Walking in Wisdom

A prayer for today...

Lord, please keep me from the foolishness of sin and selfishness. I ask for wisdom and discernment to make WISE CHOICES in my life.

When I am tempted, give me the strength to flee temptation.

When I am uncertain, help me to know the right course of action.

When I need good ideas, enlighten my mind with creativity and intelligence.

Show me what to do, Lord. You know everything. May I walk in Your WISDOM, learn Your ways. and find true PEACE and joy again.

In Jesus' name. Amen.

Pounded for a Purpose

What do you need to let go of in your life in order to get to the next stage of your life?

Surrender. It implies giving up, or letting go. Often, we don't want to do it. But surrender is voluntary; we choose it.

Or not.

We need to know that sometimes our lives take many forms in order to accomplish God's purposes. We let go of one thing in order for another to happen--but often we don't realize that it's for a good purpose!

For instance, in order for you to eat a piece of hot, fresh bread from the oven a lot of surrender had to take place. A seed in the soil turns to golden wheat sheaves. The wheat is harvested, surrender to the cutting. Then it is crushed to make flour, and flour is used to make the dough. Making bread by hand means the dough is pounded, kneaded, but pounded for a purpose. How many times in your life have you felt that way?

Then the dough surrenders to the heat of the oven. And finally, it's ready. You smell the delectable aroma of freshly-baked bread.

The good purpose is revealed: yummy bread or something else. What are the seeds in your life that need to be surrendered to the soil of faith?

What is God growing, creating in your life?

Pray, surrender, wait and see. And pass me a slice of bread.


I am Wheat

I am wheat,
tall, willowy, golden brown stalks
swaying gently in the breeze,
basking in the amber glow of twilight.
I live
because a seed first died --
a small, hard piece of potential
buried in the soil of opportunity
I thrive,
through summer storms and sunshine,
delighting the prairie.
Harvest time:
From kernels gathered and crushed,
flour becomes dough,
kneaded with skillful hands,
pounded for a purpose.
I wait
and wait to rise and bake,
for timing is essential.
I am a crusty loaf,
carrying the delightful aroma
of fresh baked bread to the world
for the One who said, “I am the bread of life.”

-- Jackie M. Johnson

Are We Dating or Just Friends? Discerning the Difference

Have you ever wondered, “Where do I stand?” Are we dating or just friends? I call it “The Unknown Zone,” the peculiar place between friendship and dating where you don’t really know what your relationship is—it hasn’t been defined.

Not really. It may turn into something real and lasting, or it may not. How can you know when he doesn’t communicate or his signals are mixed?

Michelle McKinney Hammond gets to the heart of the matter in The Unspoken Rules of Love. “If he does not ask you to have an exclusive relationship with him, assume that you are not in one.”

The guy needs to be initiating and pursuing you. If not, she continues, “Consider and enjoy your other options. Do not behave as if you are in a committed relationship when you are not. Doing so will only entangle your heart and set you up for disappointment and heartbreak. If he doesn’t tell you he wants to be in a committed relationship, consider yourself officially ‘just a friend.’”

Entangled. Yikes. That’s a hard place to be—not really in a real relationship and full of uncertainty.

A pastor I know once said, “The proof of desire is in the pursuit.” If a man wants to get to know you, you will know his intentions. You won’t have to guess. Don’t give him excuses like maybe he’s busy, maybe he’s shy, maybe he’s had a family crisis, or maybe (fill in the blank).

Bottom line: For whatever reason (you don’t even have to know what it is) if he is not pursuing you, then you need to let it go. March forward with your life and trust God for the right man for you.

Sure, it may be hard to let go. But when you do, you free yourself up for the Real Thing. Don’t settle for something, don’t even settle for “sorta good” when God want the very BEST for you.

And when the right one for you comes along, you’ll know—-because he will show you and tell you.

Certainty in an Uncertain World

"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." (Jeremiah 33:3)

One thing I have learned in this life is that God is smarter than me...He knows everything--even when I do not, even when there seems to be no answer....no way out. His wisdom is more vast than I can ever comprehend.

And that's okay with me!

In these uncertain times....the economy, the election, the high cost of living, and everything that's going on in your life and mine, these things I know for certain: that God is good and that He is faithful. He keeps His promises--all of them, all the time.

He has good plans for us (Jer. 29:11)

He longs to retore our health and bring healing (Jer. 30:17)

He gives comfort and joy from our sorrow (Jer. 31:13)

He provides HOPE (Jer. 31:17)

He loves us, cares for us, longs to be close to us more than we know (Jer. 31:3,4)

Whatever you are facing today, may God give you strength. Because you know what? Nothing is too hard for him. He said it Himself, "I am the LORD, the God of all mankind, is anything too hard for me?" (Jeremiah 32:27)

Stand strong, and know (whether you feel it or not), that all will be well. All will be well.