Absolutely Nothing

Psalm 119:21(NIV)
You rebuke the arrogant, who are cursed and who stray from Your commands.

Webster's dictionary defines arrogance as the act of being haughty.  Haughty is defined as having or showing great pride in oneself AND having contempt for others.  I guess the point here is that the focus is abundantly on yourself!  I suppose that when we start getting our eyes off of the Lord and onto ourselves, we are in for a tumultuous ride. 

I saw a billboard today on my drive around the town.  It read:  What will you see Jesus do through you this year?  Isn't that incredible?  That must be the opposite of arrogance.  When I recognize that the good things I accomplish are from Jesus working in my life and give Him the glory instead of assigning myself the praise, I keep from becoming puffed up with pride.  Pretty good stuff. 

I'm going to leave you tonight with these words written by Sarah Young in her daily devotional titled:  Jesus Calling.  She writes as though the Lord is speaking directly to you.

My sweet little friend doing "hard things"!

"I AM WITH YOU AND FOR YOU.  When you decide on a course of action that is in line with My will, nothing in heaven or on earth can stop you.  You may encounter many obstacles as you move toward your goal, but don't be discouraged--never give up! 

Luke 1:37(ESV)
For nothing will be impossible with God.

Lord,
Your presence in our lives is completely overwhelming!  I know that You are our hope and our courage to do the hard things in life that You want done.  Work through our hands, feet, mouths, minds, hearts, talents, strengths, and weaknesses to do mighty things for Your kingdom in the coming months.  Help me to remember that absolutely nothing is impossible with YOU! 
I'm standing on Your promises,
Amen 

Godless Arrogance

Psalm 139:21(MSG)
See how I hate those who hate you, God, see how I loathe all this godless arrogance;

I sheepishly climbed into the back of the van and slumped down in the seat.  I stared out the window at my "Western" sister on her mountain bike as she rode off in the distance with the rest of the pack.  How could this be?  I was supposed to be the one with all of the sporty ability!

I reviewed in my head what had led to this point.  It started with her invitation to join her on a trip to Hawaii.  It had been a dream come true for me!  The timing was perfect as I was single and had a great job with benefits and vacation time coming up.  She wanted to go to Maui and experience all that the island had to offer.  Everything had come together so smoothly that I knew it was a "no brainer" to snatch up the offer.    

When we got there, it was even more beautiful than the pictures could have told.  The island was covered in lush palm trees, green vegetation, and boldly colored flowers.  Sounds of tropical birds singing and the smell of sweet flowers filled the air.  I suddenly understood the term "Island Paradise".  We quickly gathered up all of the brochures for various activities and penned our list of "must do's". 

Topping the list, of course, was to attend a Luau.  We both easily agreed on that.  Next, we started noticing the more "adventurous" items, for instance learning to wind surf, sailing on a catamaran, snorkeling excursions, and biking down Haleakala...the volcano crater on the island.  I cheered us on and assured her that we were "fit and able to do all of it".  She wasn't as confident as I was, but agreed to try.  I again encouraged her that we could do anything we set our minds too. 

It all had gone so smoothly....from the windsurfing lessons to the incredible day on the sailboat.....until the trip to the crater that is.  We were picked up early in the morning, before the light of day, to travel up the mountain in a large (seemed top heavy to me) van.  Did I tell you that I am extremely afraid of heights?

 

Every curve we went around I was certain that it was going to be our last as I envisioned the speeding vehicle (topping speeds of up to 30 mph mind you) careening over the edge of the cliff.  I white knuckled it all the way up that thing let me tell you!  Did I mention that I am extraordinarily apprehensive when it comes to perpendicular distance?

My sister on the other hand started the day quite insecure with the physical part of the bike ride.  I told her I would take care of her and make sure that they knew of her "limitations".  I began by telling the leader all the way up the mountain that "my sister might not be able to make the whole ride."  I explained that "I wouldn't have any trouble, cuz I'm a runner and I ride my bike all the time...etc...etc...".  Do you recall that I am seriously anxious when it comes to upward elevation?

By the time we finally got to the top of the "hole", as I lovingly call it now, I had the leaders totally convinced that my "poor sister" was going to need a papoose to be carried down the mountain wrapped up like a baby.  I was most assuredly that obnoxious. 

We all exited the van upon arrival at the summit.  We stood dutifully in awe of the view from the top of this massively high and deep crevasse that the sun was now rising up from....yes...the sun was lower than the crater...or so it seemed to me, and then we put on our riding gear.  Keep in mind that anything over three feet is too high for me!  (It was a beautiful sight to behold....now that I  look back at the pictures from my ground level house.)

Beginning with the donning of our helmets and ending with the snapping of our leg covers, we were off....or some of us were off anyway.  I started with a wavering push from my foot, but it seemed to be stuck in cement.  I looked down to identify what in the world I had stepped in, but was shocked to find there was nothing there.  Curiously I tried again.  There...I got the bike to move and pushed forward.  I pedaled and attempted to steer down the road, but with each progression forward, fear crept into my bones like a spilled jar of molasses.  Cue the card that says...."She has a deathly fear of lofty places." 

Meanwhile, the rest of my group were ripping the roadway apart creating a very large gap for me to close.  My poor "frail sister" stayed back with me to try to coax me down the path.  All the while, I could hear the engine humming along right behind me.  It was the van that brought us up here.  It was also the van that would cart anyone down the mountain that was too weak to complete the trip. 

Finally, after having accumulated such a distance between me and all the other riders that I could no longer see them, the head guy poked his head out of the van and said, "Hey, you need to speed up a little bit."  Oh....Ok....I need to speed up.....like I didn't already know that!  I willed my legs to pump faster, but with each stride I felt like a force was drawing me off the edge of the road and down the mountain's edge!  I squeezed my breaks even harder.  That's when it happened!!  I froze in the middle of the road like an glass of water in the sitting in Antarctica.  I simply stopped dead in the center of the road.  I could not will my bike one more inch.  The van pulled up and told me that they were very sorry, but I would have to ride down the mountain in the van.  I was "holding up their progress." 

Webster's Dictionary defines arrogance as being full of pride.  Pride is defined as: "An unduly high opinion of oneself."  Yep that pretty well sums up that little experience.  I know first hand what godless arrogance is because arrogance by it's very nature is always without God.  It is focusing on ME instead of HE.  It is inflating my own abilities rather than giving glory to God for the talents He has blessed me with and confidently sharing them with others, while keeping God at the center.


Hana Highway



I'm praying tonight that I won't have anymore "mountain top" experiences where I arrogantly think more "highly of myself than I ought."  Did I mention that being on tall things makes me tremble?

Stay tuned for a post on my honeymoon trip to Maui and our visit to Hana per the "Hana Highway" (pictured to the right).  A true test of my husband's depth of love and patience for me that's for certain!!

The Hot Seat Of Haughtiness

Proverbs 6:17(MSG)
Eyes that are arrogant, a tongue that lies, hands that murder the innocent,

We've had some beautiful weather the past few days.  Last weekend was one of the first sunny warm days we've had since spring started, so we decided to pack up and head south.  We quickly threw some stuff together and tossed it in the back of the truck.....well...wait a minute...not quickly (that would be a lie).....but as fast as we could muster.  Let's see...there were the books, the shoes, the clothes, a basketball, some food, a few movies, bug spray, a football, the dog, the kitchen sink...errrr...no~not the sink really...just about though!

Finally, we loaded ourselves and buckled up for the quick trip to the old lake cabin.  This little cove where the family cabin sits is an amazing hide out from the business of the day.  It is a deep cove surrounded by groves of trees and lazy grass with "treasure trails."  A "treasure trail" is the term we have assigned to the rocky paths that surround the lake and provide hours of scavenger hunting for shiny rocks and buried archaeological finds; paths to lazily meander down and let the cares of the world melt away.  Sigh.....melting even thinking about it.

So, we are on our way.  It is (as I said) a nice day...perfect temperature with a bright sun shining through the window.  As our trip progressed, I started getting a little hot.  I looked around.  No one else seemed to be hot....except the panting dog...who only pants because she is a little nervous about the car ride.  I remembered that I could adjust the temperature to affect my side only...so, I turned the air down a little bit.  Awe....that's better.  

A few miles later, I started getting hot again.  Hmm....let's see here...yes...I can turn the fan up on my side and blow it into my face.  Nice.  Temp. turned down-fan turned up.  Perfect.  Wow...I can't believe anyone else isn't getting hot?  I look around and find that both kids are busily reading away.  Nope...even the dog is no longer panting and has decided to take a nap.  Must just be me...weird.

We continue winding up hills and down hills...twisting and turning.  Whoa....agggghhhh!!  "It is burning up in here," I shout!  "Aren't you guys hot?!"  I begin rolling down my window and turning the air further down.  Good grief...what is wrong with this picture!!  Why is everyone else just enjoying this trip and relaxing?!  My husband looks at me with a mixture of sadness and fear that I may be on the edge of mental instability. 

It helped to roll down the window.....so I could hang my head out and let the air circulate through my hair like a wild dog.  I did notice something, though, as I had my head dangling from the edge of the glass out the window.  What I noticed were three little red lights within the door panel.  Hmmmm.....I pulled my head back into the truck to see what those little glowing lights were.  Any guesses?  Yep....that's right....the three red lights were the seat heater indicator lights...indicating that the seat heater was on full blast!!  Mystery solved.

Here's the thing when I think about tonight's verse.  (Yesterday's verse said that God hates these seven things~tonight's verse lists three of them.)  I know when I lie.  It's a choice I make...and a bad one at that.  I would know if I murdered someone.  That's another really bad choice.  The catch in this verse for me is....do I know when I'm being arrogant? 

Webster's Dictionary defines arrogance as being haughty, which in turn is to show great pride in oneself.  Do I recognize when I am being full of pride?  Or do I just feel the effects of it?  Like the seat warmer.....I knew I was hot, but didn't know why.  Pride and arrogance are the same way.  I experience the negative effects from them....but don't always identify that the source is from an unduly high opinion of myself.  God hates this.

Praying tonight to always set my eyes upon the Lord for my confidence.  Choosing to exalt Him in all things.  Thanking the Lord tonight for His abundant grace in those times when I falter in this area and chose unwisely.