Wising up! Praying for wisdom

 [Note: Our rural church, Lake Como Community of Hope in Lake Como, Florida, is non-denominational with several retired pastors of varied church backgrounds gracing our pulpit each week. Every now and then, however, scheduling conflicts or unexpected personal concerns leave us without a pastor to lead that day’s worship service. Since Sunday August 17 was such a day, I read the recommended Bible readings from the Revised Common Lectionary, used by many Christian denominations then presented the following “Bible Talk,” based on the reoccurring theme of wisdom.]

1 Kings 3:3-14
Psalm 111
Ephesians 5:15-20
John 6:51-58

With COVID again on the rise, we’re wise to wear masks in public, but Lord willing, we will all have unveiled faces soon! Meanwhile, let’s keep praying for the Lord’s healing presence in our lives. In fact, let’s pray right now:

Lord God, heavenly Father, thank You for bringing us together in prayer, worship, and fellowship with You and with each other. In many ways, Lord, these are troubled times, but we trust You to protect, heal, and guide us, our families, and our church. We praise You and thank You for being with us as we come into Your presence and Your Word in Jesus’ Name.

As you probably noticed, the big theme in the Bible readings this morning is wisdom. So, truth time: Are you wise?

Do you want to be wise?

Have you ever asked God to give you a gift of wisdom? If not, ask! If so, you have it! Believe it. Claim it. It’s yours.

Hearing Solomon’s prayer again this morning, I remember the first time I heard that Bible story in 1 Kings. Solomon was wise enough to ask for wisdom, and the request pleased God so much, He gave the king gifts of wisdom, understanding, and discernment – unsurpassed until Jesus came.

But God also promised to honor Solomon with riches and a long life. And the truth is: that’s what I wanted. I probably wasn’t as interested in having wisdom as having more money than my 50-cent allowance allowed!

Despite my questionable motivations, wisdom is ageless. I first saw wisdom in my children when they were too young for an allowance of any kind! For example, my daughter was about 5 when she came home from Sunday School, puzzled. The teacher had been talking about people in other countries who didn’t know about God and/or did not believe in Him. My daughter looked at me sadly and asked, “But wouldn’t we believe that too if we lived in another country?”

Most likely, yes. And that brings us to a message about wisdom in verse 10 of Psalm 111. i.e., Knowing God, believing in God, and, especially, being in awe of God is the beginning of wisdom.

Wisdom keeps us out of trouble! As we’re reminded by today’s Epistle reading in Ephesians 5, we’re to live – not as unwise people – but as wise. This can require head knowledge, but mostly it requires the ability to know how and when to apply knowledge in a wise and timely manner.

Ephesians 5 goes on to point out the need to be filled with the Spirit as we sing scripturally-sound songs, regularly read God’s Word, and faithfully give thanks to God the Father for everything – everything – in Jesus’ Name.

Christ lives in us and redeems us from humanity’s Fall from Grace in the Beginning of Time. Before that one act of disobedience brought spiritual death and troubles to everyone in the world, Adam and Eve had wisdom! They walked with God. They heard God speak. They had fellowship with Him – until opting for Knowledge over the Wisdom they already possessed.

Remember? They disobeyed God when they ate from the forbidden fruit of the Tree of KNOWLEDGE of Good and Evil. From that moment on, they no longer had the innocence still apparent in today’s young children, but they could not turn back. No one could – until Jesus came along!

Jesus redeems the times. Jesus renews our fellowship with God and breathes new life into us – the life of the Holy Spirit. Jesus gives us peace with God, peace with other people, and peace with ourselves.

As the Wisdom of God with us on earth and beyond, the Lord knows what we need. He alone has full KNOWLEDGE of the good and no-so-good thoughts, acts, and traits in us. He alone can rescue us from ourselves.

The Gospel reading in John reassures us that Jesus gave Himself for the life of the world to be transformed into life with God. But that’s only the beginning. To live out our time on earth more fully and faithfully – and joyfully – we need Wisdom to guide us. And all we have to do is ask!

As we read, study, and talk about the Bible, we can see that God has made promise after promise to us, individually, and to the church Body of Christ throughout the world. Our part is to believe, respond, claim those promises, and ask for whatever we lack, knowing God will provide. And why wouldn’t He? We are His ambassadors – representatives of Christ in the world. Surely, the Almighty God, Creator of the Universe, and Heavenly Father of All does not want us to speak for Him foolishly nor would He want us to act unkindly – unwisely – toward anyone else.

God has not only given us wisdom for the asking, but He’s also given us power to use that gift as we’re enabled and guided by His Holy Spirit.

What a powerful purpose we’ve been given – to help others and, indeed, to influence the whole world as we spread the Good News of forgiveness and salvation in the Resurrected Christ! Even Solomon didn’t have that. The young king had hope of a long life on earth because God Himself said he would. But to us, God promises an even longer life – one that never ends!

That’s not the kind of power I thought I might get as a child, and, as you might have expected, I haven’t received the massive wealth I had once hoped to get!  But what a wealth of wisdom widely available to all who ask – wisdom:

• In the book of Proverbs (attributed to Solomon!)
• Wisdom in the Gospels – the Good News of Jesus Christ
• Wisdom in communal worship, fellowship, and Bible study
• Wisdom in praying for ourselves and one another – in praying for our church home and Christians around the world
• Wisdom in the gift of God that comes to those who ask!

Let’s ask now:

Dear Lord God – Master, Possessor, and Provider of All Power, All Wisdom, and all the Wealth of the earth and universe, we ask You now for the gift of discernment and the wisdom to lead the kind of life to which You have called us. We praise You, Lord, for forgiving us and lifting us into Your compelling love. And we thank You for giving us the power, authority, and every other provision we need to carry out the work You have given us to do in Jesus’ Holy Name.

 

©2021, Mary Harwell Sayler

 

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Too much garbage? Break the cycle!

 

In the almost eighteen years we’ve been in our home, I’ve filled and faithfully set out the recycling bin every week – until now! Reportedly, a shortage of workers recently caused pickup to cease, so our paper, plastics, foil wrappers, and aluminum cans have wound up in the back of the regular garbage truck! Bummer! So what’s an environmentally conscious person to do?

 

Someone suggested I take my own recyclable wastes to the town dump, which isn’t far, but I lack both a truck and the energy. Nor do I see myself applying for a job with a recycling company, which I might actually have considered, say, thirty years ago.

 

But here’s the thing: Thirty (okay, forty) years ago, I did not have much to recycle. For one thing, we lived in the country and had fresh vegetables, so I don’t remember buying anything but coffee in a can. To us, however, a “can” was a glass Mason jar filled with fruit or veggies, steam-bathed, and capped at home. When it came to colas, kids weren’t allowed, and my soft drinks mainly came with a restaurant hamburger – and a paper straw.

 

Obviously, times have changed, but did they need to change this much? I don’t want to turn back the clock, but I do want to ways to wave off a flood of garbage. If you do too, I hope you’ll share your ideas in the Comments section below, and maybe we can stop this trashy tsunami.

 

For starters, here’s what came to mind:

 

• Get cloth napkins off the shelf and onto the table.
• Buy eggs in those greyish cardboardy crates of 18 or 24 instead of plastic by the dozens.
• Ask the grocer’s meat department to use butcher paper.
• Wrap sandwiches in wax paper.
• Keep leftovers in glass containers with lids.
• Buy fresh or frozen foods in lieu of canned.
• Go back to drinking milk and squeezing juice.
• Replace soft drinks with tea, coffee, or, better yet, water!
• Sip through a stainless-steel straw. (I found a set online.)
• Shop with cloth bags.
• Wear washable masks.

 

That’s all I’ve got! Hope you’ll have more to add soon.

 

And may God help us to be good caretakers of this beautiful earth we share.

 

©2021, Mary Harwell Sayler

 

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What did that compliment do to you?

 

Assuming we have no ulterior motive, such as buttering up or trying to manipulate someone, a compliment can a lift a person’s spirits. However, it can also have a negative effect.

 

At the risk of making you (and me!) afraid to ever say anything nice to anyone again, I’ve been pondering the subject and remembering what helped me and what did not. I hope you’ll share your thoughts in the Comments section below. Meanwhile, here’s what came to me.

 

A compliment can encourage.

 

The pastor-leader of a discussion group once asked us to tell each other something we might not be aware of otherwise. One woman looked at me and said, “You have a lovely smile.” Since my sweet-spirited dad did, it pleased me to know I might have received that from him, and so the compliment encouraged me to smile more.

 

When a compliment is obviously meant to be supportive, we can take that word to heart, thanking the person – and thanking God for lifting our spirits and/or guiding us in a particular direction.

 

A compliment can discourage.

 

The person giving a compliment might be appalled to know this, but a negative result can come in self-consciousness! This often happens when we compliment a person’s looks, rather than a well-chosen outfit or skin-flattering choice of colors.

 

Unfortunately, I did this recently when I told a friend she looked elegant. She did, but I wish I’d been more specific and told her how a particular, upswept hairstyle makes her look elegant. Then it would be her choice or decision as to whether she felt up to elegance that day!

 

Similarly, poets, writers, and other artistic people might wonder, “Will I ever create anything as good?” or “Will people like my next work as well?” Book reviews, positive Comments on a blog, or a simple “Like” for a post can provide the timely encouragement that person needed.

 

A compliment can provide an opening to praise!

 

Whether a compliment focuses on what we did, how we look, or what gifts and abilities we have, we can thank the person for the acknowledgement and give credit to God. For example: if someone says, “Your (poem, painting, sermon ___ fill in the blank) meant a lot to me,” we can accept that good word yet get the focus off of our self-conscious selves by praising the Lord and thanking the person for letting us know.

 

Hmm. I just realized that one of my favorite prayers since childhood can be applied to this discussion, which I hope you will join in the Comments below!

 

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer,” Psalm 19:14.

 

What we say (words of the mouth) and how we receive what someone else says (meditations of my heart) can find anchor in the Rock and, when needed, be redeemed by our Father God Who rescues us, even from ourselves.

 

©2021, Mary Harwell Sayler

 

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Real love cannot be faked

 

Plants have enemies.
Weeds work at replication.
Real love can’t be faked.

When that poem came to mind this morning instead of sleep, I wondered how many poems I’d been given on love.  I still don’t know, but most poets write on the subject, along with other universal topics such as birth, death, and infinity. What’s written, however, may have little to do with actual love – the real love the Apostle Paul writes about in 1 Corinthians 13.

Comparing translations on Bible Gateway, I’m reminded that the King James Version uses the word “charity” in lieu of “love.” That synonym helps to clarify the concept of true love by bringing to mind a donation, a gift, or other type of assistance.

The “love chapter” also defines by comparing and contrasting what genuine love is and is not. For example:

• Love is NOT jealous, envious, or given to suspicions and assumptions.
• Love is NOT bigoted, arrogant, or conceited.
• Love is NOT self-centered but centers on God and others.

And yet, it does not matter what we do or how hard we work if we have no spirit of love behind our actions.

A charismatic sermon, an angelic voice, a prophetic gift, a brilliant mind, and huge donations do not matter! Even a strong, unwavering faith counts for nothing if there is no God-centered love at the core.

Love IS kind and caring.

Love IS respectful of all peoples, all life.

Love IS still around when everything else has failed or fled.

 

May God help us to pass on and on true love.

 

©2021, Mary Harwell Sayler

 

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Do unto Yourself as you do unto Others

 

This morning I commented on the pretty shade of yellow my husband was wearing, then added, “Good color on you too,” to which he immediately said something, well, smarty. Now the thing is, he hates it when I do that! He does NOT like for me to be dismissive of a compliment or give a negative response, so I told him:

“Hey! Do yourself what you want me to do!”

Beloved, we might be onto something here! As Christians, we’re keenly aware of the biblical command: Do unto others as you want others to do to/for/unto you. Even beyond that, Jesus took the Golden Rule further by asking us to treat others The Way He would treat them.

Jesus’  Platinum-Golden Rule can guide us deeply into a Christ-centered life.

With Christ at the very core of our being, we need to be aware that our Lord treated Himself with respect (John 8:49) and looked out for His own well-being as needed. For example, I found these relevant scriptures from a variety of translations on Bible Gateway, which I subsequently paraphrased:

They picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid Himself in the crowd and left the temple grounds, John 8:59.

At Jesus’ words, the people in the synagogue were filled with fury. They rose up, drove Him out of the town, and led Him to the crest of the hill on which the town was built, intending to toss Him down, but He passed through the midst of them and went on His way, Luke 4:28-30.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus sweated blood – literally – over the mere thought of crucifixion. Three times, He pleaded with God the Father to find another way, but when He knew the time had come to offer Himself as the final blood-life sacrifice, He gave Himself over willingly – not to the demands of people, but to the will of God.

Why? As the Son of God and the son of Mary, only Jesus had the Personhood and power to become our Messiah and offer Himself in payment for our sin. Only Jesus had – or could have – that particular mission in life. Only Jesus had to endure crucifixion as the final offering for our sin.

Whether in word or deed, however, crucifying ourselves accomplishes nothing godly or good.

Sadly, we might not even realize we’re doing this. I’m reminded, for instance, of a friend who faithfully serves the Lord by selflessly serving others. Lately, though, she’s been concerned about her own health yet admitted she’d made no attempt to schedule the needed tests as soon as possible. I encouraged her to do so, but before I got downright rude about telling her what to do, I asked, “What would you want me to do, if the situation were reversed?” and she admitted she would give me the same advice.

We’re well aware that the Bible tells us to “Love our neighbors as ourselves,” but we might need to consider what that means in practical terms. If, for instance, we don’t take care of ourselves, how can we take care of others? If we’re unkind to ourselves, what chance do we have of being genuinely kind to other? If we have no love or respect for ourselves, how can we possibly show that to anyone else? 

In situations large or small, people often ask, “What would Jesus do?” but let’s also ask:

What would Jesus NEVER do?

Surely, Jesus would not willingly neglect Himself, abuse Himself, nor put Himself down!

Surely, Jesus would not let Himself be trampled nor hurled over a hill!

Surely our gracious Lord would not refuse a gift given in love – even if it’s nothing more than a broken vial of perfume or a sacrificial word of praise. Who knows? When Jesus appears in a bright yellow shirt of sunshine and glory, He might like to hear, “Oh, Lord, that color is perfect on You!”

 

©2021, Mary Harwell Sayler

 

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Bible Reviewer: Amplified Holy Bible XL Edition

Bible Reviewer: Amplified Holy Bible XL Edition:   

Besides preferring the capitalization of pronouns that refer to God in the Amplified Bible, I appreciate the synonyms and definitions that amplify, without changing, the meaning of the text. This particular edition, however, appeals to me because of its 12.5 font, quality leathersoft binding, and unique size that’s almost 8” square and opens flat on my lap as I sit in my comfy chair and read, read, read.

Beyond Belief

 

“By the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ I appeal to all of you, my friends, to agree in what you say, so that there will be no divisions among you. Be completely united, with only one thought and one purpose,” 1 Corinthians 1:9, Good News Translation.

Despite our diverse cultures, radically opposing beliefs, and personal preferences for how things are to be done, we are all to be One in Christ.

 

First, we believe:

Yes! God DOES mean what He says!

Yes! God the Father gave us Jesus the Son.

Yes, the Lord eradicates our wrongs and resuscitates us to a new life in Christ.

 

Then, we obey:

We find out what God wants.

We read the Bible. We talk to God and listen.

We invite God’s Holy Spirit to guide and empower us.

We use the ministry gifts and other resources we have been given to build up the Body of Christ.

 

Together, we do even more:

In Christ, we worship God and work with God’s Family.

We pray for discernment and wisdom, compassion and mercy.

We invite others into our ever-widening circle of God’s Love.

Together, we encircle the world with the good news of God’s Son.

We extend respect to all peoples, knowing we are all made in the image of God.

We focus on needs and goals we share, rather than our differences.

As God enables us, we make peace in the Name of Jesus.

                                   

©2021, Mary Harwell Sayler          

 

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If only I had known

Long before text messaging reduced words to their first letters, writers and editors referred to a commonly over-used plot as IOIHK – “If only I had known.”

Books, movies, stories, areas of miscommunication, and misspent lives have infamously fallen into the IOIHK category. But in this time of rampant misunderstanding between various peoples and traditions of faith, we poets, writers, pastors, teachers, parents, politicians, caregivers, and other leaders can be mindful of cultures, levels of maturity, and opinions unlike our own. 

Remember:

If Only I had Known often means we didn’t bother to find out!

The remedy, of course, is to check our emotions and check the facts.

• Ask questions to clarify.
• Listen – truly and intently.     
• Aim to hear another perspective.
• Research.
• Investigate both sides.
• Look for workable solutions.
• Show respect.
• Build bridges.
• Embrace the blessing of diversity!
  
  

Can we do this on our own? Probably not! But we can agree to pray for God to help us to be open to other perspectives and peaceful possibilities for healing.

©2021, Mary Harwell Sayler, poet-writer

P.S. If you're writing a book or script, please be sure IOIHK is not the story plot!

 

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I Sing Better With Him Behind

 

Has your voice ever slid off-key for lack of breath or unfamiliarity with a hymn? As our vocal chords age, it’s harder for most of us to hold a note or stay consistently in tune.

When our extended family members come back to Florida for the winter and early spring, I look forward to Henry’s return. As soon as I see him, I eagerly point to the seat behind me where I can hear his pleasing voice. Not only that, but my own voice instantly improves!

Who do you need to have your back?

What voice do you hope to hear?

What key verses keep you in tune with God’s Will?

 

Prayer: Loving Father, help us to hear You well as You speak to us through Your Word. Help us to stay on key with Your truth and love. Help us to sing Your praises this and every day in Jesus’ Name.

 

©2021, Mary Sayler

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Poem for Easter

For You,

I turned water into wine, purified in the veins

of My own body. I climbed mountains, healed

crowds of hunger, warmed a leper’s skin. For

you I chastised leaders, halted stones, wrote on

the ground each word contained in Love.

I overturned unfair prices and low wages, tabled

discussions about who’s first or last, and enjoyed

the most unlikely company.

Before My execution, I tamed a donkey, became

your beast of burden, then bled from every pore.

Once for all, I buried death, and, when I arose,

some saw Me. Some heard Me as I broke through

the veil, cloaking time and eternity, and, yes,

for you, I’d do it all again.

Amen.

Mary Harwell Sayler from book A Gathering of Poems

Where are we on the Cross?

As we head toward Good Friday and the crucifixion of Jesus, the biblical command to “take up your cross and follow Christ” comes to mind. Sadly, we might think this means carrying heavy weights or generally being miserable throughout our lives when, actually, it’s the opposite!

Taking up our cross and following Christ is meant to be freeing, not burdensome. It’s meant to exchange our self-will for the will of God.

God gave us free will, so the decision to follow the Lord is ours to make. However, this doesn’t mean, literally, to take up our own crucifixion or other human sacrifice. As you’ll recall, the Bible consistently reminds us that God the Father prohibited human sacrifice as the story of Abraham and Isaac in Genesis 22 clearly demonstrates.

The only time God the Father required a human sacrifice was of Himself in His fullness as Jesus the Son of God and the son of Mary.

So how do we go about obeying the Lord’s command to take up our cross and follow Him as a living sacrifice? Doesn't it mean to exchange our free will for the will of God and our old selves for new life – new spiritual birth in Christ?

Searching key words and phrases on the Bible Gateway website helps to clarify. For example:

“We know that our old self [our human nature without the Holy Spirit] was nailed to the cross with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin,” Romans 6:6, Amplified Bible (AMP.)

or to put it another way:

“This is what we know: the person that we used to be was crucified with him in order to get rid of the corpse that had been controlled by sin. That way we wouldn’t be slaves to sin anymore,” Romans 6:6, Common English Bible (CEB.)

Crucifixion means death, but when we take up His cross as our cross, we can follow Christ Jesus into His resurrection life – His life in the Spirit – beginning now!

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me,” Galatians 2:20, King James Version (KJV.)

In other words:

“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me,” Galatians 2:20, New Living Translation (NLT.)

Therefore:

“So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus,” Romans 6:11, English Standard Version (ESV.)

Praise the Lord for His life, death, and resurrection in us!

May we wear our Lord’s Easter clothing as we follow Christ, now and forever, into the resurrected life.

 

Mary Harwell Sayler

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You, The Chosen Race

No race but the human race in God’s eyes, but the Lord has much more in mind! Regardless of our skin color or cultural background, God has ordained us to be one: a Holy Nation, a Royal Priesthood, the people of God.

This hope – this prayer of the Almighty God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Jesus – goes back thousands of years as these verses show:

“For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God, and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth,” Deuteronomy14:2, King James Version (KJV.)

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light,” 1 Peter 2:9, Revised Standard Version (RSV.)

If you’ll click on the highlighted chapters and verses above, those hotlinks will take you to many, many translations of the same passages as shown on the Bible Gateway website, but, throughout the Bible, the same idea appears.

Maybe this time we’ll get it right! Maybe this time we’ll have ears to hear.

Maybe this time we’ll respond – not with excuses or emotions or bad memories or experiences but with our own choice to be chosen.

No longer are we to be “us” versus “them.” As Galatians 3:28 says: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus,” English Standard Version (ESV.)

What a colorfully diverse peoples God’s chosen race is meant to be!

Sometimes those differences may clash, but if we’re all praying for God’s guidance and prepared to let Him work for our good – the good of All of His Chosen Race and Peculiar People – we’ll see God orchestrate even our worse memories into melody and bring harmony from discord.

Praying and following biblical guidelines for good make us more receptive to God’s love and the love of others. As 1 John 4:7 says:

“Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God,” Christian Standard Bible (CSB.)

What power we’ve been given to reveal God’s love to the world!

Born of God! No longer are we born into the DNA of racial tension or elitism over which we had no control, but – by our own choice – we can choose God’s Way over our own.

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise,” Philippians 4:8, New Living Translation (NLT.)

 

Mary Harwell Sayler, ©2021

 

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