Hello Family let us please pray together,
Heavenly Father our hands and arms are reaching out to You
on this day offering thanks for so many blessings that we encounter today. Father you are forever our strength, You are
the pillar upon which we need to see our life.
Protect us Father, feed us, clothe us, and guide us Father for it is
Your light that we know shines the proper way for us. Urge us gently back to the path You select
for each of us Father when we attempt to wander, keep our vision focused on
that which You know is right for the season we are in today. Father we pray for healing of those we know
to be sick or ill, we ask for Your favor to bring strength to those who need
some type of physical or mental boost in their lives and maybe within their
family, wrap Your protective arms about us Father and let us feel Your warmth
and love. Father help us to be the best
stewards we can be with all that You rain down upon us, the many blessings that
we in turn need to be more open about and sharing with one another. Help us Father to see we are no different
than the homeless, we are each your children, help us to know we can get along
even with those who do not profess any knowledge of You at all. Our differences are small compared to the
worldly issues You touch each day. May
we be made stronger because we know You to be the source of all our strength,
today and every day…..in the name of Your glorious Son, Christ Jesus…..AMEN.
Welcome again Family what exciting times we seem to be
facing. I know I have claimed that more
than once in my posts and I still am astonished at all we see happening, yet
here we are together yet, I know God has a purpose for us, a greater purpose that
He prepares us for; teaching as He does through the life of His Son Jesus who
walked with us on earth.
For those who have been with us for a few years you might
remember my beautiful bride and I took a vacation through parts of Germany
where we and our friends visited a number of castles, some quite large, like
the Heidelberg Castle, and a number of others that were quite smaller. They all seemed to have one thing in common
though in how and where they were constructed.
It seems at least one major wall or section was positioned over what
seems like an insurmountable hill or mountainside. This was probably done so they would not have
to guard all of the walls with soldiers.
There are times though when that method of defense has proven to be in
err. The Edinburgh Castle in Scotland
comes to mind. It has one such wall and
yet it was here where a conquering army chose to send a small group to scale
and surprise the inhabitants which they did taking them all in capture. Where it was believed to be the strongest,
the castle may be at its weakest.
Have you ever read these words….."There is perhaps no
one of our natural passions so hard to subdue as pride. Beat it down, stifle
it, mortify it as much as one pleases, it is still alive. Even if I could conceive
that I had completely overcome it, I should probably be proud of my
humility"…..maybe not…..they come out of the autobiography of Benjamin
Franklin….sage words though he speaks. I
will venture that each one of us struggles with pride in our lives, I know I
do, in fact the best of the best probably struggle more so than the rest, and
they may not even be aware of the struggle….that is sad…but true.
We all walk among an enemy who has a goal to see us
stumble in some way, especially so when it appears to be an area where we seem
to be the strongest. Think of a highly
paid professional basketball center who is known for making great shots….even
the greatest of us humans have our moments, did you see him bounce the ball off
his foot, many are quick to point out that mistake, that “stumble” if you
will. Sometimes we get so “seasoned” at
watching for the “stumble” we fail to see the good that was done, or to
acknowledge their effort when they blocked a shot on the other end of the
court. Yes indeed it is a TEAM effort
and we should be acknowledging the good things and trying not to dwell to long
on the “stumbles”…..they can be righted, especially with the right kind of
support.
Don’t put all your hope in what you perceive as your own
strengths, you will be let down…..don’t even put your hope completely in the
strengths of others…again you will be let down…..where then should we
turn….there is and always will be only one answer…..in the Lord….He is our true
strength, now and always.
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a
fall. Proverbs 16:18
Go in Peace
Blessings to you all
Aloha
Randy
