Receptive Humility

The following paragraph is from the above article written by Kate W. Buck and spoke volumes to me. It reads “The thought of self-surrender illustrated by the process through which a seed must pass before bringing forth its fruitage. When a seed falls into the ground, it must give up itself, so to speak, before there can be growth and progress. It is common to see a tightly shut bud out of which will come a beautiful rose. When the time of preparation is over, there is an obedient willingness to yield this phase of experience that the larger development may occur.”

That tells me to cease outlining my need which God knows better than I. God’s will, not mine. John 14:26-27 states “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Humility Needed for Healing

This morning as I read about the healing of Naaman’s leprosy, the need for humility shows up. He was sent to the Prophet Elisha who didn’t even come to meet him but told him to go wash in the river Jordan seven times. Naaman was incensed because he was a great soldier and the river Jordan was not the cleanest river. The healing seemed to take longer because Naaman felt too proud to go to that river. Often when I am praying about a challenge, not only am I outlining how the healing will play out, I think it should be difficult as well. Actually, all we need to do is to show up and love!

John 15:5 states “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing,”

Seven Days in Utopia

Earlier today my husband and I watched the above movie and it resonated with both of us. It talks about listening for the small still voice within which is truth and how that dispels erroneous human belief about our true identity. We are not our bank account, our golf score or our title at work and so often, we think that is true about us.

2 Corinthians 4:6 states “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” Love always is the answer and with Truth will lift us out of the darkness.

Keeping Watch

As I was reading an article this morning, one sentence jumped out at me! “To navigate our way through life by looking to God for ideas and wisdom is not always easy, but it is not half so hard as losing one’s mental dominion in a fog of angry reaction.” Recently, there was a family incident which incited some less that loving reaction from two people, one of which was me. Looking like I was humanly justified made it even more difficult to overcome hurt feelings. Continuing to pray from the standpoint of being right and how was God going to make it right didn’t help or heal feelings.

Then, as I read this article earlier, humility and gratitude took over and dispelled pride and fear. It is impossible to pray for another when anger occupies your thought. The next thing I saw was a Navajo Proverb my husband brought me. “Thoughts are like arrows. Once released they strike their mark. Guard them well or one day you may be your own victim.”

Matthew 6:33 states “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” This always give anger time to diffuse while we are awaiting God’s wisdom,

Our Answers are Always Available

Recently I have been working with “Thou Shalt have No Graven Images”. That is when a tape plays endlessly in your thought and can be very annoying. So often, it can play over and over when a different ending is expected to no avail.

This morning I received a call from someone I was praying with yesterday and she had received her answer! Love is always the answer! A few months ago she had a new roof put on her house and when it was finished, she went out to look at it and the wrong roof had been installed; not the one she had chosen but nothing could be done now. Every time she drives up her driveway, she becomes irritated when she sees it. As she had been praying about learning to love the roof, yesterday it dawned upon her! She needed to love the roofer as well as the roof! That was her answer.

2 Corinthians 4:18 states “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” Today, I will love, love, love.

Yielding to God

As I study my Bible Lesson this morning and Hagar is in it, I am reminded of a demonstration I had years ago. We had moved from Dallas and bought a home in East Texas before we had sold the first home. As I was driving back to check on our home one week-end I was pleading with God almost frantically for our house to sell. I had told my son I was praying and he casually remarked God was not going to answer with a billboard! About that time the exit came up and there was a “yield sign” and driving down to the light there was another “yield sign” where I turned right. Another block passed and a third “yield sign” appeared. There was a realization that had been three “yield signs”, not one! Immediately, my prayer changed from pleading to knowing God was taking care of my need as I yielded to Him.

Within three days, we had a contract on our home and it sold effortlessly when I yielded.

Genesis 21:17 reads “And God heard the vice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.” God always hears us where we are and when we quieten our thoughts, we can hear Him.

Love Being Shown Everywhere

In our small town, there is a website on FB where someone can post a need. A man posted this morning asking for someone to drive him for a three-hour procedure where a taxi couldn’t work since someone needed to stay with him. He was offering $60 to anyone who could do that. At this count, there were fifteen offers and one man stated that he couldn’t do it for $60, but he could do it at no charge. Now, that is Love being shown. These first fifteen don’t even know him but are willing to drive him. Am so grateful for this little town to show me love.

Colossians 4:2 states “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”

The Christ Cannot Be taken out of Christmas

Before I even awakened fully this morning, I was talking with God. My thought was a couple of family members tested positive with that stupid virus, while another looks humanly struggling and then another is experiencing a break-up. While I am praying about their situations, I am seeing them as sad and needing help! God is right there with them working His purpose out and it always blesses. Then I thought of other family members as looking as they have no struggles. They are the one who may be experiencing private challenges. Yes, we need to listen to know how and when to help but they are all helped when I see them as surrounded by Love, which they are.

The expression “Loose him and let him go” comes into thought as I think of Jesus as he told friends and family of Lazarus when they saw him in a lifeless way. Only spiritual growth is going on and that is always a good thing!

Philippians 2:9-10 states “Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.” The Christ cannot ever be taken out of Christmas! He Is Christmas!!