Weekly Thought – September 11, 2023

Fred hosted an informal gathering each Saturday for 3 years in his daughter’s home where he and Mary Alice lived in their latter days. Because he was in a hospital-style bed, the chairs were placed all around it. There were mornings when more than 30 jammed into the bedroom, and down the hall to hear him share what he had been thinking about during the week’s dialysis treatments. It became affectionately known as “Fred in the Bed.” Two devoted, faithful attendees were Donna Skell and JoyLynn Hailey Reed. They collaborated on a collection of notes from these sessions in 2004 and 2005.

One week he shared observations he had been making during the week on Genesis 16. Here are the points he made. These are simply notes taken and not from an edited manuscript therefore, the points are not fleshed out. This gives you a flavor of Fred in the Bed.

Looking at Genesis 16

As I look at the scripture, specifically Genesis 16, I see 9 meaningful principles. There is much more and we will look at them another week. For right now here is a start. Bring your thoughts and we will continue to “search the scriptures” as the faithful Bereans did.

1) Don’t manufacture a way of doing what God should do – God’s timing is never off. Don’t confuse what you can do and what only God can do. Sarah tired of trusting God’s promise and tried to help Him as if He had forgotten, or run out of time.
2) Don’t be irresponsible – Abraham should not have gone along with Sarah. His wife was in conflict with truth. Abraham also struggled between self-preservation and the truth. Ex: Abraham passed off Sarah as his sister; Hagar was a gift from the Egyptian pharaoh – she was part of his harem.
3) Don’t use another human as an object. When Abraham allowed this to happen with Hagar he was neglecting his responsibility.
4) Abraham’s actions with Hagar diminished his fellowship with God. Abraham went 13 years without hearing from God. He built walls from his circumstances.
5) Hagar’s pregnancy created hatred for Sarah. Her position as mother of Abraham’s son put enmity between Sarah and Hagar. Sin is not new. Will Menninger of the Menninger Clinic says sin is still her except we have renamed it as sickness. The desire to hurt others cannot be renamed – it is sin.
6) We must always leave room in the process for God’s intervention. Chambers says you dedicate your work to God and be willing to do what He tells you to do… in other words, give Him permission to intervene.
7) Hagar said “may the Lord judge between you and me.” The person who says that usually feels right and justified for whatever actions they are taking.
8) Hagar was haughty because Abraham backed her up. Sarah saw her as property, not as a woman with an intimate relationship with her husband. She failed to see the implications of their intimacy. Sex outside of marriage, even when culturally allowed, has negative implications.
9) The fight between Arabs and Jews began in chapter 16. Those two sons: Ishmael and Isaac were the beginning of the ongoing conflict. We also see that there were two sons: one born by process (Ishmael) and one born by promise (Isaac).

This week think about: 1) What principles do I see in Genesis 16? 2) What can I learn from Fred about ways to study? 3) If I were sitting around the room at Fred in the Bed, what question would I ask?

Words of Wisdom: “We are not to treat people as objects.”

Wisdom from the Word: “Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16 NET Bible)

Weekly Thought – May 2, 2023

Fred had little patience with those who wanted each event of each day to be miraculous, supernatural, and almost spooky. His theological position on free will differed with some of his family and friends who held to a stricter view, but he always treated them with grace.

Childlike or Childish

Mary Alice and I have two daughters, and a son. They will always be our children, but they have grown into fine adults. When they were born we expected them to develop into mature adults. I have known Christians who maintain a childish relationship to God, wanting a Father who allows them to remain as children. They refuse to use their God-given minds, but constantly lean on emotions, looking for supernatural occurrences every day. To me, they are missing the joy of maturity.

Personally, I believe God works the day shift, as well as the night shift. How often do you hear stories of looking for God’s will and miraculously receiving a wake-up call at 3AM which brings the answer? God wants us to develop a grown-up relationship with Him. I believe in prayer, but I also believe God created us to be decisions makers. My process: use my best judgment, do my homework (including scripture for principles and talking it over with wise counselors), and asking Him to imbue my attitude with His spirit which gives ultimate glory to Him, and laying the plan before Him. As I do this I genuinely ask if there is any part of it that is outside His will and ask Him to make me aware of the soft spots. I want also to be clear that this decision is something I want to glorify Him, not just for myself. Finally, I ask if there is anything in this decision that would be detrimental.

I don’t look for super-spiritual signs for each decision of my life. However, I have a good friend who prays for EVERYTHING… this includes the tie which he should wear in the morning. I kidded him one day about this because he only wears Countess Mara ties. He never prays about whether he should buy cheaper ties, just the color of his expensive ones. To me, this isn’t maturity. I think God desires us to grow in body, mind, and spirit.
Whenever I sense I am being immature in my focus, or my discipline, I simply feel the Spirit check me in that area. I may have to go back to the drawing board and do a lot more hard work. I don’t expect some mystical feeling about the process. I believe maturity in the faith is pleasing to God.

This week consider: 1) What is my decision making process? 2) How tempted am I to want God to “write the script and just give me my lines?” 3) When do I take the opportunity to discuss Christian maturity with younger believers?

Words of Wisdom: “Personally, I believe God works the day shift, as well as the night shift.”

Wisdom from the Word: “Therefore we must progress beyond the elementary instructions about Christ and move on to maturity, not laying this foundation again: “ (Hebrews 6:19(a) NET Bible)

Weekly Thought – March 21, 2023

Fred would often say “there’s magic in believing if you don’t believe in magic.” He firmly believed in the power of the Spirit, but he did not support superstition and what he called “over spiritualizing.” In a speech given forty years ago he gave illustrations of healthy, mature thinking about God’s direction in our lives.

Thinking Clearly About God

After I spoke at the Reformed Seminary one of the students said to me, “Mr. Smith, God’s got me just where He wants me.” When I asked him where that was he answered, “Broke.” I told him my wife and I have a son and I would feel very disappointed if he said I had him just where I wanted him when he was broke. I don’t really see that as the proper image of a heavenly Father.

I think I told you of the lawyer who came to see me about five years after becoming a Christian. He said, “God is disciplining me. I became a Christian and decided to make my practice of law a ministry rather than a profession and so I have been letting Christians pay me what they felt I was worth.” I replied, “You’re broke, aren’t you?” He was surprised at my response. I told him the Lord wasn’t disciplining him – “you are suffering the consequences of your own stupidity.” Then I gave him $2500 to pay his bills. He went back into the practice of law as a professional and grew a successful firm. He had spiritualized a bad decision.

I believe problems should be analyzed. I don’t believe we should over spiritualize but understand the concept of cause and effect. While I do not think the problem should be spiritualized. I am going to surprise you and say I do feel the answer should be.

Let me give you four examples of spiritualizing correctly. The key is letting faith do these four:

1) Create a positive environment in which you feel the problem can be solved. I have never found an answer that I didn’t believe had a solution.
2) Faith gives us concentration, and we can’t reach our potential until we concentrate;
3) Faith gives us energy, for it is so much easier to work with a problem you feel you can solve than one you can’t.
4) Faith affects our attitude. It lets us accept winning or losing with equilibrium after we have done our best.

To me, spiritualizing the answer isn’t making up some spooky ritual or strange way of thinking, but it is bringing into our solutions the divine help which is available to us through the Spirit. It is not asking for miracles or devising irrational ways of thinking but asking for His divine presence in the process.

This week think about: 1) How careful am I to keep my mind disciplined to avoid wrong views of God? 2) What is my process for finding answers? 3) What role does spiritual help play in decision making?

Words of Wisdom: “I don’t believe we should over spiritualize but understand the concept of cause and effect.”

Wisdom from the Word: “Yes, I find delight in your rules; they give me guidance.” (Psalm 119:24 NET Bible)

Weekly Thought – February 21, 2023

Fred understood practical Christianity. He knew the faith-based life required discipline and practice. Although he acknowledged the continuing presence of the Spirit he supported the principles of growing in grace to maturity in Christ.

The Graciousness of Grace

Grace is unmerited favor and graciousness is the natural outgrowth.

We want to be people who cover the falls of other with love, put away judgment on others’ mistakes, and are known for encouragement, not disparagement.

These attitudes and actions are developed until they are the reflex. At first we must consciously choose to respond. The goal is for it to be automatic, but it requires discipline, practice, and prayer. We won’t naturally be people of grace.

What if I met the housekeeper for Jascha Heifetz and began a conversation. How stunned I would be if she blurted out, “He is a phony!” I would ask, “What do you mean, a phony?” “You just see him on the stage in concerts, but I see him at home. It looks so easy when he is performing, but I know better. He doesn’t play at home like he does in the concert hall – not at all. He plays with music, and spends hours going over and over the same notes. It sounds like work, not like the concert. If you saw him at home you would see he shows one person at home and another on stage.” Wouldn’t we want to say to her, “That practice is why he makes it looks so effortless on stage. He is certainly talented, but the greatness is in the practice.”

When we see Christians who show grace with such poise it seems like they were just born like that, doesn’t it? If you get to know them you will see years of practice. You will see Bible study, hours with other mature Christians, and prayer. They wanted to grow in grace and knew it didn’t come without the conscious decision and commitment to maturity.

Because of our fallen nature and our broken world graciousness needs to be practiced diligently with systematic consistently. We don’t wake up one morning and automatically become gracious – it comes with a decision and a cost.

When I was young I thought of qualities I wanted in my life. Graciousness was one. I thought of a man who personified it, so I asked for his photograph. I framed it, wrote “Gracious” on the picture and hung it on my wall. It was a reminder of what graciousness looked like in real life.

This week think about: 1) Who exemplifies graciousness to me? 2) How am I preparing to reflect grace? 3) What qualities do I want in my life?

Words of Wisdom: “We don’t wake up one morning and automatically become gracious – it comes with a decision and a cost.”

Wisdom from the Word: “(May) The LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; (Numbers 6:25 NET Bible)

Weekly Thought – September 6, 2022

Fred highly esteemed Francois Fenelon and other early Catholic mystics. Their inclusion of contemplation and meditation influenced his thinking. Laity Lodge in Leakey, TX, was built by the Howard E. Butt Foundation for spiritual growth and development. From its inception Fred and Mary Alice participated in Hill Country weekends with their friends.

Men of Meditation

Meditation is guided study with those who have long walked with God. I find the path to meditation in reading those who focused on closeness to God. One goal: to put down spiritual deep enough to endure times of drought. We put up hedge against withering times. We compare this with the scripture which reminds us grass with shallow roots dries up in the hot sun. Deep spiritual roots help us withstand the pressure of external pressures.

Let me give you a few examples of the men who influence me with their meditative thinking, priming my pump.

1) Augustine: “Love God and do what you will.” Jesus said, “If you love me you will keep my commandments.” Love and obedience come together. This thought helps me to deny legalism and choose true freedom in Christ.
2) Francis of Assissi: My paraphrase: “It is not so important that I am loved as that I love.” He understood the priorities.
3) Oswald Chambers: “Sit loose to things.” In Dallas it is very hard to learn to sit loose to things. We measure so much of our life and value by material possessions. Yet we must remember we are more than what we own. We must keep in mind if the things go we can’t feel like we have gone. Too many accumulate and say, “This is living.” That is not sitting loose.
4) Oswald Chambers: “God isn’t interested in my success; he is interested in my maturity.” This has been foundational in my own meditations.
5) Kelley: “Develop a quiet center to your life.” There must be a place where the storms do not hit. There must be that gyroscopic center from which the other instruments get their readings.
6) Tozer: “My flame may be small, but it is real.” This one I repeatedly consider. Growth and reality are integral, integrated elements.
7) Lawrence: “Dishwashing is just as sacred as prayer.” The value of work is scriptural. A friend of mine ordered a handcrafted gazebo from an African country. A year after the order the excellent piece arrived. With it came a little plaque: “Our work is our worship.” Too many worship their work instead of seeing work as a form of worship.

This week carefully consider: 1) What thoughts come to my mind regularly? 2) How can I deepen my ability to meditate? 3) Why do I get distracted when wanting to meditate?

Words of Wisdom: “Growth and reality are integral, integrated elements.”

Wisdom from the Word: “May my words and my thoughts be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my sheltering rock and my redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14 NET Bible)

Weekly Thought – August 2, 2022

Fred grew up in the home of a Southern Baptist preacher. “Soul winning” burned in the heart of M.B. Smith. All five “Smith boys” grew up hearing their father stand in the pulpit holding his big Bible and powerfully proclaiming the Gospel. Fred’s philosophy of evangelism has helped laymen to comfortably share the good news.

Don’t Duck

One of my favorite weekends is the annual men’s retreats in Fresno, California. We have established great trust and friendship. However, at the beginning I had to explain that I am not a pastor, ministry leader, nor evangelist. Early in the development of the lay movement it was difficult for the idea of integrating Christian faith into all areas of life feel natural.

In the 1950s the Student Department of the Southern Baptist Convention piloted an idea: send teams of Christian businessmen to college campuses for a week, staying in dorms, fraternity houses, and speaking in chapel, classrooms, and informal sessions. We all had to explain we weren’t ordained preachers – we were business people. The response was positive. “I have never heard a businessman talk about faith like you all do.” We weren’t delivering sermons, or exegeting texts – we were talking about what it meant to follow Christ.

We were not taking the place of pastors – we were expanding their reach.

During these men’s retreats evangelism would always come up. I explained that I didn’t have that gift, but that I wouldn’t avoid talking about faith if it came up naturally. I boiled it down to two words, “Don’t Duck.” Each morning I found peace in praying, “Lord, today I won’t duck. If the subject comes up I will handle it as normally as I would any other subject.”

Talking to others about spiritual matters has never been as easy for me as talking about business. But when I made the Don’t Duck commitment it became a more normal part of my day to day. Once I did that I found the most interesting thing: spiritual issues come up – and they come up as naturally as any other subject. I don’t have to figure out ways to jam it into the conversation. I met a man recently who proudly told me he never leaves a person without challenging him with the gospel. I find staying open strangely provides opportunities repeatedly.

At one particular retreat weekend I talked about my commitment to “Don’t Duck.” An advertising man in the audience had an idea. The next time all the men walked around sporting a large lapel button with a duckhead crossed through with a black line denoting “Don’t Duck.”

When we listen to the Holy Spirit our experiences are beyond anything we could force.

This week think about: 1) How comfortable am I talking about spiritual matters? 2) What would change if “Don’t Duck” became my daily commitment? 3) When can I tell the Spirit is opening up the conversation?

Words of Wisdom: “Don’t Duck.”

Wisdom from the Word: “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” (Colossians 3:12 NET Bible)

Weekly Thought – October 26, 2021

Fred served on multiple Christian ministry boards. His reputation for clear thinking, direct analysis, and understanding of people drew organizations to him. They assumed his management expertise would be transferred to the organizational operating system. How wrong they were because he had definite ideas about the way God’s work should be handled. (Note: these thoughts were excerpted from a talk given in the mid-1980s… he certainly saw the trend).

Doing God’s Work in God’s Way

Corporate leadership is different from leadership in Christ’s church. Author M. Scott Peck once asked me “Why don’t you businessmen take over the church?”

“Because they can’t lead a spiritual church successfully, “I said. “Secular principles that are not anointed by the Holy Spirit are not applicable to the church. In fact, they can pollute it by bypassing the Spirit.”

Yes, some principles can be transferred and over the years I have been associated with some fine leaders in industry as well as in Christian work. My book, Leading With Integrity grew out of my concern that in the institutional church we’ve become too dependent on human leadership principles. We know a lot about effective organizational direction, but my concern is that the church may be trying to do God’s work in man’s way.

Let me be clear. God has given me intelligence and created opportunities. I have a responsibility to use my gifts fully. On the other hand, when I try to accomplish by human means what can be done only by spiritual means, I embezzle God’s authority.

If we are to do it in God’s way we must start with character. I study principles leaders can use to examine their own character and those they lead Christian leaders need to examine themselves, so that with the apostle Paul they can say, “Follow me as I follow Christ.”

The church must be involved in character building, helping men and women to grow into the maturity of Christ. Dr. Howard Rome, head of psychiatry at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN gave me a book and inscribed these words: “Few men have the imagination to grasp the truth of reality.” In my writing and through the website I want not only your imagination but your faith to grasp and awakened to the truth of Christlikeness in our church leadership.

It is tempting to attend leadership seminars presented by business gurus and then attempt to apply them to the church without the leading of the Spirit. We need discernment to filter and apply correctly, always depending on God’s will for the church.

This week carefully consider: 1) How does my church leadership team maintain correct focus? 2) Who models following God rather than man to build a church? 3) What am I seeing in churches which compromised their spiritual discernment?

Words of Wisdom: “My concern is that the church may be trying to do God’s work in man’s way.”

Wisdom from the Word: “An honorable man makes honorable plans; his honorable character gives him security.” (Isaiah 32:8 NET Bible)

Weekly Thought – July 20, 2021

Fred once said, “I have spent my life asking questions. I always work to find the key question.” He knew as does Bob Tiede, premier expert on questioning, it is both an art and a science. This week we will look at two Fred asked himself as part of assessment.

Life Lessons

Personal and professional development requires the asking of questions… of others and myself. Here are two which have meant a lot to me.

1) Does my will control my feelings? Integrity is more a matter of the will than of feelings. Without the healthy use of feelings we become mechanical. We are unable to connect with others without empathy or compassion. They energize us. They make great implementers, but poor leaders. Our will is the single most distinguishing feature of our character. A strong will does not blind us to the importance of emotion. It does, however, stand against the tendency toward rationalization that attacks us.

I was fortunate to have a Mother with an indomitable will. Despite many physical disabilities she persevered often quoting “Be not weary in well doing, for in due season you shall reap if you faint not.” Her grit and Rudyard Kipling’s poem “If” inspired Mary Alice and me to make our family motto: “When nothing but the will says go.”

Leadership demands a strong will – not a selfish or stubborn one, but one determined to do what needs doing. By an act of the will we overcome the draw of pleasure and the satisfaction with mediocrity.

2) Is grace real for me? Grace was genuine, real, personal, and palpable to the great saints. The ancient Christian mystics had no doubt they were the constant recipients of Go’s amazing grace. It was a practical part of their everyday life. For example, Brother Lawrence said when he sinned he confessed it, and moved on without spending time bemoaning it. He knew without the power of God failure is natural. Reading that greatly stirred my thinking. Prior to that I lingered over guilt. Immediate grace was too good to be true, I thought. Brother Lawrence’s thinking released me.

Legalism appeals to many Christians; it fits into a common sense approach to faith. We must remind ourselves the very Scripture that lets me know my guilt lets me know God’s grace. By refusing grace we play God, choosing to punish ourselves. We develop a perverted way of interpreting events in our lives arbitrarily choosing to tag some as God’s discipline and judgment.

Grace brings freedom. If we could only freely accept it we could practice confession and continuing to walk in faith. Why can’t I see the free gift it is and how available it is? In my experience those who value grace most dearly are those who have experienced it most deeply in their lives. It reminds me of the scripture, “He who is forgiven most, loves most.” He or she who understands the release from the bondage of sin through Christ, revel in the gift of grace.

This week think carefully about: 1) How would I answer Fred’s questions? 2) When have I chosen to keep going whether I felt like it or not? 3) What questions are key in my personal assessments?

Words of Wisdom: “By an act of the will we overcome the draw of pleasure and the satisfaction with mediocrity.”

Wisdom from the Word: “So we must not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9 NET Bible)

Weekly Thought – March 30, 2021

Fred believed in prayer. Their daughter Brenda remembers seeing him on his knees beside the bed at night before going to sleep. On Mary Alice’s nightstand was a spiral notebook containing her prayer list, kept current with notes, additions, and subtractions.

Please continue praying for the ministry of BWF Project. Thank you for words of encouragement and financial support. Fred’s words only grow in relevance during seasons needing perseverance and wisdom.

Prayer Changes Me

Prayer definitely is a key element in the faith walk…even though I don’t understand it. I pray because it pleases God and changes me. When Mary Alice had brain surgery many friends called to say, “We are praying for Mary Alice and the family.” I started thinking about what effect prayer had on the operation.

First, it created a community of overwhelming love. We felt the care and support of friends. After the Gulf War General Schwarzkopf appeared on Bob Schuller’s Hour of Power program. He said he came just to express appreciation for the tremendous prayers of the American people which the soldiers felt during the military action. “We felt the upholding love and the community it formed around us.”

Many of my doctor friends tell me how importantly related are these feelings of love and the will to live. As Mary Alice prepared to go into surgery, we were all conscious of her strong will to live. The entire family traveled to the Jacksonville Mayo Clinic to be with her. The morning of the operation we traveled caravan style from the hotel to the Clinic. She and I knew in each family car there was much prayer being expressed for her well-being. In ours we were playing the Elvis Presley CD singing gospel hymns – a favorite of ours.

Second, I think the more people who are praying are then inclined to engage in worship, wanting God’s will, and acknowledging His sovereignty. I believe this pleases Him. Did the large number affect God? I certainly believe it pleased Him, but I do not think it affected God’s will for Mary Alice’s surgery. To say that God is impressed or influenced by the number of those praying for something is to humanize Him and make Him into a politician.

Some are tempted to create an environment in which they expect Him to perform. They almost threaten Him with displeasure if a large number gather with a specific desired outcome and He doesn’t grant the request.

Third, well-known people and Christian celebrities have no special standing with God – and no “in” for answered prayer. I often resent those who proudly announce the celebrity status of those praying for their cause. Scripture tells us God is no respecter of persons. It also says the prayer of a righteous individual accomplishes much, but it does not say the number and status of the person is key to that accomplishment. God is just as concerned with the prayer of an orphan in the slums as He is with the most celebrated of individuals. Thankfully, God doesn’t operate according to our social pecking order.

Our prayer pleases God and changes me by aligning me with God, not Him with us. It creates a community of love, and an opportunity for corporate worship. It is the unseen, but clearly experienced vertical and horizontal connection. In prayer we are wired to Him and to each other.

This week carefully consider: 1) What wrong thinking have I cultivated about prayer? 2) Who is the subject of my most fervent prayer this week? 3) How has God changed me through prayer?

Words of Wisdom: “Prayer definitely is a key element in the faith walk.”

Wisdom from the Word: “With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and petitions for all the saints.” (Ephesians 6:18 NET Bible)

Weekly Thought – November 24, 2020

Fred dedicated his life to learning – and encouraging others to grow. Before it was a popular phrase, Fred exemplified the “lifelong learner.” He believed part of the answer of God’s purpose for our lives is identifying where we hunger for deeper understanding.

Evidences of an Educated Heart

One evidence of an educated heart is the realization of self-worth. I like to hear a Christian say, “I feel good about myself.” Understanding the difference between self-worth and self-esteem is critical. We can appreciate who we are because we are given gifts by God.

A friend of mine who is a professor at a Catholic university told me “true dignity happens when genuine pride and genuine humility unite.” We in the evangelical community think of pride and humility as being antonyms when actually they are two sides of the same coin. Don’t you feel you can be justly proud of being a child of God – a member of the family.

A wealthy business friend in Boston with his wife invited a young girl living on the streets to move in with them for a year. Each night after dinner he would repeat the catechism he developed for her. “Why does God love you?” She would answer “Not because I am good but because I am precious.” Then he asked, “Why are you precious?” “Because Christ died for me” was the response. I told that story to an audience in East Texas. Afterwards a small woman in her 80s came up and said, “Thank you. All my life I wanted to be precious and now I know I am.”

You unite that pride with genuine humility and you have a truly educated heart. I like to define humility as “not denying the power you have but admitting it comes through you and not from you.” Denying the gift is lying; attributing it to God is truth telling. Some people think they are showing humility by bad-mouthing themselves. That is disrespecting God. In this we dignify what God has given.

Another evidence of an educated heart is a homing sense. That is, a sense for home. Just as the homing pigeon never loses their direction the educated heart never loses the sense of the Father’s house and our spiritual home. It is too easy to get lost chasing the dollar, or fame, or even service. Christians will be brought back through the homing instinct built into us by the Spirit.

I once met a CEO who talked about climbing the corporate ladder and putting his faith aside as not applicable to his business life. As he made decisions he started to see a relationship between the good decisions and the “old time religious principles” he learned growing up. He told me he finally made the decision to “come home” and realign himself with his faith.

An educated heart understands that he or she may have tremendous success, piloting bigger and bigger ships in larger and larger waters. But the largest vessel still bows to the instruction of the lighthouse. Never neglect the lighthouse in your harbor which marks your way home.

This week carefully consider: 1) How clear am I on my God-given gifts? 2) What reminds me that I am precious to God? 3) How strong is my homing instinct?

Words of Wisdom: “Humility is not denying the power you have, but admitting it comes through you and not from you.”

Wisdom from the Word: “Do not let mercy and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.” (Proverbs 3:3 NET Bible)