Humble

I have a very specific routine for Sunday mornings.  Pastoring a small church in a little town on the coast, I have found it important for me to follow this routine as much as possible.  I am not sure how my wife feels about it, as she has to carry most, if not all, of the burden that Sundays bring.  I know that she understands and expects me to do what I deem necessary to prepare for the morning.

That leaves her to get not only her, but our five year old son, up, cleaned, dressed, fed, out the door and into the church building, to the right classroom.  It is not like she doesn’t have anything to do once she gets there.  She teaches a Sunday school class with one youth attending.  Sounds so easy, until one realizes how specialized and specifically directed the lesson has to be.  Did I mention that she I also the worship leader?

But enough about her, because the story is about me and my routine.  After waking up and getting ready, I kiss her goodbye and head to the building.  Whether walking or driving, I now follow the road at the edge of the Pacific Ocean.  It is only about five blocks to the church building.

Arriving at the building, I will turn on the lights and the heat, if needed, in the sanctuary and the other class rooms.  I will then go into my office keeping the lights off and turn up my music compilation as loud as I choose.  I will look over my notes for the day and just listen, praise, worship.

I like music loud.  I like music that either drives me to my knees, or brings me to my feet.  I like a more rock beat and words that challenge me and lines that pierce deep into my heart and soul.  (As I write this, Rich Mullins “I See You” is blaring.)  I have never been one for the fluffy, la-la-la everything is great kind of song.  I seem to have a bent for the desperate.

I have served in or been on the pastoral staff of every church I have been a part of since becoming a Christ follower.  They have been contemporary.  They have been traditional.  They have been cutting edge. (I personally like cutting edge, but timing is everything there). 

In all of those, I have seen eager and willing workers.  I have seen quality and professional workers. I have seen old hometown and “it’s good enough” workers.  I have prayed for God to bring the energetic and younger workers when needed.  I have prayed for the technical perfect musicians and artists when needed.  I have prayed for those with knowledge and capable and able teachers when needed.

And let me tell you, when you get those, and sometimes all of those in your church, well, look out world!  And what church wouldn’t want energy, youth, willingness, quality, technical, knowledge and capable?  Just imagine what we could do!

So, pondering my routine, that I have done for about a year,  reflecting on my message, listening to music that I have chosen, and praying for this little church, and imploring the Lord to bring the qualified to us, I realized that that there is an awful lot of us, we, and I going around.

In reflection, the better prayer is for humility.  For myself, first.  Then for the congregation.  And then, for God to bring humble workers, humble servants, humble leaders.  Now that’s an ability to desire in people.

Humility is not achieved by doing it, by learning how to do it, by reading books on it.  The only way to achieve humility is to not focus on it.  But rather, focus on Jesus and focus on others.  As long as us, we, and I are more important than Him and you, it matters not what other qualities and talents are brought to the table.

Think of those whom God used.  A shepherd, a maiden, a fisherman, a man hiding from the enemy army, a prisoner.  Humility is the strongest weakness that one can possess. It can’t be earned.  It can be learned, however.  It does grow in us, as the Lord transforms us. 

We too quickly forget that our salvation is a grace gift given by the Most Gracous One.  We also forget that our spiritual maturity is up to Him as well.  Our part in all of it is to humbly receive.  As we submit and subject ourselves to His Lordship and control, He makes us into a “little Christ”.  And that term is called Christian or Christ follower.

The first church I was a part of as a follower had for it slogan “Share His Adventure”.  That occurs by following.

Does anybody really know what time it is?

I was just realizing that I have been quite silent here for the past three months.  Been busy, but silent.  The work here for the Lord at the coast has been one of great praises and also of great anguish.  It has been very humbling to see God work in the lives of people, but it has been awfully disappointing when people seem to ignore the wonders of the Lord both those inside and outside of the church.

 I have been silent because I have been quite occupied with other things.  Like ministry, family, finances, and friends.  And typical household things that need to be attended to.  Oh, and major computer crashes.  The saying is true, “there are not enough hours in a day.” 

And then I began to read a little free book on the Kindle regarding such things as being busy, managing your time, and the like.  And here is what I have gleaned. 
 

1.   There has always been the same amount of hours in a day.  Twenty-four.  Since the beginning of creation.

2.   We are in control of our own time.  Though there is much we need to do; we can, at any moment, not do those things.  I do realize that there may be consequences in doing so, but we still have the power to do so.

3.   How well we accomplish things in the time we have is up to us.  We have choices that we must make.    There is much stress with a too full schedule, but it was us who made our schedule full. We need to be more disciplined.

Here is the obvious concept when it come to managing time.

 “If you want to manage your time, the sum total hours of your daily activities should be less than twenty-four hours.”       Amy Lynn Andrews

At first that seems to be a no-duh statement.  But it applies pretty much for anything.  If you desire to stay out of debt, spend less than you earn.  If you want to lose weight eat less calories than you burn.

For me to say that I have not enough time to not write my blog really meant I failed to manage the time given me. 

 

And, we all know how precious and valuable and short time is.  Let us use it wisely.  See you soon.