Have you ever noticed how unbecoming of someone their pride is? I'm not talking about the quiet pride of a job well done or of a child who has accomplished some goal that they worked hard to accomplish. I'm speaking of the pride that rears its ugly head, making us feel that we have done it all on our own or could do it without the help of the Lord.
We are all guilty of this. Have you found yourself speaking of your sinful past in a prideful manner? For example, instead of using your drug taking or drunken days to speak of the wonderful and totally undeserved grace of God, you use it to bring humor to a conversation. Sitting in a group of people who are glorifying the act of getting drunk you begin to mention that "there was this one time when me and a group of buddies got so drunk that we ...." Or how about that time when you did something really great at work/home/school and every time you get the chance you bring up how well you did at -insert whatever you did here-?
It is quite ugly, isn't it? Nearly all of the times that pride is mentioned in the bible it mentions a fall afterwards.
1 Samuel 2:3
"Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the LORD is a God who knows, and by him deeds are weighed.
2 Chronicles 26:16a
But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall.
Psalm 10:4
In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.
Proverbs 11:2
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
Isaiah 2:11
The eyes of the arrogant man will be humbled and the pride of men brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.
Isaiah 13:11
I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless.
Daniel 5:20
But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory.
Obadiah 1:3
The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks and make your home on the heights, you who say to yourself, 'Who can bring me down to the ground?'
Luke 1:51
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
Romans 12:16
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
James 4:6
But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
I don't want to overwhelm you with more scriptures regarding pride and being proud, but I want you to see what I am seeing. I can see it in my own life as well as the lives of others, and it IS ugly. Not all pride is sinful pride. Taking pride in Christ, being proud of someone who has done a good job and taking pride in the work you do is not a bad thing. It is when that pride takes over and you become a proud person that the pride is a sinful pride. When you elevate yourself above the Lord and above others, that is when it is sin. When you bring your sin glory instead of making sure your speech glorifies the Lord, that is when your pride is sin.
So how do we fix this issue of sinful pride? Asking the Lord to cleanse our hearts and our minds is the first step. We must fall on our faces before Him and show Him that HE alone is how we can do ANY good at all. HE is God. WE are not.
Psalm 51:7
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Psalm 86:10
For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God.
Psalm 149:4
For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation.
James 4:10
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
1 Peter 5:6
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
Humility is not a human trait that has come easily since the fall of man. Many view it as a "weak" human trait. However, we should not be looking at how men view us, but instead on how God views us! I love how Paul words this to the Corinthian church in 1 Corinthians 1:25-31:
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."
May the Lord bless you as you humbly seek to follow Him!
18 September 2009
10 July 2009
And They'll Know We Are Christians By Our....
Bumper stickers? A couple weeks ago, a lady at work approached me in regards to my car. She said, "I was behind this car yesterday and I just knew it had to be you!" I asked her why and she told me it was because of my bumper sticker. I had to try hard not to spit out the tea that I was drinking. I was laughing pretty hard. My bumper sticker says: "Are you following JESUS this close?" Now, I don't know if it was because the bumper sticker has the word Jesus, or if it is the sarcasm mixed with what it says on the bumper sticker that gave it away. I'm told by my coworkers that I am a silly person. I keep them laughing, thus my confusion over which part of the bumper sticker gave it away was understandable.
This lady has heard me talk about my faith and my desire to do some work in the ministry. She knows that when they go out to male strip clubs, I won't go. I don't even get invited to most of the parties simply due to the fact that I don't enjoy it when people get drunk and I tend to leave early on so that I won't be overly tempted to get drunk myself. Sometimes I feel like the outcast, but I know they leave me out because they know it doesn't mesh with my lifestyle. I'm ok with that, because it shows they respect me. So naturally I took her knowing it was my car as a compliment.
This interaction had me thinking though. What is my life saying? If I went out with them to the strip clubs and partying until I was drunk off my wonderfully rounded behind, would she have known it was my car or would she have thought it belonged to someone else?
The song says "And they'll know we are Christians by our love". I don't want people to know I'm a Christian simply because I talk about God, don't do what they do, don't talk like they talk, or because I have a Jesus bumper sticker on my car. I want them to know I am a Christian because of my LOVE for Christ and my LOVE for His creation!
Ephesians 5:1-2
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
This lady has heard me talk about my faith and my desire to do some work in the ministry. She knows that when they go out to male strip clubs, I won't go. I don't even get invited to most of the parties simply due to the fact that I don't enjoy it when people get drunk and I tend to leave early on so that I won't be overly tempted to get drunk myself. Sometimes I feel like the outcast, but I know they leave me out because they know it doesn't mesh with my lifestyle. I'm ok with that, because it shows they respect me. So naturally I took her knowing it was my car as a compliment.
This interaction had me thinking though. What is my life saying? If I went out with them to the strip clubs and partying until I was drunk off my wonderfully rounded behind, would she have known it was my car or would she have thought it belonged to someone else?
The song says "And they'll know we are Christians by our love". I don't want people to know I'm a Christian simply because I talk about God, don't do what they do, don't talk like they talk, or because I have a Jesus bumper sticker on my car. I want them to know I am a Christian because of my LOVE for Christ and my LOVE for His creation!
Ephesians 5:1-2
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
12 May 2009
Her
Words cannot describe all I feel for her but I am going to attempt it nonetheless.
I'm thankful for every time she kissed away my "boo-boo's". When my friends backstabbed me, she was the one who wiped away those tears, told me that time will heal those wounds and that they just weren't true friends. Never did she tell me I was silly for feeling like it was the end of the world when a boy broke my heart and sometimes she even cried along with me.
Her gentleness and tenderness is like no other that I have known in this world. Her beauty extends beyond her looks--beautiful inside and out. Her patience is at a level that only God could give a woman. For all the years that I gave her pain and quiet rebellion (okay, yes, and LOUD rebellion), she was persistent in prayer for me. Her faith in the Living God is astounding and her willingness to learn more of Him makes me desire to know Him more as well. Her love for her husband and her children is only surpassed in her love for the Lord. Because of this, I have desired to be like her.
Who can find a woman of virtue? I have found her. This BEAUTIFUL woman, full of grace and love, is my Mother. Today is her birthday and I want nothing more than for her to know how much she is loved and appreciated EVERY day of the year--not just today.
Mom, may your birthday be relaxing and fulfilling. Thank you for being everything that you are and for striving to be all that you can be in the Lord. You are wonderful. I love you so much!
I'm thankful for every time she kissed away my "boo-boo's". When my friends backstabbed me, she was the one who wiped away those tears, told me that time will heal those wounds and that they just weren't true friends. Never did she tell me I was silly for feeling like it was the end of the world when a boy broke my heart and sometimes she even cried along with me.
Her gentleness and tenderness is like no other that I have known in this world. Her beauty extends beyond her looks--beautiful inside and out. Her patience is at a level that only God could give a woman. For all the years that I gave her pain and quiet rebellion (okay, yes, and LOUD rebellion), she was persistent in prayer for me. Her faith in the Living God is astounding and her willingness to learn more of Him makes me desire to know Him more as well. Her love for her husband and her children is only surpassed in her love for the Lord. Because of this, I have desired to be like her.
Who can find a woman of virtue? I have found her. This BEAUTIFUL woman, full of grace and love, is my Mother. Today is her birthday and I want nothing more than for her to know how much she is loved and appreciated EVERY day of the year--not just today.
Mom, may your birthday be relaxing and fulfilling. Thank you for being everything that you are and for striving to be all that you can be in the Lord. You are wonderful. I love you so much!
10 April 2009
Bittersweet
A piece of bittersweet chocolate: slightly bitter, slightly sweet. As you take a bite into this dark piece of pleasure, the battle explodes in your mouth. The person who first called it bittersweet chocolate, captured it perfectly.
Today, Good Friday, reminds me of bittersweet chocolate. A little bitter and a little sweet. The bitterness comes as I think of the nails that went through Christ's sinless hands. It comes as I think of the thorns that pierced His flawless head. It comes as I think of the spear that pierced His side. It comes as I think of the jeering and cheering that went on as He walked that path to the hill where He was crucified. It comes as I think of the sin that weighed down on Him as He took His final breath. And with all of these bitter feelings that swell up inside of me as I ponder these things, I am ashamed of who I am, with all of my wretchedness. I am saddened that I had any part to play in the reason He did this.
However, just as in bittersweet chocolate, I am filled with the sweetness. The sweetness comes when I think of the willingness of Christ as He told the Father "but thy will be done". It comes when I think of how He chastised Peter for using His sword against the soldier that was taking Christ to trial. It comes when I think of the forgiveness He showed to the sinner beside Him as He was suffering on the cross. It comes when I remember His words "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." It comes when I remember how He followed through to completion His death on the cross, to provide a way for us to be able to live as God's children. And finally, it comes as I remember His resurrection 3 days later, thus fulfilling prophecy and giving us LIFE! I am humbled by His sacrifice and ever so grateful.
Yes, this day is so bittersweet. What a precious gift we have been given through our Saviour!
Today, Good Friday, reminds me of bittersweet chocolate. A little bitter and a little sweet. The bitterness comes as I think of the nails that went through Christ's sinless hands. It comes as I think of the thorns that pierced His flawless head. It comes as I think of the spear that pierced His side. It comes as I think of the jeering and cheering that went on as He walked that path to the hill where He was crucified. It comes as I think of the sin that weighed down on Him as He took His final breath. And with all of these bitter feelings that swell up inside of me as I ponder these things, I am ashamed of who I am, with all of my wretchedness. I am saddened that I had any part to play in the reason He did this.
However, just as in bittersweet chocolate, I am filled with the sweetness. The sweetness comes when I think of the willingness of Christ as He told the Father "but thy will be done". It comes when I think of how He chastised Peter for using His sword against the soldier that was taking Christ to trial. It comes when I think of the forgiveness He showed to the sinner beside Him as He was suffering on the cross. It comes when I remember His words "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." It comes when I remember how He followed through to completion His death on the cross, to provide a way for us to be able to live as God's children. And finally, it comes as I remember His resurrection 3 days later, thus fulfilling prophecy and giving us LIFE! I am humbled by His sacrifice and ever so grateful.
Yes, this day is so bittersweet. What a precious gift we have been given through our Saviour!
17 January 2009
Cold
It has been so cold here the past week; at times, hard to breathe. The temperatures have been anywhere from -1 to -40 degrees (with the lower end of it being what it was the majority of the time). Whenever I would walk outside it was as if any moisture on my body would freeze up and I'd be chilled to the bone. Several minutes outside in these kinds of conditions without proper clothing or gloves could result in frostbite or even death.
These double digit negatives had me thinking though. What is the condition of my heart? You've heard it said that if you throw a frog into a cool pot of water and slowly raise the temperature, he will not jump out and will slowly be cooked to death as you raise the pot to a boil. The same is with the opposite end of the spectrum. If you throw it into a cool pot of water and put that pot into the freezer, the frog will fall asleep and slowly freeze to death, completely unaware of the situation. In Revelation chapter 3 verse 16, we are given a glimpse as to what God thinks of the condition of the heart "So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth." Lukewarm is such a comfortable place to be. I don't have to worry about looking like a religious freak but at the same time I don't feel completely lonely. I'm just comfortable there. But this is a very dangerous place and not at all where God wants me to be. To Him, this is so detestable that He would "spew" me out of His mouth!
I remember back to when I was not a Christian. I was lonely, depressed and didn't see a purpose for my life. I wanted so badly to be like everyone around me, no matter how damaging the lifestyle was to me. Then when I became a Christian, everything about God was exciting. I was hot for God and didn't care who knew about it. I had a fresh outlook on life. I wasn't lonely anymore and I wanted others to feel how I did. Then one day the ugly "S" word got in the way. SIN. Pretty soon, I was not on fire for God anymore but was more comfortable in living like everyone else around me was. I didn't want anyone to see me carrying my Bible or hear me listening to Christian music. In fact, I stopped listening to music that glorified the Lord and engulfed myself in that which glorified only my desires. I still talked to God though. I still read His Word---occasionally. But it had become our "little secret". I became lukewarm and was totally comfortable being there. In a lukewarm place, cold is not that far away and not that hard to become. After a while of being lukewarm, I found it easier and easier to close my ears to what God would say to me and my eyes to the beauty that is found through Him. I began to feel lonely yet also complacent. I began to fall asleep, a sign that the cold was taking over. In that stage, I surely would have died had God not taken a hold of my heart again.
To move from cold to hot again, God breaks the heart. This is painful but necessary. This is a part of the refining that we go through to make us more like the man God wants us to be. Daniel 12:10 says "Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand." Think about your heart for a moment. Where are you at spiritually? Do you know and walk with God daily or do you reject Him completely? Or are you one who accepted Him to save you but only calls on Him when you are in trouble or on Sundays? Do you feel cold and lonely or are you excited about life and the things God has blessed you with?
Isaiah 6:5-7
"Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty." Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for."
Jump out of the pot and into the fire. Let God ignite that flame in your heart once again and bring you to repentance. Let Him touch the coal to your lips so that your guilt is taken away. It isn't an easy place to be but it is rewarding and it is where we need to be. When you come back to God, He WILL break you but He will also hold you because He loves you. Let Him refine you and purify you!
These double digit negatives had me thinking though. What is the condition of my heart? You've heard it said that if you throw a frog into a cool pot of water and slowly raise the temperature, he will not jump out and will slowly be cooked to death as you raise the pot to a boil. The same is with the opposite end of the spectrum. If you throw it into a cool pot of water and put that pot into the freezer, the frog will fall asleep and slowly freeze to death, completely unaware of the situation. In Revelation chapter 3 verse 16, we are given a glimpse as to what God thinks of the condition of the heart "So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth." Lukewarm is such a comfortable place to be. I don't have to worry about looking like a religious freak but at the same time I don't feel completely lonely. I'm just comfortable there. But this is a very dangerous place and not at all where God wants me to be. To Him, this is so detestable that He would "spew" me out of His mouth!
I remember back to when I was not a Christian. I was lonely, depressed and didn't see a purpose for my life. I wanted so badly to be like everyone around me, no matter how damaging the lifestyle was to me. Then when I became a Christian, everything about God was exciting. I was hot for God and didn't care who knew about it. I had a fresh outlook on life. I wasn't lonely anymore and I wanted others to feel how I did. Then one day the ugly "S" word got in the way. SIN. Pretty soon, I was not on fire for God anymore but was more comfortable in living like everyone else around me was. I didn't want anyone to see me carrying my Bible or hear me listening to Christian music. In fact, I stopped listening to music that glorified the Lord and engulfed myself in that which glorified only my desires. I still talked to God though. I still read His Word---occasionally. But it had become our "little secret". I became lukewarm and was totally comfortable being there. In a lukewarm place, cold is not that far away and not that hard to become. After a while of being lukewarm, I found it easier and easier to close my ears to what God would say to me and my eyes to the beauty that is found through Him. I began to feel lonely yet also complacent. I began to fall asleep, a sign that the cold was taking over. In that stage, I surely would have died had God not taken a hold of my heart again.
To move from cold to hot again, God breaks the heart. This is painful but necessary. This is a part of the refining that we go through to make us more like the man God wants us to be. Daniel 12:10 says "Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand." Think about your heart for a moment. Where are you at spiritually? Do you know and walk with God daily or do you reject Him completely? Or are you one who accepted Him to save you but only calls on Him when you are in trouble or on Sundays? Do you feel cold and lonely or are you excited about life and the things God has blessed you with?
Isaiah 6:5-7
"Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty." Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for."
Jump out of the pot and into the fire. Let God ignite that flame in your heart once again and bring you to repentance. Let Him touch the coal to your lips so that your guilt is taken away. It isn't an easy place to be but it is rewarding and it is where we need to be. When you come back to God, He WILL break you but He will also hold you because He loves you. Let Him refine you and purify you!
03 January 2009
The One That Got Away
My husband and I were enjoying a meal at a hamburger restaurant when "he" walked in and my attention was automatically drawn to him. He had his wife and two young daughters with him. In silence, he and his wife sat down as the girls chatted away about the food that was to come. I sat quietly observing them as I ate my food.
The interaction between the family was not that which would draw attention to themselves but for some reason they held mine. The wife didn't smile. The daughters were laughing and talking excitedly as they ate their food, yet still no smile crossed the mother's lips. The man watched his wife, the whole time in longing. It was clear that he loved her and wanted some type of interaction, but it was not coming. She didn't talk to him and would not even look his direction. In my eyes, it appeared that she was unhappy with her life. This saddened me.
As this dinner continued, the interaction of the family did not change. Two words were etched in my mind: "Cherish her". I looked down for a moment at the napkin before me and over at the pen in my purse. "No God" I thought as embarrassment flooded my mind. But the words persisted as I ate my meal. So, I began to make excuses "What would my husband think if I did this? What would the wife of this man think? This is just crazy God. How can you ask me to do something so random???" The war of my mind continued. Suddenly, and I am certain it was God's testing, part of my fear was taken away as my husband excused himself to use the restroom. My eyes widened as I realized what had just taken place. God had taken away the biggest fear that I had in carrying out what He was telling me to do. "Cherish her." The push was stronger as I looked at the family once again, and then to the pen and napkin. I fidgeted nervously with the napkin. "No God. Please, I just can't do this."
My husband returned from the restroom, ready to leave. I agreed, and as I gathered my coat and purse the words still lingered "Cherish her." As our car drove away from the restaurant, I knew I had done wrong. I had grieved the Holy Spirit and had not given that man the napkin with those words written on it. I told God no and that what He was asking me was too much for me to do...at least in my mind it was.
Now, I may not have changed their marriage by not doing that--but I may have. However, I know that if God wanted it done, it would be done. I missed out on a spiritual reward that day. No matter how big or small, we should obey God. It may sound like the most silly thing for us to do but God knows the big picture. I failed the test that day but I learned a valuable lesson that will not soon leave my memory.
2 Corinthians 2:14-15
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
The interaction between the family was not that which would draw attention to themselves but for some reason they held mine. The wife didn't smile. The daughters were laughing and talking excitedly as they ate their food, yet still no smile crossed the mother's lips. The man watched his wife, the whole time in longing. It was clear that he loved her and wanted some type of interaction, but it was not coming. She didn't talk to him and would not even look his direction. In my eyes, it appeared that she was unhappy with her life. This saddened me.
As this dinner continued, the interaction of the family did not change. Two words were etched in my mind: "Cherish her". I looked down for a moment at the napkin before me and over at the pen in my purse. "No God" I thought as embarrassment flooded my mind. But the words persisted as I ate my meal. So, I began to make excuses "What would my husband think if I did this? What would the wife of this man think? This is just crazy God. How can you ask me to do something so random???" The war of my mind continued. Suddenly, and I am certain it was God's testing, part of my fear was taken away as my husband excused himself to use the restroom. My eyes widened as I realized what had just taken place. God had taken away the biggest fear that I had in carrying out what He was telling me to do. "Cherish her." The push was stronger as I looked at the family once again, and then to the pen and napkin. I fidgeted nervously with the napkin. "No God. Please, I just can't do this."
My husband returned from the restroom, ready to leave. I agreed, and as I gathered my coat and purse the words still lingered "Cherish her." As our car drove away from the restaurant, I knew I had done wrong. I had grieved the Holy Spirit and had not given that man the napkin with those words written on it. I told God no and that what He was asking me was too much for me to do...at least in my mind it was.
Now, I may not have changed their marriage by not doing that--but I may have. However, I know that if God wanted it done, it would be done. I missed out on a spiritual reward that day. No matter how big or small, we should obey God. It may sound like the most silly thing for us to do but God knows the big picture. I failed the test that day but I learned a valuable lesson that will not soon leave my memory.
2 Corinthians 2:14-15
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
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