Gaining Godly Wisdom

In the Old Testament, the book of Proverbs gives guidance on how to gain godly wisdom. And with wisdom come knowledge and understanding given to us by God.

My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands
within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding—indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it
as for hidden treasure . . .

Proverbs 2:1-4 (NIV)

There are three “ifs” to gaining wisdom, understanding, and knowledge in the above verses.

• If we accept God’s words, store His commands within our hearts, listen as He speaks, and apply our hearts to understanding

• If we cry out and pray for insight

• If we are persistent to search for wisdom, knowledge, and understanding as the treasures they are

If we do these things as we read in verses 1 through 4, verses 5 and 6 state:

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.

According to Proverbs when we walk in wisdom, we accept God’s commands (10:8); store up knowledge (10:14); are humble (11:2); are open to advice from others (12:15); overlook insults (12:16); our words bring healing (12:18); we act with knowledge (13:16); are cautious and avoid evil (14:16); control our anger (14:29); listen to correction (15:32); find goodness (16:20); and we are always learning (18:15). I’m sure I missed several others.

In the New Testament we find this verse that confirms God gives wisdom.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God,
who gives generously to all without finding fault,
and it will be given to you.

James 1:5 (NIV)

I could always use more godly wisdom, along with knowledge and understanding, and would love others to know me for the above attributes found in Proverbs. How about you? Please add other qualities of wisdom in the comments below.

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Photo by Todd Steitle - Unsplash

What is Your Word for 2020?

Last year’s New Year’s resolutions revolved around a healthier lifestyle for me. I focused on weight loss, more steps per day, increased sleep time, and stress reduction. I improved in each area but only reached my weight loss goal. I plan to continue to work on the other healthy habits in 2020.

Although stress reduction last year included laughing with friends, in last week’s blog I mentioned that my resolution for 2020 was to laugh more. I believe laughter is a great way to unwind throughout the day.

In the past month, I’ve read several blog posts encouraging readers to select a theme word or phrase as an alternative to a New Year’s resolution. Some writers also suggest a scripture verse for the year. A great idea. I’d like to share my word and verse with you.

My word is “trust.” I choose for 2020 to trust God more and the promises His Word holds for me. In Him to daily provide, guide, and protect me. To trust He will move on my behalf in His time and His way, as I wait on His will to be carried out in my life.

Why did I choose this word? According to Dictionary.com, trust means: to have confidence in; rely or depend on. Sometimes I feel that I need to be in control and try to fix things on my own, but I know that I need to rely upon God. I tend to be a worrier. But God’s Word tells me not to worry.

Philippians 4:6 (NLT) is my verse for 2020.

Don’t worry about anything; instead,
pray about everything.
Tell God what you need,
and thank him for all he has done.

Verse 7 tells us the benefit of trusting God. You will experience God’s peace.

When I’m caught up in a frenzy, filled with anxiety, or overwhelmed with my to-do-list, family dynamics, activities, travel, relationships, or writing, peace is a welcomed blessing. God knows what I need, and His peace calms the craziness in my life. I need His peace daily, therefore, I must trust Him in all things.

What is your Word for 2020? Please share in the comments below.

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Photo by Aaron Burden - Unsplash

Have a Good Laugh

Last year I came across an article on the health benefits of laughter. Advantages cited included lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormone levels, improves cardiac health, and my personal favorite—works your abs. Yes! Let’s get laughing!

I worked with civil engineers. Not that engineers aren’t fun or funny, but they are a serious bunch for the most part. There were times this introverted gal felt stretched to the max trying to be the outgoing one in the group.

One Monday morning, at a departmental staff meeting, the question was asked, “How was your weekend?” Everyone around the table gave a response. “Okay.” “Didn’t do much.” “Fine.” All very monotone and boring. I spoke last. I nearly jumped out of my chair, raised my arms into the air, and said, “Fantastic! I had a great weekend.” A couple of the engineers at the table nearly fell out of their chairs because of my exuberance. Rare for me to get that excited, but their dullness made me want to go back home and sleep. We needed a spark.

There’s one gentleman I worked with who was not an engineer. He was an extrovert. He kept us on our toes and worked our abs. A year ago, Stan (not his real name) posted on the company’s Intranet Out of Office board that he and his supervisor were traveling on a karaoke tour. This board is available to the entire company—almost 200 employees. I couldn’t let this opportunity pass without finding out more. I sent Stan an email and asked if the two men were slacking off on company time. He soon responded with, “Hold on. The boss is on stage singing now. I’ll get back to you later.” Instead of doing my work, I was laughing. My response, “Take a video. I want to see this.”

He didn’t send me a video on that day, but a few days later, his boss forwarded a video to me that Stan sent him. Stan wearing a fish head costume talking about feeling a little fishy. The boss’s response to Stan’s humor, “He’s goofier than my teenaged son.” He may have been goofy, but his humor was beneficial to my health.

The benefits of laughter are nothing new. Proverbs 17:22 states, “A joyful heart is good medicine…” (ESV) and “Being cheerful keeps you healthy…” (GNB).

Sounds like a great New Year’s resolution. Take time to laugh every day!

If you have a funny story you’d like to share, please do so in the comments below.

Christmas Traditions and Memories

My youngest grandson’s teacher asked grandparents to write a letter to her class and describe our family’s Christmas traditions when we were young. I shared much of this post in my letter. If I could relive one day from childhood, I’d choose this memory of our family together on Christmas Day.

Mom and Dad loaded my two older brothers, younger sister, and me into their Ford station wagon after we opened our gifts at home. We traveled across town to my grandparents’ house. There were eight adults and nine children together in a crowded living room. We ate a big dinner of ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, fruit salad, and my grandmother’s pumpkin pie and crumb cake. My grandmother was a good cook. She made mincemeat pies with apples, meat, and raisins, but I stuck up my nose at those.

When I was five, I wanted to be near my great-grandmother and hold her hand. She always sat in her favorite chair in the kitchen where she could watch everyone there and everyone in the living room too. In her hand she always held an embroidered hankie edged with lace. When she died, my grandmother gave me one of great-grandma’s hankies to remember her.

My cousin and I sat together in this big old chair every year. I don’t remember who got the honor of sitting in that chair once we grew too big and no longer fit in it together.

I looked forward to something my grandfather did for us. He emptied walnut shells, put coins inside, and glued the shells back together. He then hung them on a small tree. They looked like little ornaments. How he cracked them open without destroying them I’ll never know. After we ate our dinner on Christmas Day, he gave us permission to pick a walnut from the tree to find out what it held. We received pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters. Thought we were rich!

Grandpa then handed out each gift, one at a time, and we opened it before he handed out the next gift. He wanted to make sure everyone saw what we received and heard us tell the gift-giver, “Thank you.”

So much fun! I enjoyed being together with my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins to celebrate Christmas as a family. 

Merry Christmas, everyone! I hope you and your families share special memories for years to come.

Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2: 10-11, NKJV

What are your favorite childhood memories of Christmas?

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Photo by Ben White - Unsplash