Author: Barbara

My passion is to encourage women wherever they are on their life journey. In everything I write and in every opportunity to speak, my goal is to offer hope. May the God of all hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 NIV

Wisdom’s Caution

~ Barbara ~ 1 Comment

God cares, as any good parent does. When our children mature into adults, we pull back to give them space to make their own decisions, but we remain near, hoping their choices reflect the wisdom we lovingly wove into their young lives. It wouldn’t be appropriate or wise for us to dictate our wishes for them or push them into molds we envision for them. But we never stop caring. Our love is too strong, our attachments too deep. That is God’s position with us.

He points out our choices, noting what wisdom or foolishness they offer. And He cautions us, just as we caution our children. For example,

  • “Fear of the Lord [faith] is the foundation of true knowledge,” to despise it is foolish. Choose faith; don’t reject it. (Prov. 1:7)
  • Sin will always entice and appeal to our FOMO. Don’t give in! (Prov. 1:10, 19)

Wisdom offers clarity and understanding, truth and light. She gives our lives meaning and direction. Folly offers glitz and deception, temporary gratification and emptiness. His invitations are hollow and always deplete us.

Proverbs tells us to embrace wisdom. Store it up. Listen to her with your ears and your heart. Don’t just cry out for insight, search for it. Your reward will be victory, protection, and prudence. “Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go.” (Prov. 2:1-9)

God is not less of a parent than we are. He directs and warns but doesn’t force us. His cautions are born from love. He has the advantage of seeing the end from the beginning. We would do well to seek Him and discover the path to unimaginable blessing.

 

 

 

Wisdom’s Call

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God is so generous! Reading Proverbs leaves me feeling wealthy and wise. Throughout our lives, we are offered two basic choices: wisdom and foolishness. Deception may confuse us, and its lies may lure us, but wisdom is not shy. She confidently offers herself as our best option, zealous to impart her truth.

She watches for us and calls out, raising her voice to be heard. She stations herself at every decision point, gated entrance, and crossroad, and cries out:

“Listen to me! For I have important things to tell you.
Everything I say is right, for I speak the truth and detest… deception.
My advice is wholesome. There is nothing devious or crooked in it.
My words are plain… clear to those with knowledge.
Choose my instruction… For wisdom is… valuable…
Nothing you desire can compare with it.”*

She doesn’t hold back but positions herself to guide us. She implores,

“Come in with me… Come, eat my food…
Leave your simple ways behind, and begin to live;
learn to use good judgment.”*

Wisdom calls, offering us a path that will be good and right and life-giving. Every capsule of wisdom we ingest carries light and truth, hope and freedom, clarity and purpose. And it is free for those of us who attune our ears.

*See Proverbs 8:1-11; 9:3-6 NLT

I Love Gs

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Let’s take a walk on the light side today and play with the letter G. I love that G has both a hard and a soft sound, a privilege only shared with the letter C.

I love gentleness and grace, goodness and Godliness—virtues God gloriously displays and generously grows in eager hearts.

I love the greens of grass and grasses. I love the green hues of a wide range of trees that each boasts a unique shade. 

I love gentle gardenias, giant gladiolas, glad geraniums, and glowing goldenrod.

I love girlfriends, genuine and gentle, gladly gabbing over multiple cups of coffee.

I love graham crackers and gingerbread, gouda cheese and granola, grapefruit and grapes (green please), but I’m not a fan of guacamole.

I love to play games, like Gin Rummy and Go Fish, but only watch gymnastics and golf (if I must).

I love giraffes and graceful gazelles, gorillas and grizzly bears, goats, guinea pigs and goldfish, but not geese. Aren’t geckos and grasshoppers fascinating?

I love the gift of grandchildren! I love watching them grow, developing their unique personalities and giftings. 

I love gatherings of family & friends, with gales of laughter, great conversation, and good memories.

I love the glitz of gowns and gloves, white and proper. I love the gleam of gold and the down-home goodness of gingham. I love galoshes to stomp in puddles. And I’m thankful to live in an era where my vision is easily improved with glasses.

I saved the best for last—I love God! I’m beyond grateful for His grace. I am awed by a mere glimpse of His glory. I love the gentleness of His guidance. I love the generosity and goodness of His gifts. I love how His presence makes my heart glad. He guards me—body, mind, and soul. He is gracious and altogether glorious.

What Gs would you like to add?

The Ultimate Heat Wave, 5

~ Barbara ~ 1 Comment

I look into my future and see countless magnificent choices. I could scale a mountain and stand fearlessly on its peak or effortlessly explore the ocean’s depths without a scuba tank. I could skydive (gearless!) and glide through the galaxies, hearing the stars sing. Maybe I’ll walk through the grass barefoot and discover a flower or creature I’ve never seen. Will I hear a melody not previously known or understand a language I’ve not been taught? Perhaps I’ll reunite with a former friend, meet a faith hero, or converse with someone from the Bible.

Of this I am sure, my senses will be sharp and clear, able to experience new sounds, colors, and sensations. My knees won’t hurt and my strength won’t fail. My mind will perceive thoughts and facts I cannot now imagine. New discoveries await me, and everything I encounter will be pure, clean, enthralling. My joy will soar, my intellect will satisfy, peace will envelop me. But wait, I’m getting carried away. Back to our topic. Before this wonderful life begins in the next world, this one must end—and it will do so in the ultimate heat wave. Look at 2 Peter 3:10.

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. 
The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, 
and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare [be burned up].

This reminds us just how temporal Earth is. Lest this distress you, remember that our future is an upgrade. It is not less, but more. It’s more than the inadequate picture I painted in my opening paragraphs, but I cannot stretch my mind far enough to describe it better.

Peter follows verse 10 with a question: “Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be?” Pause and calmly think about that.

The answer to his question is given a few verses later:

“So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this,
make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with Him.”

I look forward to Jesus’ return. I am at peace with God. I long for the beauty He will bring out of ashes.

Come, Lord Jesus, come.