Pride of Life

Thinking about pride today -
Thinking about the phrase "power corrupts" - wondering why people are drawn to that prideful spirit in a certain political figure in the news right now.  It makes me feel sick inside to listen to him. Praying for God to bring up a humble man who can lead with wisdom.

Turning my thoughts to Moses. He was under constant criticism yet obviously well loved.  Loved not just by the people but by God Himself. He was a meek man, the Bible says.  I can't imagine him holding his rod over the Red Sea to part in timidity.  So meekness must not equal a timid spirit. So I wonder how to be a humble servant like Moses or like George Washington.  Or even like the French King Louis IX.  We don't always think of the French as having humble kings.  The images of the French monarchy are usually of Versailles or Marie Antoinette in all their excesses.  But Louis IX was the monarch in the mid-13th century.  He was known for his humbleness and his generosity.  There are stories of him kissing the hands of lepers as he passed them in the streets.  That may be an exaggeration, but he is well-known for his generosity to the poor and the sick, his devotion to God, and his humility.

Thinking about pride in our own lives.  All the posters on Facebook "2016 - the year Americans were offended by everything".  Why do we allow ourselves to be so offended? It's our pride.  Our need to be right and by default, you're wrong.  It's present in my own heart.  And I see it all around me - while driving, at the grocery store, waiting in line for coffee - on social media - and worst of all in our conversations at church.


My "heart language" of the Bible is from the King James version because those are the verses I memorized as a child.  So I close with this verse I've known since I was young.  "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves." (Philippians 2:3)
           or think of it this way:
"If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care - then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends.  Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top.  Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage.  Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand."

Grace and Love

I'm out of my depth.  There is so much going on that I don't know how to move forward.

I remember doing this better than I am now right now.  Even in this, I know God has called me and He doesn't make mistakes.  I was recently reminded of a Frederick Buechner post where he marveled that "God recruited so many lamebrains and misfits and nitpickers and holier-than-thou's and stuffed shirts and odd ducks and ego maniacs and milquetoasts..." We all have this idea how someone else "should" be doing something - should be responding - should be ministering - should be handling - But God has created us all with different personalities, and His purpose will be accomplished while He is glorified in our uniqueness.  So the stuff shirt won't do things the same way as the milquetoast, but that is ok!
And when it comes down to it, we'll all answer to God for the "how".  So I need to keep my heart in check. I, too, marvel how God has accomplished anything on this earth when He has us to work with!!  I'm so humbled and grateful God wants to use this odd duck.

Grace and Love
We get it - let's extend it!!

It's Cassia's first Birthday!!

Make an invite card

"The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part...And he also had seven sons and three daughters. The first daughter he named Jemimah, the second [Cassia] and the third Keren-Happuch. Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as Job’s daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers." (Job 42:12-15)

We cannot thank God enough for all the blessings he has given us over this past year.  My favorite thing is to see God's people responding to his prodding in blessing other people. We have been well-loved this year.  I don't think there is a family on this planet who is more grateful for the great love being shown to us by so many people.  

Here is now our last "first birthday".  It is our tradition to invite the people who have invested in our family during this first year of life.  A way to say thank you for all you've done.  This is a special day for us, and we hope so much you can attend!!