Proverbs 24:3-6
Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
A wise man is strong, yes, a man of knowledge increases strength; for by wise counsel you will wage war, and in a multitude of counselors there is safety.
There is only one thing I have prayed for more than my future spouse, my purpose, or the will of God in my life. There is one virtue that I have found more pertinent than any other. Wisdom. Several years ago, in the midst of my seminary fiasco, I read through the book of Proverbs about a million times. I began to crave what Solomon had written of. Not for wisdom to show people up or just for the fact to be smarter than them, but for the mind of my Father. (My disclaimer: I have yet to attain this!) I was desperately longing for wisdom, understanding, and knowledge. I had come to realize that I was never going to make it through this life victoriously without these things. My common sense and good nature was not going to cut it. Keen judgment and “natural discernment” were void absent of God given wisdom.
What is this wisdom that God tells us is precious above gold and rubies? The ability to discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting; insight. Not what we assume to be only right but what will last. It is being eternity minded…in all things. By wisdom your house is built and it is established by understanding.
Solomon said “Get wisdom! Get understanding! Wisdom is the principle thing; therefore get wisdom and in all your getting get understanding!” (Proverbs 4:5,7) Practically an entire book of the Bible has been designated to wisdom, which tells me that God finds it important for us to understand and acquire. Solomon goes on to say that with wisdom comes promotion, honor, grace, and glory. That if you walk in wisdom your steps will not be hindered and you will not stumble. What other than wisdom can give you the security of not faltering in you walk? What, other than this understanding gives such freedom to walk in the light of God that shines brighter than the sun? “Keep her safe, for she is your life.” (Proverbs 4:13) Without wisdom our path is complete darkness and we cannot even know what is making us stumble. Do you see that only in the light of knowledge and wisdom we can become aware of what makes us stumble? We must attain the ability to judge what is true and lasting.
How do we gain such wisdom? I suppose that some of us are born with a keener sense of judgment than others. I do not know why or if this is even true. But I absolutely know that we become wise with age, not because we are older but because we have made more mistakes. We are taught to not despise the chastening of our Father and to not detest His correction. “For whom the Lord loves He corrects.” The very next verse says, “Happy is the man who finds wisdom.” I, in my finite understanding, can only assume that the two go hand in hand.
I would challenge all those who read this to truly seek out this wisdom. Pray for revelation of what it means to be wise. Seek correction from our Father. Read the book of Proverbs with an open mind and a hungry heart. Our spirits are absolutely starving for this.
toni
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Friday, October 19, 2007
My Band Video
This is the promo video of my band that played for the youth a couple of weeks ago. We created this the night before we played.....check it out..
David John Philips
David John Philips
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Testimonies.....
I wanted to do a post that encouraged everyone in their daily life. After thinking for a while if figured i would open this one to all of you. Click on comments and write a short testimony of what God is doing in your life..... Don't shy away from this one. Someone could be changed because of what God has done through you!
Saturday, October 13, 2007
my near death experience....kinda
Courtney Here~
I have never been a big fan of elevators. Since I was little, i have had a fear of being trapped inside one, and falling 2 my death...a little dramatic, but it's a real concern of mine:/
As you may already know, I am a senior in radiologic technology (x-ray), and I am doing my clinical rotation through St. Francis North. We sometimes have to shoot "portable" x-rays on different floors, so we have a portable machine. Me, a tech @ the hospital, the really heavy portable machine, and some random guy were riding up the elevator to the 2nd floor when it shook, stopped, and an alarm went off. I sat down in the corner of the elevator, completely traumatized! The guy was saying, "You know this means it's gonna fall." Well, let's just say I didn't take his pessimism too well. After staying in there, sweating and near tears, for a while, Some maintenance men pried the door open, and we climbed out. By the time I got back to the x-ray department, I had calmed down a little, but was still shaken up.
Everyone in the hospital thought that it was pretty funny....everyone except me! So if you are scared of elevators, and you ever find yourself in my situation, just think of me, and maybe it will put a smile on your face!
~Courtney Philips
Thursday, October 11, 2007
//window.breaks//
A man beyond my window is calling out to me. I can hear him in the distance, he says his love can set me free. While I am here behind this door, I think I'm warm and safe...secure. I won't see passed this window's ledge for the fear that he will see it's me. My heart beats faster, I hear His voice. I'm breathing deeper..."Am I His choice?" His voice grows louder, He's nearer now. My name He calls, my walls come down. No walls, no door, no longer bound. When He reached in I heard His song. He sang it then, He sings it now...
Beautiful One. My righteous child come to me I will mend your heart when you're on your knees. My heartbeat, the apple of my eye. What you mean to me you'll never know the depths. I made you to break you to heal you to kill you to raise you again and again. You will fall down, but I will hold your hand. You are the depth of my love. You're the reflection of my glory. Perfect splendor. You are the depth of my love. You are the chosen one. You are mine.
But the nations rise against me and I cannot contend with them. I am what I am. So burn me with your fire. Rush me with your wind. Drown me in your glory. Bring me back again.
~Toni
~Toni
Monday, October 8, 2007
//grace.is.driving.the.hardest.bargain//
This past week in crossroads david john brought up the subject of grace. It's so funny how God always brings up the same thing in a certain season. Obviously I am supposed to be learning something here. I have been pondering this matter for a while now. Would you allow me to think out loud?
I think that the majority of us can clearly grasp the concept of what it means when we say that by grace we are saved. (Eph. 2:8-9) Never belittling the grace of the cross, this is the most basic "form" of grace. I say the most basic because it is the initial introduction to his grace. For it is by this grace that we come to the understanding that we may be saved.
My most recent revelation (for lack of a better word) of grace has less to do with God's grace on me and more to do with my grace, through Him, towards others and myself.
I have learned in my short 24 year existence that as people we think very highly of ourselves and very lowly of others. I suppose this is the nature of our human form but it is inexcusable for the believer. (Romans 12:3) Because of this self-righteousness we consider ourselves to be the authority on…well everything. This distorted view of ourselves gives us the false sense that we have the right to give our "wise" advice on everyone's life situations. Seated on our high horse we miss the fact that we just might be devastatingly wrong. This mindset is birthed from our belief that because we "do" everything right according to some man made standard of righteousness then we have earned a certain status in a spiritual society. This status is not God-ordained or even God-approved. We achieve this "status" by measuring ourselves against one another and by achieving personal goals. We get a sense of accomplishment and we feel successful. We feel we have earned the right to attain a new level in the hierarchy.
Not only does this make us feel that we are higher than others, it backfires on the individual too. When we fail at something we feel that God is displeased with us, and I personally can't even find His love through the condemnation. Oddly enough I have often found that when I feel I have failed God it is because I set a standard for myself that He didn't set for me… that is a common problem for overachievers. The result that follows is that we kill ourselves trying to keep up with what we think is the best, working within the flesh and not the spirit, and it isn't long before we fail.
This is where grace comes in. it is only by grace that I may serve God acceptably. (Hebrew 12:2) Attempting to serve God outside of the realm of grace is like trying to keep up appearances when you are not living as your true self. Or keeping up with lies. It is a commitment that keeps you tired and stressed and confused. We set up so many rules for ourselves to make ourselves feel worthy of His love. When all the while grace is saying just receive it. And when others don't reach the goals we've set for our own selves, or when they break the rules that we have created (scripturally founded of course!) we shun them as failures, outcasts, less than our perfection. Because lowering them exalts us. But the example of Christ's grace shows us that we should accept people in their imperfection.
These lyrics ring truth in my heart
//We can't keep this up much longer, Grace is driving the hardest bargain The perfect world we have constructed keeps more people out than lets them come in
I don't think he's threatened when we ask questions when we have doubts and disbeliefI don't think he's angry when we are human that's what he made us to be//
I love that. The perfect world we have constructed keeps more people out than lets them come in. it is so true. And it is the truth of what the church is today. Grace allows everyone to come in. it is grace that pardons, grace that cleanses us within, and only his grace is greater than all sin. And he has bestowed upon us this grace that we may be gracious to one another.
So what is He teaching me? I am learning that I must accept people in the state that they are in. And that I must accept myself in the state I am in. Understanding that we are all reaching for the same goal. And the grace of God is the only way that we can walk together in peace and unity through the tumultuous transitions that get us there.
I think that the majority of us can clearly grasp the concept of what it means when we say that by grace we are saved. (Eph. 2:8-9) Never belittling the grace of the cross, this is the most basic "form" of grace. I say the most basic because it is the initial introduction to his grace. For it is by this grace that we come to the understanding that we may be saved.
My most recent revelation (for lack of a better word) of grace has less to do with God's grace on me and more to do with my grace, through Him, towards others and myself.
I have learned in my short 24 year existence that as people we think very highly of ourselves and very lowly of others. I suppose this is the nature of our human form but it is inexcusable for the believer. (Romans 12:3) Because of this self-righteousness we consider ourselves to be the authority on…well everything. This distorted view of ourselves gives us the false sense that we have the right to give our "wise" advice on everyone's life situations. Seated on our high horse we miss the fact that we just might be devastatingly wrong. This mindset is birthed from our belief that because we "do" everything right according to some man made standard of righteousness then we have earned a certain status in a spiritual society. This status is not God-ordained or even God-approved. We achieve this "status" by measuring ourselves against one another and by achieving personal goals. We get a sense of accomplishment and we feel successful. We feel we have earned the right to attain a new level in the hierarchy.
Not only does this make us feel that we are higher than others, it backfires on the individual too. When we fail at something we feel that God is displeased with us, and I personally can't even find His love through the condemnation. Oddly enough I have often found that when I feel I have failed God it is because I set a standard for myself that He didn't set for me… that is a common problem for overachievers. The result that follows is that we kill ourselves trying to keep up with what we think is the best, working within the flesh and not the spirit, and it isn't long before we fail.
This is where grace comes in. it is only by grace that I may serve God acceptably. (Hebrew 12:2) Attempting to serve God outside of the realm of grace is like trying to keep up appearances when you are not living as your true self. Or keeping up with lies. It is a commitment that keeps you tired and stressed and confused. We set up so many rules for ourselves to make ourselves feel worthy of His love. When all the while grace is saying just receive it. And when others don't reach the goals we've set for our own selves, or when they break the rules that we have created (scripturally founded of course!) we shun them as failures, outcasts, less than our perfection. Because lowering them exalts us. But the example of Christ's grace shows us that we should accept people in their imperfection.
These lyrics ring truth in my heart
//We can't keep this up much longer, Grace is driving the hardest bargain The perfect world we have constructed keeps more people out than lets them come in
I don't think he's threatened when we ask questions when we have doubts and disbeliefI don't think he's angry when we are human that's what he made us to be//
I love that. The perfect world we have constructed keeps more people out than lets them come in. it is so true. And it is the truth of what the church is today. Grace allows everyone to come in. it is grace that pardons, grace that cleanses us within, and only his grace is greater than all sin. And he has bestowed upon us this grace that we may be gracious to one another.
So what is He teaching me? I am learning that I must accept people in the state that they are in. And that I must accept myself in the state I am in. Understanding that we are all reaching for the same goal. And the grace of God is the only way that we can walk together in peace and unity through the tumultuous transitions that get us there.
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