Go to God

"Always plan for yourself in simple dependence on God. It is nothing less than self-idolatry to conceive that we can carry on even the ordinary matters of the day without His counsel. He loves to be consulted. Therefore take all thy difficulties to be resolved by Him. Be in the habit of going to Him in the first place--before self-will, self-pleasing, self-wisdom, human friends, convenience, expediency. Before all these have been consulted go to God. Consider no circumstances too clear to need His directions. In all thy ways, small as well as great; in all thy concerns, personal or relative, temporal or eternal, let Him be supreme."

evil circumstances can bring joy

"'Good' and 'evil' circumstances are not always what they outwardly appear, and seemingly evil circumstances are often--in the deep wisdom of the Spirit--gateways to hidden and unsuspected joys."

"As a grandparent God wants me to model my faith and be a positive role model to my grandchildren (II Tim. 1:5). I would do this by living my faith and being actively involved in spiritual growth opportunities at home and [in the ecclesia]. As a grandparent God wants me to encourage my grandchildren in their faith. My conversation with them would also involve spiritual matters and in this way the wisdom I would share with them would include spiritual wisdom. As a grandparent God also wants me to pray for my grandchildren, knowing that 'the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective' (James 5:16)."

"Much was to be learned by the young from the elder. Wisdom was passed down through the family. Youth had good cause to remember the Creator in its day, as it saw the frailties of life slowly overtake parents and grandparents."

Here is a spiritual check-up for the new year: "Am I more like Jesus Christ than I was? Am I easier to live with? Am I more compassionate? Am I more generous? Am I angry about those things which offend the purity of God? Do I feel more the burden of those who are lost? Am I really thrilled by the prospect of the imminent coming of the Messiah? Is the kingdom of God truly the master passion of my life? Is my loyalty to all the things of Truth stronger than it was or weaker? Who are the people with whom I have the closest relationship? Remember, being static is not really the objective. The objective is growth."

"Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." {Phil. 3:12-14}

"Wisdom gives diligent attention to BEING who God wants her to be in her heart, to doing what God wants her to do, and doing the things that count eternally."

"Do everything in love: love of God and love of man. Forget yourself. Forget all your own desires: they will never give you any real satisfaction--only frustration and disappointment. There is nothing there: so quit looking for it there. Get independent of personal pleasure and desire. That is the greatest emancipation possible. It frees you to get into the real joys and satisfactions--which are all in love of, and work for, God."

"True biblical peace is the union of conflicting forces, concord where otherwise might be strife. Peace through love means ending strife and bringing harmony because of love for those who are estranged."

"Joy: the healthiest, happiest, most satisfying human emotion. God offers it freely to all, in measureless abundance; immediately, permanently, eternally, perfectly; under all circumstances and in all situations--but--only on one immutable condition: total separation from the world, and total devotion to Him in love and service. Part way will accomplish nothing but disappointment and frustration, for the very essence of joy itself is dependent on the absolute totality."

"When joy is gathered, it is gathered in order to be spread.

"Meekness is the first requisite of the clay--rigid control of its passions and full submission to the hand of the Potter. The clay must be pliable, workable, teachable. Humility is the handmaid of wisdom, for to see ourselves just as we are in God's sight and to confess our position, is humility. Being such as we are, there can be no other result of true self-examination except humility. Add to this self-control, a rare and godly combination, and we have meekness--perfect material for divine manipulation."

make our requests known unto God

"Surely, amid the accumulating cares of life, feeling oftentimes the need of wisdom to guide, of courage and strength to pursue the steady path of duty amid conflicting elements, we shall do unwisely if we neglect to retire to our closets and make our requests known unto God. He will hear us when we pray, for He cannot lie, and He has said, 'Call upon me in the day of trouble, I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorify me' {Psalm 50:15; Hebrews 13:5-6; James 4:8}."

in prayer together in the morning

"Bowing in prayer together in the morning strengthens all the household for life's activities. Wisdom is sought and obtained for the decisions and plans of the day. Guidance is asked and received. Help is drawn down from the throne of God."

mind prepared by the Word

"The Word will enable us to look at life, including our own problems, from the standpoint of God and thus will assist us to pray as we ought. Unless the mind is prepared by the Word, we do not know the particular thing, or failing, for which we should be praying. The Word, however, enlivens the mind in spiritual matters, and revealing to us our true state before God, develops in us the wisdom to pray for help when and where it is needed."

why

"Why would I want to gain enjoyment or soak my mind in the sins that Jesus shed his blood to free us from?"

put God first

"In everything you do, put God first, and He will direct you and crown your efforts with success." {Proverbs 3:6}

God's desire for me

"God's desire for me is to change my life, my habits, and my character to become like Christ."

I've learned

"I wanted a perfect ending. Now I've learned, the hard way, that some poems don't rhyme, and some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what is going to happen next."

learn to set aside

"Learn to set aside what you see and hear in order to see and hear what God would pour out upon you from His lovingkindness."

we determine our destiny

"By our wisdom or folly, day by day, we ourselves determine our own destiny."

never worry

"Never worry. Think in a straight line--from problem to solution. Or if there is no solution, to acceptance. Wisdom knows there is a reason, and accepts, and adjusts, and is thankful, whether God gives or takes away."