Ornery!

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding, whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, otherwise they will not come near to you." (Psalm 32:8, 9)

Recently, our clothes dryer broke. Timer died and it stopped producing heat. $90 minimum for a repair estimate and another $60-$100 to fix it. After a couple of weeks of using friends' dryers and searching Craigslist, I found a serious deal. Last night I finished installing our "new" dryer at about 8:30. It cost me 10 bucks.

When I picked it up, the generous seller helped me load it into my van. When I went to unload it last evening at home, I had every intention of pulling it out myself, with the help of my trusty hand truck. I figured it would come out easier than it went in. It didn't. That's because--surprise, surprise--I was trying to do it myself.

A couple was walking their dog down the sidewalk towards me and my initial thought was to try to get the dryer out before they got to me. What is that?! (Hint: That's called PRIDE). I wasn't able to get it out on my own. "Can I give you a hand with that?" It's a bit frustrating but also funny to me now that my temptation was to say "no" to the offer to help. What was I thinking?! I am happy to say, however, that said temptation did not have the final say; rather, it was very fleeting. Instead, I said, "Sure!" As a result, the dryer came out quickly and I thanked the man for his help.

The dryer episode immediately came to mind as I read Psalm 32 this morning. Another translation of verse 9 says this: "Don't be ornery like a horse or mule that needs bit and bridle to stay on track." (The Message). My pattern in similar "dryer-situations" has often included being prideful and ornery. Here's how I apply this instruction and truth to my life today: God's way of doing things works--really well. My way stinks much of the time. I'm grateful that God's way prevailed in this recent example...and I continue to pray for the death of my pride. That's not a "bit and bridle" that I want in my life. It keeps me "in check" in all the wrong ways, and keeps me away from God and His ways that lead to life.

Still Good

After everything is said and done (and before, and during!), God is still good.

Yesterday, I had what most people call "a bad day." It started out fine but quickly went south about mid-afternoon, and pretty much continued in that direction until I fell asleep! I won't go into why because it's not nearly as important as how I responded. I will tell you that it wasn't any one thing, and that it was both practical and spiritual.

I can't generally do much about the things (circumstances) that help produce a "bad day"... but I can do something with me.

I thank God that I have grown to a point in my relationship with Him where I can be real with what's going on inside of me. (He can see it all, anyway, so no point in trying to deny or hide it!) Yesterday, I let Him know how I was feeling. It wasn't pretty. I didn't try to feign religiousness...and for much of the time, I did this without beating myself up (an all-too familiar pattern from my past).

A lot of things strike me when I read the Bible. Here's a couple: "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, REJOICE!"; and "in everything give thanks" (Phil 4:4; 1 Thess5:18). Why? So I can be a "holy" Christian? No! Late last night I finally began to turn the corner on my "bad day" as, one by one, I started thanking God for the people He has brought into my life.

It's hard to stay ticked when I'm thanking God for His goodness. It's always there. I just need to adjust my gaze and force it to find rest in the right place.