Humble Pie

Have you ever heard the phrase “humble pie?”  If you are like me you have probably joked about eating a piece of humble pie after a situation caused you to rethink an action or statement you have made.

In my last post I blogged about being powerless in all that we do.  All we do on our own power.  Basically, it comes down to control.  It can be humiliating to admit we are powerless, especially to those who are used to being in control.

Why is it humiliating?  Could it be that we are so involved and worried about what the world thinks?  Do we ever stop and ask what God thinks?

• But many who are first will be last, and the last first. Matthew 19:30
• And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
  “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
  For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
  Blessed are those who mourn,
  For they shall be comforted.
  Blessed are the meek,
  For they shall inherit the earth.
  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
  For they shall be filled.
  Blessed are the merciful,
  For they shall obtain mercy.
  Blessed are the pure in heart,
  For they shall see God.
  Blessed are the peacemakers,
  For they shall be called sons of God.
  Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
  For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Matthew 5:1-10
• Proverbs 15:33
  The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom, and before honor is humility.
• Proverbs 18:12
  Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, and before honor is humility.
• Proverbs 22:4
  By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches and honor and life.

Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.  And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.  For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Mark 10:43-45

2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”

A good example of this would be a fantastic story found in 2 Kings 5:1-15 where I found correction and instruction in righteousness.  Basically, it’s about a man named Naaman who is a powerful military and political figure, and a man of great wealth and power.  He also had leprosy which was going to eventually cause him a slow painful death.

He had heard of a prophet who could heal him.  He found the prophet and he was told to go dip himself in the Jordon seven times to be healed.

Can you believe he went away disgusted and furious because he thought that his power and fame should have afforded him an instant cure.  But he eventually surrendered and confessed his powerlessness and dipped seven times and was healed.

I have just got to tell you the truth.  I find myself in his shoes a lot.  I hate to admit it, but there are times that the loving confrontation from a brother or sister, or someone not agreeing with an idea that I think is the bomb digity, or any other situation where I think I have the right or answer and someone challenges it, I go away disgusted or furious.  But God’s word works on me and consumes my heart until like Naaman; I surrender and admit I am powerless.

We have a disease called sin.  That sin will show up in pride.  It is as life threatening as leprosy was in Naaman’s day.  I don’t know about you, but I am praying every day for the Lord to give me a spirit of humility to confess my powerlessness everyday.

For His glory alone,

A Wretch Like Me

Little Children

I don't know about you, but for the most part I find myself always needing to be in control.  I guess I think that everything will work out just the way I planned if I were in control of the situation.  There are things that I do and a certain way I think they need to be done and other people just do not do things the same way I would do them.  Or if they did do them the outcome would be the exact way that I drew it up in my head and that drives me crazy.  My pastor always says confession is good for the soul, but not for the reputation. LOL  That's alright, I'm banking that a few people are picking up what I am laying down.

You're probably thinking, "what does this have to do with little children?"  At this point I am asking that question too!  Hopefully my thoughts will turn out as I keep writing.  Sorry...typing.  There are a couple things that came to my mind during some of my reading this week.

One was God's sovereignty.  I have always said that I thank God for giving me a grasp on that early in my salvation.  That He is in complete control of everything.  There is nothing done, nothing created, and nothing breathing that He does not have full and absolute control over.  So why do I find myself so many times thinking that I have to be in control so much?  Why do I think that I am the only one that can create the outcome that I desire?

I think it is....scratch that!  I know it is because I have not completely surrendered the fact that I am completely 100% powerless.  That is right.  The fact is that you and I are without a doubt 100% powerless to accomplish anything on our own.  You might be saying, "hold on Greg, I am in complete control of what I do.  I manage a multi-million dollar business, I am the spiritual leader of the home, I can balance our check book, I am raising our 6 kids, and I know a lot of other people that became very successful because of their knowledge and business smarts."

OK.  Who is ultimately in control?  Be careful with your answer here.  Who created you?  Who gave you those gifts?  Finally, who created you and gave you breath?

I find myself in awe and stretched out crying out to my God when I realize how far I have gotten away from the fact that He is in control of everything.  Why is it we can not reach for help?  Why is it that lean on others in time of distress?  Again, for me it is because I haven't truly confessed the fact that I am truly powerless over everything in my life.  I am trying so hard to get there.  It is really such an amazing feeling when I actually remember it during a particular situation and just give it over to Him.

Why is it so difficult to confess it and live by it?  For me, I am pretty sure it is because my mind still has compartments filled with how the world thinks of things.  I think it is a way Satan uses the world to continue to brainwash us as we grow from children to teenagers, to high schools and college and then ultimately into the workforce. 

Look at little children.  The most dependent members of a society.  They have no power to ensure they will be protected.  They have no power to make sure they are comfortable.  Little children are powerless.  Little children are 100% dependent on others for their most basic needs.  They cry out when they don't even know what is wrong or what they need.  Little children must trust their lives to someone who is more powerful than they are.

We too must dare to admit that we are truly powerless.  We must become like little children in a sense.

Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.

Mark 10:13-16

If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you are a child of God.  We are His children.  When we receive the kingdom of God, we must understand that He is in control of it.  Nothing happens without Him knowing.

Jesus died for you and me.  He was the substitute.  He bore all of our sins.  By his stripes we were healed.

When I look at what He did, I once again realize that each of us are truly powerless just like little children.

For His glory alone,

A Wretch Like Me



Most Important Resource Overlooked

(As written for the Love Haiti Missions Project Facebook Page)

Dear Friends,

I pray this email finds you well. I am writing you in regards to a very important issue, that hopefully each of you that have “Liked” this page will be seriously involved. I am sure that each of you has been overwhelmed by organizations soliciting you for your financial resources to help Haiti. I want you to know that I truly understand their plea.

With what has transpired in Haiti over the last year and a half has triggered an immense display of organizations sprinting into Haiti and spending millions of dollars advertising their efforts in helping the Haitian population from water purification systems to make-shift shelters. Although my heart has been split in two by these events, as I know yours has too; these events have opened the world’s eyes to one of the most beautiful people I have ever met.

With that said, I believe that the single most important resource needed to truly pave the way for Haiti to once again become the pearl of the Caribbean is being grossly overlooked. I personally believe that all the resources and millions of dollars being spent on all of these good intentioned programs will be eventually lost, if we do not focus on the one most important resource being overlooked that will change Haiti for ever.

Albert Einstein once said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results.”

Haiti will never become the great nation it is meant to be if we continue to throw vital resources at good programs without education.

Educating the next generations and having compassion by reaching the orphaned and abandoned is the single most important issue to the long term sustainable change Haiti needs.

It is paramount that individuals, churches, organizations, ministries, small business, and corporations channel resources to create more schools, train more teachers, resource existing schools and teachers, and operate safe-havens for orphaned and abandoned children in Haiti. Obviously this is not an exhausting list of needs governing education, but it gives each of us a starting place for us to think about where our giving will go.

Our organization was founded on reaching the next generation and educating them. We too have been caught up in immediate relief as most should have after the devastating events, but it we can no longer continue to wait and do the same thing over and over.

Our organization is not big, but we have a big heart for Haiti. We were there before the earthquake and we want to be there for a long time coming. We are not soliciting large amounts of your resources, but we are asking for a little. We are just not asking you to give, we are asking you to partner with us. We are asking you to be part of something bigger. We are asking you to partner with us to change lives one small community at a time.

We are asking for as little as $5 a month. We are asking you to share our vision and ministry with everyone you know. We are asking you to find a lot of people with a heart for Haiti just like you.

The people of Haiti are asking if you will give up a couple sodas or a coffee or two a month to help change lives.

We are embarking on making education and our His House program our major issues in everything we do. We will work to resource schools and teachers, as well as create opportunities for more children to get an education. Our His House program is dedicated to create and operate children homes for orphaned and abandoned children. These homes will give children the education, love and stability they need to become world changers.

I am praying that you will come along side of us and partner with us in this small way to create large lasting change. You can get your partnership started by visiting us at our new site http://www.rtsmissions.com/ and looking for the “Partners” section of our home page.

“You must be the change you wish to see in this world.” Mahatma Gandhi

Loving the children,

Greg Shepherd
President
Love Haiti Missions