And one only has to watch Tv late night one time to find droves of these
type of commercials. I don't watch TV except when traveling and in a
hotel. Wisdom is so great isn't it.
Brad
At 09:26 PM 7/16/2007, you wrote:
>Hi Brad,
>
>I really liked this one. I thought that the info-mercial was very clever.
>
>Love and blessings,
>
>purple Mari
>
>
>
>At 06:58 AM 7/9/2007, you wrote:
>>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
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