Let's leave PRIDE to the lions!!!

I am going to openly admit to start this, that it has taken me a LONG time to start writing this one.  This one is a hard one because it hits home REAL hard! My battle with pride is a long standing one, I have always wanted to be known for something, stand out and have everyone looking at me.  I am a very proud human being! Truthfully, humility was something I made others show me.  It was (and still can be) a terrible way to live.

"Pride goes before destruction,
    and haughtiness before a fall." -  Proverbs 16:18 (NLT)

Let me assure you, the fall and destruction does come. It comes swiftly and it comes out of no where. I remember when my life crumbled around me, and I was on my knees, tears streaming out of my eyes with no idea what to do with myself, in fact I was blubbering and blabbering so badly I had no idea that my pastor at the time could even understand me. He looked at me and with tears in his eyes he said "Oh, so you have been humbled for the first time in your life?".  There is was, realization!

I had been humbled, oh how the mighty had fallen.  There I was, the braggart, the showoff, the "greatest of all time" on my knees begging for anyone, pleading for someone, to help me. 

^"You rescue the humble,
    but your eyes watch the proud and humiliate them."  - 2 Samuel 22:28 (NLT)

This, my friends, I can assure you is true. I need to be humiliated and humbled before I was able to surrender myself to God and give up my pride and love for myself.

When filled with pride and when we are self seeking, we put ourselves first, we don't care about others, and do the things that just make us happy, at least I know that is true for me and my pride.

"They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God". - 2 Timothy 3:4 (NLT)

If we love ourselves first, then how do we love God first, how do we put Him first?

"In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success." - Proverbs 3:6 (TLB)

I know in my life that is what I want,  I want God to direct me and crown my efforts with success, how awesome is that statement? 

But we in order to do this we must seek His will first, putting aside our desires, our pride and taking the route He wants us to take.

 "Seek the Kingdom of God^[a] above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need" -  Matthew 6:33 (NLT)

 

 Pride, truthfully, at least for me is really at the root of all all my perils.  Everything can almost be traced back to pride, I mean greed is just another means of showing how proud you are off all your stuff, gluttony is  the pride of food, lust is just sexual pride! Pride is what keeps us so connected to the earth, and earthly ways.  Lets be frank here, it was pride that cast the Satan from Heaven.

“You were blameless in all you did
    from the day you were created
    until the day evil was found in you. 

 Your rich commerce led you to violence,
    and you sinned.
So I banished you in disgrace
    from the mountain of God.
I expelled you, O mighty guardian,
    from your place among the stones of fire. 

 Your heart was filled with pride
    because of all your beauty.
Your wisdom was corrupted
    by your love of splendor.
So I threw you to the ground    and exposed you to the curious gaze of kings". - Ezekiel 28:15-19 (NLT)

So what better weapon for him to use then pride to make us fall from God? Over and over again, Jesus preached and taught humility, because it is when we humble ourselves that we are no longer bound to this world.

When Jesus noticed that all who had come to the dinner were trying to sit in the seats of honor near the head of the table, he gave them this advice:  “When you are invited to a wedding feast, don’t sit in the seat of honor. What if someone who is more distinguished than you has also been invited?  The host will come and say, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then you will be embarrassed, and you will have to take whatever seat is left at the foot of the table!

 “Instead, take the lowest place at the foot of the table. Then when your host sees you, he will come and say, ‘Friend, we have a better place for you!’ Then you will be honored in front of all the other guests.  For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” -  Luke 14:7-11 (NLT)

But Jesus went further than just to teach or preach, humility, He humbled Himself, put aside the fact if you will that He is God humbled to man, and think about this Jesus (our Lord and Saviour) washed the feet of His disciples, to prove and display His humility. 

 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing?  You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am.  And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet.  I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.  I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message.  Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them. - Luke 14:7-11 (NLT)

If Jesus Christ could humble Himself to wash the feet of His disciples, it becomes real tough to justify the pride I know I carry.  Especially since all the things we do have in this world are given to us by God, not of our own doing.

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.    The world and all its people belong to him. - Psalm 24:1 (NLT)

So then, if we do not own it, how can we take pride in it? It all belongs to God, and we are just His stewards.

God said it plainly truthfully, 

God blesses those who are humble,
    for they will inherit the whole earth. - Matthew 5:5 (NLT)

It really doesn't get much simpler than that! So take Tim McGraw's advice, it will probably take you pretty far in this world

Hold the door, say "please", say "thank you"
Don't steal, don't cheat, and don't lie
I know you got mountains to climb
But always stay humble and kind

Don't take for granted the love this life gives you
When you get where you're going don't forget turn back around
And help the next one in line
Always stay humble and kind 

PRAISE GOD!!!! 

Now I eat humble pie ...

Once I was the King of Spain as Moxy Fruvous once said, well, actually I was the king of Arrogant Island, but know I definitely eat humble pie.  It was my arrogance and my ego that was one of the most defining characteristics about the person I used to be.  I thought I could never be beaten, that nothing can defeat me, and I could overcome any obstacle or challenge in my way. It was all me, I was great.  Well, that changed, suddenly, when my world came crashing down around me and I fell to my knees crying out for help, I realized I could not overcome anything, I realized there was someone stronger, and powerful than me, God.  I remember, when it all went down, and I was crying to my pastor, totally broken, he looked at me and said, "For the first time in you life, you have been humbled" Those words resonated with me, and since then, EVERYTIME I take time to read my bible and spend time with God, I keep being reminded to stay humble.  Humility is an important aspect of Christianity that I think gets overlooked by many Christians.  If we are humble in our faith, humble in our lives how then can we judge someone else? How can we think we are better than someone else? This is a thing we are very guilty of, it is so sad to see and hear my Christian brothers and sisters, pointing fingers and calling people sinners or not good enough.  That is not who we are, that is not who Jesus was when He was on earth, nor who is everyday.  We, are humble servants of the Good Lord, Almighty, we should exalt Him, not ourselves, sing His praises, not our own.

"For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”" Luke 14:11 (NLT)

 
These were Jesus's own words. Humility is important.   Jesus, who had no reason to be, was the most humble of all people, in fact, He was so humble, He washed the feet of His disciples:

Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. ⁴ So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, ⁵ and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him. John 13:3-5 (NLT)

That is so powerful to me, that is just ... wow.  The Father had given him authority over everything and that He came from God and would return to God, so He washed the disciples feet! Praise God, He gives us the example of how to be humble, by being humble Himself.  How great is our God? He gives us the example of what we are supposed to do.  Yet, we chose not to follow that example, we chose to exalt ourselves, speak about how great we are and pass judgement on others, force them to live up to the standards we impose on them. Convincing ourselves that we are the judge and jury because we set such a high standard in out lives. It funny because the warning is laid out in Proverbs, if you take the time to see it.

"Too much talk leads to sin.
    Be sensible and keep your mouth shut."  Proverbs 10:19 (NLT)

I know I could probably keep my mouth shut more.  It seems the more I talk or brag the harder I almost inevitably fall. It funny that we seem to look at ourselves as perfect, and the best Christian ever, but the minute we point the finger at someone for doing something "wrong" we have lost all footing.  Bragging about ourselves and making ourselves seem righteous is not Christian living at all.

In fact, in his letter to the Ephesians, Paul began by saying:

"Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ" Ephesians 3:8 (NLT)

This is the guy that wrote MOST of the New Testament and he is calling himself the least of all of God's people, then who am I to say I am anything more?  He goes on in Romans to plead with us Christians:

"Because of the privilege and authority^[a] God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us" Romans 12:3 (NLT)

Honest evaluation is something that I know I would probably shy away from, I want to think I am always righteous, I am always walking to right path, but I do stray, I take my eyes off what I should be looking at, my thoughts aren't always on things that are good, and righteous and worthy of praise. I have been known to cuss out a driver who is driving too slow, or who cuts me off.  Truthfully a whole lot worse too.  It is in accepting our faults, our failures that we start to be humble.  It is when we realize that it is not me that is doing things but the grace and blessing of God that has given me the strength to succeed, that we become humble.  Once we become humble and realize how much we rely on God, how much He does for us and how everything good in out lives are blessing from Him the more He will do.  The more He can come into our lives and be the wind inside our sails. Jesus said it Himself

"God blesses those who are humble,    for they will inherit the whole earth." Matthew 5:5 (NLT)

  

The warnings about being full our ourselves are all over, our most important job on this planet is to love each other, pride is not a loving action, being a bragger is not an action of love. So, again, because all the our life lessons seem hidden (well not so much) in Proverbs, this seems like the perfect way to close my thoughts

"Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honour" Proverbs 29:23 (NLT)

I know I want honour, especially honour from God!  I think humility was the greatest lesson that I learned when I was forced from my throne as king of arrogant island, and I am so glad that I was dethroned!

PRAISE GOD!!  

Where's the Love?

Love! Everywhere I look in this world I see it crying out for more love. REAL love, unconditional, unadulterated, unashamed LOVE!!! For God, for our world, for each other, for everything!!
I have heard people say things like the word love is being overused in our society, people love things like food, sports teams, hobbies, cities, buildings or books and other inanimate objects and how can you possibly love those things, I would counter and say it is entirely possible to love those things, because people will fight and defend those things until the bitter end.  Think about it, when was the last time you let someone say something bad about your favourite sports team and you just let it stand? You came to their defence didn't you? I know when people said bad things about Tom Brady and my Patriots I was up in arms, and I have had more than one LOUD argument to stand behind MY team! That is because I can say I love the Patriots, they are my team. How about when someone says something bad about the city you live in, or grew up in? Quick to defend it aren't you? What about when you have a really bad day, is there anything that picks you up more than that food you love so much? Or what about if you are celebrating something really good? Don't you go out to eat that food you love? We all do that, I know I do that! It is because we really do love those things.
Love and as much of it as we can get is what we need in this world. Worshiping God, and loving each other is the whole reason we were put on this planet. Outside of loving and worshiping God, loving each other is the most important thing for us to do.

^" Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’^{[a] 38} This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself " -  Matthew 22:37-40 (NLT)

Jesus said it, specifically, loving each other is EQUALLY important as loving the Lord.  So the two most important things for each of us to do is love, love the Lord and love each other. But where is that love? Where do we show it in our day to day life? If we loved each other the way we love our favourite sports team, would we ever let anyone speak bad about someone? No, we wouldn't.  We would defend them as rigorously as possible. If we loved people as much as we loved that same sports team, would we spread rumors and gossip about them? Probably not.  How quickly does a nasty rumor about someone spread? I mean I know we are all guilty of hearing something about someone and with a gasp, calling all our friends and saying "Goodness, did you hear about so-and-so, they did such-and-such!" Usually with such a frenzied and fevered pitch we drop everything that we are doing to tell someone.  That is not an action of love, in fact, gossip and rumors are pretty much the exact opposite of that. In fact, if we look at Psalm 15, God explains who gets into heaven 

"Those who refuse to gossip
    or harm their neighbors
    or speak evil of their friends." - Psalm 15:3 (NLT)

So now we know, that gossiping is going to get us into trouble, mainly because it isn't an action of love, and truthfully as Christians, who love God and have accepted Jesus as our Saviour, there is really only one thing for us to do, we really only have one job, just one job.  Jesus laid it right out for us.

"So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. ³⁵ Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”" - John 13:34-35 (NLT)

 Nowhere does it say that we are supposed to decide what actions are sinful or what actions are wrong, that isn't my job, I have just one job love everyone! This is the resounding message over and over again from Jesus.

^""But I say, love your enemies!Pray for those who persecute you! ⁴⁵ In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike."" - Matthew 5:44-45 (NLT)

Nowhere are we given the right to judge, or point fingers or even say what is right or wrong. God, gave us a set of rules to follow, His commandments, His Law! Then, He gave us one simple job, love everyone.  Love totally, love completely and love unconditionally.

 ^"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud ⁵ or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. ⁶ It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. ⁷ Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." - 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NLT)

That is still my absolute favourite verse in the bible. Love is the greatest thing God gave us, it is what allows us to reflect the Lord.  When we talk about being made in the image of God, we are talking about love, love is the image of God, we are made of love and God loves us more than we are even able to comprehend.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" John 3:16 (KJV)

God is love, and we are made in His image.  WE ARE LOVE!!!  Shout it out, really feel it! 

WE ARE LOVE!!!

 So, where is the love y'all? It time we really focused on loving one another, let love guide all your actions, no matter the person, the situation or anything just let love guide you.  Let every action you take, every word you speak be from a place of love.  I promise you, if we all start to do this change will come, in our lives, in our communities, in our cities, in our country and in our world.

Love!

PRAISE GOD!!! 

Who Moved?

Life has made me weary, tired and I feel like I am constantly at battle on one front or another. I feel abandon, I feel alone and start to wonder where is God in all this.  He used to be so close to me. He is supposed to have my back, that whole footprints in the sand thing. He is supposed to be carrying me right now, but here I am fighting this battle alone. I get angry! I begin to question everything. Where did God go? Why did He leave me? But the reality is He didn't go anywhere.  I did. I think Robin Jones Gunn said it best "If you feel far from God, guess who moved?"
 

^"People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the Lord." Proverbs 19:3 (NLT)

It is here, in the Word of the Lord I once again find my answer. I have made mistakes, and I haven't been doing things the way I should and now that I am embattled I look to blame God.  We are all sinners and we know that, we all make mistakes

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"  Romans 3:23 (NKJV)

But for the grace of God, we also know that we are forgiven, I am forgiven

"I am writing to you who are God’s children because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus." 1 John 2:12 (NLT)

The Grace of God, is the most powerful and wonderful thing, because without it we would surely be lost, we know we are sinners, I know I am a sinner, that I have and will continue to fall short, that knowing the rules and what I should be doing isn't going to be enough for me, if it were, then why would we need Jesus? We needed Jesus to make the ultimate sacrifice because we will fall short.

"I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die."  Galatians 2:21 (NLT)

 So, if we are sinners and we are going to fail and sin again and again because it is our nature, what hope do we have? This is were we all lose focus and lose steam.  Yes, we will sin, yes we will make mistakes but that does not mean we are hopeless, and that does not mean that we should give up.  We are in a constant battle with the enemy and we must work and make the choice to submit our will to the Lord and to allow Him to guide us down the paths of our lives.  Starting with making the choice, to spend time reading the bible, and getting to know His word, and going to church, celebrating and giving thanks and praise with God's people. Letting all our voices and hearts ring out in praise together. I know for me, this has been my first problem.  I stop going to Church, because it is easier to stay in bed, or say I want more time at home, I start not spending time reading the bible and exploring God's word because I am tired or don't have enough time.  This is where the separation begins, how can I expect to be close to God, when I am not taking the time to be close to Him.  I expect Him to put in all the work, and save me when I am in trouble, but yet I am seemingly unwilling to give anything of myself to Him.  It is essential to our souls to spend time in the word of God, it is what helps us to submit to His will and let Him guide our hands, or essentially Let Jesus take the wheel as Carrie Underwood would say.  We know God, through His word in the bible. 

"Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path."  Psalm 119:105 (NKJV)

It is when we stray off the path, that we realize we are far from God.  When I stop reading my bible, when I stop going to Church is seems everything else starts to get worse.  My shoulders start to hurt from the weight I must carry alone.  As I go further and further into the wilderness, and get further and further away from the light of God, I soon begin to realize the night is dark and full of terrors.  There are traps and storms all around me. I feel weary and tired from battle and of course I start to blame God. But it has always been me at fault, I have stopped doing the things I need to do, stopped lighting my path with the word of God and now I am out on my own or at least feeling that way, God has never left my side, it was me, who left His. It was me that has wandered.  Now I must find my way back, and thankfully we are always welcomed back.  No matter where we go, or what I do I can always come home. I can always be close to God, I just have to make the first move.

^7"So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸ Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. ⁹ Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. ¹⁰ Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honour." James 4:7-10 (NLT)

I want God, to lift me up in honour.  I want God to be my shield. God provides us with all the armour and protection we need in this world if we chose to us it, 

"Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. ¹⁴ Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. ¹⁵ For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.^{[b] 16} In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.^{[c] 17} Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6:13-17 (NLT)

So it is then, in the full armour of God that we feel His presence, it is then that He can carry us through the most trying times of our lives, it is then that He takes the wheel.
Now as I begin to enter another battle, as I see another fight I must face, I am not afraid, I have no doubts or no worries because 

"...If God is for us, who can ever be against us?" Romans 8:31 (NLT)

Read my bible, go to church, remember to praise and worship and keep the Lord close, and I will never walk alone!

PRAISE GOD!!!