Wisdom hath builded her mansion

One of the easiest things to forget is that God is God.  It is in His nature to be God.  He does it without trying.

We forget because we're not God.  Out of habit, training, or perspective, we see God as massive enhancements to us.  And so begins, regardless of slope, a pattern that we spend the rest of our days either reckoning or hastening.  In addition, the only knowledge of God we have is what He gave us.  This means that we necessarily have an incomplete view of God.  That's okay - we can't handle all of God; but, we can handle what He has shown comprises Himself.

Today's five-minute moment focuses on this fact - wisdom is acting like God would in your situation.  Or, as God would have us act in our situation.  And without God's guidance, this is impossible.  So he leaves us clues.

As I mentioned in my last post, I challenged you to identify the wisest person you know.  I asked you to do this to help you recognize by what standard you evaluate wisdom.  Why did you pick that person?  Are they rich?  Are they happy?  Knowing by what standard you evaluate wisdom will help you recognize whether your own standard is reliable and how far your standard is from God's guidance.

Let's test how well you chose your person:

1. Does the person fear the Lord?

2. Is the person humble?

3. Are the fruit of the spirit ever present with the person?

As service is the manner in which Christ revealed and modeled his walk, may I thus suggest today's challenge:

Pray that God would reveal in what way you might be of service to your selected wise person.

What does wisdom look like?

This is one of those questions which appear to have no answer.
I believe this is because, unless two people read the same book, they are likely to answer the question differently. And I believe this different reflects more about what that person values (and defines as 'common sense') than anything else.

So what does wisdom look like?

Men and women, the world over and for many years, have sought her guidance, her arms, and certainly her attention. One could even argue that it is wisdom, not knowledge, that men of education often seek - and are misled into believing that the sane perspective they seek is found in textbooks of equally confused and often well-intentioned brilliance.

I will follow this post with some discussion of this topic - but I would be blessed if you, faithful reader, could ask yourself one thing:

What one person that you personally know best embodies wisdom?

How will this year differ from the last?

Two weeks ago Christmas commanded the attention of millions.
One week ago the New Year with resolutions commanding the attention of millions.
Today - not so much.

It has been said that, other than the books you read and the people you know, we don't change all that much.

I would argue this to be the case but would have used two slightly different words: wisdom and relationships. Thus, the phrase above can be said to focus upon:

The amount of wisdom a person possesses

The nature and character of the relationships in which a person finds themselves engaged.

Do YOU have a resource for Wisdom?
Have you chosen relationships that edify?

I believe ...
     if we don't actively seek wisdom,
          the wisdom we DO have slowly drains away.
     if we don't actively seek relationships that build up our relationship to Christ Jesus
          all other relationships can draw us away from Christ Jesus.

Let this year be the year that you grow and flourish!

Seek Wisdom!
Seek edifying relationships!

Should we seek an apologetic apology?

The more I think about God, the more I think justifying, arguing the case for, and defending God are silly. We're talking about an all-powerful God.

The problem is that we live in a world where we are called to speak to others.
This has the result that without the ability to justify God explicitly we are often only able to model God's presence.

Perhaps this is the best testimony which one could hope - to speak as Jesus, act as Jesus, think on Jesus, and breathe out Jesus.

Certainly He sneaks into more conversations that way than otherwise He might.

And really, we can codify morality all we'd like, punish laws we currently find abominable, persecute those whose hearts are quantitatively impure, and command respect and repentance of those who have crossed whatever line we've placed in the sand.

But we can't really see the hearts of people - only God can.
We can't really expect people to repent - only God can put true repentance in someone.
And we define that which is universally abominable by what God has put within our hearts.

Live as Jesus lived, for His father. And let God guide the rest.

Name your pillars

Proverbs 9:1
Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars.

First perusal of this verse suggests a metaphor, an abstraction at best, but I believe this to be something entirely different. Wisdom, in the world, is an abstract, poorly defined and rarely found. Likewise, if wisdom is an abstraction, what but a house of air and a pillar of hope can an abstraction hew?

Instead, let us consider the possibility that wisdom is not mere abstraction, but has feet! Let us consider that wisdom is something that is present - which it may not be measured by the means of man, but still has a firm presence in reality, and has distinct aspects that it can and does touch us.

One of the most powerful approaches to understanding something in scripture is to identify where it is first mentioned. Doing so often sheds light on something that, at first, appears only abstract.

Let us initially turn our eyes to wisdom.

The first mention of wisdom, in scripture, appears in Exodus 36:1 - and provides clear indication that wisdom comes from the LORD. In Proverbs 5:1 we find that we can choose to respond to wisdom. Thus, wisdom is a gift from God, but is not autonomously heeded - we must CHOOSE to attend to it. Indeed in Proverbs 8:1 it is revealed that wisdom itself is requesting our attention. Thus wisdom is a gift from God, desires to draw our attention, but the following of which is optional.

Then the question might be: what use is wisdom? Or, rather, what does the heeding of wisdom offer? According to Ecclesiastes 8:1, it makes man's face to shine and gives the man boldness. Likewise Proverbs 14:1 indicates that a woman with wisdom builds a house. Thus heeding wisdom gives boldness, confidence, and security of a sort. So scripture has revealed where wisdom comes from and that it has practical results.

Thus, the next question is - what are the seven pillars mentioned in the original verse?

Sevens, in various forms, show up nearly 600 times. As pillars are items, we will shy away from units of time as well as groups of people. Likewise, wisdom is given of God, so we will also shy away from groups of sevens that are crafted by man. Thus, for the first grouping of seven we look to the seven fruits of the spirit, clearly revealed in Galatians 5:22.

Do you recognize and observe these as part of your walk with Christ Jesus?

I challenge you this day to
... identify what pillars wisdom has built in you.
... identify what pillars wisdom has not finished building in you.
... identify what pillars wisdom intends to build in those around you, through your witness of the LORD.

Building My House

“Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.”

In the past, I’ve often read this verse without thinking too much about it. Not until the past year or so have I started thinking about what it actually means to be a wise woman and to build my house.

Obviously, in order for a woman to have a house, she must have a husband… or does she? I’ve always assumed that for a woman to begin her Proverbs 31 act, she must have a husband and a home. I don’t think that now.

Habits are not formed overnight. Equally so, women of wisdom are not formed overnight. To be one of the Proverbs’ wise women, it has to start in the single years when there is no one. The cultivation of diligence, kindness, wisdom, strength, prosperity, etc. must begin from the very beginning and must be carefully tended throughout the growing-up process.

Building a house, I discovered, does not refer to the actual obtaining of husband and home. Building a house is the careful collection and connection of pertinent building blocks of life. Learning to cook and clean, studying how to raise children and how to discipline properly, making sure relationship with God is strong and secure, investigating whether or not God has been used to fill the holes in life because a husband and home never will, and so on.

I was blessed to realized that building my house is something I can do right now while I’m waiting. Every action I take from when I get up in the morning to when I lay down at night is training me for life as a wife and mother; training me to be a woman of wisdom as I build my house. My prayer is that I would take this revelation to heart and build my house, not tear it down.

Overtaken by blessings and thus found wise

Deuteronomy 28:2 - And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God.

Imagine if you were overtaken by blessings. Imagine how amazing and anointed your life would appear if everywhere you went, every step you took, was literally blessed. You would appear as if you could do no wrong ... even your mistakes would shine brighter than the well-laid plans of those around you. You would be a walking testimony to God's grace and presence. If a single verse can overtake your awareness of God's anointing, I would heartily consider this verse receive the vote.

Proverbs 12:18 - There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

How often are we thoughtless with our words? I have found rare occasion where every utterance from my lips didn't have some aspect of destruction to it, especially noticeable when I was actually trying to focus on edifying things. Even quoting scripture can be tainted. And yet, consider this verse from proverbs. Not only can the words of someone be consistently edifying, they can be health. For those of us who are glib - to what purpose is this glibness? I have been on both sides of the coin, and most of the time, letting your mouth run wild, regardless of your thoughts, brings about madness, pain, and suffering.

So a pertinent question must needs be: by what standard does scripture call someone wise?

• You could reverse justify the existence of the wise by this verse, saying someone who speaks health must be wise.


• We know that if you are deceived by wine you are NOT wise. (Proverbs 20:1)


• We know that the wise tolerate foolishness gladly. (2 Corinthians 11:19)


• The heart of the wise is focused on mourning (Ecclesiastes 7:4)


• If a rebuke seems particularly anointed, it likely came from someone wise (Ecclesiastes 7:5)


• And if someone is strengthened by wisdom, they are also counted as wise (Ecclesiastes 7:19)


• If someone holds their peace, they are counted as wise (Proverbs 17:28), which might be a step on the road to wisdom.


• Another reverse indicator might be that a house in which there is treasure to be desired and oil is that of the wise (Proverbs 21:20)

Note: I guard against being labeled as wise in association with the "wise men" who were likely astrologers or sorcerers.

The general thrust seems to be - be cautious and thoughtful of your words and deeds.

So, with this vague post today, I challenge you with something concrete:

I challenge you to truly and earnestly evaluate your life according to the standards dictated in scripture for wisdom.

Also, if you feel a particular adjective or description of wisdom has eluded me, please post!

Tender mercies as euthanasiatic propensity

I am tempted to mention April fools day here, simply because it has elements of paganism, something I would speak against. I have no large portion of words to share, save for the phrasing that seems to be floating about concerning it, that April 1st is the official holiday of Atheists.
This turn of events is chiefly caused by the association between the first day in April and that of the phrase "fool", whilst simultaneously relating to the passing indicating that it is a fool that does not acknowledge the existence of God (Psalms 14:1 KJV), hence the association. So, if it be in your heart to observe today as a day of mirth in and of itself, I would heartily ask you to consider the source of you levity. And if you are a believer in our dear Lord Christ, I would ask you to pray for those poor souls who, to quote an old knight who was visited by Harrison Ford - "You have chosen poorly."

The tenth verse in Proverbs 12 reminds us that tender mercies are often crueler than understanding the whole of a thing, and acting accordingly. I don't know if it was intended, but I am reminded of euthanasia, that sickeningly devious moral dilemma, wherein someone's life is given the option of opting out because of a physical ailment. I can't say I have any particular wisdom here, and I know that man is not the same as beast, but I have to wonder at what point letting someone survive past the point where they can be functionally included in their own life is a good thing. Not that the definitions for any of those terms is clear cut, but the whole field of euthanasia is clearly one where God is not present. One of the areas where I have regularly heard God speak to me is in regards to that amazing relationship that can, and should, exist between Himself and a believer. It should be personal and daily. One of the results of this kind of relationship, I believe, is that euthanasia would never be an issue. I am not making light of this issue - on the contrary, I feel rather strongly about assisted suicide. But the fact remains that, as long as you codify morality, as long as you make a set of guidelines out of the well-thought-out decisions of families, you run the risk of unjust, immoral, and horrific decisions, in the name of wisdom. And it is that all lawmakers should guard against, but also one of the most devious things to lack detection.

So what is today's call to action?
Walk with God!
God loves everyone reading this journal (and everyone else besides - God IS love, yes?) and I have seen, in scripture and prayer, that it hurts God to be out of fellowship with His faithful followers. Imagine if your earthly father provided everything you could ever want before you even realized you needed it, gave you ever opportunity to grow into the very best you could be, and you didn't spend any time getting to know him, because you were too busy?
It is an easy decision to make on a daily basis - it is, I believe, the default of the majority of us. The result is that God, pouring His heart out daily, is regularly (dare I say religiously) rejected by nearly everyone, but in particular those who would claim His salvation.
I can't say this is you, certainly I don't have the gift of prophecy at this time. But I would call you to ask yourself, as well as pray, about your own walk with Jesus. Have you been listening?
Likewise, I believe we are called to be accountable to God (at the very least), and with this in mind, if you notice someone not bearing fruit, who clearly indicates they love Jesus, I would pray for/about that person. If God places it on your heart to pray for them daily, obviously do that. Likewise, if God places it on your heart to approach them about their lack of fruit, one might address the gains in ones life that follow an active relationship with Christ!

Go with God's grace!

In the nick

While researching materials for a presentation, one of the ideas that became clear to me, was the idea of planning.

This is not, admittedly, anything new. In fact, I had been counseled to start planning things ever since I've begun working with other people, and one of those people was my possible future F.I.L. It was one of the points that I have not spent a great deal of time on, and is thus one of my weaknesses. And so I write these words, in case I later come to this point and wish to remain focused, while desiring to append to the words stated here.

To be brief - as I was hurriedly trying to collect my thoughts on a topic I know very little about (why to choose Microsoft Windows over other Operating Systems) I realized that, much like any other procrastinatory event in my life, this would have been a great deal easier with forethought, planning, and patience. And so I ask you, dear Lord, to help this be that one point where I finally learn this lesson!

With that as my given, let the following text files in this directory outline my specific goals and include a breakdown of their accomplishment.
They should include:

• The goal (Header)

• this goal should be able to be defined in a single sentence or image
• If it is more complicated, there is undoubtedly a different goal I am persuing
• It should be defined in as visual a means as possible
• It also means that I should either focus on the actual goal (by rewording the work)
• OR
• Redefine this goal more inline with what I'm trying to accomplish

• Quality (Sub-Header)

• This section has been the most difficult, and should be the second finished immediately after the goal
• It should be a powerful emotional reason for completing the goal
• It can contain what I hope to accomplish, why I care about the goal, or anything in those categories
• As an alternative, if this goal is actually a subgoal to something else, can tie in to that goal.
• Regardless, this section needs to be filled out.
• Can/should be updated with more information.

• The critical path (Column 1)

• This should be comprised of a set of steps, from where I am, to the accomplishing of the goal
• It should allow me to see the goal quickly and clearly
• The goal is the details, but the steps

• The timeline (Column 2)

• Each step should be given a duration for accomplishing
• The duration of each step should be understood to be a guideline
• Each step's duration should be updated when better information is available
• Unless the step's duration is updated, the goal should be to accomplish each step in the time alloted
• Changes to the time line should be included in the document

• The resources (Column 3)

• It is an assumption, but one of the things goals tend to require is resources
• If some steps on the critical path can be done in unison, you would reference that here.
• There should be a separate place where resources external to myself should be listed
• In this way, necessary resources that bridge critical path steps can be measured, observed, and accounted

• Metrics (Column 4)

• The critical path should be updated regularly
• Updates can be minor or major, but focus should be maintained to ensure the goal is accomplished
• There should be some sort of means to observe progress
• This might be percentages of completion per day or some other method