Who do I think I am?
Really, who am I?
Who am I to think highly or lowly of myself?
Who am I to look in the mirror and say...
...that I am...
...that I’m not...
Who am I to look at or overhear you, my brothers and sisters, then say...
...that you are...
...that you’re not...
Who am I to look at others and call judgement upon them?
Who am I to think that my sin of...is any less than their sin of...
In the end, there is only one Judge.
The Judge is standing at "The Door".
The Judge opens "The Door"
The question is...to where will it lead?
“Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!”
James 5:9 NIV
Sunday, June 19, 2016
Wednesday, June 15, 2016
Do You See Him
Do you see him?
The man sitting on hot cement.
He's just outside the door you walked through.
He's there holding a sign.
Haven't you noticed him?
His sign says he's homeless and hungry.
Do you see him sitting there alone with his head hung low?
I see him.
I wonder...is he a father, a brother, a son, a husband...
Do you see him?
What?
You haven't noticed him?
He's there.
He's right there.
Do you not see your brother?
How can you walk right by without noticing him sitting there?
Can't you hear his silent pleas for help?
He's there.
Look, intentionally look, and you will see him.
The man sitting on hot cement.
He's just outside the door you walked through.
He's there holding a sign.
Haven't you noticed him?
His sign says he's homeless and hungry.
Do you see him sitting there alone with his head hung low?
I see him.
I wonder...is he a father, a brother, a son, a husband...
Do you see him?
What?
You haven't noticed him?
He's there.
He's right there.
Do you not see your brother?
How can you walk right by without noticing him sitting there?
Can't you hear his silent pleas for help?
He's there.
Look, intentionally look, and you will see him.
Lord, I pray that you open our eyes.
Help us to see things the way you see them.
Lord, soften our hearts and put in us a new spirit.
Help us live our lives the way Christ Jesus
lived his while he graced this earth.
Help us to live our lives in a way that glorifies you Lord!
Monday, June 13, 2016
HIM
Let's go back, way back, all the way back to the original sin (Genesis 3). That sin came into being because a decision was made which wasn't centered around God. It was about Eve wanting to eat the fruit of the one tree both her and Adam were specifically told not to eat from. Their decision to eat that forbidden fruit was all about them.
In the New Testament, we are told that if we want to follow Christ, we must deny ourselves. (Matthew 16:24, Mark 9:34, Luke 9:23) This is soooo much easier read and said than done.
In the book of James, we are told it is not good and to not be double minded (James 1:8; 4:8) and that we should submit to God (James 4:7).
Every single day it can be a constant battle for me. And not just once a day battle...but multiple times a day...sometimes…all...day...long.
Such the battle at times. And I don't use the word battle lightly.
A battle in my mind to do and say the right things. A battle to always be intentional. A battle to put a filter on my mouth - not in regards to swearing, but rather filter what comes out. I have a habit of just blurting out what's on my mind...which isn't always appropriate in every situation.
Don’t get me wrong…not every day is difficult. But when it is, boy, is it ever.
It's one thing to be in the word, to read devotions, to read books and to lead and participate in studies, to post things here and there. It's another thing to carry out the things I read, to always do the right thing and to always make the right choices. If I must be truly and completely honest, it’s often that I post things and write about things as a reminder and reaffirmation to myself. I do it because I need it.
Today, and everyday, I must remember that I'm not doing things for myself. That I'm not doing things to please myself. That everything I do must be done to please and glorify God. I need to always remind myself that the things I say and do are being noticed by others. Remind myself that when my actions do not reflect my words that I am being double mined...I hate to even admit that let alone type it on a page.
I hate to acknowledge this, but the last couple days, it's almost as if I can feel some type of opposition. Some kind of something. Actually, what I must do is not only acknowledge my part in it, but to call a spade a spade and call out the enemy. It's like I'm a starving rabbit and there are a million carrots dangling in front of my face. It's crazy. It's intoxicating. It's completely and utterly disruptive and disgusting. Only the enemy could be responsible for something like this.
I must remember HE can and will shut out the enemy. Remember and know that it's HIS will...HIS way...and in HIS timing that things will work out as they should. And more importantly I must remember that MY plans...MY way and MY timing only serve to disrupt and delay.
Deny self.
Submit.
It's really not about me.
It Really Is All About HIM.
In the New Testament, we are told that if we want to follow Christ, we must deny ourselves. (Matthew 16:24, Mark 9:34, Luke 9:23) This is soooo much easier read and said than done.
In the book of James, we are told it is not good and to not be double minded (James 1:8; 4:8) and that we should submit to God (James 4:7).
Every single day it can be a constant battle for me. And not just once a day battle...but multiple times a day...sometimes…all...day...long.
Such the battle at times. And I don't use the word battle lightly.
A battle in my mind to do and say the right things. A battle to always be intentional. A battle to put a filter on my mouth - not in regards to swearing, but rather filter what comes out. I have a habit of just blurting out what's on my mind...which isn't always appropriate in every situation.
Don’t get me wrong…not every day is difficult. But when it is, boy, is it ever.
It's one thing to be in the word, to read devotions, to read books and to lead and participate in studies, to post things here and there. It's another thing to carry out the things I read, to always do the right thing and to always make the right choices. If I must be truly and completely honest, it’s often that I post things and write about things as a reminder and reaffirmation to myself. I do it because I need it.
Today, and everyday, I must remember that I'm not doing things for myself. That I'm not doing things to please myself. That everything I do must be done to please and glorify God. I need to always remind myself that the things I say and do are being noticed by others. Remind myself that when my actions do not reflect my words that I am being double mined...I hate to even admit that let alone type it on a page.
I hate to acknowledge this, but the last couple days, it's almost as if I can feel some type of opposition. Some kind of something. Actually, what I must do is not only acknowledge my part in it, but to call a spade a spade and call out the enemy. It's like I'm a starving rabbit and there are a million carrots dangling in front of my face. It's crazy. It's intoxicating. It's completely and utterly disruptive and disgusting. Only the enemy could be responsible for something like this.
I must remember HE can and will shut out the enemy. Remember and know that it's HIS will...HIS way...and in HIS timing that things will work out as they should. And more importantly I must remember that MY plans...MY way and MY timing only serve to disrupt and delay.
Deny self.
Submit.
It's really not about me.
It Really Is All About HIM.
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