STOP PITY PARTY

DINE ON WISDOM: Be aware of the presence of Who dines with you, of Who is ever present with you. Dine on His word and ASK for the Holy Spirit to reveal Himself to you. Wisdom speaks through Whom we dine with. God makes Himself known through His Word. His character, His will, and His loving mercies are set before us that we may partake, and be filled with the knowledge of God. "Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out its seven pillars. She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table. She has sent out her maids, and she calls from the highest point in the city. 'Let all who are simple come in here!' she says to those who lack judgement. 'Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding. Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever corrects a wicked man incurs abuse. Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you. Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For through Me your days will be many, and years will be added to yourlife. If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer." Jesus describes His invitation to a banquet in Luke 14. Many intended to attend, however, the simple minded -- the foolish are turned away from the banquet table. His previous invitations for honest relationship were denied--more important pleasures sidetracked them, and they re-prioritized wisdom's way. Wisdom speaks to whom we dine with, who we spend time with, whom we prefer. Wisdom begins when we fall on our face before Him, respecting Who He is, and what He has done for us. God gives us insight into living to the fullest, in His ways, with His joy as our pleasure. Beware of the birds that come to steal the "seeds" of truth before they take root. We must seek, search scriptures, and call out for understanding and protection. To know God is to be in awe of God, and respond to His call with respect. God desires that we invite him in our hearts, to linger, to dine with Him. The Holy Spirit longs that we choose to go deep within, and listen --- not have empty chit chat, or pray with memorized words. He wants us to be honest, He knows our hearts. To speak out our troubles, ask for favor, request an understanding of His Holy Word. God knows that wickedness is hypnotic as sin drenches our senses. One taste of sin is intoxicating, and the nature of man is to want more. We have a choice --- to walk away from God, or pick up the phone and call Him. To stop, turn the other way, go against our will, our ways, and call on the Holy Spirit to intervene. "When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has been conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full grown, gives birth to death. With wisdom we shall not be deceived for we shall be wearing our wisest lens and perceive correctly that which seems so alluring. Let us choose to invite God to dine with us often, not only during times of distraction, confusion and trouble, but when we have been illumined too! Let us begin by nibbling on Psalms and then devour Proverbs with the Holy One as our dinner Companion. Let us submit quickly to His purpose for our lives. For we are all sinners without stones to throw. Genuine compassion comes from having shared the pain, the regret of wrong choices. Praisng God for the preparation that we may come along side others during their times of temptation and trouble. Sit quietly, open the living Word of God, "BE STILL" and listen as wisdom speaks. Dine with wisdom alone. When did you last ask for the Holy Spirit to dine with you and give you understanding and He confused you? When did you last earnestly seek His unfailing love and compassion and did not find God running towards you? When we think the only thing that awaits us is judgement for our deceitful hearts, this is when we have not surrendered to His mercy. "Being confident of this very thing, tht He who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." (Phil 1:6) While we were held captive to our sins, hurting without relief, WITHOUT HOPE, God sent His Son to die for us...how much more merciful is He now that we are His children? Halleluiah Lord, we praise You. "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the Word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all He created." James 1:13 Dear Lord Jesus, I worship You as the all-wise Creator, the One who made heaven and earth and all that is in them. Thank You that I can enjoy my strengths and gifts without pride or false modesty. Thank You Father for making Yourself known to me is that special way when Your Holy Spirit speaks to my spirit. What do I have that I did not receive from Your generosity, from Your compassion, from Your will, from Your power? All that I am, all that I have is sustained by my Lord. Humbly we submit and with respectful AWE we sacrifice any thought of importance for our postion, or any accomplishment. Let us leave our simple ways and let us live; walking in the way of understanding. "rebuke a wise man and he will love you. Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." Not to me, not to me, O Lord, but to Your Name be the glory, the honor, and praise! "When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; what is man, that Thou dost take thought of him? And the son of man, that Thou dost care for him? Yet Thou has made him a little lower than God, and dost crown him with glory and majesty!" Psalm 8-3 Come let us dine, let us take our time to know God and rejoice in His feast of wisdom. We thank You Lord for allowing us to experience trouble so that we remain humble, that we are aware of the pitfalls of the world's allurements, that we are drawn to our knees before You, to cry out to You, to return to obedience with Your mercy as our comfort. Oh Lord, we praise You for Your holiness, and because of Your faithfulness we are confidently dependent. "Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love, and His wonderful deeds for men, for He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things." Psalm 107:6 Oh Lord give us a thirst for truth, increase our hunger for Your wonderful Word. AMEN WRITTEN 3/3/2010