WISDOM....PRICELESS!

Proverbs 3:13-18 says, "Happy is the person who finds wisdom and gains understanding. For the profit of wisdom is better than silver, and her wages are better than gold. Wisdom is more precious than rubies; nothing that you desire can compare with her. She offers you life in her right hand, and riches and honor in her left. She will guide you down delightful paths; all her ways are satisfying. Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her, happy are those who hold her tightly. (NLT)

Hi Sweetie,

Several years ago, I kept having this recurring dream and in this dream I was spitting teeth out of my mouth, more teeth than I actually had. This dream really troubled me because I knew it was from God, but I didn't understand it and I needed to know what God was trying to tell me.

One day I was watching the Joni Show on Daystar Television and she had a guest on by the name of John Paul Jackson and he interprets dreams. Well, someone had submitted a dream and it was similar to mine (loose teeth/spitting out teeth) and what he told the writer just blew my mind, but I knew in my heart he was right. He said, "you have been rejecting Wisdom from God". I felt so convicted in my spirit, all I could do was repent (change my thinking), I knew what it was pertaining to and I could no longer deny it or justify it. I asked God to forgive me and I have not had a dream like that since.

Now, I really do try to make it a priority to seek out Godly Wisdom/Counsel. I don't always know what to do or what is right or even what to say about a particular situation, but I do know that there are others who can see things differently based upon their life experiences, age, gender, but more importantly their relationship with Christ.  YES!, I do have my own personal relationship with Christ, but as you may know our thinking may sometimes become a little cloudy and we don't see everything that we need to see.

The inspiration for this post came about when I was given some Godly Wisdom about a particular matter. Just recently I asked this person for feedback on a certain thing and the response that I received was not the response I was expecting. Have you ever felt like the life had just been sucked right out of you?, well that's how I felt, thank God it didn't take root. If I had allowed Satan to have his way, I would have blown everything out of proportion, my attitude would have been wrong, I would have possibly damaged a friendship, I would have rejected God's Wisdom, and I would have to deal with the consequences of my actions. With that being said, it makes absolutely no sense to ask someone's advice and not listen and think on it.

As I continued to listen to what was being said, I knew without doubt that God was speaking through that individual. Not one time was I made to feel condemned or disrespected or stupid, I actually felt encouraged and loved and I was also reminded that the final decision was mine to make.

* Also, be aware, that the practical wisdom of God is taught in two ways, by our words, by our talk and also by our walk - by the way we live our lives. Our walk encompasses all that we do and say and all that we don't do and don't say.*

Proverbs 1:7 says, "Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Only fools despise wisdom and discipline". (NLT)

The World's Wisdom is contrary to God's Wisdom, so know the difference. If someone is advising you in a way that does not line up with the Word of God, that is Worldly Wisdom. Godly Wisdom comes from a place of Love and Respect for you, not to harm you or keep you from succeeding in life, but it's to help you succeed in life, as God intended. I'm truly GRATEFUL to have people that I can go to and know that they will speak truth to me, it's real easy to go to someone that you know will tell you what you want to hear, but in the end it has no profit.

Wisdom is not something that you can buy or even earn, it's a gift from God and it's priceless and should be valued as such (1 Corinthians 12:8 To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another He gives the gift of special knowledge). Pride shuts the door to Wisdom. Pride says, "I have to have it my way, do it my way", it wants control. Sometimes we call it by another name, selfishness/arrogance/ego, but it's still pride. We've all "been there/done that" and later regretted not listening the to wise counsel that was given to protect us from heart ache, disappointment and the consequences that set us back in life.

Proverbs 15:22 says, "Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many counselors bring success". (NLT)

My advice to you, seek out Godly Council/Wisdom and also strive to be one who can give Godly Wisdom and you do that by meditating and studying on the word of God, applying His word and living His word,
"DO WHAT YOU KNOW".  Hide the word of God in your heart, let it be a guide for your life, God's word will remain standing in the end and everything else will fall away.

*excerpt from "A Woman After God's Own Heart" by Elizabeth George

Until next time remember "You Are Blessed"

Thank You!!!

Hi Sweetie,

Just wanted to take the time to say "Thank You!!!" for your kind and encouraging words, it really means a lot to me, you have been so supportive and it just reaffirms God's plan for all of this. I must confess that when this was placed on my heart I kept putting it off because, I'm not a writer and my life is not all that interesting and I felt that no one would really care about anything I had to say, but God has proven differently. Thank you so much and I love you guys!

In this weeks post, my "Special Guest Blogger" is Minister Dexter Wimbish and you can find him here, here and here.  Minister Wimbish will be talking to us about "Pride & Arrogance" and how it keeps us separated from God. I'm sure that his words will inspire and challenge us all to take a closer look at ourselves and our relationship with God.

In last weeks post, on the "Fit For Life" page, I talked about my "Minor Setback" and it got me to thinking about the "Spiritual Setback" we sometimes have. Well, I had one a few months ago and to me it was a big deal, so it wasn't pretty and I had been contemplating whether or not I would share this, because I'm a little sensitive about it and I also, don't want to offend anyone. I WILL tell you about it, just not today, hopefully next week. Ugh! I'm still a little undecided.

I AM A SCHOOL BUS DRIVER

Hi Sweetie,

That’s my occupation, I figure that I am in this place for a season and for a reason.  So, therefore I am open to whatever it is God wants to do in my life and let me tell you, I didn’t come to this conclusion easily. It took 7 months (started making this transition in April 2013), there was a lot of pouting, trying to get out of it and meltdowns along the way and after all that I finally decided to surrender and trust God’s guidance in this. Once again fear was trying to rule in my life and it did for a while. It took faith to quit my job and it took faith to start a new one, now when I feel fearful, I tell myself “NO FEAR. JUST FAITH”.

Just got through washing GRACE.

Every morning as I walk around inspecting the bus, I pray and thank God for being with me and for dispatching his angels to be with us and to protect us. I thank Him for His Presence and for Grace and His Knowledge, Wisdom, and Understanding to do this job for HIS GLORY.

GRACE, that’s the name of my school bus because there is no way I can do this job without the Grace of Jesus. In the past I have always known that, but honestly I put a lot of trust in my own abilities to do things and get things done, not this time, hopefully not ever again.

This has got to be the most challenging job I have ever had, mainly because I can’t control every situation. I am dealing with 40+ different personalities and “crisis”. Not only is it a major responsibility to get these kids safely to school and back home again, but I am also “The Mom”.  I am expected to take care of their needs and discipline them if necessary. Sometimes they like me and sometimes, not so much. I don’t play favorites and I don’t mind “calling you out”, but I do believe they respect me. I had to “learn” each child and what I mean by that is, I know which ones are sneaky, bossy, quiet, the instigators, those that will look you in your face and LIE, the sleepers, the whistleblowers/informants and those that are dependable. I have to say that there is one added benefit to doing this job and it is the fact that the route is in the community that I live and grew up in and I know some of the kid’s parents/grandparents and that is a bonus that some drivers don’t have.

I've only been driving for two months, but it feels like two years. During the course of a week, this is what I know to expect, someone is going to pass gas (they just do-don’t know why), a cute brown Chihuahua is going to challenge my bus head on (and I always have to stop), someone one is going to call me Ms. Bus Driver (even though they know my name), someone is going to cry (it’s not me) and someone is going to yell “shut up” (still not me). Sometimes they have me SMH and LOL, but I try not to let  them see it. At the end of every route I thank God for safety and protection and remind Him that it was all for His Glory.

Jesse Crawford, Jr.

Oh, quick little story about my grandfather Jesse. He was also a school bus driver and he had a reputation of putting kids off the bus (and it wasn't just at school or at home) where ever they acted up at, is where they got off at.    Mr. Crawford/Mr. Jesse was a well respected man and people knew to take him seriously.

I did have the privilege of riding the bus with him as a little girl and I remember this tall, thin man, in denim overalls standing outside the bus on the school grounds and he would usually have a snack for me, a bag of Bugles and I would sit on top of his CB Radio and eat them as we went down the road. When I wasn't on top of the radio I was always in the seat right behind him, he didn't smile much or say a whole lot, but I knew he loved me and I loved him.