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The beginning of knowledge…. (devo reflection)

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Interestingly, though verse 7 seems to use knowledge and wisdom interchangeably, commentary insists that they are different. Knowledge, according to commentary, is a collection of facts and information. Wisdom is “the right use of what we know for daily living.” This description put me in mind of book smarts versus common sense—folks who know things, information from books, versus those who know how to manage daily life well. I definitely see this in my line of work.

Proverbs 1:8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.

Verse 8 intrigued me because it is clear that both parents are responsible for teaching the child wisdom and knowledge. So much has changed from the time this was written, but this aspect of family life is the same. 

Proverbs 1:20 Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square….

Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for the ability to read Your word with both my head and my heart, to ponder and make connections, to see the similarities. Thank You for the ability to sit at Your feet each day and draw closer to You. Help me to shine Your light for all to see. Amen.

Proverbs 1:21 …on top of the wall she cries out, at the city gate she makes her speech….

Have a blessed day.

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The law of love…. (devo reflection)

Job 18:1 Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:

An intriguing mention in commentary on this chapter is that “Bildad herein sinned against the law of love…,” which of course has me thinking about what, exactly, is the law of love. Job’s friends are looking at this situation through Old Testament eyes, eyes that encourage one to “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” (Deut 6:5), Old Testament hearts that feel you can see a person is in tune with God by the favor in that person’s life. 

Job 18:2 “When will you end these speeches? Be sensible, and then we can talk.”

I’m looking at Job through New Testament eyes, through a New Testament heart that urges us to “…Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34), a heart that reminds me that “Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions” (Proverbs 10:12–Old Testament, I know, but Job’s friends seems to have forgotten this one). 

Job 18:3 “Why are we regarded as cattle and considered stupid in your sight?”

Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for the reminder that life and love and Your nature go far beyond cut and dry, pat answers. You ask me to love You with all my heart and with all my soul and with all my strength. Help me to do so every moment of every day, Lord, and help me to love others as fiercely and mercifully as You love me. Always. Draw me closer. Amen.

Job 18:4 “You who tear yourself to pieces in your anger, is the earth to be abandoned for your sake?…”

Have a blessed day.

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A plan and a purpose (devo reflection)

2 Samuel 17:5 But Absalom said, “Summon also Hushai the Arkite, so we can hear what he has to say as well.”
I believe that God has a plan and a purpose for my life, something that I was uniquely created to do. I believe that if I seek His will, if I ask for His guidance, if I pay attention to His word and to the doors that He opens and closes in my life, He will guide me to where He needs me to be. I believe that He can and will use me wherever I am, that if I don’t step into His purpose for me, He will find another way, but I believe He created me for a purpose.
2 Samuel 17:14a Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Arkite is better than that of Ahithophel.”
I see this same idea in the continuing saga of David and Absalom. God has a plan. He is in control. He is making a way. David is so very far from perfect, yet God uses him, He hears his prayers, He guides him. He created David for a purpose.
2 Samuel 17:14b For the LORD had purposed to defeat the good advice of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring disaster on Absalom.
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for creating me for a purpose and for guiding me toward that purpose when I actively seek You. Thank You for using me where I am, especially in my flawed and fleshly moments. Allow me wisdom and discernment for this path and grant me Your peace. Amen.
Proverbs 16:9 The mind of man plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps.
Have a blessed day

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The way things “should” be…. (devo reflection)

1 Samuel 16:1 The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel?”….
I often get caught up in the way I think things “should” be. When things don’t go that way (from little things to big, life altering things), I often get caught up in the why. I get stuck analyzing (or obsessing or mourning) why things didn’t turn out the way I thought, the way I planned or hoped. I get so stuck in what was supposed to be (to my way of thinking) that I am unavailable for God to use me in His plan for what is or what will be.
1 Samuel 16:7a But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him….”
Proverbs 16:9 came strongly to mind as I read this chapter: “We make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.” How many times have I planned what I thought to be the best course, only for God to purposefully lead me in another direction? How many times have I thought, “This will be perfect,” only to have God do something completely different? Clearly, I’m still working on actively seeking His will and not my own.
1 Samuel 16:7b “…The LORD does not look at the things people look at….”
Lord, Thank You for this day and for this scripture. Thank You for showing me the tendencies that I still need to work on, that I still need to submit to You. Help me—every moment of every day—to draw closer to You, to seek Your will and not my own, to trust and obey. Amen.
1 Samuel 16:7c “…People look at outward appearances, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
Have a blessed day.

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Flashing neon signs from God…. (devo reflection)

Acts 9:6 … “Lord, what do You want me to do?”…
I’m a big fan of flashing neon signs from God: “Beth—THIS is what I want you to do.” As you can probably imagine, those don’t usually happen. More often, I pray and fret and wait, and agonize over whether I’ve missed or misinterpreted something, and pray and fret and wait.
Isaiah 30:21 And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it….”
And then there are the times when the only way to go is glaringly obvious—forward, through the pain, through the fear, through the chaos and confusion. Those are the times when I struggle—Why, Lord? Why this? Why us? Why now?—but they are also the times when I cling most closely to His promise in Matt 28:20: “…And I will be with you always, even unto the end of the world.” 
Proverbs 16:9 The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.
Lord, Thank You for this day, this scripture, Your guidance and direction. Thank You for understanding how difficult life can be and for giving us strength, wisdom, and discernment to understand Your will for us. Thank You for Your willingness and ability to use everything, even our missteps, for our good and Your glory. Draw us closer. Amen.
Proverbs 3:6 Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.
Have a blessed day.

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The fickle nature of time…. (devo reflection)

2 Peter 3:8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
In just under a month, the hubs and I will celebrate 22 years of marriage. It feels at once like a long time and a blink of the eye. And daily I have kids chomping at the bit, waiting for the 3:05 bell. The day drags for them, but the afternoon and evening fairly fly until they are back in desks once again, waiting on the 3:05 bell. Time is certainly interesting.
Proverbs 16:9 The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.
I am bound by time. Perhaps it stems from decades of school bells, alerting me to the next block, but “What time is it?” is a crucial component in the way that I function. But God doesn’t work that way. Time for Him, with Him, in Him, doesn’t function as it does for me. That clock, which is an ingrained part of my day, doesn’t even exist for Him. It’s totally irrelevant. Jesus, Help me.
Jer 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD….
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the reminder of the fickle nature of time. Time feels like such a crucial part of my life, Lord, but I’m pretty sure it’s rather irrelevant in Yours. Help me to wait patiently in joyful hope for all that You have in store. Help me to use my time on this earth, no matter how much time that may be, to shine Your light and point others to You. Draw me closer. Amen.
Psalm 90:12 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.
Have a blessed day.

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This beautiful place…. (devo reflection)

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
Lord, Thank You for the twists and turns that have brought me to this point in my life. Thank You for every broken heart and broken dream that led me to this beautiful place. Thank You for giving me a life so much richer and more nuanced than I could have ever dreamed for myself. I am so grateful.
Proverbs 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.
Lord, Thank You for allowing me to hear and respond to the call of Your heart, for sitting with me each morning, for calling me to task on these things within me that cause barriers to You. Thank You that, with every loss and disappointment, I know I’m safe and protected in Your arms. Help me grow closer to You with each passing day.
Isaiah 43:19a See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for Your love, grace, and mercy. There are so many things in this life I don’t understand. Thank You that this life and its confusion are not my home, that my ashes will be turned to beauty and my mourning into dancing. Thank You for the family and friends You have blessed me with, so many wonderful people for whom I am so thankful. Help me, daily, to live with an attitude of joy and gratitude, giving You glory. Always. Draw me closer. Amen.
Isaiah 43:19b …I am making a way in the wilderness….
Have a blessed day.

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Life’s surprises…. (devo reflection)

Psalm 139:16 …all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
Life is often full of surprises, a fact which the planner in me does not appreciate. Life’s surprises aren’t always fun, either. My planner nature has much to do, I think, with wanting to be prepared for anything, with NOT wanting to be surprised. But that’s not how life works. And because I know my precious Savior holds me securely in the palm of His hand, I need to find a way to be ok with the uncertainty of life.
Jer 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
I don’t know what life holds for me, but I know the One who does. I don’t love unplanned, unpleasant surprises, but nothing is a surprise to my Savior. He can work all things, ALL of them, for my good and His glory, if I allow Him. Thank You, Jesus.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder that You hold me together, no matter the storms or struggles of life. Help me, Lord, to trust in You—Your goodness, Your grace, Your mercy—no matter what life has in store. Thank You for Your willingness and ability to take all things, even life’s unpleasant surprises, and use them to draw me closer to You. Amen.
Col 2:6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him….
Have a blessed day.

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Keep taking the next step…. (devo reflection)

Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Max Lucado’s daily devotional, which is one I read during my morning study, today contained this gem about the disciples: “…they were an ounce more devoted than they were afraid….” That idea, an ounce more devotion than fear, resonates deeply with me. I can never be fearless. My penchant for worry, which often manifests itself as fear, is so strong, but I CAN be more devoted than afraid, even if just by an ounce. 
2 Timothy 1:7 For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
God can take what seems to me a paltry thing, one more ounce of devotion, of faith, than fear, and use it in great ways. I don’t have to muster enough faith to conquer the mountain in my path, just enough to take the next step and the next and the next. God will multiply that faith, He will fuse it with His strength, and He will use it to accomplish His will. I’ve just got to muster enough faith, enough devotion, to keep moving forward.
Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this crucial reminder. The perfectionist in me wants to do everything You call me to exactly right, which often leads to worries, doubts, fears, and inaction. Help me to remember that what You want is for me to choose faith in You over all my fears. Help me, in every situation—worry, fear, weariness—to be an ounce more devoted, to keep taking the next step in Your name and Your power. Give me strength, Lord, to keep moving forward in You and for You. Draw me closer. Amen.
Psalm 34:4 I sought the LORD, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
Have a blessed day.

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With every beat of my heart…. (devo reflection)

Psalm 34:4 I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.
For the Lord to deliver me from all my fears, that means I have to actually acknowledge them and turn them all over to Him. I’ve already admitted that I’m not very good at that. I also keep losing hold of a fact I know to be true—my feelings cannot be trusted. They lie. Jesus CAN be trusted. Always. Even when I’m deeply afraid and life makes no sense.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding….
My understanding is faulty, human, skewed by my emotions and misperceptions, by the stories I tell myself to explain things I see and hear that I don’t understand. Jesus is a firm foundation. He is immutable, unchangeable. That is why I should not trust in my feelings, my emotions. That is why I should trust Him with every beat of my heart.
Psalm 73:26 My flesh and my heart my fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture, for the reminder that You can only deliver me from my fears if I turn them over to You and then trust You more than my human emotions. Living by my emotions is exhausting, Lord. I want Your peace, which surpasses all understanding. Draw me closer. Help me surrender all to You. Amen.
2 Cor 12:9 But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness….”
Have a blessed day.