By Chaplain Joy Le Page Smith, M.A.

Intelligence finds human beings wanting to know, “Is there a God.”

Many people lean into intelligence, wanting to know what God wants of us humans. This leads to reading the Bible where it is made clear in Psalms 111:10, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding has all those who do His commandments.”

Comprehending this “fear of the Lord” is a major step in feeling safe with God. People who best succeed in this quest read the Bible concertedly as a practice within their daily or weekly endeavors. This is the key to finding what God desires for each of our lives. And, the support that comes to us within this practice indelibly marks the path in ways that define us as “God’s people.” A very nice part of this is that we find no need for any addictive escape patterns, such as leaning on alcohol and drugs. Our only addiction (if we can call it that) is seeking to know more about God and the love He has for us.

So, for sure, a practice of studying the Bible does not find us shaking in fear of God. This lifetime journey brings comfort within the trials of life, along with a peace (“that passes all understanding”) and a felt joy that uplifts one’s soul.

Scripture says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” This is not about dreading harm from Him. It is about the reverence we hold for God the Father, Jesus the Son and their presence, experienced through the Holy Spirit at work in their lives.

Once a person hears the Lord’s “knock on the door of her or his heart” and consequently opens up to wanting God in their lives—communication quickens, and the most amazing things begin to happen. Wisdom finds us seeking to learn everything we can about God. We want to be close to Him—as love, peace and joy abound within the interaction we now have with God through prayer and watching Him work within our hearts each day. We thirst to follow where He leads us. When we do something wrong, His Holy Spirit within quickly “speaks up.” We want to repent. We want to “abide” in the beautiful relationship we have with our Lord. (By the way, being “righteous” simply means “right living.”)

Isn’t this similar to the way we are with our human loved ones? It is not that we are in fear of them. No. We treat them the way they deserve to be treated because we want to be in continuous connection with them. If we fail to be respectful of a loved one, we know it quite quickly–and do what we can to set things right. That is not about “fear” that cripples us. It is wisdom that keeps prompting us to stay in good stead with our loved ones. We want their presence in our lives. What we fear is losing the closeness we enjoy within our loving relationships. This is wisdom. The same is true of “fearing the Lord.” Offending Him makes us feel insecure within our relationship with Him–one that keeps our lives in the fulcrum of God’s goodness.

So, which is greater, intelligence or wisdom? There can be no comparison! These go hand-in-hand. Without the one, we don’t have the other.

In today’s world, we see what happens when one prefers to only listen to their own voice from within to decide what is right or wrong for them. Bankruptcy happens–in ways that are even more harmful than losing their property or money.

This is why “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Psalms 111:10, promises, “A good understanding has all those who do His commandments.” No more sense of loneliness or loss. God promises a life of provision and protection—a life that holds meaning and purpose for those who want to live in a right relationship with Him.

See website Healing-with-Joy.com for multiple free helps with depression, disillusionment, disappointment and many matters that derail us in life. Her books and blogs are read in up to 32 countries. You may also enjoy Joy’s new Google site at Healingwithjoy.blogspot.com

By Joy Le Page Smith, MA, BCC

Gary and I read Scripture in the early A.M. We were in Genesis reading about God’s interactions with Adam and Eve.  I did the reading and after finishing, Gary said, “God uses the pronoun “he”—what about “she?”

I said, “Within God’s Word, ‘He’ always includes ‘she’ in the “he.” (Here C.S. Lewis would, say, “You are riding on a very tight rein here, Lady,” as the majority of languages do not use gender-specific pronouns.”)

He looked at me as if he was saying, “Wait a minute.”

There is more to say, of course. “When God made Adam and Eve, at first there was only Adam. Maybe God waited until Adam came to know there was something lacking in his life.  But the next happenstance is stunning: God put Adam into a deep sleep then took a rib out of him. (Rather than robotic surgery, it was “God’s rib-otics.”)

Next, He used the DNA of Adam’s rib to create a partner for him. And, Adam named her Eve “because she would become the mother of all living,” (Genesis 3:20).

Wow! That’s one very big accomplishment claimed for womanhood right at the start! Talk about power!

So God made them equally powerful. And “no.” a man does not have one less rib than a woman such as some claim. It is scientifically proven that both “a man” and “a woman” have 24 ribs.

Back to Gary’s retorts about the Genesis passage, specifically this one, “God took the “s” and put it in front of the “he.”

Hmm. Really. Is there some significance in this?

I am thinking “yes” because God wanted to make equality a clear message. He had said, “In Genesis 1:27, “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”

Scripture shows Adam to be God’s first human being created and therefore the first to hear the voice of God. (As God intended Him to listen and learn, which would happen for Eve as well.)

God decided (maybe this holds water) to speak to Adam as “He” leaned hard on their equality. He and she within their equality received the message as one. After all, she was “to be “bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh.”  Voila! Equality! One in God’s sight.

Note how God gave the most powerful ability to women, that of carrying new life within her body and therefore bringing children into life. Of course her impregnation came from Adam.

It seems the height of equality comes to the couple by God’s messages being addressed to “him.” And, “he” was intended to lovingly live out these truths–exemplarily. In this way, “she” sees how this works.

Of course, this works both ways. As “she” gets the message a woman can portray it to her husband by her words and actions day-by-day. Ephesians 5:22-33, “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church . . .” Of course, if a man treats his wife without tenderly honoring her and loving her, it is hurtful, brings pain to both of them—and subverts God’s plan. (And this works both ways, for the woman as well as for the man.)

God’s ideal is for us to be with one another and love one another in a holy way, exemplifying His love as we team up and make the world a better place.

For sure, God is continually speaking to all people through the Bible, our Holy Writ, as well as to speak to us within our hearts.

Author information: Joy Le Page smith has authored four books. See these on her website: Healing-with-Joy.com where you will also find hundreds of helps to people who are hurting. Free as well as a story for children, The Little Mountain Goat Who Was Afraid of High Places.

By Chaplain Joy

Le Page Smith, MA, BCC

Inspiration has been felt by most everyone among us. What is the feeling and where do we learn the most about it?

The most inspiring book ever written came to us through 40 men who wrote on scrolls of papyrus or parchment what God was directing them to transcribe.  Billions of readers throughout history have found the Bible uplifts hearts and spiritually stimulates our minds. This is the fulcrum from which we believe God leads our lives.

When we are inspired by God and follow through we are choosing to be influenced by God. This results in our lives extending help to others—by following the way our minds and spirits are being directed. This is how God’s work gets done on planet Earth.

Scripture says, “Many are called, but few are chosen,” Matthew 22:14.

It is the Lord Jesus Christ whose inspiration finds us following through with what He wants us to do. We become the “chosen” ones as we obey when inspired by Him to serve.

It is my hope that every human hears “the knock” of God on their hearts at some point while living here on earth. Uncountable numbers of us have responded and seek to know what it is that God desires for our lives.

Countless books are filled with actions people have been inspired to achieve. It is beyond argument that needs met for people and for the Earth itself when folks take action after listening to the call of our hearts.

A little event comes to mind when years ago while at the annual State Fair enjoying a walk through the carnival booths, I stopped to talk with a couple who were running a booth. It was enjoyable then as I saw a couple of little children running here and there with dirt on them galore. The ground was the only place they could play. I asked her how she was managing so well watching her children while working at the booth at the same time. She explained that in a week they would be finished, “we move on.” Then added, “I sure wish I could get away long enough to find a laundry and to wash a load of clothes.” I found myself offering to take their clothes home to wash them, adding that I could have them back to her within a couple of hours. At first she said “no.” We talked about other things a bit then I said, “Please, let me help you by washing the clothes. I can have them back to you by 4 PM this afternoon.”

She said, “Yes. Actually, that would be wonderful!”

I was living with my parents at the time with my three young sons. When my mother saw me loading those clothes in her washing machine she asked for detail– then objected. I took some flack on that one.

It was a small thing to help that woman with her family needs. It felt like a “divine thing” because my heart was aglow as I unloaded the clean clothes from my car and took them to the woman at the carnival booth. I am remembering the details and can mentally see the scene many decades later. She may still remember as well as her husband, too, may hold that memory.

It is a remarkable thing to cogitate on how God’s people are everywhere on this earth.  If we keep our eyes and ears open to the needs of others they are more likely to be seen and met.  And, through being “a servant to all” we become part of something much bigger than ourselves. And, it brings considerable joy to our lives.

Author information: Joy Le Page smith is a newspaper columnist who has authored four books. See these on her website: Healing-with-Joy.com where you will also find hundreds of articles written to help people who are hurting.

Also view–FREE–on Joy’s website her children’s book titled The Little Mountain Goat Who Was Afraid of High Places.