With a Little Understanding!

The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young— let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance—for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:1-7 NIV

When people dismiss the value of a quality education, it usually means they think they are superior to others and don't want the competition. We see that trait in what is happening in the White House.
In spite of their "level of education," they lack understanding and knowledge and experience to even be in the White House--from the top to the bottom.

What's needed in order to get "a little understanding" is the following:

• Background knowledge of the party a person claims to represent in politics.
• Knowledge of how government works (read a good civics book or find a version of Schoolhouse Rock for those who are functionally illiterate).
• An intense inquisitiveness to understand various cultures and their needs (visit museums, watch documentaries that illustrate the complexities of life on earth and the importance of appropriate interactions with others, spend time reading in libraries and not just "favorite" books).
• Having a capacity for demonstrating compassion and empathy without launching missiles at those one might dislike.
• Realizing that the world evolves and will not stand still simply because one lacks understanding of how things are done and that there is more than one perception about every issue.
• Understanding of who Christ is and all He represents (read a bible)
• Making sure one's physical and mental capacities are functioning optimally.

People shouldn't be "too hard" on Sean Spicer for after all, he simply doing his master's bidding. He is simply a parroting buttwipe--repeating what he's told to say. So, not only does he need to visit the Holocaust Museum, they all need to visit every museum on the mall and beyond to get a better understanding of people and what governing people from all walks of life--really means.

Perhaps, someone should arrange a "walking tour" for everyone in the White House so they get obtain  a little understanding of what it means to be there.

But perhaps, my thoughts are simply fantasy--just a dream that we'd actually have people in the White House who know what they're doing and why. Did I say dream--more like a nightmare from which I hope we'll wake up soon.

What I've learned from living is that there is so much that I don't know that I can appreciate learning something new--everyday. I look for opportunity to learn something knew, never completely satisfied with what I already know. 

But then, I trust in The Word of God--"Wisdom is the principle thing and with all of your getting, get understanding." If we get beyond thinking we know all there is to know, we'd be surprised at how much there is to learn--on a daily basis.

How much better would our lives be with a little understanding about self, others, and the world around us!

Taking Time To Meditate!

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who mediates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither--whatever they do prospers. Psalm 1:1-3 NIV

One of the most common responses from a Christian when asked how they're doing is, "I'm blessed!" But are they really blessed as implied by The Word? From the Hebrew and the Greek, the word, blessed--means to be happy or happiness. So if we exchange the word blessed in this Psalm, the beginning would say, "Happy is the one..." If people are so blessed--happy--why is the church--the Body of Christ--in such a sad state?

Are we truly happy? Are we meditating on God's Word, day and night or we just playing at memorizing The Word and think we have accomplished something?

From the dictionary, blessed also means to be divinely favored or selected or fortunate--from a purely biblical perspective--it is an adjective (words that describe).

To meditate on something (from the Hebrew and Greek) means to study, or declare. Do we truly meditate on The Word? Do we study it in order to declare it?

From the dictionary, to meditate (action word--verb) means to contemplate, engage, reflect and introspect--all which require deliberate actions.

One of the reasons the Psalmist can say that a person is happy when they are obedient to God's Word is because the Psalmist has a relationship with God and hears Him, when He speaks--providing instruction and insight as to how He wants us to live.

Can we truly say we spend time with God, studying His Word, hearing Him provide us with insight as to the meaning or context of what He's saying? Or are we more content to rely upon others to tell us what they think about God's Word?

These questions keep cropping up in my spirit because of what I observe in others--those supposedly teaching The Word. Based upon my understanding of what I have studied, I see many who are merely teaching God's Word out of traditional leanings, with no true understanding. The focus is more on a moan or a groan-coming from them--which is unintelligible for others to understand. So, if what we say is unintelligible (not understood), how do we claim that it is teaching? For in order to teach anyone, anything, what we say and do must be understood.

If I'm stepping on toes today, good! We all need someone to remind us that we have not arrived at perfection and when it comes to teaching God's Word, we should always meditate--study it so we can give clear understanding, before we attempt to teach it to anyone.

I am setting aside time for deliberate meditation upon Psalm 119 in the coming weeks. This is not just to memorize it--since I tend to be extremely forgetful--but to understand it--in its entirety and to be able to line it up with the rest of God's Word. For all of God's Word should line up--it's context should never change even one scripture.

The World is changing and from what I can see--we are in dire need of understanding--all of God's Word as Paul tells Timothy, " Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all." (I Timothy 4:15 NKJV)

And that is precisely what I plan to do--give myself entirely to concentrating on The Word, one verse at a time. So, if you are inclined to read my understanding every day, great! If not, oh well. If you know Psalm 119 well enough to teach me, don't hesitate to comment on what I say. I am very teachable and sometimes--I may not hear God completely, but it's not because I'm not listening--traditional perceptions sometimes get in the way.

Here's to getting the traditional perceptions out of the way so I can clearly understand what the Psalmist is saying to us--from then to now--in the 21st century and how it applies to our lives in this changing world.

Wisdom Continues To Speak!

Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing and benefits those who see the sun. Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves those who have it. Ecclesiastes 7:11,12 NIV

If any lacks wisdom, let them ask of God who gives it liberally and will not find fault with those who ask. (James 1:5 paraphrased). If God will give us wisdom when we ask for it, why don't we ask Him, instead of trying to impress others with wisdom, we don't have.

Wisdom thinks before acting.

Wisdom is calm and rational.

Wisdom seeks increase in understanding.

Wisdom pays no attention to rumors and will not encourage negative responses to anything.

Wisdom contemplates every matter before making a decision.

Wisdom rises above the fray of adversity in the hands of the foolish.

Wisdom obeys authority and as a result is an authority of all who seek her.

Wisdom speaks truth at all times, even when truth hurts.

Wisdom admires wisdom in others who know God, stays far from the foolish who think they know more than God.

Wisdom resolves problems and does not cause them.

If wisdom is an inheritance, then we must resolve to gain more wisdom and the only true wisdom comes from God. For if we leave an inheritance of wisdom in our children, they will the capability of making wise decisions, after gathering all the information they need in order to make the decision. If we leave wisdom as an inheritance for our children, they will be empowered to keep wisdom flowing from generation to generation.

But if we have not wisdom to exercise in all things, what are leaving as an inheritance for those we leave behind? Money, by itself is not the answer for we know fools and their money are soon parted--they spend it as fast as they get it. Money can be taken or lost and the Word tells us that "the love" of money--the desire to obtain it by any means--is the root of all evil.

But wisdom--once obtained--belongs to the one who has obtained it and it can never be taken or lost. For true wisdom is the ability to seek knowledge and understanding of what the knowledge is.

I am a consummate researcher. Anything I desire to know, I research and then I research more to gain a better understanding of what it is I have researched. This is a constant cycle for we--none of us--will ever know all there is to know. We just keep learning (as wisdom dictates) and I look forward to learning something new--every day.

If we scorn wisdom and getting understanding of knowledge, we defeat ourselves and the enemy wins. "Wisdom is the principle thing and with all of our getting, we must get understanding."

If we are willing to hear and obey, wisdom will continue to speak to our hearts.

Why Jesus said, "Don't judge!"

"Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." John 7:24 KJV

The NIV version states, "Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly."

In order to understand what He was referencing, we must know to whom He was speaking and why. If we read (with understanding) the verses "before" this one, we know that it is the religious leaders of that time who were seeking Him to kill Him because they did not understand who He was.

Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. (John 7:16) This is His response who wondered how He could know so much when He was taught in the Jewish synagogues.

Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. John 7:17

Here, He lets them know they can choose to examine the scrolls used for teaching and determine whether He was saying what God said or whether He was speaking on His own. Jesus never said anything that His Father had not said, because He is God, the Son. Why would He oppose Himself?

This is part of the mantra and rhetoric used by those who "want to believe in half of the Bible, but not all of it."

In order to get a right understanding of Scriptures--we have to study them and know why things were being said and to whom and when it was said. When some "cherry-pick" what they choose to quote, they are misleading others and of course, we who know God's Word, know that it is a trick of the devil to deceive. Remember this--a half-truth is a whole lie as far as God is concerned. When we know God, we know we cannot selectively choose which parts of His Word to believe and which to ignore.

Wherever Jesus went while He was preaching, He addressed the situation confronting Him and He related His teaching to the people on a level they could understand.

Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?” “You are demon-possessed,” the crowd answered. “Who is trying to kill you?” Jesus said to them, “I did one miracle, and you are all amazed.Yet, because Moses gave you circumcision (though actually it did not come from Moses, but from the patriarchs), you circumcise a boy on the Sabbath. Now if a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me for healing a man’s whole body on the Sabbath? John 7:18-23

Now this is the conversation Jesus had with the Jewish leaders BEFORE He said, don't judge. From all who recorded what He said, in Matthew, Luke, and Mark--The intent of His conversation, never changes God's Word.

As I've said before, Jesus said a lot more than, "don't judge," or just for people to "love." He also preached about sin, hypocrites, lying, fornicators, murderers, and much more. More than anything, He talked about the need for Him to be here and how a person can be saved and the benefits of salvation. He prayed for us (who Believe) in the Garden of Gethsemane before His arrest and it was His love for us, that kept Him from coming down off that cross. His bloodshed on the cross was for those who "choose" to Believe Him as the Son, and God the Father and obey His Word.

More of what Jesus said coming in the next week or two on a daily basis. We need to know so we can counter Satan's lies.

Wisdom Speaks!

"I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me." (Proverbs 8:17 NIV)

Wisdom speaking to those who hear,
For those who want knowledge to create
For those who understand their fate
Wisdom speaks to those who hear.

Wisdom loves those who love her,
For those who want to know even more,
For those who stand at destiny's door,
Wisdom loves those who love her.

Wisdom is found by those who seek,
For those who rise early, ready to learn,
For those whose passion for knowledge churns,
Wisdom is found by those who seek.

Wisdom is the principal thing by which we know,
With certainty all our self-proclaimed knowledge is vain,
Without seeking wisdom from above, nothing we gain,
Is worthwhile or even discussing wherever we go,
For without wisdom there is no rhyme or reason
To explain all that God has done and will do
On behalf of all who seek Wisdom while she can be found.

And with the Wisdom showered upon us from above,
We need understanding to drive the point home,
No, not one of us really knows much about anything,
Unless we operate with wisdom, tempered with love.

Then, Wisdom like a gentle rain, on a summer's day,
Fuels our imaginations to explore creative means
To make this journey on earth worth the stay,
Teaching and seeking more wisdom as His Return is delayed,
Giving us time to get things right in His sight, with Wisdom
Leading the way for all who seek and love her.

Find Wisdom--Find Happiness!

"Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding; For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, And her gain than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her." Proverbs 3:13-15 NKJV)

Many people are seeking a superficial happiness through--the things they amass--rather than in knowing that those things offer only a temporary appeasement, lasting only as long as they last or through people--who are so fickle they are always changing their minds. True happiness--that lasts--is in seeking and finding wisdom from God.

Wisdom, once obtained, can never be taken and God lets us know that when we gain understanding--knowing what to do with the wisdom He gives, we will discover that nothing compares to the wisdom He gives.

Solomon--the wisest man who ever lived--did not ask God for things--for riches, or gold, or silver, or lands--He asked God for wisdom and with the wisdom he obtained, he gained understanding in how to manage the riches that were given because he did not ask for them. God knows what we need!

Finding a job or a better paying job won't bring us true happiness, which is why people are always complaining about the jobs they have. No matter how much they make, it is never enough--there is always a plea for more.

Here's a plan--instead of asking or seeking God for more--tangible things--let's seek wisdom and knowledge in how to manage what we have and gain understanding from exercising wisdom so that we never have to ask for things.

I am convinced that some of us will never have all that God desires for us to have because we have not mastered being a good steward over that we already have. Help us, Lord! We want--to squander--which is why we don't have what we want. It is never too late to learn the lesson of sound financial management, planning, and saving. I'm a late bloomer--in understanding financial wisdom, but I'm willing to backtrack and learn to the extent that I can. Giving of our resources is a good thing, but saving is equally important. Even though my grandson is only 13 years-old, I'm teaching him now to save half of everything he gets from monetary gifts, chores, etc. It is never too early to learn and never too late--unless we are dead or have nothing to manage.

What we have to remember is that God can take a little--bless it--and multiply it beyond our expectations--when we exercise the wisdom, He freely gives. I'd rather have His wisdom poured out upon me than all the riches in the land because I can use the wisdom to obtain the riches!

Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding!

"For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; He guards the paths of justice, And preserves the way of His saints." (Proverbs 2:6-8 NKJV)

Wisdom comes from God,
Not opinions of man,
But Spiritual Insight,
Understanding and Knowledge
Of God's Ways
For His Way of doing things
Is not our way, if we have not
The Mind of Christ, To Know
Know What He knows, To
See what He sees in us,
For us, To Understand
The Path He walks us to walk
Is not the path of destruction
But the path of righteousness.

The wisdom that He shares,
Man cannot comprehend, without
A sound relationship with Him,
Else they would think more highly
Of themselves than they ought,
And miss great opportunities to do
Great things in the name of Our Lord,
Rather than seeking fame for themselves.

The wisdom of God in the minds of Those
Who truly Love Him, finds the answers to
All riddles that have confused and blinded
Those who walk after the flesh, rather than
The spirit of God--seeking to please self
Rather than He who gives all wisdom,
To all who ask, in faith, understanding
How wisdom and knowledge work
To promote Godliness in all people.

Wisdom--coming from the throne of Righteousness,
Knowledge--knowing how to use what is given,
Understanding--acknowledging the insight and teaching others,
So that all might come into the unity of faith,
And God's wisdom that surpasses man's limited knowledge.

Nothing Like a Good Understanding!

Sympathy--sharing the feelings of another. This is what happens when we "feel" what others feel about events or situations.
For example: Since I know what it is like to lose a loved one, I can be sympathetic to others who have lost a loved one and generally, will know how to respond to them.

 Empathy--identifying with another's feelings, thoughts, attitudes.  We can relate to a person's feelings or attitudes about an event or situation.
For Example: Understanding how dysfunctional our Congress is, I can empathize with new-comers who think they will be able to effect a change in the status-quo.

 Apathy--lacking interest or concern about things that concern others; absence of excitement or passion about a situation. We don't care one way or another about an event or situation.
For Example: Although I have concluded that the political system in this country does not work for the middle-class and poor, I will not be apathetic and not vote for someone in the upcoming elections.

Why bother to make these distinctions in words? Based upon my observations of people and how they behave towards others and situations, I simply thought to offer insight.

When I see people do nothing to improve their quality of life--mentally, physically, or financially, I refuse to have any sympathy for them. After all, unless they are totally physically incapable of doing something about their lives, they deserve no sympathy.  With recent outrage about water shut-offs in Detroit, I have no sympathy for anyone using the service and thinking they do not have to pay for it. Having access to water is not about it being a "human rights" issue; it is about being responsible in determining how much one can afford to pay for having water and making arrangements to pay on the bill--before it gets turned off. For the person who struggles and yet pays something, I can have empathy for in their plight. For those who deliberately use and then don't want to pay, they get no sympathy from me.

The same is true for those who do nothing for days, weeks, months at-a-time and then over-exert unused muscles and end up in pain, expecting sympathy from others. Not from me. Exercise those muscles on a daily basis and then if there is a problem, I will be sympathetic regarding the situation and respond accordingly.

Knowing the difference between being sympathetic, empathetic, and apathetic makes a difference in how we respond to others. Since I am highly emotional (and opinionated), I doubt seriously if I could be apathetic about any situation, but I can certainly be sympathetic or empathetic about many.

"With all of our getting (or gathering of information), we need to get understanding."

How "Happy" is Achieved!

"Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding;" (Proverbs 3:13 NKJV)

Many seek happiness in the presence of others, in amassing wealth, or in just doing for others--this
happiness is from extrinsic influence.

But intrinsic influence--begins with understanding how to be happy with self--whether others are around or not. And this is the result of operating with wisdom and understanding--inner peace and happiness.

How do we find wisdom? We ask of God who gives it liberally, without question or debasement.

How do we gain understanding? We gain understanding of how to live, by living--making mistakes, correcting them, and not repeating them.

No where in His Word does God say we will not make mistakes. It is not the mistakes we make that trouble Him; it is not learning from them that troubles Him and that--repeating mistakes and never learning from them--is what keeps us from being happy.

When children first learn to walk--they fall--after only taking a few steps, but the child who gets up and keeps trying succeeds and is very happy with their accomplishment (and so are the parents who watch them--sometimes agonizing over the falls, but knowing the child must do it by himself/herself).

When we as adults--having successfully navigated the phases of life--puberty, adolescence, young adulthood, however the phase is termed, make mistakes--most of us recognize them and seek to find means to correct so we won't have to suffer consequences of that mistake made. From this we learn how to achieve success. We keep trying until we get there.

Living a life in this world--without relationship with God--has consequences--some we won't like. Living to please God--with a relationship with Him--does not keep us from making mistakes; it helps us to recognize them sooner and keeps us in communication with Him so we can get it right.

When we honestly look at our lives and see that we are not happy, we need to assess our lives and see if we are operating in wisdom and getting understanding about how we live and what we do--that brings us results--we'd rather not have.

With wisdom and understanding, we can sing the popular song with zest, "Because I'm happy" and when we're happy, those around us cannot help but be infected by our happiness. Wisdom + Understanding = Happiness!

They Are One!

"If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father" (John 15:24 ESV).

When Jesus was talking to the disciples who were walking with Him while He was here on earth, He made several things abundantly clear to those who had established a relationship with Him--who He was, who we were, and who the Father is.

Most people know of this chapter of John as Jesus speaking to us about being fruitful and it is. However, Jesus also tells us (His living disciples) that we are friends and not servants, the world will hate us because they hate Him, and that the world (those who refuse to believe) "have seen and hated both me and my Father." If people can remember parts of speech from their elementary English classes, they would realize that the conjunction used--and--is referencing Jesus and the Father--seen and hated.

Why would Jesus say that? Realistically, in spite of some may choose to believe--Jesus and God the Father are One and the same. God is Spirit (we cannot see Spirit)--who enveloped Himself in flesh and came to earth in the flesh as Jesus (who could be seen). We know this is true because of all the references Jesus gives throughout the Gospel of John. In fact, it is because of His relationship with John that we are given such personal details about the man--Jesus and God the Father. Jesus acknowledges that the two are One, but as a man, He has submitted to the commandments of the Father so we would know that living according to God's Word is can be accomplished.  But then, notice how Jesus notes who He is by extension of God--"If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you" (John 15:7). What words? The words that the Father had already given to mankind and they refused to accept and live by; Jesus reiterated only what He had already taught as given to Moses.

In order to truly understand the relationship of God and Jesus, one must have a relationship with them. Discernment of a true nature does not come by merely reading a bible or praying or repeating what someone has said or written. Without a personal, intimate relationship with God, one will never understand why the Father and Jesus are One. But for those of us who have that relationship with Him, we can rest assured that the World will hate us and persecute us because they do not understand. We also know that we are over-comers, more than conquerors, victorious in all things that glorify the Father because of our relationship with the One who knows all and we know the end of the matter.

Lord Jesus, thank You for loving us enough to give us understanding of Your Word and in choosing us to do the work of He who sent You to us, cementing our relationship for all eternity.

Hear, Learn, Attain!

"A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels" (Proverbs 1:5)

Wisdom from God can only be heard in the Spirit, before the wisdom can make one wise in the natural. When wisdom is "heard" we can proceed in making wise decisions--decisions that will not cause us regret or harm.

Once we have heard the voice of God speaking wisdom into our spirits, we will increase in learning--both spiritually and naturally. We shall make room for all we need to know in order to be the best representative of God that we can be and in producing means to assist others in the natural realm. All knowledge comes from God whether we believe that or not. We come into the world knowing absolutely nothing and yet some achieve more wisdom and knowledge than others because they were willing to hear--God's voice (not their consciences that could nothing apart from God anyway).

When we truly "understand" that we know nothing apart from God and that we need His direction in all we do, then we shall be considered wise and others will seek our counsel in all matters because they know they can trust what we say and do.

"The fear of the Lord (reverential respect for God and His ways) is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction" (Proverbs 1:7).

If we are not wise and walking in the wisdom of God, then we are fools doing foolish things.

Lord, help us to be wise and do all things to Your glory, not our own so that we will not appear foolish in anything. Create desire in us to move forward by Your direction only so we won't have to back-up and retreat in order to keep going. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen!