Wednesday
Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
I got the verse for this week from a cross necklace that my son, Jeron, was given several years ago. The necklace broke, but the cross remains, with this verse attached. This is symbolic: even though there was trouble (the necklace broke), the cross (God's power) remains.
I like the way this verse says "OUR." God intends for us to be in corporate bodies, to worship him and to need him together. While He is MY refuge, he is also OUR refuge. I remember when I was a young boy going to the storm shelter during a tornado. I never went alone--there were always others there, which made the experience seem almost fun. It would have been less fun alone. Now that I'm older, I realize God is there during any storm, real or figurative.
My college grammar teacher would say that saying "very" present is redundant and unnecessary--one can't be more present than present. In this case, however, saying God is VERY present intensifies the meaning of the word "present," indicative of the way God is present--not just a little present, but VERY present. I find a great deal of comfort in that.
Trouble--the very essence of our sinful natures always leads to trouble. Whether we find trouble or it finds us, trouble happens. When we are in trouble, we don't need a caped crusader or some other type of super hero. We need God.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
Off to NYC this week
Monday
Psalms 118:7-The Lord is with me; He is my helper.
Today, my wife, Pam, and I are traveling to New York City to celebrate our 25th Anniversary on the 31st. As I was getting ready this morning and having my first cup of coffee, I looked in my cup and this week's verse was staring me right in the eyes. In my cup, one I've had for 10 years, a Thomas Kincaid cup, is the above verse. Definitely, traveling to New York, we want God's help and to know that he is with us.
I'll be blogging about our trip on a separate blog specifically for our anniversary, so I may not post anything else this week. Nonetheless, rest assured God will be with me as Pam and I pray for safe passage and a great trip.
Psalms 118:7-The Lord is with me; He is my helper.
Today, my wife, Pam, and I are traveling to New York City to celebrate our 25th Anniversary on the 31st. As I was getting ready this morning and having my first cup of coffee, I looked in my cup and this week's verse was staring me right in the eyes. In my cup, one I've had for 10 years, a Thomas Kincaid cup, is the above verse. Definitely, traveling to New York, we want God's help and to know that he is with us.
I'll be blogging about our trip on a separate blog specifically for our anniversary, so I may not post anything else this week. Nonetheless, rest assured God will be with me as Pam and I pray for safe passage and a great trip.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Proud Heart Humbled
Tuesday
In Chronicles 2, we find the antithesis of Uzziah in the form of King Hezekiah. Both experienced the sin of "proud hearts," but the difference is in their response to exposed sin.
Hezekiah had won a great battle against the Assyrians and their king, Sennacherib. Sennacherib had mocked God and told the Jews that Hezekiah was at fault for tearing down all altars except for those to their God.
32:19 states, "And they spoke of the God of Jerusalem as they spoke of the gods of the peoples of the earth, which are the work of men's hands." And you know that's not wise to do. God delivered the Assyrians into Hezekiah's hands, and eventually, it went to his head and into his heart, where his chest swelled with pride.
This reminds me so much of myself!! Sometimes I neglect giving God the glory and begin thinking that I"M special, that I"M the one who accomplishes something, that I"M really something when I"M actually NOTHING! I can only do things through God, who gives me strength. To GOD be the glory, in all things.
Fortunately for Hezekiah, he came to his senses when faced with the impending destruction God was about to deliver to His people, and he "...humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah." (2Chr. 32:26)
Don't we need more leaders like this in our country, in our world? We need to be humble in all things and fill our hearts with love for God and for others. If we did this, we wouldn't have room for love of ourselves, which, boiled down, is the definition of pride.
In Chronicles 2, we find the antithesis of Uzziah in the form of King Hezekiah. Both experienced the sin of "proud hearts," but the difference is in their response to exposed sin.
Hezekiah had won a great battle against the Assyrians and their king, Sennacherib. Sennacherib had mocked God and told the Jews that Hezekiah was at fault for tearing down all altars except for those to their God.
32:19 states, "And they spoke of the God of Jerusalem as they spoke of the gods of the peoples of the earth, which are the work of men's hands." And you know that's not wise to do. God delivered the Assyrians into Hezekiah's hands, and eventually, it went to his head and into his heart, where his chest swelled with pride.
This reminds me so much of myself!! Sometimes I neglect giving God the glory and begin thinking that I"M special, that I"M the one who accomplishes something, that I"M really something when I"M actually NOTHING! I can only do things through God, who gives me strength. To GOD be the glory, in all things.
Fortunately for Hezekiah, he came to his senses when faced with the impending destruction God was about to deliver to His people, and he "...humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah." (2Chr. 32:26)
Don't we need more leaders like this in our country, in our world? We need to be humble in all things and fill our hearts with love for God and for others. If we did this, we wouldn't have room for love of ourselves, which, boiled down, is the definition of pride.
I Hate Roller Coasters
I know, for some of you, the title of today's blog is offensive. You LOVE roller coasters. And that's just fine with me. I, on the other hand, can't even handle the log ride at Wonderland Park. Going up to the top of an ascending slope is not bad, though I know what's about to happen. Once at the top, it's SWOOSH! Down into the pit, my stomach somewhere at the top of the ride trying to catch up. For some, this makes you feel alive; for me, death!!
What's this got to do with pride, the content for this week? Pride is like that roller coaster: it takes you to the top, but always brings you down. When I'm feeling pretty confident and self assured, pride tries to drop in, like an unwelcome guest at a family get together. You wish it wouldn't come, but it slips in anyway, and you start feeling pretty good about yourself. Nothing wrong with feeling good, unless that feeling emanates from one's own prideful self and doesn't originate AND return to God.
God gives us all talents and tells us to go for it. What we decide to do with those is up to us. We can bury them and hope for the best or return them to The Master with interest.
The ancient Babylonians thought pretty highly of themselves. In fact, they decided to build a tower, the goal of which was to reach to a level equal with God. How foolish! How prideful! They were on that roller coaster riding to the top, but we know what happened next: the destruction of the tower!
Proverbs 16:18 reveals a truth for us, no matter if we lived 700 years before Christ, now, or sometime in the future. Pride does go before destruction.
Lord, help me stay on an even plane--not too high and not too low, and if I show pride, may it be only in you, for you give me everything I have and nothing is mine alone. I'm a borrower, a custodian of this life, a simple sojourner passing through to my final home with you.
Amen.
What's this got to do with pride, the content for this week? Pride is like that roller coaster: it takes you to the top, but always brings you down. When I'm feeling pretty confident and self assured, pride tries to drop in, like an unwelcome guest at a family get together. You wish it wouldn't come, but it slips in anyway, and you start feeling pretty good about yourself. Nothing wrong with feeling good, unless that feeling emanates from one's own prideful self and doesn't originate AND return to God.
God gives us all talents and tells us to go for it. What we decide to do with those is up to us. We can bury them and hope for the best or return them to The Master with interest.
The ancient Babylonians thought pretty highly of themselves. In fact, they decided to build a tower, the goal of which was to reach to a level equal with God. How foolish! How prideful! They were on that roller coaster riding to the top, but we know what happened next: the destruction of the tower!
Proverbs 16:18 reveals a truth for us, no matter if we lived 700 years before Christ, now, or sometime in the future. Pride does go before destruction.
Lord, help me stay on an even plane--not too high and not too low, and if I show pride, may it be only in you, for you give me everything I have and nothing is mine alone. I'm a borrower, a custodian of this life, a simple sojourner passing through to my final home with you.
Amen.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Pride goeth...well, you know.
Sunday
Verse of the Week: Proverbs 16:18
Pride goeth before destruction...
This week, I'm examining an oldie but goodie. When I say "oldie," I of course know ALL the verses are old, but the oldies are the ones that have been quoted generationally for years, at least in my family history.
People often say, "Pride goeth before a fall," but the actual verse says "destruction." Either way, pride doesn't lead to a good result. "...and an haughty spirit before a fall" is the rest of the verse, which is a key to understanding the type of pride the first part of the verse is speaking about. Haughty means arrogant pride, pride that looks down upon others and is egotistical.
Enter Uzziah. Uzziah became king of Judah at age 16 and reined some 52 years in Jerusalem. So much for term limits! What this says about him is that he was an excellent leader of Judah. 2 Chronicles 26:5 says, "He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah...and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper."
Those versed in foreshadowing understand what happens next: ultimately, Uzziah stopped seeking the Lord, and he died a leper after he took it upon himself to burn incense in the temple, a big no-no, since this was a Levite's job. 2 Chr.26:16 says, "But when he was strong, he grew PROUD, to his destruction." Uzziah, a rock star in Judah, was stricken with leprosy, cast out of the kingdom, and most sadly, "...was excluded from the house of the Lord."
Pride, putting oneself above God's will, leads down a path to destruction. The option is to follow God and live. Not much of a choice if you ask me!!
Verse of the Week: Proverbs 16:18
Pride goeth before destruction...
This week, I'm examining an oldie but goodie. When I say "oldie," I of course know ALL the verses are old, but the oldies are the ones that have been quoted generationally for years, at least in my family history.
People often say, "Pride goeth before a fall," but the actual verse says "destruction." Either way, pride doesn't lead to a good result. "...and an haughty spirit before a fall" is the rest of the verse, which is a key to understanding the type of pride the first part of the verse is speaking about. Haughty means arrogant pride, pride that looks down upon others and is egotistical.
Enter Uzziah. Uzziah became king of Judah at age 16 and reined some 52 years in Jerusalem. So much for term limits! What this says about him is that he was an excellent leader of Judah. 2 Chronicles 26:5 says, "He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah...and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper."
Those versed in foreshadowing understand what happens next: ultimately, Uzziah stopped seeking the Lord, and he died a leper after he took it upon himself to burn incense in the temple, a big no-no, since this was a Levite's job. 2 Chr.26:16 says, "But when he was strong, he grew PROUD, to his destruction." Uzziah, a rock star in Judah, was stricken with leprosy, cast out of the kingdom, and most sadly, "...was excluded from the house of the Lord."
Pride, putting oneself above God's will, leads down a path to destruction. The option is to follow God and live. Not much of a choice if you ask me!!
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Synergy: The Power of One
Saturday
Galations 6:2 tells us to bear one anothers' burdens, and in doing so, I've learned we become one: one mind, one heart, one strength. What I've witnessed this week in prayerfully going throughout each day with burden-sharing on my heart has been incredible. Thursday was a prime example.
Health Science students at the Amarillo Area Center for Advanced Learning (AACAL) where I'm principal showed me what it means to care. Their service learning projects where a prime example burden-bearing in action. The morning students gave a "house warming" to the Medical Center League House, a non-profit "home-away-from-home" for relatives and friends of adult patients, similar to Ronald McDonald House, except for adults. The house warming consisted of supplying needed items as identified by the staff at the House, as well as serving punch and baked items to those in residence that morning.
Additionally, the kids decided to raise some money for the House, setting a goal of $250. This is where it gets good. On Wednesday, the day before donating the money, the kids had raised just over $200--not bad, but not their goal either. One of the students' dads is an employee at Excel Energy. The father took this project to his work place and his department raised $300! But that's not the end. Excel always matches employee donations, so in reality, they raised $600, bringing the grand total to over $800.
What I like about this is that it is a perfect example of one of my favorite words: SYNERGY. A little here, a little there, everyone working together for a common cause--the power of one, the strength of unity. "We are one in the spirit!!" The kids, the adults, the company, spreading the word about the League House--SYNERGY.
Later that same day, the afternoon students presented some household items to the staff at the High Plains Children's Home, as well as explain about AACAL to the staff. In turn, the kids received a lot of information about the purpose of the home, which is a resident care facility for children who've been removed from their families by judges for a variety of reasons, including abuse and neglect on the part of biological parents.
For the entire day, I saw in the students' eyes a true understanding of what it means to be in need and how thankful they were to be in a position to give back. One of the attributes we instill in students at AACAL is to be AWARE of the world in which we live and work, giving back to the community and helping others in need--bearing one anothers' burdens, if you will.
Great week! I can't wait to see what verse God will have me "DO" next week!!
Galations 6:2 tells us to bear one anothers' burdens, and in doing so, I've learned we become one: one mind, one heart, one strength. What I've witnessed this week in prayerfully going throughout each day with burden-sharing on my heart has been incredible. Thursday was a prime example.
Health Science students at the Amarillo Area Center for Advanced Learning (AACAL) where I'm principal showed me what it means to care. Their service learning projects where a prime example burden-bearing in action. The morning students gave a "house warming" to the Medical Center League House, a non-profit "home-away-from-home" for relatives and friends of adult patients, similar to Ronald McDonald House, except for adults. The house warming consisted of supplying needed items as identified by the staff at the House, as well as serving punch and baked items to those in residence that morning.
Additionally, the kids decided to raise some money for the House, setting a goal of $250. This is where it gets good. On Wednesday, the day before donating the money, the kids had raised just over $200--not bad, but not their goal either. One of the students' dads is an employee at Excel Energy. The father took this project to his work place and his department raised $300! But that's not the end. Excel always matches employee donations, so in reality, they raised $600, bringing the grand total to over $800.
What I like about this is that it is a perfect example of one of my favorite words: SYNERGY. A little here, a little there, everyone working together for a common cause--the power of one, the strength of unity. "We are one in the spirit!!" The kids, the adults, the company, spreading the word about the League House--SYNERGY.
Later that same day, the afternoon students presented some household items to the staff at the High Plains Children's Home, as well as explain about AACAL to the staff. In turn, the kids received a lot of information about the purpose of the home, which is a resident care facility for children who've been removed from their families by judges for a variety of reasons, including abuse and neglect on the part of biological parents.
For the entire day, I saw in the students' eyes a true understanding of what it means to be in need and how thankful they were to be in a position to give back. One of the attributes we instill in students at AACAL is to be AWARE of the world in which we live and work, giving back to the community and helping others in need--bearing one anothers' burdens, if you will.
Great week! I can't wait to see what verse God will have me "DO" next week!!
Thursday, May 19, 2011
"Humble Pie--Served Fresh Daily"
Wednesday/Thursday
I'm finding during my exploration this week of being a burden-bearer that humility is a good companion. We've all, I'm sure, been served heaping helpings of humble pie. And it doesn't at all rest easy on the palate. I don't care what it is, if we are forced to eat something, it never tastes as good as when we choose to eat something. The same is true for humble pie.
As a Christian sojourner, I propose that instead of being force-fed this unsavory dish, we pursue it like we would pursue any epicurean delight, and that we would devour humility spoonful after spoonful until we acquired a taste for it!
The verse following Galations 6:2 says: "For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself." This clearly explains the attitude we are to have throughout life. If you are seen as someone who "thinks he is something," you won't have many takers when it comes to throw out the help line. You can't be any help to anyone else if you have an attitude of superiority. If you are haughty, not humble, you cannot be helpful.
I pray today that, in humility, I am allowed to walk alongside someone whose burden I can bear!
I'm finding during my exploration this week of being a burden-bearer that humility is a good companion. We've all, I'm sure, been served heaping helpings of humble pie. And it doesn't at all rest easy on the palate. I don't care what it is, if we are forced to eat something, it never tastes as good as when we choose to eat something. The same is true for humble pie.
As a Christian sojourner, I propose that instead of being force-fed this unsavory dish, we pursue it like we would pursue any epicurean delight, and that we would devour humility spoonful after spoonful until we acquired a taste for it!
The verse following Galations 6:2 says: "For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself." This clearly explains the attitude we are to have throughout life. If you are seen as someone who "thinks he is something," you won't have many takers when it comes to throw out the help line. You can't be any help to anyone else if you have an attitude of superiority. If you are haughty, not humble, you cannot be helpful.
I pray today that, in humility, I am allowed to walk alongside someone whose burden I can bear!
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