Humbled By the Cross | March 25, 2016
The cross is the place of peace. It brings us to Jesus in our true self. This sacred place helps us to realize that we are nothing without Him. Though our selfish pride rejects wisdom and trust in exchange for waywardness and self-reliance, the cross puts all of this to rest. We simply release our nothingness and embrace His fulness.

Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
Philippians 2:7-8, NLT

The Most Humbling Activity | March 24, 2016
I was reading a book recently and the author made this statement..."I pray that I will experience humiliation regularly to test if I am growing away from my pride." That is a prayer I have never thought of praying. I don't want to be seen as weak, incapable, inept, or foolish. In fact, if you are like me, we want people to perceive us as having it all together, being on top, and being "successful."

“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet."
John 13:13-14, NIV

The Practice Of Stillness In The Storm | March 23, 2016
There are few things that will rock our world like being out of relationship with others. The whole of Psalm 37 is an encouragement to be humble and stand instead of fight and run when relationships are being challenged.

Be still before the Lord
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.
Psalm 37:7, NIV

Going Backwards | March 22, 2016
Today's reading reminded me of something that crops up in my heart from time to time. It is the tendency of my thoughts to want to pull back to some time in my life where there was less stress and responsibility. The problem is that my memories are over-simplified thoughts of a different stress and responsibility. Most seasons of life have pressure. The Israelites would rather trade the memory of their pressure of slavery in Egypt to the perceived pressure of warfare (even with God fighting for them).

So they said to one another, “Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt."
Numbers 14:4, NASB

The Tempter's Opportunity | March 21, 2016
As we come to Holy Week, we can see that the final testings were all set to converge. Jesus was about to confront the religious leaders, the disciple's faith, the betrayal, and the cross. There was enough on His plate to even discourage Jesus.

When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time.
Luke 4:13, NASB