wisdom

Dan Miller in his book No More Dreaded Mondays tells a delightful story about a farmer  in a village in India who had the misfortune of owing a large sum of money to the village moneylender. The old and ugly moneylender fancied the farmer’s beautiful daughter, so he proposed a bargain. He would forgive the farmer’s debt if he could marry the farmer’s daughter.

     Both the farmer and his daughter were horrified by the proposal, but the cunning moneylender suggested that they let providence decide the matter. He told them that he would put a black pebble and a white pebble into an empty money bag. The girl would have to reach in and pick one pebble from the bag. If she picked the black pebble, she would become his wife and her father’s debt would be forgiven. If she picked the white pebble, she need not marry him and her father’s debt would still be forgiven. If she refused to pick a pebble, her father would be thrown into jail until the debt was paid.

     They were standing on a pebble-strewn path in the farmer’s field. As they talked, the moneylender bent over to pick up two pebbles. The sharp-eyed girl noticed that he had picked up two black pebbles and put them into the bag. He then asked the girl to pick a pebble. Now, imagine that you were the girl standing in the field. What would you have done? If you had to advise her, what would you have told her?

     Careful analysis would produce three possibilities: (1) the girl could refuse to take a pebble--but her father would then be thrown in jail. (2) The girl could pick a black pebble and sacrifice herself in order to save her father from debt and imprisonment. Or (3) the girl could pull out both black pebbles in the bag, expose the moneylender as a cheat, and likely incite his immediate revenge.

     Here is what the girl did:

     She put her hand into the money bag and drew out a pebble. Without looking at it, she fumbled and let it fall onto the pebble-strewn path, where it immediately became lost among all the other pebbles. “Oh, how clumsy of me,” she said. “But never mind, if you look into the bag for the one that is left, you will be able to tell which pebble I picked.” Since the remaining pebble was black, it would have to be assumed that she had picked the white one. And since the moneylender dared not admit his dishonesty, the girl would have changed what seemed an impossible situation into an extremely advantageous one.

     I read that story and think to myself, "Why didn't I think of that?"  The ability to make good decisions is what the Bible refers to as "wisdom", and when we face a difficult decision in life, we all desire wisdom.  Solomon wrote, "Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.  She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her." (Prov. 3:13-15)

     James Draper has said, "Wisdom is the skill to live in a way that is pleasing to God.  It is not simply information in our heads.  It is information that we put to use -- where we live, where we work, and where we play."

     Be assured that godly wisdom is not something that you will stumble into by accident.  It's a pursuit.  It's a search. It requires an attitude that says, "I want to learn from God how to live, and I want to apply those principles to my life."  James assures us, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him." (James 1:5)

     "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom!" (Proverbs 4:7)

-alan smith

fence

There was an incredibly large group of people assembled. On one side of the group stood Jesus. On the other side of the group stood Satan. Separating them, running through the group was a fence.

The scene set, both Jesus and Satan began calling to the people in the group.  One by one, each having made up his or her mind, and each went to either Jesus or Satan.

This kept going until eventually, every person in the large group had gathered in a group around either Jesus or Satan.  Except one man.  This man joined neither group. He climbed on the fence that was there and just sat down on it. Then Jesus and his people left and disappeared. So, too, did Satan and his people.

And the man on the fence sat alone.

As this man sat there, Satan came back, and appeared to be looking for something that he'd lost. The man said, "Have you lost something?" Satan looked straight at him and replied, "No, there you are. Come with me."

"But," said the man, "I sat on the fence. I didn't chose either you or Him.

"You don't understand." said Satan. "I own the fence."

"How  long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow  him; but if Baal is God, follow  him...” (1 Kings 18:21)

"Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)

"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." (Matthew 6:24)

source

Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. John 1:17. 

Your strength and growth in grace come only from one source. If when you are tempted and tried you stand bravely for the right, victory is yours. You are one step nearer to perfection of Christian character. A holy light from heaven fills the chambers of your soul, and you are surrounded by a pure, fragrant atmosphere.

It is our privilege to stand with the light of heaven upon us. It was thus that Enoch walked with God. It was no easier for Enoch to live a righteous life than it is for us at the present time. The world in his time was no more favorable to growth in grace and holiness than it is now.

It was by prayer and communion with God that Enoch was enabled to escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. We are living in the perils of the last days, and we must receive our strength from the same source. We must walk with God. A separation from the world is required of us, for we cannot remain free from its pollution unless we follow the example of the faithful Enoch....

How many there are as weak as water who might have a never-failing source of strength. Heaven is ready to impart to us, that we may be mighty in God, and attain to the full stature of men and women in Christ Jesus. What increase of spiritual power have you gained during the last year? Who among us have gained one precious attainment after another, until envy, pride, malice, jealousy, and selfishness have been swept away, and only the graces of the Spirit remain—meekness, forbearance, gentleness, charity? God will help us if we take hold of the help He has provided. 

No other creature that God has made is capable of such improvement, such refinement, such nobility as man.... Man cannot conceive what he may be and what he may become. Through the grace of Christ he is capable of constant mental progress. Let the light of truth shine into his mind and the love of God be shed abroad in his heart and he may, through the grace Christ has died to impart to him, be a man of power—a child of earth but an heir of immortality. 

feasting

nd now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. Acts 20:32. 

The great and essential knowledge is the knowledge of God and His Word.... There should be a daily increasing of spiritual understanding; and the Christian will grow in grace, just in proportion as he depends upon and appreciates the teaching of the Word of God, and habituates himself to meditate upon divine things.

In giving us the privilege of studying His Word, the Lord has set before us a rich banquet. Many are the benefits derived from feasting on His Word, which is represented by Him as His flesh and blood, His spirit and life. By partaking of this Word our spiritual strength is increased; we grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth. Habits of self-control are formed and strengthened. The infirmities of childhood—fretfulness, willfulness, selfishness, hasty words, passionate acts—disappear, and in their place are developed the graces of Christian manhood and womanhood. 

The Lord, in His great mercy, has revealed to us in the Scriptures the rules of holy living.... 

He has inspired holy men to record, for our benefit, instruction concerning the dangers that beset the path, and how to escape them. Those who obey His injunction to search the Scriptures will not be ignorant of these things. Amid the perils of the last days, every member of the church should understand the reasons of his hope and faith—reasons which are not difficult of comprehension. There is enough to occupy the mind, if we would grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Whenever the people of God are growing in grace, they will be constantly obtaining a clear understanding of His Word. They will discern new light and beauty in its sacred truths. This has been true in the history of the church in all ages, and thus it will continue to the end.

-ellen white

f a t

"I sought for a man among them who would build up a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one." (Ezekiel 22:30)

Whenever God has a job to do and a gap to be filled, he always starts by choosing and calling an individual. While men use methods, God's methods are men and women.

To start a nation to use as his special witness on earth, God chose and called Abraham to be the father of ancient Israel. When God wanted to lead this young nation out of slavery in Egypt, he chose and called Moses. And so it was with Joseph, Samuel, Esther, David, John the Baptist, Mary, Peter, Paul and scores of other lesser known individuals.

God today is still urgently looking for people who are willing to stand in the gap to help save lost souls from a lost and hopeless eternity and to do his work here on earth. The kind of people God is looking for, chooses, and calls are F - A - T people. That is: Faithful... Available... Teachable...

F - Faithful

You don't have to be a Peter, Paul or a John the Baptist for God to use. Think of the twelve disciples. What a motley crew - rugged fishermen, a despised tax gatherer and the like - they were. God uses other ordinary people like them too, people who daily trust their life and way to God and, with his help, seek to serve and obey him faithfully in all the circumstances of life.

A - Available

Years ago I told God that I was too afraid to be a witness for him and that I was quitting. "However, God," I prayed, "if you want to use me to share the gospel with others, I'm available, but you'll have to do it through me because I'm too scared."  The result?  Today God is using our small organizations to reach thousands around the world with the gospel and Christian message every day. This is because I made - and make myself available every day - for God to use. He will in some way do the same for you if you daily make yourself available to him to use.

T - Teachable

One reason God used the disciples was, not only because they were faithful and available, but also because they were teachable. Naturally they spent three years with the Master Teacher par Excellence and had a lot to learn about the Christian way, especially because it was brand new to them and everyone else in their day.

We also need to be teachable and learn God's ways more clearly by studying and knowing what his Word, the Bible, teaches and applying the principles found therein in our everyday living.

So, if you want God to use you to be a part of what he is doing in your world today, I urge you to pray and tell God you are available and renew that prayer and commitment every day.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, I'm available again today. Help me to be faithful and teachable to learn your ways more clearly, and please use me to be as Jesus in some way to every life I touch today.  Gratefully, in Jesus' Name. Amen."

-dick innes

attitude

"Grumble, grumble…if I ever… I'll never… did you hear what he/she said or did? I'll never forgive… I'll never speak… They will never get invited to my….." You've probably met folks with a bad case of the "Grumbles". It seems that no matter what happens they are never happy and sometimes they seem to take delight in making others unhappy. There has to be an answer for this… doesn't there?

Is it possible to change your attitude, I mean really change it? I've had some folks with fairly nasty dispositions tell me, "That's just the way I am and I can't change it." Is that true? A reader of my writings, "Reg," shared Job9:27 with me, where Job says: "I changed my expression and smiled" (NIV) How can this be true?  I believe it's because no matter what happens God is still in control, and if I can remember that, I CAN change my expression and smile!

Granted I never said it would be an easy thing to do, but I believe it is possible. You remember the old saying, "Garbage in, garbage out". In other words, what you put into your life, your heart, will most likely be the same sort of thing that comes out of your life and heart. It affects relationships to friends; it affects families; it affects our relationship to God.

David voices a conscious decision in Psalms 118:24 "This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it." The question for each of us, to consider is, "What are you putting into your life and heart?

I don't know about you, but I really want to have a good attitude. I really want to have good relationships with my friends, family and my God. Because of that, I try really hard to put only the best stuff into my life. I control what television programs I watch, I control what movies I go to, I control what books I read, I control the type of music to which I listen, I control who I associate with. You see, each of us is in control of our lives; it's just that sometimes we hand control of it over to others. Those who program our television, movies, music, etc. really don't care about you, your attitude or your soul. They won't watch out for you, you have to take charge of your own life and decide whether or not you will rejoice in the day or not. Whether you will change you’re attitude and smile or not.

You see, I know what kind of person I want to be and what kind of life I want to live. I'm not always successful, but I'm more successful than if I had never tried. How about it, are you willing to begin to fight the "good" fight that changes your life and relationships? Why not join me in the fight?

-russ lawson

lost

"Then [King] Agrippa said to Paul, 'Almost you persuade me to be a Christian.'"  (Acts 26:28)

Years ago Walter took his friend Arthur to see some land in open country where cattle were idly grazing. Walter explained about his dream for developing this area. He told his friend that in time the area would be surrounded by many restaurants, hotels and convention centers. He told Arthur that his plan would take all of his money and he needed others to develop the surrounding area. He wanted his friend to have the first opportunity to buy into this project.

 

But Arthur thought to himself, "Who in the world is going to drive twenty-five miles for this crazy project?"   He said to Walter that he would think about it and decide later on.

"Later on will be too late," Walter cautioned Arthur. "You'd better move on it right now."

And so Art Linkletter turned down the opportunity to buy up all the land that surrounded what was to become Disneyland. His friend Walt Disney tried to talk him into it. But Art thought he was crazy.

Life's like that. King Agrippa had the opportunity to accept Christ and become a Christian. He turned it down. Judas had one of the greatest opportunities in all history to become a follower of Jesus. Instead he betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Unbelievable! The two thieves who were crucified with Jesus also had the opportunity to receive the gift of eternal life. One accepted. The other didn't.

Life offers all of us many opportunities. We all have the opportunity to become followers of Jesus and to be a part of what God is doing in the world today. That choice is ours. Today. As God's Word says, "Now is the accepted time …now is the day of salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:2)

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, when opportunities from you come knocking on my door, no matter how quiet they are, please give me an ear to hear, a listening heart to hear what you are saying, and the wisdom to say, 'Yes,' to you and your call. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

-dick innes 

surprise

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD , "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.    Jeremiah 29:11

Do you like surprises? Some do, some don't. My husband, not too much. He likes a plan and knowing what comes next. When he had one of the big mile-marker birthdays, I gave him a big surprise party and that's how I found out. 

Several years ago I heard a message by Lloyd Ogilvie, who later became chaplain of the United States Senate. It was about a surprise party he had been given. At first, he was upset, because he viewed it as one more interruption in his plans for that day.

Later, after he'd thought about it, he realized that's what life is: a series of interruptions. Kind of like God saying, "Surprise!" 

We make plans, God laughs. Life goes on, with our schedules being continuously interrupted. All the while, Jehovah "Surprise" has unexpected plans for us, plans for our good.

So next time things don't go quite the way I'd planned and expected, perhaps if I listen I will hear God's voice whispering, "Surprise!!"

-sally kennedy

akhwari

The 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi are fast approaching. The athletes are excited. The world is excited.

 

In the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico, John Stephen Ahkwari of Tanzania was excited. He was about to run the marathon with runners from around the world.

 

The starter’s pistol fired and the race began. A little over 2 hours later, the first runner crossed the finish line. Other runners finished the race shortly afterwards, but John was not among them. Over an hour after the winner had crossed the finish line, with only a few spectators remaining in the stands, John Stephen Ahkwari finally entered the stadium.

 

Bandaged and bloody, John finally crossed the finish line. Bud Greenspan, the renown sports reporter, asked John why he didn't just quit. He answered, "My country did not send me 5000 miles to Mexico City to start the race. They sent me here to finish."

John Stephen Akhwari did not receive a prize or a medal, but he did endure. He didn't just start the race, he finished it. God did not call us just to start the Christian race, he called us to finish it!

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Tim 4:7)

"But this one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13-14)

 

little

"Calling the Twelve to him, He sent them out two by two" (Mark 6:7).

Bridge builder, Charles Eliet, had a contract to build a suspension bridge across the Niagara River. One of the first problems he faced was how to stretch his first cable across the wide expanse of raging waters. If a boat tried to cross the river it would be swept over the falls. Eliet thought of a simple idea. If a kite could be flown to the opposite bank using a light cord, a stronger cord could be attached and pulled across, then a stronger cord pulled across and so on until a cable could be attached and drawn across.

Eliet called for a kite flying contest and a young man named Homan Walsh succeeded on his second attempt. Charles Eliet's simple plan worked and the bridge was built.

In life some of us often feel we don't have a very important role to play. What we do seems so insignificant. It isn't so. Every Christian has an important part to play. It all adds up in the numerous "little things" we are called to do every day.

Jesus started spreading the gospel to the whole world by simply sending his disciples out two by two! So, never underestimate the importance of what God has called you to do. The important thing is to keep at it - day by day!

? failure

Harry Houdini's name is one that is recognized by almost everyone.  His claim to fame was that he was a magician and an excellent escape artist.  He would free himself from handcuffs, chains, ropes and straitjackets, often while hanging from a rope or suspended in water.  He escaped from coffins, riveted boilers and canvas bags.  Houdini was even locked inside a high security prison but, of course, Houdini always got out.

But then on October 24, 1926, death laid its hands on Harry Houdini and he would never escape.  Houdini had told his wife, Bess, prior to his death, "If there is any way out. I will find it. If there is any way out, I will find you and I will make contact with you on the anniversary of my death."

For ten years after Houdini's death, his wife tried to make contact with him.  Then, she finally acknowledged, "Houdini did not come through.  My last hope is gone. I do not believe that Houdini can come back to me, or to anyone...The Houdini Shrine has burned for ten years. I now, reverently... turn out the light. It is finished. Good night, Harry!"

Bess Houdini was so right, and yet she was so wrong.  She was right to admit what people have been forced to admit for centuries -- we do not have the power to conquer death.  Not even the famous Harry Houdini.  Eventually death will win the battle over each and every one of us, and there is no escape.

But Bess Houdini was oh so wrong when she said, "My last hope is gone."  For while none of us can escape death, we can find our hope in the one who overcame death.  Only one man has come back from the grave alive.  Only one man offers us hope of life beyond the grave.  His name is Jesus.

 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you." (I Peter 1:3-4)

Turn the light back on.  

It isn't finished at all.......it's only just beginning!

-ian smith

!home

A pastor had been on a long flight between conferences. The first warning of the approaching problems came when the sign on the airplane flashed on: Fasten Your Seat Belts. Then, after a while, a calm voice said, "We will not be serving the beverages at this time as we are expecting a little turbulence. Please be sure your seat belt is fastened."

As the pastor looked around the aircraft, it became obvious that many of the passengers were becoming apprehensive. Later, the voice on the intercom said, "We are so sorry that we are unable to serve the meal at this time. The turbulence is still ahead of us."

And then the storm broke... The ominous cracks of thunder could be heard even above the roar of the engines. Lightning lit up the darkening skies, and within moments, that great plane was like a cork tossed around on a celestial ocean. One moment the airplane was lifted on terrific currents of air; the next, it dropped as if it were about to crash.

The pastor confessed that he shared the discomfort and fear of those around him. He said, "As I looked around the plane, I could see that nearly all the passengers were upset and alarmed. Some were praying. The future seemed ominous and many were wondering if they would make it through the storm.

Then, I suddenly saw a little girl. Apparently the storm meant nothing to her. She had tucked her feet beneath her as she sat on her seat; she was reading a book and everything within her small world was calm and orderly.

Sometimes she closed her eyes, then she would read again; then she would straighten her legs, but worry and fear were not in her world. When the plane was being buffeted by the terrible storm; when it lurched this way and that, as it rose and fell with frightening severity; when all the adults were scared half to death, that marvelous child was completely composed and unafraid." The minister could hardly believe his eyes.

It was not surprising therefore, that when the plane finally reached its destination and all the passengers were hurrying to disembark, our pastor lingered to speak to the girl whom he had watched for such a long time. Having commented about the storm and the behavior of the plane, he asked why she had not been afraid.

The child replied, "Cause my Daddy's the pilot, and he's taking me home."

There are many kinds of storms that buffet us. Physical, mental, financial, domestic, and many other storms can easily and quickly darken our skies and throw our plane into apparently uncontrollable movement. We have all known such times, and let us be honest and confess, it is much easier to be at rest when our feet are on the ground than when we are being tossed about a darkened sky.

Stop worrying!  Remember: Our Father is the Pilot. He is in control and taking us home. 

-author unknown

same

One thing is the same in any language, a smile. Much can be communicated by a smile: a greeting, acceptance, thanks, gratitude.

Tears, also, are the same in any language. Tears can express sorrow and sadness, grief, loss, or pain. Even if you don't speak the same word language, there's a communication shared by tears.

The best thing that's the same in any language is the love of God. God's love transcends any language barrier. And it is the greatest of all love, enduring and lasting forever until the end of time and beyond.

When he was very old, the disciple John wrote for us to read in 2009 these words, 'Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. (1 John 3:18)  

Yes, we can share smiles, even tears, and the very best of all is to share love, the love of our amazing, awesome, mighty, and loving God.

Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.
Colossians 3:14

roots

The roots on our "eyeball tree", as my granddaughter used to call the elephant ear philodendron plant in our garden, continually produces strong fibrous shoots. They are thin and flexible, so when they get long enough to reach down into the decking, I wrap them around the trunk to prevent their rooting in the earth underneath the wood deck.  

Aren't we like those roots? Springing up and reaching out, waving in the breeze, always turning toward the sun. Isn't God always there, gently turning us downward so our roots can be firmly and deeply in Him?  He is continuously and gently doing this, even though it is barely noticeable.   

It's necessary, though, in order to steady the large, heavy top growth of the plant - the visible part. Then when the storms come, we will not topple, but stand firm, rooted deeply in Him.

Thank you, Lord, for faithfully taking care of rooting us, even though we are not always aware of it.