Humility has been a prayer of my heart for quite some time. My head knowledge knows that Christ is the only one deserving of praise, yet my heart tries to convince myself that I deserve some of it. This false humility leaves a distaste in my mouth because the very virtue of humility is so pure and genuine. Is anyone in the same boat? How does God say that we can acquire this much desired trait?
Pride is a venomous poison that seeps into the lives of even the mightiest of men. It claims self-sufficiency and independence as a focal point for one’s accomplishments. I struggle with this form of pride. Who wants to be dependent on anyone or anything? Yet God is desiring a humble spirit, to realize that we can’t live this life in our own strength. Even when we don’t give praise and honor to God, He is still where the strength is coming from.
Matthew 18:1-4 tells us to become like a child, but what does this mean? Are we to physically transform into a child? No, that would be impossible. What is God telling us here? What are the attributes in a child that God is looking for?
We are a society always on the go, looking to the future instead of appreciating the present. We work ourselves to the bone emotionally and physically, trying to get ahead, to some day attain rest. For most of us rest is an enigma. Even while we are “resting” our mind wanders onto what has to be accomplished the next day, the next week, the next year.
I know God gives gifts to certain people, evangelism being one of them. Some people open their mouth and the power of God speaks flawlessly through them. I on the other hand open my mouth and am socially awkward to the T. However, although I don’t feel it is my natural gifting to evangelize, I feel it is all our responsibility, not only as an act of obedience, but also out of love for others.
With God all things are possible”. That is the verse I found myself clinging to when days at the NICU soon became weeks. My daughter, Isabella Grace Houle, was born 6 weeks early with Respiratory Distress Syndrome, and battled Pneumonia the first week of her life. I was beaten emotionally, physically, and mentally as we carted our 1 1/2 year old around to different babysitters because he wasn’t allowed in NICU with Isabella.
Christians are supposed to be known by their love: love for God, and love for their neighbor. So why is there so much controversy over the issue of homosexuality? Why is the Church against Homosexuality?
In a world where we desire tangible or scientific proof to validate what we believe, why would we believe anything by Faith? Many things require faith whether we like it or not. Everyday things, like stepping into a car, flying in a plane, or even going to sleep.
Who is the man who walked the earth many years ago? Some claim he was a prophet, a good teacher, a moral man. Others claim He was indeed the Son of God, but not actually God. What is the truth?
We have to admit life is hard sometimes. We struggle to find time for the basic essentials of life, like eating and drinking. So why would we even fathom the idea of adding something else to our busy schedule? I was reading about Peter today; the all too familiar passage where Peter denies Christ three times (Mark 14:66-72).