Noah's Ark, It is Still Afloat!

I was reading one of my favorite, new blogs this morning.  These words arrested my heart!

"Noah, our eldest, asked a few months ago, “Would you have still wanted me had you known I’d get cancer?”  That’s an astonishing question to cross a nine-year old’s lips.  Obviously the weight of the disease and the stress of the treatments prompted him to take a look at life from a much more adult perspective.  And of course we responded, “Absolutely, we would have still wanted you.”" ~ Bryan, read his blog:

http://brvan.com/?p=1438#comment-730

As I read this profound question from this man's young son, my eyes filled to overflowing with tears.  Even now, I am still having trouble seeing my keyboard.  My husband and I are praying for this young man's complete recovery. I hope many will join us.  Jesus never refused to heal someone who came to Him, so we can pray believing the same for this young man.  

His question gave me a new understanding of Father God's heart towards us.  I have asked Him, essentially, the same question before, but could never feel his heart until now. Until Noah.

"God if You knew we were going to choose sin and death over this life You planned for us, why would You still have wanted us?" 

Our sin, our evil, our brokenness is our cancer.  I feel His heart so strong for me and you.  His answer is in the Love.  Even knowing the horrible sacrifice He would suffer for us, His answer is an unequivocal, resounding,"Yes!"  He cannot imagine this Life without us!  So, He willingly paid the price, suffered the horrendous beating, the agonizing death on the cross, overcame the relentless grave so we could be healed spirit, soul and body; never to be separated from Him again!

Lord, thank You for Noah.  Thank You for using him in my life, today, for letting him be the vessel to open my heart to receive Your breathtaking Love!  Pour back into him 1,000-fold return, for what he has given me this day.

Thank you, Noah! You provided me an ark today!

Anoint the Technology?

Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding. Proverbs 2:2

 
The rain is misting, and as I am sitting, propped up in bed thinking about the Lord and His words, there is a steady dripping sound as the water hits our metal roof. It is a soothing sound to me. After months of drought, I could sit here and listen to it for hours.

The Lord revealed a truth to me in this, however.  Sometimes, even small pleasures can be a distraction from my purpose: to spend time listening to my Jesus. (This is not to say small pleasures cannot be gifts from God...it's in the discerning, does it add to your moment, or steal something away?)  As one who is ADD, I am very easily distracted.  But we don't have to have a label on us, to fall into the same trap of being distracted, when it comes to spending time with the Lord, meditating on His Word, and praying. 

We live in a time of awesome technology and opportunity. So many activities present themselves to us, every moment of every day. Without determined intentionality to focus on the Lord and His thoughts toward us, we can be distracted beyond belief! (This is a double entendre.) Distraction is an intentional attempt to divert someone's attention from what they are doing.The enemy of our souls has so many tools to entice us, tools that humans have invented.

As one who loves all the new toys, I have decided to try something.  I have never given my usage of the computer, phone apps, video games, etc. much thought before.  I have simply tried to apply discipline...sometimes failing miserably. Today, however, as I read Proverbs 2:2, I got the brilliant idea of consecrating all my "stuff" to the Lord.  What does that look like?

I am actually going to get my anointing oil, and anoint everything I use: TV,  DVD players, phone, computers, etc., and ask the Lord to bless them to His service, and for His glory; that He would direct my time as it applies to these things.  I will let you know how it goes. I am actually getting excited to go do it!

I want to be purposeful in obtaining wisdom from God.  This was my "download" from Him today.  I am making my ear to pay attention to wisdom today, and reaching out my inner being to the Lord, for His understanding, as I go about my day.

Blessings, Anna Marie

Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding. Proverbs 2:2

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What Would I Do in a Year if My Goal Was To Become Wise?

What Would I Do in a Year if My Goal Was To Become Wise?  This was last week's blog challenge.

It is an idea worth contemplating.  The Bible says that if any of us desire wisdom, to ask God. He loves to impart wisdom.  Seems like such an easy thing.  I wonder why we don't do it more?



I have determined to start with Him. I am going to be ruthless in pursuing Him for wisdom. 

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Proverbs 9:10
He is the Light to my path and the lamp for my feet! Psalm 119:105

One of the greatest reservoirs of wisdom to be found, in the entire world, is the book of Proverbs.  In 1973, when I became a follower of Jesus Christ, the woman who mentored me, Wanda Plummer, told me that she read one chapter of Proverbs every day of her life. It was really nice of God to put 31 chapters in it - one for each day of the month!  I decided to emulate her.  For the most part, I have read a chapter a day for all these years. I figure I have read through it way over 400 times! It has given me deep insights into the ways of mankind, as well as the mind of God.

Therefore, one of my actions this year, will be to continue this practice, with a twist.  As our friend Dudley Perio likes to say, "You only get to keep what you give away."   So this year, I am going to blog more about those insights.  I have journaled my thoughts in the past, but blogging is a great way to encourage others. I am excited to see how the wisdom will return to me, as I give it away.

Another source of wisdom is the elders in our lives.  I have been missing Jack's mom.  She was a wonderful teacher. She always had a nugget to share with our family.  I have a few friends in my life who I look to as elders.  This year, I want to be intentional about seeking them out, and drawing from them the great deposit that comes from living a full lifetime.

I have gained much wisdom from living life.  Experience truly is a wonderful teacher.  So, I am going to try to have some new experiences.  Most of us have a "bucket list," written or not.  This year, let's cross a few of those desires off our lists, what do you say?

History is another, often overlooked, source of wisdom.  Learning from the successes and failures of those who have gone before us is a no-brainer.  I must confess, I do not study history like I used to.  That is going to change. I think I would like to start with reading some biographies of famous women.  Women who changed the world, for good or bad.  Anyone have any suggestions for a good book?

These are five good steps for me. I may add more as I go through the year.  Join me, won't you?

Blessings, Anna Marie
Click here for a wonderful song of worship. It is a song that is a wonderful reflection on True Wisdom.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Wonder!