Pride Goes Before Destruction

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

“This is the middle verse of the entire book of Proverbs, and, in view of the obviously structured original verse divisions throughout the book, it may well have been divinely designed as such. In any case, the sin of pride is so deadly, it is appropriate that a solemn warning concerning it should be placed here right at the heart of God’s book of true wisdom.” This quote came from Days of Praise from the Institute of Creation Research.

The Proverbs verse may not have struck me so hard had I not watched the United Nations emergency gathering of a meeting to let members speak on the Ukranian possible invasion last night. Mexico spoke, Gana spoke, the U.S. and others including Ukraine. All were asking for Russia to not invade Ukraine. The Russian Federation member was the Chairman of the group. He protested it was not going to be an invasion. Then, it was time for the Ukrainian member to speak.

The Ukrainian speaker was strong as he asked the Russian Federation Chairman to depart from his chairmanship immediately as he had word from Ukraine that his country had been invaded at military areas and the capitol during this meeting, just 48 minutes before he was able to speak. The Russian leader asked the last person to speak who agreed with all the other countries that Russia should not invade. At this point the Russian leader pounded his gavel and ended the meeting.

Then I saw Zachariah 9-14 in “What the Bible is all About”: These chapters are full of promises of the coming Messiah and a worldwide kingdom. The prophet no longer pictures a city rebuilt on its old foundations, but a glorious city whose wall is the Lord. It is not armed for war, but is a city filled with peace, for the Prince of Peace reigns. He shall come the first time as the lowly One, riding upon a colt, the foal of a donkey. But we see this lowly One becoming a mighty Sovereign. The Messiah in all His glory and might shall put all the enemies under His feet and He shall establish His kingdom in Jerusalem and sit upon the throne of David. “His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.” Zechariah 9:10 As my friend told me this morning, God is in charge.

Prayer: Dear Father in Heaven, you see these struggles. Please be with the Ukranian people. Thank you for promising to always being with us. Help us to pray. Amen.

Sandra Hilsabeck

 

I Will Not Be Shaken!

I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Psalm 16:8

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 1 Peter 5:8-9

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. Ephesians 6:10-11

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 

I've talked to Christians that have felt so defeated by the negative thoughts that take hold in their minds. I've been frustrated by them sometimes, too. Those mental strongholds are tough to defeat, but we most certainly have the power to do so within our grasp. We must depend on God's strength, using the mighty weapons he's given us—like prayer, faith, hope, love, His Word and the Holy Spirit. When we “put on the full armor of God” we can “take our stand against the devil's schemes.” And scheme he does...he “prowls” around, watching and waiting for a vulnerable moment to attack.

I'm most vulnerable when I'm tired and/or have a lot on my plate. In those moments, I let my guard down and take my eyes off of God. Before I know it, I've let the Enemy fill my head with his lies—those all too familiar, negative, self-defeating thoughts. Soon, my doubts, fears and anxiety begin to take over. When I finally discern what's happening, I immediately speak the name of Jesus and ask for His help to redirect my thoughts. I also ask for forgiveness and command the Enemy to “get lost!” 

During a recent attack, I defiantly quoted, “I will NOT be shaken!” He left me alone for a bit. But I knew he'd be back, so I looked up the rest of Psalm 16:8 and announced loudly: “I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken!” I had to speak it several times, because sure enough, like the relentless bully he is, he came back to try and pull me away from God again and again. Eventually, I spoke it enough times, and so confidently, that the Enemy fled (see James 4:7). 

I continue to speak Psalm 16:8 each morning, along with a few other verses I like to call my “power verses”. I've found they get my day off to a good start. I figure filling my head with His Truth leaves little room for the Enemy's lies. I have much work to do in filling my head with God's Word—and making sure that it's properly understood and applied. However, my progress has given me a confidence I can't explain. I encourage you also, when you're under attack, to “take a stand” and  confidently exclaim, “I will not be shaken!”

Prayer: Almighty God, forgive us for taking our eyes off of you and believing the lies the Enemy fills our head with. Please give us the discernment to recognize his lies and the courage to “take a stand”. And thank you for the mighty weapons you give us to fight this constant battle. Amen.

Sharon Irvin

Psalm 63

 You, God, are my God,

    earnestly I seek you;

I thirst for you,

    my whole being longs for you,

in a dry and parched land

    where there is no water. 

  I have seen you in the sanctuary

    and beheld your power and your glory.

  Because your love is better than life,

    my lips will glorify you.

 I will praise you as long as I live,

    and in your name I will lift up my hands.

  I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;

    with singing lips my mouth will praise you. Psalm 63:1-5

Faith Communities and Geese

So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Romans 12:5

And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. Colossians 3:14

A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12

In a devotion in The Upper Room, the author compared the flight of Canada geese to a faith community. She noted the fact that geese take turns “taking the lead” so that when one tires, another flies forward to lead the group (this pattern of flight decreases wind drag). She asks us to ponder a community of faith: how we may support one another in easing one another’s burdens and sharing joys. A few things to note here: knowing when to step in to help someone, knowing when to ask for help, and that we can be grateful for our own faith communities.

Often in our Wednesday Bible study discussion, we are saddened by the fact that some have no faith community or church to call home. Being a part of a small group within the larger body of the church is important to us, and we see the ways in which our members support one another, both in the group and in our larger church family.

How do we support one another? With meals, prayers, conversation, listening ears. As pastors, teachers, friends. Providing help in whatever form may be needed. Being there to lighten a burden in whatever way it can be lightened.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to seek comfort and support from my church community when I need it. Help me to notice others and reach out when they are in need. Thank you for our church family. Amen.

Donna Gustafson

(you didn’t think I would pass up an opportunity to share a nature photo, did you? Here are Canada geese over Pioneers Park in Lincoln. Click on photos to view larger.)

Prepare for Spring

Another 6 weeks of winter and another chance for snowfall, yet spring is coming. For those who have watched Game of Thrones, a familiar phrase is “winter is coming”. It means be prepared for the bitter cold winds and snowy roads. Be prepared for upcoming conflict and harsh realities. Yet, with winter already here, we should prepare for spring to come.

How do we prepare for spring? Preparing for spring is preparing for hope. A break in the cycle of cold winter days. When things look their worst spring comes to renew us and our spirits. Renew your hope because spring is coming. Plants start to sprout from the ground. Empty branches are replaced with leaves and singing birds. Death is overcome through Jesus who rose on the third day.

I encourage all to walk outside when we hit 60 degrees. Bathe in the light and warm air. Prepare for spring. Prepare for Lent. Prepare for the resurrection. Reflect, pray, and praise. Amen.

Charles Kendeigh

Complaints Not Allowed

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe. Philippians 2:14-15 (NIV)     

Our society has become fractured and polarized, with individuals criticizing others about almost every topic possible. A number of years ago, I heard about a book called “A Complaint Free World.” The author, Will Bowen, is a minister and he suggested trying to break the habit of complaining by going 21 days in a row without complaining. He even suggested wearing a bracelet and moving it to the other wrist each time you complain. It doesn’t take a specific kind of bracelet, but a search for “complaint bracelet” on Amazon.com returned 166 items. 

I haven’t tried it, in part because I doubt whether I’d last more than one day.  There are days when I think I might spend most of my time moving the bracelet.   

We have a lot of synonyms for “complain”: beef, bellyache, carp, crab, croak, fuss, gripe, grouse, growl, grumble, moan, mutter, squawk, wail, whine, and yammer. And then there are related words, like protest, quibble, fret, stew, worry, bemoan, bewail, deplore, and lament. There are at least 29 references to complain or complaints in the Bible. 

The thesaurus lists several “near antonyms,” including accept, bear, countenance, endure, tolerate, applaud, cheer, and commend. But there’s only one antonym listed: REJOICE. 

It’s easy to complain, bellyache, growl, mutter and whine. If it’s not the weather, it’s that driver who just cut you off, or the sales clerk who was a little short with you, or the price of gas, or the co-worker who just gets on your nerves. 

But how easy is it to rejoice? It shouldn’t be that difficult, should it? We can rejoice because we are able to worship together, to give thanks to God for our blessings, to know that our prayers are heard and answered. We can rejoice in the fact that Jesus died for our sins and paid the ultimate sacrifice so that we can have eternal life. The next time you find yourself complaining about something, why not stop and, instead, rejoice in the risen Lord.

          

Prayer: Dear God, We ask for your help in changing our habit of complaining. We have much to rejoice about, yet we find it easier to grouse about the little things that irritate us. With your help, we can work to shine like stars in the universe and exult in the knowledge that you are our savior. 

 

Robin Hadfield (reprinted from 2018)

Blessings

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 2 Peter 1:3 ESV

I love reading the Peanuts cartoons. Recently I read one where Lucy was talking to Charlie Brown and she says, “I hate this year! Everyone said things would be better, but they’re not! I don’t think this is a New Year at all. I think we’ve been stuck with a Used Year!” 

Yes, at times it seems like it hasn’t gotten better, sometimes it feels worse. It feels like we are stuck in a turn around and we just keep going in circles. But maybe it’s us, not the year, that is stuck. Maybe we need to stop looking at what is wrong with the year and start looking at what is good about the year. 

I have written about it many times but we really do need to start counting our blessings, each and every one of them. First one we need to count is that we wake up each morning. Maybe it is cloudy or raining or even snowing but we WOKE up!  Then count the blessings of a warm house, food on the table, clothes and the family that surrounds us. Doesn’t have to be immediate family or even blood-related family. The family is those individuals who are there for you and care about you.  

Be thankful that God sent us only Son who lived, died and rose again for us; so that we may be saved from our sins and be granted a future with our Father in Heaven.  

Lori Hood