Resources for Christian Women, Encouragement for Families
Wisdom
A lifelong study of mine is going through the book of Proverbs in the Bible.? Presently, I am reading through the Proverbs, in addition to? studying from Proverbs commentary by Charles Bridges.? This particular commentary is from The Geneva Series of Commentaries.? I am just reading/studying a few verses at a time.? I keep a spiral notebook on the table and notate each verse that includes a specific word.? In my notebook, the first page has WISDOM at the top.? On it are already listed and written out over 20 verses about wisdom in just the first 3 chapters of Proverbs.?? The next several topics are: instruction, understanding, justice, judgment, equity, subtilty (this is needed, by the way, to tell the difference between truth and error), knowledge, discretion, learning,? and many more.? I am already on my second page of notes pertaining to wisdom.? Here are a few verses:
Proverbs 3:13-18
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.? For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold; she (WISDOM) is more precious than rubies, and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared to her.? Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and honour; her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace; she is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her:? and happy is everyone that retaineth her.
Charles Bridges reminds us:
“Who does not admire this glowing picture of happiness?? This wisdom of this world affords no such happiness.? Yet cold and barren is admiration, without an interest in the blessing.? The happy man has found a treasure, where possibly he least expected it, under the chastening of the Lord.? David and Manasseh found ‘God’s house of correction to be a school of instruction.’? Under all circumstances, however, prayerful diligence in the search of wisdom ensures success.? The naturally wise man is a fool in heavenly wisdom.? The man of prayer getteth understanding, draweth it out to light, as out of the hid treasure…Here the wise man, himself enriched with the merchandise of fine gold points out to us a better merchandise.? It is the search for ‘the pearl of great price,’ MORE PRECIOUS THAN RUBIES, YEA, THAN ALL THINGS THAT COULD BE DESIRED.? So the Apostle judged.? So upon a trial he found it.? All the world’s show, all his former valuable ‘gain, he counted as dung and dross’ for ‘the true wisdom’ _ ‘the excellency of the knowledge of? CHRIST JESUS his Lord.’? NEVER WILL SOLID HAPPINESS BE KNOWN WITHOUT THIS SINGLENESS OF JUDGMENT AND PURPOSE.? THIS INESTIMABLE BLESSING MUST HAVE THE THRONE.? THE WAVERER AND THE HALF-SEEKER FALL SHORT.? DETERMINED PERSEVERANCE WINS THE PRIZE. (Philip.? 3:12-14)
Happy Thanksgiving to all Who Read This
Today, as part of my devotional time with the Lord, I was going through another chapter of Gate Keepers of the Home – How to Guard Your Home by Nancy Campbell. The chapter dealt with how we can bless/minister to/encourage others. I share with you this entry from Matthew Henry’s commentary discussing Proverbs 11:25 which reads, “The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.”
“So backward are we to works of charity, and so ready to think that giving undoes us, that we need to have it very much pressed upon us how much it is for our own advantage to do good to others, as before, v. 17. 1. We shall have the comfort of it in our own bosoms: The liberal soul, the soul of blessing, that prays for the afflicted and provides for them, that scatters blessings with gracious lips and generous hands, that soul shall be made fat with true pleasure and enriched with more grace. 2. We shall have the recompence of it both from God and man: He that waters others with the streams of his bounty shall be also watered himself; God will certainly return it in the dews, in the plentiful showers, of his blessing, which he will pour out, till there be not room enough to receive it, Mal. 3:10. Men that have any sense of gratitude will return it if there be occasion; the merciful shall find mercy and the kind be kindly dealt with. 3. We shall be enabled still to do yet more good: He that waters, even he shall be as rain (so some read it); he shall be recruited as the clouds are which return after the rain, and shall be further useful and acceptable, as the rain to the new-mown grass, he that teaches shall learn (so the Chaldee reads it); he that uses his knowledge in teaching others shall himself be taught of God; to him that has, and uses what he has, more shall be given.”
Family Devotions: a Very Important Tradition
Our church denomination’s magazine, called New Horizons, recently had an uplifting article called “Family Devotions: Passing Down a Tradition.” The article gives many examples of families forming the habit of reading Scripture together,memorizing it, praying, singing hymns/songs to the Lord, and discussing the Lord’s work in their lives. What struck me was the evidence of God working in a covenantal way in families, from generation to generation to generation.
That could be a whole study in itself, and entire books have been written about covenant theology. What is important in this brief column today is the importance of family devotions. Deuteronomy 11:18-19 says, “You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul…You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house.”
Having family devotions does take discipline. It means keeping children at the table in order to open up the Word. It means saying no to the doorbell ringing, phone ringing, the computer clamoring for attention, a host of activities that could usurp some time to read and pray. Forming the habit takes effort and time. But we need to take advantage of these family eating times to feast also upon our Lord, too.
First Grandchild is Born!
What a wonderful thing bearing children is!! Now, becoming a Grandma is a reality! Our grandson was born after 2 days of labor. The water broke early Monday morning and by 3:13am Wed. the little boy was born. Children are a gift, a blessing, a joy!
Although my grandson lives out of state, I’m determined that I can still be a caring Grandma – even if it’s long-distance. With email, internet, phones, I am able to bridge the communication gap. Plus, I love old-fashioned road trips to Virginia, even done in a long weekend.
God has placed another person in my family to nurture and to reach out to. I can tell this little one about Jesus who came to earth as a babe and died the painful and shameful death on the cross that my sins may be covered over. I can, by His grace and mercy, impact yet another generation for the Gospel of Christ.
I can and do say with the Psalmist, “The Lord has done great things for me and I am filled with joy!”