#228 - Freedom of Choice

Proverbs 1:23-33 - ²³If you will turn (repent) and give heed to my reproof, behold, I [Wisdom] will pour out my spirit upon you, I will make my words known to you.
    ²⁴Because I have called and you have refused [to answer], have stretched out my hand and no man has heeded it,
    ²⁵And you treated as nothing all my counsel and would accept none of my reproof,
    ²⁶I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when the thing comes that shall cause you terror and panic--
    ²⁷When your panic comes as a storm and desolation and your calamity comes on as a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.
    ²⁸Then will they call upon me [Wisdom] but I will not answer; they will seek me early and diligently but they will not find me.
    ²⁹Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord,
    ³⁰Would accept none of my counsel, and despised all my reproof,
    ³¹Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way and be satiated with their own devices.
    ³²For the backsliding of the simple shall slay them, and the careless ease of [self-confident] fools shall destroy them.
    ³³But whoso hearkens to me [Wisdom] shall dwell securely and in confident trust and shall be quiet, without fear or dread of evil. 

Proverbs 31:26a -  She opens her mouth in skillful and godly Wisdom...

Recently, Tyler said something to me that was really profound, it helped me. He said, "God will respect anyone's right of freedom of choice." Everyone has complete freedom of choice! For the sinner or Non-Believer, God will completely protect their right to go to hell. He does not force ANYONE to choose Him. He is a Gentleman and allows each person to make their own decision whether to follow Him or not. He does the same for the Christian. He allows each Christian the CHOICE to follow and be obedient to Him. Equally, He allows them the choice to choose wrong if they want. If they want to choose to go "their way," He will allow them that choice. Again, He is a Gentleman and does not have ANY forced followers. Every person who follows Jesus, follows by their own free will. 

I typically don't include such a large section of scripture, but this morning I just couldn't decide what to leave out, so I included Proverbs 1:23-33. I study out of a Zondervan Parallel Bible which includes the King James Version in one column and the Amplified Bible in the other column. I really like it. This morning, as we were introduced to Proverbs chapter 1, I read some of the notes at the bottom of my Bible. It made a great recommendation in saying this, "Wisdom here is personified. Read 'Wisdom of God' instead of 'Wisdom' and see the wonderful power of this book." That has been helpful to me as I have read Proverbs 1. 

It has been helpful to realize that we can not change people, we can only be obedient to the leading of God's Voice & direction. In interacting with Christians and Non-Christians, He may lead us to share the Gospel with them. He may lead us to just listen. He may lead us to live by example. Ultimately though, however God may lead us in each situation, the person we are interacting with has choices to make on their own. They have the freedom to allow the Bible to be their guide, and be obedient to the Bible. OR, they have the free will to choose their feelings & "their" wants over what the Word says. Proverbs 1:23-33, to me, is a bit scary when read from the eyes of the person who chooses to go "THEIR WAY." I want to do what I want. I want to go MY way. I want to do it MY way! I don't care what the RIGHT thing to do is, I want to do it MY way. I don't feel like doing it the way the Bible says.  

All I have to say is, YIKES! That is a scary place to be for that person. As believers, we have the responsibility to be obedient to what God tells us to do. If it's directing a friend, we need to be obedient in directing them. But.... ultimately they have Freedom of Choice. 

Don't forget the power of prayer. Prayer changes things. When someone we love chooses to go "their way," remember that the power of prayer can always help them to soften to the leading of the Holy Spirit. That their "Freedom of Choice" would change to be a choice that would please our Heavenly Father. 

Is their someone you need to pray for today? Is their someone you need to talk to today? 

#188 - Observation is a KEY in Winning!

Good morning! The birds are in full harmony this morning & I love it. Tyler Junior is still snoozing, but when he wakes up he'll have a little friend just getting here that he can play with.... Zozo! He will be excited!! So... not time to dilly dally this morning, lets get going! :)

Proverbs 1:8-9 - My son, hear the instruction of your father; reject not nor forsake the teaching of your mother. ⁹ For they are a [victor's] chaplet (garland) of grace upon your head and chains and pendants [of gold worn by kings] for your neck.  

Proverbs 31:1-2 - THE WORDS of Lemuel king of Massa, which his mother taught him: ² What, my son? What, son of my womb? What [shall I advise you], son of my vows and dedication to God?

Proverbs 31:27 - She looks well to how things go in her household, and the bread of idleness (gossip, discontent, and self-pity) she will not eat. 

I was reminded again this morning of the importance of learning, observing, taking in.  As adults, even learning STILL from our parents. Allowing ourselves to but all of our "great wealth of knowledge" aside, and to just listen, to take in, to humble ourselves in submission to the fact that someone else may know more than we do. Proverbs 31 reminds us that King Lemuel is learning about who he should look for in a wife by listening to his mother. She is teaching him the qualities that are important, that will ultimately bless him and even take him further in life! She is teaching him & he is listening.

We've most likely all heard the phrase.... "You have 2 ears & 1 mouth for a reason!" Actually, if you think about it, you have 2 eyes, 2 ears & 1 mouth. In that case, 80% would be for receiving information, where only 20% would be for giving out or speaking. The Proverbs 31 woman practices this in Proverbs 31:27 by "looking well" to her household. She is taking in what is going on. She is OBSERVING! That goes along with Proverbs 1:8-9, heeding the instruction & teaching of parents leads to WINNING! They have gone before us, they have experienced more, they have learned things we have not learned. The lessons they have learned can lead us to experience victory! I've heard the phrase, "Experience is the best teacher." But truly it is OTHER PEOPLE'S experience that is the best! Learning from their mistakes, victories, journey, can speed up our path to victory! To paraphrase Proverbs 1:8-9, "The instructions & teachings of our parents are like putting a trophy in our hands or a medal around our neck. Their instructions lead to our victory."


"Looks well...." - Looks well is observing. Looks well is evaluating. Looks well may even mean slowing down to take an inventory. The Hebrew further describes it as: to watch closely, to spy, observe, look about.  The Proverbs 31 Woman has slowed down enough to make sure what is going on is what should be going on. She has slowed down enough to THINK and most likely LISTEN. The really awesome thing for today's Christian is that when we slow down to LISTEN, since Jesus departed, He left the Holy Spirit as our Guide. We have the Holy Spirit that hears us & can direct us. We must be in a position to listen though.

I was doing some research on how part of winning comes from observing. An article popped up on Internet Poker. I'm not a proponent of gambling, but many of the recommendations line up Check out some mistakes people make and see if it doesn't apply to Believers as well! I think it is right on the money! ;)

1. Deliberately pursuing other activities while playing. (ie: Hello Multi-taskers! - I'm definitely guilty of this one!)
2. Allowing yourself to be constantly distracted. (ie: Any of these strike a cord? - Cell phone, texting, FB, twitter... constantly having something you are doing. - OK, I'm guilty! )
3. Failing to pay attention when you're not in a hand. 
4. Playing in more than one online game before you have proven that you can consistently win in one. (ie: Are you working on establishing good habits, but jump from one thing to the next before really solidifying anything? Do you have a goal, and it changes before you have a chance to accomplish it? Always pursuing something new before winning at any one thing? )
5. Failing to take good notes. (Learn from others experience!)

All just food for thought. How are you doing? If you took an inventory, how would you be doing in the 80/20 rule? Are you observing? Listening? Watching? More than you are speaking? I heard a minister once say, "I already know everything I'm going to say, by saying it, I'm not learning anything new. If I listen to someone else, at least I may be able to learn something new." 


Observing is a major key to WINNING and experiencing victory. How are you doing?