EGO =Edging God Out

In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.

Psalm 10:4

Within a blog post Regi Campbell defined ego with an acronym: Edging God Out. He wrote, “’When we’re going for what we want, irrespective of what God wants, our ego is in charge and we start ‘edging God out.’”

Egos edge God out and off the center stage position He should have in our lives. Pride puffs us up and pushes God from the throne of our hearts. Prideful people have no room in their thoughts for God.

God’s Word is clear. Pride is a serious sin. He hates it! Pride seeks God’s rightful place within our hearts and fails to acknowledge humble dependence on Him in all things. The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished  (Proverbs 16:5)

Prideful people edge God out of their plans by running into the day without prayer and guidance from His Word. Their actions demonstrate they don’t need God or His help. They can handle things on their own! The humble make much of God by acknowledging that they need Him every hour. They commit all that they do to Him (Proverbs 16:3).

Prideful people edge God out of their conversations when they misuse His name, gossip, and judge. They twist their stories to make much of themselves, and manipulate discussions for personal gain. Humble people use their words to honor and exalt God, and to look out for the interests of others. Their prayer is that all the words they speak and think be pleasing to Him (Psalm 19:14).

Prideful people edge God out of their lives by putting false idols on the throne of their hearts. They seek the gods of comfort and security in their bank accounts instead of His provision. They look for affirmation and approval from others instead of their identity in Christ. They’re white knuckled and anxious as they seek control and power rather than trusting in their Father’s sovereign care.

Scripture says that God looks intently at the humble. He shows pleasure, favor, and care to those who walk humbly with Him. “This is the one to whom I will look: he (she) who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word” (Isaiah 66:2, ESV).

HE>i: Is there anything edging God out of being the center of your life? If so, humble yourself in prayer and ask Jesus to be the center. 

At every stage of our Christian development and in every sphere of our Christian discipleship, pride is the greatest enemy and humility our greatest friend.

John Stott

grace and peace,

Lenae

At the Table

Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.

Luke 22:24

The disciples are at the table with Jesus. They drank from the cup and ate the bread with thanks. Unknown to them at the time, they were the original participants of the Lord’s Supper. While the taste of wine and bread is still on their tongues they’re disputing at the table as to which of them was considered to be greatest.

While Jesus’ mind is fixed on the suffering at hand, they’re stuck on status. While Jesus is focused on the cross, they’re wrapped up in their own concerns. They’ve missed the meaning of the shared supper.

Disputes around the table are not uncommon whether in the upper room, the church, or our own kitchen tables. How different mealtimes and life would be if we’d stop jockeying for positions of honor at the table and ask, “Who am I? That You would love me so gently? Who am I? That You would recognize my name? Who am I? That You would speak to me so softly? Conversation with the love Most High . . . who am I?” (“Who am I?” words and music by Nathan and Christy Nockels.)

At the table, Jesus teaches what it means to be truly great. He said, “For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves” (Luke 22:27). Christ exemplified Kingdom service before the meal by bowing low and washing their feet. He demonstrated true greatness after the meal when He willingly offered His life.

Opportunities abound at the table to point people to God’s greatness:

• Begin and end each meal with thanks to God for the gift of His daily bread.

• Invite needy and broken guests to your table who cannot repay your favor.

• Share God Sightings. Have each person tell one way they’re seeing God at work in their lives or in this world.

• Show genuine interest in others. Laugh until it hurts, celebrate, share honestly, and ask thoughtful questions.

•  Serve wholeheartedly in meal preparation and clean up as if serving the Lord, not to impress your guests.

• Have more hunger and thirst for righteousness then what’s on your plate.

He>i: How can you use tonight’s meal to point others to God’s greatness?

What’s becoming clearer and clearer to me is that the most sacred moments, the ones in which I feel God’s presence most profoundly, when I feel the goodness of the world most arrestingly, take place at the table.

Shauna Niequist

grace and peace,

Lenae

Bid Outloud!

As you know, God has been very good to GEMS throughout the years. By His grace, we have been able to increase the number of active clubs in North America, build  The Esther School in Zambia, create a GEMS International Ministry, and continue growing GEMS Clubs around the world. Due to the rapid growth of both our international and urban ministries, we must increase our budget. One way is to host a new fundraiser. Therefore, on November 22, 2013, GEMS will be hosting its first online auction!

Since we teach our girls to be bold and speak up for Jesus Christ, the tagline for our auction is BID OUTLOUD! Through bidding, people from all over the continent can take a stand by supporting the GEMS ministry.

We believe this auction will be very successful for GEMS, but we need your help in making it happen. Since bids will be coming from all over North America, we need items and services to be donated from many different locations. The GEMS staff cannot personally obtain donations from every area, so we need one person in each area to be an auction committee member and to secure 15 items or services from that area to be used in the auction.

We in WA state are Area 3 and we are still looking for this person. There is a packet of information available with all the instructions needed to secure these items for the GEMS online auction. Please contact Tami Cleveringa or Julie Ball if you are interested in helping out or if you know someone we can contact to ask to help GEMS in this way.

Tent Peg Tasks

The Merarites were appointed to take care of the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, posts, bases, all its equipment, and everything related to their use, as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs and ropes.

Numbers 3:36-37 

If you could travel back into OT history and ask someone from the Merarites’ clan what they do everyday, I wonder if anyone would’ve said she held the position of Tabernacle Engineer.

You: A Tabernacle Engineer, eh? Never heard of it. What do you do?

Miss Merarite: Oh, you know . . . I’m in charge of the tent pegs.

You: Gotcha.

Did the Israelites have the same spiritual gift rivalries that were splitting the church in Corinth (1 Corinthians 12)? Did the Tent Peg people say, “Because I’m not in charge of caring for the ark, I do not belong to the Israelite community”?  Did the Rope People say, “Because I’m not on the battle frontlines with the other tribes, I’m not part of the Israelites”?

Whether in the Tabernacle or at GEMS, each part is important and needed. There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work (1 Corinthians 12:4-6).

Your gifts are different than my gifts. That doesn’t mean one of us is more spiritual than the other. It means that God chose to distribute the gifts differently! John the Baptist understood that, his jealous disciples did not. They were upset when the crowds ditched John and followed Jesus. To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven” (John 3:27).

It doesn’t matter if you’re upfront with Moses or cleaning tent pegs with the Merarites. It’s not a matter of title and position, but of how you’re using your gifts. Are you leading to the glory of God or the glory of self? Are you wholeheartedly cleaning tent pegs as if serving the Lord or are you begrudgingly putting in your time? Bottom line: Who’s getting the glory?

He>i: Give thanks for your gift(s) and then commit to using it to the best of your ability for God’s glory and fame.

He who receives greater gifts should not glory in his own merit or consider himself above others, but instead be humble, devout, and thankful.

Thomas a Kempis

 grace and peace,

Lenae

Iced Coffee Punch Recipe

This recipe was such a hit at the workshops and so many of you asked for the recipe, so I figured I would share it here!

3 cups strong brewed coffee (I used decaf since the workshops were in the evening)
1 cup sugar
2 cups half & half
3 cups milk

Dissolve sugar in coffee. Let cool. Add half & half and milk. Stir. Freeze. Take out two hours prior to serving so it is a slushy consistency. Alternatively, keep refrigerated and serve over ice.

Enjoy!

Fall Workshop is THIS WEEK!!

We are praying for you as you prepare to attend Fall Workshop this week. We are looking forward to seeing many of you there and pray it will be a blessing to you, and eventually to your girls and your club. Here is the information that was sent in a confirmation email this past week, in case you need another copy.

The Lynden workshop will take place at Bethel CRC. It is located at 1105 Liberty St. Please enter through the white doors that face 11th St. and head down the stairs. Go through the double doors on your right to the basement fellowship room. The Everett workshop will take place at Everett First CRC. It is located at 1429 McDougall Ave., Everett, WA 98201.

Registration will open at 6:15 p.m. and our meetings will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. We will have a time of refreshments later in the evening and end at 9:30 p.m. Please bring along the following: a Bible, a pen/pencil, and your favorite hat. in order to enrich our sharing time together, please also come with one great idea to share that you have used either in your group of girls or in your club. This can be a craft, a lesson, a service project, a special event idea, or anything else that has worked well for you. If you are a NEW counselor, you are off the hook.

Please pray for the host church counselors as they plan and prepare for our time together. Please also pray for safe travels and an enriching time at workshop for everyone who attends.

Give Credit

From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.

John 1:16

The familiar saying, “Give credit where credit is due” suggests that praise and admiration be given where it is merited.

When God cut Gideon’s army from thirty-two thousand to three hundred men, it was to keep Israel from boasting against God that her own strength had saved her (Judges 7:2). The weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength (1 Corinthians 1:25b). Give credit where credit is due.

When Elisha brought the blinded Arameans inside Samaria, the king of Israel couldn’t believe his eyes. He asked Elisha, “Shall I kill them, my father? Shall I kill them?” (2 Kings 6:21). The king wanted to take credit for the victory God had given! He failed to remember that victory rests with the LORD (Proverbs 21:31b).

Within the Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:13-21), the rich man produced a good crop and in his arrogance tore down his barns and built bigger ones to store all HIS grain and HIS goods. He took credit and ownership for what belonged to God. We must never forget that it is the LORD who sends a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to (Deuteronomy 28:8a).

How often do we take credit for what only God can do? Children graduate from high school or college, secure amazing careers, have beautiful families that walk with the LORD and some parents’ chests puff at what their hands have done. Although it looks different, other parents take that same credit when children make devastating choices. They hang their heads in shame and wonder what they did wrong. Moms and mentors, this should not be! Yes, we’re responsible to give our very best to the lives that have been entrusted to us. We are God’s instruments to help shape the lives of children. We plant and water seeds, but only God can make them grow (1 Corinthians 3:6)! We can’t take the credit for growth or lack of growth, or when things go well or awry. Everything is a gift. All is grace!

God gives us the great privilege of being His servants. We get to be part of what He is doing. As His instruments and tools of service, we must reject pride and remember our place and position. Think on it: Does the ax raise itself above him who swings it, or the saw boast against him who uses it? As if a rod were to wield him who lifts it up, or a club brandish him who is not wood! (Isaiah 10:15) Give credit where credit is due.

He>i: Have pride or self-sufficiency kept you from giving credit to God alone?

We are but instruments in the hands of the Master–all credit, all honor and all glory belongs to Him and Him alone.

Darrell Creswell

grace and peace,

Lenae