Am I Wise In My Own Eyes?

I was reading some blogs today and found this on Joshua Harris' blog...and it just hit home...HARD...

I am wise in my own eyes…
1. When I don’t pause to pray for God’s guidance on a decision.
2. When I fail to depend on God’s word and approach it as a daily “lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Ps. 119:105).
3. When I assume a decision doesn’t need a second opinion, and I don't take the time to ask trusted friends for counsel.
4. When I am critical of another person’s practice or perspective without taking the time to understand it and ask questions.
5. When I am lax in fleeing temptation, assuming that I’m adult enough to “handle it.”
6. When I do something right and fail to acknowledge before God that it is only his grace that allowed me to do it right.
7. When I pat myself on the back about knowledge I have that I learned from someone else.
8. When I don’t draw out, or seek to understand, a person who is bringing criticism( (whether or not it’s being brought constructively).
9. When I assume that the truth of a sermon is for someone else, not my own life.

10. When I neglect to consistently plead to God for his wisdom.

Isn't this just a humbling list....how many times do I see myself wise in my own eyes...whether its b/c I assume something, or aren't listening to someone or am just too full of myself. This list really has hit me today. I pray that it will not only HIT me but truly AFFECT me so that my life is different as a result!!!

How are they getting away with this?

On Saturday I had the priviledge of going to NYC with 25 other ladies from our church...our youth group ladies and some of their mothers. It was one of those days were things just refused to go according to plan...but then everyone knows that those are the days with the best memories. If everything went as planned, we would not remember the day nearly as well. And of course any day I can spent with Janet is always a winner in my book! Plus I saw live rats in the subway...not as exciting as elephants in Uganda but close!


But for me the most exciting part of the day was getting to see the Christmas Show at Radio City Music Hall. The show was spectacular and while Santa was definitely the main character(and claimed to "listen to the prayers of boys and girls"...I guess he could listen, but what would he do about it?), it was so encouraging to see the birth of Christ shown as PIVOTAL to this show. In fact, the even included a poem in the show (and printed in the program) that is entitled...

"One Solitary Life".

He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman, He grew up in another obscure village, where He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty. Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher. He never had a family or owned a home. He never set foot inside a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place He was born. He never wrote a book, or held an office. He did none of the things that usually accompany greatness.

While He was still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against Him. His friends deserted Him. He was turned over to His enemies, and went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. While He was dying, His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had -- His coat. When He was dead, He was taken down and laid in a borrowed grave.

Over two thousand years have passed, and today He is the central figure for much of the human race. All the armies that ever marched and all the navies that ever sailed and all the parliaments that ever sat, and all the akinds that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon this eart as powerfuly as this "One Solitary Life".

OK--so let me see if I have this straight....in my job around my desk, I have to be careful what I post in regards to the "holiday season" and any group events we do at work have to be "Christmas Free" as to NOT offend anyone...but in the heart of NYC they are celebrating Christmas with it's true meaning. Sure they left out the most important part...THAT HE ROSE AGAIN and conquered sin and death once and for all, and sits at the right hand of GOD....but they at least admitted that Christmas is ABOUT Christ. I was shocked and sat there wondering how they were getting away with it. Isn't that sad? I'm at a Christmas show wondering how they are getting away with calling it "Christmas" and having a full nativity scene as the finale of the show.

My fear is...how much longer will this continue? When will they succumb to the world's committment (and yes it is a committment) to get Christ out of Christmas. I'm so thankful I got to see that show! My prayer--that I NEVER allow for a second for Christ to NOT be the absolute ONLY reason for Christmas! A good thing for me to start praying for as this incredible time of year get's closer!