wisdom

Wisdom Comes from Listening

October 11, 2018 by Ellen 2 Comments

For the next three weeks I will be celebrating five years of writing and blogging! Five years. Only God has kept me persevering this long!

I love to celebrate this anniversary by introducing friends I’ve met along the way. This week, Dr. Michelle Bengtson shares with us.

I met Michelle about three years ago. Let me tell you, she is a little spitfire! I am 5’1”, and I feel like a giant next to her! Michelle has a passion for sharing the HOPE of Jesus Christ with others. She is the author of “Hope Prevails: Insights From A Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression” as well as the companion Bible study.

Be sure to check out the links below, and follow Michelle on social media. I’m sure there will be MORE books coming our way, from this beautiful woman of God.

Thank you Dr. B! I love you!

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“Mom, Coach said I have to be registered for an athletics class first period if I want to be on the team. What am I going to do?”

I received this text from my son on the first day of school. I stood there reading his words, shaking my head.

Several months earlier when all the students registered for their classes for the next school year, I had advised him to check with his guidance counselor and the coach to find out the rules and regulations. I explained, “We’re trying to save you from pain down the road.”

Sadly, he refused to listen, went on his own assumptions, then suffered the consequences on the first day of school when he either had to quit the team, or have his entire schedule rearranged to accommodate the rule.

As my husband and I problem solved this with him, and discussed the scenario, I felt equal parts frustration and pain. I felt frustration because I had tried to save him from such a mishap but he willfully chose not to listen. I also felt his pain because rearranging his schedule meant there were other classes he wanted that he would no longer be able to take because they were filled during the class periods he now had available. A hard lesson for sure.

As I sat and prayed over him and for him, I felt the nudging in my heart.

“You do that too,” the Lord whispered.

“I do? Do what?”

“Yes, you tell me what you want or need or think, and run off ahead assuming you know what is best for you, but sometimes fail to listen long enough to hear my answer.”

My heart was grieved because I knew He was right. My life verse is Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord. “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans for a future and a hope.” And yet, I will never know His plans for me if I don’t take time to slow down and listen to His heart, and inquire of His guidance.

Sometimes my prayers are more of a one-way session of lament, than a two way conversation, equally focused on hearing what He wants me to know as I am with sharing my concerns.

Proverbs 1:5 gives us every reason to make listening a higher priority than assuming or doing: “Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.”

Desire wisdom? Listen.

Don’t want to be a fool? Listen.

Want to know what to do? Listen.

Need discernment? Seek guidance and listen to that which is offered.

It’s a cliché, but God gave us two ears but only one mouth for a reason. We might all benefit from taking more time to listen to the heart and the desires of our Heavenly Father. He never withholds good from His children, but He never forces us to stay in His presence and listen either. We get to choose. Wisdom says listening is profitable for all good things.

May I pray for you?

Heavenly Father, I pray for the one reading these words right now. I pray that you would help them be still and listen to all you have to say. We want to be wise, and that comes from seeking out your heart and your desires for us. Help us to be children who listen and obey. In Jesus’s name I pray, Amen.

Because of Him, #HopePrevails

BIO: Dr. Michelle Bengtson is an international speaker, and the author of the bestselling, award winning “Hope Prevails: Insights From A Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression” and the newly released companion “Hope Prevails Bible Study.” She has been a neuropsychologist for more than twenty years, and is now in private practice in Southlake, Texas where she evaluates, diagnoses, and treats children and adults with a variety of medical and mental health disorders. This doctor knows pain and despair firsthand and combines her professional expertise and personal experience with her faith to address her patients’ issues, both for those who suffer and the ones who care for them.

Using sound practical tools, she affirms worth and encourages faith. Dr. Bengtson offers hope as a key to unlock joy and relief—even in the middle of the storm. She and her husband of thirty years have two teenage sons and reside in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. She blogs regularly on her own site: http://www.DrMichelleBengtson.

For more hope, stay connected with me at:

Website: http://www.DrMichelleBengtson.com

Blog: http://drmichellebengtson.com/category/blog/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrMichelleBengtson

Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com/DrMBengtson (@DrMBengtson)

LinkedIn: http://www.LinkedIn.com/in/DrMichelleBengtson

Google+: http://www.google.com/+MichelleBengtson

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/drmichellebengtson

Pinterest: http://www.Pinterest.com/Drbhopeprevails

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn92DHzGSZk8psDb2FKazOQ

To order Hope Prevails from Amazon: amzn.to/2zB0e7J

To order Hope Prevails Bible Study from Amazon: http://amzn.to/2yMdN46

The Light of Faith Outshines the Darkness of Fear

August 4, 2016 by Ellen 6 Comments

Things were critical. I HAD to go. I was literally about to pee in my pants. All because I didn’t want to get out of my comfort zone…

I’m not much of a world traveler.

Matter of fact only recently have I begun driving outside of my two home states of Louisiana and Mississippi to go to Dallas for a visit with writer friends. My goodness! ALL those lanes of traffic! That is not what I’m used to! Give me just two lanes of leisurely moving traffic and I’m good. Driving in Dallas is a bit out of my comfort zone.

But when I really, really get out of my comfort zone is flying. I figure if God had wanted me to fly, He would have given me wings.

A few years back, John and I flew out to Utah. In the course of the flight, I realized I had to go to the restroom. However, I was NOT going to leave the safety of my seat. You know, the seat with the seat belt, flotation device, oxygen mask and all. There was no way I was going to walk down the aisle of the plane while it was tens of thousands of feet in the air. No sir. I was going to stay where I was strapped in, with all my safety equipment.

But it got to the point that I had to go. I couldn’t wait any longer, and we had another hour or so left in the flight. I put on my big girl panties and made the walk down the long aisle to the tiny bathroom cubicle. I stuck my hand inside, running it up and down the wall to find the light switch. It wasn’t there. I was befuddled. Surely there has to be a light switch!

I stepped into the little cubby hole, felt around some more, and still no switch. I wasn’t sure quite what to do! I closed the door half way, but it was pitch black inside. I thought “Surely I will pee all over myself if I try to sit here and maneuver in the dark.” I opened the door and looked again for a light switch – nothing. Finally, things became critical. I had to make a decision. I slammed the door shut, and lo and behold, THE LIGHT CAME ON! It was a miracle! A miracle I tell you!

That’s what it’s like to walk in faith.

I can see your eyes rolling now saying “Going to pee on an airplane is like walking in faith?”

Why yes, yes it is.

You see, you have to decide to take that first step. Even when you get to the dark places, when you can’t see the next step or your hand in front of you, you have to slam the door on doubt and fear, believing that the light of Christ will guide you.

That trip to the bathroom on the airplane? That was the vacation I actually stood at the edge of a cliff. I don’t do things like that. So you see, my friend, tiny steps of faith lead to bigger leaps of faith.

[tweetthis]Let faith be your flashlight![/tweetthis]

“For we walk by faith, not by sight” 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NASB)

Grace be with you,