At the Crossroads

"On the heights beside the way, 

at the crossroads she [wisdom] takes her stand."

Proverbs 8:2

As I have said before, I am directionally challenged.  Coming to a crossroads can invoke great fear in me, because I have a decision to make.  Without good directions and the assurance that I am going the right way, I can become paralyzed with uncertainty.  Maps and mapquest are wonderful assets to one like me!

Yet now and then maps are confusing.  And mapquest?  It can take you miles out of the way, and sometimes it is just plain wrong.  But there is a road map to life that is never wrong.  How simple would it be just to follow the map without fail, never to get off the path!

There are so many crossroads in life, so many choices that we must make.  Some seem simple, like "What should I wear?  How should I treat that person?  Where should I go?

What should I do today?"  Others are more complex: "What should I do with my life?  Who should I date or marry?"  Some take immediate action.  Mom says, "Clean your room."  Hubby says, "Don't spend anymore money on clothes this month."  Do all of these things have an answer from the Source of Wisdom?  You bet they do!

And each time we have a decision to make, we are at a crossroads in our lives.  We must choose a direction in which to go.  Our choices will be made according to our  road map.  Is it an accurate one, the Word of God, or is a map of our own making?  With one we cannot get lost; with the other we will spend a lifetime turning in the wrong direction.

Take a long look at Proverbs 8.  The choice should be simple.

At a crossroads,

Gloria

Life is Hard

"If the Lord had not been my help, 

my soul would soon  have lived in the land of silence. 

When I thought, 'My foot slips,' 

your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up. (ESV)

In the multitude of my anxieties within me,

your comforts delight my soul. (NKJV)

  Psalm 94:17-19

One of the grandchildren has a very difficult time with math.  The other day as we were working on some multiplication problems she became so discouraged and felt that she was beyond help.  Her problem seems so minor to us as we look at all of the things that people are dealing with in this very hard world.  Yet she needed help and comfort at that time in order to be able to press on.

I'm learning that yes, whatever we are going through in life may be minor as compared to the horrors that others experience.  We do well to remember that in our anxious moments.  And yet there are times of anxiety in our lives, sometimes debilitating no matter how small they may seem in light of the big picture, that we must recognize and deal with.

When our soul is at the point of "living in the land of silence," when our spirits are sinking at their lowest level, who can we depend on for help?  Maybe a wise and loving friend can help a little, but  we can always rely on the Lord.

When our foot begins to slip into the slough of despair, what can we depend on to hold us up?  The arm of flesh?  No.  Remembering the steadfast love of the Lord, we are sustained.

And perhaps my favorite verse in the Psalms, verse 19:  "In the multitude of my anxieties with me, your comforts delight my soul."  Wherever we are in life, whatever undesirable situation we find ourselves in, however anxious we are, we have a Comforter.  My Father has big arms and a way about Him that brings delight to my soul as I take my anxious thoughts to Him.  The situation may not change, but my heart is cheered, my anxieties are calmed.  Oh, that you know my Comforter!

"Casting all your anxieties on Him,

for He cares for you."

1 Peter 5:7 

Just writing what I needed to hear,

Gloria

What Motivates You?

"Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways and be wise.  

Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, 

she prepares her bread in summer

and gathers her food in harvest."

Proverbs 6:6-8 

There are things that I love to do, and then there are things that I really don't like to do.  Sometimes the things I don't like to do make me feel like a sluggard.  Sluggards, it appears, must be motivated by some outside force--a chief, officer or ruler,or perhaps a threat.  I really don't like to dust, iron, or mop, and it seems that the only time I am really motivated to do a deep cleaning of my house is when company is coming.  Then I strike out like a banshee to get it spick and span.  (Or maybe it is the banshee yelling in my ear that I'm going to be embarrassed by the inch thick dust.)  Grandchildren, there's a new word for you to look up--banshee!

Both daughters have rather unsuccessfully tried to establish an ant farm so that the children could see the mechanics of the little creatures.  I have often been amazed at how they can carry a crumb that is many times their size, at how they are constantly on the go, and at how quickly they build their homes.  They never seem to get bored.  Bored.  I hate that word.  An encouragement to those who have children who are "bored."  PUT THEM TO WORK!  It's a great cure for boredom.  And it gives moms something extra to do, also--motivate their kids!

It seems that I am rambling this morning, but I think that we can learn a great lesson from this passage of Scripture.  There is never a time when we are permitted by Scripture to sit around lazy and bored.  God has much for us to do.  He has given us responsibility as husbands and wives and mothers and children to be good stewards of what He has given us.  He has made it our duty to be an example to the lost in both word and deed.  As it is our purpose in life to glorify God, then everything we do should be to His glory. 

"And whatever you do, in word or deed,

do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks to God the Father through Him."

Colossians 3:17

"Whatever you do, work heartily, 

as for the Lord and not for men."  

Colossians 3:23

Planning a busy day (without company coming),

Gloria

 

Spiders and Webs

"The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, 

and he is held fast in the cords of his sin."

Proverbs 5:22

I have finally decided that I never really liked tent camping, although we did it many times when the children were young. It seems as I look back that every time we went I had an allergy attack; it would turn miserably cold or we would get majorly stormed on.  But I wanted the children to enjoy the adventure, and it seemed that there was always an adventure of some sort or other! And somehow the memories are fond.

One adventure that I especially did not like, in addition the ones listed above, was to get up on one of those cold mornings only to  be ensnared by a huge spider web as I walked  through the woods to the bathroom.  (Now, isn't camping fun?)  In the first place, I don't like spiders.  In the second, no matter how hard I tried  to pull it off it seemed that the web was determined to stay on my body.  The only thing left to do was to take a cold shower and wash myself clean.  Did I say the memories were fond?

Proverbs 5 speaks of the sin of adultery.  A terrible, debilitating sin.  But all sin is debilitating, isn't it?  It reminds me of that spider that spun its web so seductively right across my way.  The only way that I could have avoided being ensnared by it was to be attentive to what was around me, to carefully and deliberately walk away from it and then press on.  The web, the cords of sin or iniquity, ensnare us as we walk carelessly into its path.  We become entangled in sin, unable to free ourselves.

But praise God there is a shower of God's mercy that awaits us as we confess and forsake that sin.  "If we confess our sins (to feel about it the way God does and repent--make a 180 degree turn) , He is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  John 1:9. 

We have an option--confess and forsake and be free of the web of sin, or avoid the shower of God's mercy and remain ensnared by the cords that will eventually destroy us.  Seems an obvious choice, doesn't it?

Loving showers,
Gloria

Be Attentive; Don't Forget

 "Hear, O sons, a father's instruction, 

and be attentive, that you may gain insight."

Proverbs 1:1

"Get wisdom, get insight, do not forget, 

and do not turn away from the words of my mouth."

Proverbs 1:5

Some of the grandchildren have a tendency when they have been told to do something and didn't respond to say, "I didn't know," or "I forgot," or "You didn't tell me."  Actually we all tend to do that in one form or another, don't we?  And unfortunately sometimes we do forget.  Attentiveness, I believe, is key in obtaining insight and wisdom.

I have a daughter who seems to see everything around her at once.  She can tell you what Mrs. Smith wore to church 3 weeks ago, what a particular garden looked like among 30 others, and can go somewhere in the dark and drive there again the next day. (She did that once in Miami, and the destination was 50 miles away!)

I must say that I am not so fortunate as to have learned attentiveness so well.  I must memorize directions in order to get out of a box--a small one!  I must focus on what someone says or I'll forget it soon thereafter.  These verses of Scripture say much to me.

Be attentive. 

 From Mr. Noah Webster again.   "Attentive:  Heedful; intent; observant; regarding with care. It is applied to the senses of hearing and seeing, as an attentive ear or eye; to the application of the mind, as in contemplation; or to the application of the mind, together with the senses abovementioned, as when a person is attentive to the words, the manner and matter of a speaker at the same time."

In order to apply wisdom, it appears that there are some very important things I must do.  Attentiveness does not just happen with me. 

1.  I must heed what is being told me.  "Heed:  To mind; to regard with care; to take notice of; to attend to; to observe."  In other words, it must be important to me that I learn.  One way for it to become important to me is to realize the consequences of both heeding and not heeding.  The Proverbs is a great place to begin to see those consequences.

2.I must have intent.  "Intent:  Literally, having the mind strained or bent on an object; hence, fixed closely;  eager in pursuit of an object; anxiously diligent;"  In order to have wisdom, I must want to hear and know and focus enough to make it happen.

3.  I must be observant.  A cursory glance or a half-listening ear just won't cut it.  I must take the time to not only see and hear the words but to discover what is being said and the intent of the saying of it.

4.  I must regard it with care.  How important is it to me that I learn what my Father is saying?  How important is it to you, children, to learn what is being told you by your parents that God gave you?  Do I care what God has to say to me through His Word and the proper teaching of others?  If so, then I will hear with listening ears.

5.  I must use my eyes, my ears, and my mind as I focus on what is being taught or told me.  My whole heart must desire to learn and gain wisdom and insight.  Does hearing and obeying one's parents help a child to develop wisdom?  You bet it does!

Let's look at God's Word, at the teachings of the Holy One, with attentiveness so that we do not forget or forsake.

Learning attentiveness (in my old age),

Gloria

Looking Up

"Be not wise in your own eyes;"

Proverbs 3:7a

"Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, 

and the one who gets understanding."

Proverbs 3:13

I'm going to make a rather weak comparison today of man's wisdom vs. God's wisdom.  One of my favorite things to do is to lie down on the grass or in a hammock and look up into the trees.  We have some large oak trees in our backyard, and when I do this I get a brand new perspective on trees.  Oh, the same things exist there--leaves, branches, nests, birds, insects, etc.  But  looking straight at the tree hides so much, and somehow everything take on a whole different aura; I have a greater appreciation of all that I see.  I learn more about the tree and its inhabitants.

Instead of merely a trunk with leaves on it, I see through the tree into the sky above, delineating the beauty of the branches that hold the individual leaves.  I see the variation in hues and shades, the wonderful shapes of the leaves and both the large and very minute, complicated branches that weave in and out of the blue above them.  I see delicate-looking  but sometimes dangerous creatures crawling on the branches.  I see intricately made nests composed of grasses and small twigs and pieces of cloth and string and even paper.  I see Mama bird and Papa bird flying feverishly back and forth to satisfy the voracious hunger of Baby birds.  I see bushy tailed squirrels nervously seeking for mischief of some kind, scampering along the branches as though there were no tomorrow.  I see happiness and joy.  I see the hand of the Creator.

Being wise in our own eyes reminds me somewhat of merely looking at that tree trunk with leaves on it.  Our understanding is flawed in that we never see the whole picture.  From our perspective, life is lived looking straight ahead, trying to see everything yet completely unable.  Therefore, we make the mistake of having incomplete vision.  We will never be able to consistently make the right choices.  We only see with limited vision.  Our perception is cut short.

Wisdom is only gained by looking up.  What a difference in our understanding of life when we look to the Only Wise God! The details that were so missing begin to come to light as we seek His wisdom, as we look up and begin to grasp with perception the things of God.  As we look up we see heaven between the leaves and branches of the world's system, in contrast to looking outward where everything beyond the leaves are crowded out and difficult to see.  I believe that a part of the blessedness (happiness) and joy of having wisdom is realizing that there is blue just beyond the leaves.  Heaven awaits those who trust Him.

Looking up,

Gloria

The Older We Get, The More We Realize

"The words of Agur son of Jakeh, the oracle.  The man declares, I am weary, O God; I am weary, O God, and worn out.  Surely I am too stupid to be a man.  I have not the understanding of a man.  I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One." 

Proverbs 30:1-3

I can only believe that at this point the writer, whether it was King Solomon or someone else, was older--and wiser.  Wiser?  How can that be?  He just said that he was too stupid to be a man and had not learned wisdom.

Let's back up a bit in time.  Have you ever noticed (surely you have) how smart young children think they are, and how wise they become as they hit the teen years?  That wisdom seems to stretch all the way to adulthood,when suddenly some, if not most, begin to realize that mom and dad weren't so dumb after all.  If only they had listened, they might have avoided many of the traps they found themselves falling into.  The book of Proverbs was written to these not-so-wise children in the hopes that they would hear and be able to avoid those pitfalls.  

As we look at Proverbs 30 I believe we see, not a stupid man at all, but one who has realized how much he doesn't know, how much further he has to go before he has the understanding, wisdom and knowledge of God.  Why do I believe this?  Because he goes on in chapter 30 to give us great words of wisdom.  

A word of counsel to all who read, and a plea to my grandchildren:  Acknowledge those who are older, wiser and more experienced than you.  Listen and learn.  Don't wait until you are old to realize that mistakes are made through refusing to hear the wise counsel of those who have been through life already and know the pitfalls.  Again, LISTEN and LEARN!

The writer of this proverb went on to say in verse 5

"Every word of God proves true; 

He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. 

Two things--the wise counsel of those who have gone before us and the wisdom of the Word of God--are sufficient to shield us from the distractions of the world.   Oh, that we might hear!

Realizing my limitations,

Gloria