Tag: Bible

Reflections of Light: Humble

“He has told you, O man what is good; what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8

Walk Humbly with your God?

Humble is a word I know as an old brand name for Exxon Oil, or as a name for a city in Texas, or as a description for poverty-level living conditions. But what does the word “humble” mean applied to my life with God?

DEFINITION: Humble = not proud or arrogant; having a feeling of subservience

In my culture describing a person as humble in appearance or actions is not valued. Instead of being humble, we are encouraged to be confident, persuasive, assertive, and strongly self-reliant. Perhaps God does not evaluate human character as my generation does.

“For the proud will be humbled, but the humble will be honored.” Luke 14:11

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ” Col.3:12

If humble is the opposite of proud, then when I am over-confident in my personal knowledge, abilities, experience, or achievements, I am proud in the biblical sense. The mistake is relying on myself instead of looking to God for wisdom or help. Logically thinking, if God is true to His word, am I setting myself up to be brought low to cure the pride that elevated my wisdom above His?

One man had every right to be proud, Jesus Christ. Complete and perfect in logic, abilities, emotions, and spirit- yet everything Jesus did on earth was in submission to His Father’s will. That will which He carried out obediently and without complaint. As the Son of God, He had every right to be proud but He chose not to be.

“…walk humbly with your God”

It is clear that I need to grow up in my faith to be more like Jesus. When life’s circumstances crush my dreams or change the path I expected to take, I cannot continue to pout that life is unfair because what I wanted to happen did not happen. I need to look to God in prayer and depend on His wisdom, resources, and healing instead of scheming my way around the disappointment.

I wonder if the loss of control in several areas of my life are not hidden blessings to help me realize that I need to fully depend on my Heavenly Father and witness His success in solving my problems?

I am way past childhood, and have been responsible for all my decisions for years. But I realize that many of my problems come from my rushing ahead of God and depending only on myself -leaving God’s guidance out of my equation.

Holy Father,

When life doesn’t go the way I planned or unexpected problems pop up, please help me to remember to come to you with my hurt like a toddler. As I tell you my needs, I want to beam with confidence in Your love for me, Your ways, Your timing, and Your resources.

Sometimes, my Lord, I forget that I am not on my own to answer every question. Forgive me, for leaving You out of my process when You are there to listen, You love me dearly, and You know all the answers.

I want to turn it over to You and rest in the knowledge that I am safe in Your loving arms. I ask these requests knowing that I have no right to call you Father except by the sacrifice of Your Son and my Savior. AMEN

Wondering about …Jesus as a Child

Do you ever wonder what kind of boy Jesus the Nazarene was? A Jewish child living in a Gentile region over 2,000 years ago. Although He is known as the Son of God, He is also called the Son of Man. What does that mean?

Local citizens thought of Him as the child of Mary, stepson of Joseph the carpenter, older brother of James. His disciple and friend, John, had a another name for Him, the Word.

A regular, ordinary human child- but was He? Not according to the Bible:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made.” John 1:2-3 ESV

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things were created through Him and for Him.” Col. 1:15-16 ESV

We also know that the Son did not come to help angels; He came to help the descendants of Abraham. Therefore , it was necessary for Him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that He could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then He could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. Hebrews 2:16,17 NLT

Jesus Christ, a member of the Trinity with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit during creation of the earth.

Jesus the Son of God, the versatile Artist who designed a horse to gracefully run across grasses also sculpted a comical anteater whose appearance is perfect for a life lived in soil and rocks. What beauty and function merged perfectly into these different forms and many others.

Jesus, Son of God, the Artist of creation, obeyed Father God’s will- to be born on earth as a human child, so He was also the Son of Man. The same Jesus lived a sinless human life never doing anything against God’s instructions. That perfect human life qualified Him to be the remedy for sinful humans who choose to become the children of God. All humans can become the children of God, but many choose to make their own way without God’s help.

Still, as a ten year old human child, what was Jesus like?

Did Mary’s Son use a twig to draw shapes in the dirt around Nazareth?

Was He the first one to point out a cloud that looked like an old man’s face?

Did Jesus invent new games out of rocks to entertain His friends?

I am curious because when I was working out at the gym, I saw something that reminded me of Him. Holding up the roof and ceiling over my head was a large wooden beam where hidden in the grain was the drawing of a nude woman with long hair holding her arms up toward heaven.

I wonder, did my Redeemer and friend, Jesus Christ, draw that silhouette inside the tree that grew in a forest over 60 years ago? Did He know that one day I would be grumbling and look up, seeing His artwork, and smile with pleasure at the thought of Him and His abilities?

Father God,

How grateful I am that I can come to You as an adopted child. Please help me to see the beauty and wonder of our world. Help me to look for and identify traces of You in nature and in the people around me. I thank You for the essence of Your character revealed through Christ adding joy and humor to an ordinary life .

Amen

***Have you heard of Jesus Christ, but you don’t really know Him ? Are you searching for a relationship where you are deeply loved and that does not end? Do you long for hope in a struggling situation where you can find no answers? Look to God for help.

Do you want peace with God?

Too Busy

Widowed for over 14 years, children grown, siblings dead, relocated from her small town church friends. Knowing Jean was lonely, I stopped by one afternoon. Her snug cottage shared land with her son, Junior’s, house.

While we were visiting, Jean jumped up from her chair hearing tires on the driveway. She stood in the doorway looking towards the other house saying, “Look, he’s home! Junior must be so tired; he left early this morning.”

The white, fluffy head on the 89 year old body stepped out the door to her porch. Right hand held in a wave with a smile on her face to the man getting out of his pickup, but Junior never turned toward her. Papers in hand, he closed the car door and walked quickly into his house.

Disappointment showing in her face, Jean walked back into her house saying, “Bless his heart, he must have a lot on his mind. I wouldn’t keep him long. I just wanted to ask how how his day went, and to tell him that I love him. Oh well, maybe tomorrow he will have time to visit a minute…”

Once again she sat down in her chair and took the TV remote changing the channel. Looking at me, Jean smiled saying, “Let’s see what the weather is going to be.”

As I watched her rounded face look at the screen, I thought harshly of her son who was too busy to have a conversation with the person who delivered him, took care of him , adored him, and who still watched for any opportunity to help him. I realized that if I was in Jean’s place, the rejection would have really hurt my feelings. How could Junior be so self-centered?

Many years have passed since that afternoon in Jean’s living room, but the expression on her face still lives in my mind. It seems humans often ignore or take for granted the one person whom they are confident will always love them.

In our daily world, pressure from the job, house work, necessary duties and errands go first on our “to do” list. Building and maintaining relationships by spending time in conversation is judged to be unproductive.

Holy Father God,

This verse in your Book made me think that I often treat You like Junior treated Jean all those years ago:

“I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not call on my name,

I said, ‘Here am I , here am I’ all day long I have held out my hands to obstinate people who walk in ways not good pursuing their own imaginations.” Isaiah 65:12

Like the children of Israel, do I ignore spending time with my Heavenly Father choosing instead to start my list of duties, planning, or worrying about the future?

I realize that You are Almighty God and not a mere human being. You are completely self-sufficient. You don’t need me, but I am positive that I need You.

So I wonder, since you created me in your image with free will and emotions, shouldn’t I be using my free will to choose to spend time with the One who loved me first and loves me still with all my faults?

Have I often hurt your feelings, Lord, when I don’t take time to get still and speak to you, but I can talk with a complete stranger at checkout when I am “so busy?”

Forgive me God!

Please help me prioritize every day to get still, read your Word, and talk face-to-face in prayer with You about those duties, plans, and worries. You are the One who is in control, knows all, and is always near me.

Help me to be sensitive to your presence in my life. That I might reflect and reciprocate your abundant love for me back towards You. I want to show my love not by doing things for You, but by choosing to spend time with You.

Convict me Spirit of Truth when my confidence in the fact that Almighty God loves me enough to ransom and adopt me by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ drifts into taking God’s presence and blessings for granted. I want to stop that.

Amen

“For thus said the Lord of hosts, after his glory sent me to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye–” Zech. 2:8 ESV

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life,” John 3:16 ESV

“Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister , and Lazarus.” John 11:5

Once Again

Disappointment permeates the hope I had. I’ve been on this path a long time. You’d think I would have learned something by now. But I’ve done it again.

I say that I believe God is sovereign and in charge of everything that happens to me and in my world. I say that God Almighty is good and doing good even when I can’t see the good or understand how it is good. I say God knows everything, and that He is wiser than I will ever be.

Yet, I am sad today because my plan did not work out. Oh Holy God, you know that I call myself your follower, but you and I both know I really want to be your leader. Actually, I just want you to execute my plan for life in the time frame I laid out for you.

The same issue- did it again. Know it is wrong- did it again. Know I am not omniscient – but did it again anyway. It is ridiculous; I continue to fall into the same pot hole! Forgive me Lord for always wanting to be in control. Please help me to ask for your will and then actually wait patiently in anticipation of seeing what you will do.

Disgusted with myself, my mind wanders to the memory of that kindergarten skate night years ago…

Squeals of delight join the thump of skates and shoes dropping on the floor,as I notice the roller rink is crowded with children.

A DJ plays rock music illustrated by strobe colored lights.

Fourth and fifth graders move with confidence onto the wooden oval.

Second and third graders assume favorite positions in the snack bar, game area, or roller rink.

Kindergarten and first graders quickly segregate into two groups: experienced skaters ready for competition and novice skaters clutching parents’ hands with eyes wide with fear and excitement.

A new song begins and the circle is is filled with skaters dancing on wheels.

The inner core of bodies move like race cars gyrating as they glide while the outer edge slows with children barely balancing on their rollers.

My little girl tackles the rink with me holding her hand and walking beside her in sneakers. Though her snail’s page is almost imperceptible, she dismisses me from the floor after one loop. Confidently understanding the process, she begins another gradual circuit.

As I watch the near-miss and actual collisions happening, Mattye comes to my side. Her eyes are filled with the same wonder as the other kindergarteners.

Although she only turned five in June, Mattye stands a head taller than the others and weighs double the pounds of my little girl.

She has the appearance of a bully, but possesses the opposite personality.

Her words are soft and spoken with an occasional lisp,” Will you help me… skate?” Looking around the adults, I don’t see her parents.

We step into the arena, and Mattye’s feet shuffle in a rough skating form. Quickly, she falls toward the right, that leg suddenly ejecting. I steady her, so she is once again vertical.

The shifting feet begin again, and we move 18 inches forward. Then her left foot takes off in airborne flight.

I adjust my weight to counter hers, and she stays up. Softly she whispers as she glances my way, “Sor-ry.”

We begin again, and she falls. Still again, and she falls. Once again, and she falls. Her feet seem to be moving in fast-forward speed in totally different directions.

Slowly I explain what to do again. But she makes the same mistake. I am tired, a muscle in my back hurts, my arms tingle with the strain, and I want to go sit down.

But, when I look at Mattye

Her golden-brown curls circling cherub cheeks

Mouth pursed in concentration

Blue eyes pleading with no other grown up to help

Wanting to skate, but afraid with each fall I will let go

or worse- give up on her.

I cannot NOT help her!

That’s when I see the resemblance, Lord!

She looks like me– we share the desire to glide gracefully, but in reality we are unable to stand erect much less glide without a helping hand.

Mattye’s issue is only one of balance and experience skating. My problem is harder to correct. I ask for your help, and then rush into doing what I think.

Do my legs seem to be motorized when I fall into trusting myself instead of trusting you, God of the Universe?

Your strong hand holds me up to keep me from busting myself. I hear your instructions in my head and even study the book. But when I choose to rush ahead and fix things, I plummet with greater impact affecting those around me.

But you, Holy God, you never let me fall or fail completely. Being with my every step, you prop me up by your power and love to take another step.

Thank you Heavenly Father,

for loving the unsuccessful and slow to learn

for allowing me to choose my way but proving to me your way is better

for not giving up on me -even when I do.

When the next control issue pops up in my life, please help me stand looking confidently to you and waiting for you to show me what I should do.

“The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.” Psalm 37:23,24

“For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear, I will help you.” Isaiah 41:10

“I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.” Psalm 63:8

Unwanted Gifts

The air palpitated with his embarrassment. Why was he here?

Walking down the mall, I glanced into the nail salon expecting to see the usual variety of women, all shapes and ages, reclined with their feet in the pedicure bath.

But there, lodged between the chattering women, the rugged cowhand looked for rescue to the windows.

The poor man…. Peeking through the glass with his face hidden under the brim of his dusty felt hat. His expression conveyed quiet concentration as if he was slowly backing away from a snake coiled to strike.

Silver-trimmed bifocals slid down his nose, and white whisker stubble stuck out from acne-scarred cheeks. Although the cowboy’s flannel shirt and insulated black vest touched the chair back, something about his posture looked like he was ready to sprint.

With the blue jean legs bunched and rolled unevenly to mid-calf, his glistening white ankles descended into the bubbling water of the pedicure basin. Scuffed cowboy boots, each with a dingy white sock emerging, stood loyally by his chair with a lip of mud on the sole.

Like a feral animal, he watched and waited for his chance of escape.

I wondered…. who gave this man the gift of a pedicure that he felt he had to endure? Was it a loving wife that knew the thick callouses on his feet were causing him pain?

Or had a grown daughter given this treat because she knew the accumulated years of working cattle had caused back injuries where he could no longer reach or trim toenails?

Did the man give himself this tortuous gift because of a doctor’s warning that if that smashed toe became infected again, it would be “surgery and six weeks on crutches?”

Unwanted gifts that heal, even when given in deep love, are often painful.

Heavenly Father, as I remember the way that man looked at me, I wonder is that the expression I reflect to you? You know, when you give me a gift of training me to be more like your Son?

Needed gifts, although unwanted by me:

Like the gift of disappointment over the job I thought I deserved which gave me the desire to ask for your direction for my future.

Like the gift of a fearful diagnosis which caused me to realize how rich I was in friendships, joy, and your everlasting love that I had not fully appreciated.

Like the gift of clear sight to see the abandonment of those I thought were committed to me to seek the company of One who would never forsake me for another.

Unwanted gifts, but necessary experiences

to discern truth

to show compassion for others

to live for greater purpose than entertainment

to see evidence of God’s presence in my life

Dear Holy God, when I need a present that I may not want, help me to look for and see you in the midst of the discomfort. Although many people think hate is the opposite of love, I realize that indifference is actually the opposite emotion. You demonstrate your deep affection for me by not being “too busy” to notice my harmful mindsets.

Thank you for loving me enough to keep healing and training me when I only want to be a spoiled child. In the Bible it records that humans were made in your image. As your child, I want to grow up and act more like you. Thanks, Lord, for not giving up on me or on my ability to learn.

In the name of my Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Amen.

“Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.'” Genesis 1:26

“Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. ” Psalm 25:4-5 New Living Translation

” I have seen their ways, but I will heal them…” Isaiah 57:18

Bible verses are taken from the New International Version unless otherwise noted

Perfect Friend

Sometimes I wonder, Lord Jesus, what it would have been like to walk beside you on a dusty path in Galilee. You, looking like an ordinary man but being so much more: the Invisible God enveloped with human skin.

Although I know facts of your life illustrated in black letters and white spaces, I don’t know the whole you. Names of places, people and quotes of your words scatter across my brain. Reading the Bible has changed my life; even so, your portrait is flat.

My mind sees you sketched out in two dimensions formed by typed words and art. But I long to see you wholly. What would it be like to hear your mouth say the words I read in the Bible? I wonder… On that hill, would your speech be choreographed to the movement of your walk or emphasized by arms and hands?

There is so much more to know about Mary and God’s son, Jesus. To see you in action would be such a pleasure. What would it be like to watch you thank the Father for our meal as we stopped to eat?

Because many different actors have portrayed the Redeemer in films, I am curious to find the truth of your physical characteristics.

When I hear your voice with my own ears, what will it sound like: clear tenor, deep base, or the vibrating baritone of the movies?

When you look at me, and I look back at you, will your eyes be dark chocolate hue or golden brown with flecks of gold and green?

Like a pregnant woman desires to see the face and know every detail of the child she carries, I want to completely know you, My Savior. To recognize your laugh in a crowded room or to glimpse that glistening sparkle in your eye when you think of something funny…

One day I will not wonder about how the Hero of my life looks and sounds. I will finally know when you call my name to join you.

Until that day, help me Holy Son of God to listen to your Spirit within me. Guide me to be true to your values, and to show your love and forgiveness to others. And when I meet wanderers who only know your name, give me words to tell the remarkable difference committing my life to follow you has made.

“No one ever spoke the way this man does,” the guards replied. John 7:46

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

“Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” John 14:21

“And the scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness’, and he was called God’s friend.” James 2:23

Gracious Father, thank you for sharing your Son and death-less life with such a fickle creature as me.

Bible verses are taken from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.