An Lesson in Pride

A Lesson in Pride

by Marsha Iddings

 

Proverbs 16:18 ¶ Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

 

I often chuckle about a story one of my past bosses told.  Dr. Cheney and nine other dentists had a building where all their offices were located together.  In this building was a conference room that had big comfortable chairs on wheels that could partially recline like some office chairs.  One day there was a joint meeting of all the dentists.  Dr. Cheney happened to have a lawyer friend visiting that day, so he invited him to come along to the meeting with him.  As the discussion progressed this lawyer decided to add his two cents worth even though he was a visitor and his opinion has not been asked.  Dr. Cheney said he took a deep breath, put his hands together and began to wax eloquent, obviously trying to impress everyone with his knowledge.  The more confident and proud he became the farther back in his chair he leaned until suddenly the chair went over backwards and he finished up on his back with his feet in the air.  The others rushed to help him up and righted his chair.  Sufficiently embarrassed and humbled, he meekly sat back down in his chair and kept quiet the rest of the meeting.

 

I think this story is a good illustration of what pride can do.

 

Dear Father, Pride can be such a sneaky thing.  It can raise it's ugly head so easily and quickly in my life.  Please help me to guard against the monster of pride.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Lessons from NASCAR

 Lessons from NASCAR

by Marsha Iddings

 

John 17:17  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

 

Not many people would guess that I love NASCAR racing.  The more I watch the races and read about them, the more I appreciate what goes into it.

 

Each driver has spotters positioned around the track.  The spotters are in constant contact with the driver throughout the race.  They are able to see the track from a higher position and have an over-all view of what all the other drivers are doing.  I recently saw a bad wreck on the race track where a driver was able to maneuver right through the middle of the pile-up as his spotter told him what to do.  The announcer told us how the drivers must have good relationships of trust in their spotters to give them good advice and direction.

 

In the same race there was another bad accident where the car spun out and hit the wall.  Tuned into the camera in the car we could see the driver with his head slumped forward, the car on fire and the voice of the crew chief saying, "Are you ok?  Talk to me!  Talk to me! You have to get out, your car is on fire!"  Slowly, the driver came to.  Rescue workers were quick to put out the flames and get him out.  He was going to be ok.

 

I find parallels between racing and the Christian life.  The Bible says we are in a race. "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one received the prize? So run, that ye may obtain." (1 Corinthians 9:24) God has given us the Bible--His truth--to guide us through the pile-ups of life.  We must be able to put our complete trust in Him and what He says if we are to maneuver through the difficulties of life and stay in one piece spiritually.

 

Sometimes life sends us for a loop and we hit the wall.  We are to dazed by the impact to even pray.  However, God is there waiting for us to talk to Him.  When we are too dazed to even talk to Him, the Holy Spirit takes over for us, much like those rescue workers did for the driver.  "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." (Romans 8:26 )

 

What a comfort it is to me to know that God has given me His truth to guide me through the tough times of life!  God help us to have complete trust in the revealed Word that He has so graciously given us.

 

Dear Father, I praise You for Your love and Your guidance.  Help me to be more faithful in seeking Your truth for my life.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Roller Coaster Ride

Roller Coaster Ride

by Marsha Iddings

 

1Peter 1:6-7 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

 

My husband and I both have conditions that wax and wane.  Some days are very good and some days are very bad or in between.  When a homeschool friend of mine saw me at the store and asked me how I was doing,  I replied with, "Pretty good today!"  She smiled and made roller coaster motions with her hand and said, "Pretty good today, huh?"  She shared with me about how her kids have had the chicken pox one after another and I sympathized with her.  As we parted ways, I said, "Life is a roller coaster!  Just buckle up, hang on and enjoy the ride!"  After she left, I was kind of shaking my head wondering where that came from. It just seemed to fly out of my mouth and came from nowhere.  I had never even had that thought in my head prior to saying it.  It must have been a God-thing. It gave me something good to think about the rest of the day.

 

My physical therapist has often told me that I am on a roller coaster.  He says that there will be days when I'll just coast along and things will be good and then there will be days when I'll come rushing down and not be doing so well.  He has told me that I just need to remember that each time I hit the bottom, I will eventually come back up again just like on a roller coaster.  I have often thought about this, but until the other day I never thought about "buckling up, hanging on and enjoying the ride". 

 

I puzzled over the part about enjoying the ride.  How can I enjoy the ride when I am not feeling well or my husband is not doing so well?  The Lord gave me a verse about this.  It's the one at the beginning of this devotional.  What are we to rejoice in?  The prior verses to this tell us:  "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (1 Peter 1:3-5)  I can rejoice in God's mercy, my lively hope in Christ, my inheritance in heaven, and God's saving and keeping power.

 

So, my friend, are you on a roller coaster ride through life?  Buckle up, hang on and enjoy the ride with me!

 

Dear Father, Sometimes You put words into my mouth that I never even thought of before.  This time You've done it again and it has encouraged me a lot.  Thank You for Your love.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

 

 

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The Lighthouse

 

 

Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

 

My legs are still sore as I write this.  Two days ago I climbed 93 feet to the top of the Aquina Head Lighthouse in Newport, OR.  We were able to see this lighthouse at night from our motel window.  Lighthouses warned ship's captains of danger on the seas and saved many from shipwreck.

 

Lighthouses are beginning to be a thing of the past as newer technology takes over.  Ships are using sonar and radar and other methods of detecting danger on the seas and the lighthouses are not needed much anymore.  It's kind of sad to see these landmarks of safety and security disappear from use.  There are groups who are working to at least keep them as beacons of our past for people to enjoy and I am glad for that.

 

As early as the 8th century B.C. bonfires were lit on top of hills to guide the seafaring away from danger.  Around 280 B.C. the Egyptians built the first great lighthouse, called the Pharos of Alexandria.  It stood 450 feet tall and was the tallest structure in the world at that time.  The Pharos stood for 1600 years and was presumed ruined in an earthquake.

 

While the Bible does not talk about lighthouses directly, it seems to allude to the idea.  The Psalmist says, "O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles." (Psalm 43:3)

 

As a college student, I spent time with a team of other students going to the Portland Lighthouse Mission to minister to the spiritual needs of the drunks and drug addicts who had made shipwreck of their lives on the streets of Portland.  I don't know how many lives were changed by our ministry there. Only God knows.  I hope some day when I get to heaven one of those drunks will come up to me and thank me for being a light to shine the way for him.  It will be only by the grace of God.

 

The Bible says we are the light of the world.  As lights in a dark world we need to shine brightly and clearly.  Many have allowed worldliness to creep in and cloud their light so they are not pointing the way to Jesus anymore.  Many who profess to be Christians look and act just like the world around them and there is no difference between them and the world.  What has happened to their lights?  Are they becoming a thing of the past like the lighthouses are today?  Are they being snuffed out in favor of "newer technology" (i.e. new "seeker friendly" methods and man-centered worship instead of God-centered worship)? 

 

How is your light today?  Is it standing tall for Jesus? Is it shining brightly?  "Ye are the light of the world." (Matthew 5:14)

 

Dear Father, I want my light to shine brightly for You.  Please help me to develop those fruits of the Spirit in my life that will make me a beacon of light to point others to You.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

 

Lessons from Climbing the Lighthouse

Philippians 3:13-14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

I started climbing the 93 foot tall lighthouse at Aquina Head in Newport, OR with enthusiasm and excitement. I wanted to reach the top to see what the light looked like at the top as well as see the view from there. However, as I climbed higher and higher fear began to set in. I looked down and saw how far down it was to the floor below and the fear set me to clinging to the wall and hand rail with both hands. I wanted to turn back, but I didn't want to be wimpy in front of my children. So I took a deep breath, set my focus on what was above me and continued to climb the stairs. I actually made it to the top and was rewarded with a great view, my curiosity about the light satisfied and the satisfaction that I really could overcome my fear and do this!

As I have reflected on this experience, God has taught me something. In the Christian life, we must forget those things from the past that hinder our progress toward the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. In looking back at where I had been, fear set in and hindered me in my progress toward the top of the lighthouse. In our walk with God, the same thing can happen. We can look back at our failures and fear can set in paralyzing us in our Christian growth and progress toward the prize. Romans 8:15 tells us we have not received the spirit of bondage to fear. "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. " Also, 2 Timothy 1:7 tells us God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and love and a sound mind. Put those things from the past that cause you to fear out of your mind and focus on Christ and the prize awaiting you ahead.

Another thing I learned from my climb in the lighthouse is that we must keep our eyes on the prize. I took my eyes off the goal of reaching the top to look down and it hindered my progress toward the top. The Bible tells us to reach toward those things that are ahead--toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God. You can't very well move forward if you are looking backward and worrying about what bad things might happen ahead of you.

The third thing I learned, was that we will have to endure some suffering and pain if we are going to reach the prize. My leg muscles began to feel achy by the time I got back to the bottom of the spiral staircase. The next day I felt as if I could hardly walk due to the stiffness and soreness. But all the same, I felt it was worth the goal achieved. So it is here on this earth. We are going to go through times of suffering and pain as we progress toward our heavenly goal. Don't let that deter you from pressing on. Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Keep pressing on toward your heavenly prize....the high calling of God in Christ Jesus!

Dear Father, You never cease to amaze me with the insights You give through everyday things and activities that I encounter. Please help me to put into practice the things that You teach me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Complaining, Disbelief and Giving Thanks

Complaining, Disbelief and Giving Thanks

By Marsha Iddings

 

Psalms 27:13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. KJV

 

Psalms 106:24 Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word:

 25 But murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD. KJV

 

God has impressed upon me the idea that complaining about my circumstances is just another form of disbelief.  In Psalm 27:13, the New American Standard Version renders it, "I would have despaired, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living."  You see, according to these two verses disbelief in God's goodness and God's word result in despair and complaining.  This strikes hard at my heart.  So often I find myself complaining about my circumstances.  Sometimes I might not complain outwardly, but my heart attitude is a complaining attitude.  When I complain I am showing that I don't believe God's word and that I doubt His goodness.  We are commanded to do all things without complaining and arguing.

 

Philippians 2:14 ¶ Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

 

So not only am I showing that I doubt His goodness and His word, I am disobeying what He commands me to do. 

 

Colossians 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

 

The alternative is to give thanks.  Giving thanks is God's will for us.  We are to do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.  Have you ever heard anyone complain in the name of the Lord Jesus?  How absurd!  These two things just don't go together.

 

Now I have to admit, that I have not mastered this.  I know I will fail and I often do, but as I go to God and ask His forgiveness, He will give me strength to do better next time. 

 

How about you?  Do you find this area a challenge?  Let's meditate on these verses and see if we can do better together!

 

1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

 

Dear Father, It is so easy to fall into the bad habit of complaining when life gets uncomfortable.  Please help me to learn to change my attitude to bring glory to Your name.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

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Things Hoped For, Things Not Seen

Hebrews 11:1 ¶ Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

1Peter 1:7-9 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

I have long loved the first verse in Hebrews 11. Then I was reading 1 Peter 1 and our pastor is preaching through Ephesians and I discovered these three passages of scripture dove-tail quite nicely. In Hebrews 1 we can ask the question, "What are the things hoped for and not seen?" The verses in 1 Peter and Ephesians tell us. The things hoped for and not seen are the appearing of Jesus Christ whom having not seen we love and Ephesians tells us we have an inheritance through Jesus Christ waiting for us. 1 Peter 1:3 also tells us a little more about our hope. It's an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, that fades not away reserved in heaven for us.
We have to remember that when the Bible speaks of the Christian's hope it's a sure thing already reserved for us in heaven. It's not an "I hope so" sort of thing". It's a done deal!

Faith is the substance of these things. What does faith look like? What is it's substance? It is believing, rejoicing with joy unspeakable and full of glory in spite of being tried by various hardships and difficult circumstances. It's a focus on the promises of God and our future in heaven with Him. It's realizing that the troubles we have to endure here are nothing compared to being with Jesus and the glorious inheritance that awaits us in heaven.

How does faith like this come through? It will point others to Christ when we are in tough times. It will be to the praise, honour and glory of Jesus Christ at His appearing.

Dear Father, I ask that You would help me to develop this kind of faith-- the kind of faith that overcomes in difficult circumstances. Help me to always lean on You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.