Friday, October 26, 2007

It's Hard to be Humble

There used to be a saying, "It's hard to be humble when you're as great as I am." It was usually said tongue-in-cheek, but every time I heard someone say it, I saw a glimmer of truth.

Humility is hard, but not because we're so great. Something in our sin-filled nature likes to make us think that we're better than we are. We're smarter than others, prettier than others, more talented than others. And sometimes that might be true. But it's more often not.

A friend of mine at work forwarded a "thought for the day" about humility, and it captured my heart. The verse was 1 Peter 5:6, "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time."

The unnamed author of the thought wrote that "we often worry about our position and status, hoping we'll get proper recognition for what we do." Isn't that the truth? We somehow think if we receive the praise of man (or woman), we'll please God more.

True humility means that we're willing to do anything for anyone at any time in order to bring glory to God. We'll clean toilets or speak on platforms. It doesn't matter what as long as we're doing God's will to His glory.

I want to be that humble. I want to be willing to do whatever He asks. I pray that I might be that humble. How about you?

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Another Precious Boy

Bright blue eyes. Rosy cheeks. A little frown. A sweet little cry. A smile that takes my breath away.

My sweet little great-nephew, Joey.

Just over two years ago, I saw the same eyes, cheeks, frown, smile, but that was from Joey's big brother, CJ.

This weekend, I was with Joey, my eldest niece's second son.

If you've read previous blogs, you know that I don't have any children of my own, but God has blessed me so much with my nieces and nephews. They are all really good people whom I believe God will use to do amazing things.

And two of those amazing things are those precious great-nephews of mine.

I can't tell you how it feels to love those little guys. It's wonderful to watch them grow and change (even if it's only in pictures).

Can I say a word of encouragement to you who don't have children? Find a child to love. Maybe you have nieces and nephews of your own? Or you can help in your children's ministry?

Just find a way to see bright eyes and rosy cheeks and heartwarming smiles.

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

He Knows Our Needs

I have a little "blessing box" on my desk, and as I thumbed through the verses, I came across Matthew 6:8. The Kings James Bible says, "Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him."

Now, I don't usually read the King James Bible (although I do like the New King James Version), but every once in a while, I like to read the poetry that comes from the old language. My Father knoweth my needs . . . I like how that flows.

But no matter what the version, this verse is a wonderful reminder that God knows my needs. I don't even have to ask Him; He just knows them.

There's something that catches my heart in this verse, though. This verse speaks to needs, not wants. My husband reminds me that we only need air, food, water, and shelter. Everything else is icing.

But isn't it great that God wants to provide for our needs, but He also wants to give us blessings beyond needs? Matthew 7:7-12 speaks of our being able to ask God for anything (remembering that we need to ask within His will), and He will provide, and verse 12 reminds us that our "Father in heaven [will] give good things to those who ask Him!"

What a wonderful thing to know that we are His children. We are His beloved sons and daughters! And like a loving Father, He'll take care of our needs and bless us beyond our expectations!!