House of Wisdom: Sharing in the Trials & Triumphs of Family Life

“Through skillful and godly Wisdom is a house (a life, a home, a family) built, and by understanding it is established [on a sound and good foundation]…” Proverbs 24:3^AMP

Topic: I Hear Blessed!

Scripture: “Her children rise up and call her blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied)…” Proverbs 31:28^AMP 

There are many hidden things that experienced parents fail to share with beginners.  (The list would be far too long to go through in this context, but I encourage you to share your insight.)  After 7 years and 3 children, I realize that such things must remain a mystery or else “be fruitful and multiply” would be just a pretty, unrealized cliché.  

 I would like to highlight one mystery in particular, what I call “the Invisible Dad.”  I was not forewarned that Dads have the supernatural power to make themselves invisible to their children.  It makes no logical sense that while we may both be in the same room, same house, same zip code, or same planet the young ones seem to overlook Dad and make a beeline for Mom. 

 Picture this scene: Mom is sitting on the couch in the living room. Dad is in the kitchen.  Child enters kitchen. Child leaves kitchen.  Child comes to living room where Mom is doing Mom things.  Child asks Mom for drink, as if he/she had just hiked through the desert.  Mom, in her calm voice, asks just one critical question: “Did you ask Dad who is in the kitchen?”

 We know all to well how the story ends.  Mom gets drink.  Child runs along.  Dad becomes visible again.  However, the purpose of this is really not about Dad’s misuse of his super powers or Child’s constant requests.  It’s about Mom embracing who she is.  It is no wonder that a King poetically penned Proverbs 31, based on what he was taught by his mom.  He clearly describes her capabilities and highlights her heroics.  Mom does have supernatural strength and power!  (Even Dad begins to boast about her.)   

 The King sums up that “Mom” translated, is blessed.  But, you cannot circumvent the process: the children have to rise up.  They grow up and remember how you did everything to make their birthdays special.  They mature and recall how despite not getting every material thing, you made sure they had great experiences.  They rise up and realize that you were there when they needed you, although you were consistently late picking them up from school. 

 The experienced parents know this.  More importantly, as an experienced child, I know: They don’t get it right away, but they rise up.  To be called Mom or any variation thereof, can sometimes feel like a nail on a chalkboard.  Take Courage. Begin to translate your name. 

I HEAR BLESSED!

Recently, I had the opportunity to briefly pick up the new book by radio host and comedian Steve Harvey entitled “Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man.”  In this book Harvey shares some secular views on relationships.  His goal was to help women achieve success in an area that, at times, may appear to the human eye a difficult subject for many modern-day women to understand.  

 

I was able to read about 40 pages when in prayer, God convicted my spirit and told me to take the book back and get a Bible.  The Lord told me what I needed from the book I had already received.  Surprised, I immediately asked God, “Really?  Can you enlighten me on what that would be?”  He said, “Yes, I have identified to you Who Your Man Is.”  And He stated, “It is ME!”  In the book Harvey stated that when men are committed to you they will always do the three P’s: Profess, Protect, and Provide for you. 

 

God proclaimed to me, I AM YOUR MAN.  Day by day he does just what was noted in the book.

 

Profess – God professes to be my lover as in Songs of Solomon 7:10, “I belong to my lover, and his desire is for me.” He is the lover of my soul, the only one who has expressed His love unto death.  I experience the love He professes on a daily basis.  It has never been just words but His words become action in the next two statements.

 

Protects – He reminds me in Psalms 32:7 that he is my “hiding” place and he “protects” me from trouble.  His protection keeps me safe from all snares and dangers.  His protection fights my battles in the unseen realms and gives me a secure peace of mind that I never waiver from.

 

Provides – He reminds me that his name is Jehovah Jireh – God the Provider. Philippians 4:19 states, “my God will meet all my needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”  There is nothing that He can’t provide for me.  When all looks bleak, His provisions are abundant.  He provides for me just what I need.  He provides when I’m tempted and he provides when I’m weak.  He provided for my salvation so that I can live eternity with the Man of my life.

 

So to all my Single Ladies, God is commissioning us in this season to recognize who our man truly is.  It is Him!  And as God opens up the door for the man of God to come into your life, remember that if he is coming in the image of God he will profess, protect, and provide for you because he is loving you as God does. 

I remember when I was a child our family would have a traditional saying after we blessed our food.  Back then I was taught this one little phrase, “Memberlockswife.”  At the time that’s just how I would say it, not truly understanding what I was saying.  But it was a family ritual, so it became a part of my mealtime prayer.  It was not until I was much older that I realized that what my grandmother and mother were saying was, “Remember Lot’s Wife.”  The relevance of salt at the dinner table was used to instill a principle in my life.  This Old Testament Story is found in Genesis 19.  God tired of the evil of Sodom and Gomorrah and decided to destroy it and all it’s inhabitants.  Obviously this was a pretty evil and corrupt place.  One which was so void of spiritual life that God set out to destroy it.  But because of his love for Abraham, the Lord allowed Lot and his family to escape this judgment and flee to safety.  His only request was that they not look back, but go straight to their destination.  All of Lot’s family fled and followed the Lord’s instructions, except for Lot’s wife.

In Luke 17: 32-33, Jesus speaks of the last days and takes the time to call to remembrance Lot’s wife.  She loved her life so much that she turned back to it on her way to a greater destiny.  There at that very instant she was turned into a pillar of salt which has become a memorial for all of those who cherish their past lives.  Jesus said, “Remember Lot’s wife!  Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.”  This was not the only time that the call to a divine destiny was overshadowed by the desire for the familiarity of the past.  Israel also went through moments where they complained about their present state.  In their complaining they glorified their days of bondage.  In Numbers 20:5, they asked Moses, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place?”  Even though they are now free, some would have preferred the bondage of Egypt.  They would have traded walking freely in blind faith, to being enslaved by the Egyptians who hated them and tried to destroy them.

We also have those times where our past lives seem more attractive than pressing through the call God has on our lives.  This call is no joke, it is serious!  You will have wilderness moments where you have to trust God to see you through.  At times you may hear the enemy’s whispers  of, “Wasn’t it easier when you just did what you wanted?”  But when you’re honest with yourself, the answer is NO!  How can slavery have ever been better?  As a slave you work for the gain of others who don’t have your interest at heart.  But as a free child of God, you are promised an inheritance and a protection like no other.  Too many times we forget what being a slave who was in bondage to sin actually felt like.  We recreate a glorified picture of that past life.  But remember the helplessness and hopelessness of those times when you had no direction and no peace of mind.  Do you truly want to go back to that life?  Do you want to turn around and go your own way and experience the loss of fellowship and the loss of protection from the Savior?

Have you had moments when your “Egypt” looked more attractive than the future promises of God?   Don’t get so frustrated in the wilderness moments that you turn around.  Don’t allow the enemy to deceive you into returning to bondage.  It is in our pressing that we see the promise.  All God has for you is ahead of you!  Just continue taking the steps towards your destiny today.

Scriptures for Meditation:

Luke 9:62      Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Galatians 5: 1            It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. 

2 Peter 2: 20-22

If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. ²¹ It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. ²² Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.”

Mark 8:34

And when he had called the people [unto him] with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

 

Most times we keep ourselves from the promises of God.  Why? This is because we refuse to deny ourselves from the pleasures of the world.  God has a lot to say about the pleasures of this world. What did Jesus mean when He said, “whosoever would come after me”?  I believe He used these words knowing that some would not follow.

To follow Christ means dying to yourself daily, taking the focus off of you, and putting it on Jesus Christ. I can remember when I was younger I would follow the wrong crowd.  This would only lead to later getting into deep trouble that would cause all my privileges to be revoked by my parents.   If only I would have followed their counsel and deny myself the pleasure of the party life, I would not have received those consequences. God has called each one of us into covenant relationship with Him.  Will you accept the call to come, deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Him?

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever more. (Heb 13)  Whether you make the choice or not, His word will remain the same.

Repent and believe the Good News (Mark 1:15)

In the end your refusal to deny yourself leads to death.  Remember, He has given us our deliverance.

You are my help and deliverer (Ps 40:17)

When you begin to deny your own self, food, alcohol, drugs, and unhealthy relationships, you will begin to have withdrawals from the very things you let go of.  But rest assured, our Father is waiting for you to take up your cross today and follow Him. He knows and understands all of our struggles.  His Word will give you the tools you need to persevere.  If you make the right choice today, a greater glory awaits you……..

How do we deny ourselves from the pleasures of this world?

 –We must create healthy environments for ourselves and remember there is a greater reward and that reward is eternal life in heaven.

Scripture Observation Application Prayer

 

S  1 Samuel 13:11-12 – “And Samuel said, “What have you done” Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattered from me and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered together at Michmash then I said, “The Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the Lord.  Therefore, I felt compelled and offered a burnt offering”

 

O  Saul’s fatal response here is that he made a spiritual decision from a soulish position.  His response here is reminiscent of the mistake Eve made.  She also made a fatal decision after she saw soulish factors.  It was three-fold; the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and pride of life.  This is the three-fold attack against our faith.  Especially as you become closer to God, the attacks will become more strategic.  One sense is no longer enough to get me off track.  Now, the enemy must hit me with combinations, cross-referencing the pleasurable feeling of one sense with the next. 

 

A  Our feelings will destroy us, if not put in their proper perspective.  Feelings were never meant to govern our lives-the spirit was.  Feelings were intended for us to experience all the abundance that life has to offer as we move on the right decisions made from our spirit. 

 

P  Father, this passage and understanding jumped out at me for a reason.  I have much to consider and change about the starting point for my reasoning and decisions.  I repent of any ill feelings, words or even actions.  Your word is truth and can not be denied.  Thank you for taking the time and allowing me time to work out my salvation.  In Jesus name!

I saw I needed to go to a class for my workout.  I just needed to be around other people fighting to get fit.  The beauty is, when I got in the room I overheard others in the class talking about how tired they were. Some of them looked like they had just rolled out of bed.  (I bet I looked the same!)  The body fights and longs for consistence at the same time.  On one hand, what you do each day becomes a pattern to your body and when you try and break that pattern, the body cries out, “Stop!”  On the other hand, when you begin to enter into the second and third week of working out, you start to have pains in places you didn’t know you had.  Everything in you says, “It is time for a break.”  Taking a break is the worst thing you can do, your body must learn this new normal.  You will feel like you are dying but do not quit.  Today I went past the feeling and into the class, only to find that my feelings were not being honest at home.  There is nothing like walking back to the car after the workout saying to yourself “I did it.”  I believe that great success happens in the priorities we set in our daily lives.

 

DAY LESSON:

It is not what you feel when you wake up that matters.  But it’s what you will feel once you have taken a bite out of your dream today.

 

 

Become People of Change

Col. 1:9

For this reason we also, from the day we heard of it, have not ceased to pray and make [special] request for you, [asking] that you may be filled with the full (deep and clear) knowledge of His will, in all spiritual wisdom [in comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God] and in understanding and discernment of spiritual things-

Col. 1:10

That you may walk (live and conduct yourselves) in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him and desiring to please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing and increasing in and by the knowledge of God [with fuller, deeper, and clearer insight, acquaintance, and recognition].

 

What does it mean to “Arise”?  It means to be designed for success.  Do you know as believers you have been qualified to succeed? God has designed us with the full measure of His spirit. Therefore He desires for you and I to “Arise” to that occasion. He desires for us to fulfill his ultimate call on our lives. We have been built to succeed. We have been made to conquer.

 

So if that is the case, why do so many of us feel like we are failing?  Believers, I suggest to you that it is our inability to change. As believers God has based our spiritual growth system on “Change”. So, if you and I are ever to fully realize the potential of all that lies within us, we must submit to change.

 

We must “Arise” through allowing God to change us. The question could be asked then, “With so many mistakes in my life, how do I allow God to change me” There are three areas of change that God uses to build the believer.

 

God changes us through:

         a. Re-shaping

         b. Re-fashioning

         c. Re-designing

 

Re-shaping

Jesus reshapes us to make us His image bearers. He will keep reshaping us until we look more and more like Him.  Sometimes, this means He will take away old things that no longer build us and begins to implant us with what He wants to see. This may require us to do new things. While it may stress our natural minds, it will build our spirits.

 

Re-fashioning

Once He re-shapes us He leads us into this next level of growth. This is where God takes away our tattered and torn clothes, which are fear, anger, doubt, and loneliness. Here He re-fashions us in fullness, faith, love and hope.

 

Re-designing

Finally, after the Father has re-shaped and re-fashioned us, we are now ready for the final phase, which is to be re-designed. In this phase the Father will give us our new function in Him.

 

When something is re-designed it means that at one point it was used for one thing and now it is used for something else.

 

This is like the believer. At one time we were used for whatever the enemy wanted. Used to lust, used to lie, used for pain and heartache.

 

Then our Savior re-designed us and called us to “Arise”. Now we are used anew. Used to heal, used for hope, and used for love. If we as a people would “Arise” to the call of our God, there is nothing that we cannot accomplish.

 

At this leadership conference allow Him to change you. Allow Him to build you up, to set you on a hill, and use you as an example. “Arise“ to new heights and accomplish all that He has called you to do.