Wisdom Justified

But wisdom is justified by all her children.   Luke 7:35

"The world is full of "experts".  There are people everywhere who want to convince you of the wisdom of their opinion.  Yet God says that it is not the one who declares his viewpoint the most loudly or vociferously who is the wisest, but the one who is vindicated over time.

Wisdom is not proven by arguments or debate.  Wisdom is proven over time.  Some people adamantly proclaim that their opinion is best.  Regardless of how convincingly these people defend their viewpoint, time is the best judge of their wisdom.  The result of a practice proves its validity, not how loudly it is promoted.  When you seek to obey what God has told you, you will sometimes meet resistance and criticism from others who disagree with the wisdom of your actions.  Your immediate response may be the urge to vindicate yourself.  However, if you wait patiently, time will reveal the wisdom of your actions far better than you could through argument.

Through the ages, the wisdom found in God's Word has been tested and proven true.  It is critical that you measure everything you hear against the Scriptures.  Trends in psychology and philosophy come and go, but God's Word is timeless.  Whenever you share an opinion in counseling someone else, make sure that it comes from the Scripture and not merely from your best thinking.  As long as you base your life choices on the Word of God, time will be your defender and will validate the wisdom of your choices.  If, over time, you clearly see you are wrong, ask God's forgiveness and seek a fresh word from God through the Scripture.  Then obey that word and watch to see God confirm His wisdom in your life."

Experiencing God Day by Day; Henry Blackaby and Richard Blackaby

Simplifying: Buying Less & Giving More

I cannot tell you how challenged I am by this post from Passionate Homemaking:

“Simplifying means having less, wanting less, being satisfied with what you have or less than what you have. It does not mean boredom. People with too many things are the most easily bored. St. Francis owned only his robe, yet was never melancholy or bored.” – J Matthew Sleeth, author of Serve God, Save the Planet

Simplifying Your Buying Techniques (as shared in the above quoted book):

1. If you think you want something, wait a month. One of three things will happen if you follow this sage advice. One: You will forget. Two: You will no longer need it. Or three: You will need it more. Most often, numbers one and two will happen.

2. Next, borrow and lend. How are we going to live together in heaven if we can’t even share a chain saw? One of my goals this year is to put all my books together in a loaning library database, in order that I might bless and encourage others in my church through loaning out my books or simply donating them to our local library. They are just collecting dust right now! I also have a ton of girl baby clothes. If we have a boy, my first goal will be to find someone who can benefit from the use of these clothes in the meantime.

I am growing to realize that the more I share, the less of a strong hold these possessions will have upon my heart. What things are lying around your house that someone else could use right now? There are so many ways to be generous by loaning and giving away your possessions even if you are lacking in the monetary capacity. This is an opportunity for the body of Christ to come together, especially in this slowing economy, and serve and share with one another. Remember Acts 2:44-45, which states that the believers had all their resources together and distributed them as each had a need. I think applying this principle is so applicable today.

It really comes down to changing our mindset! It starts with waiting a month, then if you still really need the item, looking into your borrowing options. If they are lacking, check out all your used options (craigslist, freecycle, consignment shop, etc). The very last alternative is buying an item new…but you most likely will not even get here if you check out the previous ideas!

Day 19 - A Talent of Yours

I believe most people would say that my talent is singing, and I guess in some way that's true.  I do love to sing, and I recognize the Lord has gifted me to be able to do so.  But if I had to choose my talent, it would be something different.  The talent I want is to be able to glorify God, whether it be with my voice, or with service, or with my writing, or especially with compassion and mercy.  This is the talent that I pray that I might have. 

Day 18 - Your Wedding

Our favorite picture



The mother of one of my school friends took this pic




The whole wedding party




Us with my mom and dad...despite the looks, my parents really did like Terry :-)





Terry with all his siblings. The last time they were together until this year.





Us with the entire Bartell clan





Me with my brother Bill, Karen my sis-in-law, and Bryan my nephew





Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Terry Bartell




One of my favorites - Terry dancing with my grandmother, Bobby




Electric slide anyone?




Here we are with my siblings (all but one) from my Dad's side, plus nieces and nephews. There were a bunch who weren't there.



Day 17 - An Art Piece (drawing, sculpture, painting, etc.)

Have I mentioned that my men are very talented?



All the pieces together




Spring Stroll by Terry




Indian Summer by Terry




Autumn Stream by Terry




Winter Snowscape by Terry




Flower River by Sammy (with direction from Dad)



Remember Beach by Terry- painted for our friend, Kris

 

Day 16 - A Song That Makes You Cry (or nearly)

This is my heart.  I long to adopt a child (or 2...or 3).  I'm still waiting, Lord. I would love to be able to live out the gift given to me by my Father by adopting a child into our family and helping them to see the incredible gift given by God: His love and the price He paid to make us His children.

Day 15 - Your Dream Home

My dream home is difficult to describe.  I recognize that a house does not make a home.  A place does not make a home.  The old adage says, "Home is where the heart is."  And in light of that I wish I could sound all spiritual and say that my home is just fine because I have my family around me, and that I have all I need.  And I guess that is true in some ways.  I am thankful to still have my husband with me.  I am thankful the Lord blessed us with a wonderful child.  I am thankful the Lord has provided all of our needs and then some.  And yet to say that I am completely content would be a lie.  I feel guilty that I am not completely content with all the Lord has given me.  And yet, I long for a house nestled in the midst of some mountains where I can see the mountains that I long for every day.  Reds, oranges, and golds all around me as the crisp air of fall descends into the valley.  Snow scattering the ground on cold mornings when my breath turns into mist that curls through the air.  Apples and pumpkins and hay rides in the chilly night air.  A stream that meanders across our property that I can lay next to during the heat of summer and listen to it gurgle, or that Sammy and I can sit dangling our feet in the cool water.  My heart longs for this with an ache I cannot explain.  Whenever we visit the mountains, I cry when we leave.  I know I need to learn to be content where God has me for now, and for the most part, I am, but the longing never goes away.  And all I can do is pray that one day, the Lord will grant me this desire of my heart.

Day 14 - A Non-Fictional Book

This is the book that I am in the middle of reading right now, and this book has touched me in more ways than I could even count.  Mary Beth has been incredibly honest about her struggles, not just with losing Maria, but also with the ways that she has struggled throughout her life in giving up her plans and her will to surrender to God's.  I see myself in so many pages in this book and have been asking the Lord to help me to choose to see the ways that He is working in my life that are for my good even if they aren't what I would choose and to stop fighting Him when He begins working in my heart.  I look back on my life, and I see so many times when the Lord has begun to do a work in my heart that I have come out swinging.  I don't want to do that anymore.  I want surrender to be my first reaction, not my last.  There is so much HOPE in these pages filled with confessions and tears that our God is not distant, that He is ever near, that His love is far surpassing anything and everything that we could ever imagine.  So I would recommend this book to be read by anyone who struggles with trusting God even when you can't SEE where He is leading.

Day 13 - A Fictional Book

I already mentioned "The Pilgrim's Progress" in my favorite books, so I won't mention it again.  I will instead mention my favorite Christian author of fiction and two books she has written that are excellent and well worth reading.

Francine Rivers has written both "The Last Sin Eater" and "The Atonement Child".  These books are very thought provoking and help the reader to think of some issues from a different perspective.  The picture of God's love for us in both of these books is awe-inspiring and tear-stimulating.

Day Twelve - Something You Are OCD About

Sorry, I skipped eleven...I don't have one.  Those who know me well know the pictures of me are VERY few and far between.

On to what I am OCD about...the biggest thing I would have to admit would be my dishwasher.  Everything has its own specific place in the dishwasher, and I get very testy if it is put in the wrong spot (just keeping it real).  I have had to learn in someways to let go of it because if I want Terry to help me wash the dishes occasionally, I can't be a jerk about it, but it is difficult.  I mean, even in the silverware holder, each utensil has its own slot: small spoons in one, big forks in another, table knives and serrated knives separated into their own compartments.  Believe it or not, there is method to my madness...mostly, it makes it easier to put them away.  All I have to do is grab them and put them in their slot in the drawer.  No having to separate them first, that is already done!  Makes perfect sense to me!

Day Ten - A Photo of Me Taken Over 10 Years Ago

Me at 17.  Whew...that was a long time ago...17 years ago to be exact.  Where has time gone?

Day Nine - A Picture You Took

I took this picture on our impromptu visit to Virginia in 2008 in the middle of our uncertainty over Terry's cancer.  We were amazed to see a rainbow against a blue sky.  That seems impossible, and yet there it was...  A moment of hope and awe in the midst of fear and uncertainty.  It was another reminder of God's love and kindness to us, His children.

Legalism or Grace?

"And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."  Hebrews 10:10

"Rigid adherence to a list of do's and don'ts appeals to our pride and self-sufficiency by fostering the myth that if we work hard enough we can earn God's favor.  That's fear-based thinking, and "God has not given us a spirit of fear" (2 Timothy 1:7 NLT).  "There is no fear in love...fear has to do with punishment" (1 John 4:18 NIV).  Legalism is fear that God isn't big enough to forgive your sins, that unless you do the right thing in the right way at the right time - and do it perfectly - you're in trouble.  Jon Walker writes: "That's a lie with the smell of hell all over it!  When we fear making mistakes we become timid, and limit ourselves from living abundantly.  We let...analysis permeate our decisions as we lead quiet, desperate, anti-faith lives, afraid to move with the bold confidence that grace gives us to walk in uncertainty...unafraid of rejection."  Speaking against works-based religion, Martin Luther said, "Be a sinner and let your sins be strong, but let your trust in Christ be stronger...rejoice in Christ...the victor over sin."  No, Luther wasn't excusing sin!  He was restoring grace to its rightful place, affirming that nothing can separate us from God's love (See Romans 8:38-39).  He wasn't downgrading the law, he was upgrading grace.  Grace means talking to God and listening for His voice when it would be easier to just consult the rule book.  The truth is, when "[Jesus] entered...heaven...to appear...before God on our behalf" (Hebrews 9:24 NLT), He freed us to have a relationship with Him without fear of sin separating us."

Day Eight - A Photo that Makes You Sad / Angry

In contrast to the picture yesterday, this is a reminder of the most frightening time in my life.  Terry was still going through chemo at the time I took this picture, and I have never seen him look so tired or pale.  I can only pray that we never have to go through this again, but it is a constant fear hanging over me.

Day Seven - A Photo that Makes You Happy

This is one of my absolute favorite pictures, of my two favorite people in the whole world.  And it is a reminder of things before fear and pain came in...when things were simpler.

Day Six - 20 of My Favorite things

1. Jesus Christ, my Savior who took my sins and suffered for them and gave me His righteousness in return. Grace is a GREAT word!

2. My wonderful husband, Terry. He is a blessing to me in so many ways. I don’t know what I would do without him.

3. My precious Sammy. Precocious, adventurous, goofy, funny, and an absolute joy.

4. My marvelous Mom. She has always been there for me even when she didn’t understand who I was or what I was doing.

5. My fantastic friends! I am so blessed to have so many great friends!

6. My extended family. The Lord has blessed me with many people that I consider family, though we do not share any genetic ties.

7. Being able to encourage others.

 

8. Seeing God move in my life and the lives of those I love.

9. Singing

10. Reading

11. Writing

12. Talking on the phone or chatting online.

13. Mountains ( I REALLY want to live in the mountains!)

14. Fall

15. Photography

16. Food

17. Vacations

18. Every step closer we get to being out of debt.

19. Cookbooks

20. Simple things

A warm cup of coffee on a cold night

Lavender

Roses

Sitting in front of a fire

Cozy sweaters

Sunsets ( In general, but especially over the mountains)