This past weekend I upgraded my cell phone. The new phone is acutally more than a phone it is one of those do everything types – learning to use the silly thing has my mind wandering in the direction of CHANGE & all its wonders. Allow me to ramble a few thoughts…

So far this has been my experience with this upgrade/change...

• Makes me growl…a lot! Sounds quite similar to those of a pirate...aarrhhh
• Phone upgrade = brain upgrade Is this possible?
• Maybe I could bribe a friend or hire someone to handle all CHANGE – yes, seriously considering this one.
• Inconvenience overload. Definition: the convening of my desire to get things done (schedule a mtg/appt, text, IM, Twitter, Facebook, make a doggone simple phone call, etc.) & my “upgrade” phone’s desire to prevent that
• Have sudden renewed attachment to my old phone - Dear sweet Treo: Why was your lack of memory w/resulting slowness such a big deal anyway – I just needed more patience. Clearly patience was what I should have been focused on instead of “upgrading”. Right?
• Can’t find time to finish set-up & get all info transferred to “upgrade” so I am now carrying both the old & the “upgrade” Like my purse isn’t heavy enough & now must remember to charge two things – might as well throw the ipod in there & make it 3 things…oh yea, and the laptop. Did I remember to buy batteries for…sorry mind wandering for a moment.
  
  
  There’s sure to be a point somewhere in my ramblings…check back soon I’m sure I will sort it all out! In the meantime…SMILE!

Living & Loving,

Kathi

Wisdom Pt. 2

Hello Loves! Here are the rest of my thoughts on wisdom...for now at least. Be inspired!

Okay, we know wisdom is calling out to us, reaching toward us to help us in our everyday lives. I think the next question then becomes how do we know when it’s Wisdom speaking and not some other voice? We have to learn to recognize what Wisdom sounds like. What does she say? Continuing in Proverbs 8 here are a few of Wisdom’s sounds:

Pr. 8:6 KJV Hear; for I will speak of excellent things…
NIV Listen, for I have worthy things to say…

Wisdom speaks only what is worth saying. The words that come from our mouths coupled with our actions must have worth or value attached to them. When something has worth it is valuable and therefore desirable. If we speak or act without Wisdom we are wasting our time and energies. No one will desire to hear or be the recipient of our efforts. Ask yourself before you begin speaking, does what I’m getting ready to say have value? Am I saying it in such a way that it is desirable or does it communicate something I don’t mean it to like judgment or criticism?

KJV …and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
NIV …I open my lips to speak what is right.

When Wisdom speaks she is never unfair. The word right is referring to those things that are just, fair, level, and equitable. This means when Wisdom speaks she speaks not from her own biases or opinions but from God’s heart. For us this means we have to lay our carnal opinions, based in our own experiences and prejudices, aside and speak only those things that line up with the Word of God – God’s heart to us. In the book of Matthew Jesus reminds us to seek His Kingdom and righteousness first. The word righteousness finds it roots in the meaning of justice, what is fair and equitable. With this in mind we are to put our own ideas of what is fair, what we think we or others deserve aside. Our opinion or judgement of people or situations is not what's important. What is important is what God's view is, what His Word says. It reminds us once again of the importance of allowing the Word of God to renew our minds (Romans 12:2).

Pr. 8:7 KJV For my mouth shall speak truth…
NIV My mouth speaks what is true…

Faithfulness and reliability walk hand in hand with Wisdom. When wisdom speaks we can count on those words to have validity to them and to be trustworthy in every circumstance. Speaking and acting truthfully does not just have to do with not telling lies. It has to do with speaking only those things that have consistency and stability attached to them. Actually, reliability and stability are inherent in truth. When we stop to think about this it should change what comes out of our mouths. People need to know that: 1. We are people of our word. That we mean what we say, say what we mean and are willing to back it all up with our actions. 2. People need to hear only words that are faithful. One of the inate elements of truth is that it works everywhere, with every person and in every circumstance. Truth is not relative and neither can the wisdom that flows through our life be. We must be relative people to reach our world but the wisdom we live by cannot change to fit our world or for convenience sake. We adapt to truth, it does not adapt to us.

I challenge you to do what I’ve done with these couple of verses. Continue with Proverbs 8 stopping to ponder each verse and allowing the Holy Spirit to enlighten your understanding. When you are done you will have a good picture of just how Wisdom speaks and behaves. The next time you find yourself in the middle of an unwise dissertation instead of trying to save face or merely sound wise, close your mouth, consider the situation (wisdom is prudent or circumspect Pr. 8:12) and listen for Wisdom to speak. Say or do only what she would.

Listen, because I have heard Wisdom speak to me, I truly know nothing is impossible with God. Really! My mother, the wisest woman I know, reprimanded me over and over as a young girl with “Just because something pops into your head does not mean it should come out of your mouth.” Guess what Mom? I think I finally got it. The Proverbs 31 woman can truly live and breathe in us!

Until next time…hugs to each of you!

What is Wisdom? Pt. 1

Proverbs 4:5-9
5 Get wisdom, get understanding;

do not forget my words or swerve from them.
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;

love her, and she will watch over you.
7 Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom.

Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
8 Esteem her, and she will exalt you;

embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 She will set a garland of grace on your head

and present you with a crown of splendor."

That miraculous Proverbs 31 woman “openeth her mouth with wisdom” – she openeth? Really? You mean rather than stumbling onto a word of wisdom as she rattles off twenty or so of her thirty thousand words a day, she actually starts off with or opens her mouth first with wisdom? Really? No kidding, it’s possible?

Ever found yourself in the middle of lecturing someone and realize you aren’t really being wise about it all but you’re so far in now you feel to save face you have to pursue the current course? I hate it when that happens! When I find myself in these predicaments I’m always quickly reminded that this wonderful woman so beautifully portrayed for us in Proverbs 31 is able to start off speaking with wisdom (Pr. 31:26). Would someone please tell me how she does that…please? Well here are at least some thoughts to consider…

Let’s start by looking a little more closely at Proverbs 4:9 in particular.

“She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace;
a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.”

The word ornament here means something attached and is rooted in a word that means to twine together, to unite, to remain, and to join oneself to. What the words are really saying to us is that what Wisdom wants to give us is not something to wear or hang on our lives like a Christmas tree ornament; it is something that has to become intertwined, connected and joined to us in such a way that it remains. Wisdom wants to place on our heads – where you think, reason, formulate your thoughts; the summit of your carnal nature – something permanent that reflects the graciousness of God. The wisdom of God has to become so much a part of who we are that it is first nature to us not an afterthought.

For this to happen, ladies, we have to have a thorough understanding of just who and what Wisdom is. For greater understanding of this let’s take a look at Proverbs 8. It begins by reminding us that Wisdom is always calling out to us. She is calling out from the high places. Wisdom does not allow us to stay where we are at; she will always call to us from a higher place prompting us to move to where she is so we can clearly hear what she has to say. Wisdom also calls to us at crossroads. She is always present and speaking at the places in our lives where decisions have to be made. She stands at the gates or the entrances and exits of our lives. Are you getting it yet? Wisdom always has something to say about who you are, what you are doing and where you are.

More thoughts later this week...

Living & Loving,

Kathi

The Big Wide World of Blogging

Well, here I am venturing into the big world of blogging. An interesting forum to write our thoughts out loud for all to read...this should be interesting. So here we go.



Arise, shine for YOUR light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon YOU. Isaiah 60:1



Arise...get up from your sedentary place, a place of limitations, a place where you can only reach so far and have access to only those things that are within your reach



GET UP!



It is easier to stay seated - Why?

• you don't have to feel, carry or bear your full weight


• it's easier to maintain your balance, to stay steady


• therefore you never experience full responsibility for you & the anointing God has given you


• we have seating options: rocking chair (simulates movement, motion, accomplishment but never acutally moves), big overstuffed chair (cozy in, secure and warm, feel like you can hide from the real issues of life), recliner (take your shoes off, prop you feet up, stay awhile, take a nap after all you deserve it, you are entitled to that kind of luxury after all you've had to put up with - crazy people, tough past, etc. - now you can just relax and blame everyone else for you lack)

I know I'm taking a bit of liberty here but aren't these all examples of why we stay still and don't step out in faith to go after what God has called us to? We are called to be light; to bring illumination to the dark places of this world. The book of Matthew tells us that we can't hide that light but must put it out on display where it provides illumination. In other words use the light for what it was intended for...purposed for.

Arise, get up, shine. The glory of the Lord is now shining on you, His glory is being reflected through you and it is personal. When His glory shines through you it makes a unique ray. Your light has the ability to reach into places that someone else's might not. Direct your light toward purpose.

In Genesis 13 Abram and Lot separated. Lot chose what he thought was the best of the land. Abram went the opposite direction. God spoke to Abram and said, "Lift up your eyes from where you are and look north, south, east and west. All the land you see I give to you...ARISE, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you. So Abram MOVED...

God had A LAND for Abram and he has A LAND for you. Arise, start walking every inch of the land He has given you! The people of that land are waiting for you!

Loving and Living,

Kathi