Thursday 28 June 2012

PRIDE OR SERVICE

Our beautiful Layla...hiding her face..I felt like doing this...

This last week has been "tough"...I have had to take a very long look at myself, my motivation and my work. I have always worked in projects, community or something "good" for others. This last week God has been refining me - we normally call it "refining fire"...I can tell you the heat was put to maximum...we have been taught that the "hotter the fire" the more perfect the result...my word....it was difficult and hard.

I had to examine myself and why I do what I do. While pondering this and wondering about all the blessings and failures I came to realise that I had to change a lot about me. The main one being my "prideful" attitude. I love to talk about what I do, the projects I am involved in and the blessings we have received. I talk to anyone I meet taking every opportunity and I have justified this in my own mind that when I speak to them about what "I" do I ask them if there is anything they can do to help us (donations, time, etc) - so justifying my "prideful conversation". God guided me to the scripture below..I have quoted it in two different translations:

Matthew 6: 3 & 4
NIV - 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Message - 2-4"When you do something for someone else, don't call attention to yourself. You've seen them in action, I'm sure—'playactors' I call them— treating prayer meeting and street corner alike as a stage, acting compassionate as long as someone is watching, playing to the crowds. They get applause, true, but that's all they get. When you help someone out, don't think about how it looks. Just do it—quietly and unobtrusively. That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out."

I spoke to a very trusted spiritual friend and explained to her what was going on in my mind and heart and told her that I look at her and her peaceful attitude and generous heart and I would love to be more like her and less like me...and she told me that she struggles with exactly the same. Did this make me feel better...no...this was my journey and if we share a path then I know that at least I am not alone in this and I felt comforted and not as condemned as I had been feeling.

I know I am loved unconditionally, I am righteous in Christ, I just need to take care that the God I am serving is my God, Lord and Savior and not my work. 

I thank God that He is constantly REFINING me .... I thank God that He has opened my eyes and ears to His teaching. I thank God that He has made me brave enough to share this with folk who I have been "boastful" to....I thank God that I am forgiven and loved by Him. I ask you for forgiveness if I have been boastful instead of humble.
Inspiring blogger:

18 comments:

  1. Hi Noeline - I love this post. I love that you have been so transparent. Its in your transparency that you can speak into someone's heart. God bless my friend
    Tracy

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    1. Thank you Tracy. This blogging thing is proving to be a true healing time for me...thank you for your encouragement.

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  2. Beautiful thoughts here. I'm glad, too, that He is constantly refining us, making us into His image, giving us new purpose and direction.

    Tracy encouraged me to stop by your place and I'm so glad I did - what a blessing!

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    1. Deidra thank you for visiting....so nice to know that I have a few more than 6 people reading my words...seems so odd sometimes to be writing deep deep stuff and it is always that same people reading it who already know alot of what I am saying. Bless you for your comments.

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  3. Noeline~ I'm visiting your blog today for the first time. I have been so blessed by it! Your post really touched me. I too want to make sure I am glorify God the way He wants to be glorified and not out of my own selfish ambition. Thank you so much for this reminder!

    Blessings~
    Shari

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    1. Shari I encourage you again to seek His face in all you do and never stray from His commission on our lives. I sometimes have lost focus and get so caught up in the doing that I forget who I am doing it for. Thank you for your words and for visiting. I hope we meet again soon. God Bless.

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  5. What a wonderful scripture and reminder that we serve God above all. It's a hard and wonderful at the same time to learn from God's Word. Thanks for a great post! -Rachel

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    1. Thank you Rachel for your visit and your words. God Bless

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  6. A wise woman once told me that when we are in the refiner's fire it's when God is planning on using us in a large way. I've found that when we have the courage to be transparent, others are touched with the truth. This post has convicted me--beautiful honesty.

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    1. Bless you Pamela. I pray that your walk in Grace is blessed.

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  7. love your honesty and openness. It speaks to me and makes me think about my own walk.....Stay strong.

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    1. Thank you for reading my post. Be blessed as you walk with the Lord and as He guides you. Be strong.

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  8. I heard Lysa TerKeurst give a talk to a group of writers and speakers entitled "Let God Chisel". She has been through God's refinement on her journey to national speaker and NYTimes Best Selling author. One of the important steps on her journey was allowing God to chisel and refine her.

    I was reminded of this talk when I read your post. Let God chisel, sweet sister. He has great plans for your future!

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  9. Thank you so much for linking up at Legacy Leaver Thursdays! I was so happy to see you there and I hope to see you again!

    Blessings~

    Shari

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  10. Noelle, thanks for your transparency. Isn't it good we have a God that loves us so much to refine us into more of His image. You modeled what that looks like and perhaps that will open others up to do the same. Thank you.

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    1. Thank you for reading my post Brenda. God Bless you

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