Wisdom

The Bible says: "Prov 2:6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous. "

In high school I remember those who managed to score a 1000 or more on the SAT's and thought they were "smart". Unfortunately, some of those same people failed at life. Either they couldn't make it in the workplace or their marriages fell apart. Don't misunderstand, many of the "smart" ones did do well, but shouldn't all of them have succeeded in every aspect of their life?

Part of the problem is that we live in a society where financial gain and the accumulation of possessions is considered paramount. Many people who do not know God seem to be successful, but without God in their lives that success is but an illusion. Success is more than just getting "things" and being "happy" it is in living a life guided by the maker of the universe. Without HIM our efforts will eventually turn to dust. Be wise, seek God; it is the smart thing to do.

Changing waters

Remind you of something? For me, its a little like being in the Newcomb area of upstate New York. There is something very, very, calming about a waterfall. Perhaps its the contrast between the deep waters at the base and the torrent above, I really don't know. One thing is for sure, life is like a waterfall, sometime its quiet and sometime not. If The God of heaven is with you, it really does not matter whether the waters are churning about you, because you are NOT helpless and alone, He will help if you just ask... so ask already!

Boom

When I was growing up, this picture probably meant either we were having another bomb test or someone was predicting total disaster like the movie "Dr. Strangelove". Today, I had an interesting conversation with some gentlemen in a local eatery and the consensus was this would be caused by some radical extremist. Whatever the cause might be, one thing is certain, if this were for real, it would be a fearful thing indeed. For those who follow Jesus, it just might mean the end of one life and the continuation of the current spiritual one. I think the following picture says it all!

Brush Strokes on Palm Leaves

Mark Copeland listed this picture in his Plaxo album and I was immeadiately struck by the imagery. Clouds have always been a favorite thing of mine, because they allow the imagination to "run wild." For me, this is just another signpost in the sky that tells me that God is at work. The one catch is: I just have to look. It seems to me that the act of looking eventually becomes the "stuff" of faith, for it is hard NOT to see God at work if you just look up long enough. Just believe your eyes, the truth is there. Psalm 19:1 says: "To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth the work of his hands."

I love you, Shilah

This is a very nice picture of my Grandson, Alex Donlon with his Aunt's dog Shilah. So good that I thought it was a professional photograph at first. The picture reminded me of the passage in Corinthians "When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things." Love is the greatest goal we can have and hopefully will never fade away, just become more beautiful with the passing years.

Heart of my Heart

The Bible says:


Psalm 139:24

Search me O God and know my heart: try me and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.

Now that's a great attitude! But I wonder, do we know ourselves as well as we think we do? Isn't it possible that no matter how great our mindset is, we just might have a problem we don't realize? Consider Job. There was a perfect and upright man, but he had just one (or perhaps more that we don't know about) flaw... He was just a bit too confident in his own perfectness. He had forgotten that the heart of being righteous was having a humble relationship with God Almighty. When God confronted him, he understood and changed his Attitude. There is an example! No one can be perfect, but we CAN have a correct relationship with God through HIS SON JESUS. If we listen to the Heart of God put on Earth for us, then we will be led to the way of everlasting. Just as the mother above is close to her baby, so will we be when we seek THE SON OF GOD.

Ever feel like this?

Sometimes we say things that we wish we didn't say and then pay the consequences for our actions. The smart thing would be to actually put our foot in our mouth in the first place and avoid problems.

Reread Proverbs 11:9 and I think you will see what I mean.

Hard Times

Beautiful, isn't it? Sometimes beauty is deceiving though, for consider the turbulence that caused such grandeur. Without the electromagnetic energy from the sun and the effect on the ionosphere we wouldn't see such a sight. Consider this image the other way round; the problem is energy disruption, but the effect is wonderful. Think about the passage from Habakkuk 3:17ff. When problems come into our life (and they will) if we understand that the Hand of God is working, then perhaps we will have no problem seeing the blessing embedded within the situation. If we can do this, then perhaps Hard Times are really not so bad after all.