Straight to the heart

And Joses…was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement). Acts 4:36

Writing notes typified an earlier generation.

While getting a text message or something in another electronic format are good to the receiver and expedient to the writer, the handwritten note far exceeds any form of electronic communications.

We never know how much our notes mean to other people.

When we speak a kind word or write an encouraging note, it goes to the heart of the recipient.

Any one of us can be like Barnabas and be a willing servant of God, blessing and encouraging others and glorifying the Lord through our actions. 

We never know what a humble word will mean to others.

Charles H. Spurgeon once wrote “It is good for me to have been afflicted, that I might know how to speak a word in season to one that is weary.”

How often do we laugh?

I spent time spent with one of the grandsons, this one age 9, who loves comedy shows.

What a joy spending time laughing with a nine year old who loves comedy shows.

One had a comedian who was also a ventriloquist.

This combination appear to be one of fools.

And yet.

A portrayer of laughter and wisdom is the fool.

This understanding lacks depth and insight.

Drawing from the wisdom emerging from Paul Harvey “And now for the rest of the story.”

“But the fool is not an idiot. The courage and the freedom of the fool liberates us. The fool tells the truth while making fun of our arrogance and our conventional wisdom. He shows us up for who we are and that’s what Jerry did. He was a blessing.

“It’s the ones who aren’t satisfied with who we are who drive us to greatness.”

Jim Carrey on Jerry Lewis, Time magazine, 09/04/200.

Every day with everyone in every way.

“Every” is a word and life style seldomly employed.

Yet… I’m a person of patterns and habits.

This focus prepares me to respond rather than react to the surprises in every day.

Everyday I read faces and books, reflect, review, pray, and write.

I ask “what delights and what disgusts.”

As you can surmise I relish and use alliteration.

I learn from many.

This past weekend two grandsons spent time with us and next weekend a granddaughter.

From time in the pool to time running around chasing each other, finding twigs and sticks.

Fun without electronics.

I learned from them the joy or water and running around, in their case literally and in my case figuratively.

Let’s listen, learn, and live.

In certain ways we are all alike — to be cared for or cared about, to be respected, to be listened, to be understood,to belong, to be protected from harm.

We want and need freedom and opportunity.

The first rule of relationships is this: Find out what you want and give it to others.

To have a friend, be a friend.

When we look inside, we discover a voice that we all share.

The voice of our own needs will guide us as we reach out to others.

Listen, include, encourage, forgive, and care.

“Treat others just as you want to be treated.”Luke 6: 31 cev

Guardian or gossiper?

We all have parts of our life which we need to keep to ourself.

We call these our secrets that we don’t want shared with just anybody.

Every person needs someone can be trusted and with whom we feel safe.

These persons exude confidence, someone in whom we believe.

Please chose these trusted people wisely.

Let’s also be a person of trust, bringing immense value into our relationships.

One the one hand, one person guards secrets; on the other hand, another person blurts out secrets.

The first is a guardian of secrets while the other is a gossiper of secrets.

Gossip makes some people feel better about themselves, but the damage it does to trust, reputations, and friendships is never worth it.

Sometimes gossip is motivated by jealousy or a desire to get revenge.

A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence. Proverbs 11: 13 nlt

The second wise choice

Yesterday the post started with with A reference to Charles “Tremendous” Jones who once said, “You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for two things: the people you meet and the books you read.”

A promise was given to reflect wisely in the books you chose.

I read to be inspired — hence I read the Bible every morning, especially the books of Proverbs and Psalms.

I read to learn — hence on the lives of leaders — I’ve started a book on Charles Dickens and his famous sayings.

The choose to read for other reasons.

What about the books you read and why you choose them?

I would love to hear from you.

Please write to wisdomgardener@outlook.com.

Two choices

Charles “Tremendous” Jones once said, “You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for two things: the people you meet and the books you read.”

We have the opportunity to choose both.

“Become wise by walking with the wise; hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces.” Proverbs 13: 20 msg

Hence, let’s choose to walk with the wise.

As for the books, check back tomorrow.

“Careful planning puts you ahead in the long run; hurry and scurry puts you further behind.” Proverbs 21: 5 msg

Thomas Edison said, “Good fortune is what happens when opportunity meets with planning.”

Careful planning encompasses diverse people with unique skills who see unique parts of the puzzle.

A theorem from geometry proclaims, to the effect, “the sum of the whole is greater than the sum of the the sum of the parts.”

So, when planning this week, let’s hear and listen to the unique wisdom of different persons in our life.

Wisdom prayer

Oh Creator, Savior and Spirit,

lead me

to know to the facts,

to understand their meaning,

to wisdom to discern what to do, and

to courage to act at the right time.

Phillip Kapela and Carol Ehler

Now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Colossians 3: 8 nlt

This message and wisdom given over two thousand years ago to a small community in Greece needs to be spoken and followed today.

All five of those actions harm, infest, and destroy our world.

Let’s be that person and presence of kindness, control, manners, honesty, and good language today.