whoever finds wisdom finds life

It’s April already! Whew! Where did winter go? And spring has sprung with a vengeance. Even as I write this that vengeance is taking its toll on me in the form of ALLERGIES. But I know this discomfort will not last forever, despite its current, agonizing, irritating, and frustrating state. Sounds a bit like life. A harsh season, though it leaves its marks, doesn’t last a lifetime. There is a beginning and an end to everything. And thanks be to our God, Jehovah, there are new beginnings when all we see is the END! The Bible has many accounts of resurrection. Some already past and some yet to come. Most often when we think of resurrection, we think of physical bodies coming back to life, but it goes so far beyond that. The word resurrect has several meanings: to raise (a dead person) from the dead to bring to life again to revive the practice, use, or memory (of something) to bring new vigor to So not only does it refer to renewed “life” in a once dead body, ...

Are you a warrior or a worrier? There is a major distinction between the two. One overcomes the enemy and the other is overcome BY the enemy. I’m am not attacking your care for others. You can care about and for others without “worrying” about and for them. There is a care that is void of anxiety and worry. “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God [set aside self-righteous pride], so that He may exalt you [to a place of honor in His service] at the appropriate time, casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him , for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully]. Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour. But resist him, be firm in your faith [against his attack—rooted, established, immovable], knowing that t...

24  Then Nebuchadnezzar the king [looked and] was astounded, and he jumped up and said to his counselors, “Did we not throw three men who were tied up into the midst of the fire?” They replied to the king, “Certainly, O king.”  25  He answered, “Look! I see four men untied, walking around in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt! And the appearance of the fourth is like the Son of God!”  (Daniel 3:24-25). Sometimes God does not take away the fiery trials (impossible situations) in our lives. Sometimes you have an Esther situation where you have to be willing to lose it all, even your life, to stick with God. And in those difficult times, we come to the crossroads where we either say “God, even if you don’t change this situation You are my hope and my God,” or “God if you don’t change this situation that’s it, I give up.” I have always loved the story of Meshach, Shadrach, and Abednego in the Fiery Furnace. How great a faith they had in their ...

“ 4  You have not yet struggled to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin;  5  and you have forgotten the divine word of encouragement which is addressed to you as sons,"  “My son, do not make light of the discipline of the Lord, a nd do not lose heart and  give up when you are corrected by Him;  6  For the Lord disciplines  and  corrects those whom He loves, a nd He punishes every son whom He receives  and  welcomes [to His heart].”  7  You must submit to [correction for the purpose of ] discipline; God is dealing with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?  8  Now if you are exempt from correction  and  without discipline, in which all [of God’s children] share, then you are illegitimate children and not sons [at all].  9  Moreover, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we submitted  and  resp...

22  Immediately He directed the disciples to get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side [of the Sea of Galilee], while He sent the crowds away.  23  After He had dismissed the crowds, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When it was evening, He was there alone. 24  But the boat [by this time] was already a long distance from land, tossed  and  battered by the waves; for the wind was against them.  25  And in the fourth watch of the night (3:00-6:00 a.m.) Jesus came to them, walking on the sea.  26  When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. 27  But immediately He spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I! Do not be afraid!”  28  Peter replied to Him, “Lord, if it is [really] You, command me to come to You on the water.”  29  He said, “Come!” So Peter got out of the boat, and walked o...