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
Showing posts with label wise counsel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wise counsel. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for May 23, 2011
Proverbs 20:18
Be sure you have sound advice before making plans or starting a war.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Often, I will see a post on Facebook from someone planning a trip… “Where’s a good place to stay in Destin?” “How was the weather at Such-and-Such destination last week?” “What are the gas prices like down toward Disneyland?” The advice of someone who has “been there/done that” on a vacation can be very helpful to someone who is still in the planning stages. And it makes perfect sense to ask. Wouldn’t you want to know the best restaurants and motels, cheapest places to get gas, and best times of day to visit certain attractions and avoid long lines?
If you study history, you will see that even back to Old Testament days, people consulted others before starting – or participating in – a war. Strategy was discussed – what worked and what did not, which routes were best, what would happen if this approach or that one were taken, and more. And the right advice often made a huge difference in the outcome.
So what does this have to do with our faith walk? God is using this verse to remind us to seek HIS advice and the advice of fellow believers before making big decisions. Don’t get the advice of just anyone. Seek someone who seems to have a strong connection with God… someone who is known to make wise decisions in his/her own daily living… someone who you are certain prays and studies God’s word before making the first move.
Quite often, God will use others to guide us in the right direction, so find a couple of trustworthy people to consult when you are in need of sound advice. Be sure you ask God to choose these “go-to” advisors for you. He will point you in their direction and make it crystal clear to you that these are the right folks to help you.
God did not call us to serve Him by ourselves. He wants us to interact and lean on one another for help… and that includes sound advice. Find your “go-to” friends and catalog their contact info. When a decision arises, ask God to point you in the right direction… and He will show you who to ask and how to proceed. You will have the satisfaction of knowing that you have decided according to His will… and your choices will be solid as a Rock.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Be sure you have sound advice before making plans or starting a war.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Often, I will see a post on Facebook from someone planning a trip… “Where’s a good place to stay in Destin?” “How was the weather at Such-and-Such destination last week?” “What are the gas prices like down toward Disneyland?” The advice of someone who has “been there/done that” on a vacation can be very helpful to someone who is still in the planning stages. And it makes perfect sense to ask. Wouldn’t you want to know the best restaurants and motels, cheapest places to get gas, and best times of day to visit certain attractions and avoid long lines?
If you study history, you will see that even back to Old Testament days, people consulted others before starting – or participating in – a war. Strategy was discussed – what worked and what did not, which routes were best, what would happen if this approach or that one were taken, and more. And the right advice often made a huge difference in the outcome.
So what does this have to do with our faith walk? God is using this verse to remind us to seek HIS advice and the advice of fellow believers before making big decisions. Don’t get the advice of just anyone. Seek someone who seems to have a strong connection with God… someone who is known to make wise decisions in his/her own daily living… someone who you are certain prays and studies God’s word before making the first move.
Quite often, God will use others to guide us in the right direction, so find a couple of trustworthy people to consult when you are in need of sound advice. Be sure you ask God to choose these “go-to” advisors for you. He will point you in their direction and make it crystal clear to you that these are the right folks to help you.
God did not call us to serve Him by ourselves. He wants us to interact and lean on one another for help… and that includes sound advice. Find your “go-to” friends and catalog their contact info. When a decision arises, ask God to point you in the right direction… and He will show you who to ask and how to proceed. You will have the satisfaction of knowing that you have decided according to His will… and your choices will be solid as a Rock.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 26, 2010
April 26 ~ Proverbs 15:30-33
A friendly smile makes you happy, and good news makes you feel strong. Healthy correction is good, and if you accept it, you will be wise. You hurt only yourself by rejecting instruction, but it makes good sense to accept it. Showing respect to the LORD will make you wise, and being humble will bring honor to you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Some of you have heard my story about the time my sister, my cousin and I went to my Mam-ma’s house before Christmas to get a lesson in making peanut brittle. For the record, my Mam-ma Polly is the undisputed Queen of Peanut Brittle Making. Hers is thick and filled with peanuts, but it’s as light and crisp as any of that thin stuff people sell in the buckets… and much tastier. She can still wield a heavy cooking pot of the molten candy, although at 97+ and getting a little shaky, we’d rather she didn’t!
Anyway, several years ago we went for “the lesson,” and she carefully instructed us to stir the sugar and water mixture over heat until it made what she called a “hair” (a very thin ribbon of candy syrup that resembles a curly hair) when you dipped a spoon in it and held it up to let the liquid flow back into the pot. We watched carefully and tried to do it just right. The candy made thin stream of syrup that did indeed look like a little curly “hair,” and we added the peanuts and let them cook. Then we added baking soda and let the mixture foam. We were supposed to stir vigorously at this point, and we took turns doing the various steps. When it came time to pour the hot candy onto a buttered cookie sheet, I was holding the pan, and I took my spoon and started to “help” the candy out of the pan and onto the sheet. BIG MISTAKE! My grandmother went nothing short of ballistic and started screaming, “NO! DON’T EVER SCRAPE IT OUT OF THE PAN! YOU’LL RUIN IT!”
To this day, I have never made a decent batch of peanut brittle. I guess my idea of a good “hair” and my grandmother’s are not the same, because my candy is always chewy, and she says it’s because I don’t cook it long enough. Mine certainly never pours smoothly from the pan, although I have never used a spoon to help it along again! I have decided that I will not be the one carrying on the family legacy of peanut brittle making to future generations. Thankfully my grandmother was more successful at teaching me to make yeast rolls and sweet potato pie. I’ll carry the torch on those and leave the candy to someone else!
We’ve had dozens of good laughs over that day and my “mistake” of pulling the candy from the pot… and my grandmother’s reaction. And it IS good to laugh and smile. But sometimes, we receive instruction from others that we fail to accept, and the results are not funny at all. We sometimes fail to recognize when someone is lovingly offering advice or help, and we interpret their efforts as a judgment on us that we are not doing a good enough job. Or we resent the fact that someone thought we needed help or advice in the first place. OR… we feel our way is better, and we are insulted by the offer.
Sadly, we often reject the instruction of our Heavenly Father… and this is serious business. How many times have you clearly heard or felt God telling you to do something – or to proceed in a certain way – and you did something else? Tell me… how did that work for you? If ever someone was trying to offer help and advice – or instruction – that we truly need, it was God! And He will continue to guide our path. The question is… will we listen? Unlike carrying on a legacy of making delicious peanut brittle, we don’t have the luxury of saying, “I think I’ll pass on God’s guidance.” Oh… many will try… but the results will be far more disastrous than a ruined pan filled with cooked-on candy. Humbly consider this scripture passage today… see where you need to accept good counsel from God – and from mere humans. Grow in wisdom by learning from others – and have the good sense to take a little advice along the way.
©2010 Debbie Robus
A friendly smile makes you happy, and good news makes you feel strong. Healthy correction is good, and if you accept it, you will be wise. You hurt only yourself by rejecting instruction, but it makes good sense to accept it. Showing respect to the LORD will make you wise, and being humble will bring honor to you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Some of you have heard my story about the time my sister, my cousin and I went to my Mam-ma’s house before Christmas to get a lesson in making peanut brittle. For the record, my Mam-ma Polly is the undisputed Queen of Peanut Brittle Making. Hers is thick and filled with peanuts, but it’s as light and crisp as any of that thin stuff people sell in the buckets… and much tastier. She can still wield a heavy cooking pot of the molten candy, although at 97+ and getting a little shaky, we’d rather she didn’t!
Anyway, several years ago we went for “the lesson,” and she carefully instructed us to stir the sugar and water mixture over heat until it made what she called a “hair” (a very thin ribbon of candy syrup that resembles a curly hair) when you dipped a spoon in it and held it up to let the liquid flow back into the pot. We watched carefully and tried to do it just right. The candy made thin stream of syrup that did indeed look like a little curly “hair,” and we added the peanuts and let them cook. Then we added baking soda and let the mixture foam. We were supposed to stir vigorously at this point, and we took turns doing the various steps. When it came time to pour the hot candy onto a buttered cookie sheet, I was holding the pan, and I took my spoon and started to “help” the candy out of the pan and onto the sheet. BIG MISTAKE! My grandmother went nothing short of ballistic and started screaming, “NO! DON’T EVER SCRAPE IT OUT OF THE PAN! YOU’LL RUIN IT!”
To this day, I have never made a decent batch of peanut brittle. I guess my idea of a good “hair” and my grandmother’s are not the same, because my candy is always chewy, and she says it’s because I don’t cook it long enough. Mine certainly never pours smoothly from the pan, although I have never used a spoon to help it along again! I have decided that I will not be the one carrying on the family legacy of peanut brittle making to future generations. Thankfully my grandmother was more successful at teaching me to make yeast rolls and sweet potato pie. I’ll carry the torch on those and leave the candy to someone else!
We’ve had dozens of good laughs over that day and my “mistake” of pulling the candy from the pot… and my grandmother’s reaction. And it IS good to laugh and smile. But sometimes, we receive instruction from others that we fail to accept, and the results are not funny at all. We sometimes fail to recognize when someone is lovingly offering advice or help, and we interpret their efforts as a judgment on us that we are not doing a good enough job. Or we resent the fact that someone thought we needed help or advice in the first place. OR… we feel our way is better, and we are insulted by the offer.
Sadly, we often reject the instruction of our Heavenly Father… and this is serious business. How many times have you clearly heard or felt God telling you to do something – or to proceed in a certain way – and you did something else? Tell me… how did that work for you? If ever someone was trying to offer help and advice – or instruction – that we truly need, it was God! And He will continue to guide our path. The question is… will we listen? Unlike carrying on a legacy of making delicious peanut brittle, we don’t have the luxury of saying, “I think I’ll pass on God’s guidance.” Oh… many will try… but the results will be far more disastrous than a ruined pan filled with cooked-on candy. Humbly consider this scripture passage today… see where you need to accept good counsel from God – and from mere humans. Grow in wisdom by learning from others – and have the good sense to take a little advice along the way.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 2, 2010
February 2 ~ Zechariah 10:1
I, the LORD, am the one who sends storm clouds and showers of rain to make fields produce. So when the crops need rain, you should pray to me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
None of us has all of the answers. From time to time, we need some help or advice. One time, I was struggling with an issue that I did not know how to handle. Thankfully, I realized that, as a mere human, this situation was beyond my abilities. I asked God specifically to direct me to a person I could talk to who: 1) would have experience with this situation and wisdom about how to handle it; 2) would keep this confidential and not discuss it with others, and 3) was a Christian who relied on God and would advise me in this context. I thought and thought about WHO could help me. “Where was this person, God?”
Not long afterward, and quite out of the blue, a wonderful Christian friend of mine left a message on my answering machine. She needed to talk to me… but more importantly, I needed to talk to HER! I know beyond any shadow of a doubt that God sent her. By the time we actually spoke, the question she had for me had already been answered. But her counsel for me was timely and right on target!
Now here’s the thing. I am not always so humble and smart about such things. Sometimes I try to fix problems myself, or I consult the Internet or an “expert” who wrote a book or an article that I read in some magazine. What I really need to be doing is asking God to lead me to the right answers about everything. So when you have a tough decision to make, talk to God first… not everyone else. If you need strength and courage, don’t turn to a bottle or a pill… or even your best friend. They can’t give you what God can! When you need “rain” for your “crops,” go to the One who sends the storm clouds and showers. Pray – talk to God first… ask Him to show you how to proceed in all situations, and know for certain you are headed in the right direction.
©2009 Debbie Robus
I, the LORD, am the one who sends storm clouds and showers of rain to make fields produce. So when the crops need rain, you should pray to me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
None of us has all of the answers. From time to time, we need some help or advice. One time, I was struggling with an issue that I did not know how to handle. Thankfully, I realized that, as a mere human, this situation was beyond my abilities. I asked God specifically to direct me to a person I could talk to who: 1) would have experience with this situation and wisdom about how to handle it; 2) would keep this confidential and not discuss it with others, and 3) was a Christian who relied on God and would advise me in this context. I thought and thought about WHO could help me. “Where was this person, God?”
Not long afterward, and quite out of the blue, a wonderful Christian friend of mine left a message on my answering machine. She needed to talk to me… but more importantly, I needed to talk to HER! I know beyond any shadow of a doubt that God sent her. By the time we actually spoke, the question she had for me had already been answered. But her counsel for me was timely and right on target!
Now here’s the thing. I am not always so humble and smart about such things. Sometimes I try to fix problems myself, or I consult the Internet or an “expert” who wrote a book or an article that I read in some magazine. What I really need to be doing is asking God to lead me to the right answers about everything. So when you have a tough decision to make, talk to God first… not everyone else. If you need strength and courage, don’t turn to a bottle or a pill… or even your best friend. They can’t give you what God can! When you need “rain” for your “crops,” go to the One who sends the storm clouds and showers. Pray – talk to God first… ask Him to show you how to proceed in all situations, and know for certain you are headed in the right direction.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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