So often we talk about how grateful we are of our volunteers at Crosspoint. We know that without them - the church would not function. It's amazing to me how many different hands are in the mix, all with unique gifts and talents. All with different drives and determinations! I am so thankful and so humbled and honored to be working with such a great group of people.
This entire topic is in the forefront of my mind because I think sometimes people don't realize how much we depend and appreciate each other's gifts and contributions, and realize that without the others on our team we are not all we could be. "Humans tend to focus on one thing as the reason for any success or failure, but that is rarely the case. It takes a combination of events/people to reach any kind of excellence!"
The artistic personality is one that often finds itself feeling empty and alone. I know this because I am the possessor of such a personality. My struggles in my faith do not come from external temptations, but from the inner-workings of my very own brain! Because of this I deal constantly with the need for approval and recognition, the feelings that if I only had this or that skill I would not need to depend on others, a feeling that "nothing is ever good enough" , and an ego that really wants to be in charge. In short, without my faith in God, I would be a slave to my own personality. Are there days when I don't give all of this to God? Yes. Do I really, really, really want to remember to give it to God every morning? Yes.
It's that struggle that brings me to the point of this post: humility.. I've been asking myself in every situation if I am being humble? The answers are not always easy to accept, try it for a while....
I totally swiped this quote - and I hope it will give you a better definition of what I'm talking about...it's from the Archbishop of Canterbury, William Temple. "Humility does not mean thinking less of yourself than of other people, nor does it mean having a low opinion of your own gifts. It means freedom from thinking about yourself at all." That's what I want; freedom from thinking about myself! Wouldn't we all be SO much better off if this were the case?!
James 4 in The Message puts it pretty plainly...
4-6You're cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way. And do you suppose God doesn't care? The proverb has it that "he's a fiercely jealous lover." And what he gives in love is far better than anything else you'll find. It's common knowledge that "God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble."
7-10So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud "no" to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he'll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it's the only way you'll get on your feet.
11-12Don't bad-mouth each other, friends. It's God's Word, his Message, his Royal Rule, that takes a beating in that kind of talk. You're supposed to be honoring the Message, not writing graffiti all over it. God is in charge of deciding human destiny. Who do you think you are to meddle in the destiny of others
The bottom line in all of this is - we are replaceable! There are SO many people whom God has granted gifts and talents upon - and if we fool ourselves into thinking we're the only ones who are the best person for the job...the joke is only on us!
This new year - I want to fall in love with Jesus - and I mean REALLY fall in love. I want to know Him in an intimate way...love Him like I've never loved anyone before...and trust Him because I know He is the ONLY Way the ONLY Truth and the ONLY Life! Then, and only then - can we see ourselves for who we really are...and come to the realization that "It's not all about me".
