Only a Fool...

I was reading this morning in a book recommended by a friend, The Power of a Praying Wife. It is a really good book, kind of like a devotional that teaches a woman how to go to God in prayer with requests about her relationship instead of trying to "fix" things herself. It teaches quiet submission, but not doormat cowardliness - if that makes any sense.

Anyway, reading the book every morning has been something I look forward to. The author's quick wit and down to earth answers are very relational, and you immediately feel a kindredness within her. BUT, there is a disclaimer in the beginning of the book...it basically says that while reading through its pages, you will most likely be convicted - yep that's right...you, the wife. And, it's true.

It's like sitting in a really good sermon, and saying, "I really hope so-and-so is here tonight to hear this." And then you get smoked by the Holy Spirit who says something to the tune of, "I hope you are taking notes for yourself. If not we will have another intervention, and it won't be the kind where you get to sit and listen to someone talk."

Yeah, that is what happened this morning, except without the dialogue. I am reading chapter 11, so I am kind of used to asking for forgiveness before I even get to the point of praying for my husband. The section that caught me was this one:

We have to remember that all men think they are doing the right thing. "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes..." (Proverbs 21:2). But God is the only one who can give true discernment. 

It goes on to say...

The bible describes a fool as someone who only "trusts in his own heart" (Proverbs 29:26). He despises wisdom (Proverbs 23:9). He always wants to talk and never wants to listen (Proverbs 18:2). In other words, you can't tell him anything. 

OK, so it's not like I run around yelling I hate wisdom. I don't verbally say that I trust in my own heart or that I am always right. But, if I take an honest look at my actions, at my body language, my motives in conversation...they are usually designed so that I come out on top - so that I am right and you are wrong. And if we expand that to all of humanity, like the bible does in Proverbs 21:2, you can pretty much extrapolate that everyone naturally thinks that they are right, and everyone else is wrong. (Only a wise person looks outside of himself for guidance - he asks God for discernment.)

Hmmmm...I bet the devil loves that one. The poor humans can't control their tongues AND they always think they are right. This should be easy. Let's go pick a fight. You know what? I will probably just happen on its own, and we can sit back and watch. 

The good news is, that with the help of the Holy Spirit we can recognize our foolishness. We can ask for forgiveness from God, and then, with the help of Jesus we can repent. The whole Trinity is ready to take action.

The book goes on to say:

[God] can give us wisdom when we ask for it. Wisdom brings success (Ecclesiastes 10:10), and it enables us to learn from experience (Proverbs 15:31)...The bible says, "The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding" (Proverbs 9:10). 

So, we can start by praying that we will have the fear of the Lord, and that we will keep godly council. We can pray that the Holy Spirit will show us when we are trusting in our own hearts, and when we are leaning on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).

The next time I am in a conversation,  I am going to hear the other person. Not just see my vision, not just force my opinion, or push for my way. Just listen, ask for discernment, pray for wisdom, and submit, knowing that in His sovereignty all things will work to the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose.

I hope you have an incredible day, and walk in wisdom!

The Double Yield

The message of grace has been a hot topic around here for the past few days. Actually, Mark and I continue to encounter this theme regularly in our everyday lives.

Grace is such a deeply complex idea for something that is so simple to access. All you have to do is accept God.

There is even a song that tries to explain how amazing grace really is, but falls short on so many levels.

By grace we are saved...
His grace is sufficient...

These are familiar phrases, but can we ever fully understand grace?

I think that salvation is just the beginning of grace. As Papa Jack said it is the "tip of the iceberg." It is the first point of contact between God and man. It is the first admission that we cannot save ourselves. It is the first step on a journey of yielding.

I looked up the word "yield" yesterday. I think it is very interesting that there are two common definitions. 1. To surrender. 2. To produce.

If we yield to God, by accepting His grace - the idea that we can't do anything alone, that we need Him for everything, that we need to surrender our selfish ambitions in favor of His will in our lives - then He will yield a mighty work in us and through us. He will produce a harvest.

God will cause great things to happen if we only listen and obey...like all little children should.

"For I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven."
Matthew 18:3 NLT

Mark and I have been traveling in the States for 2 weeks now. We have been refreshed by the church services we have attended, honored to have shared what God is doing in Honduras with church congregations and college and university students, and blessed to spend valuable time with our families and friends.

I don't know if you have ever experienced the feeling where you are doing exactly what you always wanted to do, and more. That is how I feel right now. I have always wanted to travel across the US, visiting people and seeing the greatness of the country-side, and now Mark and I have the opportunity to do that. Before we head back to Honduras we will have traveled through 7 states - but not only that, we will have spent time with people we love and cultivated relationships that we cherish. God is so good.

My constant prayer has been that God wold go before us and come behind us. That He would protect us as we travel, but also that He would set our schedule. It is amazing, as a planner, to watch our schedule unfold before us - or really change before us. When we started out on this adventure we had a plan (a tentitive plan) to travel stoping to see old firends, and hopefully meet some new ones along the way. I am just so amazed how God has taken the shell we had on paper and transformed those dates into divine appointments. How He has taken meetings and turned them into times of worship. God does so much more than we can imagine - when we just hold things with an open hand, allowing Him room to work.

We have almost four more weeks of traveling. Of course we are a little bit tired, but we know that God will sustain us. He has promised to go before us, He has promised to guide us, and we have promised to go with Him.

So to every smiling face we see - thank you. To ever neck we get to hug - thank you. For every 5 minute chat in the foyer and every hand we shake - thank you. Please know that we value you so very much. Please know that we love you and we covet your prayers. There is never enough time for us to see everyone we would like to - but I belive that is what heaven is for - we will have an eternity to catch up, an eternity to swap stories, and an eternity to laugh together.