Our Wise Creator

In just over a week, approximately 500 GEMS Counselors from all over North America will travel to Ft. Collins, Colorado for the GEMS Leadership Conference. We are anticipating an amazing weekend surrounded by God’s amazing creation. This devotional, written by Lenae Bulthuis, GEMS Training Manager, reflects this anticipation. Please pray for every aspect of this event that is happening July 7-10.

 

By wisdom the LORD laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place; by his knowledge the deeps were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew.

Proverbs 3:19-20

Did you know that the Colorado Rockies are part of the North American Cordillera, which stretches 3,000 miles from Alaska, through western Canada and the United States, into northern Mexico? The peaks of the Colorado Rockies are over 14,000 feet and dubbed “Fourteeners” by those who climb them. There are 52 Fourteeners in Colorado.

Did you know that bald eagles, sand hill cranes, shore birds and water birds nest and migrate to Colorado? This state is the second in the nation for variety of birds.

Did you know that there are nearly 20 rivers whose headwaters begin in Colorado, with the Continental Divide directing each river’s course?

Did you know that the tallest sand dune in America is in Great Sand Dunes National Park outside of Alamosa, Colorado?

How did God create such majestic and awe-inspiring segments of creation within the state of Colorado and the place that you call home? By wisdom!

By wisdom the LORD founded the earth; by understanding he created the heavens. By his knowledge the deep fountains of the earth burst forth, and the dew settles beneath the night sky (Proverbs 3:19-20, NLT).

By wisdom, God made galaxies and grapevines, people and porcupines, oceans and orangutans, mountains and molehills. When you see, hear, touch, smell, and experience His creation are you overcome with awe and a divine wow of who God is?

It’s through creation that God has made Himself plain to all peoples. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse (Romans 1:20).

It’s through creation that God reveals Himself to us – His might, His power, His unfathomable bigness, His creativity, His strength, His supremacy, and His wisdom.

R.C. Sproul writes, “Men are never duly touched and impressed with the conviction of their insignificance, until they have contrasted themselves with the majesty of God.”

Wisdom Step: Take a walk, study a flower, watch cloud formations, worship and fear the all-wise God, creator of heaven and earth.

Whatever God’s reasons for such diversity, creativity, and sophistication, on earth, and in our own bodies, the point of it all is His glory. God’s art speaks of Himself, reflecting who He is and what He is like.

Francis Chan

Heart Devotional for Counselors by Lenae Bulthuis

WELCOME DISCIPLINE

My son (daughter), do not despise the LORD’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son (daughter) he delights in.

Proverbs 3:11-12

Last weekend when we were out with friends one of the dinner topics was discipline. I shared a thirty-five year old story about when I disobeyed my mother. Although I have no recollection today of the wrong I committed, I still remember what followed. My mom commanded me to stop; I ran. I dashed around the corner and was halfway up the stairs, when she grabbed my foot. A bit surprised that my mother was so fast, and mostly panicked at what was coming next, I screamed, “Child abuse!” There is no way on this planet that my mother is capable of abuse of any sort. Shocked by my reaction, she looked at me, I looked at her, and we sat on the steps and laughed.

Proverbs has a word for anyone who is running from God’s discipline, rather than stopping to receive His teaching and correction. My child, don’t reject the LORD’s discipline, and don’t be upset when he corrects you. For the LORD corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights (Proverbs 3:11-12, NLT).

The word “discipline” within these verses of God’s Word primarily speaks to God’s teaching, correcting, and training, rather than His punishing His children. The single motive behind His fatherly discipline is love.

The Old Testament book of Hosea illustrates God’s love for His wayward, sinful children. Hosea 11:4 reads, I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them. The NIV commentators shed wisdom on this verse. “God’s discipline requires times of leading and times of feeding. Sometimes the rope is taut; sometimes it is slack. God’s discipline is always loving, and its object is always the well-being of the beloved.”

There’s a temptation to write off God’s loving discipline, rather than to welcome it. That’s what the foolish do and the book of Proverbs gives us repeated reminders of their destiny. He (She) will die for lack of discipline, led astray by his (her) own folly (Proverbs 5:23).

If the LORD is correcting you through His Word, Spirit, or the words of a brother or sister in Jesus, rejoice! God hasn’t written you off! His willingness to discipline us means He hasn’t given up on us. Accept His correction and receive its blessings. Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding (Proverbs 3:13, NLT).

Wisdom Step: What word of correction have you recently received from God? Be wise by welcoming and applying it to your life.

Be much with the solid teachings of God's word, and you will become solid and substantial men and women: drink them in, and feed upon them, and they shall produce in you a Christ-likeness, at which the world shall stand astonished.

C. H. Spurgeon

Search for Wisdom devotional

The following devotional was written by GEMS Training Manager, Lenae Bulthuis, to help us prepare for our theme next year.

Dear Sisters,

As the school year winds down or maybe is already complete in your area, keep vigilant in prayer for children. When you see them on the street, playing at the pool or in the park, at the mall or in your home, shoot arrow prayers of His blessings and favor on them. How’s that for a summer assignment that will change the world? Praying with you!

SEARCH FOR WISDOM

Search for it as for hidden treasure.

Proverbs 2:4b

One of my grandmother’s favorite stories about my dad was his high school study habit. She’d point to the kitchen chair by the front door. “Do you see that chair?” she’d ask. “When your dad came home from school he’d put his books on that chair and when he left the next day for school he’d pick them up again. I don’t know why he even bothered to take them home!”

Proverbs chapter one is an invitation to study: Take the books home. Chapter two is a call to begin: Open the books and study! Chapter one includes warnings to those who refuse the invitation; chapter two includes promises to those who accept the invite to search for wisdom.

Solomon, the primary author of Proverbs, understands that we always have a choice. In the first four verses of chapter two he uses the word “if” three times: IF you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and IF you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and IF you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure.

It’s an active, strenuous search. We must call out and cry aloud as if our lives depended on it! We must search for it like we do lost cell phones and car keys. It demands diligence and hard work. Jim Rohn said, “For every disciplined effort there is a multiple reward.” That certainly holds true for the search for wisdom.

Here are the promised rewards:

1. Brings one to “the fear of the LORD.” Wisdom goes beyond the practical life lessons in Proverbs. It’s about the relationship – knowing, fearing, and loving God! Then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God (2:5).

2. You will receive wisdom. Wisdom is a gift from God that’s only given to those who are persistent in the search. For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding (2:6).

3. You will experience victory. Wisdom gives you the ability to live life well! You’ll successfully walk God’s way. He holds victory in store for the upright (2:7a).

4. You will receive protection to walk God’s way. Wisdom protects us by enabling us to say no to sinful choices. He is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you (2:7b-8, 11).

Wisdom Step: How much effort have you put forth to search for God’s wisdom? God wants to be known and loved by you. Search for wisdom today. It’ll lead you straight to God!

What are our worst sins? They are chiefly our lost opportunities to grow in wisdom and in nobility of character. They lie in our failure to develop our fullest and best powers given to us by God.

Charles Shulman