Knowledge is...what???

My brother posted a comment on his Facebook once that said, "Knowledge is NOT power!" He stated this in the face of finding out some disturbing news about someone that he truly didn’t want to know. But his statement was very true. Too often in this power hungry, vanity-filled, idol-seeking world, we think that the more we know the more power we have. After all, if you know things about people, places and situations then you can control them and have power over them, right? Isn't that what Kings used to do? King Solomon certainly did way back in his day. Ecclesiastes 2 finds sad, old rich King Solomon lamenting over all the time he toiled his days away for nothing. He had much money, much power, much knowledge. In fact, he had many people at his disposal who also had much knowledge. But what did it get him? Nothing. All his so-called power, money and knowledge gained him nothing but folly. (foolishness).

Proverbs 24:5 tells us: A wise man is strong and a man of knowledge increases strength. Notice it doesn’t say that a strong man is wise. It doesn’t say that strength increases knowledge but rather that a wise man is strong and knowledge increases strength. We must seek after wisdom first and the discernment to know what knowledge we should attain.

Upon reading my brother's recent comment, this is what my response was:
Amen...knowledge is maddening, deafening, defeating, fleeting, easily obtained, easily bought, easily sold and definitely is NOT power...Wisdom is power!

Like Solomon, I too have spent many a day just toiling foolishly. But also like Solomon, praise God I learned that Wisdom is far greater than money, power or knowledge. For you can have all the knowledge in the world but if you do not have Wisdom to know what to do with it, when to retain it and how to discern what bits of knowledge are useful or vital, verses what bits are dangerous, deadly or untrue, then you actually render yourself completely powerless! The Father wants us to tap into the power of the Holy Spirit and that only comes through Wisdom.

For more inspiration check out WomanInspired on Facebook and click "Like".


Need a speaker for your women's retreat or conference? Check out Karen's topics, bio, statement of faith and books by clicking into her website at:
www.womaninspired.com

Got some praise to go with that tampon?

There is probably no other time period in a woman’s life when her emotions carry her from anger to apathy; joy to jealousy or peace to panic more rapidly than the 28 days of highs and lows in the Pre-Menstrual Cycle. If any of you are remotely similar to the other typical estrogen-filled females God created, these highs and lows, cravings and crampings can take you through times of despair and frustration. They can also bring you to a place of believing that there is no relief, no choice and no freedom from the effects of woman-hood, except perhaps living at the Hershey’s Chocolate Factory as a taste-tester; or opting for a complete and total hysterectomy. And for those of you who have already hit instantaneous menopause via that hysterectomy or who are already there due to God’s natural physical path for our bodies, you can attest to the fact that with menopause also comes similar hormonal changes, hot-flashes, cravings and emotional roller coasters.

What many women don’t realize is that all of what I’ve described thus far is in the flesh and what is in the flesh can be overcome by what’s in the spirit. No pill, no herbal treatment, no organic juice and no measurable amount of yoga or palates can help a woman deal with her perpetual physical changes and hormonal upheavals like the power given to us through prayer, meditation and the unspeakable joy that comes from focusing on our blessings and praising God…even in the midst of cramps, bloating and acne break-outs.

So, in order to take you on a journey of praise in the midst of some of your highest highs and lowest lows, I’ve written this humorous, heartfelt devotional titled “28 Days of PMS - Praising My Savior”. I encourage you to set aside the chocolate bar and drop your Midol back in your purse for a few minutes each day to focus on something other than what’s going on beneath your belly button and join me as we take time out to praise our Savior.

As you take time to praise God, even in the midst of pain and seemingly endless water retention, you will hopefully come to realize,as I have over the years, that focusing on the God-given gifts, love and strength inside each of us garners us even greater amounts of strength, perspective and yes, even the ability to laugh at ourselves through each cycle and season of our lives.

So please join me as I share with you over the next months some of the insights, giggles, inspiration and convicted moments I've been through over the years...that have led me to Praise My Savior, even in the midst of PMS! (Click the link to the left automatically follow this blog.)

Interested in getting a "28 Days of PMS ~ Praising My Savior" devotional for you or someone else? Click the PMS link. (available in softback or Ebook for Ipad/Iphone)

PMS

For more information about Karen and how to schedule her to speak at your women's conference or retreat, click into WomanInspired.com

Click here to follow Karen on Facebook