Secret Choices in Life
April 9, 2015
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There are only two choices
One is wisdom, one is folly
It’s a daily decision
It’s very simple
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This invitation
To choose the road you will take
You’re free to decide
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If you want to know just ask
Your Father’s glad to tell you
Is there anyone asking
You answer for you
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You can know which road
It is your freedom to choose
We all have been hurt
I’m no exception to this
We all get it in the neck
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There is a secret
To be found in both choices
They’re both inviting
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One will bring you understanding
Stolen water will taste sweet
Food that’s eaten in secret
Is so delicious
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This secret life leads to death
They don’t know the dead lay there
Folly’s guest will die quickly
And not remembered
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Understanding leads to life
Doing right adds to learning
Darkness of death is exposed
Years added to life
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Where do I begin
First, stand in awe of your God
Seek knowledge and good insight
God’s a real person
He knows my name and loves me
Even though I chose folly
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A promise I claim daily
God never forsakes those who seek
To know and find out the truth
About God and self
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Understanding comes
Love flourishes in secret
In stillness God comes
Embracing us in folly
Surprising us with real joy
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They’re no exceptions
In this world we will suffer
A reality
The world we build will shatter
The pressures are just too great
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Folly and wisdom
Which direction will you choose
You can medicate and die
Surrender and live
This love surpasses knowledge
Understanding will breathe life
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These reflections come after reading and meditating on Psalm 9 and Proverbs 9. I have a practice I do each day to tune my soul to the basic realities of life. I live my life in a day. “I number my days by one.” Bob Nelson I practice the basic fundamentals of soul each day like a musician practices his instruments. I practice seeking understanding above all else or I find my soul deceived by my own pride, lust and greed that sit in the secret places inviting me to choose to feed their hunger. This daily practice of stillness has lead me to the secret place of joy where I have been surprised with an intimate friendship of Presence that is not based on my feelings. It is based on discovering what is true about the world, self, God and real friendship. Folly taste good in the moment. It leads to death. Understanding will breathe life. It leads to Joy.
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Proverbs has been my Father. Psalms has been my mother over the last 54 years.
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Proverbs 9:6 “Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.”
Proverbs 9:10 “The fear (stand in reverent awe) of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
Psalm 9:10 “Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.”
I Believe
January 21, 2015
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“I believe in
Christ,
like I believe
the
sun
not because
I can see it,
but by it
I can see
everything”
C. S. Lewis
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Understanding leads to life
Knowledge will help get you there
Seeking with all of your heart
Will let the light come
Proverbs 21:16
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I know what to seek
It is righteousness and love
It leads to prosperity
With life and honor
Relationships will flourish
Real friendships are developed
Proverbs 21:21
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The word righteousness is not self-righteousness but it is the commitment to the best interest of the other person and justice for all.The book of Proverbs has fathered me giving counsel and insight into love, money, sex and power.
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Victory will come
Accessing a private time
Wisdom will be discovered
In stillness I come
Waiting with expectation
For the healing light of love
Proverbs 21:31
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Living In The Light
January 1, 2015
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Two important things
Knowledge and understanding
Will equal wisdom
Knowledge applied at right times
Will give power and freedom
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Waking up each day
Knowing a certain future
Anticipating real joy
Is a way to live
That is possible for all
Can be a daily practice
*
Circumstances cannot rob
Take away this joy in me
It’s based on knowledge and wisdom
I”ll live in the light
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The world can hurt you
Sometimes it certainly will
I have found I have a choice
How I will respond
The power is in knowing this
Love is larger than all things
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Pride is within me
Along with lust and the greed
Basic things to all of us
There is an answer
To keep these from destroying
My soul, body and my mind
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The light in my soul
Will heal the wounded places
Received with great joy
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Happy New Year to those who choose to share this joy. I have chosen the word “light” to be my focus word this year. No resolutions just one word. This word brings clarity and understanding as I look into the heart of God through the light of His Son. May this be the best year of your life. One day at a time, walking after love, as revealed in the daily practice of interacting with the passion and compassionate heart of God, that is light to me. If you have chosen a word for the New Year, would you share that word with me in your reply? Thank you!
Two Strong Feelings
December 30, 2013
Two strong feelings come
One is great joy and laughter
The other “I feel afraid”
Help me trust in your love
Seek your will with all my heart
~
Where will this take me
A question I want to know
Give me your vision
Help me see the world like you
Show me where I can serve you
~
The Wonderful Counselor
The Prince of Peace is with me
The Everlasting Father
These great voices speak
~
Father shows no favorites
Each child is called to listen
Each one is beloved by God
The work: to believe
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This new world clashes
The power to receive love
Accept forgiveness
As opposed to the judgment
Man gives to one another
~
The judgment we give
Will be the judgment we get
So be gentle with yourself
Go against the gods
That live in your unconscious
The ones you learned as a child
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The unconscious arises
When the pressure of life hits
When the trouble really comes
Wisdom is needed
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I will train to be ready
Consistent daily practice
Guard my heart with diligence
Out of it flows life
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Reflections written after reading Luke 14 out loud and meditating on the following thoughts:
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“Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust
who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.” Psalm 40:4
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“When I am afraid,
I will trust in you.
In God I trust, I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?” Psalm 53:3-4
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“Trust in the Lord at all times, O people;
pour out your hearts to him, for God is your refuge.” Psalm 62:8
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“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” Isaiah 26:3-4
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In the book, Delta Blues From Darkness to Life, the painful process of dismantling of these “unconscious gods” that keep us stuck are exposed and a process of deliverance is revealed in one man’s life. You can read the reviews of the book at www.coachinglifematters.com. All the best on your journey.
Joy and Pain
May 3, 2013
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This is a mixture
They seem to go together
A choice can be made
Joy and pain are “twin sisters”*
A surprised discovery
I began this life with joy
The pain was hidden from me
Then surprised me with vengeance
And joy sustained me
A well-spring of energy
Like living water it came
It found me in the despair
Offering me hope
The memory compelled me
I am larger than my pain
I discovered this secret
Made in God’s image
This huge discovery came
A love affair ignited
One that cannot be explained
Pursued by God’s love
There is great wisdom
Pay attention to questions
Reflect on your life
Give yourself to the seeking
God is searching to find you
He is running to meet you
With the deepest compassion
You find it in the story
Of God’s unique Son
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” Ephesians 3:16-17
“You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” Psalm 16:11
*I got the phrase “Twin Sisters” from a poem my wife Charlotte wrote years ago.
For my nephew Kirk, on his birthday
Desire of Your Heart
October 9, 2012
A way is revealed
With gentleness and kindness
Love will come in a whisper
When you long to know
You seek God’s wisdom above all
Make knowledge of truth your aim
There is one constant
A surprise to discover
It’s unfailing love
In seeking the truth
Being disciplined to think
I found in desperation
A hunger for life
Simple answers do not work
Honest questions saved me
It is too good to be true
Wisdom and understanding
Is available to all
Who delight in God
Yes, it is the truth
One must practice believing Him
Take Him at His word
What’s the desire of your heart
There are promises for you
If you delight in the Lord
Light comes to your soul
Proverbs 8; Psalms 36-40; Jesus Calling by Sarah Young
Wisdom Available
October 4, 2012
To find the treasure
Ear – listen for wisdom
Eye – search with great intent
Heart – apply the understanding
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Then you’ll understand
What it means to revere God
Gain knowledge of God
You’ll discover the wisdom
Embrace the insights
You’re my shield, O God
Your righteousness – my protector
I walk in your peace
Your promises restore me
Your Divine Power saves me
Psalm 7:10
I will trust in you
With all my heart I seek you
It’s you I believe
You have never forsaken
Those who seek with all their heart
Psalm 9: 9,10
Is there room for God
Pride can fill up the heart
Lust will poison it
Greed causes one to act out
These three things bring great destruction
God helps the fatherless ones
Breaks the arm of the wicked
The Lord is King forever
You rule with mercy
Proverbs 2; Psalms 6-10;
Jesus Calling by Sarah Young
Understanding is the Doorway
April 16, 2012
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His tongue brings healing
The fruit of the tree brings life
Deceitful words crush
The fruit of the tree brings life
Deceitful words crush
The lips of the wise
Spread knowledge and bring real hope
Pursue righteousness
You will find how loved you are
What delight in you God has
A cheerful heart celebrates
Sees the beauty, finds the hope
She cannot be defeated
Love’s at the center
A man of understanding
Listens with great compassion
Seeks counsel for direction
Then obeys the Lord
His path will be straight
Find joy in giving true words
A timely reply
Her path leads upward
He’ll climb every mountain
Joy will lead the way
Courage, wisdom and compassion
Death itself will be destroyed
The Lord listens to prayers
Those who seek with all their heart
Revere the Lord above all
Joy will fill your heart
Written in Jerusalem, April 16, 2012
How much better to get wisdom than gold, understanding rather than silver! Proverbs 16:16
Dedicated to my granddaughter Maia, on her ninth birthday
The Unseen Gift
May 2, 2011
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Help me understand
What it means to fear God
To have a knowledge of God
Do not be afraid
His gentleness and kindness
Will teach you to stand in awe
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His Divine Power
Will provide all of your needs
Magnificent promises
Will restore your joy
You will escape corruption
Your life will be filled with hope
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The Lord gives wisdom
You will hunger for knowledge
Your faith will increase
Self-control will mark your life
Forgiveness and love controls
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What is right and just
Faithfulness and loyalty
Integrity above all
Lived with compassion
It’s speaking the truth in love
This takes practice and training
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I do just one thing
As I rise in the morning
I seek to listen
To the voice that brings me joy
Twenty-four seven He loves
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Understanding guards my life
I’ve discovered the secret
This secret found me seeking
I’m never alone
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It’s an unseen gift
By faith I have discovered
A love without end
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Faith, goodness, knowledge
Practicing what I have learned
Has given me hope
I will persevere and train
And I will never give up
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No one can deny
When they’ve experienced love
Unconditional
It changes the way I look
At myself and at the world
Renew and Restore
September 24, 2010
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Finding a clear path
To do what is right and just
Is the path I want
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Get understanding
Make it your priority
Otherwise you’ll find yourself
Living in darkness
Not knowing which way to go
Filled with fear and judgment
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Guard your mouth and tongue
You’ll avoid calamity
Be clear on what you focus
A secret to know
Whatever that focus is
Will only grow much larger *
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Give thought to your ways
Your feelings can deceive you
Fear will rob your life
Bitterness is a cancer
That will spread through your body
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Seek wisdom and clear insight
When desperate, come to God
One who loves without limit
Has power to rescue
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Insight never comes
Before you choose who you’ll trust
You must use your mind
Decide who is trustworthy
Then have the courage to act
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Anxiety kills
Is blinding and harmful
A doorway to death
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“Do not be afraid”
Three hundred and sixty-five times
Spoken by your God
This is a voice of promise
That renews and restores life
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© Terry S. Smith
September 21, 2010
Meditations written after reading Proverbs 21; John 15; Colossians 3. (* Inspired from the quote: “Whatever you focus upon, increases.” Andy Andrews The Noticer p.13.)
Refreshing drink
May 21, 2010
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Wisdom is a gift
It remains precious treasure
I will ask for it
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Do right and be kind
Life and honor are the result
Basic truth of life
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The tongue and the mouth
They both can bring much trouble
Or refresh the soul
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The unseen is real
There’re streams of living water
Come to the fountain
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A good listener
Can discern the false language
They will give thought to their ways
They will see the good
Value the person they meet
Offer the person safety
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I can feel your compassion
My imagination sings
With the knowledge that I know
The dance of joy calls
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I know steadfast love
A discovery I found
A process entered
From desperation
Searching for some real answers
That are relevant and true
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I am well watered
In quiet meditation
I drink deeply of a love
Indescribable
What I know that I have found
Is a life well lived in joy
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© Terry S. Smith
May 21, 2010
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Written after meditating on Proverbs 21 and Psalms 101-103.
Written after meditating on Proverbs 21 and Psalms 101-103.
the secret to finding joy
March 8, 2010
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I’m looking for direction
I’m waiting at the doorway
I’m listening for your voice
The voice of wisdom
Where can I find this wisdom
It is a search each must take
Your life will depend on it
Decide what you want
I know I desire to live
Love and joy at the center
Where relationships flourish
I know what I want
Since I made the decision
To look outside my feelings
Get input from wiser souls
My life is enriched
Want only good for others
Is the first piece of advice
Start with being kind to self
Decide you’re worth it
There is a book of wisdom
Penned three thousand years ago
It’s called the book of Proverbs
I read it daily
© Terry S. Smith
March 8, 2010
growth
February 4, 2010
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Where can I find the knowledge
To live a life that is full
The answers are not easy
I need real wisdom
What are my questions
They are formed in quietness
I listen for them
Nature speaks to me
The birds, trees and animals
Speak of higher love
This knowledge makes me bow down
I am in awe of this world
Nature has order
It is not so with mankind
What is the problem
A basic question answered
This one I have studied well
Discipline and honesty
I have sought to know what’s true
My responsibility
To search and find where is peace
I have been surprised by joy
Jesus Christ has made God known
Compassion and gentleness
To the broken and lonely
His love was revealed
The truth just tastes good
When you hear it you know it
It has a clear ring
It meets all the tests
Bigger than circumstances
Much larger than death
It must be worth dying for
The ones important to me
My standard is high
This truth will enhance each life
It guarantees growth
Knowledge is what I’m seeking
About personality
Jesus became my focus
I studied his life
© Terry S. Smith
February 1, 2010
Today is my daughter Sara’s birthday. You are invited to read funny things that my grandchildren say on her blog.
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searching
September 2, 2009
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Call out for insight
Cry out for understanding
Seek out the treasure
Knowledge is pleasant
Know what is appropriate
Use good discretion
Understanding will guard you
Wisdom will enter your heart
Seek understanding
call out
cry aloud
look for it
search for it
as for a hidden treasure
© Terry S. Smith
written September 2, 2009
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sweetness to the soul
August 24, 2009
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There is something sweet
A gift to all who will ask
It is called wisdom
It is sweetness to the soul
It connects knowledge with life
It gives timing and rhythm
To relationships
Another word for wisdom
Is “insight” into your soul
Understanding is the key
Respect for yourself
I cannot give to others
What I do not have in me
I will seek to gain knowledge
How to live in peace
When I look to other
To find that peace and resting
I find it always eludes
They are just like me
Each looking to get
Something they do not have
Looking for the other one
To give them that love
Both discover emptiness
Disillusioned and hurting
You do have a gift
A treasure that’s within you
Rise up and seek it
You must take courage
Find the fire that’s within you
Do not make friends with your pain
You decide to live
Be responsible for you
And give with no strings attached
You are bigger than your pain
It’s a mystery I know
I lived in desperation
Found peace in the pain
I have learned that honesty
With myself and all others
Gives a transparency and
Good conversation
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written August 24, 2009
These reflections came out of my response to ancient Proverbs 24. Over the years, I have found myself in “conversation” with King Solomon, the author of the book of Proverbs.
“Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul; and your hope will not be cut off.”
“An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.”
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Your Story Matters 