(4 minute read)
Following the cover page, I have included a chapter from my just released book, “Unthawed: Lessons from a Frozen Lily Pad.” Book is available on Barnes and Noble, Amazon and Kindle.
From today until August 22nd, I will donate 50% of Unthawed’s book sales to a nonprofit organization that serves working poor families. Celebrate the birth of this new book and be part of helping underserved employed families by purchasing Unthawed before August 22nd.
Small Audiences, Large Impact.
Acknowledgment. Humility. Acknowledged before people. Acknowledged before God. Humbled before people. Humbled before God. I thoughtfully dealt these four cards from my deck of the lily pad.
Matthew 6 and 23 teach about humbly seeking God’s hand for all provision. My Creator knows I need food and shelter. He knows I need love. He also knows I desire attention after achieving a goal. When the gospel of Matthew was written, sounding a trumpet may translate to our modern Instagram, tweets, ribbons, and certificates of accomplishment. I value handwritten cards or trip vouchers over trophies and medals (plaque-like awards lead to dusting, hanging, and storing issues for this minimalist).
Whatever recognition method we prefer, I believe people crave an occasional bugle call for accomplishments. God tells us when we receive earthly acknowledgment for deeds, that is our reward. God’s prizes are perfectly endless. He always is and will be my captive audience.
The flip side of Matthew’s teaching about kudos is that if I humble myself, God will exalt me. What if I was more in tune to welcome God’s corrections before I misstep or misspeak? When I listen to His guidance, I’m often graciously spared public humility. If I need to be humbled, I’d rather do so in front of my Audience of One than in the company of a large crowd.
Life becomes a two-sided win when I’m more one-sided with God. I’m grateful for smaller-scale humility lessons from the One who is exalted. He can elevate me to places people will not and cannot.
Creator, thank You for Your gift of One. Jesus was limited to One of the Trinity but is unlimited in grace, understanding, and love. Teach me to be fulfilled with Your acknowledgment because only You define my worth. Thank You for Your individualized lessons in meekness to spare me from potentially public humiliation.
Jumping off the lily pad with a full house of new revelation,
Christina
“Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you… Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward…. that your charitable deed may be in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly” (Mt. 6:2, 4).
“And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Mt. 23:12).