Proverbs 11:2
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.
Pride’s costumes are so fine,
"humility divine."
not enough.
Some thoughts about Life from the heart of a forgiven Child of God.
Proverbs 11:2
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.
I wonder what Jesus thought and felt during this week prior to His crucifixion and death. He knew what was coming but was still determined to do what He came to the world to accomplish. That week He confronted the merchants, and the pharisees, Judas, and even a fig tree.
He met with his disciples and celebrated the Passover meal with
the twelve. He prayed for the children
given to Him by the Father – His followers.
He also included us in His prayer – the ones who would hear of Him in
the future, have faith in Him and would remain in the world.
I consider and try to imagine the dread Jesus must, (truly
must) have felt. He was a man, after all
and as a man as well as God, He would have had to viscerally dread what He knew
would come. When we read the accounts of
this week, of His suffering, we can’t help but get physically involved as well. If my heart does not ache, if I do not feel my
blood pressure rising, if I can ignore the picture portrayed in the garden, in
the courtyard, before Pilot, then I wonder if I truly understand the depth of
His love.
All this pain, even prior to His actual crucifixion must
have been unbearable – but He did bear it for you, for me, for all the people
who would come, or had gone before.
-----
He might have said -
The night that Satan thought he had me, the night he
planned his victory,
the night his servant Judas kissed me – began my walk to
Calvary.
Rough arms came, reached out, and seized me.
A dear friend drew his sword to fight.
I said “No angry swords are called for.
It has to be this way tonight.”
Oh don't you think I could withstand them at any time if I
should try.
Oh don't you know ten thousand angels would be at hand with
just a cry.
Lead me on the way to Calvary.
We'll take the road together now.
I'll walk along - no need to drag me
for I won't use my heavenly power.
Oh I could call ten thousand angels if I wanted to be free.
But my love for you will keep me silent.
For
I’ve lived to die upon that tree.
As you see the pain and suffering that He endured, may you also see the unbelievable love that He has for each of us.
Love,
Diane
Dear ones,
Recently our minister spoke about true "hope." This is what I heard in my heart.
Hope is spelled JESUS.
Hope means rebirth.
Hope feels like confidence while we live on this earth.
Hope doesn’t worry,
doesn’t fret, stew or wonder.
It’s assurance that God cares when your world’s torn asunder.
Hope isn’t just wishing.
No, it’s true expectation.
It's faith in God's promise that He rules in the nations.
Friends, I was thinking about what to write at this especially difficult time of the year - the days that we consider all Jesus had to go through for us. I decided that something I had written last Easter season was what I needed to post again. So....
It's
almost time! Easter is just around the corner! But, before we
sing of His resurrection, before we glory in the Conqueror’s might, let's take
a minute to walk with His disciples during those dark days of
uncertainty.
I want us to walk with those men and women because I believe that we all have days of uncertainty as they did. We all have days when we wonder what tomorrow will bring. We all wonder, at some time or another, if tomorrow will even come, don’t we?
Can you imagine the disappointment?
Can you feel the aching pain?
Their leader is dead.
Their hope was in vain.
Those hopes seemed to vanish, eclipsed by the roar
of the thunder within, and the words “nevermore.”
Their plans for tomorrow were lost in the storm
of the evil before them,
in the winds of despair.
They questioned, “God, why,
and God how can it be
that Jesus, our Savior, is no longer there?”
As we walk with the people who walked with our Lord,
we can feel in our hearts the despair they endured.
May you live in hope as you consider the joy that was just around the corner for those disciples, but is here - now for us.
From my
heart, Diane
Today, I
read some truly challenging words in a devotion book that my husband and I
enjoy each morning. The book is "New Morning Mercies" by Paul
David Tripp. Thank you, my friend Darla, for the gift of this book.
This morning's message focused on James 4:1-20. The beginning sentences in today's chapter speak of the sin in one’s heart - anger, bitterness, discontent, jealousy; sins
that may result in difficult people problems. Although the author didn't mention them, those sins can also result in health issues. Those problems cannot always be laid at another door.
One of
the important statements in this study is that much of the time the problem is me. I'm desperately in need of the grace of
God. And, as Mr. Tripp says, "If I confess this, I am saying that I don't so
much need to be rescued from people, locations, and situations. I am in
desperate need of the grace of God that alone is able to rescue me from me."
I love what David asked of God in Psalm 51. "Create in me a clean
heart oh God and renew a right spirit within me."
It's about the heart, isn't it?
It's all about what's in my heart
and how I think and feel.
It's not another's sins set free
or the way this evil world I see.
It's not those things that hinder me
from knowing grace is real.
When trials come, when anger lives, when bitterness is there,
when discontent and jealous thoughts are more than I can bear,
God's grace is still available.
His love can set me free.
When I kneel with all my heart and mind
in contrite humility.
And then I must depend on
Him
to rescue me from me.
Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom. Pride’s a lethal virus that affects each living man...