Wise in his "own" wisdom!

I know as a teacher, I have told my students that when they are talking and I'm talking, someone isn't listening. Listening is necessary in a classroom to gain understanding of the lesson and learn the lesson in general. But what about life lessons. I know for a fact that there are many people, young and old, who speak more than they listen - mainly because they do not want to hear what the other person is saying. Or, it could be they feel wise in their own deceit. Being wise in someone's own wisdom is called a fool in scripture! Why? Because our wisdom comes from God and God only!

A fool  is defined as: “a person who acts unwisely or imprudently; a silly person.” (Dictionary.com). 

To reject wise counsel and continue in their own wisdom and judgment, that leads to ridicule and conflict, is another definition of a “fool”!

Proverbs 12:15 AMPC
15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who listens to counsel is wise.

When anyone rejects the Word of God, they stumble and fall in many things, especially their actions and speech. God's Word is powerful and full of the wisdom we all need. It heals, redeems, corrects wrong actions, and is our blue print to living righteous. Commit to God in ALL things so as not to trip yourself up when you speak of God, whereas, misrepresentation of a perfect, loving, and ALL knowing God can lead others astray, instead of lead them to Him! Your actions and speech do matter!

Proverbs 18:2-3 AMPC

2 A [self-confident] fool has no delight in understanding but only in revealing his personal opinions and himself.

3 When the wicked comes in [to the depth of evil], he becomes a contemptuous despiser [of all that is pure and good], and with inner baseness comes outer shame and reproach.

You learn and receive more knowledge by listening than talking. It is proven than a person only receives about 225 words of knowledge from talking, and 500 words of knowledge from listening. 

Although this verse speaks of Mary sitting at Jesus’ feet listening to His teachings, Martha is preoccupied with preparing food for the guests. It says with serving, but being too busy can also keeps us from having a listening ear.

Luke 10:38-42 AMPC
38 Now while they were on their way, it occurred that Jesus entered a certain village, and a woman named Martha received and welcomed Him into her house.
39 And she had a sister named Mary, who seated herself at the Lord’s feet and was listening to His teaching.
40 But Martha [overly occupied and too busy] was distracted with much serving; and she came up to Him and said, Lord, is it nothing to You that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me [to lend a hand and do her part along with me]!
41 But the Lord replied to her by saying, Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things;
42 There is need of only one or but a few things. Mary has chosen the good portion [that which is to her advantage], which shall not be taken away from her.

Jesus is ALL wise and knowledgeable, who wouldn't want to listen to His teachings? However, most of us speak with the purpose and intention to be heard, not with the purpose and intention to listen and gain an understanding!

“Any fool can know. The point is to understand.” Albert Einstein

Speak mainly to respond, and listen to learn!

Proverbs 4:7 AMPC
7 The beginning of Wisdom is: get Wisdom (skillful and godly Wisdom)! [For skillful and godly Wisdom is the principal thing.] And with all you have gotten, get understanding (discernment, comprehension, and interpretation).

Not Yet!

Now is not the time to wonder where God is. He is with you everyday, and Always. Everyday you drive to work, God has already gone before you to clear the path from harm. Every day you are endowed with food, God provided that, through a job, a car to drive to the store to purchase it, and work for those who stock the stores, farmers who raise cattle, pigs, vegetables, chickens, and so forth that sell to the stores to provide our needs - Daily! Thank you Father! 

Our needs are met everyday, but we have become oblivious to Who God is and how Wonderful He is, for protection, provision, and deliverance. While many of us sit at home in a panic state, pick up your Bible and reconnect with the Father who is able to sustain you in all of the turmoil and fear going on!

You will NEVER be in lack or want to those who believe. He fed Elijah in a cave via a raven and he drank water from a brook. 

I Kings 17:3-6 AMPC 3 Go from here and turn east and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, east of the Jordan.4 You shall drink of the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.5 So he did according to the word of the Lord; he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, east of the Jordan.6 And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning and bread and flesh in the evening, and he drank of the brook.

He provided Manna and Quail for the Israelites in the wilderness for forty years. (Exodus 16:11-30 AMPC) He blessed a widow and her son through Elijah, who had a handful of flour and a little olive oil.  When Elijah was commanded by God to got to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there, He told him there will be a widow to feed you. However, the widow was on her last meal and was gathering sticks to prepare the food for her and her son. She said: 

"As surely as the Lord your God lives, she replied, "I don't have any bread - only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug.  I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it - and die". (I Kings 17:12 AMPC) 

Then Elijah said:

I Kings 17:12 AMPC13 Elijah said to her, Fear not; go and do as you have said. But make me a little cake of [it] first and bring it to me, and afterward prepare some for yourself and your son.
14 For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: The jar of meal shall not waste away or the bottle of oil fail until the day that the Lord sends rain on the earth.

He fed five thousand men in in a desolate place with two fish and five loaves of bread (Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:30-44) and four thousand men with seven loaves of bread and a few small fish (Mark 8:1-21) not to mention the women and children present. There is nothing too big or too small for God to do. His love and power is not limited to just stories in the Bible. God is the same then as He is now. The difference is our “unbelief”!

Satan is relentless, but his power is NO match for God. The joy of the Lord is our strength against the onset of Satan and gives us peace in the midst of a storm. 

This is my prayer to all who are in a state of panic and fear: 

God Thank you that your Word says “You will never leave us nor forsake us”! Thank you that we can call on you “anytime” in our hour of need and you will answer! Thank you for this time alone to read the Bible and become not just a son or daughter of Christ, but a friend who sticks closer than a brother! Father forgive us who have doubts and fears, whereas, perfect love cast out fear, and you are perfect, who loves us perfectly! In quiet time with you will strengthen us and give us hope in a hopeless world that relies on others instead of You! We Thank you that you are a faithful, just and loving God, who keeps His promise and will be with us through the end of time. In Jesus name we pray! Amen! We Love You Jesus! 

Take time to pray! Take time to listen in your quiet time to God. Take time to Thank God for who He is and how wonderful He is! And remember God Loves You! 

I John 4:18 AMPC 18 There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love’s complete perfection].

Isaiah 35:3-4 AMPC

Jesus Is Our Lifeline!

God put on my heart to start blogging in 2013 and title my blog, “Promote

Women Within.” (gdlynsmith.blogspot.com) At the time I had no clue how to blog or what to blog about. As many of you see I have two blog sites. One titled, “Menu for Success” (gdlynsmith3.blogspot.com) and the other already previously mentioned. Today as I was asking God what shall I write about, He said, “Life”. It is time to write about what your title means, “Promote Women Within”. 

My daughter pregnant with her 1st child in 2009 & nephew

Mothers give life. We nurture the child, feed, the child, and love the child in a way no other person can and will. It is in our best interest to give that child a good life and foundation to live a life of success and happiness! I would like to believe that ALL Mothers have that aspiration for their child; but as we know, not all Mothers live that life - because the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. (John 10:10).

I John 5:16-20 AMPC
16 If anyone sees his brother [believer] committing a sin that does not [lead to] death (the extinguishing of life), he will pray and [God] will give him life [yes, He will grant life to all those whose sin is not one leading to death]. There is a sin [that leads] to death; I do not say that one should pray for that.17 All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin which does not [involve] death [that may be repented of and forgiven].18 We know [absolutely] that anyone born of God does not [deliberately and knowingly] practice committing sin, but the One Who was begotten of God carefully watches over and protects him [Christ’s divine presence within him preserves him against the evil], and the wicked one does not lay hold (get a grip) on him or touch [him].19 We know [positively] that we are of God, and the whole world [around us] is under the power of the evil one.20 And we [have seen and] know [positively] that the Son of God has [actually] come to this world and has given us understanding and insight [progressively] to perceive (recognize) and come to know better and more clearly Him Who is true; and we are in Him Who is true—in His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah). This [Man] is the true God and Life eternal.

As an educator, it pains me to see so many young children being destroyed by drugs, as well as families. It is everyone's go to; not realizing it takes the lives of many, and leaving many homeless. This type of life is not success or happiness, it is destruction, separation, and sadness. It does not give life, it takes away life and leaves an ugly residue.

I have seen so many young boys and girls losing their parents to drug overdose; or parents losing a child to drug overdose - and both are using the drugs as a recreational tool for entertainment, NOT as a means to help with a temporary illness. Oh yes, there are other deadly sins that take lives, but many are encouraged to try a drug, more than try Jesus, who is more powerful than any drug; and time spent with Jesus heals the heart, mind, body and spirit to live a life of joy, peace, and happiness.

Romans 8:1-6
Therefore, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit.2 For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has freed me from the law of sin and of death.3 For God has done what the Law could not do, [its power] being weakened by the flesh [the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit]. Sending His own Son in the guise of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, [God] condemned sin in the flesh [subdued, overcame, deprived it of its power over all who accept that sacrifice],4 So that the righteous and just requirement of the Law might be fully met in us who live and move not in the ways of the flesh but in the ways of the Spirit [our lives governed not by the standards and according to the dictates of the flesh, but controlled by the Holy Spirit].5 For those who are according to the flesh and are controlled by its unholy desires set their minds on and pursue those things which gratify the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit and are controlled by the desires of the Spirit set their minds on and seek those things which gratify the [Holy] Spirit.6 Now the mind of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is death [death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter]. But the mind of the [Holy] Spirit is life and [soul] peace [both now and forever].

I have observed that more and more people, young and old are following after Satan and the darkness he instills in people, and it is sad that this is becoming the norm. Spiritual foundations begin in the home and should extend and carry out to the world through our servants of Jesus (Christians) in the church. We as Jesus's servants are to encourage others in the Word by our righteous living, as well as welcome them in God's house by our "Love for ALL people"!

Is this happening today? Not as much as I would like to see it, but many churches do, most don't. Many want those who are already saved to be in their church and do not want the addicts, prostitutes, or people of another color or religion to share in their worship.

Mark 2:16-17 AMPC
16 And the scribes [belonging to the party] of the Pharisees, when they saw that He was eating with [those definitely known to be especially wicked] sinners and tax collectors, said to His disciples, Why does He eat and drink with tax collectors and [notorious] sinners?17 And when Jesus heard it, He said to them, Those who are strong and well have no need of a physician, but those who are weak and sick; I came not to call the righteous ones to repentance, but sinners (the erring ones and all those not free from sin).

Unless you are born again, life can be mundane and of no value. It is when you are born of the Holy Spirit that things become more meaningful, colorful, and heartfelt to live - Because the Holy Spirit is within you that goes with you everywhere you go, keeping you safe, full of wisdom, and joy! Your life then becomes to seek and save, rather to seek and destroy, because the Spirit in you wants to share that joy with others!

REJOICE! God Loves You!

Psalm 33

1 Rejoice in the Lord, O you [uncompromisingly] righteous [you upright in right standing with God]; for praise is becoming and appropriate for those who are upright [in heart].

2 Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; sing praises to Him with the harp of ten strings.

3 Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully [on the strings] with a loud and joyful sound.

4 For the word of the Lord is right; and all His work is done in faithfulness.

5 He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the loving-kindness of the Lord.

6 By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, and all their host by the breath of His mouth.

7 He gathers the waters of the sea as in a bottle; He puts the deeps in storage places.

8 Let all the earth fear the Lord [revere and worship Him]; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.

9 For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.

10 The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nought; He makes the thoughts and plans of the peoples of no effect.

11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the thoughts of His heart through all generations.

12 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He has chosen as His heritage.

13 The Lord looks from heaven, He beholds all the sons of men;

14 From His dwelling place He looks [intently] upon all the inhabitants of the earth—

15 He Who fashions the hearts of them all, Who considers all their doings.

16 No king is saved by the great size and power of his army; a mighty man is not delivered by [his] much strength.

17 A horse is devoid of value for victory; neither does he deliver any by his great power.

18 Behold, the Lord’s eye is upon those who fear Him [who revere and worship Him with awe], who wait for Him and hope in His mercy and loving-kindness,

19 To deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.

20 Our inner selves wait [earnestly] for the Lord; He is our Help and our Shield.

21 For in Him does our heart rejoice, because we have trusted (relied on and been confident) in His holy name.

22 Let Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, be upon us, in proportion to our waiting and hoping for You.

When Glass is Shattered!

Glass is a fragile substance that needs to be handled with care. Just one hit to its surface will cause a crack or break; sometimes, depending on how hard the impact is to the glass, it will shatter into many tiny pieces that can shoot out fast and hard - harming things and people in its path. 

The clean up, if not careful, can deeply cut the person or persons so as the saying goes, “Proceed with caution”!

My sister's passenger window was shattered

There are so many of us who are shattered (Broken in Spirit) and do not realize it by words, physical abuse, sexual abuse, drugs, sickness, and debt - just to name a few that can shatter us into pieces. Yet we continue in that state of mind and residue not being cognitive of anything we do, say or become. 

Think about shattered glass. The best thing to do is carefully clean it up and discard it in a safe place. It is usually put in a brown paper bag that is doubled up to secure the pieces for trash pick up. 

God does something similar to those who are shattered in Spirit. He carefully cleans us up little by little with extra care, gently and lovingly, to ensure we are put back together, perfect in Spirit and healthy and whole in mind, and body! 

Now this process takes time and effort on your part as well. Nothing is impossible for God to do, but He needs a willing heart and mind, who is determined, fixed, and sincere about the journey - whereas, it will be well worth the fight in the end. God never loses a battle, so victory is yours, when you commit your ways to Him who satisfies and delivers! He makes our wrongs, right and our crooked paths straight! 

Job 5 AMPC 

Call now—is there any who will answer you? And to which of the holy [angels] will you turn?
2 For vexation and rage kill the foolish man; jealousy and indignation slay the simple.
3 I have seen the foolish taking root [and outwardly prospering], but suddenly I saw that his dwelling was cursed [for his doom was certain].
4 His children are far from safety; [involved in their father’s ruin] they are crushed in the [court of justice in the city’s] gate, and there is no one to deliver them.
5 His harvest the hungry eat and take it even [when it grows] among the thorns; the snare opens for [his] wealth.
6 For affliction comes not forth from the dust, neither does trouble spring forth out of the ground.
7 But man is born to trouble as the sparks and the flames fly upward.
8 As for me, I would seek God and inquire of and require Him, and to God would I commit my cause—
9 Who does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number,
10 Who gives rain upon the earth and sends waters upon the fields,
11 So that He sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn He lifts to safety.
12 He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise or anything of [lasting] worth.
13 He catches the [so-called] wise in their own trickiness, and the counsel of the schemers is brought to a quick end.
14 In the daytime they meet in darkness, and at noon they grope as in the night.
15 But [God] saves [the fatherless] from the sword of their mouth, and the needy from the hand of the mighty.
16 So the poor have hope, and iniquity shuts her mouth.
17 Happy and fortunate is the man whom God reproves; so do not despise or reject the correction of the Almighty [subjecting you to trial and suffering].
18 For He wounds, but He binds up; He smites, but His hands heal.
19 He will rescue you in six troubles; in seven nothing that is evil [for you] will touch you.
20 In famine He will redeem you from death, and in war from the power of the sword.
21 You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, neither shall you be afraid of destruction when it comes.
22 At destruction and famine you shall laugh, neither shall you be afraid of the living creatures of the earth.
23 For you shall be in league with the stones of the field, and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you.
24 And you shall know that your tent shall be in peace, and you shall visit your fold and your dwelling and miss nothing [from them].
25 You shall know also that your children shall be many, and your offspring as the grass of the earth.
26 You shall come to your grave in ripe old age, and as a shock of grain goes up [to the threshing floor] in its season.
27 This is what we have searched out; it is true. Hear and heed it and know for yourself [for your good].

A closer view of the shattered glass

Job suffered great losses and sickness to his body, in addition to criticism from his friends, yet he maintained his hope in God and did not curse Him or turn away from God in the midst of all he endured. So when God came to Job and ask him why are you speaking on My behalf without full knowledge of who I Am; God opened Job’s eyes to all of His creations and His Power. (Job 38-41)

Job 42:1-3 AMPCThen Job said to the Lord,2 I know that You can do all things, and that no thought or purpose of Yours can be restrained or thwarted.3 [You said to me] Who is this that darkens and obscures counsel [by words] without knowledge? Therefore [I now see] I have [rashly] uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

When you read on, God blessed Job and gave him twice as much of what he had originally. And it goes on to say; "Job lived to the fourth generation; and died an old man , full of days." (Job 42:12-17) 

Job’s life was shattered, yet through his suffering and shame, his life was restored in excess because he did not give up because of the calamities, he stayed the course in spite of the calamities! 

What time is it?

Matthew 24:36-44 NKJV

No One Knows the Day or Hour

36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

None of us will know the day or hour, but it clearly says, in that time, it will be like in Noah’s days, marriages will be taking place, people will be working in the fields and in today’s society, many of us will be out and about going to school, shopping, sporting events, and probably vacationing - only because we did not take the signs of Jesus return to heart! 

Luke 12-50-56

50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished! 51 Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. 52 For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. 53 Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

Discern the Time

54 Then He also said to the multitudes, “Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming’; and so it is. 55 And when you see the south wind blow, you say, ‘There will be hot weather’; and there is. 56 Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time?

So now is not a time of speculation, because none of us know when the end times will be, now is the time to get prepared- Read your Bible and get to know who is really your friend that sticks closer than a brother, so you will be with Him in paradise!