I am an observer and listener by nature. I've always been a big fan. From sitting in a public place and people watching, (could do that all day! I'm especially remembering sitting with two cousins of mine as a tween at the mall in STITCHES while they proceeded to commentate what they thought people were saying or thinking as they walked by. Those two seriously missed their calling, they definitely should have been comedians. Makes me smile to remember...) to watching the lives of those in my circles, to reading about what others have learned, to....you get the idea. You can learn so much if you take the time to look and listen! (And yes, you can learn what you DON'T want to do and be as well!)Advice is literally everywhere. How to do it better, how to lead a godly life, how to save time & money, how to make life easier, how to raise your children, how to be successful, on and on. People seek out judges, counselors, pastors and teachers. People in general seek answers to what they feel they are lacking wisdom in. And, because we really deep down don't want to be labeled "stupid!" Which is why there have been and continue to be the "Hints from Heloise", the "Dear Abby's", and the "Anne Landers" advice columns. I'm grateful for the good things, godly things, and helpful hints and tips I've learned from others as well as from "the wisdom that comes from above." *James 3:17
The purpose of this post is to share with you some of these tips and helpful hints, both practical and spiritual. I hope in turn you'll share with me as well! (hint, HINT) :)
Here are several in all their randomness: (drum roll...)
one. Above all else, guard your heart. *Proverbs 4:23 Deep down I want to do things well. I want to be efficient, I want to be a good mom, I want to live a godly life, I want to live with wisdom and discernment, I want to be a good wife. As a Christian I've spent many a time asking God for His direction and for the discernment to make the right decision. Two years ago I had several different circumstances in my life that I was asking God to please give me some direction in. They were the kind of situations where there were more than one different answers that could be right, not necessarily black and white scenarios. I so badly wanted to know what to do & how to handle them! I finally felt like I heard from Him. Not in specific direction right away, but in these profound words: He said, "You know, wisdom is a good thing, a favorable thing, something I want you to seek, but above everything in these situations, I want you to guard your heart. Solomon had wisdom above any other in his world, but it did not keep him on the straight and narrow." Yep, all those lovely lady friends of King Solomon did his heart in. Wow. Reality check. The very man who held much wisdom and most likely penned these words forgot his own advice. Whether I end up making the right decisions, God wants me to guard hard my heart. Guard against idols, guard against envy and jealousy, guard against pride, guard against lies, guard against complacency, guard my tongue, guard it from hardening. Set up a continual Coast Guard around the perimeter of my heart. Eliminate the enemies of it A.S.A.P. It can sound wearisome, (to me anyways) but He has the answer: "Look to the Lord and His strength. Seek His face always." *I Chronicles 16:11 *Psalm 105:4 "I CAN do E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G. through Him who gives me strength!" Philippians 4:13
two. When laundering a new item for the first time, or with any clothing that bleeds easily, put some table salt in the washer with the load of clothes. I'd say I average about a tablespoon or two? I usually buy a separate box to keep in my laundry cupboard. I first heard about this approx. 13 years ago and have never since had anything bleed out and you don't have to wash it separately the first time! Lifesaving!
three. When you store bed sheet sets, put both of the sheets and one of the pillowcases inside of the second pillowcase. No more searching for separate pieces!
four. Letting God set the record straight when false things have been said about me. (and you) This quote came to me as a teenager and I have never, and won't soon, forget it. It's a difficult thing when we've been falsely accused. It's a difficult thing when gossip spreads about us filled with misinformation and twisted truth. It's disappointing when people spread words that may be truth but aren't beneficial to share. But it takes it to another level when people spread lies and false accusations. It hurts. Yes, I'm speaking from experience. I find it a beautiful thing to watch Jesus in action when He was falsely accused. In *Matthew 26 & 27 the chief priests, the Sanhedrin, the elders, and many false witnesses hatefully spewed false information against Him, twisting information to their advantage. (Isn't that what gossip is all about? Elevating ourselves? Fulfilling our own agendas? Our own way of getting revenge?) Jesus answered the questions directed at Him, but when the accusations were fired, He remained silent. *Matthew 26:63 *Matthew 27:14 There is something very powerful about knowing when we are innocent and we don't need to adamantly defend ourselves. Something very powerful about allowing God to have the revenge. *Romans 12:19 And boy, did God ever set the record straight about Jesus! Amen and amen. He cares just as much about the truth in your life. Several years ago my husband was falsely accused by a contractor that he had worked for for several years. In trying to create business for this company, Ed's actions were misinterpreted and he lost all business from them. My husband is a very good communicator and I remember listening to his story and realizing in amazement that he wasn't going to contact them to clear up their misunderstanding, nor did he feel led to. "You're not even going to try and explain what REALLY happened?! They could spread lies about you to other contractors!" I was blessed to watch God set the record straight not long ago through details that only He could orchestrate between Ed and this company. Without Ed barging in and declaring his innocence. Without any intervention from us. What a convicting reminder it was for me. "Do not say, "I'll pay you back for this wrong!" Wait for the Lord, and He will deliver you." *Proverbs 20:22 Can I just also add another lesson I have learned regarding forgiveness towards false accusations? One thing my mother did right was to pound into me the importance of guarding my tongue against gossip. I'm thankful for that, and while it has been highly beneficial, I have failed. I haven't always guarded my tongue. These words have pierced my heart many times when I've been tempted to harbor hurts towards gossip: "There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins. Do not pay attention to every word people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you - for you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others." *Ecclesiastes 7:20-22 You see, others have had to forgive my tongue as well. I know how it feels to receive mercy, therefore may it spur me to forgive much quicker, knowing God is a just God. "A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult." *Proverbs 12:16 I'm not saying we are to be doormats and never assertive. The Holy Spirit leads us to be assertive at times. But, way too often we take matters into our own hands apart from His help. Jesus, help us to rest and relax in You when we are innocent victims!
five. Eat chocolate. I have no research to back this. I really have no facts about why you should eat it to back this. Just that it does a soul and body good. If you don't like chocolate, I feel sorry for you. And, you may just need prayer. ;)
six. Hydrogen Peroxide will get blood stains out. Just pour it straight onto the stain and watch it work. I sometimes have to launder something twice if I didn't catch the stain right away, but it works wonders!
seven. Listen for the music. And no, I'm not asking you to start hearing voices. :) When I sin, when I mess up, when people disappoint me, when I'm feeling alone, when I feel unappreciated, when I feel small in this big world, when I allow myself to brew some jealousy or comparison, I have times where I enter the "I'm gonna go eat worms" attitude. It's really not healthy and I know it. It's right where the enemy would like me, actually. At other times, I struggle with the opposite. I get a little too big for my britches. Yep, really not healthy and I know it. It's right where the enemy would like me, actually. If you want some stories to let you know you're not alone, Jesus' own disciples struggled with these too. Peter experienced the shame of mess-up by denying His own Master. *Mark 14: 66-72 The disciples got caught being a little full of themselves and ended up arguing about who was the greatest among them. *Mark 33-35 (Seriously, I can't help but chuckle at the mental picture) The beauty in both of these situations for me is Jesus's patient, loving way of bringing them back to the truth. You know what gets rid of both for me? Listening. Intentionally listening to the truth of who I am in Christ. The words of *Zephaniah 3:17 have healed me time and time again. "The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." Oh, if we could intentionally take the time to quietly listen to the love God has for us. If we could intentionally take the time to listen to His song of love over us. It lifts up the most down-in-the-dumps of hearts because we recognize our worth, and brings humility to the lofty-minded because we realize we can be nothing, can do nothing, can have nothing without Him. The music keeps me in check. Keeps me balanced. But, not when I'm too busy to listen for it. I pray you seek it and find it with me!
eight. A wooden spoon laid over the top of a kettle will keep water from boiling over. I just recently heard about this. It works! Lifesaving for those like me who put a pot of water over, then head to do something else and forget it's on the stove. ;)
nine. Seek to be level-headed in all situations. In Paul's words: "But you, keep your head in all situations..." *II Timothy 4:5 Years ago my dad mentioned in some words of advice to me the need to keep a clear mind, a level-headed mind, in a day and age where we have so many options that bombard the truth of God to destroy it. I remember thinking that I'd really like to be a daughter of God that learns to "keep her head." Fast forward to two winters ago, when after ten years of our home being mouse-free (stay with me. I really am on the same track here) :) we suddenly had one in the house. I do not do well with a mouse in my house. Like, really don't do well. My poor husband. We had been confused when we built our home as to why we had some coming in in a brand new house?! I had actually prayed that we would be mouse-free, and God in His loving way, cared about the littlest of details in my life and had let Ed come across where they were coming in. I cannot tell you how grateful I was. And Ed. No more crazy, emotional, pregnant, hormonal wifey waking him up in the middle of the night to kill the evil little thing. (But, that's a whole nother story.) So here we were. With a mouse disruption. I pleaded with Ed to search and destroy and to have no rest until it was confiscated. He wasn't in that big of a hurry. (Why NOT?!?) He looked at me in the middle of the conversation and said, "Look, I will do my best to get rid of it a.s.a.p., but I can't necessarily get it accomplished this minute! You know, as level-headed as you are, you sure lose a lot of it when a tiny mouse comes around..." Wait! Wait! What?!? YAY! I'm level-headed?!?! He said I'm level-headed!!! I couldn't help but laugh when he said that, but it blessed me to hear the man that has lived day in and day out with me for 17+ years call me that. Who we are at home is quite a real indicator of the real us. It felt like an answer to prayer! (Especially to this at-times-airheaded lady)
ten. Be teachable and accountable. God has used many, many people to teach me and shape me. I can testify to these words in Proverbs: "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." I will tell you though, it is not always easy when the sharpening comes in the form of correction from another. Even when it's not easy, may I NEVER become hardened to being corrected! "He who hates correction is stupid!" *Proverbs 12:1 I don't know that I could have always genuinely said I'm grateful for this, but I really am grateful for the friends in my life that are willing to talk truth to me about myself when needed. Who love me enough to be honest. Not in mean, hateful ways, but in love. "Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." *Proverbs 12:18 ***I want to also THANK the couple of godly women older and wiser than me who have agreed to faithfully read my blog and keep me accountable. Bless you!!*** When I was a teen, I let my tongue slip and was confronted in love by a friend as to what my purpose was in talking about her, and why?! It was a powerful lesson for me in the beauty of listening to God's advice in confronting someone face to face without going and sharing your pain with twenty other people first. (Well, that and the folly of gossip!!!) I will never forget it. There is a quote on Pinterest (that's where I first saw it anyways) that says "Have you prayed about it as much as you've talked about it?" SO GOOD! If you are feeling hurt because the correction wasn't done in love, or spoken in truth, (which happens sometimes) pray first! He's a Wonderful Counselor because He cannot be anything but truth. Listen to godly advice, but don't forget to seek it from the One and Only first and foremost.
I find it so ironic and sad that the man who penned such wonderful counsel and wisdom in Proverbs ended up not heeding such wisdom. What a valuable lesson for us. His own father had charged him on his deathbed to be strong, to show himself a man (apparently he WAS quite the man...that loved the ladies...hehe) and to observe what the Lord required. To walk in His ways, and to keep His decrees and commands. *I Kings 2:1-3 May we be wiser than the wisest man. And, may we accept God's forgiveness when we are "stupid."
If you have the time, I'd love to hear your tip or advice.(At times, people have had trouble with not being able to comment on my blog. Please let me know if this is the case! I'm not trying to block comments.)
Sharpen me!
Love to you and yours,
Jules
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