pride goes before the fall

The Character of Pride
* Pride is ruthless, sleepless, unsmiling concentration on the self. ~ C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity
* Pride is self-absorption, and there are two kinds: superiority pride and inferiority pride. Pride means you're always thinking about yourself. Either looking at others and thinking you're better than them or looking at others and wishing you could be as good as them, in whatever way.
* Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less.
The Deadliness of Pride
* Pride destroys. It makes you a fool. It causes you to blame others for things that go wrong, and not to learn from your mistakes. Pride keeps you from growing.
* Pride makes you evil. Pride is the petri dish in which all sorts of other hellish things grow. After all, the devil is the devil because he was prideful. Think about that!
* Pride is the carbon monoxide of sin. It's the silent killer. You can't see it or smell it. When you're prideful, you usually don't know it. "Who me? I'm not proud." Oh wait. Yes, you are. That was pride right there!
* Heaping religiosity on pride doesn't help. That just makes you a hypocrite.
The Cure for Pride
* Haman, in the Bible story of Esther (Esther 3:1-6, 6:1-10) didn't ask for the wrong things - a robe, glory, delight, etc. He asked the wrong king!
* The reason we are prideful is because we are seeking love and esteem. But the greater the person, or the One, who loves us, the less insecure we are! The praise of the praise-worthy is above all glory!
* To the degree you believe Christ humbled Himself for you, you will be healed of your pride and humbled.

Historical Note: In Bible times, when a king gave someone his robe, it was about more than just honor. It was delight, it was love, it was asking them to share in the glory. It might even symbolize that the king wants them to take over next - to wear the crown! Now think of this in terms of what Christ the King did for you!

(From Tim Keller's sermon "The Man the King Delights to Honor" on 4/29/07.)

reminder

orbit

Tonight at church Tim Keller spoke on Mark 15:33-39. He started by explaining the darkness that came over the whole land at the time of Jesus' death. He then talked about the darkness that we are in, the darkness that Jesus took upon Himself, and the way in which Jesus' darkness overcomes our darkness. A few of Tim's points stood out to me:

* Who or what do you orbit around? Where does the warmth in your life come from? (You can extend this metaphor for yourself by thinking about the sun/Son.)
* The worst thing that can happen for someone who centers her life on something other than God is for her to reach her goals. Because then she has nothing to live for.
* If ministry or teaching or work is the most important thing in your life, when you are criticized you will be destroyed. If God is the center of your life then you will just be momentarily discouraged. God is what holds the pieces together.
* On the cross Jesus cried out, "My God, My God..." He didn't cry out "My friends!" or "My rights!"
* Jesus began to experience a separation from God's presence and love. It's said that the worst sadness a human can ever experience is the loss of love through death or divorce, and that the longer that love had been in existence the more the loss will hurt. Jesus had been in the presence of God's love for eternity! He lost that love out of His love for us, so that we will not have to experience that separation. Thank God for His love!

Things about church tonight:
1. Jen joined me. Yay! It's so much more fun to go with a friend.
2. I sat next a guy who is an opera singer. It was nice to be next to a guy who isn't afraid to sing! (Though he had a bit of trouble getting the feel of the more swingin' songs; he likes vibrato.)
3. I ran into Megan at the subway stop after church. I haven't seen her since before Thanksgiving when she left on tour with Beauty and the Beast. She went to the earlier service and then to dinner, so it was God-timing that we happened to end up waiting for the train at the same time. She's a beautiful, sweet girl, and I wish I could have spent more time with her this year.

e-cards

I just recieved a beautiful e-card from my college friend Tabitha. She had such encouraging words concerning my plans for next fall! I think everyone out there knows by now that I have decided to return to Concordia in Shanghai, China, to teach first and second grade for the next three school years. Here's what Tabitha and her card had to say:

(With Nichole Nordeman's "Legacy" playing in the background...)
You make a difference.
And you're appreciated.
Thanking God for the special person you are.

Let your light shine...
That they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16 NIV

We all need encouraging words like that. Thanks, Tab! And thank you all for your prayers as I made my decision and now as I prepare to go back.

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After posting the above, I received another e-card from a Sarah, a friend and coworker from China. It was very touching, too! Sarah said:

Because of you, my laughter is a little louder...
my load a little lighter...
And my love for the Lord a little deeper.
Thank you, sweet friend.

"Your love has given me great joy and encouragement..." Philemon 1:7

Thank you, Sarah! And I can't wait to see you again on the other side of the world!

God's will

I'm seeking God's will for my life, for where He wants me to live and teach next fall.

So...

Pray for me. I am sure that I have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. Pray that the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, will equip me with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in me what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Adapted from Hebrews13:18-21, NIV)

After all...

I've remembered the old days, gone over all He's done, pondered the ways He's worked, stretched out my hands to Him, as thirsty for Him as a desert thirsty for rain.

Hurry with your answer, God! I'm nearly at the end of my rope. Don't turn away; don't ignore me! That would be certain death. If you wake me each morning with the sound of your loving voice, I'll go to sleep each night trusting in you. Point out the road I must travel; I'm all ears, all eyes before you. God, you're my only hope! Teach me how to live to please you, because you're my God. Lead me by your blessed Spirit into cleared and level pastureland. (Adapted from Psalm 143:5-10, The Message)

And Paul says...

So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. (Romans 12:1-2, The Message)

NOTE: If you are not familiar with the NIV version of these verses, I encourage you to take a look at that. The Message is loosely translated, but it spoke to me tonight! Check out http://www.biblegateway.com/ if you want to look up the verses online.

CHRISTmas

T'was the night before Christmas,and all through the town
Not a sign of Baby Jesus was anywhere to be found.
The people were all busy with Christmas time chores
Like decorating, and baking,and shopping in stores.
No one sang "Away in a manger, no crib for a bed."
Instead, they sang of Santa dressed-up in bright red.
Mama watched Martha Stewart; Papa drank beer from a tap.
As hour after hour, the presents they'd wrap.
When what from the TV did they suddenly hear?
But an ad.. which told of a big sale at Sears!
So away to the mall they all flew like a flash,
Buying some things on credit and others with cash!
And, as they made their way home from their trip to the mall,
Did they think about Jesus? Oh, no... not at all.
Their lives were so busy with their Christmas time things;
No time to remember Christ Jesus, the King.
There were presents to wrap and cookies to bake.
How could they stop and remember who died for their sake?
To pray to the Savior? They had no time to stop.
Because they needed more time to "Shop 'til they dropped!"
On Wal-mart! On K-mart!On Target! On Penney's!
On Hallmark! On Zales! A quick lunch at Denny's.
From the big stores downtown to the stores at the mall,
They would dash away, dash away,and visit them all!
And up on the roof, there arose such a clatter
As grandpa hung icicle lights up on his brand new step ladder.
He hung lights that could flash. He hung lights that could twirl.
Yet, he never once prayed to Jesus...Light of the World.
Christ's eyes... how they twinkle! Christ's Spirit... how merry!
Christ's love... how enormous! All our burdens... He'll carry!
So instead of being busy,overworked, and uptight
Let's put Christ back in Christmas and enjoy some good nights!

Merry Christmas, my friends!
Author Unknown