Wise?

Ok, so I am reading through Proverbs and I had this thought. Please don't expect anything profound here. . .
"In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has. " Proverbs 21: 20.
I was thinking (and I realize that I am straying from the original intent) that wise people gather knowledge, test it against the Word, and that which is not destroyed, is stored away to be put in practice. They are wise not just because they have the knowledge, but because they test it and will put it into action. On the contrary, a fool is someone who gathers knowledge from everywhere and anywhere. He doesn't test it to be sure that it is choice food, but instead takes in everything that he can, simply because it is there in front of him. When we eat, we are sending nourishment deep into our being. The same goes with knowledge - what we let in goes deep within us and shapes us. Are we going to eat of truth or the world's lies???? Prime Rib or bologna?

Me Who?

For the majority of my life I have grappled with the issue of self-esteem. You must look a certain way, act a certain way, and talk that way too. As a kid I was constantly reminded of how wonderful I was and beautiful too. You know, the classic, inside and out thing. Yet as I look back over my life, I realize that I never achieved this highly sought after and valued self worth. We are pressured to have it all together, strive for this attitude or perspective that convinces us that we are what it is all about, and worst of all, desire to be the example that people look to for truth. If this is such a great concept than why is it that self-esteem just breeds insecurity. Insecurity, because we can't do it all and look great while doing it. Which then just serves as a constant reminder of our failures. What if we actually made God the example. The One who is nothing less than glorified in all that He does. "For this reason, I kneel before the Father from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name." Eph 3:14. "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the works of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they declare knowledge." Psalm 19: 1-2. Funny how my name isn't listed in there anywhere. Could that be because what we should actually be seeking is not self-confidence at all, but instead God-confidence?

Faith Tested

Well, if the past month and a half is any indication of what this next year will hold, then I have to admit that I am a little nervous. I can't help but to be thankful for everything that has happened, for God has strengthened me further than I thought possible. However, prior to strength comes stretching. . .
I was in a car accident in January. Not only did I manage to total my car and injure my hand, but I backed traffic up for hours during rush hour. I am fine, as well as the other 5 people involved, but it has been a month of arguing with insurance companies, visits to the doctor, and numerous other inconveniences. Despite the frustrations, I want to share the amazing blessing God bestowed upon me in a very unlikely way. . .
I had been struggling with some issues that I just couldn't reconcile in my head and heart for about a month prior to the accident. I was praying moments before the accident for God to help heal my heart and attitude. Then BANG. . . He used a rogue car combined with ice and snow (see Jaclyn's blog for further explanation on weather) to completely change my mindset. It wasn't so much of a "life pass before your eyes type thing", but a complete heart change wrapped up in twisted medal, fear, and tears. I am so thankful for God's bigger plan and his ability to use "negative" events for His glory.
In addition to the accident, I had been struggling with the overwhelming feeling that the devil was coming after my friends and family with a vengeance that I had not recognized before. It was quite scary and I must admit, angering. I won't go into specifics here, but it has been an emotionally draining month. Through it all, God kept reminding me that He is faithful and the God of miracles. Regardless of the attack, He is bigger and has already defeated it with the death of His Son. He has shown me the power of prayer and the dire need in those who don't know Him. A verse keeps ringing clear in my head and I have clung to it for the past several months, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done. . ." Genesis 50: 20.
More things to share, but I will save that for another day. . .