Ice Maker

This was originally a story regarding an ice maker...do we repair the old one or get a new one...we went with the new one...and this was back in '09. As we walked in the kitchen yesterday returning from an out of town weekend....we found the floor in front of the ice maker flooded...the wood warped and a steady leak gracing the floor with water. So I had to once again look up the repair man who is versed in this particular kind of ice maker and solicit H.I.S. service once again. I remembered sending him a copy of this devotional and sure enough there was his email address. He responded immediately and help is on its way!

On a daily basis we have to make decisions...about better or best....good or bad, long term or short term consequences...etc. You most likely are in the middle of making some now. We weigh out the different pluses and minuses, sometimes having time to contemplate sometimes just having to step out in faith....making a final decision trusting that even if it is not the right one, God will intercede and work around it to accomplish his purposes.

The process effects everything from dinner decisions, health procedures, and relationship issues to financial decisions, career paths and family matters. So many times the answers are not clear and we find ourselves staggering through the details over and over again hoping that at one point something would jump into our minds and confirm the way that is best ....not merely the way would work.

Wisdom....it is something that each of us need but too often we are not either patient enough to go through the steps to obtain it....or we are not graced with the time needed to be able to ponder and evaluate. And when we finally do come to a decision point ...there is often still a thread of anxiousness, uneasiness and insecurity in our final evaluation.

There are two kinds of wisdom...wisdom of the world and God's wisdom. So how do we know the difference? Well, when dealing in relationships... James 3, tells us what look for...1) selfish, 2) prideful and 3) untruthful stances....represent worldly wisdom vs 1) pure, 2) considerate, 3) impartial and 4) sincere stands which represent Godly wisdom.

Earthly wisdom produces disorder...Godly wisdom produces peace.
Two Kinds of Wisdom
13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.17But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

Ok now how do these two kinds of wisdom line up with us when we are trying to make hard decisions....the bottom line question is: is your soul at peace with your decision or is there an unrest that seems to lingering? I guess my bottom line action question is: have I honestly and humbly made an effort to seek God and his wisdom or have I just inadvertently gone on ahead of him and disregarded his input?

I have to admit that so many times that is just where my wise or unwise problem lies. For those times when I have gone to the Lord, in humility, knowing that either something is way over my head or I really have a desire to get something right....those have been the times that I have had a peaceful resolution even in the midst of "non knowing" the outcome.

God does honor our requests when we submit them humbly to him....but it is in the humility that we find God's greatest favor.....not just in our last ditch effort to find relief from a situation that is beyond our control. God wants us to be dependent on him...for all things. And dependency on God is a choice...and the best one at that.

God was the giver of wisdom to Solomon...the wisest king. That God of wisdom has not changed and his wisdom is available to any of us who seek it. He gladly gives it and gladly wants us to receive it. It doesn't matter what decision that you are called to make....God would love to be an active part of it.

James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
When you read the following verse....please note the "if's" and the "then".
Proverbs 2: 1-11
Moral Benefits of Wisdom
1 My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,
2 turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding-
3 indeed, if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
4 and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the LORD gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He holds success in store for the upright,
he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
8 for he guards the course of the just
and protects the way of his faithful ones.

9 Then you will understand what is right and just
and fair-every good path.
10 For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
11 Discretion will protect you,
and understanding will guard you.

As far as this original ice maker story....I did make a pretty quick self guided decision as to which maker I would purchase...it was all about the ice itself (that sonic ice) ...but as far as the installation...I was given three names and I did go to God for advice on that. I called the first one...they only did commercial installs, I called the second one but it was the third one that I decided upon. The name of the third company was H.I.S. When Scott the owner returned my call, I told him that I appreciated his message at the end of his voice mail...and he replied in a jovial voice saying..."we all think that what we have is ours...but in reality everything that we have is HIS"...hence the name of his company.

Yes God cares about anything that we care about...but it is us who need to care more about what God cares about. If we ask him for wisdom, he surely will give it abundantly according to our needs.

Dear Lord,
I ask that you, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give each of us the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that we may know you better. (Ephesians 1:17) Amen

Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!