Wisdom Wednesday

⁹ Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. ¹⁰  Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. ¹¹ Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. ¹²  Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

~Romans 12:9-12

Love. Four simple letters strung together into one little word. However, everything rests upon this simple principle. When the Pharisees tried to trick Jesus by asking him what was the greatest commandment, how did Jesus answer? Love the Lord your God first and love your neighbor second. Simple as that. Everything else will fall into place because you love your God and you love people. 

I wish I had some grand message to throw out to you today, but I don't. I think that this beautiful verse speaks volumes for itself. 

If you participate in She Reads Truth, you will know that the latest series is about prayer- and the power that comes through prayer.

I adore verse 12. What a message! Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. What beautiful truth.

Hope. That's another four letter word that should be as simple as its construction. But at times, it's hard to hope. Especially when life knocks you down to your knees. But then again, when you are knocked down to your knees, you're in a much better position to pray. Huh. Funny how that happens. At times when my hope was lost, I could always count on one thing- love. Love from my Heavenly Father. Knowing that He has me in His hands because I am His child. The more I focused on that, the more hope abounded.

The picture above shows my Love painting that I have up in my office. I have talked about it before, but if you don't know, I keep it in my sight to help remind me. Remind me not only to show love to the people I encounter at work every day, but also to remind me of a love that knows no end. A love that is everlasting. And that my friends is a good thing to be reminded of constantly.

I'm thinking about adopting these four verses as my motto for my life. I think it sums things up pretty nicely!

Wisdom Wednesday

It's been a minute since I have posted a Wisdom Wednesday for you! But I thought today I would share with you a special virtual meeting of some godly women that has really taken off.

Via She Read Truth

A few bloggers that I follow have started a small Bible Study and have invited all of their fellow sisters in Christ to follow along with them. Right now they are doing the study Soul Detox and I have been joining in along with them. It's amazing how things as simple as a blog can turn out to be a community full of people that love the Lord and want to share Him with their virtual friends. To be there to encourage other ladies that span across this great nation. I encourage you to join in with us and dive into the Word and seek Him together. Check out the website for more details on the Bible Study, where to get it, etc. You can follow this movement on Twitter, Instagram, or via the website/blog itself! It's a very simple and a quick study to do and I generally do it first thing with my morning coffee. Here is a sampling of the material. It consists of a quick devotional, then has a few verses for you to read and apply back to the devotional.

I have the Bible App that this study runs off of, so I do it straight off of my phone. Man, technology is great! I have been keeping account of my daily studies in my daily planner. I briefly answer the questions and then choose a Bible Verse that has meaning to me and write that down as well.

It's a great way to start the day and I think it would be wonderful if you joined in as well!

Taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man that trusts in Him. Psalm 34:8

Wisdom Wednesday

You Can Know the Christ of Christmas

A Message by Billy Graham

Once again the world celebrates Christmas in the midst of crisis. Millions are not certain they will survive to see another Christmas. In many parts of the world, Christmas carolers will stand outside their neighbors’ doors and sing “Silent Night! Holy Night!” Everyone is busily preparing for the holiday season.

Yet, in the midst of this preparation, millions have missed the real meaning of Christmas.

In the midst of the Christmas rush, Christ is often left out as we forget that it is actually His birthday we are celebrating. The precise meaning of that first Christmas is clear: God came to earth in human form.

Some 2,000 years ago, the angel revealed to the wondering and trembling shepherds the glorious news that there was born that day “in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). The angel had already announced to Joseph the character of Christ’s Saviorhood: “You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

Israel had looked for One who would deliver them from the bondage of Rome and restore the nation to an even greater glory and prosperity than was enjoyed in the days of King David. They never dreamed that this little Babe in Bethlehem’s manger was the anointed One, the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Only a few devout people living in close communion with God, such as the aged Simeon, saw the spiritual significance of Christ’s birth. Looking into the face of the holy Babe, Simeon saw One who had come to be “a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of [God’s] people Israel” (Luke 2:32).

There is a story that comes to us out of the World War II years in England. A good mother tried daily to keep the memory of her young son’s father fresh in the boy’s mind. Often this mother would take the lad into the library of their home, and there they would stand and gaze at the beautiful portrait of his father. One day the young boy looked long and wistfully at his father’s picture and said to his mother, “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Father could just step down out of the frame?”

For long centuries the children of God had walked in the light of the lawgiver and of the prophets, but all the while they had looked up to Heaven and longed to have God step down “out of the frame.” In Bethlehem 2,000 years ago, that is just what God did. He became bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh and “dwelt among us.” The Christmas message is this: “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself” (2 Corinthians 5:19).

But because people were blind to their sins, they saw no beauty in Christ that they should desire Him. They crucified the Christ who yearned to save them from their sins and from the tragic consequences that inevitably followed their rejection of God’s anointed.

Human nature has not changed. We like the excitement and thrill of Christmas, but we reject the true meaning of Christ’s birthday.

The world’s primary need today is the Savior—salvation from sin. Failure to recognize this fact and receive God’s remedy for sin is the reason mankind has failed to prevent recurring wars and revolutions in the world. The best schemes and endeavors of people come to naught because within their hearts is lust for position, power and possessions.

Jesus Christ said, “Out of the heart … proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness” (Mark 7:21-22). Until these things are rooted out, the world in a moral and a spiritual sense will go backward rather than forward.

Many have preached about the Sermon on the Mount as though that in itself is a sufficient dynamic to bring a new world order of peace and goodwill among men. All the religions of the world say, “Do good; do good,” but they do not give us the power to do good. One of the failures of many church leaders is their refusal to believe that our deepest problem is sin. We have joined hands with the idealists of the world in trying to bring about social reform without first dealing with the root of the problem, which is sin.

Many people have failed to see that the human will is sin-bound, egotistical and in rebellion against the will of God. We think that in some particular “ism” we hold the secret to universal peace and prosperity. All religions and ideologies outside God’s special revelation in the Bible have this in common: They are disguised forms of self-redemption and Christ rejection.

Without God we cannot put the world right because we cannot put ourselves right. It is beyond us to put away the sin in our own hearts. We cannot save ourselves, let alone the whole world. Sin permeates all that we think, feel and do; like a shadow, sin pursues us wherever we go. It is part and parcel of our being; we cannot eradicate it.

The evils that curse the world are the consequences of hearts deceived by the devil and separated from God. Thousands of human schemes for social and political improvement will ultimately fail because they do not deal with a person’s basic disease. They change the circumstances, but they leave the person untouched. They alter the surroundings, but they have no power to transform the character. If mankind is to be saved in this terrible hour of history, if the world is to be transformed, then salvation must come from a source outside ourselves.

Christmas emphasizes the glorious truth that salvation is provided apart from us, that into this sin-cursed world came One whose supreme mission is to save sinners.

We cannot save ourselves because we cannot deliver ourselves from the guilt, the power and the consequences of sin. Those in rebellion against God have no terms of peace to offer that are acceptable to God. Only God Himself can make peace, and this He has done through the atoning sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ. Through the merits of Christ’s life and death, we are offered full and free forgiveness.

Christmas tells us what it cost God to save the world: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16). Christ is God’s great Christmas Gift to the world: “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15). Christ does for us what no other has been able to do: He removes our guilt and reconciles us to God. He raises us from the death of sin to the life of righteousness. He reconciles us to life and to our fellow man. He implants within us new hopes, new aims, new enthusiasms. He regenerates our affections, our desires and our energies, and strengthens our wills.

Beautiful, ethical precepts cannot save us, but Christ can. When Christ comes into a life, He revolutionizes it so that the person becomes a “new creation.” This, and this alone, is our hope.

This hope that was given to those shepherds on that first Christmas morning is available only to those who believe. To know the pardon, joy, peace and power that come through Christ, we must personally receive Christ by faith. Faith must be real if our hearts are to be changed. Mere intellectual assent is not enough. Where faith is genuine, its influence is powerful and revolutionary. This Christmas many people believe that Jesus is the Son of God, without any change happening in their lives. They have never repented and believed. What an astounding change would take place if the millions who profess to be Christians possessed genuine faith.

When we have genuine faith in Christ, a change takes place. We will have a new kind of relationship with our families, our employers, our employees and even our enemies.

Many people ask, “Why doesn’t this revolution happen to more people?” It is because millions of professing Christians are strangers to the genuine, saving faith that means coming to the end of ourselves, to the end of our self-reliance and self-righteousness, and then trusting absolutely in Christ for forgiveness, for moral and spiritual renewal.

The Christmas angels praised God and proclaimed peace on earth. It was by and through Jesus Christ that peace was to come to the earth. Scripture says, “He Himself is our peace” (Ephesians 2:14). All else is confusion, discord and disorder. Jesus Christ is life’s integrator. He is humanity’s harmonizer, the race’s reconciler, the world’s peace-giver: “For there is born to you this day … a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11).

Many of you long for peace in your own hearts this Christmas. You can meet God at the foot of the cross and find the peace that you have sought for so long. You ask, “What do I have to do?” Repent of your sins. By faith receive Christ as your Savior and Lord and Master. Commit your life to Him. He will come into your heart, and this Christmas you can know the Christ of Christmas. ©1991 BGEA
Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New King James Version.
Passage from The Billy Graham Website

Christmas greetings! I want to wish everyone a happy and safe Christmas this year. May peace, love, and joy find you and fill you. May you understand the true meaning of Christmas and the love of our Father. Merry Christmas!!!

xoxo~Ashley

Wisdom Wednesday

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ~Isaiah 9:6

Well guys, we are officially in the holiday season. I still can't believe there are only 18 days until Christmas! For December, Wisdom Wednesday will consist of posts related to the real meaning of Christmas. I believe Satan has done a fantastic job of getting the focus off of Jesus at Christmas. It's all about presents, Santa Claus, Christmas trees, etc. and not about the birth of our Lord and Savior. So today I will post this that I found about why Jesus is better than Santa.


Santa lives at the North Pole…JESUS is everywhere.


Santa rides in a sleigh…JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year…JESUS is an ever present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies…JESUS supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited…JESUS stands at your door and knocks, and then enters your heart when invited.

You have to wait in line to see Santa…JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap…JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn’t know your name, all he can say is “Hi little boy or girl, what’s your name?”…JESUS knew our name before we were born. Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too. He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly…JESUS has a heart full of love

All Santa can offer is HO HO HO…JESUS offers health, help and hope.

Santa says “You better not cry”…JESUS says “Cast all your cares on me for I care for you.”

Santa’s little helpers make toys…JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle but…JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

While Santa puts gifts under your tree…JESUS became our gift and died on a tree…the cross.

We need to put Christ back in CHRISTmas, Jesus is still the reason for the season.


7And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. 8And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" 15When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." ~ Luke 2:7-15

In All Things, Give Thanks

"Give thanks in everything; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Another holiday season is upon us. It's hard to believe that its that time of year again. I have to say that Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. Mainly for this reason: you gather together with your family and friends; laugh, talk and have fun; eat lots of yummy food; and don't have to worry about all the stress of gift-giving that comes with Christmas. It is a simple time to just come before the Lord and truly thank him for all the blessings in our lives. I have to admit, this year I have a new perspective on giving thanks- to give thanks not just for the good things in our lives but for all things. I am truly blessed. So today, I just wanted to list out a few things that I am thankful for. Of course, the biggest thing I am most thankful for is my Lord and Savior Jesus and the fact that by His sacrifice I am now sanctified, justified, and considered righteous before God. By His stripes I have been redeemed. So a HUGE thank you to the man upstairs. :-)

1. My family - I have to say that I have the best family in the whole wide world. My family is probably the biggest blessing that God has given me. Namely, my parents. My parents have been there for me to encourage me, teach me, guide me, and to love me in a way that is so complete that words cannot express my gratitude to them. So thank you mom and dad for loving me and for well, everything. I know I may not show my thankfulness to you every day, but I am truly thankful for you. I love you both so very much!

2. Stacey - Yes Stace, you get your own shout out! When I count my blessings, I count you twice (a little inside joke between us, I promise, I'm not that corny! Although I do feel that way). Stacey, it is in my heart of hearts that God knew that I needed you. There is no other explanation why you now live in Thomasville other than God knew I would need not only somewhere to go and live, but also someone to take care of me during this time in my life. I know you have had to put up with a lot from me and I am truly grateful that you love me enough to just let me be me - the good, bad, and ugly.

3. My job - I have been so blessed with every job I have ever had. Every place I have ever worked, I have had the blessing of working with people that I truly love and care about and who truly love and care about me. My new job is no exception. I hated to leave the Museum, but if I had to leave, I am thankful that God placed me here. I was sweating it out that last month at the Museum when my alimony was about to run out and I had no other job lined up. But in those final weeks, the Lord blessed me with a job basically out of no where. God does provide, I can attest to that! I was able to stay at the Museum the absolute maximum time and I know that was a blessing because that was exactly where I needed to be when I needed to be there. They blessed me and loved me through some pretty dark days, so I am thankful for the time I had there. And now I am thankful for where I am now. My boss is awesome. My co-workers are awesome. It is always nice to work someplace where everyone feels like family.

4. My church -  I grew up in the same church for 25 years before I left, so it is a little hard to go someplace else. Because the church I grew up in will always be home for me. But I am thankful for the church I go to now. It has begun to feel more and more like my church the more I have gone and made connections with my church family. I have a wonderful Sunday School group that I enjoy seeing each Sunday. I love everyone there and they are so dear to my heart. I have an awesome pastor who has loved and guided me. And on that note - I am sad because Bro. Dan, our pastor, is leaving to go to a church in Tennessee. It just won't be the same without him there. I am thankful for being under his wing and learning from him for the past 4 years. It will be hard to see him and his wife go! And I will also include New City under my church. I am thankful for that core group of people who teach me so very much and I am thankful to be apart of what I know will be a huge blessing for the city and people of Albany.

5. My dogs - Yes, I am thankful for those three bundles of joy (or terror, depending on the day). They are my babies and I just adore them. They make me smile. They remind me what unconditional love looks like. They love me no matter what. No matter what I do, what I look like, how I feel - no matter what, they love me.

6. My friends - I love my friends. It doesn't matter if we see or talk to each other every day or every 6 months. I have friends whom I have known practically since birth that are still in my life and new friends I have only known for a few years or months. I am truly blessed by all of them. They are all special and hold a special place in my heart. I love them all.

7. Everything else - Yes, this is a cop out, but I really need to get some work done and can't be blogging all day! I am thankful for hardships that have brought about blessings. I am thankful for Karen and the work that Compassion International does for Christ. I am thankful for this great country I call home. I am thankful for just everything. The good and the bad. It may not be a perfect life, but it's my life just the same and God has blessed me in abundance. I am thankful for compassion and mercy and grace. I am thankful to be - me.

Typing out this blog today reminded me of the hymn Count Your Blessings. Sometimes we focus so fully on what is wrong with our life and our circumstances, that we forget to focus on what is right. So take time to count your blessings. Name them one by one. The more you do that, you will probably realize that the blessings are in abundance and helps to endure everything else.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Wisdom Wednesday

Short and sweet this week! I think we all can stand to say the serenity prayer from time to time! Sorry I didn't have time today for a more elaborate post. I will try to get it together for next week.

Wisdom Wednesday

Good morning everyone! It's Wednesday again. Another week has come and gone. Time for this week's installment of Wisdom Wednesday. I was looking in Proverbs at what passage to talk about. However, I came across this little devotional that is scattered throughout my Bible. So I will post that, since I'm sure ya'll would rather hear from someone who actually knows what they are talking about! :-) Plus, I pick things out that speak to me, so I'm sure there is someone out there that reads this that needs to hear the same thing. I picked this devotional because it centers around one of my favorite Bible verses.

A Community of Hope

Those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. ~Isaiah 40:31

One thing I know for sure: We were never created to go it alone, ladies. If we attempt to face life's complexities alone, our heart and hope will shrivel. God has created us for community-for belonging...Consider this suggestion: When you share your pain and others acknowledge their care for you, then hope begins to grow. A hope that is eternal and not based on day-to-day circumstances. A hope that aids a restless heart. The truth is, all of us will have restless hearts as long as we sojourn on this earth. It's part of the human story...

So in this life we are pilgrims, wanderers who cannot stay on earth permanently even if we wanted to. (And who would really want to? I ask, especially in my most exhausted moments. Take me away, Lord! I cry.)

Yes, our hearts will be restless until they rest eternally in God. Until we see Jesus Christ as both the highway and the goal of our journey. And until we see, with our own eyes, our glorious destination of heaven...

If you find yourself in...the place of despair and emotional trauma...be encouraged. You are not alone, and God is not far off from you. In fact, stop and give thanks for the restlessness of your soul. (Uh, yes, I am serious.) Really, without such restlessness, we would not even seek God or find the hope that can carry us through the difficult times.

~ Julie Ann Barnhill  from Exquisite Hope

Short, sweet, and to the point today!

Compassion International Update
On another note, I want to update you on my decision to sponsor a child through Compassion International. I finally found out which child I will be sponsoring! I hope and pray that I can be a blessing to this child in the same way that she has already been a blessing to me. I couldn't chose which child to pick, so I decided to let Compassion pick the child for me and prayed that God would give me just the right child. I got a little 5 year-old girl named Karen from Bolivia. I am excited to learn about her and to be there to be an encouragement to her and her family. I sent off my first letter to her on Monday. I am anxious to hear back from her, even though I'm sure at 5, she can't really read or write. And thank goodness that they translate your letters for you! I will keep you all updated on this journey with this special little girl. I can't wait to see what good things God can do!

Wisdom Wednesday

I think for this week's installment of Wisdom Wednesday, I am going to deviate from Proverbs. The purpose of Wisdom Wednesday is more for me than anything else, so I am going to talk about what I have been focusing on the last few days. The one good thing that has come out of this brokenness from our divorce, is the blessing that I have received in my relationship with Christ. I have been stripped of everything that made me secure: my husband, my home, my peace of mind, my self-worth, everything. It's pretty rough when your world comes crashing down around you in an instant, when you never even saw it coming. When someone you loved so very much no longer finds you worthy of their covenant to love, honor, and cherish you. But through all of that, I have been reminded of the One who is faithful. That God's love for me is enough. I find that I constantly have to remind myself of 2 Corinthians 12:9 - But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. This verse has been a great source of strength. I had to do some serious repenting because I realized that Joseph was an idol in my life. Yes, marriage is a blessing and so is a husband, but when you find yourself depending on that person for your happiness, self-worth, and security then that person is an idol. When that person is the most important thing in your life and you put that person ahead of your relationship with Christ. Joseph was that for me. He was the most important thing in my life. Now that he is gone, I have fully realized that he is not the end-all, be-all in this life. This world is but temporary. Reading through Romans for Tuesday's Bible Study, where the gospel is just in your face, I was really struck with that I could have nothing in this lifetime and it wouldn't matter. The free gift of salvation offered through Christ is worth anything I could ever gain on this earth. Paul had it right in his letter to the Philippians: Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ - Philippians 3:7-9. Every day I just fall more in more in love with God. I learn new things every single day about just how awesome God really is. James wrote: Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. - James 1:2-4 Granted, if it was up to me, I would never face any trials in this life. Who wouldn't avoid heartache and pain if they could? All I know to do is have faith in the One who is faithful. Rejoice in the hope that we can be heirs to the Kingdom of God.

Right now I feel like David. My problems go from bad to worse. I miss my quiet, simple life. I came across Psalm 25 the other night and it completely spoke to my heart. I can't escape my problems. I can't escape from what is happening in my life. The wheels have been set into motion and unfortunately, I have been thrust in the middle of what just feels like a nightmare. I just keep praying that God will work everything out for the good. That this is all part of His plan. So I will leave you with this psalm written by David that is titled Teach Me Your Paths in my Bible. It has been my plea this week.

1To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
2O my God, in you I trust;
let me not be put to shame;
let not my enemies exult over me.
3Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame;
they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

4 Make me to know your ways, O LORD;
teach me your paths.
5Lead me in your truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all the day long.

6Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
7Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
according to your steadfast love remember me,
for the sake of your goodness, O LORD!

8 Good and upright is the LORD;
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9He leads the humble in what is right,
and teaches the humble his way.
10All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

11For your name’s sake, O LORD,
pardon my guilt, for it is great.
12Who is the man who fears the LORD?
Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.
13His soul shall abide in well-being,
and his offspring shall inherit the land.
14 The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him,
and he makes known to them his covenant.
15My eyes are ever toward the LORD,
for he will pluck my feet out of the net.

16 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
17The troubles of my heart are enlarged;
bring me out of my distresses.
18 Consider my affliction and my trouble,
and forgive all my sins.

19Consider how many are my foes,
and with what violent hatred they hate me.
20Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me!
Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
21May integrity and uprightness preserve me,
for I wait for you.

22 Redeem Israel, O God,
out of all his troubles.

Wisdom Wednesday

Wow! I can't believe that it is Wednesday again. This week has flown by, I have to say. When I opened up biblegateway.com to go and grab my Scriptures to paste on here, I was struck by the "verse of the day."

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV

I thought that this verse sums up nicely what Wisdom Wednesday is all about. I am no theologian, so please bare with me. This is just what's on my heart after reading that verse this morning. Plus, I think this verse goes very nicely with the next chapter in Proverbs I wanted to post- Chapter 3. We are to use the Word as our guide, as a light unto our path, so to speak. To take those words, to hide them in our heart, to process them, and to take a long, hard look at ourselves and to let that Word teach, rebuke, and correct us. Some days I need that correction more than others. Can I get an Amen?


Proverbs 3
1 My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,
2 for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you peace and prosperity.
3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.[a]
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD and shun evil.
8 This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.
9 Honor the LORD with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine.
11 My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline,
and do not resent his rebuke,
12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves,
as a father the son he delights in.[b]
13 Blessed are those who find wisdom,
those who gain understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her;
those who hold her fast will be blessed.
19 By wisdom the LORD laid the earth’s foundations,
by understanding he set the heavens in place;
20 by his knowledge the watery depths were divided,
and the clouds let drop the dew.
21 My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,
preserve sound judgment and discretion;
22 they will be life for you,
an ornament to grace your neck.
23 Then you will go on your way in safety,
and your foot will not stumble.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Have no fear of sudden disaster
or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 for the LORD will be at your side
and will keep your foot from being snared.
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in your power to act.
28 Do not say to your neighbor,
“Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—
when you already have it with you.
29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor,
who lives trustfully near you.
30 Do not accuse anyone for no reason—
when they have done you no harm.
31 Do not envy the violent
or choose any of their ways.
32 For the LORD detests the perverse
but takes the upright into his confidence.
33 The LORD’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the home of the righteous.
34 He mocks proud mockers
but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.
35 The wise inherit honor,
but fools get only shame.

Funny, when I started writing this post, I had lots to say. But after putting Chapter 3 on here and reading through it, there is really nothing I can offer. I need to take these verses and apply them to myself. Hopefully, that is what you will do as well. Let the Word speak to you and take away from it what God needs you to get from it. So I will take to heart verse 5, and just trust in the Lord and not lean on my own understanding.

As for God, his way is perfect:
The LORD’s word is flawless;
he shields all who take refuge in him. ~Psalm 18:30

Wisdom Wednesday

I can't believe it is Wednesday again! This week's installment of Wisdom Wednesday will be from Proverbs 2. I am using Matthew Henry's commentary of this chapter that kinda breaks down the themes of this chapter. Verses 1-9 are the promises made to those who seek wisdom and verses 11-22 list the advantages of that wisdom.

1 My son, if you accept my words

and store up my commands within you,
2 turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding—
3 indeed, if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
4 and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the LORD gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He holds success in store for the upright,
he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
8 for he guards the course of the just
and protects the way of his faithful ones.
9 Then you will understand what is right and just
and fair—every good path.

"Those who earnestly seek heavenly wisdom, will never complain that they have lost their labour; and the freeness of the gift does not do away the necessity of our diligence, John 6:27. Let them seek, and they shall find it; let them ask, and it shall be given them. Observe who are thus favoured. They are the righteous, on whom the image of God is renewed, which consists in righteousness. If we depend upon God, and seek to him for wisdom, he will enable us to keep the paths of judgment."


10 For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
11 Discretion will protect you,
and understanding will guard you.
12 Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men,
from men whose words are perverse,
13 who have left the straight paths
to walk in dark ways,
14 who delight in doing wrong
and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,
15 whose paths are crooked
and who are devious in their ways.
16 Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman,
from the wayward woman with her seductive words,
17 who has left the husband of her youth
and ignored the marriage covenant she made before God.
18 Surely her house leads down to death
and her paths to the spirits of the dead.
19 None who go to her return
or attain the paths of life.
20 Thus you will walk in the ways of the good
and keep to the paths of the righteous.
21 For the upright will live in the land,
and the blameless will remain in it;
22 but the wicked will be cut off from the land,
and the unfaithful will be torn from it.

"If we are truly wise, we shall be careful to avoid all evil company and evil practices. When wisdom has dominion over us, then it not only fills the head, but enters into the heart, and will preserve, both against corruptions within and temptations without. The ways of sin are ways of darkness, uncomfortable and unsafe: what fools are those who leave the plain, pleasant, lightsome paths of uprightness, to walk in such ways! They take pleasure in sin; both in committing it, and in seeing others commit it. Every wise man will shun such company. True wisdom will also preserve from those who lead to fleshly lusts, which defile the body, that living temple, and war against the soul. These are evils which excite the sorrow of every serious mind, and cause every reflecting parent to look upon his children with anxiety, lest they should be entangled in such fatal snares. Let the sufferings of others be our warnings. Our Lord Jesus deters from sinful pleasures, by the everlasting torments which follow them. It is very rare that any who are caught in this snare of the devil, recover themselves; so much is the heart hardened, and the mind blinded, by the deceitfulness of this sin. Many think that this caution, besides the literal sense, is to be understood as a caution against idolatry, and subjecting the soul to the body, by seeking any forbidden object. The righteous must leave the earth as well as the wicked; but the earth is a very different thing to them. To the wicked it is all the heaven they ever shall have; to the righteous it is the place of preparation for heaven. And is it all one to us, whether we share with the wicked in the miseries of their latter end, or share those everlasting joys that shall crown believers?"


That was Proverbs chapter 2 everyone! I hope you got something out of this chapter today like I did.

On a more personal note, I saw another rainbow yesterday. Seems to be a reoccurring theme here lately. But yesterday when I saw this, I felt the Lord really speak to my heart. He reminded me that He is here. And the storm clouds may roll in and it may rain, but through it all, He is there. Guess He knew I needed that reminder! 

Wisdom Wednesday

"When I see the rainbow in the clouds, I will remember the eternal covenant between God and every living creature on earth." ~Genesis 9:16

Driving home from work yesterday, I got to see this beautiful rainbow. You can't see it as well in this picture, but it was actually a double rainbow. I love seeing rainbows. They always get my attention and remind me that God is always present in our lives and He displays his presence in the sky. So I thought I would share this glorious token that testifies to God's everlasting promise with us. When I look at a rainbow I see God's mercy and grace that was extended to mankind and was ultimately fulfilled through His Son, Jesus Christ. It always amazes me when studying the Old Testament, that everything ultimately points to Jesus and the rainbow is one of those things. The rainbow is also mentioned in Revelation, which I find very interesting.


" And He who was sitting was like a Jasper stone and a sardius in appearance, and there was a rainbow around the throne like an emerald in appearance." ~Revelation 4:3

This book of Revelation shows that God will judge the earth with all its inhabitants. The rainbow around His throne signifies that God is a covenanting God, the faithful God who keeps His covenant while executing His judgement upon the Earth. He will not judge mankind again with a flood nor destroy all mankind but will keep a part of mankind to be the nations on the new earth for His glory.

There is another interesting verse that has its reference to the rainbow.
" And I saw another strong Angel coming down out of heaven clothed with a cloud and the rainbow was upon His head and His face was like the sun and His feet like pillars of Fire." ~Rev. 10:1

The rainbow here indicates that Christ in His judgement upon the earth will keep the covenant that God made with Noah concerning the Earth. It also indicates that Christ will execute judgement according to the God who sits on the throne with the rainbow around it. This God is a faithful and a covenant keeping God.

So the rainbow is truly a promise. Not just as it relates to the earth but also as it relates to HOW God executes and carries out His judgement.

I found this picture that shows what the colors that make up the rainbow represent most often in the Bible. Thought it was pretty interesting.

Image from here

Anyways, I know that I deviated from Proverbs this week and all that, but after seeing the rainbow, I wanted to learn a little bit more about it. Plus, I was fresh out of offering up any wisdom today!

Wisdom Wednesday

Today I am gonna let someone else do the work for me for my 2nd installment of Wisdom Wednesday. I am fresh out of wisdom this morning and I'm sure everyone is tired of hearing my thoughts! Haha! I grabbed my daily devotional book that I read every morning before work. It focuses on one verse and has a little story that brings it all home. It's a good way to start my day and its quick and easy to do, especially on rushed mornings. So, I am going through and grabbing the first few devotionals from Proverbs that I come across.

"Good people will be guided by honesty; dishonesty will destroy those who are not trustworthy." ~Proverbs 11:3

"Charles Swindoll correctly observed, 'Nothing speaks louder or more powerfully than a life of integrity.' Godly men and women agree. Integrity is built slowly over a lifetime. It is a precious thing---difficult to build but easy to tear down. As believers in Christ, we must seek to live each day with discipline, honesty, and faith. When we do, at least two things happen: integrity becomes a habit, and God blesses us because of our obedience to Him.

Living a life of integrity isn't always the easiest way, but it is always the right way. And God clearly intends that it should be our way too." ---CRISWELL FREEMAN from Purpose for Everyday Living

"The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good." ~ Proverbs 15:3

"The thought that someone is watching seldom occurs to us as we go through life. So often, we say what we want and do exactly what we selfishly choose to do. We need to realize that nothing ever escapes the notice of God and nothing ever surprises Him. When we commit our ways to the Lord, everything changes, and pleasing God becomes our priority in life. Because God cares, He wants to bless us with His love and mercy." --JACK COUNTRYMAN from Time with God for Fathers

"Respecting the LORD and not being proud will bring you wealth, honor, and life." ~Proverbs 22:4

"Do you have a healthy, fearful respect for God's power? If so, you are both wise and obedient. God praises humility and punishes pride. That's why God's greatest servants will always be those humble men and women who care less for their own glory and more for God's glory. In God's kingdom, the only way to achieve greatness is to shun it. And the only way to be wise is to understand these facts: God is great; He is all-knowing; and He is all-powerful. We must respect Him, and we must humbly obey His commandments, or we must accept the consequences of our misplaced pride." --CRISWELL FREEMAN from Purpose for Everday Living

Okay, I think three is a good number to stop on. Hope these little nuggets of wisdom spoke to your heart, because they spoke to mine. Ultimately, that's the purpose of Wisdom Wednesday, because we all need some help and guidance!

**On a personal note, I am super excited this morning. My friend Catrina is at the hospital right now having Caden!! I am anxious to get over to the hospital and see her. So say some prayers for her and Caden and for an easy delivery. Hopefully I will have some pictures to post tomorrow! :-)

Wisdom Wednesday

I thought it might be nice to do a post every Wednesday titled, what else? Wisdom Wednesday!! If you are like me, you struggle with daily decisions, well daily. What better way to gain insight than to seek the one who can grant that wisdom. So I will be posting up scriptures from Proverbs on Wednesdays. I have learned to not depend on my own understanding because leaning on myself, I can be led astray very quickly. If I had spent a little more time on my knees and not being arrogant enough to think I could handle my own life myself, then I wouldn't be in the situation I am in now. You feel me? So, let's get started. No better place to start than chapter one.

Purpose and Theme (Proverbs 1:1-7)

1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

2 for gaining wisdom and instruction;
for understanding words of insight;
3 for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,
doing what is right and just and fair;
4 for giving prudence to those who are simple,
knowledge and discretion to the young—
5 let the wise listen and add to their learning,
and let the discerning get guidance—
6 for understanding proverbs and parables,
the sayings and riddles of the wise.
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

The first 7 verses lay the foundation about what the book of Proverbs is all about. To help gain wisdom and insight, receiving instruction about prudent behavior, and doing what is right, just, and fair. I love, love, love verse 7. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge but fools despise wisdom and instruction." Sometimes I don't think that we have a healthy fear of God. I think we get a false sense of security in the grace extended to us through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. God does discipline His children. There will always be consequences for our actions, especially if we claim to be a child of God. God, like any father, wants His children to be a reflection of Him and when they act up, it is His duty as a father to put them back in line. I don't know about you, but I don't want to be a fool, especially when it comes to matters of God.

I have been struggling with some stuff and that's why I have been in the book of Proverbs. I don't want to make any missteps in my life or any decisions that I make, so I have been prayerfully seeking God's word and letting that wisdom speak to me. Because sometimes we don't know the right way to go especially when every way seems like the wrong way no matter what direction you take, but God knows and He will help lead and guide you.

Wisdom’s Rebuke (Proverbs 1:20-33)

20 Out in the open wisdom calls aloud,
she raises her voice in the public square;
21 on top of the wall she cries out,
at the city gate she makes her speech:
22 “How long will you who are simple love your simple ways?
How long will mockers delight in mockery
and fools hate knowledge?
23 Repent at my rebuke!
Then I will pour out my thoughts to you,
I will make known to you my teachings.
24 But since you refuse to listen when I call
and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand,
25 since you disregard all my advice
and do not accept my rebuke,
26 I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you;
I will mock when calamity overtakes you—
27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind,
when distress and trouble overwhelm you.
28 “Then they will call to me but I will not answer;
they will look for me but will not find me,
29 since they hated knowledge
and did not choose to fear the LORD.
30 Since they would not accept my advice
and spurned my rebuke,
31 they will eat the fruit of their ways
and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.
32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,
and the complacency of fools will destroy them;
33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety
and be at ease, without fear of harm.”

Can I just say "ouch" to those verses? I think those verses speak for themselves. I don't think I want to be the one who disregards God's wisdom. Do you?


Let me make something perfectly clear. I don't claim to be some righteous person. I am a sinner who can sin with the best of them. I need Christ's grace each and everyday. I don't have all the answers and I don't live righteously every moment of every day. I mess up. I make bad choices. I make mistakes. I'm not perfect. I am an imperfect person living in a fallen world, who needs God's guidance each and every day. I struggle with living in the flesh every single day. That's basically what this post is about. It's about me not having all the answers. I don't always know what is the right decision to make. Sometimes I am so very clueless over what to do that it is overwhelming. That's why I have been in the book of Proverbs, reading, studying, and praying over the scriptures. Its something that I should have been doing my whole life, but then again, I didn't really have that healthy fear of the Lord. It wasn't until calamity came into my life that I made the realization that I am nothing apart from Christ. When left to our own devices, we make horrible decisions. So I am just trying to change that now. No better time to start than the present. Who's with me?