Have a great week,  Glen Rhodes                                     

Read: James 1:12-18

How often do we claim as our own, that which is a gift from God?  So often in life we get caught up in what we have achieved without giving God the credit He deserves.  Pride is often a barrier in our spiritual growth.  Paul W. Powell once said “Pride is so subtle that if we aren’t careful we’ll be proud of our humility. When this happens our goodness becomes badness and our virtues become vices.”

It is said that Alex Haley, the author of the book “Roots,” had an unusual picture hanging on his office wall at one time. It was a picture of a turtle on top of a fence post. When someone asked him why he had a picture like that, he said, “Well, every time I write something significant, every time I read my words & think that they are wonderful, & begin to feel proud of myself, I look at the turtle on top of the fence post & remember that he didn’t get there on his own. He had help.”

 It most likely is not just a coincidence that the book of Proverbs has a lot to say about the affects of pride in our lives.  In fact this book of the Bible that is sometimes referred to as “the sayings of the wise” has around thirty references to the dangers of it.  Here is just a sampling of those.  Proverbs 11:2 says, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”  Proverbs 13:10 says, “Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.”  Probably the best known of them all is Proverbs 16:18 that says, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”

God does not want us to lack self-esteem and self-confidence!  We are His children and that alone is enough to give us confidence to face each day.  But God does want us to realize and acknowledge where our successes come from.  In James 1:17-18 it says, “Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father who created all the lights in the heavens.  He is always the same and never makes dark shadows by changing.  He wanted us to be his own special people, and so he sent the true message to give us new birth.” 

Make It Personal: Perhaps the next time we feel pride beginning to swell up within us we need to remember the turtle on the fencepost.  We did not get here or there on our own!

Be a blessing this week,  Glen Rhodes

Read: Ephesians 4:1-6

This past Sunday we looked at the life of Abraham in Genesis 12 and how he was called by God to leave his land and go to the land of Canaan where the Lord was calling him to.  We also thought about how and to what God may be calling each of us to in life.  It may change as we go through life and it just might transform everything we are and do in life.  That is the story of former NFL Center Jason Brown whom I heard a story about this week.

Jason was one of the best Centers in the NFL in 2010.  He was in the midst of a 5 year $37 million contract with the St. Louis Rams (highest paid center in the NFL at that time) when the Lord called him to something else.  God called him to be a produce farmer in order to help those who are hungry and in need.  When he told his agent about this calling he said that he was crazy but Jason quickly replied, “No I am not!”  He was following God’s call and while that seemed crazy to some it made total sense to him.  He left his $37 million NFL contract to start a 1,000 acre farm in Louisburg, North Carolina to share the love of Christ and aid in hunger relief in eastern North Carolina.

His farm is fittingly called First Fruits Farm.  When Jason received this call on his life he had no experience with farming at all. But when the call came he began to research, watch videos, and talk to others about how to grow sweet potatoes, cucumbers and other produce items.  Jason once said in an interview, “A life of greatness is a life of service.”  When asked about all of the money he left in the NFL he simply said, “Love is the most wonderful currency you can have or give.”

There are many other stories like that of Jason’s.  Stories of people hearing and answering a specific call that God placed on their lives despite the sacrifices or challenges that might come with those callings.  As we talked about this past Sunday, sometimes it comes down to you and I making the choice to follow that call like Jason Brown did.  In Ephesians 4:1 Paul writes, “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”

Make It Personal:  Each calling is different, some are large and others are small.  But each calling on your life matters to God and to the people God is wanting to reach through you. Whatever, and whenever the call of God comes… Step out and find out what God is going to do in your life.  You will be blessed because of it.

Have a great week,  Glen Rhodes          

Read: 1 Peter 4:8-10

I have had many opportunities recently to reflect back on my days of growing up in the church.  I grew up in a medium sized (80-90 people) Mennonite church in Carlsbad, New Mexico.  When the church doors were open you could pretty much be sure that our family was going to be walking through them.  As a child I didn’t get the impression that it was seen as a legalistic obligation to go to church; but as an opportunity to worship the Lord and grow with God’s people together.  This is an opportunity that many people in our world could cherish and benefit from as well if they would give it a try.  In a world that becomes busier by the week it takes a conscious effort and desire to make the church family a part of our lives.

Many people have heard the African Proverb that says, “It takes a village to raise a child.”  Susan Allison-Jones reminded me of that concept of the village in an article I read and I realized how well it relates to the church. She shared her own experiences of how important the church family was in forming her children and their outlook on life.  She shared stories in which the church friends would support them, care for them, encourage them, and help them as a family.  She writes, “The village gives us perspective, relief, and peace of heart and mind.  The village gives our children an intergenerational group of people not found in many other settings in our busy, complex world.”

Relationships can sometimes be challenging and difficult in any setting, but by placing ourselves around God’s people we allow our families to bless others and be blessed by others in so many ways.  I realize now how valuable that was in my growing up years and how valuable that was for my own children as they grew up in the church.  I am very thankful that my parents made our church family a part of the village that helped me along the way. I know that our church today did the same for our children as they grew up.

Make It Personal:  May the Lord continue to help all of us grow together as his people and for his purposes!  I agree with Susan when she ends her article by saying, “It does take a village to raise a child.  And we are thankful for those who have been and are a part of our village.”  “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.  Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”  1 Peter 4:8-10

Have a great week,  Glen Rhodes