Posts Tagged ‘Jesus’

I love sports. I understand sports better than most females… mainly three of them, baseball, basketball and football. I am the chic who can explain why a runner was called out, why a player fouled out and why our team was just given the ball back. I have never held a “legal” coaching position, but believe me I do A LOT of coaching from the sidelines, bleachers and my folding chair! Both of my boys play baseball, football and basketball, surprise!! One of them asked to play hockey once, ONCE.

So, it is football season and I find myself twice a week attending football games and coaching from the bleachers. The bad thing about coaching from the bleachers is that you have to yell really loud. A girl has got to do what she has to do, right?

My oldest son plays for his middle school and the parents for the most part are very, very quiet, except for one. I do not yell anything negative at the players but I do yell and call them ALL out when they do something great. I can tell sometimes that other parents are trying to figure me out and I always feel really bad for the parent who knows me, sits by me and then gets to experience me at a football game.

I started thinking maybe I should have a t-shirt printed with a disclaimer statement on the back of it or a big yellow blanket with the words “splash zone” printed on it to keep the innocent away.

I want my faith to be loud like this. I don’t want to scare anyone but I want to feel so excited and over come that when I see God working in my life or someone else’s that I scream with joy and encouragement. I want to stand up and cheer, and ooh and awe with all of God’s fans. I pray for a day that just by the way I live my life it is as if I have a megaphone, leading the crowd in a cheer for Jesus. Gimme a J… gimme an E…

Maybe one day my “splash zone” blanket will become a place where people want to sit and cheer with me. And I pray that one day; my faith brings people into God’s splash zone. Bring your rain coat because you are definitely gonna get wet.

There is a lot of perceived power that comes with judging. In 1990, I was a judge in a local toddler princess pageant, think pageant like but 3 and 4 year olds in Iowa in 1990…very, very high hair, corn costumes and moms who never quite made it off the farm. Now that I have set the scene, let me tell you a little bit about the power surge I experienced during my inaugural judging debeaute.
In 1988 I had been crowned Miss Iowa American Coed and I was just coming off serving my year in that role when I was asked to judge the princess pageant. I was of course a former queen so I had my groupies at the pageant with me, mom and grandma. Being a former queen, I felt completely qualified to know what qualities a 3 or 4 year old should possess in order to be a crowned princess. Yeah right.
As we were given our judging instructions from the pageant director, I can remember being shocked at the category of character, meaning the personality and character of the child. I was thinking, “How am I going to be able to judge character based on stiff modeling, corn costume tap dancing routines and programmed answers from the contestant?” Then I had an idea and the first surge of power hit me as I pretended to listen to the pageant director and decided I would judge the mom’s of the contestants. Maybe not completely fair, but it seemed like a good idea at the time.
The pageant began and I can remember being so enthralled with the mothers of the pageant contestants that I would almost miss the girl’s performance because of my distractedness. Some of the mother’s clearly were living through their daughters, some of them had no idea what they had gotten themselves and their child into and were looking for a quick escape and one mom must have thought it was a mother/daughter lookalike pageant because she matched everything with her daughter from hair, clothes and fake eye lashes. It was fun to watch the moms do the choreography in the audience as their daughters performed and they would very, very slowly mouth the words, SMILE over and over again.
I will never forget one little girl who came out and stood on the stage and cried. She cried and cried, no matter how much her mom danced to the music or mouthed SMILE the little girl just cried harder. The mom snapped and I surged with power. The mom came completely undone and I had a big RED sharpie! She was so upset with the little girl’s complete lack of stage presence that she went up on the stage and yanked the young girl off…. I showed the mother no mercy and included a few extra comments of my own judging expertise. Oh the power. I loved judging the mom’s actions until later that night at the banquet for the “big girls” pageant, the pageant director shared with me that the little girl had thrown a fit back stage before going on because her mother wouldn’t let her change her pageant name to Marigold. Please remember I was just a wee babe of 20 at this time and had no frame of reference to understand how a 4 year old little girl could throw such a huge temper tantrum over such a thing. Trust me when I tell you that God has sense provided me with plenty of reference to draw from, the blessing of three children but only one daughter! Thank you, merciful Father.
I wish I could tell you that I was invited back to judge again and that I never judged anyone’s character outside of a pageant again but I can’t. I am pretty sure most of my adult life I have felt very justified in judging people from everything as little as hair color to their personal beliefs. By what authority? I’m not sure because I do know that most people I have judged weren’t looking for my opinion or judgment. But the power that comes with passing judgment on someone else can be very intoxicating. I can feel better about myself and my few (eek!) imperfections. But then I had someone sober me up and share with me that all my judging really had more to do with my own insecurities and guilt. Ouch! The intoxication and power I may feel when judging others is the evil one’s way of hooking me but it Never is Jesus’ way. Jesus taught that we should love and demonstrate compassion to people who were hurting and far from Him. Ouch again!! Don’t be fooled by a lack of feeling power when judging it can mask itself in other emotions. A good test I use is to check myself and see if humility, love and a need to serve that person in someway are present, if not, guess who is trying to hook me again!!
Everyday I am learning to hand over my “Judges Score card” to Jesus, the ONLY judge, some days willingly and other days, not so much.

A lump in my breast really wasn’t what I had planned for the day. Ugh! Not now. Not that I really wanted to schedule a time that I thought would be good, “Ah…yes next Tuesday at 9 am that would be a great time to discover a lump in my breast as long as I can be to Layla’s dance class by 10:15….”

At first I didn’t really feel scared about the lump, I was more worried about finding a sitter for my three year old during the mammogram and ultrasound. Once I had that figured out I let myself start to think about my own mortality.

Of course, I think about my kids and the things I would miss if I were to die now. First kisses, dates, car driving, high school, college, marriage, grandkids….that would really stink. I think of my husband. Oh man, he could never handle all of this alone!! But I’m not sure I want anyone else raising my kids or being a wife to him! Hmpf!! Now I’m getting mad!

I wonder what people would say about me? It’s not like I have discovered the cure for cancer or a way to end world hunger…..hmmmmm.

May 25, 2010

Tami Rae Swore Kellerman (Boogie)
39 (It’s my obit, I can be however old I want!!) of Rockford, Il passed away Tuesday, May 25, 2010 after a long battle with never ending piles of laundry, dirty dishes left in the sink and socks that could never seem to find the hamper.
Tami was born at St. Luke’s hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa to Chuck and Carol Swore of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. They have 3 other children who really don’t need to be mentioned right now, because this is MY obituary!!!! She married Michael Byron Kellerman, in Cedar Rapids, he was her high school sweetheart, on a rainy day in May, 1991.
She graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School and some days wishes those days had never ended! Or that they had never happened.(depends on the day) She received her BS in Psychology with a minor in Journalism from the University of Northern Iowa.(Yes, the same ones that BEAT Kansas during March madness this year.) She received her Masters in Public Administration from Valdosta State University.
Awards ahhhh…Miss Iowa American Co-ed 1988(thanks mom!!), Rookie of the year for Kings Bay Rotary Club(What? There wasn’t a lot to do in Kings Bay GA!!!) I think I have some coffee mugs that say “best mom”……
She is survived by Michael Kellerman of Rockford, her sons, Jacob and Noah and a daughter, Layla all of Rockford, her nephews and nieces, 16 of them; to many to write out and this is about ME…..
She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents and maternal grandpa, 3 unnamed children but I suspect I could have a whole tribe in heaven…just sayn.
Services will be held in a church and lead by a person of faith followed by a lunch/dinner with all of her favorite foods!!!

Tami loved God and her family and friends. She desperately wanted to be the person God designed her to be and a loving wife, loyal friend, supportive sister, honoring daughter and a mom who taught her children to live their lives with Christ as their guide.

Almost forgot to mention, lump was a cyst, nothing to worry about!!! But a blessing in giving me some perspective!

I have been described many different ways in my life; some of them flattering (in a twisted way that only my brain could think of as flattering) and some of them not. One of my favorites is “Mama Bear”. Yes, I like my porridge cooled down and my furniture ultra soft but that is not the type of Mama Bear I am referring to. This Mama Bear is the ultimate protector, who has the wild animal instinct that says, “I will mess you up if you mess with my kid”, kinda bear. Truly, there have been times in my life that I have actually beat up furniture because it had a sharp edge that caught the toe, knee or forehead of one of my babies. And as my children have gotten older that instinct has not subsided. There have been times that my children have been hurt by other children or adults and I have spent time thinking of ways to “get back” at those brats!! Luckily, I have never actually acted out those thoughts but I have been tempted. Pretty sick I know and seriously a whole other issue for therapy. I do believe that all moms have a natural instinct to protect their babies from any type of impending danger. I guess that is why as the Easter season approaches I keep thinking about Mary.

Mary, what an awesome example of a mom/woman who trusted God in all things; she was human though. I can’t help but wonder if she ever felt protective of Jesus when other kids picked on him? What kind of panic did she feel when she and Joseph couldn’t find him when he was 12 and had went to the Temple to teach. There have been times when my kids have been “misplaced” for only a couple of minutes or seconds, and it has felt like an eternity for me. And then finally, when Jesus was 33, but still her child, her baby, and He was falsely accused, beaten, betrayed and murdered.

The pain she must have felt as a mother must have been hollowing. A pain that takes everything you have and leaves you an empty shell. She could do nothing to stop what was happening. She stayed with him until the very end. Did she ever want to run away from it all? To try and chase it away like a nightmare she just needed to wake herself from? Did others have to hold her back from running to Him and trying to comfort Him as only a mommy can? Did she hate them for holding her back? Did she scream to God, “Save Him or Make it stop?” Were her screams heard above all the other noise of the crowd? Did other moms there that day feel her pain and choke back their own sobs of knowing and understanding? Because even if she knew this had to happen, she was human and she was His mom.

I can only imagine the next couple of days as all of those around her tried to comfort her and remind her of God’s plan for Jesus. This probably gave her comfort and as she headed out to prepare His body for a final bath she was still His mom. What types of thoughts went through her head when His body wasn’t there that morning? Panic, helplessness, hopelessness, or even resentment that this last act as a mother had been denied
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Or did some part of her see it coming? Was there a motherly instinct that told her, this is going to be ok, as her heart started to beat faster and faster as she raced back to tell the others that He was not in the tomb? She must have felt dizzy with joy as He revealed Himself and demonstrated that He had conquered death. Tears again, but this time tears of relief and happiness! He is Risen!! He lives!! Glory to God on the Highest!!!!
This by the way, is the ultimate payback to all of those little and big brats who hurt Him and thought they could defeat Him! I’m just sayn……..

If you’re anything like me, awesome, I love people like me, then you love to cheer for the underdog!!! You know what I mean, the kid who was always picked last, the person who defies all odds and is successful, David versus Goliath, or a basketball team from a midsize college in Iowa taking on the big schools and winning!!! I am a proud alumnus from the University of Northern Iowa and they did just that and are playing in the sweet sixteen this weekend!! Go Panthers!!

I really have always loved the stories of overcoming and finding success when it is least expected! I think God wires all of us that way, whether or not we embrace it, is up to us. There are so many stories in the bible demonstrating these very same scenarios, David and Goliath was just the most obvious to me, until I really started to think about it.

Jesus was born in a manger. He was born homeless, next to a bunch of animals and all that goes with the animals. (Hint: it was probably really stinky!) His earthly parents weren’t married. He grew up poor and most people didn’t believe He was the Messiah. In the end, one of his devoted followers gave him over to the authorities, another one denied he even knew him. He was whipped, beaten, spit on, stripped, and hung on a cross to die, while soldiers bartered over his clothing.

I can’t think of a bigger underdog. And he overcame it ALL!! He rose from the dead and has made a place for you and me!!! Yes!! Awesome!! I don’t think any of Christ’s life happened by coincidence and I think he wants us all to connect with the underdog!

I will be cheering on the University of Northern Iowa Panthers this weekend! Win or lose I am so thankful that even a basketball team from Iowa can help me remember the biggest underdog! And next weekend I will be cheering Him on as we celebrate Easter and His Victory over the cross. Yeah baby!!!

Matthew 25:40 (New International Version)
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’”

During these challenging economic times, it is tempting to turn into self. My natural inclination is to focus on what I perceive as my needs in order to “make it,” and what strategic moves I need to make to “come up.” The old adage of “get all you can and can all you get,” becomes our mantra as we scramble to hoard resources and manage our personal economies.
I believe that scrambling, hoarding, and self perseverance may be the world’s way of dealing with financially troubling times, but they are not God’s. In fact, the phrase “Kingdom Economics” is an oxymoron. “Economics” by itself renders thoughts of limited resources – and in God’s kingdom, nothing good and necessary is limited or scarce. God himself is the source of our provision – not our employers, the stock market, or our even our own businesses. God directs the flow of resources into our lives, choosing whichever channels please him. So while he may use our employers, the stock market, or our own businesses to bless us financially, make no mistake, He is using them.
How different is the perspective of someone who is constantly looking to share with others, from that of someone who is constantly looking to take from others, or to merely receive from God.
Here are five great reasons to serve others:
1. Serving Makes Me Grateful
It’s true. When you are tempted to complain about how bad things are, like the fact that you lack funds to purchase that new refrigerator you really must have. Remember, you have a refrigerator! Serving those who are truly in need helps me gain proper perspective on my own situation. If you’ve been hit hard by the economy, imagine what people who make less money, or who have lost their incomes entirely must be experiencing right now. There are many people in need who are grateful for every small thing. I am convicted of my ungrateful, selfish mindset whenever I meet them. We are all God’s children – we just find ourselves in different situations.
2. Serving Plugs Me Into Groups Serving Those in Need in My Community
People who serve voluntarily tend to enjoy giving back to their communities. They are often either directly or indirectly part of a network of people who pool resources and mobilize communities to work together for the sake of those in need. They are privy to information and projects that people who don’t consistently serve are not. I recommend finding group or organization that is closely related to something you enjoy doing. Do you like to shop? Try collecting clothes for “store” that provides business attire for those seeking jobs. Do you enjoy cooking? Take on a shift at a local soup kitchen, preparing or serving meals. Do you shop regularly for groceries? Find out what your local or church food pantry needs and add a few extra items to your list.
3. Serving Affirms the Dignity of My Fellow Man
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came down from heaven to serve not to be served. Why? Because he values every human life. When I adopt his mindset, I see that every person breathing deserves my respect. In God’s kingdom respect is given – not earned – just as love is. When the bottom fell out of my family’s financial world a few years back, many of the people who helped us were very careful to affirm our dignity. What could have been a potentially humiliating time in my life, turned out to be one that confirmed for me just how much God loves me. For me, God used a horrible time in my life to prepare me to have more of a servant’s heart. By the way, I believe it is a lot easier to be the person giving, than receiving.
4. By Serving Others I Actually Serve Christ
Jesus spoke in the gospel of Matthew, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Throughout scripture God affirms and reaffirms that he is on the side of the poor and the oppressed. He identifies with them so strongly, that to serve them is to serve him.
5. Serving Pleases God
Serving others as a means to please the Lord is not based on a debtor’s ethic. I am not working off what I owe God for my salvation. God would never put such a burden on me. I serve in response to the love that God has shown me – namely his sending Jesus to die on the cross for my sins. God desires my company so much that he willfully sacrificed his Son so that He could be in relationship with me! What do I have that I can give God in exchange for that? Nothing. But I can express my gratitude, by showing that same sacrificial love to others through humbly serving them in Jesus’ name.
I don’t get the opportunity to serve others outside of my home as much as I used to, but I do believe that my daily service to my husband and children, is just as much a part of having a servant’s heart as any of the other opportunities!

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I bet there are people who live their lives never thinking to themselves…”Did I just say that out loud??” Unfortunately, for me and those around me, I am not one of those lucky few. When I celebrated Christmas this year with my family, I heard those words running through my head again!

Every Christmas, my mom, my two sisters and I, plan a day for the four of us to go to lunch together and have time away from the chaos of the kids and men! This year was no different, as we headed out to lunch the conversation turned toward my blog and my writing. This is where the brilliance happened.

I was telling them about the different ideas I had on topics I wanted to write about when I shared my most recent idea, an idea that wasn’t completely thought out, yet. “We all ruin our kids, we may not mean to and we do the best that we can but in the end, we ruin them.” Ahhh, yes…my two sisters and my MOM are in the car, remember. As my sisters heads spun around backwards simultaneously to looks at me (and with no audible words the both said, “No you did not just say that!”) I sheepishly, glanced over at my mom sitting next to me who was now repositioning herself in her seat to look at me straight on and I said “I mean we all do it….its not on purpose….”

Her response was, “Really, so tell me how your Father and I ruined you?” I glanced toward the front seat and noticed that my sisters had both become consumed by the beautiful Iowa scenery outside of the car, actually it was more like a longing to be anywhere other than in our car.

Did I mention that the idea was not completely thought out? We did survive our lunch together, there were beautiful gifts given at lunch and that helped!! I don’t know if my mom really ever understood what I meant but I will try to explain.

I have a lot of really bad habits and sinful ways. Things I am not proud of and I know without a shadow of a doubt I am passing on some of those things to my children. I could be a much better communicator. My children will learn how to communicate relationally from my husband and me. We are their examples and we are imperfect! But we are not the only ones. The only human being to be perfect was Jesus, so, I am making the leap that anyone who is a parent is going to pass on some bad habits!

Maybe ruin was too strong of a word. I truly believe that it is not intentional but that it is human nature. As parents, I know that Michael and I are doing the best that we can and are committed to keep trying and be the best examples that we can for our kids. But, we will fail at times and maybe the best thing we can do is tell our kids when we screw up and let them know it is ok to make mistakes but get right back in the race.

Establishing some type of counseling fund wouldn’t hurt either! In the end we are all damaged goods but Glory to God that we have a Savior who loves us no matter how damaged or ruined we are!!

I was struck recently with how little the material things that we surround ourselves with, really matter in the end. When my grandmother had to be admitted to a Nursing Home a few months ago and my mom described her living space, I was devastated for my grandma. It wasn’t the fact that her space was small; it was the fact that so much of what she had loved and had always surrounded her self with, would no longer be with her.

I have never thought of my grandma as a materialistic person and I still don’t. It was the realization that my grandma’s home was gone. My grandparent’s home had always been a place where celebrations had happened. Whether it was someone’s birthday, Christmas Eve dinner or a special girl’s sleepover, grandpa and grandma’s house had always been a very special place. Some of my fondest memories took place in their home.

But if you asked me to name 10 things in her home that I thought had significant meaning to her, I probably couldn’t. When I think about it, it all seems so pointless to work our whole lives to accumulate things that in the end “you can’t take with you.” Society has become so driven by who has what and what is the next best thing to get, must have or cant live with out….whatever. So why then, especially during this time of the year, do I run around looking for the new must have, cant live without….whatever?

Suddenly, it occurred to me the other day that what I would be missing about my grandma’s home and what ultimately matters most is relationships. I will miss the simple days of celebrations at my grandmas home when grandpa was still alive and all of us kids lived in the same state and all of my cousins would come around! It is those relationships that I treasure and grieve for the most. My grandma, happy and available to have a chat with, or a spontaneous sleepover! My grandpa, tickling me and discussing the latest sports drama with my brother and dad. My siblings, around me, bugging me, but some how all part of creating this home and place that I miss. Not the objects in the home, the relationships that happened there.

It shouldn’t be a surprise then that God’s greatest gift to us would also be in the form of a relationship. A relationship with His son. He could have come to this world, driving the latest it mobile, but he didn’t, wearing the latest must have but he didn’t and ultimately He was and is the cant live without! I think God sent Jesus in such a humble way, to demonstrate, that it isn’t about the material things in this world, it is about our relationships.

My advice for this Christmas, celebrate your relationships! Tell someone you love them, forgive them, cherish them, believe in them, understand them and value them. And most of all receive that most precious of gifts, a relationship with Jesus Christ!

Merry Christmas!
Luke 2:10-11
“But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people. 11For to you is born this day in the town of David a Savior, Who is Christ (the Messiah) the Lord!”

When my boys were a bit younger they loved to dress up. Batman, Buzz Lightyear, Luke Skywalker, Superman, and Power Rangers!! Now, it is super athletes and musicians that they seem to gravitate toward. My oldest son watches a show that takes two different “heroes” and compares them based on the armor they have, their super powers, and sidekicks; in the end, based on the comparisons, they announce who is the SUPER superhero!!

I think Jesus can take on the whole Justice League!!!
Armor: Superheroes all have special tools or armor like, the Batmobile. This car can transform into a jet airplane, a speed boat or submarine whatever the transportation need/emergency requires. So cool. But God took nothingness and transformed it into a bunch of rocks and gases, then added some water and light, then plants and animals (don’t even get me started on the details he put into each and everyone of these) and finally man. No one but Him can even compare with the transformations seen and unseen that He performs constantly, always. Bullet Proof Capes and armor are used by superheroes on a regular basis to shield them from the evil-doers bullets. Jesus doesn’t need bullet proof anything He has eternal existence and he is willing to offer it to us! He provides us with armor of our own through the word of God. Ephesians 6:13 (New International Version) 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground…
Superpowers: X-ray Vision allows the superheroes the ability to see through walls in building or detect hidden weapons on their nemesis but Jesus trumps that, he can see all the way into a persons heart and soul…and not only that, he has the ability to change a persons heart from black to white, from empty to full!!! Super Strength is the unique ability to lift speeding trains off of tracks leading over a cliff or tie metal bars around villains to keep them in place. Jesus had real nails pounded into his hands. He bled. He hung on the cross for hours in agonizing pain. He had the ability to come down off of the cross at anytime and end his pain but He endured. No super hero strength can compare. Psalm 62: 11 (The Message) 11 … “Strength comes Straight from God.”

Sidekicks: Batman and Robin, Wonder Woman and Wonder Girl, Captain America and Bucky just to name a few. If they didn’t have sidekicks, superheroes wouldn’t be what they are today. Sidekicks not only support superheroes in their quest to save the world, but they often provide the necessary information to catch the evil-doers, offer moral support and encouragement, and come through in a pinch when the superhero is in trouble. Jesus ups the anti he doesn’t have one sidekick, he has two: God and the Holy Spirit. Even more impressive is the fact that the three of them are all equal and are three in one!! They all work together to save the world one soul at a time, they need not catch evil, evil has no power against them and there is unlimited encouragement and help whatever your situation may be. Matthew 28:19(New International Version) 9Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

You can be the judge. I, however, think it is pretty clear, Jesus rules the Justice League.

Living as a Christian doesn’t always get you a lot of glory. In fact, doing the right thing whatever that may be, rarely leads to praise or accolades from peers. It is what we are supposed to do. Live right. Love each other. Have a humble heart. Love Christ.

Honestly, I struggle with this some days. To make myself humble and put someone else’s desires before mine does not come naturally to me. Holding my tongue when I feel I have been wronged is even more of a challenge. And when I do what is right it doesn’t always feel as good as when I let off a little steam and tell someone exactly how I feel.

It is my hearts desire to live as Christ would have me live but it is a discipline. Not only do I need to continually remind myself of how I need to handle certain situations but some of my best meaning friends can keep me from living this way just by feeding my ego and telling me what I want to hear. I want to hear that I am right and if I think I have been treated unfairly, I want someone to agree with me! But a friend in Christ isn’t always going to massage my ego. They are going to continually challenge me to live better and keep me on the path that Christ would have me on. I am so blessed to have friends like this. I want to be a friend like this.

Recently, a group of my girlfriends and I were talking and the subject of meekness came up. Meek, not a pretty word. Short and simple but when I picture someone I considered to be meek, it is not a person who stands tall and strong, quite the contrary. In Rick Warren’s online daily devotional he described meekness this way,

“The ability to control our reactions, to handle hurt without retaliating is called meekness. Jesus promised, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5 NIV). Meek people control their reactions toward life and this gives them far more control over a situation than if they simply react.

If you are a meek person, you are no longer a victim. You control your choices. The best definition of meekness in the Bible is Proverbs 16:32: “. . . It is better to win control over yourself than over whole cities” (TEV).

WOW!!! Not what I had pictured at all! Brace yourselves, I want to be meek!! That is something I never thought I would write, but it is true! I want the desire to always be right, gone. I want to live a life where I am in complete control of my actions and reactions. What freedom in that. No more being the victim.

Jesus desires us to live this way. He breaks the chains that bind. If we open ourselves to His teachings and the plan He has for our lives, one day we will stand before Him in all of His Glory and will hear Him say, “Well done my good and kind servant.”

Truly that is all the praise I need.

If you would like to read more about meekness or Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Life daily devotional click here.