The teacher had a plan. I sure hated the idea of learning percentages in grade school. Addition and subtraction and such seemed to be enough to get by in life. The entire class agreed with me the day the teacher introduced us to the next level of math. Apparently, we weren’t her first students to balk at the idea because our teacher already knew what to do. Seasoned in her field of expertise, she had a plan –called Persuade them with Pie. With pies lined up on the table, the mathematical question was, “What percentage of pie would be left …
Wisdom: What Is It
Everyone wants to be happy – myself included. Sometimes, I find happiness when I write. When ideas are flowing as words unto the paper, I can work long hours into the night. But, if the ideas stop and I get writer’s block, I can barely stand to stay at my desk over a few minutes at a time. My husband brings me great joy. Until hispile of stuff beside hischair encroaches myspace, which admittedly, we both consider to be the rest of the house. Except for his sink in the bathroom. I don’t claim it either. Our dogs make me laugh. …
Wisdom: Where To Begin
Starting is often the hardest. Have you ever wanted to do a project and not known where to begin? You can visualize the end result. You know a general direction to go. You even are aware of people that can help you. You feel confident that if you begin on the right path, the end goal is achievable. You just can’t seem to figure out where to start. Starting the path to wisdom can be hard – quite daunting if we don’t know where to begin. Wisdom comes from God. “For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. Proverbs …
Wisdom: What We Can Expect
Averages and Expectations. I read that the average washing machine will perform 5,100 cycles before biting the dust. The average length of a mystery novel is 70,000 words. The average person speaks 138 words a minute. The average toddler sleeps ten hours a night. And the average passenger 747 airplane is retired after 27 years of service. For researchers, these tidbits of information are important. If a product or service is being offered, averages provide a guideline of what a consumer can expect. I’m usually on the consuming end, so I’m more about the expectations. I want the life of …
Wisdom: It’s Urgent
We always seem to be in a hurry. Everyone is in a hurry these days, and our town is suffering because of it. Our main bridge has been under construction for over two years. To say the locals are tired of the slow progress is an understatement. We want the bridge done, and we want it done eighteen months ago. It doesn’t seem to matter which side of the bridge you live on, if you work, your job is on the other side of the river. At shift changes, everyone wants to get somewhere – anywhere – everywhere quick, and …
Wisdom: Be Bold
Boldly seek wisdom. King Solomon boldly asked God for wisdom and was granted his request. The Bible says he was the wisest man of his time. “God gave Solomon very great wisdom and understanding, and knowledge as vast as the sands of the seashore. In fact, his wisdom exceeded that of all the wise men of the East and the wise men of Egypt.” 1 Kings 4: 29-30 The king searched the earth – the entire scope of man’s resources and capabilities. What did he learn along the way? He discovered everything under the sun was useless. Wisdom’s lesson was …
Hope from the Light
Driving home from North Carolina, I was exhausted, but optimistic about getting home on time after the long, nine-hour drive. Home was only three more hours away. It’d be dark before I arrived, but familiar roads were just past Memphis, which was only one hour away. Wet drops hit the windshield. I raised the sun visor to discover the sun slipping behind gloomy clouds. The sprinkling escalated to a downpour and the dark clouds blackened. The only glimpses of the road were when lightning struck too close for comfort. Gripping the steering wheel tighter, I slowed to a crawl. …
Mercy: In Worship
Definition of Mercy: not getting what you deserve Mercy Mercy is a gift from God, the Father, made possible through Jesus, God’s Son. I accept the gift through faith in the victory over death by Jesus, my Deliverer. Why do I need Mercy? God, who is just, cannot delight in the unrestored. I am unable to make myself worthy in the presence of the Almighty. Who grants mercy? God. Ephesians 2: 4-5 “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead …
Mercy: Filthy Rags
Definition of Mercy: not getting what you deserve King Saul received a command from God to go to battle. He was ordered to completely destroy the opposing nation. Spare no person, animal, or thing. God meant business. Defeating the enemy spelled peace for His people. Destroying the plunder ensured outside influences couldn’t seduce the people away from Him. King Saul went to war and won. But instead of following God’s instructions, he kept everyone and everything he judged valuable. What he considered useful contradicted God’s perfect plan. He deliberately disobeyed, and the Bible says God was …
Mercy: A Bath
Definition of Mercy: not getting what you deserve I’d just made the bed and was bent over, picking up dirty clothes when I heard the bed springs squeak. I looked up to see my two-year-old grandson, Bostyn, jumping as high as he could, trying to touch the ceiling fan. Catching him midair, I put him on the floor, smoothed the bedspread, and regathered the clothes. Two steps outside the bedroom, I discovered the toddler sitting on top of the kitchen bar, playing with an ink pen. He’d used the computer unit as a step stool to …
Mercy: The Cross
Definition of Mercy: not getting what you deserve God’s mercy required a cross. Receiving God’s Word Do you need God’s mercy? “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” Romans 3: 23 Why do you need God’s mercy? “For the wages of sin is death, and the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6: 23 How did God show mercy? “But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” Romans 5: 8 What is …
Mercy: The Throne
Definition of Mercy: not getting what you deserve Mercy changes how God sees us. Our slate with Him is clean. Read Psalm 103. Mercy changes our dependency. The Holy Spirit helps us understand more about God. 1 Corinthians 2: 9-13 “However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”—the things God has prepared for those who love him—these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows …