Thursday, July 10, 2008

Pride and Worry


Worry is a plague. We try not to worry, but the more we try not to think about something the more we think about it. God wants you to cast your cares on Him. He loves you and will shine a light in the deepest darkness that surrounds your life.

1 Peter 5:6-8 (King James Version)
King James Version (KJV)
Public Domain

6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

In reading the preceding verses from Peter, I am struck by the discussion. First he talks about humility to God, and then he commands us to cast our cares upon the Lord. The two topics do not seem to go together. Perhaps our pride gets in the way of our humility. It is humbling to admit that we cannot control events in our lives.

Proverbs 16:18-19 (King James Version)
King James Version (KJV)
Public Domain

18Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
19Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.


Pride, humility, and worry...I never grouped these issues together, but it seems that God wants us to take notice of the attributes we develope when we allow pride or worry a place in our hearts. Perhaps God sees our worrying as a symptom of the pride we continue to harbor in a small corner of our hearts.

Meditate on humbling yourself before God while at the same time casting your cares upon Him. You will be blessed, your heart will be lighter, and you will be exalted before God in His time.


Blessings

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Do You Have Time To Fulfill Your Purpose?

Some of us think a lot about our purpose in life, others think very little about it. I ask you...does your life and actions fulfill your purpose? Do you even know what your purpose is? Our world has become a fast paced environment where time zips by without hindrance. I personally feel like the world has become a revolving door that passes before my eyes so fast that years have disappeared into the distance without my knowing it. There was a time when a woman's purpose was clearly defined. She would stay home, raise the children and create a comforting environment for the family. At least, that is what many would have us to believe...My personal experience was a little different. My grandmothers both worked outside the home. In their early years they worked in the fields wth the men. One of my grandmothers worked in a factory and in her own home taking in ironing and baby sitting until well into her last years. My mother raised her children and worked at the same time. She held many jobs and is a shining example of motherhood to her children and grandchildren. The Preacher in Eccliastes offered a wonderful discussion about purpose and timing.
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Ecclesiastes 3
1 To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:
2 A time to be born, And a time to die;
A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted;
3 A time to kill, And a time to heal;
A time to break down, And a time to build up;
4 A time to weep, And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, And a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to gain, And a time to lose;
A time to keep, And a time to throw away;
7 A time to tear, And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, And a time to speak;
8 A time to love, And a time to hate;
A time of war, And a time of peace.
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Stress takes its toll in our lives, effecting our health and our relationships. It is helpful to remember during times of crisis that God is still in control and our lives are in His hands. The first chapter of Eccliastes offers a thought for meditation:
3 What profit has a man from all his labor
In which he toils under the sun?
4 One generation passes away, and another generation comes;
But the earth abides forever.
5 The sun also rises, and the sun goes down,
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One thing is certain...all our stress and heartburnings are really small compared to the greater crises in the world. The earth continues to revolve on its axis, the sun rises and sets every day. This will continue until God decides that it is finished. Nothing we will ever do can change that fact. Take some time to think about your purpose and how you fit into the grand scheme of things in the world. God loves you and me and has a plan for every one of us. His plan and purpose will be better than anything we can devise for ourselves.
Blessings

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