Category Archives: Personal Growth

Humble Pie

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Many of you who know me personally know that humbleness is not an attribute often applied to me.  That is not to say I am not humble but that it usually takes something BIG to remind me of my place.  After I graduated from college, at the tender and all-knowledgeable age of 22, I often did solo work and gave vocal recitals.  My degree was a Bachelor of Science in Music Performance and Education.  Of course, I was the best that ever happened to those who heard me  and mistakes were not part of my repertoire.  I thought!  However, as God always has and does with me He was about to show me that I was human and only He is perfect.  Case in point – I had been asked to sing Voi Che Sepete at a recital.  This is my signature piece and one that I often sing so imagine my surprise and embarrassment when I belched, quite loudly, right in the middle of the song.  Yep, Humble Pie, ala mode!  How about this one?  Shortly after we were married and moved to Bryan, OH I was asked to sing at the 1st Church of Christ.  Of course I jumped at the chance to sing in my new community.  I chose to sing The Lord’s Prayer because the accompanist was excellent and would showcase what I could do.  Yes, but…I simply forgot the words (that I’ve known since childhood) about half-way through and showcased what he could do.  Humble Pie, plus!

As my life progressed I began to look at humbleness a little differently.  It became more a reminder of Who is in charge and less’ all about me’. 

I am humbled:

   When my prayers are answered in ways I could not even imagine.

   When Ray expresses his love for me after 39 years of marriage.

   That God chose me.

   At having awesome Christian best friends.

   By the spiritual gift of teaching and the opportunities I’ve had to use it.

   At the mercies and miracles I’ve seen throughout my life.

   With being allowed to worship (freely, daily, hourly) the One and Only God.

I could go on and on, but as I look at the blessings in my life I am humbled more and more by an Awesome God who is loving me through humbling me.

Humility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth and honor and life.   Proverbs 22:4

Heavenly Father, Creator of ALL, Master Designer, You alone are worthy of my praise.  I am humbled by Your desire for the best for me.  Forgive me when I stumble, make me always humble in Your presence, for You are everywhere.  Oh, Lord, give me strength and courage to pursue Your plan for me with humbleness and joy.  Let this prayer come before the Throne with delightful fragrance in the precious Name of Jesus.     Make it so!

Why?

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Have you ever experienced the pain of the Spirit within?  Have you ever been so totally unsettled with a spiritual decision that you can’t even find the words to pray about it?  Have you ever known with all your heart, mind, and soul that something being done by those who are your leaders is not only wrong, but totally not in the best interests of the body?

Can you explain to me why people want to change God to fit their earthly desires?  Can you tell me why the Bible isn’t big enough for some?  Can you tell me why there is such a feeling of defeat when this happens?

What is the solution?  Where are the words?  When will man stop trying to do it better than God?

My heart is breaking, my soul is aching, I have no words, I fear for the future.  Yet my Lord has clearly shown me in so many of these situations that my empty prayers are going to Him with groans and utterings that I can’t understand (Romans 8:26).  He has told me that He truly has my best interests and future in His plan (Jeremiah 29:11).  He sent the Paraclete, the Holy Counselor, to advise me when things don’t seem right (John 16:6-8).  And above all He loves me so much more than I can even fathom (John 3:16).

Abba, I know You are in control of all situations.  I know You have a plan.  Lord calm my heart and give me the peace that passes all understanding.  I believe You and Your word.  Give me peace, Lord.  As I lift this prayer before the throne let me and anyone else who doesn’t get it know that You are working in the background for the greater glory of the Kingdom.  Amen and Make it so.

SHEEP SMELL

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Like it or not sheep smell and the Great Shepherd knows it but HE still wants to be with us.  I don’t know about you but smell is one of my most enhanced senses.  I love the smell of a great dinner, of carnations, of freshly mowed grass, of good perfume (no musk, I’m allergic), fresh coffee, cinnamon rolls, Christmas cookies, Ray’s cologne…..   I do not like farm animal smells, skunks, cigars, waste, spoilage, nursing homes, death (yes, it does have a smell). 

God insists that I get over this and often puts me in situations where I have to forget the smell for the sake of relationship.  In John 21:15-17 we are told to feed My lambs, tend My sheep, then feed My sheep.

First we are to feed the lambs.  These are baby sheep.  Now why did I need to say that?  Because they can’t feed themselves.  Unless the mother is attentive to the needs of her young they will not thrive or survive.  That is what we need to keep in mind when a person comes to believing in the LORD.  Without the help of the believers around them new ‘babes’ will not grow.  Feeding the lambs means taking the new believer under our wings and teaching them the Word and what it means to their lives.

Next, we are to tend the sheep.  At this point the sheep are adults and need serious care.  Sheep are prone to wander (Luke 15), as are we.  If there are no shepherds to tend we will wander into disaster areas.  Decision making is tough and without adequate guidance poor choices will be made.  There have been many tenders in my life including friends, family, pastors, teachers…without them I would have taken the Word and made it what I wanted it to be.  These very special people have taken their hooked staff and pulled me back from the edge of the cliff.  They have directed my ‘stubborn (who me?) sheep’ mentality toward right choices.

Then we are to feed the sheep.  Feeding adult sheep is different from feeding lambs.  No longer needing their mother’s milk they need a nutritious, healthy diet that makes them strong enough to continue the process of regeneration.  What?  If the sheep are to survive and continue to thrive into the future they need to have a steady diet of food, grains, and water with rest and care as they need it.  This is the same for us.  We need to have a constant source of love and guidance to keep us on the right path.  We get this through, prayer, study, worship and other Christians.

The Gentle Shepherd will help us find our way…we need only ask.

Gentle Shepherd, come and feed us.  Give us strength and courage to go to those who can guide and help us through this journey.  Lead us on the right paths.  Let our lives be about honoring You in all we say and do.  I lift this prayer in the precious name of Jesus, my Lord and Savior.  Make it so.

NO CONTEST

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It is always my pleasure to be on the learning side of a class.  My Sunday AM Bible study allows the class assistant to teach on the 2nd Sunday of the month. We were discussing our sinful lives based on Romans 7 and chased the trail of a No Contest Plea.

As I understand the concept of a ‘No Contest” plea, it is usually used so the sitting judge will decide the case.  If the case should be appealed, the next judge will usually honor the first judge’s ruling.

As the class debated this idea, I was struck by the thought that this concept could apply to our own judgment. When we pass to our new eternal home, we will stand before the One and Only GOD, judge of all that was, is, and is to come. Our Counselor will stand beside us and, when the charges are brought, will say that this case has already been decided: there was a ‘No Contest’ plea, and all was forgiven on the cross.

I want you to understand that even though we are forgiven, we do not have the option of deliberately breaking God’s commands. It should be our total desire to follow our God so closely that we are constantly aware of the Spirit/Counselor within us giving advice and counsel regularly. When we choose not to heed that voice and go ahead with whatever it is that will displease Him, we will miss the great blessing of obedience.

Let’s all make right choices.

Forever Friend

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I love to watch children as they play. There is such freedom in expressing who they really are.

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We took our God-niece (4-year-old) to McDonald’s Playland for supper and, of course, ate with all the other brave moms, dads, grandparents, and sitters in the community. Miss Annabelle (AB) was certainly more interested in playing than eating, but was only looking at the tubes and slides. I realized the problem when I remembered that she had commented in the car that someone had told her not to be afraid of the red slide.  I asked the mom sitting next to us if I could introduce AB to her daughter and if she would help her negotiate the playland. So, introductions done, AB and her new friend went off to explore and learn.  A short while later, AB said she couldn’t find her friend, who was hiding in the bubble. She went to find her and had discovered that she didn’t want to play because AB didn’t want to go on the red tube/slide.   A bit later, AB met a new friend named Emma. As they played, I noticed AB was still playing on the green slide, but Emma wasn’t worried about that. She had a friend, and that was what was most important to her.

This moment offers a small but beautiful picture of Jesus’ love for us. He isn’t worried about whether we want to play on the red tube slide. He simply wants to be our friend. James 2:8 comes to mind here. When we love our neighbors — our friends — as ourselves, we are honoring the Royal Law and reflecting His love to those around us.

What a Friend We Have In Jesus