What’s so great about wisdom?

What is so great about wisdom (living life in line with God’s truth) ?

Wisdom gives understanding (Proverbs 4:1).  When we don’t know how to read all we can do is look at a book.  We can’t understand what the letters mean.  In the same way that we want to understand the books we read, we want to do more than just look at life.  We want to understand it…to know what life means.  Wisdom gives the insight we need to understand life.

Wisdom gives us life (Proverbs 4:4).  There is health and peace and joy in a godly life.  This does not mean that we do not get sick or have health concerns.  Sickness is part of our fallen world, but wisdom enables us to make choices to protect our health as much as possible.  We are able to be healthy physically, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually.

Wisdom guards us (Proverbs 4:6).  It keeps us within God’s plan for our life.  Wisdom is a boundary that helps us to live in God’s blessing.

Wisdom watches over us (Proverbs 4:6).  It protects us from danger when we make wise choices.  Wisdom helps to keep us safe.

Wisdom (living out God’s Word in a situation) exalts us  (Proverbs 4:8).  When we make wise choices we stand out from others who are relying on themselves.  God’s ways are always higher than our ways.

Wisdom honors us  (Proverbs 4:8).  There are rewards for following God’s ways, even if others do not recognize the value of them.

Wisdom places a “garland of grace on our head” (Proverbs 4:9).   It presents us with a “crown of beauty”  (Proverbs 4:9).  Wisdom gives us an abundant life.  We are able to enjoy all of the blessings and promises that God has made available to us when we put His Word into action.

This is what is so great about wisdom!

Thanksgiving Coloring Page for Kids

Walking through the apple orchard a few months back the branches were heavy with fruit. It looked as though they couldn’t have held one more piece. The Creator reminds us of His generosity toward us. He is not stingy, but lavishes His love upon His children.

As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, may we encourage our children to give thanks as generously as He has lavished us. We can help them to understand what it means to give thanks by explaining what it means to give. Giving involves handing over something tangible…thoughts, words, feelings and actions. Giving thanks is expressing gratitude to someone through our actions. The Psalms is a great guide book for expressions of thankfulness. May this Thanksgiving be truly an act of gratitude!

“Praise the Lord, all nations; Laud Him all peoples! For His lovingkindness is great toward us, and the truth of the Lord is everlasting. Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 117)

Wise Owl says, “It’s not Wise to be Lazy.”

This is Wise Owl.  He loves to learn and write what he learns in his wisdom journal.  Wise Owl is excited about going to see his friend Johnny today.  What do you think he will learn about wisdom at Johnny’s house?

When Wise Owl gets to Johnny’s house he finds Johnny in his room.  Johnny is down on the floor cleaning up his room.  He feels overwhelmed by all of the things that need to be picked up.  His face is sad.

“Hi, Johnny” says Wise Owl.  “You look sad.”

“Yeah, my Mom said that I have to clean up my room before I can play with you today.”

“What kept you from cleaning it earlier?” asks Wise Owl.

“Well, it just seemed like such a big job that when my Mom would mention cleaning up my room, I kept on looking at my favorite library book.  The next time she asked I was playing computer games and it just seemed too hard.  It makes me tired just looking at all of this stuff.” complained Johnny.

“I think that I have something that might encourage you in my wisdom journal that I wrote down this morning, Johnny”  It says in Proverbs,

“You people who don’t want to work, think about the ant!  Consider its ways and be wise!

It has no commander.  It has no leader or ruler.  But it stores up its food in summer.  It gathers its food at harvest time.

You lazy people, how long will you lie there?  When will you get up from your sleep?  You might sleep a little or take a little nap.  You might even fold your hands and rest.

Then you would be poor, as if someone had robbed you.  You would have little, as if someone had stolen from you.” 

Proverbs 6:6-11

“Johnny, if we work hard when our parents or our teachers say it’s time to work, then we get to enjoy the good things that come from that work.  We know where to find the toys we want to play with because they are in their spot.  We know where to find the clothes we want to wear because they are in the drawer in which they belong.  We also get to enjoy our time of rest when we don’t have to spend it doing the work we didn’t want to do earlier.  You see, it’s not wise to be lazy. Let’s work hard right now.  Then we can enjoy some playtime together if your Mom says it’s okay.”

Wise Owl asks you…

1.  What does it mean to be lazy?

2.  What is unwise about being lazy?

3.  Does laziness give glory to God?

4.  How can we ask God to help us overcome laziness this week? (This is a good time to remind your child that their worth is not based on whether they are lazy or not.  They are valuable because they are created by God.  When we ask God to enable us to make wise choices we get to enjoy the blessings of wisdom.)

Activities to make this truth tangible:

1.  Purchase an ant farm so your child can see the diligence of the ant.

2.  Print out an ant coloring page.

3. Make a plan to address an area of laziness.  (Example:  picking up toys daily, cleaning your room)

Wise Owl would love to hear your thoughts about wisdom today…

Wisdom for Little Ones with Wise Owl

Meet Wise Owl

This is Wise Owl.  He loves to learn.  Every day he writes what he learns in his wisdom journal.  He wonders where he will need wisdom today.  What is wisdom anyway?

Wise Owl says, “Wisdom is putting God’s Word into action.”  Wise Owl knows where to find God’s wisdom.  Where will it be?

Will Wise Owl look for God’s wisdom on the television?  Will he look for God’s wisdom at the store?  Will he find it under his bed?

Wise Owl will find true wisdom in God’s Book.  He knows that “respect for the Lord is the place to start.”  (Proverbs 1:7)  That means putting God’s truth above your own opinions in life.

Since God is all-wise, His Word is perfect.  It is the absolute best.  Wisdom will not allow anything to get in the way of what is best.

So Wise Owl begins his day with the all-wise God, seeking the best in His Word and asking for his wisdom in prayer.  This is what makes him so wise.

Wise Owl will be sharing his journal entries with you on a regular basis.  He would be so pleased if you would join him in seeking God’s Wisdom.

He would like to hear your thoughts about wisdom as well…please share.