Wisdom's Insulation

     Sometimes it would be nice to jump right in and not get wet! And I mean that for more situations than what's depicted in this photo. A little insulation there would help, don't you think?

     Many times in life I've felt the need to be insulated from what's to come. Or, after having taken the leap, wished I had planned ahead with some insulation.
    I don't always think or plan ahead - do you? We can find ourselves in uncomfortable situations wondering, Now what?! Sometimes those situations aren't of our own making, yet we have to live with them. That was my experience once. What then? Just as the diver in the photo, we can be as completely unprotected as she is from the cold of the experience she is about to encounter. Yet if she were insulated in some way she would then be unaffected. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could insulate ourselves from the hardships of life?

     In my experience I found there is an insulation from the hard places in life - a spiritual bodysuit, so to speak - that enabled me to pass through that time in my life unaffected. As a Christian, I put to the test some Biblical wisdom that encourages us to consider those hard times in life as an opportunity for joy (James 1:2-3). Now, there is a conundrum, right? Find joy in hard times? But it's true. We may not be in control of the situation but we can be in control of our attitude. The joy comes in determining I will not allow the situation to dictate or control my attitude toward life.

     I like to think of it as being a spiritual athlete. Athletes who participate in sports build their endurance by putting their strength to the test, over and over again, until they are ready to compete. I view enduring life's hardships no differently. Now, I don't go out looking for ways to strengthen my faith by hunting down hardships and diving into their frigid waters just to put my faith to the test - hardships will find me no doubt - however, I will not allow the tests to rob me of my joy. Therein lies my victory. And with the victory, a stronger faith when the next test comes - and it will. We can't escape them. They are part of life.

     Within the story Benny are messages of victory, endurance and triumphant joy. The battle was real and underneath the outward experience of the physical trial were the efforts in the spiritual realm attempting to rob me of my joy. I determined not to yield - and I won!

     If you know someone who is being tested today, share Benny with them. My prayer is hope can be found...and joy in their own victory.

The Paradox

I had the blessing of spending time with a dear friend (a nurse) last night - the one who put my experience into light by telling me what had happened to me was called a paradoxical effect. It caused me to reflect on what an odd thing a paradox is. A paradox is something that is - but isn't, should - but doesn't, heals - yet kills.

I Googled paradoxical effect and was stunned to find benzodiazepine at the top of the list of paradoxical effect drugs. Something I had not found in my previous research. Again, it was time to stop and take a deep breath because, thank the Lord, I am past all that, yet the reality of how many others who may be suffering this effect could be out there grieves my heart. I may have fallen into that slim 5%, but having been there wouldn't want anyone else to be there either.

It has reinforced my resolve to be alert in my life knowing, as the Bible tells us, there is one who prowls around like a lion seeking those he can devour (1 Peter 5:8). This one who seeks to devour us often uses the stealth of the paradox.

Read Benny - it is a picture of how stealth works.

Feeling Big?

When I get to thinking I'm "All That" looking at this photo of earth brings me down to size in a hurry.

Yet I know God sees me and knows me by name. Amazing! He knows every day He has planned for my life, every circumstance, and every thought and word before I think or speak them. That is comforting and convicting all at the same time.

I also know no matter what comes into my life He is in charge of it all.

Read Benny to be encouraged in the victory.

Butterfly Faith

My dining room table sits at a window overlooking my back yard and I often make  interesting observations while spending time there in the mornings.

   One blustery morning I saw the most amazing thing I've ever seen in my life - a butterfly flying against the WIND. Until that moment I had always thought of butterflies as delicate creatures. After all they are lighter than air themselves - or at least it seems that way if you have ever held one.

   Yet watching that one butterfly, not only flying against the wind but making headway as if there were no wind at all, was astonishing. It made me think that when I come up against the winds of life that would, or should, blow me away by their sheer force, I want to be like that  butterfly and fly as if there were no wind at all. Then I realized I can be that butterfly because the same One who created that butterfly created me. The strength He gives the butterfly to fly against the wind He will give - has given - me when I need it.

   

Beginning of Wisdom

In the Bible, Proverbs 9:10, says, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.


I believe that to be so true. Whenever I've needed wisdom, the word of God is where I've looked. Notice, I said whenever I've needed wisdom and not answers. Oh, we can go to the word of God looking for answers as well, but wisdom is more often the result.


I also believe that God is the only one who has true knowledge of all things. So, what better place to go? Respecting God - for that is what fear means - and His purposes in my life, knowing there is no circumstance which does not come through His hand, has been how I've found wisdom in the most difficult of times.


Hopefully, any wisdom shared here will be the result of time spent seeking the wisdom of God.