A Lesson on Humility

So, funny story....

At church the other day, Todd and I and a few others from our Sunday school class were walking to the sanctuary when a woman, who will remain unnamed, came up to me with a queer look on her face. She asked me if there was some news she hadn't heard yet and then looked pointedly at my stomach. It clicked then, so I told her, "NO, I am not pregnant." Oh, she said, it must be the dress then, and she walked away. I can honestly say that this is the first time someone has asked me if I was pregnant because of my appearance.

My pride definitely took a shot there, which wasn't necessarily a bad thing either. But this comical story actually made me think on much more serious things. Being in ministry is such a blessing. But, it makes Todd and I more of a target to Satan, and man can he push my buttons. To be completely honest, pride is something I have had way too much of. In the past, I thought myself better than others because of my lifestyle or my speech or even my looks. Thankfully, the Lord still uses me and continues to prune me to be someone who represents Him more. Now, I am working with kids who are still growing, and are less mature than I am ( hard to believe, I know). So, I am hard pressed to remember that without Christ, I would be nowhere and without Christ, I am still an immature girl with no direction in life. If I don't remember these things, and if I don't focus on the love of Christ; I can be easily led to think that I am the reason the ministry grows, and I am the key to these kid's individual growth.

1 Corinthians 3:7-9 says, "So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building." What a lesson! I am nothing, and yet Christ allows me to be a part of SOMETHING GREAT. I am a part of God's building, I did not build the building. I am just a part of it and Christ is the cornerstone. ( Ephesians 2:19-22 "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, ²⁰built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. ²¹In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.²²And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.") One thing I am learning more and more is that at the heart of Christianity is one thing, humility. Because I can do nothing apart from Christ, He saved me and that is the reason I am here. He was the supreme example of humility, an example to be followed. (Philippians 2:3-11, http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%202:3-11&version=NIV )

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions...

So once again, I waited about ten years to blog. It seems to be a pattern for me. Todd and I recently celebrated our 1 year anniversary! YAY! I have learned so so much in this past year. But I think the biggest lesson I am thinking on right now is where these lessons come from. Before I probably would have said from experience, mostly painful ones. You know, things you learn from making stupid decisions. It's very similar to my driving experiences. I know my way around Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor because I have been lost so many times in the middle of these cities. Unfortunately, that's probably not going to change anytime soon.

I have started a study in I Corinthians recently and I'm using a book along with it called Be Wise, written by Warren W. Wiersbe. It really makes me think back on how I started following Christ seriously in my life. In the past, I went to a Christian school, connected to the church I went to where all my friends and even some of my family attended. I had a safe, little bubble to live in.

In this bubble that I lived in, I knew what was expected of me. Come on now, a girl who grew up in church, went to Christian school and sat under very doctrinal teaching, obviously I am to be a leader among my peers. I had a testimony to uphold, and all this knowledge to draw from. Unfortunately, I made decisions based on those things. I seemed to be missing something very important in my life and I couldn't figure out what it was. I was a leader in youth group, involved in church, had a prayer group at school, and tried to do my "devotions" every day. I should be very content and be filled with joy, right?

It took a couple years for me to start feeling the effects of my errors in reasoning. I was stuck in a job that I didn't like, becoming more and more like the unsaved people I worked with. I didn't really know what I wanted to pursue for a career and I was in a unhealthy relationship that was getting too serious. It's not pleasant to think on these things, but that's the amazing part. I was rescued from my misery. I found direction and forgiveness. Where? Well I can tell you it wasn't in christian school and it wasn't in church ( I'm not knocking those institutions, I'm just saying sadly, it's sometimes easy to miss the point of them).

The Good Shepherd left His flock and came after me. Now I have purpose, as Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 2:2 - For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. The christian life is not about being a better leader, knowing more verses, or being able to name the dispensations, it is about CHRIST. Decisions I make in life should not be based on me or my needs. "My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, ⁵so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power." (I Cor. 2:4-5)

"If you hear preaching about duty and command, it is very proper, but if it be the one sole theme the teaching becomes very

legal in the long run; and after a while the true gospel which has the power to make us keep the precept

gets flung into the background, and the precept is not kept after all. Do, do, do, generally ends in nothing being done." Spurgeon