I fell so short at so much. He laughed. Yep, he's a real sensitive type! He laughed and asked me to look at the bylines of all those articles. As I did, I realized that no woman wrote more than one article. In other words, I was comparing myself to the expertise of a whole panel of woman. The world-class cook did not write an article on organization. The fashion model did not expound on baking her own bread. And the Mom whose kids won all kinds of rewards did not write reviews on the latest books! Hey, maybe I didn't have to do it all!
As I grew in my Christian faith, Bible understanding, and relationship with Christ, I began to accept my own strengths and weaknesses. I could write an article on raising kids, but you would never want to read something that I wrote about cooking a turkey! (That's a story for another day!) I also learned that the "all" of Phil. 4:13 meant all that God asked me to do or to go through. I didn't need to worry about how I would respond in someone else's circumstances. God gives grace to each of us as we need it. I just needed to look to Him for my strength in the matters of my life and laugh and cry with Him along the way.
There is freedom in this! Different stages of life require different skills, different reactions, and different strengths. I will trust God in all that I do because I will be about doing all that He asks me to do. He knows me and has a purpose and plan for my life that is different than the purpose and plan that He has for your life. I will not judge you or myself for what we do, rather I will praise God for the ability to do the things He gives me to do and I will praise Him for giving me the strength to do it!
Hint for the Day: List the things that you enjoy doing. Then list the things that you would like to learn to do. Finally, list the things that you don't ever want to do! (changing a tire would make that last list for me!) Then give your lists to God and ask Him to give you the strength for every day and everything that He allows to come into your life. Then do your best, pray for God's wisdom and guidance, and walk in freedom and joy!
Monday, April 9, 2012
Abide in Him
"As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him. Now, little children, abide in Him so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming." 1 John 2:27-28
This is truly the key to victorious Christian living. We were not born again from our own power or works, neither can we walk according to the Spirit without abiding with Jesus continually. I love the story about Corrie Ten Boom. She survived the holocaust. Though not Jewish, she was confined to a concentration camp for hiding Jews (Great book: The Hiding Place). She was released by mistake just days before she would have been killed. In her older days it was noted of her that she often would be seen talking to herself. When asked about this, she laughed and said that she was not going senile, but that she was talking to her Lord and Savior! Oh, that I might abide so closely that I could just carry on an ongoing conversation with Christ.
Another great story about abiding comes from Brother Lawrence. He tells how to abide in his book, Practicing His Presence. Brother Lawrence was a kitchen monk hundreds of years ago. He sought to worship and commune with God while doing his duties in the kitchen. And there, he found sweet fellowship with His Lord.These are my examples.
Throughout Scripture, we are encouraged to abide, especially in John 15 and in 1, 2, an 3 John. There are moments where I do well. There are other moments where I am calling out for fellowship. And still other moments where I completely forget that God is here and in control. God forgive my unbelief. Help me to abide in You through the Word, through praise, through prayer, through every moment of every day. Oh, that I might grow closer to You!
Hint of the Day: Kids learn by watching you! Be abiding through praise and adoration, through Bible study, Bible memorization, and talking with others about Christ. The kids will pick it up and join in. Something that really helps me to abide is to visualize Jesus walking with me in the garden, or me sitting at His feet, or me dancing before the throne of God.
This is truly the key to victorious Christian living. We were not born again from our own power or works, neither can we walk according to the Spirit without abiding with Jesus continually. I love the story about Corrie Ten Boom. She survived the holocaust. Though not Jewish, she was confined to a concentration camp for hiding Jews (Great book: The Hiding Place). She was released by mistake just days before she would have been killed. In her older days it was noted of her that she often would be seen talking to herself. When asked about this, she laughed and said that she was not going senile, but that she was talking to her Lord and Savior! Oh, that I might abide so closely that I could just carry on an ongoing conversation with Christ.
Another great story about abiding comes from Brother Lawrence. He tells how to abide in his book, Practicing His Presence. Brother Lawrence was a kitchen monk hundreds of years ago. He sought to worship and commune with God while doing his duties in the kitchen. And there, he found sweet fellowship with His Lord.These are my examples.
Throughout Scripture, we are encouraged to abide, especially in John 15 and in 1, 2, an 3 John. There are moments where I do well. There are other moments where I am calling out for fellowship. And still other moments where I completely forget that God is here and in control. God forgive my unbelief. Help me to abide in You through the Word, through praise, through prayer, through every moment of every day. Oh, that I might grow closer to You!
Hint of the Day: Kids learn by watching you! Be abiding through praise and adoration, through Bible study, Bible memorization, and talking with others about Christ. The kids will pick it up and join in. Something that really helps me to abide is to visualize Jesus walking with me in the garden, or me sitting at His feet, or me dancing before the throne of God.
Friday, April 6, 2012
Surprise!
"Praise the Lord!
For it is good to sing praises to our God.
For it is pleasant and praise is becoming."
Psalm 147:1
What a surprise! Eighteen years ago today our twins were born. We did not expect twins, had never really thought about having twins, and didn't know we carried twins until the 7th month. Surprise! And what a joyous surprise it was! That surprise came with a lot of work, a lot of insecurity, and a lot of prayer, but also a lot of rewards!
Not all surprises are joyous at the moment. A flood or tornado, a sickness or death, a move or loss of a friend who moved are never a pleasant surprise. But!!! But God is in control, He loves you, has your best in His heart and mind, and we can trust Him. Charles Spurgeon once wrote: "When you can't see God's hand, trust His heart." Do you know the heart of God? When you get to know Him in the good times, then you can trust Him in the surprises!
Praise God in the good times and praise God in the bad times. That's not easy. Okay, it is really hard! But praise brings us into His presence, reminds us of His omipotence, and comforts our hearts. Try it. When you are down, overwhelmed, confused, depressed, or just so-so, praise God. Before long your spirit will lift and you will be able to lift your heart along with your voice and be able to continue your day.
Hint for the Day: Have your kids make a praise book or poster. They can write or draw things to praise God for. Praise is different than thanksgiving, although you can include both. Thanksgiving is for what God does, praise is for Who God is! One way to enter into praise is to recall the names of God. "God, You are my Rock, my Savior, my Anchor, my Hope..." True praise is aobut God, not about us.
For it is good to sing praises to our God.
For it is pleasant and praise is becoming."
Psalm 147:1
What a surprise! Eighteen years ago today our twins were born. We did not expect twins, had never really thought about having twins, and didn't know we carried twins until the 7th month. Surprise! And what a joyous surprise it was! That surprise came with a lot of work, a lot of insecurity, and a lot of prayer, but also a lot of rewards!
Not all surprises are joyous at the moment. A flood or tornado, a sickness or death, a move or loss of a friend who moved are never a pleasant surprise. But!!! But God is in control, He loves you, has your best in His heart and mind, and we can trust Him. Charles Spurgeon once wrote: "When you can't see God's hand, trust His heart." Do you know the heart of God? When you get to know Him in the good times, then you can trust Him in the surprises!
Praise God in the good times and praise God in the bad times. That's not easy. Okay, it is really hard! But praise brings us into His presence, reminds us of His omipotence, and comforts our hearts. Try it. When you are down, overwhelmed, confused, depressed, or just so-so, praise God. Before long your spirit will lift and you will be able to lift your heart along with your voice and be able to continue your day.
Hint for the Day: Have your kids make a praise book or poster. They can write or draw things to praise God for. Praise is different than thanksgiving, although you can include both. Thanksgiving is for what God does, praise is for Who God is! One way to enter into praise is to recall the names of God. "God, You are my Rock, my Savior, my Anchor, my Hope..." True praise is aobut God, not about us.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Contentment
"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth..." Genesis 1:1
What a beautiful land that we live in! From the plains and grasslands of the west to the hills and mountains of South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky, and up into the trees of the Midwest, there is beauty all around us. And to think that all of this is after sin entered into the world and the flood came with catastrophic upheaval of the land masses. What beauty God can make from chaos!!!
As I soaked in the green trees and colorful birds and playful squirrels of the mountains of GA and then drove on through gorgeous vistas, I found myself not wanting to return to the desert of West Texas. I fought the complaints and groanings, but I could just picture myself in lush forests. God did allow me a reminder that even in the midst of beauty is the curse. We romped down a forest path and I ended up with poison sumac. Shots, pills, and cream later, it is finally starting to heal.
As we drew nearer and nearer to home and the grass became browner and browner and the trees smaller and smaller, I became discontent with my life. But my sweet husband and dear Lord both continued to remind of the wonderful treasures we had waiting at home - three boys, in-laws, and friends.
When we drove into the driveway after being gone 3 weeks, I was amazed at the transformation. The roses were blooming, the trees were green, the wildflowers are bursting with color. And, of course, there were the hugs, the laughter, and the fun of being with family. I am content. Thank you, God for all of Your blessings and for Your gentle reminders.
Are you facing a move, a change of some kind, recuperation, or a loss? God is there in the midst of the chaos, the discontentment, and the insecurity. He can bring beauty in a desert or in a barren heart. Look to Him, He will sustain and fill you up.
Hint for the Day: Probably the most important thing that you can teach your children besides God love and Jesus' forgiveness is a love for and understanding of the creation. Creation is the foundation of our faith. Spend time in nature with the kids. Point our birds and animals to them. Have them draw in nature journals. Take time to smell the roses and learn about thorns. Let them romp and play and roll in the grass. Computers and tv and games have their place when the kids are older, a rich appreciation and memories of nature when they are young will teach them a grateful heart, to connect with the Creator, and to rest in body and soul.
What a beautiful land that we live in! From the plains and grasslands of the west to the hills and mountains of South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky, and up into the trees of the Midwest, there is beauty all around us. And to think that all of this is after sin entered into the world and the flood came with catastrophic upheaval of the land masses. What beauty God can make from chaos!!!
As I soaked in the green trees and colorful birds and playful squirrels of the mountains of GA and then drove on through gorgeous vistas, I found myself not wanting to return to the desert of West Texas. I fought the complaints and groanings, but I could just picture myself in lush forests. God did allow me a reminder that even in the midst of beauty is the curse. We romped down a forest path and I ended up with poison sumac. Shots, pills, and cream later, it is finally starting to heal.
As we drew nearer and nearer to home and the grass became browner and browner and the trees smaller and smaller, I became discontent with my life. But my sweet husband and dear Lord both continued to remind of the wonderful treasures we had waiting at home - three boys, in-laws, and friends.
When we drove into the driveway after being gone 3 weeks, I was amazed at the transformation. The roses were blooming, the trees were green, the wildflowers are bursting with color. And, of course, there were the hugs, the laughter, and the fun of being with family. I am content. Thank you, God for all of Your blessings and for Your gentle reminders.
Are you facing a move, a change of some kind, recuperation, or a loss? God is there in the midst of the chaos, the discontentment, and the insecurity. He can bring beauty in a desert or in a barren heart. Look to Him, He will sustain and fill you up.
Hint for the Day: Probably the most important thing that you can teach your children besides God love and Jesus' forgiveness is a love for and understanding of the creation. Creation is the foundation of our faith. Spend time in nature with the kids. Point our birds and animals to them. Have them draw in nature journals. Take time to smell the roses and learn about thorns. Let them romp and play and roll in the grass. Computers and tv and games have their place when the kids are older, a rich appreciation and memories of nature when they are young will teach them a grateful heart, to connect with the Creator, and to rest in body and soul.
Friday, March 30, 2012
God's Supply
"And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:19
We raise our hands in praise today for God's goodness. We were short of paying for the books that we had printed for this year's shows. Our tax return covered a huge portion, but we were short by $1000. We decided not to tell anyone else, but to ask and wait upon the Lord. George Mueller was our example as he prayed and waited upon God to feed his orphans in England. (If you haven't read his biography, you should. It is amazing.) Anyway, the deadline was approaching - the end of March. We stopped between shows in GA at Tracy's office there. His two bosses also met that week. These two men of God had decided a week before to give Tracy mileage money from Texas to GA! It amounted to just what we needed! Thank you sweet friends!
God also filled me up with friendship as I got to visit with two amazing women! They are my husband's bosses' wives and we met 20 years ago at seminary, but we live in three different places. I walked away rejoicing at my God's provision.
Hint of the day: Look to God for your needs. He cares for you. He has provided cowboy boots and groceries, a computer and a car. Take your needs to God and then remember to praise Him and thank Him for His goodness. We keep a journal of God's provision in our lives, so that we don't forget His goodness. Don't forget to point out to your kids God's provision. That will build their trust in Him.
We raise our hands in praise today for God's goodness. We were short of paying for the books that we had printed for this year's shows. Our tax return covered a huge portion, but we were short by $1000. We decided not to tell anyone else, but to ask and wait upon the Lord. George Mueller was our example as he prayed and waited upon God to feed his orphans in England. (If you haven't read his biography, you should. It is amazing.) Anyway, the deadline was approaching - the end of March. We stopped between shows in GA at Tracy's office there. His two bosses also met that week. These two men of God had decided a week before to give Tracy mileage money from Texas to GA! It amounted to just what we needed! Thank you sweet friends!
God also filled me up with friendship as I got to visit with two amazing women! They are my husband's bosses' wives and we met 20 years ago at seminary, but we live in three different places. I walked away rejoicing at my God's provision.
Hint of the day: Look to God for your needs. He cares for you. He has provided cowboy boots and groceries, a computer and a car. Take your needs to God and then remember to praise Him and thank Him for His goodness. We keep a journal of God's provision in our lives, so that we don't forget His goodness. Don't forget to point out to your kids God's provision. That will build their trust in Him.
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