"Pride comes before a fall . . ."

. . . is an old British saying very much like Proverbs 16:18 which has "fall" as "destruction." In yesterday's sermon Pastor Frank continues his series on David in whose life this truism became very obvious. Frank described it as overconfidence and spiritual arrogance coming before failure. I was again reminded of my time of overconfidence and hesitantly say spiritual arrogance that grew in me after seminary and through successful experiences in work until I was a national consultant, traveling the country and pretty sure of myself. Then I made the plunge into marriage, not depending solely on God but constantly trying to fix things myself until my continued personal failures ended in divorce and all the falling or destruction that goes with it. So many times I have wondered how things might have been different if I had depended more on God, tried harder to be the spiritual leader of my family rather than the rescuer trying to keep everyone happy. Only God knows. The message Sunday reminded me of my greatest failure brought on most likely by pride or overconfidence in myself and what I could do.

I Then Shall Live

My blog focus "HIS SPIRIT" was again reinforced with this hymn sung in worship Sunday:

I then shall live as one who's been forgivenI'll walk with joy to know my debts are paidI know my name is clear before my FatherI am His child and I am not afraidSo greatly pardoned, I'll forgive my brotherThe law of love I gladly will obey

I then shall live as one who's learned compassion
I've been so loved I'll risk loving, tooI know how fear builds walls instead of bridgesI'll dare to see another's point of viewAnd when relationships demand commitmentThen I'll be there to care and follow through

Your kingdom come around and through and in me
Your power and glory let them shine through meYour Hallowed name, oh may I bear with honorAnd may Your living Kingdom come in meThe Bread of Life, O' may I share with honorAnd may You feed a hungry world through me

Gaither

"Forces concealed in quiet people and plants."

I'm towards the end of reading the Old Testament in The Message version which has given me the most meaning and understanding I have ever gotten from reading the Old Testament. Eugene Peterson has written an overview/introduction to each book of the Bible and they are each brilliant! In his introduction to Nahum he writes:

Larger-than-life figures appear on this stage from time to time, swaggering about, brandishing weapons and money, terrorizing and bullying. The figures are not, as they suppose themselves to be, at the center of the stage--not, in fact anywhere near the center. . . The danger is that the noise of these pretenders to power will distract us from what is going on quietly at the center of the stage in the person and action of God. God's characteristic way of working is in quietness and through prayer. "I speak," says poet George Meredith, "of the unremarked forces that split the heart and make the pavement toss-- forces concealed in quiet people and plants." If we are conditioned to respond to noise and size, we will miss God's word and action. 

This is indeed what happened in the narrative of Nahum and I deeply believe is happening in our world today. Let's yearn for the "forces concealed in quiet people and plants." This is where HIS SPIRIT is at work today. Join me in seeking it.