actions over words

Someone said perception is reality. I offer you a variation, action is reality. Perception, more often than not, is a delusion.

I heard a guy say that his love for his children was so great that it surpassed everything else in his life. However, there was nothing too small in his professional life that did not outweigh some special event in his family's life. Their special game, their concerts, graduation, even illness. What he was doing was more important.

I've seen events absolutely ruined by someone whose words and emotions were nothing less than toxic waste.

I know this one fellow who is given to self-righteous rants and ramblings in spite of his own less than loving attitudes and thoughts. Ouch!

The observation is this: The ironic thing about selfishness is that for the selfish person every personal inconvenience seems like an extreme sacrifice. In other words if it is in fact your cookie, but I am under the delusion that it is mine, and I am forced to give it to you, as far as I know I am not being selfish I am being sacrificial martyr!

The selfish person will never see their selfishness for what it is because they see themselves as martyrs!

Heart check, if you always see yourself as the martyr; know that your actions and attitudes are killing everybody else!

Selfishness is blind and brutal. Ask Jesus to open your eyes.

Purposes, Pleasure, plans

One of the things that I struggle with is the competition that exists between my plans and God's purposes. I struggle with trying to figure out how I can get God to bless my plans. After all, they're really great plans. They are kingdom plans! Plans that do a lot of good things and they would be a blessing to everyone. Plans for God to use me to make Him look great!
My play...I mean my prayer goes something like this. Oh Father, I commit myself to serving you and I commit right now to being a better boy than I have been because all I want is to be used by You for Your glory. Oh God, I want You to do this and do that...and if You do, I promise to stay humble and faithful... yada, yada, yada...

(It just occurred to me that one of the reasons God can hear all of our prayers at once is because much of what we call prayer is just us talking to ourselves...the real prayer lines are probably not all that busy...)

This past Sunday the sermon included Philippians 2:13" for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for bHis good pleasure."

(Hmmm...I wonder why Phil. 4:13 is so much more popular than 2:13?)

It struck me this morning that a great turning point in my life will be to make sure my motivation is to fulfill God's purpose and pleasure and not mine. My life should be a response of obedience because of Who He Is, what He has done, and all that brings Him pleasure. Not mine.

If God has given you a vision or a calling, do it! If you are day dreaming about what you would love to see God accomplish through your life, dream big!

But when it comes to the true intention of your heart, make sure it is for His Purpose, His Pleasure, and not yours.

wanted

What, how, when, why, where, the way...I wanted. Just got off the phone where I had to tell someone no. Not! what they wanted to hear. And it was amazing at how quickly they started making me feel like I was wrong because I was not giving them what they wanted.

Which made me remember something; it is not evil to want something. If it's legal moral and appropriate it is not wrong to want something. So long as you understand that just because you want something, does not make it your right! Just because you want it does not give you the right to demand it.

Do you want something? Great! Good luck. Go for it. Ask for it if you have to. But just remember one thing. Wanting it does not entitle you to it. It does not make someone else wrong for not giving it to you. Don't let your desire become an ugly demand. Don't go all guilt-goddess on someone because your want is different than their want. If all it is a want, all wants are equal even if they are opposites.

And before you go all golden rule on me...just remember the golden rule is proactive not reactive. An attempt to enforce the golden rule is equal to breaking it.

Is that what you wanted?

for Him

upon the stones I go stepping
to make my way along the path
hoping always to go higher
in the ways of truth and light
oh to meet my Lord and master
at the glory of his feet
to offer Him my journey
every day lived for Him

kenn hucks