Learning From Creature Wisdom!

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. Proverbs 6:6-8 NIV

In the early morning on a spring day, when the air has a little chill in it, but the sun is shining, I love to sit outside, bundled in warmth, with a hot cup of coffee and watch nature at work. Every time I do, I marvel at God’s Wisdom and how it functions in the “lower species” the insects and animals.

Chasing each other along the electric lines and phones high in the air, the squirrels put on an amazing balancing act; I have never seen one fall, while watching their antics.

Then I listen to the birds singing their songs and I believe they are songs of praise and everyone once in a while, I hear a woodpecker though I have yet to see it.

When the rabbits dare to leave their burrows (and a number of them are in my back yard), the hop through the yard, nibbling here and there,  pausing occasionally to look at me and I just smile and talk to them.

But the ant is best observed in the summer months when they are scurrying about every where, gathering their food and marching in columns that would rival any military regime. I have watched them carry pieces of food so much larger than they are, but they do it as a team, knowing that working together they can accomplish much more than trying to do something on their own. Why don’t we see them in cooler months? They were innately programmed with God’s Wisdom to do as God intended them to do-for their survival–they gather in the warm months when food is available and store it so they don’t have to forage for food in the cold months. While conditions are good–food is available–they gather and store for future use. 

How many of us can say that we have gathered what we need, while conditions are good, and stored what we need for future use? If we were as smart as the ants–we’d never know hunger, poverty, or hatred. We’d know how to work as a team and we wouldn’t wait for someone else to lord it over us–inciting us to do something.

Think about it! Most of us are annoyed with ants when they find their way into our homes and do what we can to get rid of them. But outside in the yards and crevices of the sidewalk we see the mounds of dirt they tunnel through when leaving or going back to their abodes. What tiny creatures they are and I can imagine their brains–are not nearly large enough to store the wisdom they have because God intended them to be so.

What did God intend for us? He intended for us to use the brains He gave us to seek Him and know Wisdom in order to survive the attacks of the enemy and the poverty most experience when they do not know how to avoid it. God has given us all a measure of faith, eyes to see and ears to hear and hearts for compassion, and hands to work, but do we have the wisdom of the ants?

Instead of looking for others to take care of our needs, we should learn from the ant–how to work together for the survival of all and to gather and store what’s needed while it’s available, for future use. 

I’m waiting to see how long it will take for me to marvel at how human beings work together, towards the survival for all, gathering and storing what we need for the benefit of all.

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Love That Remains!

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV

Ten years ago today, my husband and I embarked upon a new chapter in our lives–we got married!

Big deal, you say? Yes, for us it was a very big deal. This was not the first for either of us and with grown children and grandchildren on both sides of the aisle, some smiling, some frowning, and some looking on in total disbelief, we stood before family and friends and pledged the rest of our love and determination to see the next forty years together. Since we’re not youngsters, this pledge was an act of faith.

Within in the first two weeks, my husband had a stroke but he survived. Later in the first year of our marriage, he ended up in the hospital again and needed surgery–he survived. Two years later, I had a stroke, but I survived. Three years ago, he was diagnosed with prostrate cancer–but he survived. We are survivors in Jesus’ name!

In the midst of various illnesses, he had back surgery and retired sooner than anticipated. In the midst of uncertainty and chaos with the school district where I worked, I retired sooner than I had anticipated. We’ve made major changes in our lifestyles, moving from one location to another, taking on new challenges, starting a podcast on BlogTalk Radio and we broadcast every week–no matter what (it’s our time together) and for the most part–just enjoying life and each other.

We have strong faith in God and believe we receive all of His promises–no matter what the enemy throw our way. Our hope is in Him and our love for the Lord and each other has managed to overcome the obstacles that attempted to snare us and drive us apart. We have survived the last ten years by praying and loving–no matter what. We are looking forward to the next 30 years with the same determination and love because after all--the first 10 years were the toughest!

And just as our love for each other has remained steadfast and true–God’s love for all of us is even greater and His commitment to us, never changing.

So, the rest of this day will be spent celebrating with my hubby and enjoying what we do most–eating good food at our favorite restaurant and praising The Lord that we can enjoy it.

 

Practicing Contentment In The Midst of Need!

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:12,13 NIV)

In this letter to the church at Philippi, Paul encourages those who are trying do what is right for all concerned. In the midst of their own challenges, they sought to provide him with those things he needed while he was imprisoned. Remember this, when people were imprisoned in those days, they were dependent upon others for food since their jailers were not necessarily interested in attending their needs. But Paul, understanding their own plight and needs, encourages them by telling them how he’s learned to be content in whatever situation he’s found himself because of Jesus.

Whenever we find ourselves in situations that cause us to cringe and perhaps re-think what we’re doing because everything is not coming together we way we expected it to  come together, pause and think about others who are in situations worse than ours and be grateful for what we have.

With every negative event occurring in America right now and the exposure of corruption at every level of government and —we can still exercise our right to vote by getting our feet moving in the right direction without fear of being persecuted for daring to vote.

Though some criticize Believers for their faith in God, we still have the right to worship Him, whenever we want to do so.

Even though there are hundreds of people starving everyday–in America–most of us still exercise “choice” in what we eat and how often we eat.

In spite of the “oversight” of government through surveillance at every corner, it’s all for our good.

Though we may not have the car of our dreams, if we’re driving anything that moves, we should be content.

If children are not wearing the most expensive gym shoes or the latest designer clothes, if they have clothes on their back and shoes on their feet that protect them from the elements, they should be content.

If we have not arrived at the place of success we desire, we learn to be content with what we have and in His strength, keep moving forward, keeping our eyes on the prize.

When life does not provide us with all we want, we should practice contentment and joy in the strength of the Lord so when we continue our journey, we are ready for all we will receive.

If we are bitter through the times of lack, we’ll not be better when we have more than enough; we’ll just grumble over not having more.

With whatever we have–we should learn to be content–still looking to Jesus, expecting His best in our lives–and praising Him while we wait. As long as we’re alive, breathing on our own, we yet have opportunity to do good–for others and teach them by example how to wait to see the promises of God.

Instead of crying the blues over everything that doesn’t go our way and being bitter, let’s be better and sing songs of praise, seeking His wisdom, assuring ourselves that we will have a great day, every day!

In the Midst of the Storms

We have arrived in this season at a point where many will have to take shelter at a moment’s notice.

Spring–usually the beginning of tumultuous storms–tornadoes, hurricanes, thunder and lightning–means we have to learn to take cover in an instant, sometimes without warning.  Remember, Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz–the wind, and rain that led her family underground for shelter, but she didn’t make it?

Life has its own storms we must learn to weather–sickness, disease, betrayal, disappointment, loss of loved ones–and we must know where we can seek shelter from these storms.  The shelter or refuge we seek when life’s storms are suddenly upon us is in His arms.  God is our refuge–hiding place, shelter–where we can be safe and secure from impending doom.  We can weather it all because of Him.  The winds of life may cause us to bend or sway, but they won’t break us or destroy us before we run to safety if we remember–He is our refuge, a strong tower–in the midst of any storm, we will survive.

Trust Him today to be the shelter or refuge you need in the midst of life’s storms.  He’s closer than you think and His arms are outstretched, waiting for you.

Meeting The Needs of Others

When someone you know is in need—what is your response?

Do we first think about whether or not we like the person before we decide to help?

Do we assess our ability to meet the need?

Do we offer encouragement in times of struggle?

Do we refer them to others when we know where help can be accessed?

Whatever we do, we should remember that we never know when it might be us in need. With that in mind, how should we expect others to respond to us?

Whatsoever a man/woman sows, that only is what they can expect in return. Or to simplify this—whatever goes around, comes around. We can only receive what we are willing to give. Open your heart, your mind and sometimes—your wallet. Ask for wisdom in all things and then strive to do whatever is necessary to meet the needs of others.