Are Diamonds Forever? November 21, 2007

Are Diamonds Forever?

Prov. 8:17-19 “I love those that love me; and they that seek me early shall find me. Riches and honour are with me; durable wealth and righteousness. My fruit is better than fine gold, yea, than pure gold; and my revenue than choice silver.”

Creole version: 

Pwov. 8:17-19  “Mwen renmen moun ki renmen m’. Depi yon moun chache m’, fòk li jwenn mwen. Mwen bay richès, mwen bay pouvwa. Mwen bay byen k’ap la pou lontan, mwen fè tout bagay byen. Tou sa mwen bay pi bon lontan pase pi bon lò ki genyen. Yo pi bon pase ajan.”

The Proverbs 7 & 8 flow well together. In chapter 7, folly (again, in the example of a loose women) traps a young man. In chapter 8, it’s wisdom’s turn to call out. I realize after reading the whole chapter, that I love these verses, especially this time of year. 

See, at least in New York, Santa is already having kids line up. My little fiberglass tree has it’s red bow on it, and my small manger scene is out. Every store has me humming some Christmas carol the second I walk in the door. Salvation Army is stationed everywhere with their little bells. The mall is a zoo of people buying tons of family gifts. 

We’re not even done eating turkey leftovers yet, or contemplating what we are thankful for, but advertising schemes have us wondering either what to get so-and-so, or praying that God will fill up the budget so we can do the required shopping. 

One favorite part of American holidays for me has been commercials. I laugh loudly on super-bowl Sunday, but I treasure the holiday commercials most. They are all “lovey-dovey”. This year more then others, I’ve noticed the diamond commercials. Man, are those tear-jerkers or what!! “Show her you love her…diamonds are forever.” They show perfect moments that honestly most of us don’t have too often. 

I think that diamond commercials are what impressed me about these verses in Proverbs. There is something about reading something truthful, something that won’t lie. These verses are some of those things. Diamonds are screaming at us (well, more truthfully, the men) but here wisdom is, arms wide, like Christ on the cross. She says, “ I love those that love me.” and “My fruit is better than fine gold.”  

That’s incentive to me to remember wisdom this holiday season. I will be talking more about the holidays, and thinking about the reason we celebrate. But these next few weeks, when we are watching that favorite show after a long cold day, and we see the world’s picture of the perfect gift, remember we’ve already been given the perfect gift that is truly forever… What Christ has done is incomparable and priceless. Wisdom is his signature and state of mind. While the world yells diamonds, remember the whisper of wisdom in Proverbs. Wisdom in her simplicity and glory, is “better then fine gold”. 

Suddenly, diamonds lose their sparkle just a bit to me. Instead, I am overwhelmed with his gift of wisdom, something that will adorn not my fingers or ears, but my mind and my heart. 

Definitely something to think about this holiday season, huh?

Sending His Joy, 

Rachel 

Are Diamonds Forever? November 21, 2007

Are Diamonds Forever?

Prov. 8:17-19 “I love those that love me; and they that seek me early shall find me. Riches and honour are with me; durable wealth and righteousness. My fruit is better than fine gold, yea, than pure gold; and my revenue than choice silver.”

Creole version: 

Pwov. 8:17-19  “Mwen renmen moun ki renmen m’. Depi yon moun chache m’, fòk li jwenn mwen. Mwen bay richès, mwen bay pouvwa. Mwen bay byen k’ap la pou lontan, mwen fè tout bagay byen. Tou sa mwen bay pi bon lontan pase pi bon lò ki genyen. Yo pi bon pase ajan.”

The Proverbs 7 & 8 flow well together. In chapter 7, folly (again, in the example of a loose women) traps a young man. In chapter 8, it’s wisdom’s turn to call out. I realize after reading the whole chapter, that I love these verses, especially this time of year. 

See, at least in New York, Santa is already having kids line up. My little fiberglass tree has it’s red bow on it, and my small manger scene is out. Every store has me humming some Christmas carol the second I walk in the door. Salvation Army is stationed everywhere with their little bells. The mall is a zoo of people buying tons of family gifts. 

We’re not even done eating turkey leftovers yet, or contemplating what we are thankful for, but advertising schemes have us wondering either what to get so-and-so, or praying that God will fill up the budget so we can do the required shopping. 

One favorite part of American holidays for me has been commercials. I laugh loudly on super-bowl Sunday, but I treasure the holiday commercials most. They are all “lovey-dovey”. This year more then others, I’ve noticed the diamond commercials. Man, are those tear-jerkers or what!! “Show her you love her…diamonds are forever.” They show perfect moments that honestly most of us don’t have too often. 

I think that diamond commercials are what impressed me about these verses in Proverbs. There is something about reading something truthful, something that won’t lie. These verses are some of those things. Diamonds are screaming at us (well, more truthfully, the men) but here wisdom is, arms wide, like Christ on the cross. She says, “ I love those that love me.” and “My fruit is better than fine gold.”  

That’s incentive to me to remember wisdom this holiday season. I will be talking more about the holidays, and thinking about the reason we celebrate. But these next few weeks, when we are watching that favorite show after a long cold day, and we see the world’s picture of the perfect gift, remember we’ve already been given the perfect gift that is truly forever… What Christ has done is incomparable and priceless. Wisdom is his signature and state of mind. While the world yells diamonds, remember the whisper of wisdom in Proverbs. Wisdom in her simplicity and glory, is “better then fine gold”. 

Suddenly, diamonds lose their sparkle just a bit to me. Instead, I am overwhelmed with his gift of wisdom, something that will adorn not my fingers or ears, but my mind and my heart. 

Definitely something to think about this holiday season, huh?

Sending His Joy, 

Rachel 

Thanksgiving Reflection November 16, 2007

Living away from the US, holidays take on a different aspect. For instance, Thanksgiving. It’s an American holiday. We know it is there, but how do we celebrate away from American traditions? For us, we still try to have a small version of a turkey dinner, and always share dinner with natives who have come to love the food, even though the holiday doesn’t mean much to them. I remember specifically one Thanksgiving in one of the first years I lived in haiti. Here I was, the only American in the village, many miles away from the city. I actually hadn’t remembered it was Thanksgiving until I was eating my bread and honey for lunch. Then I almost laughed at the thought of my dinner in comparison to the table spread most people were enjoying in the states.Then this holiday really takes on a different twist when the children are gone and aren’t coming “home” for the holidays. I am sure each of you remembers a specific holiday that is imprinted indelibly in your heart.God’s Word tells us to be thankful in all things. So Thanksgiving holiday can only be celebrated truly, if we have thankful hearts. How often do we really thank the Lord for all things. We have so much, and much more than we deserve. God has only promised us the basics. Most of the world lives with barely that. I speak as an American, and I believe that although we have more than most people in the world, we complain more than most people in the world. Let’s make this Thanksgiving holiday a special time, with thankful hearts…truly thankful, that is. God has given us so much, so much more than we really need. From a sunset to a new born baby, there is so much to say “Thank You”!!Happy Thanksgiving!! 

Do I Hate What God Hates? November 4, 2007

Do God and I Hate the Same Thing?

Proverbs 6

6:16-19 “There are six things which the LORD hates, seven which are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and a man who sows discord among brothers.”

Creole

6:17-19 “Gen sis bagay Seyè a pa vle wè. Sa m’ap di la a: Gen menm sèt bagay li pa ka sipòte: Se moun k’ap gonfle lestonmak yo sou moun, se moun k’ap bay manti, se moun k’ap touye moun inonsan, se moun k’ap fè move lide nan tèt yo pou fè mechanste, se moun ki toujou pare pou fè sa ki mal, se fo temwen k’ap bay manti sou moun, se moun k’ap mete frè ak zanmi dozado.”

Sometimes, the world is gray. We wonder what is right and what is wrong. We wonder who Jesus would vote for. We wonder, when witnessing, how close of a friendship is too close? We wonder about many things that could slide either way. Right. Wrong. Who knows? 

These verses clarify so much for me. There may be gray in the world, but there is none here. The creole version of verse 16 says that there are 6 things the Lord doesn’t want to see. What I’m saying here: there are even 7 things he cannot support.” It even sounds a bit harsh as we read it… The “Lord HATES” these things.. he cannot stand to see them.

Here is the list:  1) boastful hearts  2) people who lie  3) people that kill the innocent  4) people who have (or even cause others to have) evil thoughts of wrongdoing  5) Those who are always ready to do evil  6) false witnesses who lie about people,  and  7) people who cause division among each other. 

God has given us a list of things that make Him shudder. It’s so important!!! Here are things that don’t fit into the world of gray. We need to examine our hearts to see if any of these things are filling our hearts. Do we gossip? Do our chests swell up just a little when we finally get that____(fill in the blank)? Are we more then ready to cut the wrong corners in business and family life? Do we stretch the truth or give in to tiny white lies that may never matter? 

The warning about lies really sticks out to me because a white lie is like the wind chill around here in upstate New York. In some seasons,  it’s a given. “How ya doin?” a friend asks. “oh, fine,” we say in response, even though things aren’t fine. Is that a gray matter, or is that a teeny little white lie? We could easily smile and say, “ Been better.” 

I’m always reminded how, as Christ followers, we are to be above reproach. (1 Tim 6:14) We are to seek excellence in our lifestyle, and push for wisdom. We are to be passionate about living this one life for His sake. With that in mind, though we have to leave our comfort zone, we have to face the fact that some things just aren’t gray. 

So, great reminder: even though elections are a toss up, and we don’t know how much makeup we can wear before Jesus can’t recognize us, or how many brain cells we can waste on TV, or if it’s better to move to India for Christ or stay where you’re at. But God has paved our path (thankfully!!!), our Christian walk, is a marked line and all we have to do is walk it. 

Until next time, 

Rachel