Proverbs 2:1-8
Good friend, take to heart what I’m telling you;
collect my counsels and guard them with your life.
Tune your ears to the world of Wisdom;
set your heart on a life of Understanding.
That’s right—if you make Insight your priority,
and won’t take no for an answer,
Searching for it like a prospector panning for gold,
like an adventurer on a treasure hunt,
Believe me, before you know it Fear-of-God will be yours;
you’ll have come upon the Knowledge of God.
And here’s why: God gives out Wisdom free,
is plainspoken in Knowledge and Understanding.
He’s a rich mine of Common Sense for those who live well,
a personal bodyguard to the candid and sincere.
He keeps his eye on all who live honestly,
and pays special attention to his loyally committed ones.
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs,
CO. All rights reserved.
I asked my mother’s good
friend, Thérèse, to speak at her funeral service. She is not only an
excellent speaker…but as she told me, “I know your mother’s heart.” She
was able to share several stories that ran the gamut of descriptions,
from hilarious to heartfelt to insightful. And one of the latter was
about a time that Mother encouraged Thérèse to attend a writing workshop
with her in Memphis. The workshop was about how to write children’s
books.
Thérèse explained to Mother that she had never written a
book for children – and she really didn’t have any desire to do so.
Mother insisted, “You love books, and children…and you might just have a
children’s book in you…so come along anyway.” Thérèse went with
Mother, and she was the only unpublished author in the class. So far, no
children’s book has been produced! But Thérèse made the point that my
mother saw something in her…an untapped potential. She had wisdom and
insight...and even though Thérèse has not written a book for children,
she indicated that the trip was worthwhile on many levels.
Thérèse
noted in her talk that my mother was always interested in others. As
we talked with Mother’s pastor prior to her funeral service, Mother’s
husband talked of how she spent a large portion of each day writing
cards and notes of encouragement…sending e-mail messages and making
telephone calls to check on other people. She offered care and concern -
but also candid and sincere advice. And because of her Godly wisdom
and knowledge, many sought her counsel and company.
I am not
suggesting that we all start finding time to write notes, make phone
calls and counsel others. This was my mother’s “gift”…her “calling” from
God in this season of her life. But I am proposing that we seek God’s
wisdom and understanding…that we make insight – into what He is telling
us AND the hearts of others – a top priority.
If we pay attention
to what God is showing us…if we listen for His voice and follow His
directives…we will have His favor. If we live honestly and think of
others as much as – or more than - we think of ourselves, God will
reward us with insight, peace, comfort and confidence that we are on the
right track. We probably won’t take up writing…much less the
authorship of books for children…but we might just gain a whole lot more
in the bargain. Isn’t finding out worth the effort?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label common sense. Show all posts
Showing posts with label common sense. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for August 14, 2013
Proverbs 3:21-26
Dear friend, guard Clear Thinking and Common Sense with your life;
don’t for a minute lose sight of them.
They’ll keep your soul alive and well,
they’ll keep you fit and attractive.
You’ll travel safely,
you’ll neither tire nor trip.
You’ll take afternoon naps without a worry,
you’ll enjoy a good night’s sleep.
No need to panic over alarms or surprises,
or predictions that doomsday’s just around the corner,
Because God will be right there with you;
he’ll keep you safe and sound.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Over the weekend, an 89-year-old woman in our county named Annie Jewell Brooks was awakened in the middle of the night by five young men who had broken into her home. The burglars threatened her at gunpoint, tied her up, stole her television, cash, and other items…and tore through her house looking for drugs. They told Mrs. Brooks to wait ten minutes before calling for help, or they would return and harm her. She waited twenty minutes before freeing herself and telephoning her daughter. Understandably shaken, Mrs. Brooks was not physically harmed. As promised in this scripture passage, I like to think that God was right there with Annie Jewell - keeping her safe and sound. I watched television interviews with this woman, and she strikes me as being gritty, determined – and faith-filled. It may be hard for her to get a good night’s sleep for a while, but I have a feeling she will bounce back from this and rest peacefully in the LORD.
On the other hand, several people seem to have totally lost their heads over this situation. The five young people who did this have been apprehended. Three of them are 19 years old… the other two are juveniles. All are charged as adults with Aggravated Residential Burglary, Kidnapping, and two counts of Felony Theft of Property. These young people were apprehended less than 48 hours after the incident occurred, and press releases and news reports alerted the public that they were off the streets. I am thankful that the culprits have been apprehended. They did a terrible thing, and they should be punished for this, according to the law.
Here’s where things take a wrong turn for me… the comments by fellow citizens to online posts from our Sheriff’s Department and local news media are disgusting. They range from suggestions that these young people be choked and smothered or drowned… to public hangings… to proposals that they be tied up and beaten with a baseball bat – and there was more than one volunteer. This truly sickened me. For the life of me, I cannot understand why any human being believes that the beating and/or torture of another living thing would be appropriate… regardless of what he/she did.
When I look at our own nieces, nephews and young friends, I think… “Soon enough, they will be teenagers or young adults. Someday they very well might make mistakes, as we all do.” It breaks my heart to think that someone would wish to beat them or physically harm them in some way as a consequence for their behavior. Surely there can be no peace in such retaliation. Certainly this does not “square” with letting God have control in our lives… and in all circumstances.
I thought about this a lot in the last several hours… and truly, I’ve stopped reading news accounts of this incident and the accompanying comments. But I did consider how God must feel about this. He watched His only Son be beaten and tortured… and ultimately crucified… for something He didn’t even do! And yet, had Jesus been guilty of the most heinous crime imaginable, I cannot imagine His abuse at the hands of those who apprehended Him could have grieved God any more than it did. When will we truly get it that God loves us and does not want us to be harmed in any way?!
There were a few comments from those who suggested that these teens need Jesus. And while I agree with them, I do believe they should also face appropriate consequences for these actions… and I believe they will. In the meantime, I think we should all take a step back and look at our attitudes… our snap judgment and rash (and often harsh) reactions to such things. Were my own mother or mother-in-law held at gunpoint by five people, I would be upset and disheartened – possibly outraged. But I would like to think that I would share my feelings with God and seek His wisdom about how to react… that I would operate with common sense and rational thoughts… and that I would find peace in allowing Him to control the outcome.
I am praying for the people involved in this incident. I am also praying for those who would rush to judgment – and action… that they would find the love of Christ as they process this situation in their own minds and hearts…and that they would ask themselves, “What would Jesus do?” When we lose sight of the Clear Thinking and Common Sense that God gives us, we grow weary and lose heart… and peace. Those who trust God and allow Him to work in and through them - in all circumstances - can sleep like babies. How will you sleep tonight?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Dear friend, guard Clear Thinking and Common Sense with your life;
don’t for a minute lose sight of them.
They’ll keep your soul alive and well,
they’ll keep you fit and attractive.
You’ll travel safely,
you’ll neither tire nor trip.
You’ll take afternoon naps without a worry,
you’ll enjoy a good night’s sleep.
No need to panic over alarms or surprises,
or predictions that doomsday’s just around the corner,
Because God will be right there with you;
he’ll keep you safe and sound.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Over the weekend, an 89-year-old woman in our county named Annie Jewell Brooks was awakened in the middle of the night by five young men who had broken into her home. The burglars threatened her at gunpoint, tied her up, stole her television, cash, and other items…and tore through her house looking for drugs. They told Mrs. Brooks to wait ten minutes before calling for help, or they would return and harm her. She waited twenty minutes before freeing herself and telephoning her daughter. Understandably shaken, Mrs. Brooks was not physically harmed. As promised in this scripture passage, I like to think that God was right there with Annie Jewell - keeping her safe and sound. I watched television interviews with this woman, and she strikes me as being gritty, determined – and faith-filled. It may be hard for her to get a good night’s sleep for a while, but I have a feeling she will bounce back from this and rest peacefully in the LORD.
On the other hand, several people seem to have totally lost their heads over this situation. The five young people who did this have been apprehended. Three of them are 19 years old… the other two are juveniles. All are charged as adults with Aggravated Residential Burglary, Kidnapping, and two counts of Felony Theft of Property. These young people were apprehended less than 48 hours after the incident occurred, and press releases and news reports alerted the public that they were off the streets. I am thankful that the culprits have been apprehended. They did a terrible thing, and they should be punished for this, according to the law.
Here’s where things take a wrong turn for me… the comments by fellow citizens to online posts from our Sheriff’s Department and local news media are disgusting. They range from suggestions that these young people be choked and smothered or drowned… to public hangings… to proposals that they be tied up and beaten with a baseball bat – and there was more than one volunteer. This truly sickened me. For the life of me, I cannot understand why any human being believes that the beating and/or torture of another living thing would be appropriate… regardless of what he/she did.
When I look at our own nieces, nephews and young friends, I think… “Soon enough, they will be teenagers or young adults. Someday they very well might make mistakes, as we all do.” It breaks my heart to think that someone would wish to beat them or physically harm them in some way as a consequence for their behavior. Surely there can be no peace in such retaliation. Certainly this does not “square” with letting God have control in our lives… and in all circumstances.
I thought about this a lot in the last several hours… and truly, I’ve stopped reading news accounts of this incident and the accompanying comments. But I did consider how God must feel about this. He watched His only Son be beaten and tortured… and ultimately crucified… for something He didn’t even do! And yet, had Jesus been guilty of the most heinous crime imaginable, I cannot imagine His abuse at the hands of those who apprehended Him could have grieved God any more than it did. When will we truly get it that God loves us and does not want us to be harmed in any way?!
There were a few comments from those who suggested that these teens need Jesus. And while I agree with them, I do believe they should also face appropriate consequences for these actions… and I believe they will. In the meantime, I think we should all take a step back and look at our attitudes… our snap judgment and rash (and often harsh) reactions to such things. Were my own mother or mother-in-law held at gunpoint by five people, I would be upset and disheartened – possibly outraged. But I would like to think that I would share my feelings with God and seek His wisdom about how to react… that I would operate with common sense and rational thoughts… and that I would find peace in allowing Him to control the outcome.
I am praying for the people involved in this incident. I am also praying for those who would rush to judgment – and action… that they would find the love of Christ as they process this situation in their own minds and hearts…and that they would ask themselves, “What would Jesus do?” When we lose sight of the Clear Thinking and Common Sense that God gives us, we grow weary and lose heart… and peace. Those who trust God and allow Him to work in and through them - in all circumstances - can sleep like babies. How will you sleep tonight?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 13, 2013
Proverbs 3:13-18
God blesses everyone who has wisdom and common sense.
Wisdom is worth more than silver; it makes you much richer than gold. Wisdom is more valuable than precious jewels; nothing you want compares with her.
In her right hand Wisdom holds a long life, and in her left hand are wealth and honor. Wisdom makes life pleasant and leads us safely along. Wisdom is a life-giving tree, the source of happiness for all who hold on to her.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Tonight, our little four-year-old Timothy will attend an open house for pre-K. His mom and dad will go with him, and they will all meet his teachers and the school’s directors… and Timothy’s classmates. While a part of me is quite sad to think that this signals the beginning of a whole new chapter in our little guy’s life… I am also incredibly excited. As a former kindergarten teacher, I know what this will mean for him… how much he will grow and learn…how enriched his life will be by this experience.
About two years ago, Timothy attended a daycare for a few months. The daycare owner had a really strong instructional curriculum that she taught to even the toddlers… there was a whole lot more going on each day than just playtime. And in a few short weeks, Timothy went from being a baby who could barely say a handful of words to a little boy who spoke complete sentences – about panda bears and other animals… colors and shapes… numbers and so much more. He began to develop social skills and to learn about structure and organized activities. I had a glimpse then of how much this wisdom was going to expand his already-bright mind… and I know for certain that we’re about to be amazed once again.
Some of you may be about to embark on another school year – if not as a student, as a teacher, coach, or school staff member. I hope you will think about wisdom… whether you are the one who imparts it, or the recipient of knowledge from another. We are all capable of learning new things every day. So even if you are not involved in formal education of some sort, God has things to share with you. As our focus shifts from absorbing knowledge in a classroom setting to actually functioning in the real everyday world, we learn about wisdom of another kind - God’s wisdom. And oh, how we need this!
God’s wisdom can make the difference between saying the right thing… and starting World War Three. His wisdom can keep us from making mistakes both great and small… from getting into trouble – or hurting someone’s feelings. God gives us common sense, so that we don’t make foolish choices. He shows us how to share the love of Jesus Christ with others… to win their hearts for Him… and how to nurture other believers in our path. God’s wisdom and common sense help us deal with crises and heartaches… times of great loneliness and sadness… and the “mountaintop experiences” that bring us tremendous joy. The “school of God” is far different from a pre-K or other formal educational setting. In order to learn from Him, we basically need three things… prayer and communion with Him, Bible study, and fellowship with other believers. Through these avenues, God can grant us life-giving wisdom that will fill us with confidence, safety, joy, and peace.
I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that this is a good time to declare “back to school” for all of us… regardless of our age or station in life! As a teacher, this time of year signaled a New Year to me even more, perhaps, than January 1st. So why don’t we resolve to start a new year of learning… a time of growth and increased knowledge in the LORD! Let’s agree to increase our Spiritual wisdom and common sense… to spend a little time in “study” with God… and to mature our faith in the coming months. Like the little four-year-old boy who is going off to pre-K, I have a feeling we will see amazing results in a short time. I’m willing to give it a shot… are you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
God blesses everyone who has wisdom and common sense.
Wisdom is worth more than silver; it makes you much richer than gold. Wisdom is more valuable than precious jewels; nothing you want compares with her.
In her right hand Wisdom holds a long life, and in her left hand are wealth and honor. Wisdom makes life pleasant and leads us safely along. Wisdom is a life-giving tree, the source of happiness for all who hold on to her.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Tonight, our little four-year-old Timothy will attend an open house for pre-K. His mom and dad will go with him, and they will all meet his teachers and the school’s directors… and Timothy’s classmates. While a part of me is quite sad to think that this signals the beginning of a whole new chapter in our little guy’s life… I am also incredibly excited. As a former kindergarten teacher, I know what this will mean for him… how much he will grow and learn…how enriched his life will be by this experience.
About two years ago, Timothy attended a daycare for a few months. The daycare owner had a really strong instructional curriculum that she taught to even the toddlers… there was a whole lot more going on each day than just playtime. And in a few short weeks, Timothy went from being a baby who could barely say a handful of words to a little boy who spoke complete sentences – about panda bears and other animals… colors and shapes… numbers and so much more. He began to develop social skills and to learn about structure and organized activities. I had a glimpse then of how much this wisdom was going to expand his already-bright mind… and I know for certain that we’re about to be amazed once again.
Some of you may be about to embark on another school year – if not as a student, as a teacher, coach, or school staff member. I hope you will think about wisdom… whether you are the one who imparts it, or the recipient of knowledge from another. We are all capable of learning new things every day. So even if you are not involved in formal education of some sort, God has things to share with you. As our focus shifts from absorbing knowledge in a classroom setting to actually functioning in the real everyday world, we learn about wisdom of another kind - God’s wisdom. And oh, how we need this!
God’s wisdom can make the difference between saying the right thing… and starting World War Three. His wisdom can keep us from making mistakes both great and small… from getting into trouble – or hurting someone’s feelings. God gives us common sense, so that we don’t make foolish choices. He shows us how to share the love of Jesus Christ with others… to win their hearts for Him… and how to nurture other believers in our path. God’s wisdom and common sense help us deal with crises and heartaches… times of great loneliness and sadness… and the “mountaintop experiences” that bring us tremendous joy. The “school of God” is far different from a pre-K or other formal educational setting. In order to learn from Him, we basically need three things… prayer and communion with Him, Bible study, and fellowship with other believers. Through these avenues, God can grant us life-giving wisdom that will fill us with confidence, safety, joy, and peace.
I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that this is a good time to declare “back to school” for all of us… regardless of our age or station in life! As a teacher, this time of year signaled a New Year to me even more, perhaps, than January 1st. So why don’t we resolve to start a new year of learning… a time of growth and increased knowledge in the LORD! Let’s agree to increase our Spiritual wisdom and common sense… to spend a little time in “study” with God… and to mature our faith in the coming months. Like the little four-year-old boy who is going off to pre-K, I have a feeling we will see amazing results in a short time. I’m willing to give it a shot… are you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 29, 2012
Proverbs 2:1-7
My child, you must follow and treasure my teachings and my instructions. Keep in tune with wisdom and think what it means to have common sense. Beg as loud as you can for good common sense. Search for wisdom as you would search for silver or hidden treasure. Then you will understand what it means to respect and to know the LORD God. All wisdom comes from the LORD, and so do common sense and understanding. God gives helpful advice to everyone who obeys him and protects all of those who live as they should.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently, a friend of mine (who shall remain nameless) ran out of coffee filters one morning, so she tried using a paper plate as a substitute. I can only imagine the mess that ensued… and she readily admitted that this did not work. In north-central Arkansas, the aunt of little 4-year-old Caleb Linn told him to follow a dirt road alongside a wooded riverbank and catch up with cousins who had returned to camp, while she continued working to clear debris from a low-water bridge on the river. Little Caleb apparently got lost or lost his footing, and rescue workers searched for approximately four days before locating his lifeless body a half a mile down river.
I truly do not mean to judge the people in these examples. But in each case, there appears to be a clear lack of common sense. While the mess that resulted from the coffee pot fiasco was no fun to remedy, the ramifications of allowing this little child to wander down a dirt road unattended will be life-long for all who survive him.
My point for today is reinforced in this scripture passage… “Beg as loud as you can for good common sense.” We all have lapses in judgment… and I have plenty of what I call “blond moments.” As I have illustrated, some can be relatively harmless… while others change the course of our life forever. Underestimating the size of a container and pouring in too much liquid is one thing. Driving through flood waters that rush across a roadway can be something else entirely. Making a sudden turn that upends your purse or something else in the passenger seat of your car can cause a mess (think a soupy dish you are taking to a church supper or that jug of milk that overturns on the way home from the store). Reaching down to retrieve something that has spilled can cause a crash… and possible injury to you, your vehicle, and others in your path.
We’ve all seen the funny home videos of ridiculous things people have attempted… and lived to tell. But we’ve also heard news reports of people who attempted something they shouldn’t (think climbing onto a steep roof to hang Christmas lights) and suffered life-changing injuries – or even death. Pulling a harmless prank on a friend may not turn out as you hoped… and even result in some hurt feelings temporarily. Accepting a dare from your buddies to do something stupid could result in all kinds of trouble, personal injury, and damage to your reputation that follows you for decades.
The message for all of us is to seek God’s wisdom at all times… in all things. We need to beg Him every single day for good common sense. We should ask God to protect us… from the devil – and ourselves! Ask Him to speak to you when He sees you sliding off course… even in the small things. Then listen to that “still small voice” in your head that says, “Are you really sure you want to do this?” Take a moment to stop and ask God, “Is this a good idea? What are the potential pitfalls?”
I don’t believe that God causes the disasters (large and small) that result when we fail to exercise common sense. But I do think He uses them to teach us… to remind us to rely on Him more - and our own devices less. Often, we act – or react – in a split second… with little or no time to really think through what we are doing. This is where we truly need to depend on common sense - and God’s wisdom - to help us make the right choices. Today, let’s ask God to give us huge, healthy doses of His wisdom – AND common sense - and to help us respect these treasures… and to always pay close attention when He delivers them.
©2012 Debbie Robus
My child, you must follow and treasure my teachings and my instructions. Keep in tune with wisdom and think what it means to have common sense. Beg as loud as you can for good common sense. Search for wisdom as you would search for silver or hidden treasure. Then you will understand what it means to respect and to know the LORD God. All wisdom comes from the LORD, and so do common sense and understanding. God gives helpful advice to everyone who obeys him and protects all of those who live as they should.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently, a friend of mine (who shall remain nameless) ran out of coffee filters one morning, so she tried using a paper plate as a substitute. I can only imagine the mess that ensued… and she readily admitted that this did not work. In north-central Arkansas, the aunt of little 4-year-old Caleb Linn told him to follow a dirt road alongside a wooded riverbank and catch up with cousins who had returned to camp, while she continued working to clear debris from a low-water bridge on the river. Little Caleb apparently got lost or lost his footing, and rescue workers searched for approximately four days before locating his lifeless body a half a mile down river.
I truly do not mean to judge the people in these examples. But in each case, there appears to be a clear lack of common sense. While the mess that resulted from the coffee pot fiasco was no fun to remedy, the ramifications of allowing this little child to wander down a dirt road unattended will be life-long for all who survive him.
My point for today is reinforced in this scripture passage… “Beg as loud as you can for good common sense.” We all have lapses in judgment… and I have plenty of what I call “blond moments.” As I have illustrated, some can be relatively harmless… while others change the course of our life forever. Underestimating the size of a container and pouring in too much liquid is one thing. Driving through flood waters that rush across a roadway can be something else entirely. Making a sudden turn that upends your purse or something else in the passenger seat of your car can cause a mess (think a soupy dish you are taking to a church supper or that jug of milk that overturns on the way home from the store). Reaching down to retrieve something that has spilled can cause a crash… and possible injury to you, your vehicle, and others in your path.
We’ve all seen the funny home videos of ridiculous things people have attempted… and lived to tell. But we’ve also heard news reports of people who attempted something they shouldn’t (think climbing onto a steep roof to hang Christmas lights) and suffered life-changing injuries – or even death. Pulling a harmless prank on a friend may not turn out as you hoped… and even result in some hurt feelings temporarily. Accepting a dare from your buddies to do something stupid could result in all kinds of trouble, personal injury, and damage to your reputation that follows you for decades.
The message for all of us is to seek God’s wisdom at all times… in all things. We need to beg Him every single day for good common sense. We should ask God to protect us… from the devil – and ourselves! Ask Him to speak to you when He sees you sliding off course… even in the small things. Then listen to that “still small voice” in your head that says, “Are you really sure you want to do this?” Take a moment to stop and ask God, “Is this a good idea? What are the potential pitfalls?”
I don’t believe that God causes the disasters (large and small) that result when we fail to exercise common sense. But I do think He uses them to teach us… to remind us to rely on Him more - and our own devices less. Often, we act – or react – in a split second… with little or no time to really think through what we are doing. This is where we truly need to depend on common sense - and God’s wisdom - to help us make the right choices. Today, let’s ask God to give us huge, healthy doses of His wisdom – AND common sense - and to help us respect these treasures… and to always pay close attention when He delivers them.
©2012 Debbie Robus
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