Hi, I’m Howie Campbell, and this is a Wisdom and Truth Minute.
Did you ever watch two babies playing with one toy? Almost always, they will at some point fight over it. “Mine!” says one; “No, mine!” says the other. Who taught them that?
Proverbs 22:15 tells us, “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.” The child must be taught a better way right from the start. Loving discipline is the key to a happy family and a well-functioning society.
Hi, I’m Howie Campbell, and this is a Wisdom and Truth Minute.
People spend a lot of time and resources investing in this world. We gather stuff, care for stuff, store and protect stuff. We invest in the cares of this world, gaining position, knowledge, prestige. Even the poor are heavily invested in this world, as if this world is all there is.
Well, my friend, there is a greater reality. Jesus said, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchantman, seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all he had and bought it” (Matthew 13:45-46). The presence of God is far more important than all this life has to offer.
While driving down 140 W toward Oklahoma City, Howie was overwhelmed with tiredness and asked me to drive. I immediately thought of the last time that happened to him. We were in Texas when the engine blew on our Sprinter van shortly after I took over the wheel. With this in mind, I began to pray.
Broken down on a lonely Texas road
Traffic was heavy and we entered a construction zone, funneling traffic down to one lane. I was behind a truck with a car in tow. I was following about four car lengths behind the vehicle at 35mph. when the Lord said to me, “Don’t follow so closely”. Immediately I applied the brakes and dropped back, just as the wheel broke off the car in tow, leaving it rolling down the lane and the fender in the center of the lane. Sparks flew as the axle dragged along the highway.
I praise God for his guardianship in giving me a warning, though it didn’t at the time make sense to follow, I did. With a line of vehicles following closely behind me, it could have been a real mess, but because I followed the Lords instruction there was no accident.
Often I am asked how the Lord speaks to me. I describe it as a strong thought that crosses my mind, always something I was not thinking about, and seemingly out of the blue. When I am in doubt, I simply ask “Lord, is that you”? He has always given me an immediate answer if it is “Yes”. If I don’t hear an answer, I assume it was not Him, or check my heart to see if I am harboring sin that obscures His voice.
I am reminded of the scripture that I read the evening I was baptized. It is Jesus speaking and found in the Gospel of John. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27
There is another verse I am reminded of found in 1Kings where God spoke to Elijah. “And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.” 1 Kings 19:12
Listening for the Lords voice requires a quieting of our own. Some people have a very hard time quieting their thoughts, but with practice it can become quite natural.
So Lord, teach us to quiet our mind, still our own voice and show us how to wait on you.
Hi, I’m Howie Campbell, and this is a Wisdom and Truth Minute.
Springtime is such a beautiful, vibrant season. After a long, cold, brown, seemingly-endless winter, greens and reds and yellows begin to appear! Then, the warmer breezes blow and the gentle, life-giving rain stimulates the thirsty ground.
I’m reminded of this encouraging word from Lamentations 3:22-23: “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” Yes, great is your faithfulness to me, Lord, and I praise you!
Hi, I’m Howie Campbell, and this is a Wisdom and Truth Minute.
People that grow food out of the earth have to be in tune with the seasons and the weather. Harvesting a crop successfully depends on these and many factors. For example, planting seeds and having too much rain could cause the seeds to rot in the ground. Too little rain would cause them to dry out and die.
This concept applies in other areas of life, as well. Timing is important in sports, on the job, in sales, and even seeking the Lord in prayers. Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 says this: “To everything there is a season and a time, to every purpose under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted.” Maybe you want to ask the Lord to guide your timing today, my friend.
Hi, I’m Howie Campbell, and this is a Wisdom and Truth Minute.
There are times in my life when everything seems to be going smoothly, but then there are other times when it seems all hell is breaking loose. Have you ever felt like that? You start to wonder, ‘when will it end? When will I get back to the still waters and clear sailing?’
Listen, brother and sister, to this word of encouragement from Isaiah 43:2-3: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon you, for I am the Lord your God, the Holy one of Israel, your savior.”
Hi, I’m Howie Campbell, and this is a Wisdom and Truth Minute.
“Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto you will I pray. My voice shall you hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto you, and will look up.” Psalm 5:1-3.
I don’t know, there’s just something about the stillness of the morning that makes it the perfect time to connect with God. Before all the busyness, the noise, thinking about everything I have to do, I can focus on the Lord. I like what the Psalmist says. I will direct my prayer unto you and will look up. Now that’s a great way to begin the day, my friend.
Hi, I’m Howie Campbell, and this is a Wisdom and Truth Minute.
Some people are self-motivated. They exemplify expressions like “on the ball” or “take the bull by the horns.” They see what needs to be done, and they get right to it. Others need outside motivation. They need someone to tell them what to do. Then there are folks that are just too lazy to do anything. They wonder why they never accomplish anything, why they have nothing.
Apparently, laziness has been around a long time. Here’s what Proverbs 6:6-8 says: “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider her ways and be wise. Which, having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provides her meat in the summer and gathers her food in the harvest.” You’ve got to motivate!
Hi, I’m Howie Campbell, and this is a Wisdom and Truth Minute.
If you’ve ever been to the ocean on a very windy or stormy day, you know the power of the waves crashing on the shore. The power of the water coming in is immense. I don’t care how strong and powerful a person is, there is no way you could stand unmoved by the power of the surf. The psalmist uses the picture of the powerful seas to describe God.
“The voice of the Lord is upon the waters, the God of glory thunders. The Lord is upon many waters.” Psalm 29:3.
“The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yes, than the mighty waves of the sea.” Psalm 93:4.
God, our Savior, is awesome. Who wouldn’t worship Him?
Hi, I’m Howie Campbell, and this is a Wisdom and Truth Minute.
Waiting for something to happen seems to make time slow down to a crawl. Like on a really cold night, waiting for the sun to come up. It can be very nerve-wracking. You want morning to come so badly, but it just takes forever. There’s nothing you can do to speed time up so it gets there quicker, either. You just sit there and long for it painfully, freezing away. Listen to the heart of this psalmist: “My soul waits for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning, I say more than they that watch for the morning.” Psalm 130:6.
The desire was so great, he said it twice! My friend, do you desire the Lord like that? Is He the longing of your heart? Lord Jesus, I wait for you more than they that watch the morning.
