Humility Sure Looks Good on You

It's time for a self-examination of conscience and attitude during these times. I say that based on the scripture that seems to come up daily in someone’s blog or post: “If MY people who are called by MY name, would HUMBLE themselves and pray and turn from their wicked ways….” (2 Chronicles 7:14) Many of us get on the bandwagon and put in our two cents worth about how we should be handling “Black lives matter” and other national topics of debate. If we’d do this or if we’d do that or if we’d stop doing that, peace would reign supreme again. But, 2 cents worth and beyond -- came directly from God in that scripture.

I live in a safe and comfortable community, so it’s easy to be in an overly confident mode. I’d like to think that someone said to me: “Humility sure looks good on you!” But, Lord knows, I have had moments of being over-confident and self-assured. But, then, God reins me in if that turns to conceit or arrogance. I have been brought down several notches when I have come across less-than-humble. I have eaten many slices of Humble Pie. It’s not all that tasty, but it's always good for me.

This blog was prompted when I read this email from an online ministry: “Only a fool would become complacent in the midst of danger. Stay alert and be watchful. Refuse to allow yourself to be overly confident or self-assured. Humility is a good look for you. The enemy is seeking whom he may devour, so "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)

I have been thanking God for such good health during these C-virus times. Maybe, even a little bit prideful about it. Then, on Thursday, after a shingles shot the day before and, unlike the first one I received, this one had a very negative reaction to it. First, my arm hurt so much that I couldn’t lift it. Then I started having flu-like symptoms, achy all over, felt like I had fever, and started thinking “Is this from the shot or do I have the C-virus?" Seriously! Oh, how the enemy attacks our minds! I self-prayed for me, took two pain reliever tablets and thanks be to God, the next morning, I was walking on sunshine, in sunshine and taking pictures of sunshine again. Oh, happy day!

To be humble is to gratefully recognize our dependence on the Lord -- to understand that we have constant need for His support. Humility is an acknowledgment that our health, our abilities, our blessings are gifts from God. It is not a sign of weakness, timidity, or fear; it is an indication that we know where our true strength lies. We can be both humble and fearless. We can be both humble and courageous. Jesus is our greatest example of humility. While on this earth, He repeated that His strength came because of His dependence on His Father. He said: “I can of mine own self do nothing. I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father Who has sent me” John 5:30.

We're being reminded to keep a watch out for those times when pride sneaks up on us and we get full of ourselves. God is awesome in the ways He brings us back to taste some Humble Pie. Okay, I've confessed and I’ve asked God to please let me know BEFORE He has to pull out the "Humble Pie". I think I'll do my best to avoid that dessert and keep my eyes and heart open, in case God needs to offer me another slice!

Do You See a Mighty Warrior in Your Mirror?

I’m thinking about all of the warriors who have risen to the top during these “beyond normal” days of COVID-19. This has been a survival-of-the-fittest for those who arose to the challenges despite the inconveniences, the lifestyle changes, the stay-at-home orders, the abandonment of public get-togethers, etc.

But even before this unparalleled season, we've all had defining moments that either made us or broke us. But, whatever they were -- God did what He does best – He used them for good. I speak from plenty of experience. As I look back on some of the toughest of times, I realize they made me stronger, wiser, gutsier, and braver.

Here’s the thing -- our destiny and purpose are wrapped up in each and every one of these times. It's that "stuff" that makes a warrior – the warrior moments that seemed like the worst of worst times that we call adversity, but were actually the turbo boost to propel us to where we were meant to be.

Maybe you’re one of the rare-breed who has weathered this season like an undaunted champion. You’ve been on duty 24/7 with food prep, school-at-home regimes, games and activities that keep your “team” occupied and having fun. Maybe, you’re one of the front-liners who have fearlessly put yourself at risk and in harm’s way to help others. You have worn face masks so much that your face has lines embedded in them. Shout outs to all of you warriors! You deserve recognition, awards and jewels in your heavenly crown!

On the other hand, some are hanging on by a mere thread – and the thought of ONE MORE DAY of this is nearly overwhelming. I assure you of this -- the times of adversity either make us stronger and cause us to have the "warrior” mentality or we succumb to the pressure and throw in the towel with the "pull-the-blanket-over-the-head” mentality. One makes us stronger and leads to success, while the other causes us to quit.

I recall God’s words to Gideon: “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior" (Judges 6:12) even though he didn't feel like a mighty warrior. And, God has said that to us, too! The enemy came in to devastate our world. My lightning fast mind knows that this invasion wasn’t from God – nothing evil comes from Him. But, the enemy of our souls DOES come in “like a roaring lion – seeking whom he may devour”. (1 Peter 5:8)

I believe God sees mighty warriors in each of us too. Imagine facilitating home school, you’re making yet ANOTHER meal, paying bills, sorting laundry and God appears to you saying, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.” God makes victors out of the ordinary and overlooked. God seems to delight in working powerfully through unexpected “warriors”.

So when you look in the bathroom mirror today, who will you see? Even if you’re hiding in there from the kids, you can choose to see a mighty warrior for God. In fact, in Him, we ARE mighty warriors! Isn't that the warrior mentality we all should have to take on all life with passion and purpose and dig in deep to declare war on ANY and EVERYTHING that tries to stop God's assignments? Indeed, we are mighty warriors!

"The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds." 2 Corinthians 10:4

Are You a Lion Player or Lion Slayer?

I've been thinking a lot about David, the shepherd boy. He loved God so much. He spent a lot of time with his sheep. He knew them and he knew their enemies. He protected them when he killed the lion and the bear AND the giant. He had the incredible ability to conquer those "normally" scary, life-threatening opponents.

I thought about him again when I heard Dr. Dan Posey at Texas A&M speak for the Vet School Open House on Saturday. He told us his "lion story" when he was a Vet School student. He was asked to help with unloading a tranquilized, 600 pound lion. But when he went to grab for his head, the lion started to bite at him. Posey's gut feeling was "This lion isn't asleep!" In his humorous style, he said, "When it doesn't feel right -- it's probably not right." I would suggest that feeling is WISDOM. Posey went on to pull the lion out and put it on the ground, but the lion got up. He asked us, "What would be your instinct?" Someone yelled out, "RUN!" But he said it didn't even enter his mind to run. His instinct was "I can't let this lion get away!" All the other vet students had run away. He thought "What can I give him? I'm graduating in 3 months, so I'm not going to give him my hands. Then I thought of having children, so I'm not going to give him those body parts, so I lifted my leg to protect myself and he grabbed my leg. He drug me 25 feet. That day I saw a miracle. Everyday we should acknowledge miracles of all kinds. We carry cell phones. They are miracles. That day, my professor jumped off a 6 ft platform and nailed the lion. They got the lion tranquilized, but the lion got up and was coming after me again and I put my arm up over my face and he grabbed my arm. A technician got him and pulled him off of me." Posey spent several days in the hospital recovering from his wounds, but he lives today to tell his famous lion story to people about his experiences and love for his career. He wasn't a lion slayer but a lion player.

There's two schools of thought here.....being a protector of your body, your sheep, your resources or talents and slaying the lion that comes after those things that are nearest and dearest to you OR playing with the lion and leaving wisdom out of the equation. I think the common denominator here is "protection". David protected his sheep. Posey was protecting the lion, but in doing so, failed to comprehend the instincts of the King of the Jungle and he failed to use wisdom.

I think of the scripture 1 Peter 5:8 "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." We are involved in combat with an enemy who is powerful and deceptive. Strong confidence in God doesn't justify carelessness. We still need to be alert. He is dangerous. He’s not a joke. He’s not a little person who sits on our shoulder trying to influence us. But, here's the deal -- he is just "LIKE" a roaring lion and his first priority is to intimidate us. He's looking for an opportunity to catch us unaware. As in any sport we have to know our opponent and what he's capable of. Like David, we must be prepared for the times when the lion, the bear and the giant come against us. Not so much to KNOW the enemy, but Jesus Christ Who is our defender, strong tower and victorious Lord. I choose to be a "lion slayer" like "David" -- to know when to "hold 'em" and know when to "fold 'em"....er....know when to slay them.

Keep Your Eyes Wide Open

Day 228 Photo Inspirations -- Keep Your Eyes Wide Open!!
#TBT -- These photos of my grandson, Brennan, were taken at a Harley Davidson dealership 8 years ago.  The snakes (eew) were there in honor of Harley's snakeskin leather show.  It was a day out for Papa and Brennan.  Obviously our little guy had NO FEAR!!

A couple of days ago, I posted about a snake that was in our neighborhood which inspired me to talk about how easily we can be taken off course by the lies and deceptions of the enemy.  I loved the comments that my walking buddies added to that post:

Nancy:  Keeping our eyes wide open!  And on the baby snake, we were just talking last night on our walk with the dogs - it could have come in with a load of rocks being brought into the build sites.  We never know where or why sometimes -- just gotta keep our eyes open.

Sharon:  Satan is a deceiver and it's our responsibility to keep our eyes "wide open", dress ourselves in "the Full Armor of God", and HE is our rear Guard.  Stepping on that snake's head is an earthly representation of what's being done in the spirit on the morning prayer walks. Go Girls!

I love that.  It reminds me when I was a young girl and going to the outhouse at my big sis' house in West Virginia.  Across the path was a long snake that I stepped over.  I didn't see it, but my big Sis did.  Her eyes were WIDE OPEN! Then there's the time when a snake was all coiled up in our kitchen at Lake Keystone.  My husband took a baseball bat to it (my hero -- I'll spare you the details of how that turned out, but my husband won!)  My neighbor, lacking the right words to console me, asked "Do you suppose it had a mate?" -- which meant we scoured every inch of the house before we could sleep that night.  Our eyes were WIDE OPEN!

The point of my post today is "Keep our eyes wide open!"  1 Peter 5:8 says "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion (and for this post -- snake), walks (slithers) about, seeking whom he may devour".  It's just who our enemy is -- he wants to slither into our lives and create fear, confusion in our minds, chaos in our family, deception in relationships, and it's up to us to be "on guard, vigilant, and aware of him sneeking into our lives."     EYES WIDE OPEN to the enemy's tactics and EYES WIDE OPEN to God's love, protection, tender mercies, and promises. Yes, my eyes are wide open.  How about yours?