By Karen Y. Stevens

A couple of years back, someone in our neighborhood decided they did not like the ducks that hung around in the bayou.

They gathered them up, and took them to someone who wanted to put them in their private pond. They were wild ducks, so no one owned them, but a lot of us fed them bread or catfish food.

We really enjoyed seeing them cup their wings, and fly in behind the house each morning for their breakfast.

All of us see things differently, and we all have different likes and dislikes. That does not mean one person’s opinion is correct over another, it just means, that it’s their preference.

A lot of times the preference of the more popular person, or crowd wins out, because most people value their opinion over the others. In other circumstances, there are the ones that bully everyone, push their weight around, and does what they want. (Like the duck thief.)

This is what happened to Jesus. People valued the opinion of others, instead of standing on their own opinion. The problem with most; they are misinformed, or uninformed.

God did not intend for us to be ostrich’s. We can’t stick our head in the sand, and expect the world to go by, the way we think it should. I know there are a lot of you out there groaning, and you feel that keeping up with politics is just a waste of your time, and it does take time.

In order to be informed, we have to do some studying and research. We will also have to do some work on our education, in order to know what God wants, and expects of us.

I know I sound like a broken record, but we must spend time in God’s word, in order to know it. When we know God’s word, having the right opinion is a lot easier.

God’s word gives us wisdom. We don’t have to struggle to know if we are choosing correctly; God’s spirit will direct our path.

Catherine Pearson of Healthy Living, states there are seven points on being wise.

The top four that I thought were most relative is wise people have more experiences, they are sponges, they grow from crises, and they have a strong, support system.

Do you have any of these things set in your life? If not, go out and experience life!

Soak up all the knowledge you can, learn lessons from the bad things that happen in your life. Join a church, and several Bible studies; any Christ based group that will be there for you, and you can be there for them.

All Christ based religions are different, because we all are different. Choose one that suits you best, and participate in it. Your salvation depends on it!

John 15:10 says ^“If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in His love.”

The word command means “to give an authoritative order.”

Jesus is in authority, so anything he has stated that we should do, is a command.

John 15:5 states “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

The best way we can remain in Jesus is thru reading His word.

 

 

Karen Y. Stevens is founder of the Orange County Christian Writers Guild