Category Archives: Spiritual

A Time Almost Remembered

I found this journal entry I wrote on November 2 in 2006 or 2007. I don’t remember the circumstances surrounding this entry, or what inspired me to write it. Because of this, it spoke to me today as if it had been written by someone else.

I read I Corinthians 1 this morning, and this is what stood out to me. Verses 25-29 say:

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base of things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.

It is not flattering to be chosen by God because to be chosen means that I am weak and/or foolish. Doing God’s work is satisfying but not because I am a great person. It is satisfying because God can use me to glorify Himself, regardless of how weak or foolish I am. The more I allow my weakness and foolishness to be exposed, the more God will be glorified!! It is not flattery, but humility, that I should feel in my heart when I am chosen to be used by God! May God remind me of this over and over again!!

Without God’s hand in my life, I am a dead, worthless being going through the motions of my life, doing the foolish and weak things that fill it. With God in my life exposing the ugly things within, I am still a dead worthless being, but God comes in and makes the dead alive and the useless worth something, as long as He is within.

I believe I have lived my life thinking I was something special because God chose me, and I said yes!! What an idiot I’ve been!! I am nothing without my Savior within me!! Fortunately, God loves me whether or not I acknowledge my weakness and foolishness!! I now know that I will live a more satisfying life only when I remember that I am a worthless tool made useful in the hands of the Master of all tools! Verses 30-31 say:

But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God – and righteousness and sanctification and redemption – that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

July Inspiration

I thought I’d share some scriptures that have spoken to me in the last week or so. Maybe they’ll bless someone else, too!

A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. Yet you sweep people away in the sleep of death — they are like the new grass of the morning: In the morning it springs up new, but by evening, it is dry and withered.  ~Psalm 90:4-6

Take notice, you senseless ones among the people; you fools, when will you become wise?  ~Psalm 94:8

Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.  ~Psalm 115:1

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.  ~Galatians 1:10

The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.  ~Psalm 119:72

Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.  ~Psalm 127:1

Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.  ~Psalm 127:3-5

Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.  ~Philippians 1:12-13

A 7 Year Old’s Prayer

Today I told the kids that we should pray for someone we love, who does not know Jesus. Peter’s response brought tears to my eyes. He said, “I’ll pray for him right now.” Then he folded his hands, leaned his forehead against the wall where he was standing, and kept his head bowed for a full minute, praying for his unsaved loved one. When he was done praying, he wiped his eyes and said, “I really want him to have Jesus in his heart.”

Park Pictures 2009-06-18

While at the park on Monday, I got an opportunity to take a few nature shots. These scenes are fun to take pictures of and demand the acknowledgment of God’s presence! Here are my favorites!

Are You Looking Up or Down?

It’s time for a personal confession. I have been unsatisfied with myself now for about five years. Normally one would think that as time goes by, those feelings of dissatisfaction would go away or at least slacken, but no. They have been getting stronger and stronger over that time period.

You see, the more I see how far off I am from what God wants me to be, the more dissatisfaction I feel. I now feel like it can only get better from here (at least I hope so) because I have been introduced to a new mentality.

You see, I am on a journey up a mountainside that ultimately leads to Heaven. I have no idea how far up the mountain I am, but I know I am not at the bottom. I know this for a fact because I am constantly looking down at all the places I have been.

When I take a wrong step, I am so busy looking at the footprint that I just left, that I am likely to miss where to take my next step to resume my hike up the mountain. In fact, I am very likely to make a circle around that single footprint trying to erase it, never realizing that I am making even more misplaced step.

The problem here is that I am focusing on myself. My thoughts are constantly, “Oh, I messed up…..again!” And let me tell you, I am a pro at messing up! But what I keep forgetting to consider is that God is used to dealing with professionals, and He happens to be a pro at forgiving.

Unfortunately, if you are looking down the mountain instead of up at the glorious Heavenly Father, who is the ultimate example, you forget what you are striving to be. You forget that the focus of life should not be “me, me me” but “God, God, God.”

Now I am working to change my focus from how awful I am to how awesome God is. And let me tell you, any God that can change me for the better is a pretty awesome God. That’s a tough job!

Are you making the same mistake I am? Are you looking down at all your mistakes, forgetting that you must look up the mountain to God in order to accomplish the things He has planned for you? It’s not too late to change your focus! Just give it a try and LOTS of prayer and dependence on God!

This is my submission to Robert Hruzek’s “What I Learned From a Mountain Top” group writing project.

The Risk in Helping Others

Have you ever considered the fact that there is risk involved when you help someone?

Today at the pharmacy, I noticed a mom with her newborn. The straps of the baby’s infant carseat were loose enough that he could have come out of the seat in an auto accident. I had a strong urge to go over and talk to her and see if she would let me help her with the straps.

Let me point out here that I am not the type of person to walk up to a total stranger and ask them if I can help them with their baby. At least I didn’t used to be. 🙂

I got my nerve up to do it when the baby cried and she took him out of his car seat. Now I didn’t have to ask her to take the baby out.

When I walked up to her and started talking, she immediatly let me know that she did not speak English. I pulled on the strap of the empty car seat and motioned that they were loose and asked if I could fix it for her. She nodded.

After several adjustments and asking her to put the baby in to let me test the length, I was finished. I had to touch the baby’s arms to test the strap length, and that was the scariest part. I treated that tiny baby like he was made of porcelain because I was a total stranger to the mom and did not want to concern her in any way.

Fortunately she did not seem to be concerned, and the baby did not cry while I was testing the straps. There was risk involved, but to me, it was a risk well worth it! Now I can rest assured that her tiny helpless newborn will be as safe as possible in he car seat.

So, tell me. Do you think my actions were too risky? Did I do the right thing? Your input would be greatly appreciated. 🙂