Proud or Broken?

A few months ago, I listened to a Revive Our Hearts program about brokenness. Nancy Leigh DeMoss asked "Are you a proud person or a broken person?" She then listed the characteristics of a proud person and the characteristics of a broken (humble) person. I can't think of a person alive who couldn't benefit from reviewing this list (present company most definitely included), so I transcribed it for you and listed it here in this blog post. May God use it greatly in your life, as He is doing in mine.

Proud people focus on the failures of others but broken people are overwhelmed with the sense of their own spiritual need. Proud people are self-righteous. They have a critical, fault-finding spirit. But broken people are compassionate. They can forgive much because they know how much they have been forgiven. They think the best of others, and they esteem all others as better than themselves. Proud people have an independent, self-sufficient spirit, but broken people have a dependent spirit and recognize their need for others. Proud people have to prove they are right, but broken people are willing to yield the right to be right. Proud people claim rights and have a demanding spirit, but broken people yield their rights and have a meek spirit. Proud people are self-protective of their time, their rights, and their reputation, but broken people are self-denying. Proud people desire to be served, but broken people are motivated to serve others. Proud people desire to be a success, but broken people are motivated to be faithful and to make others a success. Proud people desire for self advancement, but broken people desire to promote others. Proud people have a drive to be recognized, to be appreciated. They are wounded when others are promoted and they are overlooked. But broken people have a sense of their own unworthiness. They are thrilled that God would use them at all in any ministry. They are eager for others to get the credit, and they rejoice when others are lifted up. Proud people have a subconscious feeling, "This ministry is privileged to have me and my gifts. They think of what they can do for God. But broken people have the heart attitude that says "I don't deserve to have any part in this ministry, and they know that they have nothing to offer God except the life of Jesus flowing through their broken lives. Proud people feel confident in how much they know, but broken people are humbled by how very much they have to learn. Proud people are self-conscious, but broken people are not concerned with self at all. Proud people keep others are arm's length, but broken people are willing to risk getting close to others and to take the risk of loving intimately. Proud people are quick to blame others, but broken people accept personal responsibility and can see where they are wrong in the situation. Proud people are unapproachable, but broken people are easy to be entreated. Proud people are defensive when criticized, but broken people receive criticism with a humble, open spirit. Proud people are concerned with being respectable. They are concerned with what others think, and they are working to protect their own image and reputation. But broken people are concerned with being real. What they care about and what matters to them is not what others think but what God knows, and they are willing to die to their own reputation. Proud people find it difficult to share their spiritual needs with others. Broken people are willing to be open and transparent with others as God directs. Proud people, when they have sinned, want to make sure that no one finds out. Their instinct is to cover up. But broken people, once they have been broken, they don't care who knows, who finds out. They are willing to be exposed because they have nothing to lose. Proud people have a hard time saying, "I was wrong. Will you please forgive me?" But broken people are quick to admit their failure and to seek forgiveness when necessary. When confessing their sin, proud people tend to deal in generalities, but broken people are able to deal under the conviction of God's Spirit to acknowledge specifics. Proud people are concerned about the consequences of their sin, but broken people are grieved over the cause, the root of their sin. Proud people are remorseful over their sin, sorry that they got found out or caught. But broken people are truly, genuinely repentant over their sin, which is acknowledged in the fact that they forsake that sin. When there is a conflict or misunderstanding in a relationship, proud people wait for the other to come and ask for forgiveness. But broken people take the initiative to be reconciled. They race to the cross. They see if they can get there first, no matter how wrong the other may have been. Proud people compare themselves with others. They feel worthy of honor. Broken people compare themselves to the holiness of God and feel a desperate need for his mercy.

Proud people are blind to their real heart condition. Broken people walk in the light. Proud people don't think they have anything to repent of, but broken people realize that they have need of a continual heart attitude of repentance. Proud, unbroken people don't think they need revival, but they are sure that everyone else does. Whereas, humble, broken people continually sense their need for a fresh encounter with God.

Cookie Baking Night 09/26/11

Tonight was Cookie Baking Night. In attendance this evening: Ethan, Carrisa, and Emily.

We had a treat this evening in that Diana (Greg's sister, Ethan and Carissa's mom) joined us for supper. (She has lovely eyes, though I did not give her an opportunity to open them before I snapped the shot--and the only one I took). It was fun to have her join us for supper and hope she will do so again sometime.

Tonight we made pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting. This project involved a lot of preparation and a lot of steps, so it filled up most of our evening.

I am pleased to announce that Ethan has mastered egg cracking. Until recently, he had no interest in it, and I think it frightened him a bit. Now, he is comfortable with the technique, and he cracked three of the four eggs needed for tonight's recipe.

It left us only with time to read Lesson 55 titled "God's Children Trust Him" from Leading Little Ones to God by Marian Schoolland. Emily read from the Bible for us. She read Matthew 14:24-31.

And to squeeze in a couple games of air hockey. This was the first night Carissa took an interest in the game. It was fun to watch her excitement as she learned to play.

As usual, a fun time was had by all.

A Day With The Niece 09/24/11

Today, my niece, Meghan, and I celebrated her birthday. She turned 16 on September 12. I usually give the kids a choice between a gift (or money when they hit teenagehood) or an activity with me. This year, Meghan chose the activity (ahh, makes the aunt so happy). So, we spent the morning at the Farmer's Market in Minneapolis. We had the most lovely time! It was fun hanging out with Meghan and seeing her likes and dislikes emerge as she enters into young adulthood. We had a fun time shopping and looking around at all the wares.

But my favorite time, by far, was the trip home (about a 45 minute drive). Meghan and I had a wonderful conversation about the gospel. And it started with this question, "Where do you stand with God right now?" Meghan was very honest with me. She does not profess to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. I was able to share the gospel with her. She listened and she asked questions. She had already been pondering the question. "What happens to a person after they die?", so it was a timely conversation (as God knew it would be). I shared my testimony of salvation with her, and it seemed to resonate with her. This young lady is a thinker. At one point she said, "It must be very hard for you to have this information and this experience and know that not all the people you care about believe it." She said these words with great compassion, and I was moved to tears by them. I agreed. It is hard.

This is not the first time I have shared the gospel message with Meghan and it probably will not be the last. I will continue to proclaim it as is my job, and I leave the conversion of a soul in God's hands. Not a more wonderful subject exists to speak about, though, and I praise God I had the opportunity to do so.

Happy Birthday, Meghan! I love you.

Psalm 32:8-9

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Be not like a horse or a mule without understanding which must be curbed with a bit and bridle or it will not stay near you.

Psalm 32:8-9

Hmmm. If you read yesterday's post, I'm sensing a theme in my daily Bible reading at the moment.

Proverbs 15:31

The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.

Proverbs 15:31

But God

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience--among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved. Ephesians 2:1-5 ESV (emphasis added).

"One of my favorite conjunctions in all the Bible is but God." ~ Michael Horton (The White Horse Inn).

An Afternoon Project 09/14/11

Last Sunday, Charity, Emily, and Katelyn (young friends from church) came home with me after our morning church service. We ate lunch together, and they spent the afternoon helping me prepare a project for an upcoming church event. I didn't invite them over because I needed the help (though I certainly needed the help, and they were incredibly efficient and a huge help to me), but I invited them over because I enjoy their company AND projects such as these present opportunities to build relationships (and I'll take that any day over completing a project quickly). Conversation flows when women, young and old alike (relatively speaking, I would be the old in this particular scenario) are engaged in a hands-on project. As suspected, much conversation was had around the project table.

Cookie Baking Night 09/12/11

Tonight was Cookie Baking Night. In attendance this evening: Ethan and Carissa.

We made sugar cookies with cream cheese frosting.

We read lesson 54 titled "God's Children Love One Another" from Leading Little Ones to God by Marian Schoolland. Ethan read 1 John 4:7-11 for us from the Bible.

And Ethan and Carissa helped me work on a project for church. They were great helpers.

We ended the evening with a lively game of Uno. As usual, a fun time was had by all.

Psalms 145:1-10

I'm currently memorizing Psalm 145. I'm up to verse 10. I'm enjoying putting this passage in my head and meditating on it as I drive to work in the morning. Thought I'd share it with you:

I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless and praise your name forever and ever. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of your majesty and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness. They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness. The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your saints shall bless you!

Psalm 145: 1-10 (ESV)

Temporarily Interrupted

This blog will be temporarily interrupted due to a particularly busy time coming up. Expect sporadic posts over the next week or so.

Psalm 27:4

One thing I have asked of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.

Psalm 27:4

A Day With The Niece 09/03/11

Today, Emily and I spent a few hours together in the afternoon. School starts on Tuesday, and I had promised her we could make her pencil box this year. We went to a local scrapbooking supply store, purchased the box and supplies, took a seat in their workroom, and she let her creative juices flow. I think it's safe to say she'll have the most creative pencil box in the 5th grade. Though we were sure to put her name on the end of it, I think it will be the only one of its kind. (Fancy pencil box that you create yourself---in pink--I do believe I see a little Aunt Katrina in that one.)