Archive for January, 2008

“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself LESS!” This is a great quote from my really awesome Dad!

It has been a crazy busy week full of trials and bad news: an uncle’s funeral, a parent in the hospital, financial problems, relationship struggles, the flu, heavy work load, not to mention just plain busy. Sometimes busy doing the things I love and some things that I don’t love quite so much, like office work. In the face of stress I have to humble myself. The more I worry about these things, the more I find that I am thinking of myself and feeling sorry for myself. I almost have to stop “dead in my tracks” and turn my eyes off of me and back on to Jesus. When I do, it’s like a ray of light and of HOPE shines in on the situation again.

I love the song by Third Day….

Turn your eyes on Jesus

Look full in His wonderful face

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His GLORY and GRACE.

Isn’t it amazing that we know and serve a God who is so glorious and so full of GRACE that all we have to do is “Fix our eyes on Him” and we find HOPE in even the worst of circumstances. I have heard it said that “our eyes are like the windows to our souls.”

Lord help me to turn my eyes to you in these times and always. Help me not be discouraged by trials but to “consider it pure joy” (James 1:2) in knowing that I am being tested and refined so that you can better see your image in me. Amen.

Several centuries ago a famous European pianist performed a concert before five thousand people in one of the continent’s splendid music halls. He played one of his most popular pieces, and when he had finished the audience gave him a thunderous standing ovation. Afterwards he was asked, “What did it feel like to receive such applause? Was it the greatest experience you ever had?” The pianist replied, “I liked the applause, but it wasn’t the most important thing to me. After the audience had sat down I noticed my teacher of thirty years sitting in the top corner of the balcony. He looked at me and gave me a nod of approval. That one nod from my master brought me more pleasure than the standing ovation of thousands.”

The pianist had learned to live before an audience of one. Jesus also lived before an audience of One - His Father. One nod from His Father was more powerful than all the miracles He had performed. The Father’s nod was the only source of approval Jesus needed. When we realize that the loving nod of the Father is upon our lives, then we will be free to find our acceptance and identity in Him alone. We too will find ourselves living before an audience of One.

This excerpt came from the book “Enjoying God-Experiencing Intimacy with the Heavenly Father” by S. J. Hill.

I pray this story will remind us to be aware of the One we are living for and serving as we go about our busy lives!

This is the first time I have ever blogged.  Yippee!!!
So…um…yeah, God has blessed us with some really amazing friends since we joined Missouri Valley Baptist.  One of those amazing friends, John Stickley, is helping us set up this blog site.  I am so excited about learning how to do this and look forward to utilizing it as a ministry tool and a means of communication.  Thanks John!