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 1/14/98 Good morning.... +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ If there be any truer measure of
a man than by what he does, it must be by +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35 At a church meeting a very wealthy man rose to give a testimony. "I'm a millionaire," he said, not at all humbly. "I attribute it all to the rich blessings of God in my life. I came from a wonderful family. He gave me abundant intelligence and good business sense. I worked hard. On the night after I received my first paycheck, I went to a church meeting. The speaker was a missionary who told about his work. I gave everything I had to God. I believe that God blessed that decision, and that is why I am a rich man today." After smiling broadly at the congregation, he sat down. After a few seconds of silence in the church, a tiny elderly woman sitting in the pew behind him leaned forward and said, "I dare you to do it again." Pride in self is the very antithesis of a good heart. As a missionary discovered when he attempted to translate the word "pride" for a tribe noted for its mutuality of sharing, pride can be a difficult concept to define. Yet, it is one universally recognized. The missionary finally attached an air pump to a bicycle tire and, while pointing first to one head and then to another, began to pump hard until the tire inflated to several times its size.....and burst. Everyone in the village nodded in understanding! +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ *Quote* +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ I've Learned +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ Boy, don't we all!! tee hee Good Moooorning Sweet Brethren!! Hope this "Hump Day" finds you well! I guess if we nutshelled our above story, and gave it a theme.....it would definitely be "pride". The Word says Pride "goeth before destruction," I really believe it does. It is so destructive in our Walk with Christ, in fact, it has no place there, yet we seem to battle with it constantly. It was this ugly monster that caused Satan to fall. Why do we deal with it? What is the root cause? My humble opinion says.....it is the trademark of self-focus. When I am centered on me, and my way....I can easily become prideful. When my agenda is no longer lined up with God's Will, I can become prideful. Simple as that. The definition of pride, <Proverbs 16:18> according to World Book Encyclopedia, is "A high opinion of one's own worth and possessions". When God is no longer on the Throne in my life, and *I* am, then I develop a high opinion of my own worth and possessions. I start becoming more concerned with "me" and the outcome of "my" circumstances. To heck with John Q Public! What about me? Don't I deserve a fair shake in this life? After all, I only get one shot at it....and I may as well enjoy it...right? Sound Familiar? You know, I gotta pull all the stops out, right here. In my own walk, there have been many times that I felt that way. But, I notice that it comes in.....when I have gotten to the point, that I no longer hear, or care to hear, the voice of God...and what He Word says. If we are walking in pride, then we are not doing this: Matt 22:37-40 I will love myself in a Godly way...if my life is according to the order, just described above. I will know my worth, but my security will be in Christ, and not in myself. I will know that I am a blood bought child of the Almighty God. I will have compassion on others, because that will be Christ working in me. I will not be first and foremost concerned with "Numero uno". Bottom line: Set your affections on the "things above and not on the things of the earth" <Colossians 3:2> My "earthly" possessions and I are dung, without Christ.....and His Blood sacrifice. My own righteousness is as "filthy rags" <Isaiah 64:6> Who's on the Throne in your life, Brethren? If you are open for self- examination, I encourage you to get on your knees.....and find out. God Bless You Brethren...and I pray that your Wednesday is touched by the Master's Hand. I love you.. In Christ!! James 4:10
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