Being Humble

Being Humble "Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth." (Numbers 12:3). Is there a meek person in your life? What do you think of the meek or humble person at work, in the family, or at church? Would you like to avoid him? We tend to equate humble or meek with being a wimp. In the case of Moses, he was not passive. He took on an Egyptian overseer, stood up to Pharaoh, and hiked the desert for forty years. It is hard to see him as a wimp. Humble is a choice. It is being humble before God and deliberately harnessing your strength, and tempering it to use in a controlled way. Humble is not weak. It is believing and obeying God when you don't particularly want to when it is not the path of least resistance. Moses was not always enthusiastic about what God wanted. He did not feel capable when God called him to lead the people out of bondage. He didn't exactly say, "right on." It was more like, "Me, you have got to be kidding. Try someone else." (see Exodus 4:10-13). God's response "I will be with you." When you feel hesitant and inferior, God says, "I will be with you." When you are wondering if you can make it another day with the job stress, he says, "I will be with you." When you're faced with a tough decision and wondering what to do, he says, "I will be with you." Like Moses, you may be a bit reluctant. But he obeyed God. Moses believed him and did what he said. We can, too, when we humble ourselves. Thought for Today: Let's be humble before the Lord today! Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, we pray that we can do your will in our everyday actions. We pray for guidance and humility to accomplish that. Amen

Differences

Differences "...let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up our minds not to put an obstacle in our brothers' way." (Romans 14:13) Growing up in Boston in the 1940s and 1950s, my family was strict about who was acceptable and who was not; prejudiced to the max. I believe that the feelings existed from the fear of competition within our society. Fear that the Italian and Irish immigrants would become equals to the old-time New Englanders; the blacks, Catholics, and the WASPish list went on. (I made up that word WASPish.) There was a definite trend to block the social development of certain sections of society. At the end of the era, some factories' help-wanted signs stated, "Irish need not apply." It was a sad time. The good news is that I was blessed to be a YMCA brat growing up, and they were leaders in treating people as equals. I mixed with all factions and never saw any difference, so it was hard for me to buy into my family's ideas. My grandmother advised me that my Italian friends were not welcome at her house. At the YMCA, our director, Jim Goodwin, was a leader in educating us on equality (in the 1950s). Jim was exceptional and well before his time. His daughter tells me he spent time reaching out to the JCC (Jewish Community Center) and scheduling joint events. My senior year of high school was at Huntington Prep in downtown Boston. It was my first exposure to a truly diverse community of mixed nationality and race. It was confusing because they were great guys, and my family had a true WASPish background. We studied together, trained together, and were fond of each other. We all shared a common goal: to get into a good college. My story has a point. Somehow, I was blessed by being exposed to worldly people and was blind to the differences. My friends were varied. The moral is clear: love your neighbor and do not be afraid to show it. Thought for Today: Today, we will interact with people of all kinds, recognizing them as equals and embracing the blessings of our differences. Love them all unconditionally. Prayer for Today: Dear Lord and Father, somehow, America, home of the free, still harbors prejudices within our society. Today, we pray that we can learn to accept others as St. Paul suggested. Amen

Mile Markers!

Mile Markers "Teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 40 vs. 12) Each day of our life is a present and special in some way. Each has a memory, some fade, but the great ones stay forever. We often catalog them, and many hide in our subconscious. Numbering our days is an excellent thought. The major ones do not take rocket science to remember. I am an elder and remember where I was for Pearl Harbor (27 months old), JFK's assassination, the twin tower assault, and Ted Williams' last at-bat (a home run at age 41). The unconscious ones are often more fun when brought to the forefront. Recently, an old friend from 1955 and I reconnected and reviewed our memories together, sharing high school football experiences, school days, former teachers, and cheerleaders. He brought back so many memories that he called me one evening while online. We talked for two hours. The Lord has been good to us. We are not wealthy but rich in memories, full of love, happiness, and wisdom. The numbering of our days has paid off in a worthy life. It will also work for you. Thought for Today: Today, we will create a memory. Whether it is a major or minor event remains to be seen. Either way, let us recognize its contribution to who we will be. Prayer for Today: Dear Lord and Father, we thank you for all the great memories and blessings you have given us. Today, we pray that we serve your will here on earth as we go through our day. Amen

Independence Day

Independence makes America great, and our many freedoms make this a great place to live. Our constitution relies on our ability to self-govern. Below is a quote from Abraham Lincoln about our system. “This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it or exercise their revolutionary right to overthrow it.” Pray for the future of America. Thought for Today: Today, let’s celebrate our independence by obeying the Lord’s commandments. Prayer for Today: Dear Lord and Father, our country celebrates its independence. Our freedoms are based on your laws and our abilities to obey them. Today we pray for spiritual growth, honesty, integrity, and ethics. Amen

Listen!

Listen “Listen, accept what I say; and the years of your life will be many.” (Proverbs 4 vs. 10) Driving to the trail to do my morning walk, a father and son were in the car behind me. The son was wearing a headset and probably listening or viewing something on his phone. The dad had his phone up to his ear. There are parents with their children in our apartment complex but on their screens. Screens and blue tooth are an integral part of society today; we are together but separated by technology. So, not to sound too much like an old fogey, I must admit that most of my communications today are with text, email, or social media. It is a great way to stay in touch with people and twenty-two family members. My question is, “Are we missing out on closeness…or increasing our contact? In the ancient 1950s, my folks and I rode together a lot, and they would not turn on the radio. It was our time to talk. Often, I was getting grilled, but it was my turn to ask and question once in a while. I especially liked to quiz my mom when we were riding to school. She was a teacher and always had the inside scoop. My dad was a talker; with him was my time to listen and learn. I do not remember much about what I learned, but we sure talked. There is a closeness to a personal conversation that we may be missing. I saw no conversation between the boy and his dad in my mirror. They were in different worlds. Sometimes my grandkids do that when I pick them up from school. Alone time is essential. Use it. With that said, the increased communication through technology makes keeping in touch easier. My conclusion for today is nothing. Times are changing, and people change with the times. We are parents charged with raising and mentoring the next generation. Prayerfully our love and Christian values will be passed on. Thought for Today: Today, let us be communicators with those around us. Let us share our love and faith and some hints on life. Prayer for Today: Today, we pray for future generations. We pray that the technology that makes their lives simpler enhances their understanding of Jesus and his grace.

Walk With The Lord

God is with Us "Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth." (Numbers 12:3) Like Moses, we are not always enthusiastic about what God wants. We are a humble lot, conservative, and considerate of others' views and feelings. We are humble before God. Many of us are leaders in the community, at work, and church, often in roles that require strength while remaining humble. However, we need to perform tasks that require an assertive posture in our lives. That is a challenging task. God's response to Moses was, "...I will be with you." He will always be with us. When you feel hesitant and inferior, God says, "I will be with you." When you wonder if you can make it another day with the job stress, He says, "I will be with you." When you're faced with a tough decision and wondering what to do, He says, "I will be with you." When you are experiencing great joy, God is with you. You may be a bit reluctant, as was Moses, but we must remember that God is always with us as we go through life. Thought for Today: We need to remember that we are not alone. Through our faith, we have help meeting our obligations. So, we should take control of situations humbly and allow ourselves to lead through the tasks ahead. Prayer for Today: Dear Lord and Father, thank you for being with us. We are often confused in a world of activity. Usually, we feel that we control the situation when things go well. We pray that we can recognize your involvement in our everyday lives and have the forethought to give you thanks through our actions and prayers. Amen

Walk with the Lord

Walk with the Lord "But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." Be very careful, then, how you live; not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity..." (Ephesians 5:13-17) Wow, we are sure busy. When saying, "Hi, how are you?" the reply is often followed by a calendar review. When Paul wrote this passage, he was advising an active lifestyle. It is OK to slow down and smell roses! Many retirees comment that they do not know when they ever had time to work. A good goal for the retirement phase of life is not to feel that way. As "qualified" retirees, June and I often reminisce about our frantic past lifestyle. Many times, the craziest and most out-of-control moments have generated the fondest memories, the blessings. In verses 17 and 18, Paul says, "Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Thought for Today: It seems that being busy is a good thing. As we move through our schedules this week, take time to thank God for the opportunity to be involved or engaged; stop, appreciate, and feel good about our contributions. Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, we live in a world of hate and fear. We pray that it will end, but it seems it is just beginning. We pray this week for some a love attack to break out. Somehow, the world needs to recognize the advantages of Godly love. Amen