Friday, September 21, 2007

check this out!!!

This is a great message about pride and humility by Brian Brent from New Song Church in Tacoma Washington. Brian is hilarious and he hits the nail on the head. I love listening to his messages.
http://media.libsyn.com/media/newsong/01_Honesty_versus_denial.mp3

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

boogers and ink blots

Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice. Proverbs 13:10

what would a discussion about humility be without a look at pride?

i once heard pride likened to having a booger hanging out of your nose. everyone can see it but you! sometimes we need to take a good look in the mirror, make an honest assessment and make the necessary adjustments.........easier said than done, i know. we are usually blind to our boogers so we need to be receptive to the input of others.

in my own life, pride seems to show up most in my defensiveness. i learned about "ink blots" this summer, at the jesus ministry conference in tacoma washington, http://www.jesusministryintl.org/.

"what are ink blots?" you ask......well let me tell you. they are a defense tactic that we use to confuse and ward off perceived attackers so we can escape. when an octopus feels threatened, it will emit a black inky liquid that clouds the water. we do the same thing when we won't let someone speak truth into our lives because we feel threatened. often it is an automatic response, a defensive disposition that we don't even know we are doing. these ink blots make others pay a cost for speaking truth into our lives. pretty soon, those close to us just stop trying. We miss out on the chance to receive god's direction through others and to grow.

here's some examples............recognize anybody?

cold shoulder
victimization/emotional manipulation
avoidance
defensive posture
blame
obstinate
denial
justification

this weeks homework:
ask someone close to you to help you identify an ink blot.
sound too scary? i know, i have been avoiding it too.

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

my desert

those who know me might have heard me say from time to time "i used to be a nice person before i got married and had kids!" b.k. (before kids) my life was pretty controlled and it was easy to keep myself to myself. everything changed after these little people came into my home and i had so many new roles in my life. i sometimes don't recognize myself. i often ask myself "who is this anxious, impatient,angry , resentful, insecure women?"

god has taught me humility through this. when under pressure, my real self emerged and i didn't like her. i had to be honest with myself and god. i had boxed myself in and controlled my responses for so long that i didn't even have a real self anymore. i had to learn to be me again.

you know the saying......"just be yourself". it took me until my mid 30's to be myself. i truly value authenticity but i know how easy it is for me to put on a mask out of my own pride and fear of rejection.

i find that i like me now. i am more like the person that i was when i was 10 years old.....at least that's what it feels like in my mind. If only i could still do a back hand spring.

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

it's hard to be humble

hu·mil·i·ty /the quality or condition of being humble; modest opinion or estimate of one's own importance, rank, etc.
—Synonyms lowliness, meekness, submissiveness.
—Antonyms pride.

humility is not the denial of our attributes. it is believing in our hearts that our best qualities are not good enough to cause us to deserve god’s attention. humility is seeing ourselves not in comparison to one another but in the light of god’s greatness.

humility is almost always acquired in the desert. moses, david, john the baptist, jesus spent time in the desert. god kept the israelites in the desert and withheld from them in order to reveal what was in their hearts. god uses our trials to teach us humility.

i read once that part of humility is a willingness to be known for who we really are. I find that to be the hardest. it's hard to be vunerable, to show my weaknesses and to say i'm sorry. i fear that other's will somehow think less of me or take advantage of my weakened position.

.......please share with me your desert experiences that have helped you to grow in humility.

Monday, September 3, 2007

grain of truth #1 - humility rules

"This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word." Isaiah 66:2

if spirituality is like clothing, then humility is our underwear. it's really the first thing you put on, and it just doesn't feel right if you're not wearing it (for most of us that is). when we are humble we are in a better position to see truth. when we are humble, God esteems us.

i find that i can be really humble in my mind....but when i get around other people it doesn't always work out. i get defensive, i take offense, i'm selfish and impatient....you get the picture.

with all my failings in humililty, i still believe it is the most important spiritual clothes we wear. so i just (humbly) confess my shortfalls to the Lord and keep on going, trying to do better next time.. ..with humility, there is always room for improvement.

i welcome your comments!!!!!