It seems I have a taste for Discovery Channel’s reality shows that involve desperate searches. This year it’s “Gold Rush”. Families hit by the economic downturn make a mad dash to Alaska to find fortune at best, and at the very least, money for mortgages. They are somewhat rookies.I’d say they are brave ones too.Who wants a camera following your every move, highs and lows and then broadcast them for an entire nation to see you in all your “glory”? Who would put themselves on the line to tell their story especially when someone else is in control of editing and production?
Who would be willing to take a chance that might fail in front of millions of viewers?
Desperate folks, that’s who. I watch “Gold Rush” and think, this is when you can appreciate blogging small. Failure is limited in {small} numbers.
But I’m challenged; not only as a blogger, but as a Christian too. We always fear man or his/her opinion of us. We fear judgment, especially unfair ones. We fear our reputation ruined by gossip. We fear others not liking us. We fear raw writing. We fear failure. We fear success.
We fear. Fear. Fear.
We’re not gladiators bleeding for an audience for entertainment. We’re not victims looking for sympathy.
As Christians {and bloggers}, there is a purpose.
But we are called to die, not just once {at salvation} but every day. If we’re real honest, to sacrifice like Jesus, is hard. Some days it can be downright fitful.
Death may be agonizing for a season. We may bleed from the process. We may feel abandoned at our greatest need.
But we must continually be buried and resurrected.
Isn’t this what being a Christian is all about? Humility that dies to our reputation and fear of man. We can’t do it alone, in or of ourselves. It takes His power. And practice.
We don’t have to go to Alaska to be rich in Christ. We don’t need to dig for gold nuggets to pay our “mortgage” to Him.
We are endowed with riches through His power.
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” Ephesians3:16-17 NIV
But it’s not the kind of power-hunger we human-flesh seek here on earth.
This kind buries us.
Oh sure, He rolls the tomb stone of our rock-hard facade and raises us from the stench of death. But first, we are humbled on the cross.
Humility isn’t timid and weak. It’s bold and courageous. Because humility doesn’t care what man thinks, only what God thinks.
Humility sets out to do whatever He says, even when the cost is our self.
Desperate seekers of God count the loss as the way to gain and richly live, despite the risk {or their fear of it}.
“Our right to ourselves in every shape and form was destroyed once and forever by the death of Jesus, and we have to be educated in to the realization of what this means in all its fullness.”Oswald Chambers, “The Philosophy of Sin”
Tammy blogs at If Meadows Speak where she looks for the Creator while living in two worlds, the natural and the supernatural. She once said she’d never move back to Texas, yet that’s exactly where she lives today. So much of her past is a smattering of dark spots but she’s found God quilting them into Christ. She’s discovered {God} dreams really do come true for us, even ones lived in Texas.
Marina Bromley says
May 8, 2012 at 8:20 amThanks for posting! I find I have more courage in writing/blogging than I do in daily life! I figure if they dislike my thoughts or opinion or message – they’ll just stop reading! Only a few times have I had a comment that argued with me on a point.
But if I am face to face with someone, they can/will be critical of me no matter. I am comfortable in my own wrinkled, flaky, too shiny faced skin…but know someone will always judge my not perfect nails or see I’m broken out in hives, or don’t dress fashionably…
No matter, I’ll try being light and salt, encouraging words from the heart of the Father, and He created me to be me… Wrinkles and all! I’ll keep being genuine, in person and word, and save my breakdowns for special occasions…(lol)
tammy@if meadows speak says
May 8, 2012 at 10:24 amOh yes! Boy do I know how scary this is in real life. Being humble doesn’t always walk away quiet…sometimes it means speaking truth too. No winning popularity contests there.
Kim Hall says
May 8, 2012 at 9:38 amI love your description of humility as bold and courageous! I think we often mistakenly equate humility with being meek, mild and weak.
Appreciate the reminder to be desperate!
tammy@if meadows speak says
May 8, 2012 at 10:02 amKim, I agree. I think my mistake in the past couple of years of really meditating on humility is that it looks meek and quiet and just plain ol’ docile.
tammy@if meadows speak says
May 8, 2012 at 10:05 amWhich, by the way, CAN look like those, but not always when faced with God’s purpose and words we are given to do and say {which may face opposition as in Jesus and the Pharisee’s}.
Anonymous says
May 8, 2012 at 1:23 pmThanks for this, Tammy. It resonates deep for me this particular season…. I appreciate your beautiful wisdom here.
tammy@if meadows speak says
May 8, 2012 at 1:37 pmAren’t seasons good teachers {though painful sometimes!}? In my prodigal life, I would’ve been horrified to be “desperate” for anything. But now? The desperate way down lifts me up.
donna oshaughnessy says
May 8, 2012 at 5:05 pm“Humility that dies to our reputation and fear of man.” That little statement means so much! It is a powerhouse of information and a huge challenge. I had struggled for over 3 years with this truth! My reputation is IN the hands of my God and he really will always have it…and He has my best interests at heart all the time! i just blogged about that the other day. It is a hard lesson and sometimes not “pleasant” to say the least :00. THANK you so much for sharing this today!
tammy@if meadows speak says
May 8, 2012 at 8:04 pmI’ll have to visit your blog Donna and read it!
Jess says
May 8, 2012 at 11:05 pmLove love love this. Humility is courage. This burns in my heart, but sometimes the daily living it is where I fail and pride (fear of man) wins. So back to the cross I go. Thank-you! A Good reminder tonight!
tammy@if meadows speak says
May 9, 2012 at 10:08 amYep. What she said {up there}. Thankfully, the cross isn’t like a coupon. We can use it ANY day, ALL day, ANY hour or minute. 🙂
Brenda says
May 10, 2012 at 6:15 amI have never been in a critique group before, but I need one! I am very interested! Please let me know more!