What Home, Mommy?

I knew God was leading me to the right book for this period in my life when I started reading Proverbs.  Like I stated before, we are currently in a season where everything we once knew is in complete upheaval.  Thankfully, nothing drastic or traumatic, just a time of transition and changes for the better.

We sold the only home our children have ever known and are currently living in the basement of my husband's parents and today on our way home from preschool, I told my youngest daughter we would each lunch at home.  She asked, "What home, Mommy?"  Now, I don't think she was saying this as we have no home, but more asking which house is home.  I can completely see how she is confused.  We have the "old" house, grandma and grandpa's house, and the "new" house (the one we are building).  I have to keep reminding the kids that, right now, our home is grandma and grandpa's house.

Upheaval and confusion.

So, the words of wisdom and reassurance in Proverbs are such a foothold for me right now.  A reminder that my true home is always with Christ.  That if I seek Him and His wisdom I will always be headed the correct way.  3:23-26a "They [common sense and discernment] will keep you safe on your way and your feet will not stumble.  You can go to bed without fear; you will lie down and sleep soundly.... for the Lord is your security."

The Lord is my SECURITY.  The LORD is my security.  All the consistency I need in a life of changes and new surroundings and situations.

Relating to Thousands of Years Ago

I have a lot of "Bible Study" books on my plate right now.  One of them is "Known and Loved" by Caryn Rivadeneira.  It is a devotional through the Psalms and is quite fabulous.  I am reading it with my MOPS Steering Team.  

The opening is something I have thought many times as I read through the Bible, really anywhere, but I loved how well she put it into words.  

"Whether you've read through the Bible many times, never picked it up before, or anywhere in between, you'll find that spending time in the psalms always nourishes us, feeds us.  Sometimes in clear-cut, obvious ways, sometimes through the totally unexpected.  Especially since these words were written three thousand years ago by people whose lives looked little like our own.  And yet, the aches, the longings, the questions, and the worship - all the human experience - remain the same.  Remarkable, really."

I find it amazing, really, how much we can actually relate to the people who lived when these God-inspired words were penned.  Their lives looked nothing like ours today, but how we feel and experience it, the struggles and joys, remain the same.  

It challenges me to look at what I am reading in a different light.  To not see the exact scenario, but to think about how I experience something similar in current times.  To think more about their thoughts and feelings over the actual events.  Its all about what God has to teach me through the lessons learned and feeling felt and how I can relate to the person involved.

And really, this is applicable for the entire Bible, not just the psalms.

Good things to remember.

Lifelong Journey

I am finding there is so much to learn on the topic of wisdom itself even before you start gaining more wisdom on other things. 

Proverbs is chop full of wisdom, of course, and I am working my way through the 2nd Chapter.  Not only have I seen that wisdom is something that I can't just gain, I must continually seek it (vs. 4).  It is a gift from God that should be valued as a treasure and will bring me joy (vs. 6, 10).  It will save me from evil (vs. 12).

There is so much to learn.

But today what struck me through many of these verses is that I will never arrive.  I will never have all the wisdom I could ever gain.  There is never an end to this search.  I must seek it continually.  I must keep checking to make sure I am on the path (vs. 20) to grow in it.  I must remain in it (vs. 21) and not be lead astray.

Now, one could find this discouraging, to never have an end to the goal.  But I find it exciting.  There is always more to learn; always a way to grow.  More to find and more to seek.  I will never have all the wisdom God has for me to gain, but I can try continually each and every day to get just a little bit closer.  I will never run out of things to learn.  He will never have a point where He doesn't have something to teach me. 

So many new and exciting things wait for me each and every day if I just continue to seek it out through the eyes and the knowledge of the One who created it all.

Listen and Remember

OK so I realize I already mentioned Proverbs 1:23 in one of my previous posts, but it jumped out at me again this time, too, so I figured I had better pay attention.

"Come and listen to my counsel.  I'll share my heart with you and make you wise." Now, this is wisdom speaking, so I am supposed to listen to any wisdom that comes my way.  Obviously, the most solid, truthful, tested and tried wisdom comes from God's Words so I think that is where I will start. 

Next in this chapter (vs.24 -25) say, "I called you so often, but you wouldn't come.  I reached out to you, but you paid no attention.  You ignored my advice and rejected the correction I offered."  These are the moments you just know that there is a Bible verse you should know to apply to your current situation, or one you would really like to pass on to someone in another type of situation.  I always feel so frustrated and upset with myself that I cannot remember the words I need to use or pass on or teach my kids.  Now, when you can somewhat think of those verses, it tells you that you have at least been paying a little bit of attention to God's wisdom.  But, I am thinking this is a great way for God to say, "Pay attention.  Learn and remember what I am saying to you in My Book."

Listen to His counsel.  Pay attention.  Remember.  Three things I need to take to heart.

Who You Talkin' To?

I have been reading through Proverbs over the last month or so.  Looking for wisdom, insight and direction.  But, I have been in such a hurry to find them, I think I missed most of what is actually there, so I am starting over.

I found myself going through Proverbs finding nuggets to use with my children on wisdom, hard work and discipline.  Good stuff.  Stuff they need to know and hear.  Stuff I need to teach them.  But I think in searching for things for my kids, I was missing the stuff for me.  How do I teach it to my children if I don't know it myself first?

I love how much they talk about fools in Proverbs.  Fools reject wisdom and discipline (1:7), fools are destroyed by their complacency (1:32), and much more to come.  And once again it is so easy to lump the "fools" onto someone else because I consider myself a pretty stand-up gal.  I love how my footnotes remind me that in fools, they do not mean stupid people, but people who have a character deficiency, many of which I can suffer from at certain times or in mood swings of my life. 

God reminds me that in my time with Him, when it is just us hanging out in His Word, He is speaking to me.  Not my children.  Not some random fool at whom I can point my finger.  Me and Him.  Read these words and learn these lessons for me.   Then, if needed I can pass them on to others.  But one cannot teach if one isn't willing to learn.