Played: 0 | Download | Duration: 00:37:58

     Quick Take – Pride can be a cruel master who builds our ego while stealing our life and relationships.  Pride is not something you wake up with one day.  Like any cancer, it starts small and unnoticeable.  The more it grows the faster it takes over more areas of our life until we are consumed with it.  Just like cancer, pride can never be totally eradicated from the flesh, just controlled.  You have to look for the warning sign of its growth so you can catch it early.  The first thing it attacks is your eyes.  You begin to look at yourself and others differently.  You seem to appear much bigger than you really are and others appear much smaller.  This vision impairment causes you to step on people and hurt them.  Your prideful eyes tell you it is unavoidable because you are so big and they are so little, but it is really the cancer of pride.  Get your eyes checked regularly by someone who will honestly tell you how big you are.

Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling.
Prov. 16:18 (NASB)

And remember – Jesus wins,
Tim

     Digging Deeper – So how can we know if what our eyes are telling us is wrong?  The best way is to listen to your words.  Your words will tell you what your eyes are seeing in no uncertain terms.  The first sign is that you start saying things to yourself about other people and how small they are getting.  You make comments that demean them in stature and value.  You progressively use stronger and stronger words to describe how small they are getting.
     As this condition progresses, you will notice that most of the size and value comments you make about other people use you as the standard against which they are measured.  The references may not be direct, but behind every statement you will find yourself as the measuring rod of comparison.  Also, you will notice every time you measure someone else they will get smaller and you will get bigger.
     When this condition reaches critical mass, you will no longer keep these words to yourself, but you will begin to say them out loud.  Your eyes will tell you that the others have grown so small that you are obligated to help the little people by telling them how small they are.  You compare them to your great stature and encourage them to be more like you if they want to get big.
     What you have forgotten is that the problem is not their size or yours because you are both still the same size.  It is only a distortion in your eyesight which makes you appear bigger. You are shouting down to people who are right in front of you.  Ironically, after awhile, you are the one who begins to get smaller and smaller until you just become petty.  You will demean and shame someone over the smallest thing.  Your eyes are now filled with only a vision of yourself and you can no longer see anyone else.  You go through life trampling everyone who gets in your way.
      When pride has reached the place that your eyesight is completely obscured, it is hard to get it back.  It takes a lot of work and time because we have come to view the perspective of pride as reality.  Many people who get to this stage cannot ever find their way back because they have become totally dependent on the pride to see everything.
     Don’t ever get to this point in your life.  The very next time you see someone smaller than yourself and start to say something unkind in your heart, stop and confess it for what it is; a sin.  Ask God to control the cancer of pride in your life and seek someone out who will help you see yourself in a proper perspective.  Let God keep you cancer free from pride.
Blessings, and thanks for digging deeper with me!

Played: 7 | Download | Duration: 00:28:04

     Quick Take - Many people in the world struggle with sharing.  They do not like it when others ask them to share their time or money.  The reason for this is that we all want more.  Enough is never enough. Proverbs 13:25 tells us that the righteous have enough to satisfy their appetites.  In contrast, the world never seems to have enough.  Believers must ask themselves how much is enough?  This greed for more will make us selfish people who cannot afford to spend time with those we love or money on those in need.  If we cannot be grateful for what we have, then we will not share with others.  How grateful are you today?  Do you have enough to take time to share?

Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
James 1:27 (NASB)

And remember – Jesus wins,
Tim

     Digging Deeper – Yesterday was our monthly “go to town and take care of errands” day.  One of the things we had to do was get groceries.  Talk about sticker shock!  We eat less than we ever have and it costs more.  I almost fell over when they tallied the bill in Sam’s.  A couple of days ago I went to the store and got two bags of apples, one small bag of oranges, and a pineapple and the bill was $32.  Then before I came home I had to get some fuel for my pickup and lawn mowers.  That was over $70.
     The tendency is to start griping about how much things cost.  Many of us get grumpy when prices get so high.  As Pam and I were closing our day in prayer, I thought about how much everything cost us lately and how it is impacting our budget.  There was a time when I would have asked God to provide better for us or make prices go down.
     Last night as I prayed, I thank God that we live in a country where we can buy beautiful fresh fruit and all kinds of food.  I am amazed that we can walk into all the stores we want and the shelves are full of food and anything else we want to buy.  There are places in this world where people could not buy food even if they had the money.  We forget how blessed we are in this country.  And the gas prices?  Well, it hurts because we all have two or three cars to keep gas in so we can drive anywhere we want to go.  We are blessed in this country beyond imagination. 
     Our time is no different from our money.  We work all we want and sometimes more than we should.  Do you know how many places in this world have double digit unemployment?  When we get off work there is no shortage of things we can do to entertain ourselves in town.  Or, we can go home and have access to more TV channels than we could ever watch.  We can get our kids involved in something every day of the week.  We are gluttons for excitement and activities and then complain we have no time. 
     With all these blessings, which we indulge in till they become burdens, we are very selfish sometimes.  We do not share because we are not grateful for what we have and are constantly craving more.  The blessings and opportunities in our country can become a curse when all we want is more of it.  That is why our financial industry is in such trouble today; everyone was greedy for more loans, bigger houses, and better returns on their investments.  Enough is never enough.
     Leader, what are you grateful for?  Is your appetite satisfied or do you have to keep going for more.  As long as you are trying to get more you will never have time to stop and share with someone else.  You won’t be able to share your money with the needy or your time with your family.  Start saying “no” to your appetites and thanking God for all you have.  Then, and only then, will you really be able to enjoy the blessings you have by seeing how they can bless other’s lives.
Blessings, and thanks for digging deeper with me!

     Quick Take – We need to be careful when we give.  The purpose of giving is to glorify God, but sometimes we allow the praise to come to us.  It is tempting to let the thanks and praise from the recipient fall on us, and we gladly accept it.  Rarely do we reject the praise and inform them that it really belongs to God.  The next time you share with someone, try not to get caught doing it; and if you do get caught, be sure they know that it was not your blessing upon them, but God’s blessing through you to them.  Be sure the thanks for the sharing gets back to the Person Who really made it possible.  Let people know when you share something that you are only a vessel and not the origin of the gift.

Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account.
But I have received everything in full and have an abundance;  I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.   Phil 4:17-18 (NASB)

And remember – Jesus wins,

     Digging Deeper – We have so much fun sharing with others that sometimes we forget how it all happens.  It is OK to enjoy the act, but not if it takes away from glorifying God.  Paul reminded the Philippians that their gift was an offering to God.  It was not directed to Paul, but was part of their service to bring glory to God.
     We often forget this principle.  We not only forget the ability to give comes from God, but we forget that the gift is an offering to Him.  It is not an offering of penance or for earning favor; rather it is an offering of praise.  It is a way we make a sacrifice, not for sin, but for praise to Him.  We actually are performing worship when we share with others as long as we see it as done unto the Lord.
     When we think about giving in this way, it should create a whole new attitude for us.  We are no longer looking for thanks or praise from men, but we are seeing our worship in practice.   Praise is not just something we do in church, but it is something we should do with our resources.
     After all, all of the resources you have came from God.  Your income is from God.  He could have just as easily chosen you to be a homeless person as an executive.  Oh, you think it is because of all your hard work and dedication.  God could have given you a simple or mentally ill mind instead of the intelligent mind you now have.  God could have placed you in a country where there were no opportunities.  You are where you are and have what you have because of the grace of God, so praise Him with what He has given you.
     And if you are someone who has to receive a gift, remember that it is not about you.  God has chosen you to be a method by which someone can make a sacrifice of praise to Him by sharing with you.   Your life or circumstances are so that God can be worshipped.  Is it all bad if God allows your struggle to bring praise to Him?  Would it be so difficult to allow someone to share with you if you knew God was being glorified through it?
     The focus is to be on God and the glory due His name, not on you or me.  We need to start seeing giving and receiving as something intended to bring praise to God.  Don’t let this be about man.  Let it be about God and His gracious gifts to all of us.  Remember, He can give anything, to anyone, any way He wants to.  Thank Him for the part He allows you to have.
Blessings, and thanks for digging deeper with me!

     Quick Take- This week I have been talking to you about sharing with others and today’s lesson will be the hardest and strangest.  Most people have one really big obstacle to sharing with others, which is an inability to accept help themselves.  I know that seems strange, but it is true.  You cannot really know how to give to others until you learn how to receive from them.  So, today I want you to work very hard at letting people do things for you when they offer.  You practice being gracious and thankful for other’s help.  It will probably be uncomfortable because you are used to refusing help from someone else.  After all, you are the giver and not used to being the recipient.  Practice really hard today so you can know how it feels to receive.

for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. Philippians 4:16

And remember – Jesus wins,
Tim

     Digging Deeper – It goes against human pride to accept help from other people.  Rather than feel needy, we like to feel powerful and strong by helping others.  They say it is more blessed to give than to receive and it is also easier.  We struggle with pride which causes us to want to be the giver rather than the taker.  So why can’t we just give all the time?  Why do we need to know how to receive?
     When Jesus was washing the disciples’ feet in Matthew 13, Peter refused, only to be reproved by the Lord.  Peter had to learn how to accept what Christ was offering.  It wasn’t so much an issue of pride as the absence of humility.  Peter had to learn how to receive this small service from the Lord in order to learn how to receive the greater service of salvation.
     None of us likes to feel needy.  None of us likes to feel we cannot take care of ourselves.  It becomes a matter of pride when we are strong and can help those who are weak.  We often cannot identify with those who are in need and cannot care for themselves.  If we cannot identify with them, then how will we ever know how to give to them?    
     We do things for and to other people based on our own perspectives.  If we like something, we assume others will too.  That is why if we buy something we enjoy, we will buy it as a gift for others.  We use our frame of reference in ministering to others.  When Christ came to this earth to die for us, He could have done it any way He wanted.  He chose to first identify with our need before He gave the gift of His life (Hebrews 4:15).
      If we really want to be effective and loving by sharing with others, then we need to allow them to share with us.  If we do not, the sharing we do can backfire and become a wall instead of a bridge.  If we do not allow people to give to us in kind, then they feel we are rejecting them.  We are refusing them a way of saying thank you.  Their gestures may be small like the story of the lion and the mouse (remember, the lion spared the little mouse who later chewed threw the bonds of the lion setting him free).  The disproportion cannot be considered, only the desire of someone else to do something nice for us.
     It can also backfire by making us seem out of reach for others.  If someone, even in our family, never can see themselves contributing to the relationship, then they no longer feel needed.  Many times husbands do this to their wives and parents do it to their children.  Everyone wants to feel needed and appreciated for what they can do.  While this can sometimes be prideful, most often it is just a matter of wanting to feel needed by others.  Even Jesus allowed the sinful woman to wash His feet (Luke 7:37-38).
     Today, learn to let others share with you.  Learn how to be thankful and gracious.  Learn what it feels like to need another person.  Learn more about giving than you have ever known, by learning how to receive.
     Blessings, and thanks for digging deeper!

     Quick Take – Today, I want you to take special note of other people at work and observe their behavior as it relates to helping others.  You might find some people who do help and you might find a lot of people who will not.  Outside of work we seem to be more likely to help someone than at work.  The pressure and desire to get ahead just seems to take up all of our time.  You can choose what kind of person you want to be.  If you want, you can be someone who has time to care for others and share their burden.  I know it can be a thankless job, but it is a choice you will make every time you see someone needing help.  If you were the one being observed, would others see you as a kind and helpful person?  Think about it.

You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone;   Philippians 4:15 (NASB)

And remember – Jesus wins,
Tim

     Digging Deeper – Paul is speaking in this passage about some much needed help the Philippian church responded to.  They were not under obligation per see, but they did it anyway.  They stood out to Paul because of all the churches and people he had worked with, only one shared in his needs.
     That’s the way it is in ministry often, and in life, because we make assumptions.  Don’t assume someone else will meet the needs of those in your office.  Don’t expect a government agency to meet the needs of people on the street.  We excuse ourselves by imagining that it is someone else’s job to help a person in need.  You need to learn that when the Holy Spirit enables you to see a need in someone else it is so you can respond to it.  We have lost our sensitivity to the calling of the Spirit in all kinds of ministry.
     Start realizing that God shows us needs in others so we can respond.  Why would God prompt you if there was someone else He expected to help with the need?  It does not make sense that God would show us a need and give us the resources to meet it, if He did not want us to respond.  We often do not see that God is trying to move us to action and we respond by making excuses.
     The second assumption we cannot make is that someone else is meeting the needs of the pastors and missionaries we know.  Again, God places things on our hearts and we ignore it.  I sometimes have people call me and ask if I am doing OK because they were praying and felt a need to call me.  Most of the time, I did need the call and appreciated their sensitivity to the Spirit.  I have also had people tell me that they felt moved to pray for me during the week and sure enough, I had a need at that very moment.
     We need to learn that it is a rarity for people to be sensitive to the needs of others.  It is also rare for Christians to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit when He reveals these needs to us.  Let God lead you because you are surrounded by people in need all day long.  Some needs God will use others to meet, but you must be ready to meet the ones He lays on your heart.  Make the call He wants you to make.  Share the gift He wants you to share.  Your shepherd, missionaries, and fellow people need the rarity of sharing in their life.  Will you answer the call?
     Blessings, and thanks for digging deeper with me!

     Quick Take – We know that sin will drag us down and mute the gifts and talents that God has given us.  We lose our effectiveness and our witness.  This is what Satan wants to do to Christian Leaders.  We have all experienced guilt and know how devastating it can be.  Sadly, we allow the effects of sin to linger long after they should.  Once we have confessed our sins, they are gone in the eyes of God.  Christ has made full payment for them.  But sometimes, we hang on to the guilt and it has the same effect as the offence.  Realize that once we repent before our Heavenly Father, there is no need to carry any debilitating guilt around.  Let it go because through the blood of Christ God has taken it away completely.

Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.
Heb 10:18 (NASB)

And remember – Jesus wins,
Tim

     Digging Deeper – It is important that we are quick to confess our sins and keep our fellowship with the Father fresh and close all day long.  We as leaders cannot afford to let any sin stand between us and the Lord.  He wants to forgive us and is quick to forgive us.  We have to literally run to Him when we fall.  As quickly as He forgives, we have to quickly let go of the guilt.
     Anytime we try to make up for our sin to God by appeasing Him, we say that the work of Christ on the cross was not good enough.  We serve, worship, and glorify Him because of Who He is and what He has done.  We obey Him because we believe Him.  We do not do these things to make up for some sin we committed.  He is the only One Who can make restitution for sin and He did it completely.  There is no sacrifice of time, person, or money we could ever make to add to what Christ has done.
     We have to be able to grasp this doctrine of complete propitiation in order to live a victorious life for Him.  We cannot serve Him as leaders when we are going around feeling defeated and useless because we cannot let go of some forgiven sin in our life.  There may be consequences to our sin, but there is never any penalty when we lay it at the cross.  Don’t let your leadership become tainted by something that no longer exists.  God takes away our guilt completely.
      God tells us:  For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.  2 Cor 7:10 (NASB)  Don’t let your leadership suffer a slow death because the world convinced you that your sin was still hanging over your head.  God has set you free and will establish you in His power and forgiveness.  We serve at the pleasure of our Father and our leadership is confirmed in the power of the cross.  Praise God that He has set us completely free!
     Today, thank God for the complete forgiveness provided by the cross no matter what you are struggling with.  Throw off the shackles of sin and be the leader God has called you to be in the home, office, factory, or church.  Know that there is nothing you can do beyond the cross because it was all sufficient.  Stand as a free child of God and rejoice in His total forgiveness.
Blessings, and thanks for digging deeper with me!