The Wise Heart

"For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice." James 3:16

These are the words for the world. This is how it runs—on jealousy and selfish ambition. Then, I take a closer look at myself and see that, in all honesty, this is how I run. Furthermore, I see that wisdom is what counteracts the “bitter jealousy and selfish ambition” (v.14), and not just any wisdom, but wisdom from above. 

The wisdom from above is defined by its attributes. Pure, peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And with peace, there is a harvest and bounty of righteousness which tells me that good things come from this kind of heart. The wise heart. My heart is foolish without the wisdom from God. His covering re-forms my lowness into fitting the form of His identity. His wisdom. His righteousness.

The Higher Gifts

I hadn't seen it before, so it begged for greater contemplation. I am the type that is a sucker for the details...I can get stuck on them and completely miss the big picture in the process. This morning, the passage was entitled "Spiritual Gifts," so I assumed that is what I would be reading about. But, in reality, this passage is strikingly not about finding the spiritual gift that matches your personality. It is about the SPIRIT that UNIFIES the people who have received the gifts from God.

"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills." 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

It gets better. The second half of chapter 11 (the previous chapter) is dealing with Paul's directives concerning the Lord's Supper for the Corinthian church. He could see they were missing the point and said in verse 17, " I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse." There were factions and disagreements among the people, and many were concerned more about the eating and drinking than honoring the memory of Christ. They lacked UNITY in their worship.

Back in Chapter 12, the theme of UNITY continues as Paul discusses ONE BODY with many members. "For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body-- Jews or Greeks, slaves or free-- and all were made to drink of one Spirit." (v. 13) And the last verse before Chapter 13 is 12:31 which states, "But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way." As you may already know, the more excellent way of 1 Corinthians 13 is LOVE. The higher gifts that we should earnestly desire? I believe they are UNITY and LOVE. Everything else we desire to do or to be as followers of Christ should fall under the headship of unity and love.

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:34-35

Contemplation on Graduation

If you haven't had the chance to know Mikayla Kuckel, it's probably my fault. I hold tight to my kids...I know my time with them is short, and I'm selfish. But, my first baby? My guinea pig? (as I so affectionately call her)...Yeah, I held tight. And I'm sorry if that meant you didn't get to know her better or at all because she is an absolute gem, a gift bestowed to me in my youth and immaturity, but one that has grown me and grown with me, loved me when I have not been lovely, and blessed me with her wisdom when I most needed it. I know I don't deserve her. She's my daughter, my friend, and my sister in Christ.

Mikayla was born in Michigan in May. I can remember taking her on long walks in the carriage-style stroller handed down from her grandmother. Even in those days, I confided in her my fears, thoughts and dreams. She brought peace to my days and always listened with happy eyes and a big smile. She could have ended up pretty spoiled--there were many people who loved and doted on her, especially me and daddy.

We began to notice how she closely observed others at play. She would eventually join in, but she was cautious and reserved with strangers. She could also be rather strong-willed when it came to being forced to do things she didn't want to do. Now, I see how the strength of her will and ability to assess any situation, when submitted to Christ, have proven to be mighty weapons in her life.

When she was two, I gave birth to twins. She adjusted well and rarely bucked against the system she now knew. That was a tough year, but without her easygoing spirit and ability to play alone it would have been so much harder. She has been an incredible example for her brothers, learning how to handle both of their unique personalities and relating to each in their own way. This continued with the addition of sister, then brother, brother, brother, sister and brother. She doesn't lose her cool when people are difficult, she can concentrate in chaos, she has set dreams aside for the sake of family, she challenges her "limitations," and she's quick to offer help when needed. As she was a quiet child, I never expected her to be the leader she would eventually become. She has surpassed my wildest dreams.

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My Mikayla. Dear daughter, big sister, gifted writer, figure skater, babysitter, children's ministry leader, deli worker, chef, little genius, guinea pig, friend, world traveler, trail blazer, wise counselor, kitchen messer, missionary, self-starter, teacher, student, beautiful inside and out... My heart is truly glad to have been bound with yours in this life. I love you!

“Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
Ephesians 6:14-17 NASB