Showing posts with label pride. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pride. Show all posts

Monday, February 5, 2024

When Best Intentions Run Awry


This didn't go as planned!


To Grand sonny's 7 yr. old logic it made perfect sense to take a stick
 and whack the snow and ice out of this little china bird-feeder,
completely unaware that Gramma received it for Christmas
 from a family she did childcare for, 
and who thoughtfully picked out this bird and tea lover's gift .
Gramma, (as she came upon the scene of Grandson 
beating the feeder to bits after 'it was broken anyway' 
and before she heard the explanation that caused 
what appeared to be radical unreason!!) 
did not react as patiently as she should have, ahem!!
And then Gramma apologized for her quick and quite annoyed reaction,
and gave him a little 'explanation' on why she treasured it
and on respecting people's things. πŸ˜“πŸ˜…
Grandsonny was very sorryπŸ’”πŸ’—
It reminded me of how we all sometimes are part of best intention run amuck.
He was simply going to get rid of the iceπŸ˜‚πŸ˜‡
but, no matter how well-intended the objective
 if, when all is said and done
we leave someone wounded/broken or in retrospect realize
our intentions were misguided,
 we owe repentance and apology to whom it is due
however noble our initial intentions were!
The above episode may seem like a pale example,
but the principle  is the same, 
no matter what the details of the issue.
As we mature we realize even compassion can make mistakes.
Sometimes love can get a bit tangled in that fine line 
between sinner and sin!
Oh God, help us all (Whether leader or laity)
 to be humble enough always, to stand corrected!
Would that we be sorry when we should!
God is faithful to help us pick up the pieces,
and move forward by His grace,
for His glory!

Sometimes our best intentions run awry
The good-we-would misses the mark we sought
And every earnest explanation ‘why’
Cannot suffice to fix the wrong it wrought

Sometimes stumbles can test the ‘humblest’ heart
Surprising Self with startling clarity
When Noble Reason errs, (if but in part)
Wreaking havoc from flawed integrity

Fumbles can foster brutal wake-up calls
With jolts intended to open our eyes
Because no one is above pride’s pitfalls
Or too superior to apologize

Then, sometimes all it takes to get along
Rather than justify the cause so much
Is to say ‘I am sorry, I was wrong’
Then let forgiveness work its healing touch

Sometimes our best intentions run askew
The good-we-would leaves shambles in its wake
And every explanation will not do
Other than owning up to love’s mistake

© Janet Martin

Dear Lord, remind us, rather than stooping to sling stones,
to bow humbled hearts before you in prayer for one another!

John 8:2-11
Now [a]early in the morning He came again into the temple, 
and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. 
3 Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery.
 And when they had set her in the midst, 4 they said to Him,
 “Teacher, [b]this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act.
 5 Now [c]Moses, in the law, commanded us [d]that such should be stoned. 
But what do You [e]say?” 
6 This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him.
 But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, [f]as though He did not hear.

7 So when they continued asking Him, He [g]raised Himself up and said to them,
 “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” 
8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 
9 Then those who heard it, being[h] convicted by their conscience, went out one by one,
 beginning with the oldest even to the last. 
And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 
10 When Jesus had raised Himself up [i]and saw no one but the woman, 
He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers [j]of yours? 
Has no one condemned you?”
11 She said, “No one, Lord.”
And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; 
go [k]and sin no more.”

Tuesday, July 6, 2021

Our Greatest Achievement (pride-weak or humility strong)


A quote, retained from my growing up years;
Humility is a hard thing to achieve;
The moment we think we have it we've lost it! πŸ˜‰


One of my dearest, humbling happiness-es is peering deep
into the delicate perfection of a flower ...



In today's world, happiness,
not holiness seems touted as
our greatest goal/achievement or 'right'!
Pride, not humility is hailed as 'hero'!

It is impossible to be proud and holy!
It is impossible to be proud and truly happy!

Below is Holy Scripture's 'tip' of this topic!

...but as He who called you is holy, 
you also be holy in all your conduct, 
 because it is written,
 “Be holy, for I am holy.”

A man's pride will bring him low, 
but a humble spirit will obtain honor.

James 4:6
But he gives us more grace.
That is why Scripture says
: “God opposes the proud 
but shows favor to the humble.”

Prov.6:16-19
These six things the Lord hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to [a]Him:
A[b] proud look,
A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood,
A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that are swift in running to evil,
A false witness who speaks lies,
And one who sows discord among brethren.

(I've discovered when I do a Bible word search on 'happy'
most often it is translated into 'blessed')

Blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, 
who has not turned to the proud, 
nor to those who lapse into falsehood.


We, since Eden's calamity
Have struggled with temptation's bent
The Word, that WAS, IS and WILL BE
No mortal twist can circumvent

We are without excuse because
The Word that WAS, IS and WILL BE
Is steadfast in Love's changeless laws
No Author of confusion, He

Holiness is our highest Call
Not happiness, as some may claim
 Defiant pride precedes the fall
That leads to destruction and shame

The Word that WAS, IS and WILL BE
So many dare to disregard  
As if the cross of Calvary
Was but a charm or a postcard

The way to destruction is broad
Death's dark and downward jaunt seems bright
While the devil who detests God

The deceiver is sly and vile
No one is too precious to spare
His mission, seeking to beguile
Those not yet on hell's thoroughfare

God's truth and love will never shift
He is just, trustworthy and kind
When we receive salvation's gift
He opens eyes that once were blind

Then call on Him in humble awe
Before pride makes a mockery
Of He who IS Love's Perfect Law
The Word that WAS, IS and WILL BE

Seek holiness without reserve
The Word that WAS, IS and WILL BE
Waits to reward as we deserve;
Earned through pride or humility

Janet Martin

John 1:1-5
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2He was in the beginning with God.
3All things were made through Him,
and without Him nothing was made that was made.
4In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5And the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness did not [a]comprehend it.

Friday, November 6, 2020

There Is No Getting Around It...


Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Matt.5:5





No matter who we are
However great or small
There is no getting around it;
Pride goes before the fall

No matter who we are
However rich or poor
There is no getting around it;
God's promises endure

No matter who we are
Humble or full of pride
There is no getting around it
God's laws and love abide

Janet Martin


Proverbs 29:23
A man's pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor.


Matthew 23:12
For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.


1 Peter 5:5
Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.


Proverbs 8:13
To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.


Proverbs 18:12
Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.


Proverbs 11:2
When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom.


Saturday, February 2, 2019

As Love Is Our Witness...




As Love is our witness
Worship cannot hide
God of forgiveness
Forgive foolish pride

Forgive the falsehood
We try to disguise
As something pure and good
When it is lies

Forgive the stumble
When face-first, we sprawl
You make us humble
By letting us fall

When we try to impress
Oh Lord, you know
How to remind us
By Whose grace we go

© Janet Martin


 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
Prov.16:18

I will never forget a very humbling fall years ago when I worked at an in-store bakery. 
I had dashed (most likely in unnecessary frenzy)
 to the walk-in freezer (after the time of day when I had hoped to be home)
standing on some hurriedly-piled boxes to reach something on the top shelf
when the stack gave out and I landed heels over head with the door open
and a truck-driver delivering goods happening to pass by just then...
He laughed til he cried then quickly came to my aid
where I was trying to right myself (esp my dress!!!)
He asked my forgiveness while dissolving on the floor in a fit of laughter again, saying 
it was truly one of the 'funniest things' he had ever seen.
I, mortified beyond words returned to the bakery in a much meeker state of mind.




Friday, March 10, 2017

On Remembering Who We Are





Pride goes before a face-plant; ah, its muddy grant we earn
When we choose lust instead of love it yields a sure return
Though, for a while we smile and swing our small world like a toy
Pride goes before a fall as sure as sorrow follows joy

Pride's willful want wails louder than the quietness of trust
And we are oh, so skillful at the cunning art of lust
Where sight distracts us from the right and wrong of what we choose
Before the bitter taste of prideful haste renders its dues

We are not gods; though often we forget until we sit
In the mud-puddle of regret and repent for a bit
Then we remember who we are, not by merit or laud
But simply by the mercies of a kind and loving God

© Janet Martin

Thursday, January 28, 2016

Humble-Pie, Anyone?





When I slip-stumble and my not-so-humble side is vexed
When plans I made are rearranged and My Loud Word is spurned
Then I concede when all is said and done, that it was best
Not because it was pleasant but because of what I learned

Life’s teacher is a creature of wise and surprising ways
How is it, my embarrassment will often teach me more
Than perches upon pedestals while kind applauders praise
And we forget what manner of person we really are

…for in the slip and stumble when our not-so-humble side
Confronts us for The Thing It Is we blush as we admit
That in spite of denying it, we are creatures of pride
Then sometimes Life’s Teacher steps in and sets us down a bit

© Janet Martin

Last night at our Study on Grace a few of us shared incidences when our 'righteous indignation' after it was spent, proved that we were the one who needed to apologize and ask to be forgiven.
Ouch with a blush-red piece of humble-pie;-)
It tastes so bad but works so well!
Still, I've never heard anyone ask for seconds...

Friday, January 16, 2015

Thus We Go

Click image to enlarge...

 Lots of questions being asked as Target announces yesterday they are pulling out of Canada!!

Success could sail through life on mere Ego
Save for its stumbles and strife, thus we go
Trouble-by-struggle across stubble-sod
We persevere, by the grace of God

We could be bloated with lies sugar-coated
High on a horse of worth, self-promoted
Save for those fumbles in pitfalls hard-shod
Whereby we all need the grace of God

We could forget with our head in the clouds
That God favors the humble and resists the proud
Therefore who we are, what we do or know
Proves,  by the grace of God we go

Here, by each triumph, failure or success
There, by each leap of sorrow- happiness
We learn that Self alone is a fraud
And all that we have but a grace-gift from God

© Janet Martin