Be Humble....

    I'm going to start this blog off where several questions.  But first, I ask that you take a moment, open your heart and ears so that you may hear what God has to say.  When you're ready, search your heart and answer the questions I'm about to ask you honestly.

     What do your actions say about you?  How loud is your volume when your speaking of your success?  Are you quick to take credit for your abilities?  When your strengths fail you, who do you blame?  What happens when you are not able to perform to your abilities?  Do you tend to coward down?  Do you have to swallow your pride and admit defeat?

      In today's society, there is a level of acceptance when it comes to pride.  Look around at Hollywood, many individuals want to stake claim on their athletic abilities, their beauties, their talents, etc.  Even in small communities, this continues to happen.  The pain God must feel from this saddens my heart.  I mean, think about it, how do you feel when someone takes credit for something that you did.  How do you feel?  Now think about it at a different level, a higher level.  God created the World, He created us, and gave us our talents. 

      This is about the best transition I can give when it comes to my topic: Being Humble.  Philippians 2:3 says, "Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others.  Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves."  We are to be Christ-like, humbling ourselves before God.  As you read further in Philippians 2 it talks about having the same attitude as Christ (v.5).  If you have the same attitude as Christ you become humble. 

      Here's a list of things to remember...

1. Don't be selfish.  Jesus could have been selfish and say, "Pay your own way into Heaven."  But thank goodness He didn't.  He laid His life down so that we wouldn't have to.
2. Be humble.  Jesus not only sat with the lowly, He loved them.  He did not take credit for His powers, instead, He praised His Father. 
3. Praise God.  It is not your strength, your talents, your abilities that people recognize.  It is God using you and giving you what you need.  God deserves the praise for giving you the strength, talent, and/or ability.

Dear Gracious Heavenly Father, thank you for all you do.  Thank you for knowing my needs and providing for them.  I give you the praise and glory for my abilities.  You have created me, I did not create myself or my talents.  Praise to you Lord.  Continue to use me to reach others.  In Jesus' name, AMEN.

Redeemed

       Have you ever stopped to think about how you define yourself?  I mean, really sit down and think about who you are.  I posed a question today and yesterday asking people on my Facebook account to describe themselves in one word.  I wanted this be more than a challenge, and for some, it may have been. 

Here were some of the responses I got:

-Prayerful

-Real

-Blessed

-Graceful

-Shy

-Reserved

-Adaptive

-Positive

      Would you fit into one of the words listed?  Can you relate to some of the responses?  Does one of the words truly reflect who you are?  Here's my challenge for you.  Take a quiet moment and think of a word that sums up who you are.  (A little more challenging than you thought?)

      Does your word reflect who you are on the inside and outside? Proverbs 27:19 says, "As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person."  This is what God wants from us, our hearts and our actions to reflect Him.
      I've been thinking about my word for a while.  Honestly, my word is the title of a song that truly reflects my heart.  Big Daddy Weave sings the song Redeemed.  According to good ole Mr. Webster redeemed is defined as: to buy back, to get back or win, to change for the better.  Now stop and think about the definition for a while.  Redeemed...this is what Christ has done for you.  He has won you back from sin and is changing you for the better.  (You just have to accept Christ as your Savior.)

      Have you been redeemed?  Have you let Jesus Christ into your heart so that His life, His love, His sacrifice is reflected in you?  I'm going to put the chorus of Redeemed on this blog.  I pray that the words of the song resonate in you.

And I am redeemed, You set me free

So I'll shake off these heavy chains,

And wipe away every stain

Now I'm not who I used to be

I am redeemed

    God does not want you to be the same person you were before sin came into your life.  If this were true, He would not have sent His Son to die for you.  Praise God that we are redeemed.  Listen to the rest of the song and hear what God is saying to you.  YOU ARE REDEEMED.

Dear Precious Lord,  thank you for redeeming me.  Thank you for washing away my stains, lifting off those heavy chains so that I can be free in You.  I pray Lord that my heart is a reflection of You and that it shows on the outside.  In your Son's Name I pray, Amen.