Saturday, March 24, 2012

Wisdom for Today: More Precious than Silver

"Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;
then your barns will be filled to overflowing, 
and your vats will brim over with new wine. 

 My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline and do not resent His rebuke,
because the Lord disciplines those He loves, as a father the son he delights in. 

 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding,
for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. 

She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.
Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. 

Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to those who embrace her;
   those who lay hold of her will be blessed."
- Proverbs 3:9-19

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, 
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."
- Proverbs 9:10

"You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13)

The Lord is our wisdom. More precious than rubies, more valuable than gold. Let us seek Him as the treasure that He is, and our lives will be blessed.

Dr Mari

Monday, March 19, 2012

Wisdom for Today: Trust!

"My son, do not forget my teaching,
   but keep my commands in your heart,
for they will prolong your life many years
   and bring you prosperity.
 Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
   bind them around your neck,
   write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will win favor and a good name
   in the sight of God and man.
 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
   and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge Him,
   and He will make your paths straight.
 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
   fear the Lord and shun evil.
This will bring health to your body
   and nourishment to your bones." 

(Proverbs 3:1-8)


Saturday, March 17, 2012

Truth for Today: Believe!

"He was in the world, 
and though the world was made through Him, 
the world did not recognize Him. 
He came to that which was His own, 
but His own did not receive Him. 
Yet to all who received Him, 
to those who believed in His name, 
He gave the right to become children of God — 
children born not of natural descent, 
nor of human decision or a husband’s will, 
but born of God." 
(John 1:10-13)

"Born of God," says John.

If it is possible to be born of God - a spiritual birth that follows our physical birth - I want that! I want to be made new.

What if, beyond their beauty, John's words are true? Beyond the poetry, what if this Gospel leads the way to Truth.

What if?

Believe!
Dr Mari

* For more Truth for Today, visit Introducing a New Segment and The Light of the World. I intentionally keep my reflections short, hoping that more time will be spent meditating on God's Word, which has power to heal souls and transform hearts.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Contentment: Good For the Soul and Evidence of Trust

Last night I was blessed to hear a fantastic talk about contentment by a dear friend, mentor, and sister in Christ. Mary Tomlinson, speaker, consultant, and president of On-Purpose Partners, reminded us of five pillars of contentment*:

(1) Devoting time with family and friends
(2) Appreciating what we have
(3) Cultivating optimism
(4) Feeling a sense of purpose
(5) Living in the moment

She reminded us that abundant living is about relationships rather than things or accomplishments. She encouraged us to practice gratitude daily, learning to count our blessings rather than our struggles. And she shared that we will grow in contentment as we learn to trust God.

Here are a few verses on contentment that are worth pondering:

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'" (Hebrews 13:5)

"But godliness with contentment is great gain." (1 Timothy 6:6)

"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." (Written by the apostle Paul from prison, Philippians 4:12,13)

If Paul learned to be content whether he was free or behind bars, there is hope for all of us! If we derive all strength from our fragile souls, we are doomed. But if we seek and rely on God as our rock, we will discover His sufficiency, sovereignty, and faithfulness. His love endures forever. As we know God more, we learn that we can trust Him, and we experience a peace that helps us stand in overwhelming circumstances.

As we learn to trust our Creator we discover the joy of contentment. Although we may not have arrived there fully, once we experience this exchange, the relationship helps us to trust again during the next challenge.

May we all learn, like Paul, to trust God in every circumstance and live for Him.

Trusting Him and, thus, content,
Dr Mari

For more ways to grow in contentment, read Living in the Moment. To find out more about Mary Tomlinson and her work to help individuals and organizations identify and pursue their purpose, visit www.onpurposebusiness.com/marytomlinson.

* From the Mayo Clinic's How to be Happy: Tips for Cultivating Contentment.

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Covenant Prayer by John Wesley

I was reminded of this powerful prayer of surrender today while learning from Adam Hamilton's book and video journey, 24 Hours That Changed the World. During this season of Lent, I invite you to pray these words of John Wesley every day.


Covenant Prayer by John Wesley

I am no longer my own, but Thine.
Put me to what Thou wilt, rank me with whom Thou wilt;
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by Thee or laid aside for Thee,
exalted for Thee or brought low by Thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things
to Thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, 
Thou art mine, and I am Thine. 
So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven.  
Amen.



Thursday, March 1, 2012

Let Faith Arise!

For all those going through tough times right now... Chris Tomlin's song I Lift My Hands reminds us to let faith arise!

There is a Healer. Lift up your hands.

Let faith arise!
Dr Mari

Click here to listen to his song.


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