By Dawne Biggs
But the wisdom that comes from God is first of all pure, then peaceful, gentle, and easy to please. This wisdom is always ready to help those who are troubled and to do good for others. It is always fair and honest.
James 3:17 (New Century Version)
I understand more at this point in my spiritual life what WISDOM means for the body of believers in Christ! The more I chat with people, the more I see while we may be bright, smart, intelligent, charming, interesting, funny or even focused, wisdom is on an entirely different level.
Wisdom is being able to rise above the mundane of life and see through to what is real and necessary and to be capable to respond accordingly. Wisdom is not who wins the argument or who has the most degrees. Wisdom is being able to see the person who thinks he is always right may just need some affirmation. Wisdom is seeing the frightened old woman as maybe needing someone to hold her hand and reassure her everything will be all right.
Wisdom surpasses ordinary knowledge. It speaks not to what is there but what lies underneath. It expresses compassion at all times and a sense of fair play.
Wisdom encourages each of us to step up to another level. It offers the benefits of a broader understanding. Wisdom is open and is never negative. It draws the best out in every situation.
Wisdom is intentional, purposeful and always on time. It comforts, supports and nurtures. Wisdom determines when enough is enough.
It is resourceful and knows every path of peace and resolution.
Wisdom is never mean or coercive. Wisdom would never lie.
Wisdom has foresight. It can tell where and where not to go. It knows who to hang out with and who to avoid.
Wisdom does not backslide, backbite or belittle. It is not secretive nor does it lead a double life.
Wisdom attracts wisdom but also speaks to fear and indecision. It prays and seeks counsel. Wisdom understands servant-hood and doesn't need the spotlight.
Wisdom is not intrusive or abrasive. Wisdom is beauty in motion and never tires.
Wisdom is intangible but you can always recognize it when it is present! It stands out wittingly distinctively from the rest.
Wisdom is the ultimate inner awareness that inclines us to draw from a pure endless pool of goodness.
I queried WISDOM on Webster. Com.
The definition read ability to discern inner qualities and relationships.
That led me to insight, which read the act or result of apprehending the inner nature of things or seeing intuitively.
That lead me to discernment, which read the quality of being able to grasp and comprehend what is obscure.
That led me to back to insight and also perception, which read a result of perceiving.
That led me to consciousness, which read the totality of conscious states of an individual.
That led me to awareness, which read having or showing realization, perception or knowledge.
That led me to cognizant which read knowledgeable of something especially through personal experience.
That led me to mindful which read inclined to be aware.
That took me back to aware, cognizant and conscious. It also led me to awake which means to cease sleeping and to make active.
If we seek wisdom, just look where it will lead!
How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver!
Proverbs 16:16
Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com CHRISTIAN WRITERS
Friday, June 19, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Where is God?
Where is God?
Remember those Where is Waldo books? Children loved them. They were quite challenging trying to spot just where in the pictures Waldo was. I even found Waldo a few times but mostly he remained invisible to me.
And so it tends to be in the body of Christ. Sometimes we look at life without seeing what is really there.
What if there was a book called, Where is God? Based on the same premise as the Waldo books. Only from this book, the pictures leap off the page and merge in to our every day life!
Where is God? Would we see Him right away? Would we know how to spot him? Do we really know what we are looking at everyday or would God simply remain invisible to us?
Even as Believer’s, it has become quite challenging for us to see God in the big picture of everyday life.
Let’s look at this picture. What do we really see?
Just FRUIT?
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23
It is by the Holy Spirit’s work in us that it becomes possible to bear fruit.
Just FOOD?
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Psalm 34:8
The Lord is good and He is worthy to be praised! Just try Him!
Just FLOWERS?
I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys. Song of Solomon 2:1
What magnificent assurance that He is a lily in our valleys!
Just A CANDLE?
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matt 5:16
Our Lord is the light of the world and we as His children reflect that light! Let your light shine!
Just SALT?
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:6
Salt can add flavor but it is also a preservative. We keep alive the word of God!
Where is God? He is in the big picture of everyday life! Challenge yourself to see Him. He’s there!
Remember those Where is Waldo books? Children loved them. They were quite challenging trying to spot just where in the pictures Waldo was. I even found Waldo a few times but mostly he remained invisible to me.
And so it tends to be in the body of Christ. Sometimes we look at life without seeing what is really there.
What if there was a book called, Where is God? Based on the same premise as the Waldo books. Only from this book, the pictures leap off the page and merge in to our every day life!
Where is God? Would we see Him right away? Would we know how to spot him? Do we really know what we are looking at everyday or would God simply remain invisible to us?
Even as Believer’s, it has become quite challenging for us to see God in the big picture of everyday life.
Let’s look at this picture. What do we really see?
Just FRUIT?
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23
It is by the Holy Spirit’s work in us that it becomes possible to bear fruit.
Just FOOD?
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Psalm 34:8
The Lord is good and He is worthy to be praised! Just try Him!
Just FLOWERS?
I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys. Song of Solomon 2:1
What magnificent assurance that He is a lily in our valleys!
Just A CANDLE?
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matt 5:16
Our Lord is the light of the world and we as His children reflect that light! Let your light shine!
Just SALT?
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:6
Salt can add flavor but it is also a preservative. We keep alive the word of God!
Where is God? He is in the big picture of everyday life! Challenge yourself to see Him. He’s there!
Saturday, June 13, 2009
FaithWriters.com Christian critique groups the Critique Circle!
FaithWriters.com Christian critique groups the Critique Circle!
This is a GREAT site where I posted an article I wrote recently. Wanted to share it with you. Let me know your thoughts!
This is a GREAT site where I posted an article I wrote recently. Wanted to share it with you. Let me know your thoughts!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Laughing Crew
1Pe 1:8 -You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him, you trust him; and even now you are happy with a glorious, inexpressible joy.
I often noticed and wondered why some people in church would laugh at certain points in the sermons, sometimes right in the midst of one. It was like a small crew of people. What in the world could strike them as funny from the pastor on Sunday morning?
Have you ever considered what does really does make us laugh? We normally laugh in response to something. Now there are many different laughs. Laughs can be toward a comedian or a movie or commercial. You could laugh at a card or book. There are laughs directed at people but those are not very nice. In general, laughter means we are in a happy place.
I have to admit, it takes a LOT to make me laugh. I don’t laugh at what most people do. But oddly, I find myself laughing in church!
Ok, when I first started it, I obviously did it unconsciously. I never really noticed until someone, painfully, made me aware of my church shrills! I felt bad that I might have disturbed them and asked them if I did. They said they thought I was really having a good time. I’m sure I really was.
I guess if I am having a good time I might as well look like right? I still could not explain why I did this. I was perplexed (but not in despair!)
I started to analyze myself to get to the bottom of my perplexity. Whenever I went to church during my self-analysis period, I’d try to move in slow motion, to become totally self-aware. I was going to catch myself at the onset of a laugh and determine where it came from.
Sunday came. I arrived at church. It was time for the sermon. I was calm, almost motionless. I held my breath. The pastor was doing a Fruit of the Spirit series. This week was peace. He started with how peace looks to us.
I was fine.
He gave some scripture references,
“If it possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” Romans 12:18
“Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.” 2 Corinthians 13:11
I checked myself; I was fine.
He said we should strive to be at peace with God, others and ourselves. He then started talking about how few things are harder than being at odds with others. He said it is not about us and the only thing that will last is Jesus and what we’ve done for Him. He gave some examples and asked did we know what he meant. He said it is dangerous to carry the banner of Christ and not be an instrument of peace!
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Matthew 5:9
He said peace is not the opposite of war, it is ‘everything joined together in sync with what God wants for us.’ Well, …he gave a band example of how each musician was playing his ‘own' tune, the guitarist, the pianist, the drummer (of course!) and how they just couldn’t get it together. He said we are like that in life. We cannot play together.
He said to maintain peace, we must FIRST, filter the noise, SECOND, investigate the truth. Speak the truth in love because the truth without love is divisive. And THIRD, X-out the enemies of peace. Mediate on those things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely!
Well, I missed it! By this time, I was in a full roar! I was sideways in the pew. I missed the onset. I wondered if I’d ever catch myself starting to laugh.
I prayed and just asked the Lord why. Almost immediately I started to laugh and laugh and laugh. Oh my Lord! Oh my Lord!
It was hard to describe. I felt peaceful, warm, loved and illuminated all at the same time.
It was divine revelation.
When the Lord speaks through revelation, He elevates to the highest level of responsiveness.
When it happens to me, I want to explode; it’s like the slow rise of a thermometer…I do explode…in to laughter! It is my response to the Lord’s revelation in my life.
So that’s it! That’s why people laugh out loud in church. Actually, everyone does not laugh, some respond in different ways. Some cry or wave their hand or pat their foot. Me, I laugh!
It is the inexpressible joy that comes with hearing from the Lord.
Well, mystery solved! I am a member of the laughing crew!
I often noticed and wondered why some people in church would laugh at certain points in the sermons, sometimes right in the midst of one. It was like a small crew of people. What in the world could strike them as funny from the pastor on Sunday morning?
Have you ever considered what does really does make us laugh? We normally laugh in response to something. Now there are many different laughs. Laughs can be toward a comedian or a movie or commercial. You could laugh at a card or book. There are laughs directed at people but those are not very nice. In general, laughter means we are in a happy place.
I have to admit, it takes a LOT to make me laugh. I don’t laugh at what most people do. But oddly, I find myself laughing in church!
Ok, when I first started it, I obviously did it unconsciously. I never really noticed until someone, painfully, made me aware of my church shrills! I felt bad that I might have disturbed them and asked them if I did. They said they thought I was really having a good time. I’m sure I really was.
I guess if I am having a good time I might as well look like right? I still could not explain why I did this. I was perplexed (but not in despair!)
I started to analyze myself to get to the bottom of my perplexity. Whenever I went to church during my self-analysis period, I’d try to move in slow motion, to become totally self-aware. I was going to catch myself at the onset of a laugh and determine where it came from.
Sunday came. I arrived at church. It was time for the sermon. I was calm, almost motionless. I held my breath. The pastor was doing a Fruit of the Spirit series. This week was peace. He started with how peace looks to us.
I was fine.
He gave some scripture references,
“If it possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” Romans 12:18
“Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.” 2 Corinthians 13:11
I checked myself; I was fine.
He said we should strive to be at peace with God, others and ourselves. He then started talking about how few things are harder than being at odds with others. He said it is not about us and the only thing that will last is Jesus and what we’ve done for Him. He gave some examples and asked did we know what he meant. He said it is dangerous to carry the banner of Christ and not be an instrument of peace!
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Matthew 5:9
He said peace is not the opposite of war, it is ‘everything joined together in sync with what God wants for us.’ Well, …he gave a band example of how each musician was playing his ‘own' tune, the guitarist, the pianist, the drummer (of course!) and how they just couldn’t get it together. He said we are like that in life. We cannot play together.
He said to maintain peace, we must FIRST, filter the noise, SECOND, investigate the truth. Speak the truth in love because the truth without love is divisive. And THIRD, X-out the enemies of peace. Mediate on those things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely!
Well, I missed it! By this time, I was in a full roar! I was sideways in the pew. I missed the onset. I wondered if I’d ever catch myself starting to laugh.
I prayed and just asked the Lord why. Almost immediately I started to laugh and laugh and laugh. Oh my Lord! Oh my Lord!
It was hard to describe. I felt peaceful, warm, loved and illuminated all at the same time.
It was divine revelation.
When the Lord speaks through revelation, He elevates to the highest level of responsiveness.
When it happens to me, I want to explode; it’s like the slow rise of a thermometer…I do explode…in to laughter! It is my response to the Lord’s revelation in my life.
So that’s it! That’s why people laugh out loud in church. Actually, everyone does not laugh, some respond in different ways. Some cry or wave their hand or pat their foot. Me, I laugh!
It is the inexpressible joy that comes with hearing from the Lord.
Well, mystery solved! I am a member of the laughing crew!
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