It's not about me!

And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. (Matthew 23:12 NKJV)

It's not about me!

I am in several leadership positions in my life. I'm not trying to brag, it's fact. It could be easy to get a "Big Head". 

It's not about me!

I am a leader as a teacher. If I lose sight of the needs and wants of the students, I'm a failure as a teacher. Students shouldn't have to adapt to me and my teaching style, I should have to adapt to them. If a student fails, I have to take responsibility. 

It's not about me!

In ministry, like CMA, I'm a leader. It would be easy to think of ourselves as being righteous. We are going out to share Jesus with people who don't know him. We are great, right? The Bible clearly states we're not. We are ALL sinners. None of us are righteous. If we can get to the point where we come to grips with our sin and humble ourselves before The Lord, then we can truly serve others. 

It's not about me!

I'm a leader in my family. When it comes to making decisions, I can't do it from selfishness. I need to be a team player with my family. I have to be able to share my thoughts and rally hear the thoughts of others. I need to make sure I help the family and sacrifice, when I need to, for the good of the family.

It's not about me!

I am a selfish person at heart and I need to make sure I keep my own selfishness in check! I am not that great and I have weaknesses I would like to say don't exist. These four words can help me keep from exalting myself. "It's not about me!" Lord help me humble myself before you, listen to your direction in my life and always remember these four words!

It's not about me!

Daylight Savings Time

And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (John 3:19 NKJV)

Daylight savings time ends this weekend. I'm sorry to see it go. I know it's not popular, but I love it during the summer. Sure, Saturday night it will take a while to reset the clocks and there are some businesses that it hurts. There are also some that it helps. Regardless, getting those extra hours of daylight on the motorcycle is awesome or the extra fun times on the beach more than make up the inconveniences. The dark and gloom of winter is just around the corner and I will long for the sun drenched afternoons of summer. I love the light. 

I do know people who love the night. They don't really come to life until after hours. Night, to me, has one sole purpose.............SLEEP! Yet, these night owls don't see it the same way. They want to party all night. In my 53 years of life there is more harm than good taking place at night. 63% of rapes and 71% of car thefts occur at night. (Wiki.answers.com) Night time is a time for no good.

When Jesus came to this earth, he brought with him a great light. People didn't notice it then and they are still not noticing. Jesus Christ is our light. He destroys darkness and the evil accompanying it. Bring his light into this cold dark world. We need the warmth, the light, and the Love!

True Love!

He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. (I John 4:8 NKJV)

Do you know anyone who doesn't know love? I am saddened by the thought. I see it every day in school students. You can see it In a students attitude, body, and language. I used to be surprised by knowing someone that doesn't have love in their life. It seems to be so much more common than ever before. It just speaks to the urgency of our need to share Christ. God is love. Those people that don't know God, don't know love. Sure they can experience earthly love. The kind of love that is temporary and shallow compared to the love of God. Until they know God they won't know the type of love that is unchanging, permanent, and deep within the heart.

As Christians we have such a powerful responsibility to love those that don't know God. We need to go out into this lost and lonely world, find the downtrodden, the hopeless, and bring them to Christ. Once they find the endless love of Christ, they will know love. The unloved will realize true love that is everlasting. We have to share Christ not by words, but by actions. We need to give with no strings, love with no contract, and care with a heart that is pure. We need to Love for love's sake.

My Rights!

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: (John 1:12 NKJV)

Rejoicing in in Heaven is not a right earned in this life. You and I can't do enough good to earn heavens eternal reward. It's really is even easier than that. We just have to receive Jesus as our savior and God gives us the right to join him. HE GIVES us the right. He gives us the rights of joining the family. 

My family is getting together this weekend. All except my youngest daughter, Kelley. I so wish she could be with us. Being together as a family is so much fun. Staying involved with each other, watching them grow and mature, laughing, and playing are what family is all about. God's family is the same thing. Once you have received him, you enjoy the the activities of the family. God's family loves to share with each other, helping each other grow and mature, laughing, and playing together. I love doing that through Church and my CMA family. It's not true to say I've earned the right. I haven't earned it. It was given to me by the Grace of my Heavenly Father. I am blessed to be a part of my Church and CMA. It's a gift. Praise God for his mercy and grace.

Winter's Coming!

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8 NIV)

I cleaned out the garage today. Put the mower in the shed, packed away the camper, replaced the furnace filter, checked out the garage heater, and parked the car in the garage. I'm ready for winter. Sure, we'll probably have an Indian Summer at some point. But, winter is on the way. Hoosiers know what the change of seasons looks like. The cornfield behind our house is now empty.  Things are changing. 

Not Jesus!

I used to love the change of seasons. Being a motorcyclist and having a wife that physically has difficulty handling winter, I could do without the change. I like stability and warmth. My 35 years of marriage, my family, and most of all My God provides me with consistent, never ending love. I can rely on it. There is no greater feeling in life than the love of a God when I rise and when I lie down at night. There is no more comfort than the love offered freely by Jesus! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.