Planking

³And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? ⁴ Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 
⁵ Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
                                  - Matthew 7: 3-5

     I memorized these verses several years ago for my Bible class in school and they sounded pretty hilarious to my childish mind. I would imagine myself with a board sticking out of my eye, hitting peoples heads with it as I turned to look at them. And while that is amusing to think of, its also painful, because with my (slightly) more mature teenage mind, I can see so clearly the truth in it. You see, I have a problem with pride...not one of those little annoying habits, but a serious problem. I can honestly say that 97% of all of my sin issues have their origin in  pride. It especially manifests itself in my judgmental spirit. I can profess to love someone dearly, as mentally run over every thing about them that bugs me. I can hug them and laugh with them as I plot how to tell them just exactly what I think of a certain character flaw that they possess. I can tell them I'm praying for them and try to give them a spiritual lift, when not ten minutes earlier I was gossiping about how they really need to get right with God because their life is going down the drain. And especially frustrating to me is when I'm supposed to be listening to a great sermon, but I'm really sitting there wondering if so-and-so is paying attention to the message. (as if I am!)   In fact, just to be honest (and also to practice some much needed humility) I'm sitting here writing this right now, trying not to hope that certain people will read this post.
   The more I reflect on this tendency, the more I realize that I truly am hitting people in the head! I try to help them see the error of their ways ( in a rather self-righteous way) when in reality I'm pushing them farther and farther away because of this painful plank.
   I'm going to end this post a little differently today. Instead of asking everyone to search their hearts or join me as I seek to rid my life of this pesky problem (though that would be great!). I am instead going to ask for prayer. Pray for me that I will allow God to have His way in my life, no matter how hard it may be on my pride, and that I may become an empty vessel, ready to be filled with Him and poured back out. And that maybe, I won't hit anyone else in the head with this plank.

What Manner of Person ought I to be?

¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 
¹¹ Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
                                                2 Peter 3:10-11

  I don't know about you, but these verses hit me right between the eyes. I mean, I've always known the concept behind them, but having it so clearly laid out really brought it home. I heard an expression once, I can't remember the exact wording, that talked about people going to heaven smelling like smoke, because everything that they did here was burned up, it didn't count! So, I started thinking, what manner of person ought I to be? How does God want me to live my life, so that when I stand before Him one day to give an account, I don't 'smell like smoke'? And God, in all of His faithfulness, has used these last few days to show me ways that I need to grow in Him and redeem the time that He has given me. Now, I'm not going to go into the things that He has taught me in this post, I may later. I just want to encourage you to join me as I search my heart, and together we can  ask ourselves, "what manner of person ought we to be?"

To Joel

   Yesterday morning my youth ministers 5 year old son Joel, went to be with Jesus. Joel was the sweetest, happiest little boy I've ever met, so brave through everything. I didn't know him long or see him often, but when I did see him, he was smiling and laughing, and playing, loving life and the people in it. His father too, is an incredible example. He loved his son, but I never saw him become bitter, and people that were around him more often than me, said that he always had a positive, joyful attitude. He was always so full of faith, praying for his son and trusting God to hear and answer him. And I believe that God answered all of our prayers, because Joel is now in His presence, running with the angels, completely healed. Joel's short life has touched so many, more than many, much longer lives. And as much as it breaks my heart that he is no longer here, I am so thankful that God let Joel and his family cross my path. I love you guys!
Below is a video of  Joel's wish for the 'Make a Wish' foundation.

Could this be true of me?

   This morning during my quiet time, I ran across this devotion in Oswald Chambers, 'My Utmost for His Highest' and it really convicted me about the way that I am living out my Christianity. So, I hope you all read this slowly and prayerfully, and ask yourselves, if this is true of you.
     
   'But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself.' Acts 20:24
  
  It is easier to serve God without a vision, easier to work for God without a call, because then you are not bothered by what God requires; common sense is your guide, veneered over with Christian sentiment. You will be more prosperous and successful, more leisure-hearted, if you never realize the call of God. But if once you receive a commission from Jesus Christ, them memory of what God wants will always come like a goad; you will no longer be able to work for Him on the common-sense basis.
  What do I really count dear? If I have not been gripped by Jesus Christ, I will count service dear, time given to God dear, my life dear unto myself. Paul says he counted his life dear only in order that he might fulfill the ministry he had received; he refused to use his energy for any other thing. Acts 20:24 states Paul's almost sublime annoyance at being asked to consider himself; he was absolutely indifferent to any consideration other than that of fulfilling the ministry he had received. Practical work my be a competitor against abandonment to God, because practical work is based on this argument- 'Remember how useful you are here. or - Think how much value you would be in that particular type of work.' That attitude does not put Jesus Christ as the Guide at to where we should go, but our judgment as to where we are of most use. Never consider whether you are of use; but ever consider that you are not you own but His.
                     -Oswald Chambers

No Boundaries

We are apt to say that because a man has a natural ability, therefore he will make a good Christian. It is not a question of our equipment but of our poverty, not of what we bring with us, but of what God puts into us; not a question of natural virtues of strength of character, knowledge, and experience- all that is of no avail in this matter. - Oswald Chambers


   I think that a lot of times we as Christians get really hung up on the whole spiritual gift thing. We take tests to determine our spiritual gifts, and then get boxed in by the results. Now, I am not saying that its wrong to take these tests, they are great ways of determining our strengths and weaknesses, but I am saying that we don't need to live by them. The whole point of the Christian life, is to showcase Jesus, and to let Him live in and through us. We can't do this if we are dependent on our own strengths, if we shun a wonderful ministry opportunity that Christ is calling us to, because public speaking is not on our list of spiritual gifts. Christ said that in our weakness, His strength would be made known. (2 Corinthians 12:9) We cannot, must not, limit God. We cannot not put boundaries around ourselves and expect to live a victorious Christian life, that glorifies our Creator. We must die to self, and in doing so die to all of our strengths and all of our weakness, and adopt Christ's. And guess what? He doesn't have limits; His weakest is stronger than our strongest. (1 Corinthians 1:25)  We must learn to live in a strength not our own. We must learn to live a life with out boundaries.