Virgie,

Reading Proverbs 3 you'll see all I did was just be a Parrot with good 
hearing and a beak  that can repeat and form words ;:. Or in this case feet 
that can type. You can't go wrong quoting God's word :). Wisdom is such a 
wide and varied thing, no wonder we have 31 chapters dedicated to its quick 
reference. Lots to learn and with wisdom as the ammo, our lives are like a 
moving target.

Brad

At 11:01 AM 7/9/2007, you wrote:
>Hey Brad,
>You are on a roll!  Another awesome post, I appreciate the way you put it 
>all together.
>
>Virgie and lady Hoshi
>doing business at
>
>www.vunderwood.ktostemtech.com
>----- Original Message ----- From: "B Dunse" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Monday, July 09, 2007 9:58 AM
>Subject: Wisdom Wisbanger
>
>
>>Reading this morning I originally was drawn to the reward of sweet sleep 
>>and no fear of the enemy suddenly coming upon us and wanted to draw 
>>attention to that but so much more is offered. What then are the rewards 
>>of wisdom? As you know parts of God's word are metaphorical and others 
>>are literal. For instance when God talks about wisdom calling out in the 
>>streets and that she's waiting at the gate of the city and so forth, well 
>>there isn't  really a woman thousands of years old who goes by  the name 
>>of Wisdom standing at the city limits of every city in the world. So it 
>>is a metaphor showing God's wisdom is everywhere, in every situation, and 
>>we need only look and listen for it, and of course follow it. There are 
>>times however when God says things like do not reprove a scorner or you 
>>will receive disgrace. We know that is a literal statement. He gives us 
>>the ability to discern metaphor from literal if we only ask, I know this 
>>because His Word says so and personal experience has proven it to me. So 
>>knowing that information what then are the benefits of wisdom? And by 
>>wisdom, it is not intended to mean our own wisdom, that is our own 
>>thoughts grounded in our own devices and interests, but that of God's 
>>wisdom instilled in us and we then use it.  What then can we look with 
>>anticipation and graceful expectation to receive from finding, seeking 
>>and using God's wisdom?
>>
>>If you were to hear wisdom being advertised in an infomercial on TV 
>>today, it might sound something like this...
>>
>>"Today we're offering a special price on our Wisdom Whizbanger! We're 
>>really out doing ourselves this time folks, never before have we offered 
>>such a deal. If you order today here's what you will get!! Extended life! 
>>That's right folks we literally can extend your life by not only days but 
>>years! And what good would an extended life be if it was a life filled 
>>with fear and strife? So we're also tossing in a life of peace. That's 
>>right. Peace. Not only will you be able to live longer but you will live 
>>longer, with more peace as well. And that's not all. If you order today 
>>at this special offer you will also receive the ability to enjoy favor 
>>with God your creator as well as your fellow man! I know, I know many 
>>have asked us how we can afford to be so generous but we can't believe it 
>>either! We must be poor business people to be offering all of this. But. 
>>I want to tell you there's more! Yes more. If you call now while our 
>>operators are standing by we will toss in not one, not two, but three, 
>>yes three additional gifts for ordering today. Along with a long 
>>peaceable life of favor with god and man you will also receive wealth, 
>>riches and honor! We've really  gone over the edge this time folks, we 
>>can't believe it ourselves! Now if you... wait a minute. I'm getting a 
>>call from our CEO... please excuse me for just one second. 'Yes Charlie 
>>what can I do for you? You kidding! Are you serious! They are not going 
>>to believe this, are you sure about this? Well, OK then. Thanks I'll tell 
>>them'. Sorry for the interruption folks but you won't believe this, that 
>>was our CEO on the phone and, someone hit me so I know I'm not dreaming 
>>because not only are we offering a long peaceable life complete with 
>>favor of God and man along with wealth, riches and honor... I can't 
>>believe he's doing this... my CEO just instructed me that for those  who 
>>order right now you will receive a life of straight paths, correction by 
>>a loving Father and that's not all you also will receive..."
>>
>>OK, OK. Enough with the infomercial bit :) I think you get the hint. As 
>>cheesy as that staged infomercial was, it yet carries truth in what god 
>>will give us by seeking wisdom. One very important thing I didn't include 
>>in the bit was this...
>>
>>Keep sound wisdom and discretion, so they will be life to your soul and 
>>adornment to your neck. Then you will walk in your way securely and your 
>>foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when 
>>you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden fear 
>>nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes; For the LORD will be 
>>your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.
>>
>>So if God's Word can be taken literal we know that seeking and obtaining 
>>wisdom and understanding, we know then that we can be secure, confident 
>>and sleep a sweet sleep without fear and interruption. The gift of wisdom 
>>is salvation, it is there for the taking, we only need to decide to grasp 
>>on to what has already been given us and reap the rewards of the offer. 
>>One difference between salvation and wisdom is there are times in life 
>>when  we need to decide to apply wisdom. In salvation it is a gift in 
>>which we only choose to grasp on to and the Lord does the saving. With 
>>wisdom, we grasp on to the precepts in our given situations and yes God 
>>does the rewarding or sees to it that we do have favor with Himself and 
>>man that we do have riches, wealth, peace and all wisdom promises in His 
>>Word. But we do need to decide to use it, to grasp on, to apply it to our 
>>lives, to hold our situations  up to the light of God through His gift of 
>>wisdom, knowledge and understanding. Imagine if you told your son to run 
>>to the grocery store and get a loaf of bread. He then asks well how do I 
>>get there. So you give him some written instructions. He runs and gets 
>>the bread then runs off doing whatever. Then you ask him to run to the 
>>same store and get some milk. He asks again how to get there.  So you 
>>point out that you gave him written instructions. "Oh yeah, I forgot" he 
>>says.  Goes off, comes back with the milk and goes about his business. 
>>Later you ask him to get some eggs from the store, and again he asks how 
>>to get there. Soon it would get a bit irritating would it not?  We would 
>>wonder why isn't he using his knowledge of what I gave him instead of 
>>continually asking me over and over how to get there. Years ago I was 
>>being counseled by a wise man of God with some great insight and 
>>application of God's Word and I was just learning how to apply God's word 
>>to my life. He said seeking God  in prayer for things in life, for 
>>direction is of course needed but praying about whether to  put salad 
>>forks out with the meal is just irritating and not necessary. Obviously 
>>he was exaggerating to make the point that some things we have been given 
>>a brain, as well wisdom to use as a team towards our situations in 
>>life.  I'll end with a precept which is kind of a joke at the same time. 
>>A pastor once gave this sermon and he did a wonderful job of it. Folks 
>>came to him after the service, shook his hand vigorously and said how 
>>wonderful it was and all that and he smiled calmly and said thank you. 
>>The following Sunday the pastor gave the same sermon. Folks cordially 
>>smiled, yawned  and nodded as he gave the sermon and when he was done 
>>they again said how nice it was, shook hands with a slightly looser grip 
>>this time,  and smiled with a bit of forced lips. The next Sunday the 
>>pastor gave the very same sermon. Well the elders began to wonder if 
>>there wasn't something wrong with the pastor. One more week went by and 
>>dang nabit if he didn't do it yet again. Well finally the elders took the 
>>pastor aside after the service and asked him, "Umm. Pastor? Umm. are you 
>>aware you've given the same exact sermon, uh, several weeks in a row now?"
>>
>>He replied. "Yes I know I have. And I'm going to keep giving it until you 
>>folks begin to actually do it".
>>
>>I read one of the articles  on a link Phil gave us to look at from George 
>>Muller I think was his name. I really recommend the article which talks 
>>about reading the Word of God and not so much man's books. That is  not 
>>to say teachings, encouragements and etc. are not helpful, but it is 
>>God's Word that can teach itself if you dig in and that ought be the 
>>stable of your instructional diet. Nothing replaces His Word.
>>
>>Brad