Be Wise in the Way You Act

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. — Colossians 4:5-6 

God calls us to be wise, just as Solomon was.

Asking the Lord to give us wisdom in the way we act.

Especially toward outsiders.

Making the most of every opportunity to share the Gospel.

Letting our conversation be full of grace.

Not strident or off-putting.

Well seasoned and thoughtful.

Listening to God so we are able to answer everyone who asks.

And so they will hear.

Humility That Comes From Wisdom

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. — James 3:13 

What does wisdom mean in the eyes of the Lord?

Solomon had wisdom, yet even He was not wise when it came to marrying wives who worshiped other Gods.

As a result, they led him away from the Lord.

So how do I get wisdom and understanding?

Especially when it seems nearly impossible to live a good life.

And it's especially difficult to live in humility.

James 1:5 reminds me that "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you."

Only God is truly wise.

So when I ask Him before I take action instead of afterward, He can help me live a good life, do deeds in humility, repent when I miss the mark daily, and turn back to Him.

The Father of Righteous Child Has Great Joy

The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him. — Proverbs 23:24

The father of a righteous child has reason to be joyful.

Kirk's dad was so proud of him and his love of the Lord.

And he was also proud of our daughter and her growing faith.

When God's wisdom enters a child at any age, there is reason to rejoice.

Let Your Conversation Be Full of Grace

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. — Colossians 4:5-6 

I think God put us in families just to practice His commands in extremely difficult situations.

It's much harder for me to be full of grace with my family than with my coworkers and friends.

I'm much more patient and kind to acquaintances.

And I don't lose patience as easily with friends.

So the family becomes a good proving ground to let me know how well I'm following God's Word.

Usually I miss the mark by a long shot.

I pray that God will give me wisdom so that my actions toward others please Him.

So my conversation is full of grace.

And so I know how to answer everyone, even those I don't agree with.

Listen to Advice

Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. — Proverbs 19:20-21 

God commands me to listen to his advice.

I don't always read my Bible every day, but I try to.

And God wants me to accept His discipline.

That's much harder for me.

He reminds me that I have many plans in my heart.

But not all of them are the Lord's.

And it's the Lord's purpose that prevails.

Whether I'm part of that purpose or not.

Humility That Comes From Wisdom

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. — James 3:13 

Who is wise among us?

Who is understanding?

Let them show it by their good life.

And let them show their wisdom by deeds done in humility.

Their humility that comes from God's wisdom.

The Father of a Righteous Child Has Great Joy

The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.
25 May your father and mother rejoice; may she who gave you birth be joyful! — Proverbs 23:24-25 

My father-in-law Gary had great joy seeing his sons grow up.

And seeing his middle son become a righteous man,

Serving God with all his heart.

His mom also rejoiced and was joyful.

Rita gave Kirk birth and rejoiced at the person he had become. 

We rejoice in having Kirk as my husband and Abby's father.

Happy Father's Day!

The Father of a Righteous Child Has Great Joy

The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him. – Proverbs 23:24

We are very blessed by our husband and father.

Here he is playing basketball in high school.

He has done a great job of raising up our child and his students.

The father of a righteous child has great joy.

A man who father's a wise child rejoices in that child.

We rejoice!

Listen to Advice

Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. — Proverbs 19:20

I don't like listening to advice.

I'm apt to ignore it.

But God asks me to listen to advice.

To pay attention to it and to accept discipline.

Something I often try to avoid.

But God tells me if I accept discipline I will be counted as wise.

Go figure.

God's discipline will help to prune me into the person He intends for me to be.

Pruning can be painful.

But once the deadwood is trimmed away, new life has the opportunity to grow in me.

Be Wise in the Way You Act

 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. — Colossians 4:5

It's easy to slip into grumbling and complaining.

Especially when those around me are doing the same.

But God call us to be wise.

Even in the way we act and speak.

Especially when we are with outsiders.

God commands us to make the most of every opportunity.

He asks us to let Him guide our ways.

God Made Heaven and Earth

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who made heaven and earth, who has given King David a wise son, endowed with discretion and understanding, who will build a house for the Lord and a royal palace for himself. — 2 Corinthians 1:12

  

The Lord is the God of Israel, and we bless him.

He made heaven and earth.

He has given David a wise son in Solomon.

Solomon in turn was given discretion and understanding.

We have given our kids the Holy Spirit so they can be given wisdom and understanding.

They will also worship the Lord.

Gracious Words

Words from the mouth of a wise person are gracious, while the lips of a fool consume him. — Ecclesiastes 10:12

Words can hurt.

Words can also uplift and encourage.

Words from the mouth of wise person are gracious.

Help me, Lord, to keep my words gracious and helpful.

The Way You Act

  Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. — Colossians 4:5

Today I interviewed a candidate for our writer job opening.

We were all very impressed.

She and I hit it off, and we both think we would enjoy working together.

I called her to make an offer, and she was very excited.

We'll see if she will accept the offer next week.

If so, she will be available to start in May, as long as her background check goes through.

It will be one of our quickest hires ever for this company.

I am praying for God's will to be done.

Make the Most of Every Opportunity

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. — Colossians 4:5

Today I will meet some friends for a walk down to the old mission dam on Mission Trails.

Then I'll head over to La Jolla to swim.

Hopefully the pool has the heater working again.

Last week when Abby swam, it was really cold. 

Several people left the pool.

She was the only one who stayed to swim the whole time.

I'm hoping tomorrow will be warmer.

Last night we met a visitor to our worship service.

Sarah joined us for the first time and enjoyed the worship in the courtyard.

She had a 9- and 5-year-old. 

Hopefully she will join us for our zoom Bible study on Friday morning.

 

Be Wise

 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. — Colossians 4:5

I am not always wise in the way I act toward others.

God reminds me to act wisely toward everyone.

He commands me to make the most of every opportunity.

Yesterday I interviewed a candidate for our writer position.

We have been looking for someone to fill this opening since June.

It is hard to have the patience to wait for the person God has in mind for this position.

Even so, I know He will guide us to the right person.

I will make the most of every opportunity, with His guidance.

Be Wise in the Way You Act

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. — Colossians 4:5

Friday night we had another hymn sing at our church.

It was held outside in our church courtyard.

The weather was perfect and the acoustics were great.

The orchestra played beautifully.

Tzytle and her mom led the singing.

There was a good crowd of people - we were socially distanced and wearing masks.

And they took our temperatures before we entered.

God asks us to be wise in the way we act.

Especially toward outsiders.

He calls us to make the most of every opportunity.

 

Listen to Advice

Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. — Proverbs 19:20

It is not always easy to listen to advice.

And for me, it's even harder to accept discipline.

However, we will be counted among the wise when we accept discipline from God. 

Today we hiked to the top of Cowles Mt.

Then we continued on to Pyles Peak.

It was quite the hike!

Fortunately, the air was cool.

It was a beautiful day.

God Chose the Foolish

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. — I Corinthians 1:26-27

When God called me, I was a sinner.

I still am. But he is working on me.

He hasn't given up yet.

God chose the foolish things of this world to shame the wise.

He chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

He loves me in spite of my flaws.

We Do Not Compare Ourselves

We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. — 2 Corinthians 10:12

Today my friend Sheri and I will start a new middle school Bible study about not comparing ourselves with our sisters.

We will study the relationship between Rachel and Leah, two sisters who were both marrried to Jacob. 

While he loved Rachel, God blessed Leah with children.

And she kept hoping that the next child would endear her to Jacob, her husband.

As sisters, we compare ourselves and come up short every time.

God does not want us to compare ourselves. 

In fact, He tells us that is not wise.

Here is my sister Becky with my nephew Alex.

Thank you, Lord, for helping us understand Your Word.

Make the Most of Every Opportunity

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity. — Ephesians 5:15

Today I am working at home and getting a lot done without constant interruptions and meetings.

I'm taking a quick lunch break to type this post before getting back to the work computer.

God has provided another beautiful day.

Tonight I will gather with friends to celebrate a friend's 65th birthday.

We will have a fun time over dinner with the girls, catching up and relaxing together.

Tomorrow City Tree School has their annual CHristmas program in our church sanctuary.

I'll join Abby for dinner afterward — they're serving lasagna — before choir rehearsal begins.

Kirk and I went out to dinner together on Monday after my doctor appointment.

She said I'm doing great. No residual signs of radiation.

Other than calcium and a multi-vitamin, I'm only on one medication, an Estrogen inhibitor.

And she signed an authorization form so I can join the LiveStrong program at the YMCA in January.

God continues to bless me. I am grateful.