Went hiking with my husband this morning. We did three peaks in 3 hours! As we walked in the early morning hours under a canopy of clouds, we were careful not to trip over rocks and debris on the trail. As the sun gained momentum over the clouds and we were onto our second peak, we were a little more sure-footed on the trail, carefully maneuvering around the larger boulders and planting our feet squarely while in the scree. As our hike continued and we were heading towards our third circumference and peak, I tripped over a small pebble about the size of a walnut. I didn't even realize this small stone would cause so much havoc!
The more I thought about this pebble, the more I thought about the "little" sins in our lives that we don't pay attention to. It's not the big ones, like stealing and murder. Those we tend to navigate around pretty easily like the larger boulders on the trail. We also walk carefully, just like the scree on the trail, guarding ourselves against opportunities that might lead us into adultery. You know that guy (if your a gal) at work who is going through a difficult time and you just want to cheer him up and help him through it. Watch out! That is just like scree, one little misstep and you fall headlong into unwanted sin. Which is why we are careful in those situations and either stay away from them, ask another Christian male to act as his mentor, or keep all contact with him in groups of people, never alone.
But its those little pebbles that always seams to get us into big trouble. Those are lying, gossiping, unwarranted anger, slothfulness, gluttony, pride...all those little sins we don't pay attention to in our lives yet are a stumbling block to ourselves and others. We don't pay attention to them or give them any credence; so they creep into our lives without us even realizing they are there. We need to ask God to make these "little" sins known, so our walk in Christ will not be wrought with continual stumbling. What kind of witness would we be then?
Soli Deo Gloria!
~patti kerr
Uganda
Lwazi Orphanage in Mityana
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Sunday, October 9, 2011
The Deception of Pride
I believe the number one obstacle to our witness is not our disobedience but our pride. C.S. Lewis wrote: "There is one vice of which no man in the world is free: which every one in the world loathes when he sees it in someone else; and of which hardly any people, except Christians, ever imagine they are guilty of themselves...it was through pride that the devil became the devil. Pride leads to every other vice; it is the complete anti-God state of Mind." I go further and say that pride is so deceptive that even Christians fall prey to it's influence!
"When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom" ~ Proverbs 11:2 (NIV).
What are some areas that can lead to pride? - (Read Luke 18:9-14)
Some areas of pride may even surprise you. For instance, you can be proud of your poverty and/or disability. You may take pride in your knowledge or principles. James 4:10 "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up." Anything that takes away the glory of God and points it to us is pride. Remember Uzziah when he was filled with the pride of his own strength and went into the temple to burn incense on the altar (a job strictly assigned to the Levites) and the Lord struck him with leprosy on his forehead. Consider also how Hezekiah humbled himself before the Lord when he realized his pride and repented to God. The Lord healed him and Hezekiah and all of Jerusalem was saved from the wrath of the Lord. Or consider King Nebuchadnezzar who spent seven insane years eating grass like an animal after he boasted in his own might.
I recognize my own pride in my life. Knowledge is my biggest source of pride. Learning has always come easily to me and I relish in answering the questions first. I wasn't doing this to belittle others but let's take a look at this further. If I am always offering up my opinions and answering the questions than I am losing out on the insights and wisdom of others and others may feel less about themselves because of my pride in the knowledge and wisdom that didn't even com from me - it is a gift of God. I am learning to be silent first now. It is tough because for far too long I have spoken up. Now, I am working on my listening skills.
We too, fall victim to pride. Therefore, let us recognize this in ourselves and humble ourselves before the Lord. "We often talk about whether we can trust God, but our concluding question is, Can God trust us? Can He trust us with power, insight, and influence as He did Daniel? Or will our pride get in the way? ~Joy Olander 2008.
"When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom" ~ Proverbs 11:2 (NIV).
What are some areas that can lead to pride? - (Read Luke 18:9-14)
- Who I am or am not
- What I do or don't do
- What I have to offer
- or even how humble I am!
Some areas of pride may even surprise you. For instance, you can be proud of your poverty and/or disability. You may take pride in your knowledge or principles. James 4:10 "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up." Anything that takes away the glory of God and points it to us is pride. Remember Uzziah when he was filled with the pride of his own strength and went into the temple to burn incense on the altar (a job strictly assigned to the Levites) and the Lord struck him with leprosy on his forehead. Consider also how Hezekiah humbled himself before the Lord when he realized his pride and repented to God. The Lord healed him and Hezekiah and all of Jerusalem was saved from the wrath of the Lord. Or consider King Nebuchadnezzar who spent seven insane years eating grass like an animal after he boasted in his own might.
I recognize my own pride in my life. Knowledge is my biggest source of pride. Learning has always come easily to me and I relish in answering the questions first. I wasn't doing this to belittle others but let's take a look at this further. If I am always offering up my opinions and answering the questions than I am losing out on the insights and wisdom of others and others may feel less about themselves because of my pride in the knowledge and wisdom that didn't even com from me - it is a gift of God. I am learning to be silent first now. It is tough because for far too long I have spoken up. Now, I am working on my listening skills.
We too, fall victim to pride. Therefore, let us recognize this in ourselves and humble ourselves before the Lord. "We often talk about whether we can trust God, but our concluding question is, Can God trust us? Can He trust us with power, insight, and influence as He did Daniel? Or will our pride get in the way? ~Joy Olander 2008.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Equally Yoked - a personal testimony
Every now and then we are all called to give our testimony of how Christ has worked in our lives whether in salvation or sanctification. Recently, my pastor asked if I would be willing to give a testomonial at church. I thought to myself the majority of personal testimonies that I have shared throughout my years has been: I was walking in disobedience, then Christ showed me the way; now I have grown in this way or that. Why do we always have to learn these lessons the hard way? I don't want you to make the same mistakes I have in my life so that is why I want to talk about being "equally yoked."
2nd Corinthians 6:14-16 says "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial (satan)? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God."
With my first marriage, I was in disobedience to my mother's request and God's command (even though I was not yet a Christian). Ironically, we both would have said we were Christians. I attended church regularly and he would come with me sometimes. At the time, I don't even think I fully understood what being equally yoked meant!
When I was saved by the grace of God a few years into my marriage and my husband was not; there was disharmony between us. See I had a new nature! My heart's desire was to do God's will and to learn more about Him. I hungered and thirst for the knowledge of my Savior! Contrary, my husband was of and in this world. He followed the world's standards and motivations. We grew apart. My growth in Christ was stagnated because I was afraid of growing too far apart from my husband whom I still tried to please. This is why God is so adamant about being equally yoked - it doesn't work this way. It is not God's will for the wife to be the spiritual leader in the home.
Recently, a friend of mine said being equally yoked is like a triangle and I like this analogy. As we work on our relationship with our Heavenly Father, our relationship with each other gets closer. When I realized the truth of this, I saw the same is true when you flip the triangle over. As one member grows closer to God the other member grows more wordly and thus the relationship with each other grows apart.
2nd Corinthians 6:14-16 says "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial (satan)? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God."
With my first marriage, I was in disobedience to my mother's request and God's command (even though I was not yet a Christian). Ironically, we both would have said we were Christians. I attended church regularly and he would come with me sometimes. At the time, I don't even think I fully understood what being equally yoked meant!
When I was saved by the grace of God a few years into my marriage and my husband was not; there was disharmony between us. See I had a new nature! My heart's desire was to do God's will and to learn more about Him. I hungered and thirst for the knowledge of my Savior! Contrary, my husband was of and in this world. He followed the world's standards and motivations. We grew apart. My growth in Christ was stagnated because I was afraid of growing too far apart from my husband whom I still tried to please. This is why God is so adamant about being equally yoked - it doesn't work this way. It is not God's will for the wife to be the spiritual leader in the home.
Recently, a friend of mine said being equally yoked is like a triangle and I like this analogy. As we work on our relationship with our Heavenly Father, our relationship with each other gets closer. When I realized the truth of this, I saw the same is true when you flip the triangle over. As one member grows closer to God the other member grows more wordly and thus the relationship with each other grows apart.
This concept became so very clear after this marriage dissolved and he left me. I later married again to a believer. What a stark differnce light is to darkness! What pure joy when both husband and wife journey together in their walk with Christ! How awesome it is to have a husband who is concerned about my physical, mental and spiritual well-being! What an encouragement to know that my husband is praying for me on a daily basis!!!
My heart's desire is to help young women learn from my little life lessons. I have known the heartache of being unequally yoked and the blessing that comes from marrying a fellow believer. I have learned that an outward show of religion is a far cry from an inward heart conversion to Jesus!
Soli Deo Gloria!
~patti kerr
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Why I'm Blogging
Let's face it. I'm middle-aged, starting menopause; what can I offer that anyone would want to read? Well, apparently, a whole life's worth of lessons - some good and some not. I'm going through a Christian Mentoring class based on Titus 2 called "Grow with Me". I'm finding out I have a lot to offer a younger woman - things I've learned, someone that will listen to them and that they can trust - basically a friend who just may know what they're going through. I've titled my blog page "In the Desert" because when someone is going through a trial, they feel as if they are all alone, dry, without hope. Oh, but the desert is a wonderful place full of beauty and life. I have grown more in these desert trials than I have ever in life's bounty. God brings us to the desert so we can fully trust in Him alone. One of my favorite verses is Proverbs 3: 5-6 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall make straight your path.
I hope that you may find encouragement in my future blogs. May we laugh and cry together!
~your sister in Christ, patti kerr
Soli Deo Gloria!
I hope that you may find encouragement in my future blogs. May we laugh and cry together!
~your sister in Christ, patti kerr
Soli Deo Gloria!
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