Humility

Renew Your Perspective

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“All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,

“God opposes the proud
    but shows favor to the humble.”[a]

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”

1 Peter 5:5-6 NIV

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“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.“

Romans 12:9-13 NIV

(This photo was taken at sunrise by a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)

Hope With Humility

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“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

Ephesians 4:1-6 NIV

Character and attitude…how we treat each other in our daily lives

These are the things that show that we believe

Love is action

Learn from the example that Jesus provided in His life, death and resurrection

Live out your faith with your attitude and how you treat others in daily life

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“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

Colossians 3:12-14 NIV

(This photo was taken while traveling in northern Colorado)

One Hope

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“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

Ephesians 4:1-6 NIV

Even when we feel surrounded by darkness and evil

We can find hope when we turn towards God, His Word and His Son

We can find hope when we remember that after the brutal and tragic death of Jesus

God raised Him to life

We can have hope because of what God has done and is doing in our lives

It is up to us to seek Him

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“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 15:13 NIV

(This photo was taken while traveling in southern New Mexico)

Confession…Forgiveness

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“Blessed is the one
    whose transgressions are forgiven,
    whose sins are covered.
2 Blessed is the one
    whose sin the Lord does not count against them
    and in whose spirit is no deceit.

3 When I kept silent,
    my bones wasted away
    through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night
    your hand was heavy on me;
my strength was sapped
    as in the heat of summer.[b]

5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you
    and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess
    my transgressions to the Lord.”
And you forgave
    the guilt of my sin.”

Psalm 32:1-5 NIV

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“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

John 3:17 NIV

(This photo was taken at a park on the island of the Bahamas)

Our Call

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“As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”[a]

1 Peter 1:14-16 NIV

How do we know what God is calling us to do?

For life decisions and direction?

If we use the world’s measuring stick of ‘what we should do’ we risk missing God’s will entirely

To follow our call is to surrender self-serving desires, to be humble and patient and to have a foundation of a faith that is built on our personal relationship with Jesus Christ

That is what I have learned so far…nobody ever said it was going to be easy

We will face trouble and struggles of every kind in life and if we are willing to stand firm on the foundation of faith, we will persevere

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“For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.”

1 Thessalonians 4:7

(This photo was taken at a lake place in northwestern Wisconsin)

In The Midst Of The Storm

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“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33 NIV

No matter what is happening…no matter what has gone wrong in your eyes

Our God has promised to never leave you and never to abandon you, so don’t turn away from Him

Don’t ignore Him…seek Him because He is waiting to hear from you always…even in the midst of the storm

Praise You In This Storm by Casting Crowns

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“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”

1 Peter 5:6-9 NIV

(This photo was taken in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming)

Humility…Patience

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“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.“

Ephesians 4:1-2 NIV

Character and attitude shown by how we treat each other in our daily lives

Our attitude and character are the things that show what we believe

Love is demostrated by actions

Learn from the example that Jesus provided in His life, death and resurrection

Live out your faith through your attitude and by how you treat others in daily life

DSC07425 publish

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

Colossians 3:12-14 NIV

(This photo was taken while traveling in northern Colorado)

Everyone Is Carrying A Burden

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 “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”

Romans 12:9-13 NIV

Every person you encounter everyday is fighting a battle you know nothing about

We all have burdens of some kind…yes even the person who shows their best life on social media

We are not here to judge whether one persons burden is greater than another

Rather we are to strive to help others carry their burdens as much as we need someone to help us carry our own

We should strive to ask the question…”how can I help?” more often than “why isn’t someone helping me?”

Jesus set the example for us and we would do well to follow Him

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“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

Philippians 2:1-4 NIV

(This photo was taken at White Sands National Park in New Mexico)

Humility

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“Pride leads to disgrace,
    but with humility comes wisdom.”

Proverbs 11:2 NLT

“Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less. Humility is thinking more of others. Humble people are so focused on serving others, they don’t think of themselves.”

Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life

Who Am I by Casting Crowns

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“Submit yourselves, then, to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Come near to God and he will come near to you…”

James 4:7-8 NIV

(This photo was taken in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado)

Humility And Patience

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“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Luke 18:10-14 NIV

What we need in the world more than ever is less “look at me” thinking and more of a “how can I help” way of living

The best way to work on making this change in life is to have time every day with God and His Word

Turn towards the Lord and away from worldly thinking

Seek to learn about Him and He can lead you to humility and patience

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“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

2 Peter 3:9 NIV

(This photo was taken along the North Shore of Lake Superior)