Hod of Hod - Humility of Humility: I guess I got a taste of this one!

I said in a post a few months ago how it seems God brings into my life the very thing He intends for me to teach about.  Well, this week is no different.  The truth is, this post was supposed to have been written Saturday, but due to my trip I had to postpone writing it.  Then it happened.  I, well, I got the lesson from God.  Humble pie.  I have had a slice of that pie before and its not very good.  In fact, it is bitter medicine.

Have you ever seen a small child when they take a spoon full of yucky tasting medicine?  The face they make is priceless!  I have a feeling I had the same look on Sunday night around midnight.  The weekend had been long and tiring.  I had been driving for over 7 1/2 hours and home was only 20 minutes away. There was virtually no traffic and although I preach to my sons about the fact you should never drive more than 5 miles over the speed limit, I was tired!  I wanted to get home.  Everyone else seemed to get away with it.  I had been passed for the last 7 hours by car after car doing at least 90 mph.

No one was out at that time of night.  I could practically see the county line and we were no longer on the interstate.  The local four-lane was a road I traveled frequently and I had never seen a law enforcement officer on that stretch of highway.  Just this once I was going for it.  The speed limit was 55, but I sped up to 70 and moved over in the left lane to go around a slower car.  Just as I did, my son said, "what was that car doing?"  I turned just in time to see the lights come on behind some bushes.

There was no need to argue.  I was guilty.  He was right.  I was doing 15 mph over the speed limit.  I had made a mistake, a very costly mistake.  One to the tune of $173.  Choices, with consequences.  I paid a high price for disobedience and the consequences may not be over.  I don't know if it will affect my insurance rates yet.  That is only the second speeding ticket I have ever received in my life.  The first one was 25 years ago and I vowed then that I would never get another.

Do you remember what I said yesterday about making sure you get plenty of rest and eat regularly so you don't get in a position of compromise?  Well, isn't that where I was with this one?  You can not always prevent yourself from being in a state of exhaustion or hunger, I certainly understand that fact.  I could not have prevented myself from being tired in this situation, but there is something I could have prevented.  I had not read the Word all weekend.

Why had I not read His Word?  Was I afraid that people would see me reading it?  Was I afraid of being made fun of?  Am I not disciplined enough?  What kept me from it?  How can I look Him in the face and answer that question?  I had time for so many things, but for the One who loves me more than anything?  He loved me before I was born.  He chose me, sought me and loves me beyond anything I can imagine.  How could I give Him the cold shoulder?

There are people who would tell me that God CAUSED me to get a speeding ticket, because I didn't spend time with Him over the weekend.  Those people obviously don't really understand the truth of God's word.  He would never do that.  You see, the laws of God are not, (as we have discussed earlier), do's and don'ts.  They are connections to Him.  If we do not connect with Him properly, we will pay consequences.  These consequences are natural consequences of our actions by being disconnected to God.  Just as a lamp won't work without being connected to a power outlet, we won't work without being connected to the source of our power.  Plug a 220 amp dryer into 110 amp plug-in and see what happens!  Improperly connected!  There are consequences.  Not plugged in at all brings no power, but improperly plugged in can bring disastrous results.

Humility of Humility is being okay with your humility, even in the face of adversity.  This past weekend, if I had been willing to have a routine of rising early to read His Word and pray (humility), perhaps I would have been listening to His voice a little closer instead of following my own voice.  Are you afraid that people will know you are His?  Do you try to mask it by going overboard with bad language or listening to inappropriate music?  Do you join in with the crowd in order to fit in and not stand out as an individual?

What would happen if you separated yourself for Him instead?  I think I need to re-think my own life a little more.  I still have a putrid taste in my mouth............spew, spew!!!  I really don't want another bite.  How about you?  

Shalom~~~~~

Netzach of Hod - Enduring Humility

I have been out of pocket for the last few days.  I have been to the Windy City of Chicago to do volunteer work with my son's drum corps.  It was the last camp for the guys before their summer move-in and the beginning of drum corps season.  I had no idea how much work goes into fitting uniforms!  I am ready to go back to work in the factory!!!!  I can say this, it was fun; although it was tiring.

I am so far behind I am not sure if I am going to get caught up, but I will try!  Netzach of Hod or Enduring Humility is all about keeping it going even when you don't think you can or even when the temptation to do otherwise is overwhelming.  This weekend was a test for me.  You see, there was absolutely no spiritual influence around me whatsoever.  I was virtually on my own in a foreign world. There were plenty of people I connected with in many ways, but the spiritual aspect was not there.  I knew that I must rely on my Master for instructions and that is not always easy when you are exhausted, hungry and out of sorts in many ways.

Enduring humility is deciding to listen to the master and follow His leading for the long haul.  No matter what the circumstances, it is of the utmost importance that you get plenty of rest and eat regularly.  You also MUST take time to read His Word daily and communicate with Him daily.  If not, you run the risk of separation from Him.

Is He worth the extra effort?  Is your life worth the extra effort?  Only you can make that decision.

Shalom!

Tiferet of Hod - Beauty of Humility

This weekend is the fabulous celebration of Thunder over Louisville.  If you have never experienced this event you have truly missed an absolutely incredible event.  Hundreds of hot air balloons flying high over the skies of the city of Louisville, Kentucky are a sight to behold.  This event always precedes the Kentucky Derby by one week.  I mention this event to keep in the forefront of your mind the picture of a thoroughbred horse, trained by a master for a purpose.

Today is Tiferet of Hod or Beauty of Humility.  Your attitude toward your Master, as you go about living your life the way He has taught you to live, is essential.  When people see your humility, do they see beauty or ugliness?  Do you shine and reflect the nature of the master or does a cloud follow you around?  Until tomorrow, Shalom!

Gevurah of Hod - Discipline of Humility

I am sorry for not posting last night, but my eyes would not stay open long enough!  Oh my!  I want to take you to the next in our series, discipline of humility.  I think it will be essential throughout this week to keep the picture of a thoroughbred horse in your mind.  This is a great image considering the fact that May is the month in which the Kentucky Derby is held.

Although a great stallion is broken and guided by a master, the horse is still given free reign to make a great number of decisions on his own.  It is up to the horse to make wise or unwise decisions.  Just because we have a master doesn't mean we sit back and do nothing while waiting for Him to tell us EVERYTHING to do.  We must make some decisions and for many decisions there are no right or wrong answers.  God still expects us to do our share of the work.  His job was to train us (leading us to become humble) and then we are responsible for knowing how to live our lives in that manner (humility).

Knowing where to set the boundaries on our humility is Gevurah of Hod.  Do we have too much humility?  (Do we not know how to do enough on our own?  Are we standing around doing nothing too much of the time while waiting for God to give us instructions?  - The man with the one talent who hid it.)  Do we not have enough humility? (Do we do things our way regardless of what our Master has taught us?  Do we tend to go our own way and in essence live by the saying, "Its easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission?")  A balanced life of Gevurah of Hod - Discipline of Humility is a life that reflects the Master and makes people look to Him.  When you cross that finish line everyone will be looking to Him and giving Him praise!!!

Where are your boundaries in humility?  Do they need to be reeled in or let out?      Shalom!~~~~~

A New Week in the Counting! Chesed of Hod! What is that?

All caught up and its time for a new week in the Counting.  Only three more weeks until a very special day, but you have to work through all three remaining weeks to find out what that special day is all about!  Today is the beginning of the Week of the Counting of Hod.  Hod is all about humility.  The best description of humility is a beautiful thoroughbred horse.  In the wild this horse is strong and without a doubt a force to be reckoned with if you came upon him, although he is of little use to man.  Place that same horse in the hands of a master and he becomes a magnificent piece of machinery, one of the most useful animals on earth.

Humility does not give the impression of beaten down or low esteem, but strength and power yielded to the hands of the master who gave it.  Are you now ready to dive into this week on humility?  I am, so let's go!

Chesed of Hod or Loving Kindness of Humility.  I actually think the definition of humility I have given you should allow you to exhibit love in your humility.  It should not allow you to be arrogant in your humility nor should it allow you to be self degrading.  Seeing the humility in your life should open you up to becoming so in tune with HASHEM that you are listening to His every word and allows you to know how to react in each and every situation.  The reason for this is that in order to receive instructions, you have to listen to your master.  (Think about a race horse and jockey.  How does the horse know which way to go?)  You can only accomplish this if you spend time with Him DAILY and many times DAILY!!!

If you are listening to your master you will love (remember the definition of love?  Love = God).  If you are listening to your master you will never think you are worthless, because He will tell you daily how precious you are.  (p.s. its in His written word, everywhere!!!!)  If you are listening to your master you will love others, because He will love others and He will be pulling on the reins to lead you to love them (He will never lead you to hate them, or not forgive them or plot revenge against them.....etc).

Does the Master have hold of the reins in your life or are you still running wild?

Shalom!~~~~~~~~~~~~

  

Enduring by Catching up!!!

I truly need to get back on task and am doing this by playing catch up.  Unfortunately in order to do this I must combine three lessons into one.  We will need to look at Hod of Netzach, Yesod of Netzach and Malchut of Netzach.

Hod of Netzach is realizing the strength to endure comes not from within you, but from HASHEM. It is only from Him that you have the strength and ability to endure to the end and reap the reward of endurance.  This does not mean you are weak, but rather that you have an infinite source of power which goes beyond anything YOU can possibly achieve on your own.  In essence, it makes you undefeatable!  Remember that we are told in His Word:

"Finally, grow powerful in union with the Lord, in union with His mighty strength!  Use all the armor and weaponry that God provides, so that you will be able to stand against the deceptive tactics of the Adversary.  For we are not struggling against human beings, but against the rulers, authorities and cosmic powers governing this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm.  So take up every piece of war equipment God provides; so that when the evil day comes, you will be able to resist; and when the battle is won, you will still be standing.  Therefore, stand!"    Ephesians 6:10-14

Yesod of Netzach is being committed to the thing you are enduring about to the point of no return.  You will let nothing deter you from carrying out your task.  Do you remember the verse about "resisted to the point of the shedding of blood"?  That is commitment!   How committed are you to the person or thing you are enduring for?  I haven't really touched on our endurance possibly being for a person, (and I'm not necessarily talking about looking for a mate, single ladies out there!).  Are you enduring over someone who is lost?  Are you enduring to the point of even giving up your own life over someone who the rest of society has given up on?  Perhaps you should go back and read my post on "Broken Mirrors" from December 8, 2012.

Malchut of Netzach is the culmination of our entire week of the Counting of the Omer of Netzach.  Malchut is all about reaching the maturity level of endurance.  As I run this race of endurance, how am I perceived?  Am I a whiner who constantly complains about every little ache and pain and obstacle that arises?  Am I attracting attention to myself as I show off the things I accomplish along the way?  Or, do I bring glory and honor to the one who has called, equipped and given me all the strength to accomplish every inch of the marathon?

When I approach the finish line of this race of endurance, I want to hear the words,

"You have done well, good and faithful servant.........Enter your master's joy!"  Matthew 25:21

We begin a new week tomorrow, the week of Hod - Humility.  Are you ready?  Shalom!~~~~~~

Netzach of Netzach - Endurance of Endurance: Say What?

I feel as though my endurance is waning....!  I am exhausted!  I have worked six days in a row this past week while being sick at least two of those days and having my youngest son's musical performance the next night.  That being said, I had only two nights of free time to write, (and had to forgo another musical performance by my son on another night to have that much free time).  Then my oldest son and his family came for a visit yesterday and today and we were able to babysit the two grandsons, but that was a true delight!!!  As you can see from the picture I am not use to having two little boys around and I am one exhausted grandma!!!

But, endure I must!  Now what is the meaning of Endurance of Endurance?  Are you just enduring for the sake of enduring or do you endure with a purpose?  Even if there is a purpose, is it your purpose?  Let me give you an example:  there are many people who fill jobs within the church just because they need to be filled.  The problem with that scenario is, those people aren't the ones who should be filling them.  Have you or someone you know fallen into this trap before?  It's called the 80/20 principle.  80% of the work is done by 20% of the people.  God did not design His body to work this way.

God speaks to the heart of each individual to do a specific job within the body, but unfortunately we don't always listen.  When one person doesn't do the job God has for them, another person steps in and takes on the task and usually does it out of guilt.  At other times we start out performing a task we have originally been asked to do by God, Himself.  As time goes on He may ask us to move on to something greater, but whether out of disobedience or fear, we balk.  The end result is that we stay on and on and on in the original task until we are ineffective and the person who is now supposed to be performing the task has grown disheartened with no place to serve.

Paul reminds us of this aspect in Romans 12:4-8

"For just as there are many parts that compose one body, but the parts don't all have the same function; so there are many of us, and in union with the Messiah we comprise one body, with each of us belonging to the others.  But we have gifts that differ and which are meant to be used according to the grace that has been given to us  If your gift is prophecy, use it to the extent of your trust;  if it is serving, use it to serve; if you are a teacher, use your gift in teaching; if you are a counselor, use your gift to comfort and exhort; if you are someone who gives, do it simply and generously; if you are in a position of leadership, lead with diligence and zeal; if you are one who does acts of mercy, do them cheerfully." 

Now, what is your place of endurance?  Do you know what God wants you to do?  Is it very clear?  God will never ask you to do something you absolutely hate.  He will give you a love and desire for the things He asks you to do and He will also give you a gift in that area.  If you really don't know, ask yourself this question; "what do people tell me about myself all the time?"  Do people comment that you are a good listener?  Do they say you are a good teacher?  Do people tell you a lot that you always encourage them?  Have you been blessed financially and is your heart touched by a need on a regular basis to the point where you contribute financially to that need?

Are you serving in the area you know you fit well into?  If not, why not?  Is it out of fear?  Have you had a bad experience in that area and your confidence went down the tubes?  Have you never stepped up to even try anything due to a low self image?  Did you deal with your low self-esteem a couple of weeks ago when we talked about that?  If you continue to listen to those voices in your head that say, "you can't do that.  You aren't good enough to do that.  You aren't smart enough to do that.  Who do you think you are with your past to do those things?", then you are saying that you are greater than God.  Have you ever thought about it that way?  You are saying, "I am smarter than God, I know more than He does and I know that He could never do what He says He will do."  You see, God says,

"Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you."  Jeremiah 1:5

"Who are you, a mere human being, to talk back to God?  Will what is formed say to Him who formed it, 'Why did you make me this way?'"  Romans 9:20

So, what is your area of endurance?  When you figure it out or come to a place of surrender in it, then jump in.  If there is no place to serve in that ministry at your church, keep praying about it and looking.  Keep seeking for the place He wants you to serve in the area He has equipped you to serve and do not stop enduring in that endeavor.  Endure in this endurance.  Keep on keeping on!!!!!!!   And when you find that place, endure there until God gives you a new assignment!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shalom!!!!!!