December 14th, 2023
by Michelle Burford, Literacy Project Director
by Michelle Burford, Literacy Project Director
Scripture
"My child, eat honey, for it is good.
The honeycomb is sweet in your mouth.
Know that wisdom is like that for your whole being.
If you find it, there is a future.
Your hope won’t be cut off." - Proverbs 24: 13-14
Reflection
We live in the information age where “facts” are one click away 24/7. The church can often be just one more place where getting it RIGHT –the right words, the right understanding, the right people– reigns supreme at the cost of whatever and whoever gets in the way. But the Bible demonstrates time and again that God is less interested in our knowledge than in our wisdom. My favorite way to think about the difference is with the help of a quote (attributed to a variety of people over the years), “Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, wisdom is not putting one in your fruit salad.” Knowledge is about information, wisdom is about context and, often, relationship. Knowledge is black and white, wisdom relies on all the varied subtle shades in between.
That spectrum of understanding the world and the people in it is exactly where I am finding hope in my everyday life right now. It is sweet like honey to know that God calls me to come to the table, every table from the one in my dining room to the one at the office, with the lens of wisdom that allows me to consider far more than meets the eye in any given moment. That’s where grace lives, in a place of deep understanding and acceptance. I often tell my kids (and remind myself), “You can be right, or you can be in relationship.” May we choose relationship whenever possible.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for offering us opportunities to grow in wisdom every single day. Open our eyes to new ways of understanding that prompt us to extend love and grace evermore lavishly to those around us and to ourselves. When we long for easy answers and binary ways of seeing the world, remind us that you offer something much sweeter in all of the richness and complexity of your creation. In Jesus name, amen.
"My child, eat honey, for it is good.
The honeycomb is sweet in your mouth.
Know that wisdom is like that for your whole being.
If you find it, there is a future.
Your hope won’t be cut off." - Proverbs 24: 13-14
Reflection
We live in the information age where “facts” are one click away 24/7. The church can often be just one more place where getting it RIGHT –the right words, the right understanding, the right people– reigns supreme at the cost of whatever and whoever gets in the way. But the Bible demonstrates time and again that God is less interested in our knowledge than in our wisdom. My favorite way to think about the difference is with the help of a quote (attributed to a variety of people over the years), “Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, wisdom is not putting one in your fruit salad.” Knowledge is about information, wisdom is about context and, often, relationship. Knowledge is black and white, wisdom relies on all the varied subtle shades in between.
That spectrum of understanding the world and the people in it is exactly where I am finding hope in my everyday life right now. It is sweet like honey to know that God calls me to come to the table, every table from the one in my dining room to the one at the office, with the lens of wisdom that allows me to consider far more than meets the eye in any given moment. That’s where grace lives, in a place of deep understanding and acceptance. I often tell my kids (and remind myself), “You can be right, or you can be in relationship.” May we choose relationship whenever possible.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for offering us opportunities to grow in wisdom every single day. Open our eyes to new ways of understanding that prompt us to extend love and grace evermore lavishly to those around us and to ourselves. When we long for easy answers and binary ways of seeing the world, remind us that you offer something much sweeter in all of the richness and complexity of your creation. In Jesus name, amen.
Posted in Advent Devotional
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Archive
2024
January
Clean Slate: Week 1 Discussion GuideStarting & Sustaining Change // M-Note 1.6.24Clean Slate: Week 2 Discussion GuideStarting Small, Dreaming Big // M-Note 1.13.24Clean Slate: Week 3 Discussion GuideTogether Towards Change...and Healthy Habits // M-Note 1.20.24Clean Slate: Week 4 Discussion GuideSlowing Down for God to Show Up // M-Note 1.27.24
February
More Isn't Always Better // M-Note 2.3.24Money Talks: Week 1 Discussion GuideAshes for Valentine's Day? // M-Note 2.10.24Money Talks: Week 2 Discussion GuideLenten Devotional 2024Money Talks: Week 3 Discussion GuideWhat's your legacy? // M-Note 2.17.24Strength in Numbers: Community in Ministry // M-Note 2.24.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week One
March
Entourage Discussion Guide - Week TwoUpdates from Clayton and Easter Invitation // M-Note 3.2.24Twenty Students Confirmed Last Sunday // M-Note 3.9.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 3How serving at Easter can really make a difference // M-Note 3.16.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 4Can You Know Joy Without Pain? // M-Note 3.23.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 5It's time for EasterSTL at The Factory // M-Note 3.28.24
April
Easter Discussion GuideScreen Time: Troubleshooting our Relationship with Technology // M-Note 4.6.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 1Springtime Reminders: Joy Comes with the Morning // M-Note 4.13.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 2Shaping the Future at the UMC General Conference // M-Note 4.20.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 3 General Conference Halftime Report// M-Note 4.27.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 4
2023
January
February
Explore - Week 1Explore - Week 2Explore - Week 3Explore - Week 4God is Leading Us Forward // M-Note 2.3.23SENT: Week 1 Discussion GuideSomething To Try This Weekend // M-Note 2.10.23SENT: Week 2 Discussion GuideWe're Doing Something Big! // M-Note 2.17.23SENT: Week 3 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 1Lent Devotional Day 2Lent Devotional Day 3SENT: Week 4 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 4Lent Devotional Day 5Lent Devotional Day 6Lent Devotional Day 7
March
Lent Devotional Day 8Lent Devotional Day 9Celebrating BEYOND // M-Note 3.3.2023Who Is Jesus: BONUS Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 10Lent Devotional Day 11Lent Devotional Day 12Who Is Jesus: Week 1 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 13Lent Devotional Day 14Lent Devotional Day 15Lent Devotional Day 16Lent Devotional Day 17The Evening Service is BACK!!! // M-Note 3.10.23Lent Devotional Day 18Lent Devotional Day 19Who Is Jesus: Week 2 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 20Lent Devotional Day 21Lent Devotional Day 22Lent Devotional Day 23The Most Important Sunday of the Year // M-Note 3.17.23Who Is Jesus: Week 3 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 24Lent Devotional Day 25Lent Devotional Day 26Lent Devotional Day 27Lent Devotional Day 28Lent Devotional Day 29Lent Devotional Day 30The Power of Easter and Invitation // M-Note 3.24.23Lent Devotional Day 31Who Is Jesus: Week 4 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 32Lent Devotional Day 33Lent Devotional Day 34Lent Devotional Day 35
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