Some days I find myself swinging like a pendulum between two extremes, aggrandizement and abasement. I’m either feeling pretty good about myself (so good) or beating myself over my head with all my faults (so bad). When this happens it’s my clue I’m focusing too much on myself and not on others. It reminds me of what C.S. Lewis said, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.” And, let’s remember that applies to both extremes, whether thinking so good of yourself or so bad.

Before I retired, I looked forward to the extra time I would have to read, study God’s Word and do the other activities I didn’t have time for. I thought I would still be able to go, go, go through the day. But that’s not how it worked out. It’s more like go, go, rest, go, go, rest, go rest! Thinking of that made me question if in my longtime study of God’s nature and Word, I’ve often focused on the study of God more than my relationship with him. Is it more study time I need or do I need to rest in him. There’s a time for study but just as important is quiet time with our Lord, worshiping him and listening to him. That’s how relationships grow.

Have you ever had someone do something nice for you when you knew they were only doing it because something was in it for them? They had a hidden agenda. Have you hesitated to do something for someone else when deep down you knew you had a hidden agenda? Well, if you’re going to wait around for a perfect person to help you out, good luck with that. And, if you’re going to wait until your motivations are perfect to help others, they’re out of luck too. What’s important is we follow the lead of the Holy Spirit and serve others whenever we can, wherever we can and however we can, no matter our feelings at the time.

Do you ever feel kind of empty spiritually? No motivation? You want to serve and help others but you have nothing left to give? If so, that’s a sign your lamp needs to be filled with the oil of the Holy Spirit. That means you need to slow down and allow yourself to be refreshed by the healing power of your Savior. Empty lamps can’t shine. What better time than now during this special season to be refueled through close relationship with him so you can be reignited to glow ever brighter in his service.

I’ve been thinking a lot about forgiveness. Can you truly forgive those who aren’t sorry they hurt you? Can there be reconciliation without justice to the injured person? Martin Luther King said, “Forgiveness is not an occasional act, it is a constant attitude.” And we know what Jesus taught about forgiveness. He even forgave those who put him on that terrible cross, while he was being tortured to death! Now that’s true forgiveness! As a follower of Jesus, I’m exhorted to forgive as he forgave. I’ve learned I can’t do it. That level of forgiveness can come only by the aid of my Savior through the Holy Spirit.

She was suspicious. She didn’t know him. Why was he speaking to her? And, on top of that, he seemed odd, maybe even a little crazy. What he said didn’t make a whole lot of sense. But she needed the water so she stayed. Then he tells her details of her life he couldn’t know about. Okay, you’re a prophet, she says, then she changes the subject, enough about her personal life. Embarrassed, she brings up a familiar Jew vs. Samaritan argument. Jesus counters this argument and reveals he is the Messiah. The Bible doesn’t say if Jesus got that drink of water, but the woman at the well got so much more. She met her Savior and received his everlasting water.

I’d been struggling with writing an article. After several rewrites, I was frustrated and decided to send it as is. When I copied to email, an unfamiliar option popped up. Disregarding it, I deleted it or so I thought. Now when I tried to send the article my keyboard wouldn’t work. I tried everything I could think of, but support is limited when you can’t use the keyboard. Then it occurred to me, maybe the Holy Spirit wanted me to review the article once again. That’s when “I” thought of a way to restore the keyboard. I rewrote a part of the article and away it went. The publisher thought it was great! Thank you, Lord, for always being there!

When you see those ads on TV that seem too good to be true, you’re right. Most, if not all, are just that, too good to be true. Even if whatever you order is a good product, once they get your email address or phone number, you’re going to be added to a lot of other lists. Soon the annoying emails and phone calls will make you wish you had not ever responded in the first place. The only time we can be sure it’s not too good to be true is with God’s promises. When something he says seems too good to be true, in God it is always true.

Have you ever started a new job and found no one would offer to help you catch on to all the unfamiliar company procedures? This happens in some work environments where people are anxious about their jobs. You are seen as the competition. Or maybe you find yourself a bit jealous when you see someone else promoted at work. Our Savior was never that way. He didn’t hoard his spiritual gifts. He allowed his disciples to heal and to cast out demons. He also gave these spiritual powers to the seventy when he sent them out. When his disciples questioned others not in their group who were casting out demons in his name, Jesus said leave them alone. As followers of Jesus we all were given gifts and talents to serve. Let’s not be jealous or concerned about sharing them with others. Like Jesus, let’s be generous, putting any thoughts of competitiveness behind us.

Here in north Texas we had another wild and stormy evening. First came the wind, then driving rain and hail. It sounded like rocks crashing onto my roof, which it was—ice  rocks! With the howling wind and the hail and rain hitting roof and windows, I appreciated my little house and felt sorry for any who had to be out with no shelter. As vulnerable human beings we need physical shelter but we also need spiritual shelter. Jesus knows how important that need is and includes it in the Lord’s Prayer. Sometimes our lives can seem wild and stormy, both physically and spiritually, but we can be secure knowing he is always there. He has hold of our hand and he won’t let go!