Our Limited Wisdom

The Bible says that our wisdom is limited.

16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?  17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.  18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.  19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written , He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.  20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.  21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;  22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present , or things to come; all are yours;  23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.  --1 Corinthians 3: 16-23 KJV 16 Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?  17 God will bring ruin upon anyone who ruins this temple. For God's temple is holy, and you Christians are that temple.  18 Stop fooling yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world's standards, you will have to become a fool so you can become wise by God's standards.  19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, "God catches those who think they are wise in their own cleverness."  20 And again, "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are worthless."  21 So don't take pride in following a particular leader. Everything belongs to you:  22 Paul and Apollos and Peter; the whole world and life and death; the present and the future. Everything belongs to you,  23 and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.   --1 Corinthians 3:16-23 New Living Translation   What should my conduct be in this life?  What do I bring to this world?  How do I process what has happened to me throughout my life?  How should I react to others around me?    How do we deal with those who propose that they are wiser than us?  Do we respect them and their differences?  Or do we claim that we are right?  Do we give grace to others who might not know all the details about a topic of conversation?  Condemnation, through judgment, is detrimental to a Christian's mental health.  A judgmental attitude against me from fellow Christians has perplexed me.  To understand this situation, I consulted my Bible.  I have long looked at the above verses in one light, but I have learned something new.  I used to look at these verses as referring to my body being a temple of God, in terms of the physical health of my body.  This second look is helping me to understand that it could also refer to the mental health aspect, too.  My mama said that if I knew everything I had to know, I wouldn't need to learn anything new (in college).   I have said it before--I am not perfect.  I have never claimed to be the smartest, even within my own family.  In fact, even during my university days, I was regarded as a know-it-all by several individuals.  In many ways, I have merely challenged myself in many areas of my life.  I am always on the lookout to improve myself; that's why I read my Bible.  I humbly say that I, in no way, see myself as the wisest person on this planet.  According to the Bible, King Solomon was the wisest man, and even he claimed that to know everything was not enough.  In verse 18 above the apostle Paul says that if anyone of us humans claims to be the wisest, he/she should realize that it is foolishness.  The thing about being human is that we don't see all of the different viewpoints in a given situation.  Only God can claim that.    I liken this situation to a person being inside a box.  This person can only see whatever is inside the box.  Now, imagine a giant looking from outside of that box.  The giant can see so much more.  I truly believe that we should try to be like the giant, who can see all the angles of any given situation (or inside the box).  We, who are Christians, belong to Christ, even though we have limited wisdom.  The next time I am judged for something I say or do, I will try to remember that my persecuters are basing their opinions about me with their limited wisdom.  I should give them the same grace that I want from God.  I will aim to, in other words, "cut them some slack."  After all, we are, as Christians, constantly striving to become more Christ-like. 

I think God's word below sums up my situation (my limited wisdom is my weakness):  Each time he [God] said, "My [grace] gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness." So now I [Paul] am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me.  --2 Corinthians 12:9 New Living Translation 

Thanks for reading this blog entry about our limited wisdom.  I appreciate you taking the time to read it.

 How about you, my beloved readers?  As Christians, do you understand the idea of our limited wisdom?  Are you willing to give grace to someone who isn't as smart as you?  Or are you willing to be uncharitable by withholding grace?  Remember this: If you want God, the Father, to forgive you of yours sins (or shortcomings), you should also forgive your fellow human beings, too. I encourage you all to read different versions of 1 Corinthians 3:16-23 to understand what the Bible says about our limited wisdom affecting another person's mental health, which is part of a Christian's body (temple of God).   May the only true God of all gods bless us, my dear friends, with His wisdom and peace.  In Jesus' name.  Amen!  

This has been an entry for the Spiritual Sundays series. 

To compile this mini- bible study, I visited: http://www.biblestudytools.com/

  

Knowing the World: My Contemplation of Verse 47 of the Tao Te Ching

Dr. Dyer's book is Change your Thoughts--Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao.

Today, I am focusing on verse 47 of the Tao Te Ching:

Without going out the door,

know the world.

Without looking out the window,

you may see the ways of heaven.

The farther one goes,

the less one knows.

Therefore the sage does not venture forth

and yet knows,

does not look

and yet names,

does not strive

and yet attains completion.

Knowledge--we all seek it.  We all want it.  We all need it.  How much do we need to know, though?  How can we obtain knowledge?

This 47th verse of the Tao Te Ching is saying we don't even need to venture outside of our home to obtain knowledge.  Lao Tzu explains that all we need to know is already within our reach.  In fact, Dr. Dyer mentions in his book, Change your Thoughts--Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao, about understanding this concept.  He gives the example of us having a beating heart that knows what to do.  We don't control it, but it exists in our bodies to do its job; our hearts just know how to beat.

The information age rears its ugly head.

I've been contemplating just what it means to be surrounded by endless information (knowledge).  Yesterday, I was taking a break from technology (internet, which has sped the rate of information that is transmitted).  I looked out my window and saw some birds (nature) perched on a wire.  I was in awe that nature seemed to be winning over technology.  My heart sank when I saw an airplane fly behind the birds.

There comes a time when we must realize that seeking information is futile.  

Even King Solomon, who was the wisest leader, understood that knowing everything was pointless.  You see, there's a difference between wisdom and knowledge.  Knowledge is just information.  Wisdom is knowing how to employ the information to the best of our ability.  Are we living that out?

Let's become like the wisest of people--the sages.  They know when to quit striving for knowledge.  Let's allow the sense of completion to wash over us.  Let's go back to simplicity, which can bring us to that sense of completion.  Simplifying our lives can bring us peace, and isn't that what we all need?

Thanks for reading today's post about knowing the world.  

I appreciate you taking the time to read it.  

I've got some questions for you: Are you striving for the ultimate knowledge of things, people, technology, etc.?  Are you frustrated with information-seeking?  Do you want to experience peace?  I pray that we all would seek peace from the Source of everything--Father, God.  I pray that we would ask God for His help to experience a deep, loving, and mutually beneficial relationship with Him.

May God bless you, my beloveds, with His wisdom and peace, in Jesus' name.  Amen!

This has been an entry for Wisdom Wednesdays.

I am currently drawing inspiration from Dr. Wayne W. Dyer's book and the 81 verses of the Chinese wisdom book the Tao Te Ching.

How to Gain Wisdom

The Bible tells us God is willing to give us wisdom.

5 If you need wisdom -- if you want to know what God wants you to do -- ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking.  6 But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.   James 1:5-6 New Living Translation

Do you have a question?  Do you have a dilemma running through your mind?  What do you do about it?  Do you turn to your friends?  Or do you turn the internet for solutions to your problems?

The Bible, particularly in the book of James, lets us know that if we need a deeper understanding of anything, we can turn to God.  We can go to Him for anything, and that includes wisdom.  He is ready to tell us anything we want or need to know.  God will not be upset at us for asking for wisdom.

Isn't it awesome!  We can ask God for help in understanding how to proceed in any given situation.  That's why so many people turn to God before setting forth on a new venture.  I think that's a wonderful idea; however, we must believe that He will deliver.  The warning is clear: A doubtful mind is compared to the sea waves which are tossed to and fro by the wind.

Today, let's take the time to ask God for help in our decision-making.  He will not fail us.  Let's have the deep faith in Him to help us when we need knowledge before acting on limited information.  Only then, can we move forward in our everyday decisions.   Well, thanks for reading today's blog entry about asking God for wisdom.  I appreciate you taking the time to read it.

 How about you, my readers?  Have you turned to God for wisdom?  Have you asked Him with unwavering faith?  I hope you will turn to God for help with your problems.  Go to Him today and ask for His help to solve your problems.  I promise you that He will listen and tell you what He thinks is best for your situation.

 God bless you all, my dear friends, with His wisdom and peace.  In Jesus' name.  Amen!
This has been an entry for the Spiritual Sundays series. 

To compile this mini- bible study, I visited: http://www.biblestudytools.com/

How to Live Right: My Contemplation of Verse 28 of the Tao Te Ching

Dr. Dyer's book is Change your Thoughts--Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao.

Today, I am focusing on verse 28 of the Tao Te Ching, specifically the following portions:

One who understands splendor

while holding to humility

acts in accord with the eternal power.

To be the fountain of the world is

to live the abundant life of virtue...

Truly, the best governor governs least.

God's creation is marvelous.  See the same type of flower with the same amount of petals.  Leaves have veins on them through which water comes from the stem of the plant.  A human baby eats nutrients from the mother via the umbilical cord.  

Ponder those facts for a moment.

How should we treat the earth and its inhabitants?  Should we throw litter out the window while riding in a car?  Should we smack our kids in the face when they disrespect us?  Should we dump motor oil down the kitchen sink?  The answer to all of these questions is a resounding, "No."

Let's think about the gray areas.  Should we homeschool?  Can we afford to go on vacation?  Should we buy a new car to replace the 20 year-old clunker?  The list goes on.

I think you get the picture: 

How do we live right?

Following are some strategies for living right:

1. Get out of the way.  According to some psychologists, we are often selfish.  We want to please ourselves.  We want to do things that benefit us.  The Chinese wisdom of the Tao Te Ching turns that around.  We need to humble ourselves and let God have control.

2. Tap into the Way of life.  Once we understand the need to put ourselves out of the equation, God can work in our lives.  We need to turn to the Word of God (the Bible) for instructions.  Only God can help us know our next moves in the chessboard called life.

3. Be a vessel through which God's love flows.  After knowing how to proceed through life, we allow God to work through us.  Maybe God compels us to visit the housebound.  Perhaps, we should provide grocery for a family that is struggling.  Doing these kind deeds shows people that God loves them.  You never know if your good acts are answers to prayers.

My readers,

how can God work through you?

I hope you will consider these nuggets on how to live the right life.  You could be a blessing to the earth and those around you.

How about it, my friends?  Are you living right?  Are you tapping into God's wisdom?  Are you a vessel through which God works?  I pray we all turn to God for instruction on how to live right.  The Bible is full of advice.  Turn to it now.

May God bless you, my beloveds, with His wisdom and peace, in Jesus' name.  Amen!

This has been an entry for Wisdom Wednesdays.

I am currently drawing inspiration from Dr. Wayne W. Dyer's book and the 81 verses of the Chinese wisdom book the Tao Te Ching.

God is Great and So Am I: My Contemplation of Verse 25 of the Tao Te Ching

Dr. Dyer's book is Change your Thoughts--Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao.

Today I delve into verse 25 of the Tao Te Ching, specifically these portions:

..the Way is great,
heaven is great,
earth is great,
people are great.

Thus, to know humanity,
understand earth.
to know earth,
understand heaven.
To know heaven,
understand the Way.
To know the Way,
understand the great within yourself.

My God is great.  He is my creator.  I must then be great, too.  God is perfect.  He doesn't make mistakes.
 

I know what you're thinking!  Is she calling herself as an equal to God?  No.  I'm not.  I just have a positive vision of myself.

No. I'm not boasting about myself.  I'm simply saying that God is great in all ways.  He created me.  He creates with greatness.  I am His creation.

I am great.  I am a great creation.  God is a god that does not make mistakes.  He has reasons for everything He does.  He doesn't make anything by accident.

If God is perfect, then I should see myself as a great being.  I'm not saying that I walk around strutting like a rooster.  I must remain humble before people.  I'm not higher than anyone.  God does not have favorites.

I am guilty of one thing.  I trust God.  I have seen evidence of His work in my life.  I have come a long way from my past.  God is still working in my life.

The confidence I have in God has grown over the years.  I came from a past of hardship, and I have been blessed as an adult.  I have much more than I ever had.  I have lots of possessions, healthy children, and a loving husband.  That's a lot of evidence right there.

There is so much more to come in the future.  

I can feel it.

How about you, my friends?  Do you believe in God?  Do you believe God is great?  Do you believe God created you?  God intends greatness for all His creatures, large and small.  I encourage you to be in expectation of His greatness.  Greatness is yours for the taking.

May God bless you, my beloveds, with His wisdom and peace, in Jesus' name.  Amen!

This has been an entry for Wisdom Wednesdays.

I am currently drawing inspiration from Dr. Wayne W. Dyer's book and the 81 verses of the Chinese wisdom book the Tao Te Ching.

Humility Vs. Self-Reliance: My Contemplation of Verse 24 of the Tao Te Ching

Dr. Dyer's book is Change your Thoughts--Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao.

Today I want to present you with the whole of verse 24 of the Tao Te Ching:

If you stand on tiptoe, you cannot stand firmly.

If you take long steps, you cannot walk far.

Showing off does not reveal enlightenment.

Boasting will not produce accomplishment.

He who is self-righteous is not respected.

He who brags will not endure.

All these ways of acting are odious, distasteful.

They are superfluous excess.

They are like a pain in the stomach,

a tumor in the body.

When walking the path of the Tao, 

this is the very stuff that must be

uprooted, thrown out, and left behind.

This verse of the Tao Te Ching (The Chinese Book of the Source of the Way) is asking us to stop bragging about our achievements, our belongings, and our status.  We must remember that everything around us is due to God's provision.  We must remain cognizant of that fact.  To be honest, it is distasteful when people brag about themselves.

When I say "we," I am including myself.  I am ready to admit that I have a tendency towards self-reliance.  I have a bad habit of resting on my education and my ability to find information about topics that I don't know.  I must remember that God is responsible for allowing me to get that education and for my ability to research.  I must acknowledge that He has blessed me immensely.   

God is the Source or the Tao of all that we experience with our senses.  It is due to God's lovingkindness that we have what we have.  We should show our gratitude for all that God has provided.  He provides us the necessities and often our wants.  He even blesses us with extras that He sees fit to give us.

I must teach my children about gratitude.  

I often use an interesting scenario.  I tell my kids that we are blessed because we have a refrigerator full of food.  There are people in Africa that don't have any food.  They don't even have a refrigerator.  They don't even have a house to hold a refrigerator!  

My children then realize they should be grateful 

for what they DO have.

To sum up, we need to remain humble.  We need to stay away from boasting or bragging about ourselves.  People around us don't like it.  Bragging turns people off.  We also need to remain grateful to God for everything that we have; we don't have our things just based on our abilities. 

How about you, my friends?  Are you resting on your accomplishments?  Are you relying on your abilities?  I encourage you to be thankful to God for all that He has provided in your life.  Humility can take you farther and show the children in your life about your rightful dependence on the Provider.

May God bless you, my beloveds, with His wisdom and peace.

This has been an entry for Wisdom Wednesdays.

 

I am currently drawing inspiration from Dr. Wayne W. Dyer's book and the 81 verses of the Chinese wisdom book the Tao Te Ching.

Embracing Your Nature: My Contemplation of Verse 23 of the Tao Te Ching

Dr. Dyer's book is Change your Thoughts--Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao.

Today, I am embracing verse 23 of the Tao Te Ching, specifically these portions:

If you conform to the Way,

its power flows through you.

Your actions become those of nature,

your ways those of heaven.

Open yourself to the Tao

and trust your natural responses...

then everything will fall into place.

I think it's important to understand that we are part of nature.  We, who are part of nature, were created by a magnificent creator.  We have our ups and downs.  Nature around us has its ups and downs.  Weather is part of nature.

The wind is part of nature.  It blows, and it subsides.  In our lives, we have happy times.  We also have sad times.  Stuff happens!

I can tell you about all the negative events in my life.  I could sing you a song like the Blues.  My daddy, he died, duh, duh, duh, duh.  I lived in a rat-infested house, duh, duh, duh, duh.  My roof did leak, duh, duh, duh, duh.

The reality is that I have also had positive life points.  I had a loving mother.  She didn't give up my four siblings and me to foster care.  I finished high school and even got a Bachelor's degree.  I'm  married with four wonderful children.

Listen, we all have chaotic times.  We all have peaceful times.  There is an important question we must ask ourselves.  Are we going to let the bad experiences strike us so strongly?  Yes or no.

Will we keep depending on our abilities?  Will we keep pushing and pulling our way to what we think is success?  Will we keep trying to control all of the conditions in our lives?  When are we going to realize that we are limited beings?  Why fight the natural aspects of our lives?

How about depending on God?  He is the Tao--the Way and the Source of everything.  He is our Creator.  He loves us.  He wants what is best for us, and that includes trusting in Him.

God's ways are not our ways.

He is the One we should turn to when we are troubled.

Let's turn to Him.

Let's thank Him when the good things happen.

How about it, my readers?  Are you depending on your abilities to get you through the tough times?  Or are you turning to God?  I recommend going with the flow of your given situation.  For example, if someone is bad-mouthing you, keep quiet and let that person's nature run its course.

May God bless you, my beloveds, with His wisdom and peace.

This has been an entry for Wisdom Wednesdays.

 

I am currently drawing inspiration from Dr. Wayne W. Dyer's book and the 81 verses of the Chinese wisdom book the Tao Te Ching.

My Contemplation of Verse 20 of the Tao Te Ching

Dr. Dyer's book is Change your Thoughts--Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao.

Today, I want to focus on verse 20 of the Tao Te Ching, specifically this portion:

Most people have too much; 

I alone seem to be missing something.

Mine is indeed the mind of an ignoramus

in its unadulterated simplicity.

I am but a guest in this world.

While others rush about to get things done,

I accept what is offered.

I alone seem foolish,

earning little, spending less.

Living in this world is tough when you consider what you are up against.  We have to meet deadlines.  We have obligations to others and ourselves.  We have goals to meet.  We are under the microscope to those around us, watching our every move.

It is no wonder that I have asked myself several questions:

What are my priorities in this life?

What do I need to do to get through those priorities?

What material things do I need to reach my goals?

Who do I need in my life to help me reach my goals?

What information am I lacking?

After asking myself those questions, I have to learn to accept those things that I cannot change.  I cannot change how tired this body gets.  When I start a project, like blogging, I throw my whole self into it.  Sometimes, I get obsessed.  Sometimes, I suffer for my craft.

Now, am I the only one who does this?  No.  We are all guilty, if we love something, of throwing our all into the said project.  This verse of the Tao Te Ching is asking us to stop striving for material possessions, prestige, and money.  Afterall, what did we come with into this world?  Nothing.

We will someday pass on from this life.  Our spirit will go back to God, the Source of our spirit.  We are not taking anything with us.  It will all stay behind.  That's why in the Bible, we are encouraged to store up treasures in heaven, instead of down here on earth.

Many people are used to reaching for the latest new trends.  We have this mindset that we need to get those new things.  Really, we do not.  I'm not saying that I don't have technology in my house.  How do you think I'm reaching you, my beloved readers?

I love the technology for what it can do for me.  It can also become a burden.  Just think about how Facebook, Twitter, and the many social mediums we have available to us.  We can communicate with people around the world.  I have visitors to my blog from Hungary and India, and I think that is awesome.

I am happy to be a blessing to anyone who passes through this blog.  I would that you leave with new-found wisdom or a new way to think about life.  Again, I will state--I do not want to change your religion.  That is not my intention.  I am intent on getting you to be at peace with your current situation.

If we let go of the control for a bit, we can let God work in our lives.  From the Source of everything can flow abundance.  If we are not of this world, then let us turn to God, our Father.  He is our provider.  Let's turn our tough situations over to Him.

I have health conditions that seemed worse a few weeks ago.  It is by laying it at God's feet, that I am sensing a transformation.  I really do trust that He is working in my life.  He is healing me.  He is directing me to people and information to bring my healing about.

I had to get out of the way.  I'm asking you to get out of the way, too.  Let God handle your problems.  If He puts people in your life, listen to them.  Let them be a blessing to you.  

Let go of the control.

I know that God is working in my life.  I can sense that through this writing, He is wanting to reach someone.  If God can use this post to get through to somebody reading this, I have done my job.  I pray that I don't get in the way of his message to you, my friends.  

What about you, my readers?  Are you striving too much?  Are you burning out?  Slow down and ask yourself what is important in your life.  You might need to take a break.  You might need to re-evaluate your priorities.

May God bless you all with His peace and wisdom.

This has been an entry for Wisdom Wednesdays.  I pray you were blessed by it.

I am currently drawing inspiration from Change Your Thoughts--Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer.

For past entries, turn to Wisdom Wednesdays.

 

Training Up a Child

Training is part of a child's upbringing.

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

--Proverbs 22:6

I thought I would start this entry in a funny way.  Perhaps seeing this picture of a train will remind you of this entry.  This old Hot Wheels train has been in our family for many years.  You can see how old it is by looking at its wheels.  Yes, it has been played with so many times.

Just like that Hot Wheels toy has been played with many times, this Bible verse has been used many times as well.  I like to use a concordance, specifically The New Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible.  I use it to define words that I might not understand.  I use it to help me get a better grasp of something special in the Bible.  It is a perfect companion for Bible studies.

Let's break down the verse I am focusing on:

train-to discipline; to hone in on the learning; to dedicate

child-youth

way-journey; course of life

old-grown up

depart-reject; leave undone

Now that we have a few definitions, we can understand more fully what the Bible verse says.  Basically, the parent, guardian, caretaker, teacher, or any other such person dedicates his/her life to raise the youth.  This person must discipline and/or hone the learning for the child.  This individual is charged with showing the child the journey or the course of life that he/she should follow.  When that youth grows up, because of all the learning he has done, in the hands of the teacher, he will leave nothing undone.  

He/She will not reject their learning because it is ground down into their psyche.  Now, I'm gonna give you the definition of psyche:

psyche  psy·che (sī'kē)
n.
 The mind functioning as the center of thought, emotion, and behavior and consciously or unconsciously mediating the body's responses to the social and physical environment.

psyche. (n.d.). The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary. Retrieved March 27, 2011, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/psyche

I added psyche to the mix because it explains why the child will not veer from what he has learned.  It is like the child has information seared into his brain, like a rancher who brands his cattle for identification.  This is like when a person burns songs onto a CD.  

I'm just trying to help you, my reader, understand why it is so important to take the time to assess what the youth around you are learning.  

Our children are constantly learning from us, whether we understand it or not.  I think it is important to purposely teach our children what they need to learn.  After all, our children are a reflection of us.  We must teach our children quickly before they leave our homes.  It is important to note that what we teach them will determine how they interact with the world around them.

Oh, there is so much to teach.  

Will we fit it all in?  

With God's help anything is possible.

How about you, my readers?  Do you every wonder what your children are learning?  Are you taking time to discuss with them their path in life?  I hope you do have conversations with them.  Our youth need direction.

My beloveds, may God bless you all with His peace and wisdom.

This has been an entry for Spiritual Sundays.  I hope you enjoyed it.

To compile this mini- bible study, I visited: http://www.biblestudytools.com/

Embracing Proverbs

To embrace proverbs is to gain wisdom.

5 let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance--  

6 for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. 

7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

--Proverbs 1:5-7 New International Version 

If you are wise (learned), you will embrace more information.  Knowledge is power.  If you practice good judgment (discernment), then you should seek advice to keep perfecting that skill.  I am always on the search for information.  For example, I want to blog more effectively so I keep seeking information.  

What are proverbs?  I discussed this last week.  Proverbs are wise sayings.  Parables are short stories akin to fables.  Parables teach us lessons, like the story of the prodigal son being about humans going their own way and then coming back to God, the Father.

Sayings are proverbs, adages or idioms that have some wisdom behind them, like Chinese proverbs.  For example, "Wherever you go, there you are."  Funny, huh?  Yes, some of them are funny.  Riddles are puzzling questions like, "What starts to walk with four legs, walks with 2 legs later, and finally walks with 3.  The answer: Man.  He starts walking by crawling as a baby, then walks with 2 legs and then as he grows older, uses a cane to help him walk. 

To fear (or respect, have in high regard) the Lord (of all Lords) is to begin to gain understanding (knowledge).  To me, this means that I must respect and love God to a high degree.  He, in turn, will give me more information that I need to function in this world.  This is like the Bible verse that I love the most: 

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

--Psalm 37:4 (New International Version)
 

I enjoy (delight in) God's love, like a little girl who basks in the presence of her earthly daddy.  He, in turn, gives me what I most desire--wisdom to help me live through this life. 

The alternative is for me to be a fool (stubborn person).  Fools hate being taught new things (wisdom).  Many times fools think they know everything they need to know; however, I know that I don't know everything.  I understand that I am inside the box called life.  Only God can see from the outside of my life.   That's why I turn to him when I am stumped for answers to my deep questions. 

Discipline (correction, instruction) is tough to take from others at times.  I am guilty of not listening to orders from God.  Who isn't?  It is best to turn back to God when we come to our senses.  He is more than willing to accept us and remind us of where we went wrong and to tell us what we can do to rectify the situation.

How does this tie in to homeschooling my children?  My hope is that my children will seek information whenever they are stumped for answers.  I hope they will turn to God when they are at the end of themselves.  He is  there, waiting to give the answer; after all, He is all-knowing.  

How about you, my faithful readers?  What do you think about what your children  should learn? Do you think they should keep learning beyond the classroom?  Or do you think they are done learning once they graduate from high school? What about you, the adults?  Are you satisfied with the information you have in your minds?  I challenge you to keep learning new things about yourself and the world around.  I especially encourage you to learn more about God. 

God bless you all with His peace, my beloveds.

This entry has been created for the Spiritual Sunday series. I hope you have enjoyed it.

To compile this mini- bible study, I visited: http://www.biblestudytools.com/

Understanding Proverbs

 To understand Proverbs you must probe.

1 These are the wise sayings of Solomon, David's son, Israel's king -

2 Written down so we'll know how to live well and right, to understand what life means and where it's going;

3 A manual for living, for learning what's right and just and fair;

4 To teach the inexperienced the ropes and give our young people a grasp on reality.

--Proverbs 1:1-4 The Message [Version]

Today, I want to present what I think is important for my children to learn. I believe the reason to learn how to read is explained from this portion of the first chapter of the book of Proverbs. For my children to know what this means is to equip them for life. The knowing that there are important lessons and instructions in the Bible is invaluable. For them to be able to understand those lessons can empower my children to navigate life in this world.

The Message Bible provides an easy to understand version of the passage. I still remember using the King James Version. It was so hard to understand, but it made me work harder to break down what each word meant. Here is the King James Version, and you will see what I mean. In the brackets, I have inserted a simplified definition of the word that is in bold-face:

1 The proverbs [wise sayings] of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;

2 To know [grasp] wisdom [information needed] and instruction [the lessons]; to perceive [comprehend] the words [sayings] of understanding [deep meaning];

3 To receive [get] the instruction of wisdom , justice [practice doing right], judgment [consider all information], and equity [be fair];

4 To give subtilty [cautiously] to the simple [innocent], to the young man knowledge [awareness] and discretion [decide responsibly].

--Proverbs 1:1-4 KJV

I think you can see the major changes between both versions. The Message, which is a more recent version, makes it easier to understand what the Bible says. It might seem to water down the content. I still prefer to break the passage down, word by word. Looking at the keywords is necessary.

In my own words, I will now say what I believe has been said in this portion of the first chapter of Proverbs:

King Solomon wanted these words to be written down so that his son could learn from them. Basically, he wanted his son to grasp (or learn) the information that is needed to live a successful life. It is important for the son to understand the wise sayings. From those lessons, he needed to learn to consider what was the right decision, considering all the information presented in any given situation so he could rule fairly. Further, this information was to be given cautiously to the young man and make him aware that he must always make his decisions responsibly.

I think it is wonderful to know that a parent, like King Solomon, wanted to pass down the knowledge he had gained from God. I think we, as parents, desire to pass on what we have gained through our experiences. Our children need our wisdom in order to succeed in life.

How about you, my readers? Have you considered what you are passing down to the children in your life? If so, what do you think is important to impart to them? I hope you will take the time to ponder what you are passing down to your children. Please ask God for guidance.

God bless you all with His peace, my beloveds.

This entry has been created for the Spiritual Sunday series. I hope you have enjoyed it.

To compile this mini- bible study, I visited: http://www.biblestudytools.com/

My Contemplation of Verse 16 of the Tao Te Ching

 

Earthen vessel--our bodies are containers for our souls.

 Today, I am diving into verse 16 of the Tao Te Ching, specifically the following portions:

Amidst the rush of worldly comings and goings,

observe how endings become beginnings...

Things flourish, each by each,

only to return to the Source...

to what is and what is to be...

Not knowing this cycle 

leads to eternal disaster.

Knowing the constant gives perspective...

This way is everlasting,

not endangered by physical death.

It's amazing how one can get caught up with the things of this world.  The deadlines one has to meet and the doctors appointments, I hate, hate, hate with a passion.  Can you tell that I dislike being rushed?  I like to take it easy and not be rushed.  Some people don't mind the madness of it, but I am not one of those that can allow this world to stop me from appreciating life with a little rest.

This verse from a Chinese wisdom book encourages us to see the endings of chapters of our lives with a new perspective.  Have you lost a loved one?  Has a relationship in your life gone sour?  Take time to view it as a beginning to something new.  Endings lead to beginnings.

I know it's hard to view the bad situations in your life as opportunities for wonderful things up ahead.  I've been there.  I've seen both of my parents pass away.  I've lived through several broken relationships.  I'm still here.  I'm not gonna lie to you; these were tough situations for me.

I also know that I will go through more tough times in the future.  Nothing is certain, except that there are ups and downs in life.  A friend dies or decides he/she doesn't need you anymore.  A mother's tired body gives up, even though in her mind she wants to go on living.  It is hard to see her suffering, and you have to set your emotions aside.

I think true maturity in a person is in realizing that there are life events that end.  There, if you understand this concept, you are able to contemplate it and move on to the new chapters of your life.  I also believe that when something bad happens in your life, or a sad event is experienced, you should try something new.  I know that some authorities on grief recommend you should hang onto what is familiar, but sometimes you need to take on new traditions.  I know that for me, I could not celebrate Christmas the same way, after my own mother passed away.

During the Christmas season, she liked to decorate her house, with lights and a tree.  She liked to give gifts to the grandkids.  I used to wrap the presents (when I was a teenager) for her because I enjoyed the chance to be creative.  As I write this, tears well up in my eyes; it took a few years for me to develop new traditions within my own little family.  I must add here that I even became grief-stricken this past Christmas because my mother-in-law's health was deteriorating.

I share from my heart what I've been through to give encouragement and hope to those of  you grieving; you can move on from the sadness.  It is a climb to get past the event.  Believe me; I've been there.  Yes, when I was a teenager, the bad breakup with a beau hurt so much that I thought I would stop breathing, but I got through it.  You can, too.

Please understand that there is a life and death cycle of people, relationships, pets, plants, and anything else under the sun.  Even the chrome on a fancy car rusts, our bodies fail us, and people can be fickle--they will forsake you.  Isn't that so depressing?  The story doesn't end there, though.  There's more to this life.

The Source (Tao or God) of the Te (Power of God) is at work.  From the Bible, we know that God created the world and humans.  When our bodies (the containers that hold our spirit) fail us, our spirit does not die.  Our spirit returns to God.  Our spirit returns back to the Source (the Holy Spirit) from which it came.

Can you see why I am enjoying reading about the Tao Te Ching?  This wisdom book mirrors what the Bible says about our God and our relationship with Him.  Knowing the truth that our spirits live on helps me to continue living on this earth without that beloved person (my mother) who has departed from this world.  The way I come to terms with the passing of my own mother's physical body is to think that she (her spirit) is on a vacation and can't be reached.  At this point, she is simply resting in peace.

Am I sad that I can't call my mother and share with her what my week has been like?  Yes.  I still miss her; I'm human with emotions that God has allowed me to have.  I am able to understand, though, that I'm on this side of heaven and will someday see her, after the container of my spirit breaks.  The hope I have in me is that I'll be able to see my lovely mother again.

More than anything, I will be the happiest to see my savior, Jesus Christ.  I wait until the day I fall into His arms as He says, "Welcome.  You have toiled enough on earth.  It's time for you to rest."  Even I acknowledge that my body will someday fail me.  I have come to terms with that fact.

Do I have a death wish?  No.  I will say, though, that I have suffered so much physically and emotionally.  I just know that God loves me no matter what anyone says.  I will now offer this quote, in case there are naysayers who would like to punish me for looking at another source for spiritual insight:

³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us [me] from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

--Romans 8:38-39 (New International Version, ©2011)

How about you, my readers?  What is your perspective on life and death?  What helps you deal with loss in your life?  I hope you have a faith that propels you forward in life.

Thanks so much for reading, my dearest friends and family.  I pray that what I just wrote about the life and death cycle gives some comfort for those who are hurting.

My beloveds, may God give you His peace.

To read past entries about the Tao Te Ching (verses 1-15), please visit:
http://www.thoughts.com/Rebagv

Disclaimer: To the many friends and followers who are Christian, I express a deep gratitude for teaching me and/or sharing with me about the Bible.  Please understand that I am looking at spirituality from a different slant to solidify my faith and leaning on the God of all Gods, the Father of Jesus Christ.  I have decided to share of what I am learning from Dr. David W. Dyer's book called Change Your Thoughts--Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao.  If this offends thee, thou is welcomed to by-pass this blog entry and others like it, in the future.  God bless you all.