Embracing Wisdom

You will find no shortage of wisdom posts on my blog. Just use the search box. But no matter how much I read about or write about it, I find myself ever in need of it. So I decided to sow it again as a word for today. Though peace is my word for 2023 and really has been impressed on my heart a long while, I decided to have  word for everyday.

Sometimes, I learn new ones, and again it is a word study in Hebrew or just revisiting something I though I understood. But I can promise you the pages of the Bible are the breath of God, His inspiration, they are ever unfolding and like outstretched arms, they invite us to embrace wisdom.

Not just any old wisdom, not earthly wisdom, not even Solomon’s, but a greater one that He,  Jesus, the very Son of God who died to set us free. I am finding wisdom in being set free. I have face some tremendous obstacles of late and yet, the Son has me free, John 8:36.

“Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers? Matthew 13:54

Go ahead and read the Proverbs, I know some of you are reading through the Bible. I did compact in, in a way, so I would get through it and posted it last year. But my go to book is always John, even 1st,2 nd, and 3rd John, I do like to go over Hebrews and of course, Psalms and Proverbs. And I revisit the stories of certain women in the Bible. However you study, ask for wisdom, and embrace it. Here are some helpful verses.

He hides away sound and godly wisdom and stores it up for the righteous. Proverbs 2:7

Wisdom will save you from evil, from those who speaks devious things. Proverbs 2:12

Say to wisdom, you are my sister.  Proverbs 7:4

I will teach you wisdom’s ways and lead you in straight paths. Proverbs 4:11

Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future. Proverbs 19:20

By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established. Proverbs 24:3

That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2:5

These are but a few of them, so look some up this week and embrace wisdom.

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Establishing Boundaries

I have been reading a lot about boundaries lately. I do believe it is true that we have to establish them in our lives and the earlier the better. I also believe that we allow or even teach others how to treat us when we don’t keep those lines in place.

I know that was defensive about certain things, I deflected a lot of pain and discouragement. If I was offended at mistreatment or verbal insult, even outright wrong accusations, I used to let it all go trying to be a good Christian and hold my temper and emotions in check. While that has made me amazing to some, keeping my Jesus cool, it also left doors open for the enemy. We are not supposed to referee all day and night, we have to make it clear what is out of bounds, off limits.

If our lives are the playing field and God is on our side we can face down the enemy in victory. As teams line up and wait for the quarterback to snap the ball, the other team will often attempt to draw you off side, which is a penalty and sets you back. I may not be the best as sports analogies but you get the drift. I used to compare squaring off against the devil as a chess match, but that’s not true enough. We are not pawns to the king, but precious women of faith.

I challenge you to honestly and openly set your boundaries. I recall the prayer of Jabez, and when your field or tents are enlarged, the more lives you touch, the more souls you win, the more people you reach with His Word,  you become targeted. But you are in Christ.

Job had a hedge of protection and so do we. So  let’s establish boundaries. God is not just a lot of rules set in stone, Jesus fulfilled the law and prophets, we live in the Spirit, grace, peace, truth, hope, all our weapons of warfare. The enemy has lost before he began.

‘Do you not fear Me?’ declares the Lord. ‘Do you not tremble in My presence?
For I have placed the sand as a boundary for the sea, An eternal decree, so it cannot cross over it.
Though the waves toss, yet they cannot prevail; Though they roar, yet they cannot cross over it.”        Jeremiah 5:22

The Bible has a lot to say about boundaries and God set a lot of them and sometimes people crossed lines or moved boundaries, literal ones in the land. It still happens. And it happen in the spiritual arena. When you let someone hurt you, hit you, use you for their purposes and toss you away, you have no boundaries. If you are a true believer in Christ never settle for this, His will is not that we are always struggling, in battle or abuse.

Love has lines that you should not and will not cross as a believer.1 Corinthians 13 describes the love of Christ, He gave His all for us and we can only go far in faith, and ten He crosses into our situations, we have limits, but He is boundless.

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Source: https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Boundaries

Our Confidence, His Radiance.

So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Hebrews 10:35 New Living

I never really have had much confidence in myself. I kind of thought I should be able to do what anyone else could or that I was a good writer. Even that was a sort of self confidence, yet it might have been comparison to an extent.

I know that I am not as good at some things, even though I would like to be. I am not good with technology. I tend to be either too tough on those who should know better an too nice too others who are terrible to me. Is it a trust issue? You cannot trust everyone who says they are a believer, they may not be or as well meaning as you are. everyone is not alike, which is a good thing but we are to be spiritually connected through the Lord.

I am not tossing away my confidence in Him, it becomes mine. In His confidence, I can radiate His love. So what if I can’t do everything I think I should be able to? I can do what He says ” all things ” in Him, Phillipians 4:13

We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. 2 Corinthians 3:4 New Living

I recommend reading the whole chapter. It is in regard to those whose live we touch as believers. We are not bragging on ourselves, God qualifies us. What we do is by the Spirit making the lives of others richer in Christ. Their lives become letters written on the heart, not commandments etched in stone. See what confidence in Jesus does.

And we are confident that He hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases Him. 1 John 5:14 New Living

I like this translation as opposed to according to His will. That suggests that we are asking for something that is not His will. Or that He will say no. We may not be praying for the wrong thing, but maybe it is not the right time. Why would asking for the right career, person to marry or healing, someone’s salvation not be His will. Sometimes other refuse to receive and perhaps even we do, because it is not happening when we think it should. Don’t toss out confidence in Him.

I pray that I can impart confidence in Him to you. Be a letter that I have written His words upon. may He be in our hearts, may we be confident in Him, radiating His presence. For without Him we can’t do it, He started a good work in us and He will finish it.

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Finding God’s Favor

So you will find favor and good success, in the sight of God and man. Proverbs 3:4

Shoes? You may ask. What has that to do with favor? Well, our walk with God is the determining fact of obtaining grace. While He pours it out on us as believers and was even merciful to us a sinners, He expects us to walk in His ways and grow in grace.

The Hebrew word for favor or grace, is chen, pronounced with a hard ch. God’s favor is something we don’t or didn’t deserve. To me, I can’t imagine His favor toward me. I remember a book on favor from years ago. Is it possible for us to be God’s favorite children in a sense? I believe so.

While Proverbs tells us to learn wisdom, write it on our heart, trust in God with all of it. It can be a challenge to overcome ourselves in favor of grace. But God has a lot to say about it/ Let’s look at some verses and people in the Bible who found favor with God.

“My lord, if I have found favor with you, please do not go on past your servant. ” Genesis 18:3 Christian Standard

So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. Genesis 39:4 In reference to Potiphar, then he becomes governor, second only to Pharoah, He is a type of Christ in the story.

Abraham is addresses the three angels, the one called the Angel of the Lord is a pre-incarnate Jesus.

Then she said, “I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not one of your servants.” Ruth 2:13 – Ruth to Boaz, who is a kinsman redeemer, a type of Christ in the story, also.

For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD. Proverbs 8:35

The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the LORD. Proverbs 18:22 New Living

A good name is to be chosen over great wealth. Favor is better than silver and gold. Proverbs 22:1

Now God had given the chief of staff both respect and affection for Daniel. Daniel 1:9 New Living

Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people. Luke 2:52 New Living

So many found favor or grace, including Noah, Rahab, Hannah, and even Mary. There are plenty of verses to study, and obedience to the Word helps us grow and find favor with God.

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When God’s Face Shines

A lot of us are familiar with the Aaronic blessing, or Numbers Prayer. It is wonderful heard in Hebrew but here’s what we know.

“The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you, the Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26 New King James

This is what Moses was instructed to pray over Aaron and he likewise over the children of Israel, the it states that He puts His name on them and blesses them. While this applies to the children of Israel and those being under the law, how much more should it apply to us as believers.

After all, He has called us by name just like He did Jacob, changing His name to Israel, we are called Christians, we are engraved in the very palms or wrists of His crucified hands. Let’s look at what happens when God shines His face on us.

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. Isaiah 60:1

Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. Matthew 13:43

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5

For from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. John 1:16

I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should remain in darkness. John 12:46

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27

He shines on us, He extends His grace to us, He looks at us in love and gives us His peace. I pray He shines on us today…

Father, in Jesus name shine on us and give us your peace. I peel off the spiritual blindness of believers and command the enemy’s retreat at your glory upon us. Make us to shine like the Son, and hold us in the palm of you hand, so we are free to shine.

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Prophesying God’s Goodness

Many people simply do not understand prophetic ministry. I have to admit, I was one of them back in the day. I was young and did not realize that people were given what to say over others by the Spirit. Prophecy is a gift of the Spirit, one given as He sees fit, and not everyone has it.

Not every prophetic word spoken over some even comes to pass. I have seen, myself, examples of healing words and even visions that did not happen. Often God is speaking, His Spirit moving, but we are nto listening , responding or waiting on Him.

We can move quickly from spirit to flesh. It is not that they were not from God but not always received and acted upon. I have seen people live longer, survive incredible situations, and some that just go back to the same old ways again and again. Just as God longs for everyone to be saved, He longs for their healing, deliverance, their respect and love for Him. Not all will be saved nor do they care for what He says.

What we do have is the authority to speak His words over us, ourselves, friends and families. And we should be speaking good things, expecting good things from God, even in this fallen world. To prophesy is to  speak as if divinely inspired, to give instruction in religious matters, even preach. It is also to predict or foretell something accurately, it is not an occult practice or divination when it is a gift of the Holy Spirit.

Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. 1 Corinthians 14:1-4

A prayer language is personal and for yourself, the gift of tongues. It is powerful and if you have the gift, use it. Prophesying can also be in tongues or a word to build up the church. And it should be orderly and not cause confusion, that is not God’s way. He authors peace, 1 Corinthians 14:33.

Whether you speak His words in prayer, in tongues, or prophesy, do so in love, 1 Corinthians 16:14, the greatest gift, 1 Corinthians 13:13. And it will be up to the people to receive or reject His promises, His goodness.

I suggest reading 1 Corinthians 12,13,14, and studying it thoroughly before asking for spiritual gifts. And remember…

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!  Matthew 7:11

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God Is Releasing Doves

Don’t you love to see the releasing of doves and how they soar heavenward. I believe we are in a time for that, and even that He is releasing the dove of the Holy Spirit upon believers who will receive His peace.

For way too long, many of us have been oppressed and depressed and might have even retreated a little from the battle or been lost in a storm but that’s okay, because He is releasing His doves.

While these doves, are His angels, or so called earth angels, or they may be blessings or spiritual gifts, health related or financial, just some overwhelming problem that has been daunting us or persecution and afflictions, He is releasing believers everywhere in the last days into His rest, His peace, and His amazing love.

He surely is speaking grace and peace to us. May He pour out His glory and release His doves. Noah released a dove, perhaps the same one, from the ark. You can read Genesis 8:6-12. But first he sent the raven, the Bible says it went to and fro, whether from the ark or just until he could no longer see it, I don’t know. They are playful but predatory birds, they have even been known to watch ewes giving birth in order to prey on lambs. No wonder there is the poem about them, scary.

But it was the dove who came and went and brought the olive branch to Noah, before she did not return. She had finally found food. The dove would come back to the ark, and even sit in Noah’s hand. Jesus is our ark. I like to study the Bible’s symbolism and metaphors, and share its rich beauty.

Noah’s name by the way, means rest, from the Hebrew nuach, sounds like noo-ok, and rhymes with ruach, roo-ok, spirit or wind. God does not miss a beat, does He? It is, so often, that we miss Him. Jesus’ name means salvation, Yeshua. And He told a woman to be loosed! Shouldn’t we be?

The dove of the Spirit was released on Him at the Jordan River and it was a real dove because the Bible specifies ” in bodily form “. While we might not always see the Holy Spirit moving, He is there, and I believe God is releasing the doves, not only spiritual ones but those of us who can enter His rest and embrace His gift of peace.

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Leaving Them To Heaven

I like old movies, they don’t make them like that anymore. That is where I got my title. Gene Tierney plays a wicked diva who will go to any length to get her way in Leave Her To Heaven.

Truthfully, I like to write and I can barely think up such people. It is just not my mindset. I am thankful for the mind of Christ in me, it is something we have to all work on. Most of us are not going to be that extreme. Yet, there are those who don’t mind trampling your beliefs or pearls of wisdom.

I am always amazed that believers are even capable of abusing His grace, His amazing grace. Jesus paid a high price coming from heaven to earth to hell and back to redeem us. Why is it so hard to comprehend that?

And why is it so easy to fall prey to the enemy’s devices even though we are able to overcome in Him? I have discovered there are those who don’t want help, or only on their terms, That is not the way it works.

God does not approve of His children arguing and bickering, walking over each other to get ahead. Knowing to do good and not doing it is a sin. So there are those, unbelieving and evil who could care less about God. Some that think they know Him but don’t really, and some believers who have fallen into doubt and even unbelief which can give you an evil heart, Hebrews 3:12, that is not where you want to be spiritually.

There are just people we may not be able to reach no matter how much we love them and want to see them better themselves and follow Jesus, these are the ones we will have to leave to heaven.

God knows hearts so much better that we do, and a heart at rest will give the body peace, both natural one and the body of Christ as a whole. We do need each other but none of us are able to carry the burdens Jesus bore. So whatever you are facing and whomever you are dealing with, consider yourself blessed to know that God is in control, His angels are at work, and you can rest by giving Him control, give Him your cares, even loved ones. Let go and leave them to heaven.

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Just Rest!

From my own experience, I know that sounds impossible. But we know that with God all things are possible, and that we literally can’t do anything without Him, including resting.

“If You can?” echoed Jesus. “All things are possible to him who believes!” Mark 9:23 Berean

” Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.. ” John 15:15 New Living

I like these examples that Jesus not only answers but ” echoes ” the request that a demon leave a boy. The disciples could not deliver him but Jesus could as the father even asks to help him believe. I do believe there are things only Jesus can do but we still have to rest and believe. Our words and faith have to remain in Him, we can’t do anything without Him. So what makes us think we can rest alone?

I know, there is always that pile of laundry, or something is in dire need of attention, maybe, like me, you have something broken down or running over. And to top it off, I felt like both, that I had broken down and yet, I was writing again and my spirit was starting to overflow, but was still tired.

As I was still learning to walk again after surgery, I noticed a snail. Such a tiny creature, and so slow. It reminded me of the bug hunts from my daycare days. I picked it up, it’s tiny head popped into its shell as I moved it from the concrete to the grass.

We often feel so much guilt about resting and saying, ” Just rest! ” isn’t nearly enough. It has to be a deliberate and purposeful mindset. Turn off phones and social media, television. Rest and relax. Get a sitter, do what you have to do to rest.

Rest is an intentional part of being a woman of faith. Sometimes, I have found it to be just switching from one thing to another, just changing my focus from the mundane to heavenly or just beautiful, like flowers and scenery. It is taking time to notice the butterfly or the snail.

It is just sitting in the warmth of the sun or feeling a spring breeze or seeing a sunset or a rainbow, that wispy cloud that resembles a feather. I like to think about an angel leaving as a reminder.

I hope you decide to enter His rest, Hebrews 4 and rest everyday, at least for a while. Consider it a commandment if you have to, it is that important, and when your are burned out, the Holy Spirit can help you fan the flame once more.

While true believers have a measure of the Spirit at salvation, it is important to stay filled and rested in Him. Just as God gave Jesus power and authority, Isaiah 61:1, Acts 10:38. He will do that for us. but just as Jesus and the disciples did, we have to rest in order for that anointing to fill and refresh us, and to remain in Him.

Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat. Mark 6:31 New Living

But you are not like that, for the Holy One has given you his Spirit, and all of you know the truth. i John 2:20 New Living

It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. Psalm 127:2

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Entering His Rest

God offered rest to the Israelites in Isaiah, and they refused. So how do we enter His rest? And why?

Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. Hebrews 4:11

It is good to read the whole chapter about our beloved High Priest, we know that disobedience cost Moses his entry to the promised land. That is such an important story, he was chosen as the deliverer but he failed to see that Jesus was the rock he was striking.

Joshua became their leader, and even he could not give them rest, not the true Sabbath rest that Jesus offers, and not just after you pass on. We know that Jesus brought grace and truth, His commandment was and is to love, He offers rest, Matthew 11:28-30.

But it is Hebrews 4 that goes into detail about how Jesus is our rest and how we do not want to fall into the same disobedience, He was tempted in every way, He understands us and how the enemy works against believers, it is why He became flesh, and that is why He had to die to redeem us.

This sacrifice is much to great to squander, to waste, to live life in worry and fear, when He has made a way. We have all done that not realizing we were many times. It is time to rethink and really not only enter but remain at rest in Him.

It was only the high priest who went behind the curtain or veil where God came to sit on the mercy seat. And now Jesus is our High Priest, and the veil of the temple was torn in half at His death. His flesh represents the veil and now we have, as believers, His Spirit and access to God.

Why now read Hebrews 4, and see how to enter His rest? I am sowing rest and of course His peace, what a gift He gave, so let’s rest in Him.

https://biblehub.com/esv/hebrews/4.htm

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