Ep 35 When Is OK to Boast? Pride, Sand, and Seeds

I need to beware of anything that begins with: "I pride myself in..." I'm sure to fail. I hope to fail. That way I'll remember God is the author of anything worth boasting in. Our gifts and talents are from Him to serve (or in my case, sometimes entertain) others.

Listen today for 3 steps on how to keep pride at bay, totally out of your mind and heart so that God "frees you up" to glory in Him and serve others with abandon.

As Glyn Evans wrote:

"The only way my gifts can live, thrive, and prosper is by using them for others. Kept for myself, they and I will die. The deadness that we find so stifling in the world is not the deadness of inactivity, but the deadness of accumulation." 

Jesus explained the pride and dying conundrum in John 12: "I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives." John 12:24

There you go: die to self and fruit appears. 

I've been working my mind and heart through Paul's clarion call of passion in Philippians 3:7-10 - want to join me?

Further passages for meditation:

"Therefore, as the Scriptures say, 'If you want to boast, boast only about the LORD.'” I Corinthians 1:31

"This is what the LORD says: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the wealthy man in his riches. But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises loving devotion, justice, and righteousness on the earth--for I delight in these things,' declares the LORD." Jeremiah 9:23,24

"Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow." James 1:17 

"I want to know Christ--yes! To know the power of His resurrection and participation in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death." Philippians 3:10

Daily With the King by Glyn Evans (still in print - worth your purchase!)

 

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French Honey Bread

(for Bread Machine but I bet it would work by hand or in your mixer)

1 1/8 c. water
1 T. oil
1 T. honey
1 t. sugar
1 t. salt
3 c. flour
2 1/2 t. yeast

Put all ingredients in this order into your bread machine
Hit Dough cycle
My machine takes 2 hours in dough cycle but it depends on the machine
When it beeps, put Pam or flour on your hands and scoop out the dough
Place, divided on your sprayed pan to make two loaves - any shape
Cover lightly with a clean tea towel
Set in oven for 30 minutes while they rise
Remove towel
Preheat oven to 350 and bake til brown and crusty - about 25 to 30 min. Voila! You're a star!

Printable version here.

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How to invest in what matters beyond ourselves. We have one life - let’s make the most of it for God, others, and eternity.

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