Hi, I’m Howie Campbell, and this is a Wisdom and Truth Minute.
I was thinking about that beautiful song that Paul Stookeyfrom Peter, Paul, and Mary wrote for Peter Yarrow when he was married. Debbie and I had my brother Joe and the pastor’s wife play it at our wedding. It begins “He is now to be among you at the calling of your hearts.” So beautiful!
Four times in the Bible, we read that a man shall leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife, and they too shall be one flesh. Apparently, in God’s eyes, he sees the two as one. This is an incredible picture of unity and harmony. With God in the mix, it has the ability to work well. That’s why Jesus, in Matthew 19:6 and Mark 10:9 said “What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder.”
Hi, I’m Howie Campbell, and this is a Wisdom and Truth Minute.
“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9). This old-English sounding phrase is actually easy to understand once you define the words. And as usual, I discovered a little treasure here.
The original word for wherewithal means “what, when, where, how,” but in common usage, according to the dictionary, it’s a financial term. It’s sort of like, how can a young man find the wherewithal to cleanse his own way? Well he can’t – he needs the instruction found in God’s word. Young man, turn to the Lord. Seek his wisdom, and he’ll make your path straight.
Hi, I’m Howie Campbell, and this is a Wisdom and Truth Minute.
Icy wind whistling through the trees… Old man winter proves once again he owns January and February in the north country. Take away our ability to build fire, or turn on the heat, and we would find it difficult, if not impossible, to survive the outdoors in sub-zero weather. This is another reminder of just how small we are compared to the immensity of God’s creation.
Psalm 147:16-17 says, “He gives snow like wool; he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes. He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold?”
Hi, I’m Howie Campbell, and this is a Wisdom and Truth Minute.
My wife Debbie and I travel all over America, singing songs of family, faith, relationships, life experiences. It’s folk-style, sort of reminiscent of the ’60s and ’70s. Do you know about the powerful moving of the holy spirit among the young folks, the hippies, the drug culture back in the 1960’s?
It seemed like there was a hunger for truth, and God met that hunger with his son, Jesus Christ. That time was known as “The Jesus Movement.” I believe there is a similar movement taking place today. Jesus said “I am the bread of life; he that comes to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst” (John 6:35). Seek Jesus, the bread of life.
Hi, I’m Howie Campbell, and this is a Wisdom and Truth Minute.
Zanmei shen. Gloria dios. That was Mandarin Chinese and Spanish. How do you say ‘Praise the Lord’? Psalm 19, verses 1 and 3-4 say “The heavens declare the Glory of God and the firmament sheweth his handiwork… There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.”
The heavens are a steady testimony to the immensity of God, and every aspect of creation bears witness to his handiwork. When we praise God, we join with all nature in declaring his glory. So let’s praise the Lord, everyday.
Hi, I’m Howie Campbell, and this is a Wisdom and Truth Minute.
“When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” (1 Corinthians 13:11)
Children are in the learning stage of life. They haven’t had a lot of life experience, don’t have a lot of knowledge, haven’t had to make the hard decisions as much. That’s why they often make poor choices, or at least, not the best ones, like grabbing a toy away from another child, or hitting, calling names, getting angry and lashing out. Paul says he grew up and put away childish things. We find him saying this in his famous chapter on love: greater than faith, greater than hope, is love, my friend.
Hi, I’m Howie Campbell, and this is a Wisdom and Truth Minute.
“Commit your way unto the Lord. Trust also in him, and he will bring it to pass.” (Psalm 37:5). Doing everything well in life takes commitment, whether you’re an athlete, a musician, a banker, teacher, student, carpenter, cook, mother or father. You have to be committed to the task in order to do a good job.
We all hope for a good outcome in life, but many folks just expect things to come their way without effort or commitment. On the other hand, there are people who trust only in themselves, and wonder why things don’t work out so well. For excellent results, let me remind you to commit your way unto the Lord. Trust also in him, and he will bring it to pass. That’s a promise.
Hi, I’m Howie Campbell, and this is a Wisdom and Truth Minute.
Can you, at this moment, see what’s going on a hundred miles from you? Do you know the details of what will take place in your life tomorrow? Of course not. We’re locked in to space and time.
But God does. In fact, he’s there waiting, while at the same time being with you now. We can do all the planning, hoping, and working toward the future we want, but we really don’t know what the future holds.
This is a timeless truth. About 2000 years ago, the apostle Paul quoted from Isaiah the prophet, who lived about 600 years before him. 1 Corinthians 2:9 says: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for him who love him.” It’s a good thing we know who holds the future, and your future is looking good!
Hi, I’m Howie Campbell, and this is a Wisdom and Truth Minute.
Everyday, I try to find at least one moment when I can focus on the Lord. It usually works best for me first thing in the day, before all the busyness begins. It’s not easy to do; and often, something will demand my attention. Doing it consistently takes determination. Being quiet before God, focusing on Jesus, helps set the tone for the rest of the day. It’s like when I tune my guitar before playing – it makes the song sound so much better. Perhaps that’s why Nehemiah 8:10 says: “The joy of the Lord is your strength.”
May you find your strength in the Lord as you make time for him each day. The joy of the Lord is your strength, my friend.
Hi, I’m Howie Campbell, and this is a Wisdom and Truth Minute.
In what do you find comfort? Where does your joy come from? Is it really possible to rejoice always, in all circumstances?
Psalm 16 was written by a man in a dangerous, life-threatening situation. It begins: “Preserve me, O God, for in you do I put my trust.” God has proved to me over and over again through the years that trusting in him yields the best results. I know I can trust him – he’s proved himself to me. Psalm 16 ends with this: “You will show me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy. At your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”