The Plumbline

5  Knowing what is right is like deep water in the heart;    a wise person draws from the well within.  (Proverbs 20:5) There is a tendency to "over-think" things today.  We "work" a solution until it is what some call "fool-proof" and then we might take the steps to put it into action.  I find that I am more spontaneous than that - I like to try something before the idea has a chance to grow mold!  Most of the time, I come out all right.  There are occasional flops, but for the most part, the "spontaneous" solution was just as good as the "fool-proof" plan. Now, don't get me wrong - there is a time for planning and not every half-baked idea is a good one!  I am no fool.  There is a well that lies deep within that we each can draw from when we need an immediate solution to a problem life deals us.  Whenever we take the steps to do exactly what God has reminded us to do in his Word, we are creating a deeper well to draw from....

  1-5  "Let me set this before you as plainly as I can. If a person climbs over or through the fence of a sheep pen instead of going through the gate, you know he's up to no good—a sheep rustler! The shepherd walks right up to the gate. The gatekeeper opens the gate to him and the sheep recognize his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he gets them all out, he leads them and they follow because they are familiar with his voice. They won't follow a stranger's voice but will scatter because they aren't used to the sound of it." (John 10:1-5) We have many opportunities to listen and to respond to many voices each day.  There are individuals we admire that speak words of advice - easy to embrace as a voice we want to listen to.  There are individuals that are passing acquaintances in our lives - we listen to them, but are more selective in what we act upon when they speak.  Then there are individuals that are only influential because of...