wisdom | Pedestrian God

Granting Wishes & Prayers

Mar 15 2018

Picture a child coming to Santa – not a crying, fearful child – but one who has finally seen Santa with their own eyes. Not only have they spotted Santa, but they get to approach him. To sit on his lap and tell him EVERYTHING they want for Christmas. These aren’t small, practical requests. These kids are thinking big. They want ponies, puppies, unicorns, race cars, and robots. Nothing is too big or off limits. After all, this is SANTA CLAUS! He owns his own toy factory!

Or picture Aladdin when he discovers Genie (and yes, absolutely hear Robin Williams’ impressions). He finds out he has three wishes! Sure, there are some rules. Unlike Santa, certain requests are off limits – Genie can’t kill anyone, make anyone fall in love, or bring people back from the dead. Aladdin’s in a unique position. If he plans well, he can have three wishes granted that will drastically change his life.

Now picture prayer.

Families of a Fool

Sep 18 2014

I sunk my head onto the steering wheel in the parking lot as I listened, for the second time in a year, to a mother weeping on the phone as she tells me that her son has been arrested. She’s crying out to God to give her wisdom and to change her son’s heart.

Proverbs 10:1, “A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son, heartache to his mother.”

What Fools Hate

Sep 12 2014

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline.
– Proverbs 1:7

As a child, I memorized that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. But to this day if you had asked me to complete the verse, I wouldn’t be able to. As I’ve matured in my faith and spent more time in Scripture, I have found several places in Scripture where this is true.

Fools despise wisdom and discipline. This truth may have been more important for little kid Renae to grasp than knowing the origin of knowledge. I was definitely disciplined on earth much more 12 years ago than I am today.

Let’s couple this well-known verse with another one a mere 15 verses later:

How long, foolish ones, will you love ignorance? How long will you mockers enjoy mocking and you fools hate knowledge?
– Proverbs 1:22

What do you hate?

Hate is a strong word, but I would probably find several items to list in this category. I hate: live insects in my house, eating breakfast without orange juice, all things tomatoes except for ketchup, and using the stall without toilet paper.

My quick response of things that I hate revolve around earthly concerns – my comfort and preferences.

A Fool’s Trust

Sep 06 2014

The one who trusts in himself is a fool, but one who walks in wisdom will be safe.
– Proverbs 28:26

Who are three people in your life that you trust? Who was included in that list – a spouse, employer, friend, pastor?

Did you list yourself?

Fidelity & Stupidity

May 28 2014

Read the Proverbs blog series from the beginning here.

Fidelity isn’t inherent to our natures; it has to be taught. Chapter five of Proverbs contains a father’s warning to his son to keep away from seductive women – not go anywhere near them.

Unfortunately in our “do what feels good” culture today, fathers no longer tell their sons to “drink water from your own cistern” (verse 15) – a euphemism for remaining faithful to one’s wife. Sons are exposed to pornography, witness condescending conversations, and handed condoms. The role of the man is degraded from “father” to “baby daddy.”

Tag - wisdom

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