THE SOURCE OF WISDOM

Another day in my life; another joy.  Thank you, Lord, for letting me "stick to the guy who "brung" me" to this dance of life called marriage. Sixty years tomorrow we'll have been married.  I thank God for Jerry, and for God guiding us to each other.  Amazing, huh?


In reading Psalm 111 today, verse 10 spoke to me: "The  fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding.  To Him belongs eternal praise." Immediately following the psalm, was the study for it, and that tells us: "The only way to become truly wise is to fear (revere) God.  Too often people want to skip this step, thinking they can become wise by life experience and academic knowledge alone.  But if we do not acknowledge God as the source of wisdom, then our foundation for making wise decisions is shaky, and we are prone to make mistakes and foolish choices."


I try to make wise choices, and the best way I know to choose wisdom is to first pray before I say!  I believe the Holy Spirit will guide me when I ask it of Him, and so I try to always remember to ask.


Yesterday our small group was here and one of our members expressed the hurt that her daughter's family was going through as they were being badgered by the neighbor who will eventually live next door.  No one knew what to do as the man was complaining that the people were going at the new house all wrong and his own property was being affected. His actions had been way out of control as he was getting a lawyer involved, etc. The daughter's family life was being affected and there was a fear of having this man living next door even if all went OK in the building of the house.


What could  we do for this family?  After a bit of discussion, we all agreed that this must be a time to pray.  But we decided, realizing it to be the wisest thing to do, was to pray for the indignant man!  Those around him may suffer a bit, but they did not need the change of mind.  But the indignant man did need a mind-change, an attitude change, a heart change.  And only God can do that.  So we prayed together.  And we will continue to  pray for this man to know the fear of the Lord and find the beginning of true wisdom--- for this man, as of now,  has a fearful purpose.


We all want to live without fear, for it is not good to live in fear.  But the fear of the Lord means to respect and revere Him for He is our Almighty Lord.  When we trust God completely to take care of us, our other fears, even of death, will subside!


Time to praise God for the beginning of our wisdom, this small kernel of faith and understanding which has begun.  Praise and thank you, Lord, for your everlasting gifts!


Yours by and in faith,


Jo of MN


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