Mannaword

“Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge. 

For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.”
Proverbs 22:17-18 (KJV)

I used the first part of the above quote a couple of weeks ago, but wanted to return to it to see what else is in the text. I have purposely chosen to use the KJV simply because it reads differently in the last line than any of our modern translations. All the modern ones I have read recently read something like this, “Let them be fixed upon your lips.”(NKJV) or “That they may be ready upon your lips.” (NASB) While these give us one meaning, (that of speaking the word purposely – our effort in doing so) when I read the KJV I understood another meaning. When I keep the wisdom of the Book within me and ponder it often and much, then its words, thoughts and concepts become much of my conversation. The Words are “fitted” to my lips. It becomes natural to me. I not only learn to speak them, but they sound like me when they are spoken. They are fitted to me. This is so like our Father. He lives within us through the power of Jesus and the person of the Holy Spirit, yet it is His greatest joy when my heart has so embraced HIs words that when I speak, my words not only reveal Him, but reveal me as well. He wants to express Himself through us, not as robots – sounding just as if we did not exist at all, but He wants those words, concepts, dreams, ideas which we have received and embraced to be reflections of our time in Him thinking with those words etc…. It is not intended to be “me and Him” but to be “us.” So in this I see a deep longing in HIs heart that our fellowship in Him would become so real and vital that the “us” is evident. This walk as “Him in our world” is all about “being” in Him and Him in me – true infusion of His life into mine and mine into His. Such wonder. There is much, much more to be discovered, I think.

“I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear:but now my eyes seeth thee.” (Job 42:5)  He that hath my commandments, and kept them, he it is that liveth me: and he that liveth me shall be loved of my Father,and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” (John 14:21 KJV)

I often get taken by surprise by our Lord Jesus. Part of that is very pleasant and part of that is very humbling and well, surprising. His Word is so alive and the Spirit continually blows it within us as we choose to think, read, meditate and study what is written. Yet, he holds little secrets that occasionally pop up to “blow me away” and bless me. He does say “The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant.” (Psalm 25:14 KJV) He is so very faithful!

I believe it delights Him to have more and more to unfold for us and yes, surprises for us. I have been very aware lately of His delight in giving us His presence is such knowable ways. He is always with us, but there is a knowable aspect to His presence that in the past few years I have become aware of more and more. He loves to show up in tangible ways and delight us with Himself. Yet, I believe, there is so much more in this “seeing” aspect. We too often are content to know through reading and study (and those are so very essential), that we forget that He wants to actually show up – with us individually as we take time for Him, and with us in a meeting with the Body. Oh how He loves us and wants to reveal more and more.

The immediate response in me, and I suspect in you, is how do we provide a platform for such a meeting? While the question is valid, I believe it misses what He intends. He is calling us personally and corporately to expect Him and to allow Him to be present in ways we have not known before. It is called – believing the Word! This will call for some discomfort and many shy from this – both personally and corporately. May I urge us to embrace the scriptures above and expect them to continually take us to more and more “seeing” and “being” in Him and with Him. Moses said, even in the Old Covenant, “…If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.” (Exodus 33:15 KJV) Moses knew that if there was no manifestation of presence, there would be no distinction between them and the other people around them. (v. 16) The presence of the LORD was to be the mark of the Israelites belonging to HIm. If that was true in the Old, how much more in the new. It goes with the glory given to us (John 17:22)

So LORD we receive your Word, and we expect encounter; an encounter that will unfold your person more and more to us. We give ourselves to being with You and in You in such a way that the revelation of you is clearly known and seen.

“Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge. For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips. That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightiest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?” Proverbs 22:17-19 KJV

There are several items in this passage that I wish to work with during the next few blog posts. We will just take them as they have impacted me as I have sat with this passage and pondered (Biblical meditation) their words.

The first few words, “Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.” The words that rose in me in response were, “We lay ourselves down then rise in strength.” The principle we need to know is the same principle that governs our physical bodies. If we do not lay down to rest, we will run out of strength and become very weak. It is imperative that the human being rest if they are to function.

So it is in the Spirit of God. Unless there is a “bowing” or “laying down” of ourselves in trust, there will be no reception of His knowledge. His words are spirit and truth, and according to 1 Corinthians 2:12-16 only those born of the Spirit can possible know and receive the truth of His heart. So when we “lay ourselves” down, it is an action of trust that allows our interior to receive truth. Yes, it is true humility. It is not a thing of public display that I am speaking of, but what happens in the private life between the LORD and our hearts.

Lest one misunderstand what I am saying, I am not talking about becoming empty. That is never a thing of Spirit. We are not to be empty, but instead to allow Him to become in us all He is through our unique personhood. We lay down our understanding that it can receive truth. When we think we know truth about amatter or a passage, we may not be open to receive what He might have to say about that item. There are probably fuller, broader, deeper, and more thorough understandings of that truth available, which will make it seem as if  what we understood before was so shallow that it was almost not truth. I am, of course, speaking from experience.

The action of “bowing down” the heart and life is as essential as the beginning of resting, reception, empowerment and life. It is the way through – whatever we are experiencing, bowing down and allowing Him to instruct His Word through our heart, is the essential beginning.

Lord, we bow ourselves. Thank you for immersing us in your Presence with Your Spirit to rest us and reveal to us your heart and your Word! May it always be so for us – that first we bow to lean and rest, then we rise to become all you have in mind for our moment.

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O LORD; teach me thy statutes. With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word. Psalm 119:9-16 KJV

The Word! The Word! The Word! The Word has the answers to all things. Yet, we often find ourselves very content to just rest in what someone else understands. Really that is just like chewing food that has already been chewed up and spit out. We cringe at that thought, (at least I do – a lot), but to find a believer who reads their Scriptures and believes what they says; who is curious as to what it might mean; who spends time with the Lord daily thinking in and through the word – all which we just read in the Psalm above – to find such a person is really, really, really rare. I wonder sometimes just what the Lord thinks of us in His Kingdom in this age.

We know He loves us, (at least are in process of learning); we know we are saved by grace through faith. We know He died for us and poured out His Holy Spirit upon us and we would say we love Him. Yet, our choice of mind involvement does not include much, if any of the word He gave us to know Him.

There is a company of folk, both young and old – by personal and individual choice, who are entering into several studies this season. One I know of is a group of young adults studying the Bible (just opening it and studying it – right out of the page). How this warms my heart. Others I know of are getting very serious about just what the Lord has written and what treasures are there to be found. Some such are becoming students in our Institute of Biblical Studies for a college level study. Others are praying as to how to begin to make Bible study and Bible thinking a part of their lives – to learn how to live  as a believer, yes, but much more than that – to learn what and how the Lord thinks and feels. They want to know His heart and the creative Spirit behind all we see. These are true seekers – they already know He is real. Now on to the massive, magnificent discovery of what He really is like.

What a joy to discover such people in this Kingdom of ours. Lord Jesus, Thank you for loving us so much and for being so patient with us. We are open recipients of your grace and faith. We choose to hear, see and know your goodness as revealed in your awesome Word. Thank you for entrusting us with your very life and heart within. Empower us to be encouraged and not discouraged as we allow Your thoughts and ways to become our own. This is Your call – we say Yes.

On Thanksgiving Day, I was with my husband, daughter, brother and his wife seated just right beside this scene in a restaurant we often frequent on Thanksgiving Day. It is a bit of a ride for all of us, but well worth the time in both “getting away” as well as an awesome dinner (with many entrees available). The river is the Susquehanna River and the scene is beautiful. I had asked the Lord that morning that we not encounter any deer on our drive (as the drive is always full of them) and that we be seated by the window near the river. Well as you can see on part was really answered well – and we did not see even one deer. My Father is so bountiful with me!

I know those are little things, but they mean a lot in the course of a special day spent with loved ones! I took this photo and have chosen to use it as my header on the blog. I am not certain where the snow-fall gently falling over the blog came from, but I like it so will not try to remove it.

It is Christmas in every way possible around me. My home is decorated, the Bible Center is beautifully decorated (my office included) so now all the carols and traditional fun songs are enjoyed and even delighted in. I do not try to correct others about this season. It has much in it that is not true and not accurate, however, I am blessed that at least one day in the year the world knows about my Jesus! I choose to use it as a blessing.

Oh yes, I do not mind “Happy Holidays.” I bless folk any way I can. I do not have to have things where I am comfortable with them. I would rather use the “Happy Holidays” to turn and bless them, instead of insisting they use something they do not want to say. I wish it were different, but it is not. So we need to keep in mind that our Lord woo’s people to His heart. He does not correct them into it. I believe the Scripture says that it is His goodness that leads them to repentance. So let’s use this opportunity to bless anyway we can.

Also, the Xmas thing – well originally when this was used it was code for Christmas. You see, the Greek letter X is the “ch” sound in that language and became synonymous with the word “Christ.” So there is no need to fight that one either. So why don’t we get busy wooing folk by loving them? Seems like the Lord would want that. Let’s not fall so easily into offense and lets let our faith work through love to really bless folk this season.

So now have a good time shopping, singing and enjoying the joy that comes through the season all the while being mindful of the ones among us in the season of mourning and loss. Such things seem not to observe seasons and when they do, they increase during them – especially the first one after a major loss.

Blessing you Dear Reader, thank you so for sharing my thoughts. Oh yes, I  love kitties – do not have any presently, but my daughter does, so I regularly enjoy the purrs and soft kitty hugs. Enjoy!

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit’s fire. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject whatever is harmful.

May God himself, the God of peace sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 TNIV

These verses are often taught during this season of the year. These matters are commandments in the Christian life. As we live in Him, there are always choices. Just as we choose Him to be our Savior and entered into the life of His expression, so too as we learn, He continually leads us into the best choices.

To be thankful is an attitude of mind that will set us free and guard our minds of much that plagues our Christian world. When we choose thankfulness, it will be impossible to “suck our own thumb” in self-pity. Thankfulness immediately has a response in us. When we enter genuine thankfulness, then our hearts come up and we are able to think much more clearly. One of the problems of self-pity is as we engage in it our thoughts get trapped in a self-focused world that has problems truly seeing what is real and what is not. When everything is overshadowed with my self-pity filters, then my thoughts get muddled and my attitude then is determined by my circumstances. Thankfulness is a road to healing in such times.  David expressed this in Psalm 42:11 TNIV (as well as in other Psalms)

“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”

So Beloved Reader, let us begin to give thanks and allow it to permeate our thought patterns. Life will be better for it.  Go for it!

Have a Marvelous Blessed Thanksgiving!