Today I received letter from a future Navy Seal. I am so proud of his vision, his heart to lead, to serve his country and foremost God.
Good news to hear he gets lead with a friend of mine in their training. I hope they will get to be friends.
I received a phone call from a sad friend last night. She believes her dating relationship is coming to an end possibly. I made a lasagna dinner with salad and garlic bread. I cried, prayed with her, and sat with her as we listened to music of encouragement to her soul. I was glad to help a friend and carry her burden for her. I wanted to obey God's command to "carry one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ" (Gal. 6:2). I am thankful that God will receive my worship with human imperfections; it is an offering.
So I have been thinking about that dreaded character flaw, PRIDE (is found popping up in my life many times). I helped someone move a couple of weeks ago that I thought was proud . She was responding to me like nothing I or others did was good enough. I felt like she was on pins and needles over nothing that went wrong. She never thanked anyone for the help or the free lunch and drinks that was provided. She was self absorbed and inward focused. I don't know her well so it may be that she isn't like this at all.
Not only this, I had another moment of confrontation/reflection in my own heart. I thought about 2 friends of mine that expressed that they were sick. I offered to drop by and leave Lemon Ginger Yogi tea on the front porch of their house because it is soothing and I have taken it to friends in the past and they said it made them feel better. But I believe these friends are so used to not anyone taking too much care of them. I feel like there is self sufficiency and pride going on their own lives when they don't allow someone to help them or receive help wether they believe it would help or not (found repeatedly in my life in past). When my friends refused to accept my help I then saw how it also takes away the blessing in my "giving". It simply one way of storing up your treasures in heaven. Maybe God rewards the "wanting to give" as a way of storing up eternal treasures for His glory.
These were good lessons for me because I now see clearer what the whole cycle of PRIDE and how it results in one sense prevent receiving blessing and hurting others.
I sent the following verses to my sad friend who received my care for her heart. Not my words but the words that bring LIFE and are like a sword penetrating to the marrow of her bones. There is no truer word to fill her woeful voids of her heart but Jesus word's himself.
I Peter 1:13
"Therefore gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit , FIX your your hope completely on the grace tot be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ"
Job 38
"Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said,
Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
Now gird up your loins like a man
And I will as you, and you instruct Me!
Where were you when I lad the foundation of the earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding
Who set its measurements since you know?
or who stretched the line on it?
On what were its bases sunk?
Or who laid its cornerstone,
When the morning stars sang together,
And all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Or who enclosed the sea with doors,
When, bursting forth, it went out from the womb;
When I made a cloud its garment ,
and thick darkness its swaddling band,
And I placed boundaries on it,
And I set a bolt and doors,
And I said, Thus far you shall come, but no farther;
And here shall your proud waves
stop?"
"Have you ever in your life commanded the morning, and caused the dawn to know its place;
That it might take hold of the ends of the earth,
And the wicked be shaken out of it?
It is changed like clay under the seal;
And they stand forth like a garment
And from the wicked their light is withheld
and their uplifted arm is broken.
Have you entered into the springs of the sea?
Or have you walked int the recesses of the deep?
Have the gates of death been
revealed to you?
Or have you seen the gates of deep darkness?
Have you understood the expanse of the earth?
Tell Me, if you know all this
Where is the way to the dwelling of light?
And darkness, where is this place, That you may take it to its territory,
And that you may discern the paths to its home?
You know, for you were born then, And the number of your days is great!
Have you entered the storehouses of the snow
Or have you seen the storehouses of the hail,
Which I have reserved for the time of distress,
For the day of war and battle?
Where is the way that the light is divided
Or the east wind scattered on the earth?....."
