Hello, friends! So glad you dropped by today. I have moved, but I'd love to have you visit me at www.renaebrumbaugh.com .
Hope to see you there, and God bless you!
--Renae
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Monday, October 1, 2007
Step Aside
Philippians 2:3 - 4 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
Look out for number one. Do whatever it takes. Survival of the fittest. It’s a dog-eat-dog world. These words, these thoughts have been swirling around in the mind of man since the beginning of time. It is part of our nature to want to excel, to be on top, to be the best. By asking his Philippian readers to “do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit,” by asking them to “consider others better than yourselves,” he might as well have asked a leopard to take off his spots!
Yet, that is exactly what we are supposed to do. God wants us to take off our selfish, human nature and put on the mind of Christ. He wants us to be more concerned with the good of all than with the good of ourselves. And he wants us to love others enough to let them take the good seats, or let them have the largest piece of fried chicken, or stand in the shadows while they take the spotlight.
This doesn’t mean we should put ourselves down, or hide our talents from others. Rather, we should view our talents as services we provide to others, for the benefit of all and the glory of God. In The Screwtape Letters, C. S. Lewis demonstrated that true humility is apparent when a man designs a beautiful cathedral - the most beautiful in the world - and knows it - and yet, would have been just as delighted if another had designed it. True humility seeks to serve, while selfish ambition seeks to be recognized.
It is interesting that the word strive, to compete, comes from the same root as the word strife, which means bitter conflict or rivalry. Much (if not all) of the strife that happens in our lives stems from our desire to compete, to be number one, to be the most important. When we lay aside our competitive natures, when we gladly step back and allow others to go ahead of us, we begin to understand the mind of Christ. Then, and only then, will we begin to experience the true joy that He has in store for those who long to be like Him.
Dear Father, Please forgive me for my selfish, self-centered ambition. Help me to grasp the concept of true humility, as I seek to serve You and others.
Amen
Look out for number one. Do whatever it takes. Survival of the fittest. It’s a dog-eat-dog world. These words, these thoughts have been swirling around in the mind of man since the beginning of time. It is part of our nature to want to excel, to be on top, to be the best. By asking his Philippian readers to “do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit,” by asking them to “consider others better than yourselves,” he might as well have asked a leopard to take off his spots!
Yet, that is exactly what we are supposed to do. God wants us to take off our selfish, human nature and put on the mind of Christ. He wants us to be more concerned with the good of all than with the good of ourselves. And he wants us to love others enough to let them take the good seats, or let them have the largest piece of fried chicken, or stand in the shadows while they take the spotlight.
This doesn’t mean we should put ourselves down, or hide our talents from others. Rather, we should view our talents as services we provide to others, for the benefit of all and the glory of God. In The Screwtape Letters, C. S. Lewis demonstrated that true humility is apparent when a man designs a beautiful cathedral - the most beautiful in the world - and knows it - and yet, would have been just as delighted if another had designed it. True humility seeks to serve, while selfish ambition seeks to be recognized.
It is interesting that the word strive, to compete, comes from the same root as the word strife, which means bitter conflict or rivalry. Much (if not all) of the strife that happens in our lives stems from our desire to compete, to be number one, to be the most important. When we lay aside our competitive natures, when we gladly step back and allow others to go ahead of us, we begin to understand the mind of Christ. Then, and only then, will we begin to experience the true joy that He has in store for those who long to be like Him.
Dear Father, Please forgive me for my selfish, self-centered ambition. Help me to grasp the concept of true humility, as I seek to serve You and others.
Amen
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Morning Coffee is Moving!
Tomorrow, Morning Coffee will move to www.renaebrumbaugh.com . Hope to see you there!
The Important Stuff
Philippians 2:1 - 2 “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.”
Being like-minded. What exactly does that mean? Does it mean we have to agree on everything? If so, then we will have a hard time finding any two people, much less any group of people, who are like-minded.
Paul was probably addressing the issue of a petty dispute which had arisen between two women in the Philippian church - Euodia and Synteche (Phil. 4:2). He never mentions the reason for the dispute, possibly because it wasn’t important. Instead, he wanted his readers to focus on the important issues of Christianity.
Many of you reading this are Christians. And as Christians, we have a fellowship, a unity with one another because we are joined in Christ. Yet, some of you are Baptist, some Lutheran, some Methodist, some Church of Christ, some Pentecostal, some Catholic, some charismatic . . .
As Christians, we don’t always agree on everything, do we? Yet, we are still in fellowship with one another. We are still united in our belief that Jesus is the one and only Son of God, and that He died on the cross in our place, to take the punishment for our sin. He rose again on the third day, and was victorious over death! It is only because He paid a price that we could never pay ourselves that we can have a relationship with God, and can spend eternity with Him in heaven.
Because we believe those things, we are like-minded, and we have fellowship with one another. We don’t have to agree on everything - just the important stuff. And disagreement doesn’t have to mean division! We can choose to disagree on minor issues, as long as we do so in a Christ-like way. We are already united in Christ. No matter what, for all of eternity, we are brothers and sisters. Now, we must act in unity, and treat one another with the same love, compassion, tenderness, encouragement and comfort that Christ has shown each of us.
Dear Father, Thank you for generously giving me your love, compassion, comfort, tenderness, and encouragement. Please help me to show that same generosity to other people. Please help me not to focus on silly, petty things, but instead, help me to concentrate on sharing Your love with the world.
Amen
Being like-minded. What exactly does that mean? Does it mean we have to agree on everything? If so, then we will have a hard time finding any two people, much less any group of people, who are like-minded.
Paul was probably addressing the issue of a petty dispute which had arisen between two women in the Philippian church - Euodia and Synteche (Phil. 4:2). He never mentions the reason for the dispute, possibly because it wasn’t important. Instead, he wanted his readers to focus on the important issues of Christianity.
Many of you reading this are Christians. And as Christians, we have a fellowship, a unity with one another because we are joined in Christ. Yet, some of you are Baptist, some Lutheran, some Methodist, some Church of Christ, some Pentecostal, some Catholic, some charismatic . . .
As Christians, we don’t always agree on everything, do we? Yet, we are still in fellowship with one another. We are still united in our belief that Jesus is the one and only Son of God, and that He died on the cross in our place, to take the punishment for our sin. He rose again on the third day, and was victorious over death! It is only because He paid a price that we could never pay ourselves that we can have a relationship with God, and can spend eternity with Him in heaven.
Because we believe those things, we are like-minded, and we have fellowship with one another. We don’t have to agree on everything - just the important stuff. And disagreement doesn’t have to mean division! We can choose to disagree on minor issues, as long as we do so in a Christ-like way. We are already united in Christ. No matter what, for all of eternity, we are brothers and sisters. Now, we must act in unity, and treat one another with the same love, compassion, tenderness, encouragement and comfort that Christ has shown each of us.
Dear Father, Thank you for generously giving me your love, compassion, comfort, tenderness, and encouragement. Please help me to show that same generosity to other people. Please help me not to focus on silly, petty things, but instead, help me to concentrate on sharing Your love with the world.
Amen
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Morning Coffee is Moving!
In two days, Morning Coffee will move to www.renaebrumbaugh.com . Hope to see you there!
True Grit
Philippians 1:29 - 30 “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.”
Paul had suffered for Christ, and he knew that other Christians would suffer as well. He wanted the readers of his letter to hold firm to their faith in the midst of hardship, just as he had. Paul counted it a privilege to endure persecution because of his belief in Christ. He knew that, although the suffering itself was not fun, it would bring beneficial results. Indeed, during those early days of discrimination and harassment, the more the Christians were persecuted for their faith, the more people seemed to rally ’round their cause! Instead of eliminating Christianity, the persecution actually helped Christianity to spread.
Just yesterday, I spoke with my dear friend about suffering. She was saddened by the illness of a loved one, and questioned, “Why do people need to suffer so? Why can’t God just stop the bad things in this world?”
You and I both know that God can put a stop to our suffering. But He doesn’t always choose to. He doesn’t cause the bad things in our lives, but He sometimes allows them, for He is more concerned with our souls than our circumstances.
I speak from experience: I have suffered. It was not fun. I would not have chosen to go through a decade of infertility. I would not have chosen to have a miscarriage at 14 weeks pregnancy. I would not have chosen to see my husband through an unknown, difficult illness. I would not have chosen many of the other circumstances in which my family and I have found ourselves.
But may I be honest with you? I am a better, stronger, wiser person because of those difficult things. God has taken me from weak to strong, from naiive to wise, from self-centered to God-centered. And though I still have many miles to travel before I become exactly who He created me to be, I am a lot closer to the mark now than I would be if I hadn’t been through the fire.
Just as an athlete must suffer if he wants to increase his strength and skill, we Christians must sometimes suffer if we want to grow in our faith. Are you suffering? If you are, I am so sorry. I truly am. But hold on, my friend! For if you have grit enough to endure the fire, the results will be beautiful!
Philippians 1:6 “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Dear Father, I don’t like to suffer. During the difficulties of my life, please help me to cling to You. And please use my circumstances to make me into the person You created me to be.
Amen
Paul had suffered for Christ, and he knew that other Christians would suffer as well. He wanted the readers of his letter to hold firm to their faith in the midst of hardship, just as he had. Paul counted it a privilege to endure persecution because of his belief in Christ. He knew that, although the suffering itself was not fun, it would bring beneficial results. Indeed, during those early days of discrimination and harassment, the more the Christians were persecuted for their faith, the more people seemed to rally ’round their cause! Instead of eliminating Christianity, the persecution actually helped Christianity to spread.
Just yesterday, I spoke with my dear friend about suffering. She was saddened by the illness of a loved one, and questioned, “Why do people need to suffer so? Why can’t God just stop the bad things in this world?”
You and I both know that God can put a stop to our suffering. But He doesn’t always choose to. He doesn’t cause the bad things in our lives, but He sometimes allows them, for He is more concerned with our souls than our circumstances.
I speak from experience: I have suffered. It was not fun. I would not have chosen to go through a decade of infertility. I would not have chosen to have a miscarriage at 14 weeks pregnancy. I would not have chosen to see my husband through an unknown, difficult illness. I would not have chosen many of the other circumstances in which my family and I have found ourselves.
But may I be honest with you? I am a better, stronger, wiser person because of those difficult things. God has taken me from weak to strong, from naiive to wise, from self-centered to God-centered. And though I still have many miles to travel before I become exactly who He created me to be, I am a lot closer to the mark now than I would be if I hadn’t been through the fire.
Just as an athlete must suffer if he wants to increase his strength and skill, we Christians must sometimes suffer if we want to grow in our faith. Are you suffering? If you are, I am so sorry. I truly am. But hold on, my friend! For if you have grit enough to endure the fire, the results will be beautiful!
Philippians 1:6 “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Dear Father, I don’t like to suffer. During the difficulties of my life, please help me to cling to You. And please use my circumstances to make me into the person You created me to be.
Amen
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