God rocks at this

Proverbs 4:11 "I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths." 

We love to predict the next step for our lives. 

We love to know what God is up to.   

I have discovered that many times we are the ones who throw confusion and chaos into an already simple and laid out plan. 

His plans for us are straight, and full of wisdom, under and with HIS love filter. 

In other words, God has most perfect plans. Trust His perfect plans even when it doesn't look like your "perfect" plan.

God rocks at perfect planning.

We add our failures, fears and inadequacies to a plan and then it doesn't makes sense. 

When we add our imperfect to the Perfect, we come up short every time.  We think the road is winding and wrong and endless. 

Recently I've prayed ..."Show me what it means to follow you God"..only then does it becomes simple and direct. 

Only then can I see God's wisdom and love directing me. 

I'm letting the Lord direct.  I'm not adding my imperfect thoughts or plans to His perfect plan.  

No more "Jonah" moments for me. The belly of this whale is not fun and is kind of gross. 

I will trust.  I know in doing so he will give wisdom and understanding.  

Trust Him.  God rocks at your perfect plans that benefit His perfect plan for you.

God knows what is best for your situation. 

Trust and follow, that is the direct way to God. 

He already knows what your tomorrows and today hold. Trust completely.

Be a rock star in your trust in God!  He's already a Rock Star in His plans for you.

How To Study The Bible

You want to study the Bible?

You want to draw closer to God?    

Start.  

Open the collection of words that the Author of Life Himself has written.

You want to know who God is?  Read His thoughts.

Start anywhere.  Start somewhere.  

There are many ways here.

Just start.  Open the Bible.

Read it.

You Might Get Some Yogurt Hop Ons

This looks delicious!

I bought some plain yogurt once.  I didn't know that it tasted like a big gulp of sour cream.  It's not sweet like regular flavored yogurt.  Yuck!  To recover a semi-wasted breakfast, I started adding ingredients to make my own flavored yogurt concoction. I stirred in some honey, some fruit, and topped it with a granola bar.  I was hoping that I had a great tasting yogurt delight.  Guess what?  The finish product tasted like plain yogurt with some add-ons.  I was dissatisfied with the results.

As I eating my less-than-delicious breakfast, I reflected back to my quiet time that morning from reading in Colossians.  Paul had given the gospel message to the Leodicians plain yogurt style.  Even though they had not met face to face, Paul felt it was his duty to set them straight about who Christ was and what Christ had done for the church.  Somewhere in the telling of the gospel of Jesus, fine sounding arguments were added to the full gospel truth.  

Paul had to lay things out.  Paul was a teacher and a church planter, so he knew what he was doing.  His sold-out-for-the-gospel motivation came from his burden for all to "be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." When it was rumored that the Leodician church was trying to add to or put restrictions on the who's, the what's and the why's of the gospel, Paul had to speak up.

Read Colossians 2 to see how he sets them straight.  

As I was mixing in my additives to the plain yogurt, I thought how sometimes the church today tries to add to the gospel to make it more attractive and acceptable to those who need the message of Christ.  That's not our job to add to the Truth.  That is the role of the Holy Spirit to change hearts towards God.  

"Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 'Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!'? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self‑imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence."

Colossians 2: 20-23

We need to be faithful to share our story in how Christ changes us, and always speak of our life of faith, but as far as making the gospel more attractive...whoa...no....don't.  If you do, you will just give a fake imitation of what the gospel is and who the gospel represents.  The lost world doesn't need fine sounding arguments.  The lost world needs pure, simple Jesus.  Serve the gospel in it's purest form.  

Speak Jesus, without your own additives, special flavorings and toppings.   

Music Monday [Letting Go]

Free falling

The other day I set a Favorite Song Alert to this song...Letting Go by Stephanie Smith.  I don't want to miss this song when it comes on the radio.  It's a reminder of what God is trying to teach me, to let go and trust Him.  So far...and I've read the Book, and in trusting God....He wins everytime.  Daily I get the opportunity to let God control something. I'm pretty sure that is His plan for my life.  The Heavens know that I am pretty good botching things...so I am rather thankful that I can't control my world.  Last time I looked God is doing good at that.  


There are times that I like to think I know what I am doing...and then it's in those times that God will ask me a simple question...Do you trust me?  When you are faced with a closed door, those are hard to handle.  When I can't see the key to unlock the mystery that is Christ, he gently reminds me that I don't have to hold the key just yet.  I just need to hold on for dear life.  


White knuckles are common in my faith rollercoaster ride.  Comfort comes when I know my Master is at the controls.  In letting go it really gives me freedom to enjoy the ride he has mapped out for me.  So yes... it is funny that it feels so good to let go of those petty details that don't matter.   

"A lock without a key

No one no way was ever gonna 

get the best of me

The lines were drawn

But now I'm ready to be free"

In my surrender, God brings freedom.
In my stupidity, God brings wisdom
In my fear, God brings peace
In my loneliness, God brings His presence
In my grip, God brings comfort
In my letting go, God brings control.


Letting go for God's wisdom is a daily priority.  I don't know what I am doing, but as He captivates, He holds my big picture in His heart.  If He has the controls, I don't have to worry.  I know that I couldn't do better than His best.  That's reason enough for me to let go.  He has every part of me in His hands.  He catches me every time, He's always there where I land, even anticipating the point of impact of this free fall from the edge.  


Look out below...


P.S. Here's a video to the song.

Five Minute Friday [Wisdom]

Einstein was a genius!

Solomon asked for one thing...wisdom.  
God gave him wisdom more than riches.  

Solomon was sought out by the wise for his wisdom.  
He wrote inspired wisdom in Proverbs.

Wisdom is at the heart of God.

David was wise to seek God's heart.  Wisdom lives there.  
It starts with the fear of the Lord.  See Proverbs 111:10

Wisdom is hidden inside His.

Paul prayed for wisdom and understanding.  Not only for himself but for others. Because he knew where it was kept and experienced it's worth.  
By doing so, he lived a life worthy of the gospel.  
Paul lived a life that pleased God.  
In praying for wisdom, he produced, grew in knowledge and gained strength,faith, trust, endurance, patience, peace, and joy.

Wisdom is knowledge and understanding.  
Seeking wisdom is the wise thing to do.  
Wisdom is relevant, keeps God close and it keeps us close to God.  
It is something to discover, uncover, and recover.  
It calms and restores fractured faith.  

Where is wisdom?  Start in Proverbs...it's wise reading.

Just Rest

You must read yesterday's post ...

I sometimes fight dependence on God like a 14-month-old baby boy before a much needed nap. I don’t share the all worries of my heart with God even though I know He already knows what they are and I know that He really cares about me. In my own self-reliance I am humbled in the awareness that I need Him desperately to just breathe.

I feel like if I am honest with you and with God, I am letting everyone down. But… as His strength is made perfect in my weakness I am being transparent enough to admit that I need God desperately to be me.

Maybe…

…I need to say no to another serving opportunity.

…I need say more words of grace.

…I need to let the dust settle on ideas instead of immediately pushing the launch button.

…I need to take a rest in His Word even more.

…I need to not apologize for my failures.

God, I need rest.

When I’m weary, worn out, and overwhelmed… for reasons that I can’t control or those that I can, I go to God.

God doesn’t grow weary, He doesn’t need rest. God is not the source of my problems but the answer to them. God doesn’t cause my circumstances but He gives me wisdom to journey through them. God doesn’t overwhelm but holds me up when I am.

God is not the originator of the difficult but He serves those times as reminders that I must fall back on His original plan of dependence. His passions are planted deep in my heart…. the cry of the vulnerable and the orphaned, and the message of the gospel.  They are not there to overwhelm, but to bring His perfection in me and to foster dependence.

So in my needy dependence, in my increased awareness of God, I translate this into a call to be even stronger and more courageous as I acknowledge that God is my battle cry. Sometimes I will be silent, sometimes I will blow my horn loud. My important “to-do” is my dependence on Him.

Wisdom tells me I to stay still in His lap.

Wisdom prompts my awareness of my need.

Wisdom tells me that my God never fails.

In my alone-ness, in my darkness, in my pity–parties, in my joy times, God’s presence promises His companionship, strength and courage. His completeness brings rest to my mind, my heart, my soul. And when I make my lists I know I possess the strength of His Spirit. My “nexts” are complete as long as I rely on my God.

I can relax, rest, and recover.

Each of our journeys looks different. Is yours wearing you out?  Are you worn to a frazzle?  God knows this and asks us to rest, rest in Him, and that’s awesome! 

“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 (My new favorite verse!)

Resting in Him is a daunting task. What is God asking of you this year or today?

Such a Hoot!

Have you ever wondered why the owl is the universal symbol for wisdom? This mug to the right must be for a uber-Mensa coffee addict. Look at him.... sitting so pretty on his stack-o- books. In this life, where successes are measured in your IQ and credit scores, I don't really get this wisdom connection of an owl, sitting on a stack of books on a coffee mug. Perhaps I am over-thinking this.

Who of you lacks wisdom? Um…that would be me. It's been said that there are wise people. Reality tells me it’s a little more elusive than that. Maybe I need one of these owl coffee mugs. Truth is we need to do is ask God for it. But first, we must humble ourselves and fear God. We must worship Him as our Holy God instead of considering Him our “homeboy”.

I’ve always said it’s better to be smarter than to be richer because if you were smarter the “rich” part would eventually come. But lately, I have been challenged to seek true wisdom. Solomon was the richest and smartest man in the world according to the Bible. I wonder how long he thought about his one request that God would grant? It seems an obvious choice.

Proverbs says wisdom is better that gold. We certainly have a need for more wisdom with the decisions that have to made on a daily and sometimes hourly basis. We make our decisions and our decisions make us. How many times have you made a list of the pros and cons about a big decision you had to make? If you are like me, the pros plus prayer give weight to the right choice.

But wisdom is really not about the pros and the cons but it’s about what our Creator and Sustainer says is best.

How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver! Proverbs 16:16 

Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Proverbs 4:7 

One who lacks wisdom is a fool. Now that might seem a little harsh...but.. 

Fools act before they think….open mouth insert foot. We’ve all done that. Wise people think before they act; fools don't—and even brag about their foolishness. Proverbs 13:16 NLT

Fools spend all they earn. Spending paycheck to paycheck sound familiar? Most of us need some "plastic" surgery according to Dave Ramsey. In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has. Proverbs 21:20

Fools hurt those they love. Guilty as charged. The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down. Proverbs 14:1
Fools think they know it all….news flash…we don’t. Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others. Proverbs 12:15 NLT

So how you get wisdom? It’s as easy as 1..2…3! 

Fear God. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10

Ask God. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. James 1:5 

Hang out with wise people. He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. Proverbs 13:20 

How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver! Proverbs 16:16 

So what are you waiting for…what am I waiting for? Fear God, pray for wisdom, get wisdom, obey! Proverbs 31 day challenge starts now!