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 )
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