A year in Review

Every year the TV, radio and newspapers will do a “year in review”. It might be the top news stories, which famous personalities died during the year, the top 100 songs of the year or the biggest tragedies of the year. No matter what the list contains, there is someone throughout the year keeping a record.

As I thought of this I started to review my year by assessing goals I set in January. I usually write them down and then review once in a while throughout the year to see if I am still “on track”.

Here is my list:

·        Do at least 1 Bible study: Examples: Kay Arthur, Jerry Bridges  

·        “Establishing a heart for God” Bible study and Journal

·        Read/listen to Bible through in a year (chronically)        

·        Read 4 Christian nonfiction books: Biographies, growth, counseling        

·        Encourage/help others (Acts of Kindness)           

·        Send notes/cards monthly                       

·        Memorize verses

·        Praise/prayer  Journal     

·        Nanc certification - work on                    

·        Giving Jar             

·        Walk a mile at least 3 times a week                     

·        Write at least  6 blogs a month   

How did I do? Well I completed seven of the items listed above, three of them were partly completed and two I did not do at all. Do I feel like a failure? Absolutely not, I did many things not on my list and I learned daily that I need to follow Jesus’ lead.

As I reviewed last year I see blessing abound. God richly blesses us (all of us) daily. The political and economic environments around the world  have not always been strong, but God is still in control. Each and everything that is happening in the world today is not happening without His knowledge. I cannot get depressed about the world’s affairs but I can pray and ask God for wisdom and inner peace in times of duress.

The Bible is filled with assurance and comfort here are just a few verses:

… for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.  Hebrews 13:5

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. James 1:5 

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5 -6

Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Colossians 4:5 

Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. Colossians 4:6

Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah. Psalm 62:8 

For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth. Psalm 71:5 

But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works. Psalm 73:28 

I will close my review with some entries from my thankful journal:

·        Jesus – I shudder to think of where I would be without Him

·        Bible – His precious word for guidance, wisdom, counsel… for everything

·        Health

·        Grandchildren

·        “Establishing a heart for God Bible study” Bible study journal

·        God’s protection

·        Surviving the blizzard of 2013

·        Neighbors – I have awesome neighbors who are there for us

·        Quiet time

·        Children

·        Family

·        God’s bountiful blessings Ps 68:19

·        Job

·        Ability to pay my bills

·        Coffee

·        Memories

·        Birds chirping – it means I can hear

·        Sunsets and sun risings – it means I can see

·        Balancing a checkbook – it means my mind is still functioning

·        Friends

I could go on and on, however, this is just a sliver of my thankfulness to the Great and Wonderful Creator for all He has done and will do.

Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart. Psalm 32:11 

Rejoice in this verse means to “spin around” “be glad, joyful”. I have so much to “spin around” for. How about you? Start the New Year with a thankful journal and you will be pleasantly surprised when you do “a year in review”.

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Seek out Wisdom

23 All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me. 24 That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out? 25 I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness:  Ecclesiastes 7:23-25

Hope everyone enjoyed the holidays. I did take a little sabbatical from Ecclesiastes during November and December but I need to jump back in. For the next few weeks I will continue my thoughts and lessons on the book of Ecclesiastes.

Ecclesiastes reminds me so much of Proverbs. There is  a great deal to grasp, learn, absorb. It is loaded with “little gems”, “principles to live by”, “wisdom”.  All of this will do us no good unless we apply it to our everyday life.

The word wisdom is mentioned 234 times in 222 verses.

Let’s take a look at the 5 W’s of wisdom:

Whose wisdom should we desire?

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! Romans 11:33 

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: Ephesians 1:17 

What is wisdom?

From the Hebrew Strong’s #2449; wisdom (in a good sense): - skillful, wisdom, wisely, wit.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines wisdom as:

1 a : accumulated philosophic or scientific learning : knowledge

b : ability to discern inner qualities and relationships : insight

c : good sense : judgment

d : generally accepted belief wisdom

among many historians — Robert Darnton>

2: a wise attitude, belief, or course of action

3: the teachings of the ancient wise men

Where do we get wisdom?

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. James 1:5 

When do we get wisdom?

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Proverbs 4:7 

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. Proverbs 9:10 

Why would we want wisdom?

Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Colossians 4:5 

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. James 3:17 

Ask God for His wisdom to:

·        Give discernment

·        Act correctly  -according to His Word

·        Redeem time correctly

·        Share His Word with knowledge

May our prayer be this year: O Lord, teach us to number our days and apply our hearts to Your wisdom to do and say the correct things today. (Psalm 90:12)

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Two mites

And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. [42] And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. [43] And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: [44] For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living. Mark 12:41-44

During Holy Week Jesus was at the temple observing the people. He watched as people placed money into the treasury. The rich men contributed large sums.

I always chuckle when I hear of some big name music or movie star donating $100,000 to a foundation. Everyone ooohs and aaahs because of the amount, but if you look at what they make per movie or song it is just a “drop in the bucket”. It would be like a common man making $50,000 a year and giving $5.00 to a worthy cause and making sure everyone knew about it.

Basically this is what the rich men were doing. Giving of their abundance or their discretionary income (the left over money after all necessities were paid for). They made sure they had plenty left over for themselves.

Following the men was a poor widow. Widows in Bible times had nothing. There were no government programs to help poor people. Whatever she had was from working a job, which was not common in those times, or someone in her family gave her some money for the bare necessities. Wherever she got her money does not matter. What matters is how she used it.

Two mites, is all she had. A mite was the smallest of all Jewish coins. It was not only small in size but also in worth. Two mites were all the widow had. She probably did not know where her next meal was coming from, but she knew what she had to do and she did it. This poor widow’s priorities were right. God was first in her heart and she showed it by being a willing giver.

Time and money are usually the items that most of us waste. The poor widow was using her time and money to give glory to God.

What are our priorities? How do we spend our money? Where do we spend our time?

Meditate and pray asking God to show you what He would have you to do with your time and money.

I will leave you with a few verses from God’s word to ponder:

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6:21

So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. Luke 12:21

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Matthew 6:24

Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Colossians 4:5

Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:16

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Words

I have been thinking about words. Words are so powerful. Do we need to pay attention to what we say?

Proverbs 12:25 Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.

Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

Proverbs 15:23 A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!

Proverbs 15:28 The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.

Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Colossians 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Words can:
Lift up
Knock down

Encourage
Discourage

Praise
Criticize

Build up
Destroy

Give comfort
Be a burden

Give hope
Give despair

Here is a song we sing with the children in Sunday School:

Watch your words watch your words
Careful what you say
Words can make a person sad
Or help him smile all day

Watch your words watch your words
Think before you speak
Look for something kind to say
Today and all this week

Have a blessed day,
Donna