Are You Listening?

Videotaping had not gone well. Between adverse weather conditions and sound problems, recording outdoors had proven challenging. After three attempts, it seemed like I finally had something to work with - until my husband, Steve, pointed out a statement that wasn't accurate. He felt it might offend someone, and the segment should be changed.

Protests began forming in my mind. After spending the better part of the afternoon putting the video together, I cringed at the thought of having to re-do the project. But the thought of conveying inaccurate information with the possibility of offending someone, convinced me to consider Steve's point.

Fortunately, Steve was able to edit the video and remove the inaccurate information, so I didn't have to re-shoot the entire episode.

The Bible has a lot to say about listening to wise counsel and responding to criticism. The book of Proverbs, written by Solomon reminds me, "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise," (Proverbs 12:15; KJV). A few chapters later, I'm encouraged to, "Hear counsel, and receive instruction..." so I can increase in wisdom(Proverbs 19:20).

Unfortunately, Solomon's own son, Rehoboam, failed to learn these important lessons. When he began his reign, Rehoboam was approached by the people of Israel with a request - to lighten the harsh labor and heavy burden King Solomon had put upon them. If Rehoboam did as they asked, they would serve him as long as he was their king.

Rehoboam sought counsel. He heard the advice of the older men who had been his father's advisers. They encouraged Rehoboam to speak and act with kindness toward the people. They anticipated that it would gain him the people's loyalty. When he asked for the advice of his peers, they recommended treating the people with harshness and increasing their work load.

Which counsel did Rehoboam choose? The advice of his peers. Ultimately, his desire for power and control cost him the allegiance of Israel (2 Chronicles 10:16). A refusal to listen to wise counsel led Rehoboam to make a foolish decision that had dramatic consequences.

Do you listen to wise counsel? Are you able to accept criticism? You can choose to live according to the words of James 1:19 today, "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:"

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding me to seek godly counsel and to respond to criticism in the right way. Forgive me when I react in pride and choose only what's convenient for me. Help me to be quick to listen, and to use words that please You. In Jesus' name, Amen.  

Life's Ups & Downs

The irony was unmistakable. We had spent an enjoyable Thanksgiving day with my sister-in-law and her family. As we caught up on family news, she asked how our sixteen year old cat, Courtney, was getting along. I remember smiling when I answered that she was doing well. Imagine my shock when we got home later that evening, and Courtney's eye was almost swollen shut. She was fine when we left - what could have possibly happened in the few hours we had been away?

A trip to our local vet escalated our concern. Not only did she have elevated blood pressure, but the pressure in her right eye was almost three times higher than normal. The doctor suspected glaucoma. I had heard of the condition, but wasn't aware that it could affect animals.

Glaucoma is an eye disorder marked by unusually high pressure in the eyeball that leads to damage of the optic disk (Encarta Dictionary). In humans, the condition is extremely painful. The vet referred us to an ophthalmologist, who could examine Courtney further and give us our options. Armed with medication to control her blood pressure, we left the vet's office ready to contact the specialist on Monday.

We received good news over the weekend. Courtney's blood work came back within the normal range for a senior cat. I heaved a sigh of relief, imagining the swollen eye was due to her high blood pressure, and now that she was on medication, everything would return to normal. But my sense of relief was short lived.

The ophthalmologist visit eased some concerns, but raised new questions. The pressure in Courtney's eye had come down significantly, but the doctor's specialized equipment uncovered another problem - a mass on her iris. We had a big decision to make. Ultimately, removing the eye would give her the best prognosis.

Life is full of ups and downs. King Solomon understood this truth when he penned these words, "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance," (Ecclesiastes 3:1-4; KJV).

Knowing that God is in control even in the midst of life's valleys, is comforting. Christ himself experienced times of joy and grief while on this earth, so I know He can identify with the ups and downs I go through.

Job, a God-fearing man in the Old Testament, experienced one of life's extreme valleys. He lost his children and all of his wealth in one day. Instead of cursing God, consider his response, "...What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" (Job 2:10b).

Even when life gets difficult, I'm determined to adopt the attitude of Job - to praise the Lord no matter the outcome! "...the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord," (Job 1:21b).

What about you? Are you currently in a valley? How will you respond?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your comfort in the middle of life's difficulties. Help me embrace the truth that You are good, no matter what I may be going through. Today I choose to praise You because You are "great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone," (Psalm 86:10). In Jesus' name, Amen.

I Found It!

The perfect outfit. Hard to come by. I had a pretty good idea of what I was looking for, and the amount of money I wanted to spend. The search began. My husband's patience amazed me, as he encouraged me to try on one thing after another. From one store to the next, I searched through rack after rack, looking for something that would flatter, provide some fun color, and all at a good price. Difficult? Yes. Impossible? No.

With the clock inching toward closing time, I took a few selections into the dressing room. As I slipped into the first suit, I knew I had found the one! It fit, was my favorite color, and wonder of wonders, it was actually on sale! From start to finish, the intense hunt took an hour and a half, but success had been achieved.

There's a valuable lesson here. I was intent on finding something, and willing to spend time and effort to accomplish my goal. I knew it wouldn't be easy, and yet I was determined to search diligently for what I needed. With some effort, I was rewarded with success - I found exactly what I was looking for. The same lesson applies to my time spent with the Lord.

On a daily basis, I need wisdom. Wisdom to use my time wisely. Wisdom to be tuned in to the opportunities God gives me to share Him with others. Wisdom to be the right kind of wife for my husband. Wisdom to encourage my daughter when life gets complicated. But how do I get the wisdom I need to handle each of these situations appropriately? Diligently seeking for it in the pages of God's Word.

King Solomon, the wisest man of all time, was greatly used of God to pen the following words, "My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding," (Proverbs 2:1-6; KJV).

When I'm faced with life's challenges and I need wisdom, I must be willing to seek and search for what I need, knowing that it will require effort on my part. The last time I checked, 'treasure' is not something laid out in plain sight. Or easy to find without the help of a map. The same is true of wisdom for many situations in life. It must be gleaned from the pages of the 'treasure map' of God's Word. When I seek after God's wisdom, I'll always find what I'm looking for, with the added benefit of growing closer to my Savior.

No matter what situation requires wisdom, the book of Proverbs shares the results of finding this precious commodity, "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her, " (Proverbs 3:13-18).

What situation requires wisdom in your life? Arm yourself with prayer and the Word of God, and be prepared to spend some time mining for real treasure. The precious truths you find will be worth the effort!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the wisdom that can be found in the pages of Your Word. Give me a willing heart to spend time digging into Your truth for the wisdom I need today. Thank You for the promise that Your Word contains the answers I need. Help me seek Your wisdom daily. In Jesus' name, Amen.

So Much More

It comes around every couple years. I get an exciting e-mail from my wireless provider, that lets me know I'm eligible to get a new phone at a discount. I was able to make the upgrade this past weekend. And my new Droid 2 in its fashionable pink, gel cover sits on the counter, beckoning me to come and 'play.' Wow! Do I have a lot to learn! From the basics, to all the advanced stuff it can do, I'm sure this Friday's tutorial session will help answer my many questions. And maybe serve to bring up some questions I don't even know I have yet!

Adjusting to a full keyboard to type text messages was pretty easy. Figuring out how to pair my phone with my earpiece - a different story. Although Bluetooth technology has been around for years, this is my first experience with it. So I'm battling the learning curve.

But I have to say I feel pretty tech savvy these days, as I tell my daughter about the cool apps I've been able to install on my phone. There's a constellation app that shows me the stars and their names when I hold my phone up to the sky. Then there's the app that lets me scan barcodes and check local prices to make sure I'm getting the best deals. Oh, and I can't forget to mention the app that keeps me up to date on all the local yard sales, and even gives me directions to all of them!

Things I didn't even know existed, are accessible with the touch of my fingertip. But I've had to spend some time reading manuals and digging for the information I need, just to become familiar with the basics. In order to take full advantage of everything my new phone can do, I'm sure I'll have to invest more time pouring over the instruction manual and getting used to new functions.

In much the same way, the God of the universe has given me amazing truths in His Word, the Bible. When I spend time in His instruction manual, I'm able to glean wisdom not only for the challenges I face today, but I can also discern the direction He has for my future. But I can't expect to unearth all of this great information without devoting much time and effort to the careful study of His Word.

The Bible contains both milk and meat. Things that are easily digested and some things that can only be digested by the more mature. Peter encourages believers to grow, "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby" (1 Peter 2:2; KJV). The writer of Hebrews challenges us beyond this stage, "But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (Hebrews 5:14).

Solomon, the wisest man of all time, penned the following words, "To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:" (Proverbs 1:2-5). How important it is to know the true source of knowledge. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction" (Proverbs 1:7).

My desire is to continue as a student at the feet of the Master, fulfilling the words of 2 Timothy 2:15, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." There will always be more to learn - more gems to mine from the pages of scripture, more hidden treasure waiting to be discovered. Yes, it will take time to discover all that the Lord wants to show me, but the time spent in the excavation process will be well worth it!

Are you stagnant in your relationship with the Lord? Do you desire to know Him and the plan He has for you? If so, what are you waiting for? Dig into His Word today and get ready to grow!

Prayer: Thank You, Lord that Your Word is alive and active. You desire for me to know You, and You have great plans for me. Help me to spend time daily reading and studying Your Word. Help me to grow into the mature Christian You'd have me to be. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Big Lesson - Tiny Insect

They appeared on our deck last year in record numbers. More than a nuisance, if not dealt with, they would eventually cause pretty severe damage. Carpenter ants. They seemed to be on a mission. A relatively straight line of them emerged from the far side of the deck and traveled to the downspout closest to the screen room, before disappearing from sight. Where were they going? We needed to find their nest before they turned our house into a feast.

While making a call from our screen room the next day, I noticed one of the pesky ants crawling by the door latch. As I sat and observed for a few minutes, ant after ant marched up out of the thin strip of wood that formed the seal between the doorframe and the door. So that was it! That's where they were coming from! Sure enough, after I snapped my phone shut and investigated further, I saw where the ants had begun making their nest. A quick trip to the garage for some ant killer and the insects were a thing of the past; their home thoroughly doused with pesticide. It felt good knowing that our house was no longer a smorgasbord for these 6-legged creatures.

As I celebrated my victory that day, I was glad I had eradicated a pesky invader. I wasn't in the mood to consider the wisdom of the ant. Yes, you read that correctly. Ants are wise. Such a tiny insect, yet in the book of Proverbs, Solomon points out its wisdom. "Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest" (6:6-8; KJV).

A lesson in diligence is just waiting to be learned if I observe the ant. Science backs up scripture when it reveals that ants live in highly organized colonies, each ant responsible for a specific job. Some ants are responsible for cultivation of food sources, others engage in warfare, while others function strictly as workers. These ants don't have a boss, yet they carry out their individual jobs without fail. Talk about self-motivation! No need to call in the motivational speakers, these guys don't rely on cheerleaders to get them pumped up. They know a job needs to be done - so they do it!

When food is available, they gather it! No use holding meetings and strategizing about better ways to collect and store the food. Instead of talking about it, they work and accomplish their purpose. What about me? I have a choice to make each day. Will I be productive or give in to the temptation to procrastinate? If I tiptoe after 'Procrastination,' what will be the outcome? Solomon's answer stands in stark contrast to the outcome of the diligent. "How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man" (Proverbs 6:9-11).

Put plainly, when I give in to laziness and allow myself to be drawn away from my responsibilities, I'll come up poor and empty. 'Laziness' tries to convince me that I should put off today, what can be done tomorrow. It whispers in my ear that I don't need to spend time in God's word today, because I read an extra chapter yesterday. It convinces me that I don't really need to keep track of my spending because budgets are way too restrictive anyway. When I follow after 'Laziness' I end up discouraged and frustrated. In spite of its allurement, 'Laziness' is not a good friend! Refuse to hang out at procrastinate gate!

Wow, what a big lesson from such a tiny insect! Each one of us has the opportunity to choose our course for this day. Two words that begin with the same three letters, but have very different outcomes. Procrastination or productivity? Which will you choose today? Look to the ant, and be wise!

Do you struggle with procrastination? What helps you to overcome this hurdle? I'd love to hear your tips for staying on track!