Remedy for the Restless

Ecclesiastes 1-2

Everything is wearisome,
more than one can express;
the eye is not satisfied with seeing,
the ear not filled up with hearing.
What has been is what will be,
what has been done is what will be done,
and there is nothing new
under the sun.
Is there something of which it is said,
“See, this is new”?
It existed already in the ages before us.
No one remembers the people of long ago;
and those to come will not be remembered
by those who come after them.
Ecclesiastes 1:8-11

I said to myself, “Come now, I will test myself with pleasure and enjoying good things”; but this too was pointless. Of laughter I said, “This is stupid,” and of pleasure, “What’s the use of it?”
I searched my mind for how to gratify my body with wine and, with my mind still guiding me with wisdom, how to pursue foolishness; my object was to find out what was the best thing for people to do during the short time they have under heaven to live. I worked on a grand scale — I built myself palaces, planted myself vineyards, and made myself gardens and parks; in them I planted all kinds of fruit trees. I made myself pools from which to water the trees springing up in the forest. I bought male and female slaves, and I had my home-born slaves as well. I also had growing herds of cattle and flocks of sheep, more than anyone before me in Yerushalayim. I amassed silver and gold, the wealth of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, things that provide sensual delight, and a good many concubines. So I grew great, surpassing all who preceded me in Yerushalayim; my wisdom, too, stayed with me. I denied my eyes nothing they wanted. I withheld no pleasure from myself; for I took pleasure in all my work, and this was my reward for all my work. Then I looked at all that my hands had accomplished and at the work I had toiled at; and I saw that it was all meaningless and feeding on wind, and that there was nothing to be gained under the sun.
…
So I came to hate life, because the activities done under the sun were loathsome to me, since everything is meaningless and feeding on wind. I hated all the things for which I had worked under the sun, because I saw that I would have to leave them to the man who will come after me. Who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the things I worked for and which demonstrated how wise I am under the sun. This too is pointless. Thus I came to despair over all the things I had worked for under the sun. Here is a man whose work is done with wisdom, knowledge and skill; yet he has to leave it to someone who has put no work into it. This is not only pointless, but a great evil. For what does a person get from all his efforts and ambitions permeating the work he does under the sun? His whole life is one of pain, and his work is full of stress; even at night his mind gets no rest. This too is pointless.
There is nothing better for people than to eat and drink, and to find enjoyment in their labor. This too, I perceived, is from the hand of God. For who can eat and who can have joy, apart from Him? For to the one who pleases Him, He gives wisdom, knowledge and joy, but to the sinner He gives the task of gathering and accumulating wealth to give it to one who pleases God. This also is only vapor and striving after the wind.
Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 & 17-26

Solomon had amassed ridiculous levels of wealth during his reign. There was nothing that he wanted that was out of his reach. He writes that he denied his eyes nothing they wanted and that he withheld no pleasure from himself. He built palaces, gardens, treasuries, and vineyards. He had cattle, flocks, and horses; servants, wives, and concubines. Yet at the end of his life, he found that all of these things were meaningless. Pointless. Completely worthless. All of the things that he thought would fill him up with life left him feeling empty. Instead of loving the life he had made for himself and the legacy he would leave behind, he hated his life and he became loathsome of the fact that everything he worked for under the sun would go to someone who had not worked for it.

What Solomon discovered is that our short lives are but a vapor, and how we spend them in the time God chooses to give us matters. We can spend our lives toiling away, chasing after everything under the sun, but in the end it all amounts to nothing. This could leave us feeling depressed and hopeless.

But God has a remedy for the restlessness deep within our souls. Jesus said in Matthew 6, “Do not store up for yourselves wealth here on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and burglars break in and steal. Instead, store up for yourselves wealth in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and burglars do not break in or steal. For where your wealth is, there your heart will be also…
“So don’t be anxious, asking, ‘What will we eat?,’ ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘How will we be clothed?’ For it is the pagans who set their hearts on all these things. Your heavenly Father knows you need them all. But seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Paul writes to the Colossians that we should “set our minds on things that are above and not on things that are on earth.” He also writes to Timothy to “flee from [the pursuit of earthly riches] and pursue righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, love, steadfastness, gentleness.” And in John’s first letter he says, “Do not love the world or the things of the world. If someone loves the world, then love for the Father is not in him; because all the things of the world — the desires of the old nature, the desires of the eyes, and the pretensions of life — are not from the Father but from the world. And the world is passing away, along with its desires. But whoever does God’s will remains forever.”

Setting our minds, hearts, and desires on the things of God is where true life is found. There is nothing wrong with enjoying the pleasures of life; Solomon says that even this is from God’s hand, for no one can truly enjoy life apart from Him. But when earthly pleasures become our ultimate pursuit, we are in danger of allowing our hearts, like Solomon’s to turn away from the LORD. When we leave Him Who is Love and Light and Life, we will ultimately be left with hate, darkness, and death. And our lives will certainly feel meaningless.

Wholehearted

1 Kings 11

King Shlomo loved many foreign women besides the daughter of Pharaoh. There were women from the Mo’avi, ‘Amoni, Edomi, Tzidoni and Hitti — nations about which Adonai had said to the people of Isra’el, “You are not to go among them or they among you, because they will turn your hearts away toward their gods.” But Shlomo was deeply attached to them by his love. He had 700 wives, all princesses, and 300 concubines; and his wives turned his heart away. For when Shlomo became old, his wives turned his heart away toward other gods; so that he was not wholehearted with Adonai his God, as David his father had been. For Shlomo followed ‘Ashtoret the goddess of the Tzidoni and Milkom the abomination of the ‘Amoni. Thus Shlomo did what was evil in Adonai’s view and did not fully follow Adonai, as David his father had done. Shlomo built a high place for K’mosh the abomination of Mo’av on the hill on front of Yerushalayim, and another for Molekh the abomination of the people of ‘Amon. This is what he did for all his foreign wives, who then offered and sacrificed to their gods. So Adonai grew angry with Shlomo, because his heart had turned away from Adonai the God of Isra’el, who had appeared to him twice and given him orders concerning this matter that he should not follow other gods. But he didn’t obey Adonai’s orders.

So Adonai said to Shlomo, “Since this is what has been in your mind, and you haven’t kept my covenant and my regulations which I ordered you to obey, I will tear the kingdom from you and give it to your servant. However, for David your father’s sake I won’t do it while you are alive, but I will tear it away from your son. Even then, I won’t tear away all the kingdom; I will give one tribe to your son for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Yerushalayim, which I have chosen.”
1 Kings 11:1-13

Some of King David’s final words to his son Solomon are recorded in 1 Chronicles 28, “As for you, Shlomo my son, know the God of your father. Serve him wholeheartedly and with desire in your being; for Adonai searches all hearts and understands all the inclinations of people’s thoughts. If you seek him, he will let himself be found by you; but if you abandon him, he will reject you forever.”

The word “wholehearted” means “with a perfect heart,” or better put, “a heart that is perfect toward God.” How can our hearts, which Scripture says are deceitfully wicked, be perfect towards God? I think it comes from being persistent in our pursuit of God – seeking Him, knowing that He promises to be found. Hebrews 12 says, “Since we are surrounded by so many examples of faith, we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially sin that distracts us. We must run the race that lies ahead of us and never give up. We must focus on Yeshua, the source and goal of our faith.” Paul tells us in Colossians 3, to set our minds on the things above and to put to death the things of our earthly nature.

Having a perfect heart toward God means we trust His way is best and we strive to walk in it; not out of obligation, but out of trusting faith. He is our Lord, our Father, our Creator, our King – as His people we believe that the way He tells us to live is the way that leads to abundant life that He has promised. This requires humility, since we are prone to think that our ways our right and pure. We must recognize the brokenness of our ways before we can start walking in His. David writes in Psalm 51, “The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. You will not despise a broken and humbled heart, God.”

A heart that is perfect towards God also desires to be searched. We recognize our human imperfection against God’s holy perfection and we desire for Him to shine a light on any sins, any areas of our lives where we are not being wholehearted toward the LORD. David writes in Psalm 139:
Examine me, God, and know my heart;
test me, and know my thoughts.
See if there is in me any hurtful way,
and lead me along the eternal way.

And in Psalm 19 he says,
Who can discern unintentional sins?
Cleanse me from hidden faults.
Also keep your servant from presumptuous sins,
so that they won’t control me.
Then I will be blameless
and free of great offense.
May the words of my mouth
and the thoughts of my heart
be acceptable in your presence,
Adonai, my Rock and Redeemer.

It was Solomon’s love of many women that drew heart away from the LORD. His desire for them and his desire to please them, led to him compromising his faith and obedience to the LORD, and because this went unchecked over many years, it lead to him building altars to pagan gods and sacrificing to them. Sin unchecked may not seem like a big deal, but over time it can grow deep roots. That is why Paul warns Timothy to “flee the passions of youth” and he encourages him to pursue righteousness, faithfulness, love and peace along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Our playmates and our playground greatly impact whether we are drawn into temptation or drawn into a deeper relationship with the LORD. Solomon suffered from the former as he compromised his devotion to the LORD with his devotion to his many wives, and ultimately, with the world.

LORD, help me to be wholehearted – to have heart that is perfect toward You! Give me the desire to live a holy, set apart life of faith and obedience to You. Search my heart and cleanse me of my secret sins. Point out and shine a light on the areas of my life that are not fully devoted to You. AMEN!

A Capable Wife

Proverbs 24-31

By wisdom a house is built,
    by understanding it is made secure,
and by knowledge its rooms are filled
    with all kinds of costly and pleasant possessions.
…
I passed by the field of the lazy man
    and the vineyard of the man lacking sense.
There it was, overgrown with thistles;
    the ground was covered with nettles,
    and its stone wall was broken down.
I looked, and I thought about it;
    I saw, and I learned this lesson:
“I’ll just lie here a bit, rest a little longer,
    just fold my hands for a little more sleep” —
and poverty comes marching in on you,
    scarcity hits you like an invading soldier.
Proverbs 24:3-4 & 30-34

Remove the impurities from the silver,
    and the smith has material to make a vessel.
Proverbs 25:4

A fool gives vent to all his feelings,
    but the wise, thinking of afterwards, stills them.
Proverbs 29:11

Who can find a capable wife?
        Her value is far beyond that of pearls.
Her husband trusts her from his heart,
        and she will prove a great asset to him.
She works to bring him good, not harm,
        all the days of her life.
She procures a supply of wool and flax
        and works with willing hands.
She is like those merchant vessels,
        bringing her food from far away.
It’s still dark when she rises to give food to her household
        and orders to the young women serving her.
She considers a field, then buys it,
        and from her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She gathers her strength around her
        and throws herself into her work.
She sees that her business affairs go well;
        her lamp stays lit at night.
She puts her hands to the staff with the flax;
        her fingers hold the spinning rod.
She reaches out to embrace the poor
        and opens her arms to the needy.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
        since all of them are doubly clothed.
She makes her own quilts;
        she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
Her husband is known at the city gates
        when he sits with the leaders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them;
        she supplies the merchants with sashes.
Clothed with strength and dignity,
        she can laugh at the days to come.
When she opens her mouth, she speaks wisely;
        on her tongue is loving instruction.
She watches how things go in her house,
        not eating the bread of idleness.
Her children arise; they make her happy;
        her husband too, as he praises her:
“Many women have done wonderful things,
        but you surpass them all!”
Charm can lie, beauty can vanish,
        but a woman who fears Adonai should be praised.
Give her a share in what she produces;
        let her works speak her praises at the city gates.
Proverbs 31:10-31

It’s taken me a few days to finish up the Proverbs. Our lives have suddenly become much more busy and full over the past week with my husband starting his new job, my daughter starting pre-k 2x a week, and our exchange student full into her sophomore semester in high school. Now that I have all this “free time” while everyone is gone during the day I find myself struggling to find the balance between laziness and trying to do too much. For nearly 4 months while my husband was off work we had a very “go with the flow” kind of schedule. Normally, I thrive better with structure and routine, but the unintended break from our normal busy lives was definitely nice!

But now that we are getting back into our routines and our schedules are becoming jam-packed, I don’t want to waste this gift of time that I now have. I want to use it to strengthen and deepen my relationship with the LORD through extended time in His Word. I want to wisely use my time to plan and prepare so that I can make my home a place of rest for my family, with meals planned, groceries bought, laundry done, and things keep tidy. I know my home doesn’t need to be perfect all the time, but I know that it blesses my family, especially my husband, to come home to an organized home. I also want to use my time to pour into my relationships with others – enjoying lunch with a friend our having playdates with other mommies and their kiddos.

I feel like the LORD taught me a lot over this past summer and helped to shift my mindset more and more toward heavenly things and Kingdom living. I don’t want to waste the precious time that He gave us and the things He taught me now that our schedule has changed. I want to continue walking down the path that He has me on.

Today happens to be our 8th anniversary, so it’s perfect timing that I am finishing up this round through the Proverbs with the chapter about a capable wife. This is the woman I strive to be: a woman who blesses her husband all the days of her life, who works with willing hands, who sacrifices even her own rest to prepare her home for her family, who wisely considers her actions, who throws herself into her work trusting that God’s callings are His enablings, who has a heart for those in need and opens her hands and home in kindness toward them, who does not fear future circumstances knowing that her hope is secure in the LORD, whose lips pour out wisdom and loving instruction, who does not indulge in laziness but takes care of the affairs of her home.

My Jewish study Bible says: But who is this capable woman? She is a woman who is attentive to herself and to those around her. Her heart is bound up in the well-being of others. She is creative and resourceful, and she radiates beauty in her own unique way. She cares for herself, but she knows she is more than just a physical body: she emanates this beauty from her soul as well, in servitude and in love. She is fully aware of her place in the plan of God, seizing each moment with intention. This practical and spiritual woman aligns her thoughts, body, and actions for the sake of heaven. She approaches life with fortitude and presses forth despite obstacles…Whoever she is, she is the eshet chayil: the woman who stives to live a full life of service to God.

Who wouldn’t want to be this kind of woman?!? LORD, help grow me into this kind of woman – fully devoted to You! Refine me, sanctify me, and direct my heart to be more like Yours. Remove my impurities so that You have material to make a usable vessel! AMEN!

Disciplining Our Children

Proverbs 21-23

Train a child in the way he [should] go;
    and, even when old, he will not swerve from it.
…
Doing wrong is firmly tied to the heart of a child,
    but the rod of discipline will drive it far away from him.
…
Pay attention, and listen to the words of the wise;
    apply your heart to my knowledge;
for it is pleasant to keep them deep within you;
    have all of them ready on your lips.
I want your trust to be in Adonai;
    this is why I’m instructing you about them today.
I have written you worthwhile things
    full of good counsel and knowledge,
so you will know that these sayings are certainly true
    and bring back true sayings to him who sent you.
Proverbs 22:6, 15, & 17-21

Apply your mind to discipline
    and your ears to words of knowledge.

Don’t withhold discipline from a child —
    if you beat him with a stick, he won’t die!
If you beat him with a stick,
    you will save him from Sh’ol.

My son, if your heart is wise,
    then my own heart too is glad;
my inmost being rejoices
    when your lips say what is right.

Don’t envy sinners, but follow the example
    of those who always fear God;
for then you will have a future;
    what you hope for will not be cut off.

You, my son: listen, be wise,
    and set your mind on the right way.
…
A righteous person’s father will be filled with joy;
    yes, he whose son is wise will rejoice in him.
So let your father and mother be glad;
    let her who gave you birth rejoice.

My son, give me your heart;
    let your eyes observe my ways.
Proverbs 23:12-19 & 24-26

Parenting has been one of the most difficult, challenging, refining, and sanctifying experiences of my life. I never realized how much I struggle with selfishness, entitlement, and even anger until I gave birth to my precious daughter. Each season of her life has brought new challenges, from infant to toddler, and in each one the LORD graciously shows me more of my sinful nature. More often than not, the problem is with me and my perception of and reaction to my daughter’s behavior. She, like myself, is a sinner; however, she, unlike myself, is only 3. It’s crazy how often I forget this simple, yet extremely important truth.

If we are to train up our children in the way they should go, if we want them to pay attention to and apply what we have to say, our goal should be for it to be attractive to them. Who am I to discipline my child more harshly than the LORD disciplines me? If it takes God a lifetime to transform me, why do I think that I can transform my daughter in a moment? This has been so convicting to me as I reflect on words said in anger and frustration toward my daughter, exasperated sighs and annoyed tones – sometimes I think my behavior is more childish and immature than hers. I know that God does not expect us to be perfect – He knows that we will fail time and time again. But He is a perfect Father Who calls us to be holy as He is holy. He has set us an example to strive for as a good Father who loves and disciplines His children in the most perfect way.

I heard Paul David Tripp on a podcast a while ago and I really loved some of the takeaways from his interview:
>My job is not to change my child’s heart, but to be a tool in the hands of the One Who can!

>If your eyes ever see or your ears ever hear the sin, weakness, and failure of your children, it’s never a bad moment – it’s always grace. He will expose the need of that child to you so you can be a tool of His rescue and transformation. Grace is about not getting mad in the moment, but asking what is God seeking to do in the heart of this child that I get to be a part of.

>If you personalize bad moments:
-You’ll take God given moments of ministry and turn them into moments of anger
-You’ll personalize what’s not personal
-You’ll be adversarial in your response
-You’ll settle for quick solutions that don’t get to the heart of the matter
>The result is the child has:
-gained no insight
-felt no conviction
-has no personal assessment of wrong
-He/she will be utterly unchanged and his/her heart may be hardened

>As God’s representatives we are to demonstrate that authority is not an abusive, angry, ugly, hurtful thing; but a patient, loving, tender, rescuing, guiding, wisdom-giving thing.

>Every time I exercise authority in the life of my child it must be a beautiful picture of the authority of God. Children are born predisposed against authority. We want to be used of God to soften our child’s heart toward authority.

Paul encourages parents to have a “long process” view, recognizing that Jesus invites us into HIs family through one single act of grace, but that our spiritual transformation takes a lifetime.

When I think of God’s authority, I often picture Him as a Shepherd – a name He often uses to describe Himself throughout Scripture. The Hebrew letter, lamed (לַ), is a picture of a shepherd’s staff and symbolizes authority. The Hebrew word “to discipline/to instruct” is lam-musar (לַמּוּסָ֣ר). Within this word is the word sar (סַר), which means “stubborn.” When I look at the word pictures, I see: “the Authority (לַ) that gives living water (מּ) that hooks (וּ) the stubborn (סָ֣ר).” We are all stubborn, stiff-necked, and rebellious against our Creator from birth. But He uses His sometimes gentle, sometimes strict Shepherd staff to hook our hard, stubborn hearts with the Living Water that comes only from Him.

This is the authority that I want to demonstrate to my child, so that ultimately she will be hooked by the ultimate Authority of her perfect Creator. I know I will do it imperfectly, but praise God for grace upon grace! His mercies are new every morning and each day He gives me is a gift to point my daughter to Christ through my words, attitudes, and actions.

 

The Temperament of the Wise

Proverbs 17-20

He who conceals an offense promotes love,
    but he who harps on it can separate even close friends.
Love overlooks the mistakes of others,
    but dwelling on the failures of others devastates friendships.

Starting a fight is like letting water through [a dike] —
    better stop the quarrel before it gets worse.
Don’t be one who is quick to quarrel,
    for an argument is hard to stop,
    and you never know how it will end,
    so don’t even start down that road!

^{A knowledgeable person controls his tongue;}
    a discerning person controls his temper.
Can you bridle your tongue when your heart is under pressure?
    That’s how you show that you are wise.
    An understanding heart keeps you cool, calm, and collected,
    no matter what you’re facing.
Proverbs 17:9, 14, & 27 (CJB/TPT)

He who separates himself indulges his desires
    and shows contempt for sound advice of any kind.
A fool takes no pleasure in trying to understand;
    he only wants to express his own opinion.
An unfriendly person isolates himself
    and seems to care only about his own issues.
    For his contempt of sound judgment makes him a recluse.
Senseless people find no pleasure in acquiring true wisdom,
    for all they want to do is impress you with what they know.

The words of a man’s mouth are deep water,
    a gushing torrent, a fountain of wisdom.
Words of wisdom are like a fresh, flowing brook—
    like deep waters that spring forth from within,
    bubbling up inside the one with understanding.

A fool’s words get him into fights;
    yes, his mouth calls out for a beating.
A fool’s mouth is his ruin;
    his words are a trap for him.
A senseless man jumps headfirst into an argument;
    he’s just asking for a beating for his reckless words.
A fool has a big mouth that only gets him into trouble,
    and he’ll pay the price for what he says.

A person’s belly will be filled with the fruit of his mouth;
    with what his lips produce he will be filled.
The tongue has power over life and death;
    those who indulge it must eat its fruit.
Sharing words of wisdom is satisfying to your inner being.
    It encourages you to know
    that you’ve changed someone else’s life.
Your words are so powerful
    that they will kill or give life,
    and the talkative person will reap the consequences.
Proverbs 18:1-2, 4, 6-7, 20-21 (CJB/TPT)

People with good sense are slow to anger,
    and it is their glory to overlook an offense.
A wise person demonstrates patience,
    for mercy means holding your tongue.
    When you are insulted,
    be quick to forgive and forget it,
    for you are virtuous when you overlook an offense.
Proverbs 19:11 (CJB/TPT)

The heart’s real intentions are like deep water;
    but a person with discernment draws them out.
A man of deep understanding will give good advice,
    drawing it out from the well within.

The character of even a child is known by how he acts,
    by whether his deeds are pure and right.
All children show what they’re really like by how they act.
    You can discern their character,
    whether they are pure or perverse.
Proverbs 20:5 & 11 (CJB/TPT)

I’ve already journaled about the Words of the Wise, but today I saw how the type of  words we use flow out of our temperament and our character. I really love cross referencing the Passion Translation with my regular bible. It often adds more depth and clarity to what is being said. There is a lot in these chapters that speak about how those who are quick to anger, those who are easily offended and dwell on the offenses of others, are fools who jump into quarrels, cause strife, and speak words that harm themselves and others.

But the temperament of the wise is full of grace and mercy. They overlook other people’s mistakes and offenses (however, that doesn’t mean they don’t confront sinful behavior) and they don’t dwell or harp on these things, knowing that doing so is poison to their relationships. They aren’t arrogant, wanting only to express their own opinions and preferences, but are humble; openly receiving the advice and opinions of others. They don’t separate or isolate themselves in order to revel in or hide their sins from others, but they live openly and authentically so that they can receive the counsel and correction from the wise. They are not quick to point out the faults of others, but instead through wise words they draw them out gently and lovingly. They exhibit self control over their temper and their actions, recognizing that our character is revealed by these things. They also control their mouth, understanding that the power of life and death is in the tongue, that it is what coming out of our mouths that defiles us, and that it is from the overflow of their heart that the mouth speaks.

LORD, let my temperament be full of grace and mercy – help be be quick to overlook faults in others and quick to forgive. Let me also be slow to become angry and slow to speak – understanding the power of my words and the impact that they can have on others. AMEN!

The Path of the Righteous

Proverbs 16-17

All a man’s ways are pure in his own view,
    but Adonai weighs the spirit.

If you entrust all you do to Adonai,
    your plans will achieve success.

Adonai made everything for its purpose,
    even the wicked for the day of disaster.
…
When a man’s ways please Adonai,
    he makes even the man’s enemies be at peace with him.
…
A person may plan his path,
    but Adonai directs his steps.
…
Avoiding evil is the highway of the upright;
    he who watches his step preserves his life.
…
There can be a way which seems right to a person,
    but at its end are the ways of death.
Proverbs 16:2-4, 7, 9, 17, & 25

The crucible [tests] silver, and the furnace [tests] gold,
    but the one who tests hearts is Adonai.
Proverbs 17:3

I have been so overwhelmed over the past week by the goodness and riches that come from walking in the ways of the LORD! I’m talking about the sheer joy that I didn’t really believe was possible from being wholeheartedly obedient to the LORD; because the world has convinced us that life is found elsewhere. I love how the Passion Translation paraphrases Psalm 31:19, “Lord, how wonderful you are! You have stored up so many good things for us, like a treasure chest heaped up and spilling over with blessings— all for those who honor and worship you! Everybody knows what you can do for those who turn and hide themselves in you.”

We have had an exchange student living with us for over a week now. My husband and I were both a bit apprehensive about what this experience would be like, especially because we got matched and were expecting a student so soon after expressing an interest. But we knew we wanted to be good stewards and faithful servants of the things God has given us, and the fact that we had an extra, rarely used bedroom just keep nagging at me as something that needed to be used for Kingdom purposes.

Since our sweet student has come to live with us, we have fallen in love with her! It’s pushed us out of our comfort zones in ways we didn’t expect, it’s caused us to rearrange our schedule to accommodate hers, and to consider her needs over our own. We’ve had to help our nearly three year old adjust to no longer being the center of our attention and have had multiple conversations about loving others and putting others first. It’s been hard work.

But it’s been so worth it!

I have never experienced so much joy in loving and serving someone who can do nothing for me. I’ve had tastes of it – serving in different ministries, mission trips, and outreaches. But this prolonged, 24/7 exercise in putting someone else’s needs above my own has already been changing my heart and refining me. I’m a bit convicted that it took a stranger from another country moving into my home to realize the joy that is found in living as a servant, but I hope and pray that this experience will continue to impact me in how I love my husband, daughter, and others in my life long after she goes home!

I think about how clearly Jesus tells us that this is the way to live – in service to others, in humility and in love. It’s all throughout Scripture that this is the life God calls us to. But the message from the world that is so enticing, is that this way of life is both meaningless and foolish. The world tells us to put ourselves first – to become narcissistic in how we think about ourselves and others. We hear the messages all the time: “Be yourself,” “Do what makes you happy,” “Treat yo-self,” “Trust your heart.” Even the popular message “love is love” implies that YOU get to decide what is loving. The world has convinced us that that best way to experience joy and happiness is by living for ourselves – and that the idea of giving generously and serving others is burdensome, that it won’t make that much of a difference, and that that kind of stuff is for people with more money, more time, more room, more experience, more…you get the point. Yet of course, we know from the proverbs that the way that seems right to a man leads to death.

But wow. If I hadn’t experienced it myself, I don’t think I would believe it either! I walk around giddy with joy, filled with happiness, and overwhelmed at the goodness of our God! That He truly is the source of ABUNDANT life when we trust Him and walk in His paths! It blows my mind that He would use me, my family, my little home in a suburb of Dallas to accomplish His Kingdom purposes! There’s a song by Matthew West that I kept hearing that I just felt like the LORD was using to speak to my heart as we were going through the application process:

My feet are frozen on this middle ground
The water’s warm here but the fire’s gone out
I played it safe for so long the passion left
Turns out safe is just another word for regret

So, I step to the edge and I take a deep breath
We’re all dying to live but we’re all scared to death
And this is the part where my head tells my heart
You should turn back around but there’s no turning back now

I’m going all in
Headfirst into the deep end
I hear You calling
And this time the fear won’t win
I’m going, I’m going all in
(I’m going, I’m going…) all in
(I’m going, I’m going)

I believe that one day I will see Your kingdom come
And I wanna hear You say, “Welcome home my child, well done”
…
All to you Jesus, I freely give
As long as there’s breath in these lungs I will live
With reckless abandon, my heart in Your hands
I surrender it all, I’m going… (I’m going all in)
(I’m going, I’m going all in)

There is something so fulfilling and life-giving about knowing you are in God’s will – walking down the path He calls us to! I almost feel like I’ve been sitting on the sideline for years, watching the game…participating in a scrimmage here and there. It’s fun on the sidelines, to yell and cheer on your team and hang out with your friends. But really, when you’re on the sidelines, it’s easy to get more focused on your comfort as you watch the game. What you’re going to eat and drink, how good of seats you have, who you’re sitting with. But now I feel as though the Coach has called me into the big game – and once you’ve experienced the thrill and adrenaline of actually playing, you’ll never want to sit on the sidelines again!

Gosh, I hope this feeling sticks with me! I want my focus to stay on Christ and His Kingdom and to walk on the paths where true life, joy, and riches are found! AMEN!

 

The Words of the Wise

Proverbs 12-15

One can be filled with good as the result of one’s words,
    and one gets the reward one’s deeds deserve.
Fools suppose their way is straight,
    but the wise pay attention to advice.
…
Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs him down,
    but a kind word cheers him up.
The righteous guides his friend’s way rightly,
    but the way of the wicked will lead them astray.
Proverbs 12:14-15 & 25-26

A [good] man enjoys good as a result of what he says,
    but the essence of the treacherous is violence.
He who guards his mouth preserves his life,
    but one who talks too much comes to ruin.
…
Insolence [Pridefulness] produces only strife,
    but wisdom is found with those who take advice.
…
He who despises a word will suffer for it,
    but he who respects a command will be rewarded.
The teaching of a wise man is a fountain of life,
    enabling one to avoid deadly traps.
…
He who walks with the wise will become wise,
    but the companion of fools will suffer.
Proverbs 13:2-3, 10, 13-14, & 20

Every wise woman builds up her home,
    but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.

There can be a way which seems right to a person,
    but at its end are the ways of death.
Proverbs 14:1 & 12

A gentle response deflects fury,
    but a harsh word makes tempers rise.
The tongue of the wise presents knowledge well,
    but the mouth of a fool spews out folly.
…
A soothing tongue is a tree of life,
    but when it twists things, it breaks the spirit.
…
A scorner does not like being corrected;
    he won’t go to the wise [for advice].
…
Without deliberation, plans go wrong;
    but with many advisers, they succeed.

People take pleasure in anything they say;
    but a word at the right time, how good it is!
…
The mind of the righteous thinks before speaking,
    but the mouth of the wicked spews out evil stuff.
…
He who heeds life-giving correction
    will be at home in the company of the wise.
He who spurns discipline detests himself,
    but he who listens to correction grows in understanding.
The discipline of wisdom is fear of Adonai,
    so before being honored, a person must be humble.
Proverbs 15:1-2, 4, 12, 22-23, 28, & 31-33

Throughout these proverbs I kept seeing the importance of the words we speak and the words we hear from the people that we surround ourselves with. Wisdom dwells among friends who fear the LORD – the beginning of wisdom. These people are humble and not prideful. Over and over in these proverbs we see that the wise person isn’t wise because he knows everything, but because he is willing to take and seek out advice. This takes humility, and without humility we cannot truly approach the LORD, Who is the giver of all wisdom.

There are other characteristics of a wise tongue – the tongues we should desire to have and the types of tongues we should seek to surround ourselves with:
>they offer life-giving words of encouragement and sound advice for the good of their friends
>they guard their words and control their tongue – understanding that a wealth of words does not mean wisdom is being spoken
>their words are a fountain of life delivering others from the path of death and destruction
>they respond gently without harshness, knowing that anger and fury can destroy the testimony of the wise
>they present knowledge well making it attractive
>they speak words that bring healing and life
>they think before they speak and they do not offer words that are intended to harm

But the fool is filled with pridefulness, or insolence, which leads to strife among brethren. The arrogance of the fool turns off his friends while leading him down a destructive path since he is unwilling to heed wise advice from anyone, assuming his own way is best. The LORD opposes the proud, but to the humble He give grace upon unending grace. To those who understand their poverty and lack, He gives mercy and grace and wisdom beyond measure!

LORD, help my to be like the wise woman, using my words to encourage and build up my family, humbly listening to correction and advice from Your Word and from wise friends that I choose to surround myself with. Keep me ever present of my need for You so that I can walk in Your ways and Your wisdom. AMEN!

The Hope of the Righteous

Proverbs 10-11

What a fool dreads will overtake him,
    but the righteous will be given his desire.
When the storm has passed, the wicked are gone;
    but the righteous are firmly established forever.
…
The fear of Adonai adds length to life,
    but the years of the wicked are cut short.
What the righteous hope for will end in joy;
    what the wicked expect will come to nothing.
The way of Adonai is a stronghold to the upright
    but ruin to those who do evil.
The righteous will never be moved,
    but the wicked will not remain in the land.
Proverbs 10:24-25 & 27-30

The integrity of the upright guides them,
    but the duplicity of the treacherous destroys them.
On the day of wrath, wealth doesn’t help;
    but righteousness rescues from death.
The righteousness of the innocent levels their way,
    but wickedness of the wicked makes them fall.
The righteousness of the upright rescues them,
    but the treacherous are trapped by their own intrigues.
When a wicked man dies, his hope perishes;
    what he hopes for from evil comes to nothing.
…
The profits of the wicked are illusory;
    but those who sow righteousness gain a true reward.
Genuine righteousness leads to life,
    but the pursuer of evil goes to his own death.
The crooked-hearted are an abomination to Adonai,
    but those sincere in their ways are his delight.

Depend on it: the evil will not go unpunished;
    but the offspring of the righteous will escape.
…
The righteous desire only good,
    but what the wicked hope for brings wrath.
Proverbs 11:3-7, 18-21, & 23

Throughout these two proverbs we see a distinct comparison between the righteous and the wicked and what their way of life leads to. It is clear throughout Scripture that even though the wicked may succeed in this life, punishment awaits them. The things that they have put their hope in will come to nothing and have only served to destine themselves for the wrath of God.

But the righteous have an eternal, steadfast hope in the promises of God. Walking in His ways, pursuing righteousness, leads to the best life; however that does not mean that we will not face storms in this present age. Solomon writes, “When the storm has passed, the wicked are gone; but the righteous are firmly established forever.” We will endure hardships in this life, but because our hope is in that which is eternal our hope is secure. And our righteousness is not of ourselves, but of Christ, Who has clothed us in His righteousness. It is our faith in His righteousness covering our unrighteousness that make us righteous. As Paul writes in Romans 1:17 & 5:1-5,
“For in it is revealed how God makes people righteous in his sight; and from beginning to end it is through trust — as the Tanakh puts it, ‘But the person who is righteous will live his life by trust.'”
…
“So, since we have come to be considered righteous by God because of our trust, let us continue to have shalom with God through our Lord, Yeshua the Messiah. Also through him and on the ground of our trust, we have gained access to this grace in which we stand; so let us boast about the hope of experiencing God’s glory. But not only that, let us also boast in our troubles; because we know that trouble produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope; and this hope does not let us down, because God’s love for us has already been poured out in our hearts through the Ruach HaKodesh who has been given to us.”

Paul also writes about this hope to Titus:
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, training us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live in a manner that is self-controlled and righteous and godly in the present age. We wait for the blessed hope and appearance of the glory of our great God and Savior, Messiah Yeshua. He gave Himself for us so that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and so that He might purify for Himself a chosen people, zealous for good deeds.” (Titus 2:11-14)

The hope we have now is both in the grace in which we stand which allows us to grow in our faith, endurance, and character – thus deepening our hope. But we also have a future hope as we eagerly await for Christ’s appearing, when we, along will all of Creation, will be redeemed and restored. What the righteous hope for will end in JOY!

But the wicked – those who have refused God’s provision of being made righteous through the blood of Christ – have a hope that will perish. Paul writes in Romans 1 about the destiny of the wicked who have refused to acknowledge God:
“What is revealed is God’s anger from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people who in their wickedness keep suppressing the truth; because what is known about God is plain to them, since God has made it plain to them. For ever since the creation of the universe his invisible qualities — both his eternal power and his divine nature — have been clearly seen, because they can be understood from what he has made. Therefore, they have no excuse; because, although they know who God is, they do not glorify him as God or thank him. On the contrary, they have become futile in their thinking; and their undiscerning hearts have become darkened. Claiming to be wise, they have become fools! In fact, they have exchanged the glory of the immortal God for mere images, like a mortal human being, or like birds, animals or reptiles!

This is why God has given them up to the vileness of their hearts’ lusts, to the shameful misuse of each other’s bodies. They have exchanged the truth of God for falsehood, by worshipping and serving created things, rather than the Creator — praised be he for ever. Amen. This is why God has given them up to degrading passions; so that their women exchange natural sexual relations for unnatural; and likewise the men, giving up natural relations with the opposite sex, burn with passion for one another, men committing shameful acts with other men and receiving in their own persons the penalty appropriate to their perversion. In other words, since they have not considered God worth knowing, God has given them up to worthless ways of thinking; so that they do improper things. They are filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and vice; stuffed with jealousy, murder, quarreling, dishonesty and ill-will; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God; they are insolent, arrogant and boastful; they plan evil schemes; they disobey their parents; they are brainless, faithless, heartless and ruthless. They know well enough God’s righteous decree that people who do such things deserve to die; yet not only do they keep doing them, but they applaud others who do the same.”

This is why it is so important for us who have hope in Christ to have it on display for all the world to see – so that, like Peter tells us, we can “regard Christ the Lord as holy [in our hearts], [and be] ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.”

 

Wisdom Has Built Her House

Proverbs 8-9

Wisdom is calling!
Understanding is raising her voice!
On the heights along the road,
where the paths meet, she is standing;
by the gates leading into the city,
at the entrances, she cries aloud:
“People, I am calling you,
raising my voice to all mankind.
You who don’t direct your lives,
understand caution;
as for you, you fools,
get some common sense!

“Listen! I will say worthwhile things;
when I speak, my words are right.
My mouth says what is true,
because my lips detest evil.
All the words from my mouth are righteous;
nothing false or crooked is in them.
They are all clear to those who understand
and straightforward to those who gain knowledge.

Receive my instruction, rather than silver;
knowledge, rather than the finest gold.
For wisdom is better than pearls;
nothing you want can compare with her.

“I, wisdom, live together with caution;
I attain knowledge and discretion.
The fear of Adonai is hatred of evil.
I hate pride and arrogance,
evil ways and duplicitous speech.
Good advice is mine, and common sense;
I am insight, power is mine.
By me kings reign
and princes make just laws.
By me princes govern,
nobles too, and all the earth’s rulers.

I love those who love me;
and those who seek me will find me.
Riches and honor are with me,
lasting wealth and righteousness.
My fruit is better than gold, fine gold,
my produce better than the finest silver.
…
“Therefore, children, listen to me:
happy are those who keep my ways.
Hear instruction, and grow wise;
do not refuse it.
How happy the person who listens to me,
who watches daily at my gates
and waits outside my doors.

For he who finds me finds life
and obtains the favor of Adonai.
But he who misses me harms himself;
all who hate me love death.”
Proverbs 8:1-19 & 32-36

Wisdom has built herself a house;
she has carved her seven pillars.
She has prepared her food, spiced her wine,
and she has set her table.
She has sent out her young girls [with invitations];
she calls from the heights of the city,
“Whoever is unsure of himself, turn in here!”
To someone weak-willed she says,
“Come and eat my food!
Drink the wine I have mixed!
Don’t stay unsure of yourself, but live!
Walk in the way of understanding!”
…
Give to a wise man, and he grows still wiser;
teach a righteous man, and he will learn still more.
The fear of Adonai is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of holy ones is understanding.
For with me, your days will be increased;
years will be added to your life.
If you are wise, your wisdom helps you;
but if you scoff, you bear the consequences alone.”

The foolish woman is coarse;
she doesn’t think, and she doesn’t know a thing.
She sits at the door of her house
or on a seat at the heights of the city,
calling to those who pass by,
to those going straight along their ways,
“Whoever is unsure of himself, turn in here!”
To someone weak-willed she says,
“Stolen water is sweet;
food eaten in secret is pleasant.”
But he doesn’t realize
that the dead are there,
and that those who accept her invitation
are in the depths of Sh’ol.
Proverbs 9:1-6 & 9-18

Wisdom from above is available to all – it calls out from the heights of the road to all who pass by, urging them to receive her and her benefits. We are told that the ways of wisdom are clear and straightforward to those who receive them and that wisdom blesses the life of those who seek it. Those who find wisdom not only find something far more valuable than earthly riches (and this comes from the man who had amassed an unprecedented amount of wealth), but they also find life.

Then we see in chapter 9 the comparison between wisdom and folly. Both call out to humanity – to those who are unwise and naive – and both have made themselves attractive. Their beckonings are so similar:
Wisdom says,
“Whoever is unsure of himself, turn in here!”
To someone weak-willed she says,
“Come and eat my food!
Drink the wine I have mixed!
Don’t stay unsure of yourself, but live!
Walk in the way of understanding!”

Yet Folly says,
“Whoever is unsure of himself, turn in here!”
To someone weak-willed she says,
“Stolen water is sweet;
food eaten in secret is pleasant.”

Both call out to the unsure and naive to come and receive something. Wisdom offers choice food and wine – that which she has prepared – that which comes from the LORD. She offers it to all that they would come and receive it and live. Folly also offers food and drink – stolen water and food eaten in secret. These are the lies from Satan that life is found outside of the ways and wisdom of God. Tempting us to believe that God is holding out on us and that true life and happiness is found in doing the things God forbids and ignoring the ways of His instruction. But the proverb ends with a strong warning:
But he doesn’t realize
that the dead are there,
and that those who accept her invitation
are in the depths of Sh’ol.

Those who find wisdom find life; those who reject it find death.

But if both wisdom and folly have made themselves attractive, how can we know that we have found wisdom from above and not the counterfeit “wisdom” of the enemy? James writes in chapter 3 of his letter to the church:
“Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him demonstrate it by his good way of life, by actions done in the humility that grows out of wisdom. But if you harbor in your hearts bitter jealousy and selfish ambition, don’t boast and attack the truth with lies! This wisdom is not the kind that comes down from above; on the contrary, it is worldly, unspiritual, demonic. For where there are jealousy and selfish ambition, there will be disharmony and every foul practice. But the wisdom from above is, first of all, pure, then peaceful, kind, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.“

“Wisdom” from the world is selfish and self-seeking, arrogant and boastful, jealous and resentful. But there are seven characteristics – seven pillars – of wisdom that is from above:
-Pure
-Peaceful
-Kind
-Reasonable
-Full of mercy and good fruits (helpful, generous, empathetic)
-Without partiality (humble)
-Without hypocrisy (sincere)

These are the characteristics of the wisdom that God desires for us to have, the one that calls out and is available to all who would receive it. It is only in this path that truth life is found – everything that the world offers is a counterfeit and a sad attempt of giving true life, because in the end it only leads to death. Proverbs 4:7 says,
“The beginning of wisdom is: get wisdom!
And along with all your getting, get insight!”

And God is willing to give it – all we need to do is seek Him and ask!

“Now if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all generously and without reproach; and it will be given to him.” James 1:5

Reproofs That Discipline

Proverbs 5-7

My son, obey your father’s command,
and don’t abandon your mother’s teaching.
Bind them always on your heart,
tie them around your neck.

When you walk, they will lead you;
when you lie down, they will watch over you;
and when you wake up, they will talk with you.

For the mitzvah is a lamp, Torah is light,
and reproofs that discipline are the way to life.
Proverbs 6:20-23

These verses automatically make me think of what Paul writes in 2 Timothy:
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is valuable for teaching the truth, convicting of sin, correcting faults and training in right living; thus anyone who belongs to God may be fully equipped for every good work.”

I think about what a gift God’s Word is…that He has given us this inspired collection of His revelation and wisdom to humanity so that we might know Him. God loves us as a Father and He desires to teach us the right way to live, and when we stray from His paths He disciplines us. Sometimes it’s gently through His Word convicting our hearts of sin, yet sometimes His discipline is more severe as He often allows us to endure trials to either refine us to be more like Him or to endure the consequences of our own sin. But I love what Solomon writes: reproofs that discipline are the way to life.

God’s discipline and reproof is never to harm us, but always to bring us back to Him – where true life is found!

Therefore, choose life, so that you will live, you and your descendants,
loving Adonai your God, paying attention to what he says and clinging to him — for that is the purpose of your life!
Deuteronomy 30:19-20