Dr H Reflections

Hidden pride ∙∙

Hidden pride ∙∙

The LORD detests the proud; they will surely be punished. – Proverbs 16:5

Proverbs 16:17-22

17 The path of the virtuous leads away from evil; whoever follows that path is safe.
18 Pride goes before destruction and haughtiness before a fall.
19 Better to live humbly with the poor than to share plunder with the proud.
20 Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the LORD will be joyful.
21 The wise are known for their understanding, and pleasant words are persuasive.
22 Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, But the discipline of fools is folly.

Human emotions are as varied as they are complex, ranging from the highs of happiness and joy to the lows of sadness and anger. Most of these emotions—like a smile of joy or a fit of frustration—are easy to spot. But some emotions dwell in the shadows, so subtle that we fail to notice them at all. One particularly elusive emotion is pride. While we often recognize pride when it manifests in boastful or arrogant behavior, there’s another form that is far more insidious and easier to overlook—the hidden pride of understating yourself.

Unlike the hubris of an overinflated ego or outward self-righteousness, hidden pride disguises itself as modesty, shyness, or self-deprecation. It’s the voice inside that rejects compliments or downplays acknowledgment. For example, when someone praises your achievements, admires your intelligence, or commends your hard work, how often do you brush it off or silently cringe instead of graciously accepting the kind words? On the surface, this might seem humble, but lurking beneath can be a form of pride shaped by insecurity.

This type of pride arises from fear and self-doubt, a reluctance to acknowledge our own worth and see ourselves as valuable. By refusing to own our strengths or achievements, we deny not only ourselves but also the gifts and abilities granted to us by God.

Charles Stanley offers an especially compelling analogy on this issue. He writes, “Our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ is a long journey that begins at salvation and ends in heaven. Our walk is strewn with adversity, hazards, and dangers to overcome or avoid. One such obstacle is pride. It is a spiritual landmine. It is analogous to an explosive device buried in the ground to wreak horrific physical harm or death. Hidden pride is embedded and often unrecognized in our hearts” (Stanley). When it “explodes,” it causes spiritual damage. Our lives, relationships, and walk with the Lord are often profoundly impacted.

“Our enemy Satan lays spiritual landmines in our path to trip us up, and one of his most effective ones is pride. Therefore, we must learn to detect it quickly in order to guard against sin. Often, we are slow to see and admit that we have a problem with pride because it tends to hide behind feelings of inadequacy” (Stanley).

The story is told of a young man, barely into his twenties, who had recently begun his walk as a child of the King. A college student by day, he was known for his quiet demeanor and a shyness that often served as his shield against the world. Social encounters left him uncomfortable, and he spent much of his time observing rather than participating. To him, shyness was simply a part of who he was, a harmless quirk that defined his interactions with others.

One day, seemingly by chance, he stumbled upon a Christian book buried among the shelves of a campus library. Intrigued but unsure why he felt compelled to pull it out, he flipped through its pages until a startling comment caught his attention. The author remarked that shyness, often viewed as innocent, could actually be sinful. The statement struck him like lightning. Could his natural tendency to retreat from others be wrong?

The author explained that shyness, at its core, was a form of self-focus—a preoccupation with one’s own insecurities, weaknesses, or discomforts. This excessive inward gaze, the book argued, could prevent someone from stepping forward in faith, engaging with others, or fulfilling the Father’s purpose. It was pride in disguise, a hidden trap of focusing too much on self rather than trusting in God’s strength.

It was a stunning revelation the young man had never considered. Could his reluctance to speak up or engage genuinely be rooted in subtle pride? The thought unsettled him, yet it resonated deeply. For the first time, he saw his shyness as more than a personality trait—it was a barrier, a weight holding him back from the fullness of life in Christ.

With a repentant heart, he knelt down that very evening. He poured out his soul, acknowledging his hidden pride masked as shyness. “Father, forgive me,” he prayed, tears streaming down his face. “Help me to trust in You, not my weaknesses. Give me the courage to step out of myself and into Your will.”

REFLECT & PRAY

The proud man with “haughty eyes” is placed in the very worst company in Proverbs, heading the ‘seven abominations’ in Proverbs 6:17 (Kidner).

Father, please reveal all of the hurtful and wicked ways within my heart. I see the hidden pride within, acknowledge it, and release it to You.

INSIGHT

How grievous is the sin of pride? The answer is surprising and unexpected. The Father puts pride in the same category as murder (Stanley)!

Proverbs 6:16-17

16 There are six things the LORD hates– no, seven things he detests:
17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent [murder].

All sins are not equal. And there are seven that the Lord detests more than all others. He calls them abominations. “An abomination refers to anything that is abhorred or regarded as disgusting” (UBS). The Hebrew terms translated as “to Him” or “He detests” do not reflect the original Hebrew. The original Hebrew, napšô, literally says, “to His soul.” In essence, pride hurts and grieves the very heart or soul of God.

Ponder that for a moment and consider.

When we are guilty of these seven sins, we actually cause the Father “pain,” “sorrow,” and “disgust” in the deepest recesses of His being. In modern English, we would say, “We bring tears to His eyes” or “We break His heart.”

I would hope that no child of the King who deeply loves Him wants to do that knowingly. When we truly love someone, the last thing we wish to do is harm the person we care about.

Proverbs 6:16-19

16 There are six things the LORD hates – yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:
17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent,
18 a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong,
19 a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family.

The Hebrew term translated as haughty eyes is rum, which literally means high, lofty, or exalted. Metaphorically, it has the sense of being raised up, haughty, or proud. The expression of haughty eyes refers to a proud look, suggesting arrogance.

The Scriptures are crystal clear: God hates human pride.

James 4:6 God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. The same thought is found elsewhere in Scripture Proverbs 3:34 and 1 Peter 5:5.

“Proverbs 16:5 says, ‘Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord.’ That’s why we cannot serve Him while clinging to our own self-importance. When God is given second place in our lives, the work of the Holy Spirit is hindered. Then we make foolish mistakes because we are focused not on Him but on ourselves” (Stanley).

How can we actualize this in our lives and reduce our pride and arrogance?

The first step in addressing hidden pride is awareness. Take an honest look at your heart. Are there moments where you reject acknowledgment or affirmations? Do you downplay your strengths or dismiss the gifts others see within you? These subtle signs are often the clues we need to unearth this hidden struggle.

Hidden pride is a silent adversary, but it doesn’t have to define us. “The key to overcoming pride is to fix our eyes on God and the depth of His character. He alone is worthy of all exaltation” (Stanley).

Micah 6:8 O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?

¯_(ツ)_/¯6-12-2

I AM the LORD! ∙∙

I AM the LORD! ∙∙

They did not listen to him because of their discouragement and harsh labor. – Exodus 6:9

Exodus 6:1-9

1 Then the LORD told Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh. When he feels the force of my strong hand, he will let the people go. In fact, he will force them to leave his land!”

2 And God said to Moses, “I am Yahweh – ‘the LORD.’”

3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as El Shaddai – “God Almighty” – but I did not reveal my name, Yahweh, to them.
4 And I reaffirmed my covenant with them. Under its terms, I promised to give them the land of Canaan, where they were living as foreigners.

5 You can be sure that I have heard the groans of the people of Israel, who are now slaves to the Egyptians. And I am well aware of my covenant with them.
6 Therefore, say to the people of Israel: “I am the LORD. I will free you from your oppression and will rescue you from your slavery in Egypt. I will redeem you with a powerful arm and great acts of judgment.”

9 So Moses told the people of Israel what the LORD had said, but they refused to listen anymore. They had become too discouraged by the brutality of their slavery.

Dr. Shane Lopez, a Senior Scientist at Gallup and one of the world’s foremost experts on hope, dedicated his life to understanding and spreading this vital emotion. He believed that hope is both contagious and life-changing. Here are some of his observations. “The tiny ripple of hope you set in motion can change the path of someone’s life. Hope is created moment by moment through our deliberate choices. It happens when we use our thoughts and feelings to temper our aversion to loss and actively pursue what is possible. How we think about the future – how we hope – determines how well we live our lives.”

Dr. Lopez identified several ways we can foster hope in ourselves and others:

• Modeling hope by treating others with the compassion, love, and kindness we also wish to receive.
• Caring enough to support others who are in need of help.
• Becoming a Super-Empowered, Hopeful Individual, someone who believes that the future can be brighter and who works to make it happen despite the obstacles in their way (psychologytoday.com).

Hope, however, does not mean the absence of struggle. The late Billy Graham once said, “The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in my eyes, and say, ‘O God, forgive me,’ or ‘Help me.’”

Similarly, Joyce Meyer observed that “Depression begins with disappointment. When disappointment festers in our soul, it leads to discouragement.” Yet, the spark of hope allows us to endure.

As James Whitcomb Riley put it, “The most essential factor is persistence – the determination never to allow your energy or enthusiasm to be dampened by the discouragement that must inevitably come.”

Hope also requires trust in God’s promises. When the Father makes a promise, the children of the King can rest in the certainty that it will be fulfilled. But often, before a promise comes to fruition, the Father shakes up the status quo. When He revealed Himself at Mount Sinai, the earth shook. In the future, when He shakes both the heavens and the Earth, as Hebrews 12:26-27 explains, God’s purpose in this shaking is to remove what can be shaken—to strip away what is temporary—so that only the eternal things remain.

This process can feel unsettling, but it’s also where hope thrives. Through the trials, disruptions, and changes, God calls us to focus on what is unshakable. And it’s in those moments of challenge that the ripple of hope begins to grow, transforming us and those around us. When we choose hope, we align with the Father’s eternal plan, trusting that even in the midst of the shaking, He is preparing something far greater than we can imagine.

Just as the Father shakes the heavens and the earth, He often shakes His children—not to harm them, but to refine and prepare them. Yet, we rarely welcome such moments of upheaval. We tend to see them as interruptions or sources of discomfort, especially when they make things feel worse before they get better.

When Moses returned from Mount Sinai, he approached Pharaoh as God had commanded him, boldly asking that the Israelites be set free from their slavery. But instead of liberation, Moses faced rejection. Pharaoh refused and, in retaliation, increased the burden on the Israelites. Now, they were tasked with making bricks without being given straw. Misery deepened. Moses, disheartened by Pharaoh’s response and the people’s suffering, felt he had failed. He blames himself and questions why the Lord asked him to do it in the first place.

Many of us can identify with Moses. He started his mission with zeal, full of faith that the Lord’s plan would succeed. But when everything crumbled, he fell flat on his face. Frustration and self-doubt kicked in, and he complained and whined. Why would God choose someone so inadequate for such an important task? But that was precisely the reason the Father chose Moses. His inadequacy left room for God’s power to be revealed.

Sadly, Moses wasn’t the only one consumed by negativity. After 400 years of backbreaking servitude and making bricks, what could be worse? Try making bricks without straw.

Exodus 6:9 tells us that the people wouldn’t even listen to Moses because of their crushed spirits.

The word translated as crushed is qotser. Qotser has the sense of “broken,” “discouragement,” or “despondency”—literally means “shortness.” When paired with spirit (ruach), it conveys impatience, exhaustion, and utter defeat. The Israelites were overwhelmed by despair. Beaten down, discouraged, and depleted, they became heartsick and just gave up.

Proverbs 13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is like a tree of life.

The Israelites’ hope had been deferred for so long that they couldn’t imagine anything changing. Their current pain blinded them to the future promise of freedom. Charles Stanley captures the moment. “When we feel oppressed, and our spirit groans, it is difficult for us to believe the good promises of God regarding our welfare.” Instead of being long-suffering, they figured they had suffered long enough. They had had enough. All hope was lost.

But just as God’s shaking strips away what is temporary to reveal what is eternal, He was working behind the scenes to fulfill His promise to the Israelites. Though they couldn’t see it, their liberation was near. Sometimes, the darkest moments aren’t signs of God’s absence—they’re the moments just before His greatest work is revealed.

When our spirits feel crushed and victory seems impossible, by faith, we remember that the Father’s promises never fail. He has a way of using the storms of life to prepare us for the blessings ahead.

In the heat of the moment, sadly, we are blinded and lose hope.

REFLECT & PRAY

Physical suffering pains our bodies, but emotional suffering and discouragement bring leanness to our souls and ravage our hearts.

Father, remind me again and again and bring to my mind that no matter what my circumstances are or how gloomy and dire my situation seems to be, your answer always begins, “I am the LORD!”

INSIGHT

The irony is that initial failure lays the groundwork for ultimate success. Pessimism and doubt are the fertile soil in which promises are fulfilled.

Matthew 19:26 With God, all things are possible.

The Scriptures are filled with examples of the Father accomplishing the impossible, especially when all hope seems lost. Consider a few awe-inspiring events: raising Lazarus from the dead, protecting the three Hebrew men in the fiery furnace, parting the Red Sea, sending angelic armies to defend Elisha and Gehazi, and the greatest miracle of all—the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

The issue has never been with the Father’s power or faithfulness. The difficulty lies in our discouragement and lack of faith. The Father desires for us to know and believe that He is the answer to all our problems and circumstances. Our physical, emotional, and eternal well-being depends solely on His unchanging character and attributes.

Why did the Father allow Moses to fail at the very beginning of his mission when he first approached Pharaoh? Perhaps if Pharaoh had released the nation of Israel the first time Moses asked, Moses would have received most of the credit. Instead, his attempt completely backfired, and he had to shoulder all the blame.

The people became convinced that Moses was incapable of leading them to the Promised Land. Only the Father could bring them out of Egypt by His mighty hand (Exodus 32:11). As Moses and Pharaoh quarreled over the release of Israel from bondage, it became increasingly clear that the Father was teaching His people to place all their trust in Him. In due time, they discovered that when all else failed, the one thing they could count on was the One who declared, “I am the LORD” (Ryken and Hughes).

“Exodus is a God-centered book with a God-centered message that teaches us to have a God-centered life. Whatever problems we have, whatever difficulties we face, the most important thing is to know who God is. We are called to place our trust in the One who says, ‘I am the LORD.’ . . . When nothing seems to go right, and it is not certain how things will ever work out – even then he says, ‘I am the LORD’” (Ryken and Hughes).

¯_(ツ)_/¯12-05-2

God has a sense of humor ∙

God has a sense of humor ∙

About noontime, Elijah began mocking them. “You’ll have to shout louder,” he scoffed, “for surely he is a god! Perhaps he is daydreaming or is relieving himself. Or maybe he is away on a trip or is asleep and needs to be awakened!” – 1 Kings 18:27

Exodus 32:21-24

21 Then Moses said to Aaron, “What did this people do to you, that you have brought such great sin upon them?”
22 Aaron said, “Do not let the anger of my lord burn; you know the people yourself, that they are prone to evil.”
23 “For they said to me, ‘Make a god for us who will go before us; for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’”
24 “I said to them, ‘Whoever has any gold, let them tear it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I threw it [the gold] into the fire, and out came this calf.”

“Does God have a sense of humor? He must have if He created us” (Jackie Gleason).

“God has a sense of humor. If you don’t believe me, tomorrow go to Walmart and just look at people” (Carlos Mencia).

“Thank you, God!” she exclaimed. “You didn’t just send help—you sent me a professional!”

God’s sense of humor can appear in the most unexpected ways, and this story reminds us of His creativity and grace. It’s not unlike the biblical account of Moses and Aaron, which has its own humorous twist.

When Moses received the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai, he left the people of Israel waiting below. Time passed, and the people grew restless—some even thought Moses had died. They decided they wanted to go back to Egypt and begged Aaron to make an idol, something tangible for them to follow. Aaron agreed and made a golden calf for them.

Moses was not dead, and when he came down the mountain and saw what was going on, he was furious. He confronts Aaron about his actions. Aaron’s response is hysterical. Aaron’s explanation might be one of the most unintentionally comedic moments in Scripture:

Exodus 32:21-24

21 Moses asked Aaron, “What did these people do to you that you led them into such a great sin?”
24 Aaron replied, “They gave me the gold, I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!”

Right!

Because a fully formed golden calf just magically appeared out of the fire. Aaron’s response shows us that even in the most grave or serious situations, God’s Word brims with unexpected humor and humanity.

Through stories like these, we are reminded of God’s character—He operates with wisdom beyond our understanding yet sprinkles moments of laughter and lightness to remind us of His joy.

REFLECT & PRAY

“I don’t trust anyone who doesn’t laugh” (Maya Angelou).

Father, thank You for loving me so deeply and being my heavenly Father. I’m so grateful for the many ways You show Your love and care for me again and again. Thank You for delighting in spending time with me and playing with me.

INSIGHT

One of the most vivid stories in the Bible is the showdown between Elijah and the prophets of Baal, a contest to determine whose god was real. Elijah set the stage with a challenge. Was Israel’s God, Yahweh, the one true God? Or was Baal, the god of the Canaanites, supreme?

The terms were simple. A bull was sacrificed and placed on an altar. Neither he nor the prophets of Baal could use man-made fire to burn the sacrifice. They would have to call on their deity to send fire from heaven to light the wood ablaze and consume the offering.

The prophets of Baal went first. From morning until noon, they cried out, pleading with Baal to respond. They danced, shouted, and even cut themselves to get the attention of their god. But the sky remained silent. There was no fire, no answer—just silence.

Elijah, watching the entire spectacle, couldn’t resist a bit of sarcasm. He began mocking them, saying, “Shout louder! Maybe he’s deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he’s sleeping and needs to be woken up!” His taunts underlined the powerlessness of their false god.

This moment was a clear demonstration of Yahweh’s power and presence. It silenced Israel’s doubts and reminded them that there is only one true God. Elijah’s confidence in the Lord and his boldness in confronting falsehood remain an inspiration for believers today.

1 Kings 18:27-29

27 About noontime, Elijah began mocking them. “You’ll have to shout louder,” he scoffed, “for surely he is a god! Perhaps he is daydreaming or is relieving himself. Or maybe he is away on a trip, or is asleep and needs to be awakened!”
29 They raved all afternoon until the time of the evening sacrifice, but still, there was no sound, no reply, no response.

Perhaps Baal is distracted; maybe he is daydreaming or occupied and not really paying attention. How un-godlike.

The next taunt is far more cutting and a bit crude. Perhaps he is relieving himself. The Hebrew word translated as relieving himself or busy is sig. Sig literally means dung or excrement. “Holladay says that the Hebrew word here means ‘has to attend to business’ and is a euphemism meaning ‘to relieve himself’” (UBS). Thus, the word picture is a bit graphic of Baal relieving himself, that is, having a bowel movement. Again, how un-godlike. You can fill in the blanks on this one (cf. 1 Samuel 24:3).

Why was there no response from Baal? Elijah derisively suggests that perhaps Baal had gone on a journey or was sleeping. Maybe shouting louder would help.

1 Kings 18:36-39

36 Elijah the prophet walked up to the altar and prayed, “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, prove today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant. Prove that I have done all this at your command.
37 O LORD, answer me! Answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God and that you have brought them back to yourself.”
38 Immediately the fire of the LORD flashed down from heaven . . ..
39 And when all the people saw it, they fell face down on the ground and cried out, “The LORD – he is God! Yes, the LORD is God!”

When it was Elijah’s turn, he took things even further to demonstrate Yahweh’s might. He drenched the wood, the bull, and the altar with water—not once, but three times—until everything was soaked and water-filled a trench around the altar. Then Elijah prayed a simple yet bold prayer, asking God to show His power. Instantly, fire from heaven fell and consumed not just the bull but the wood, the stones, the soil, and even the water.

There’s no denying that one of the most unexpected and amusing stories in the Bible is the tale of Balaam and his talking donkey. It starts with God sending an angel to block Balaam’s path as he traveled. Balaam, however, couldn’t see the angel standing in the road—but his faithful donkey could. Trying to protect Balaam, the donkey stepped off the path to avoid the angel. Balaam, unaware of what was happening, got angry and beat the donkey.

This happened not once, not twice, but three times. Frustrated beyond measure, the donkey eventually just laid down in the middle of the road, refusing to move. And then the truly astonishing happened.

Numbers 22:28-34

28 Then the Lord gave the donkey the ability to speak. “What have I done to you that deserves your beating me three times?” it asked Balaam.
29 “You have made me look like a fool!” Balaam shouted. “If I had a sword with me, I would kill you!”
30 “But I am the same donkey you have ridden all your life,” the donkey answered. “Have I ever done anything like this before?” “No,” Balaam admitted.
31 Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the roadway with a drawn sword in his hand. Balaam bowed his head and fell face down on the ground before him.
32 “Why did you beat your donkey those three times?” the angel of the Lord demanded. “Look, I have come to block your way because you are stubbornly resisting me.
33 Three times, the donkey saw me and shied away; otherwise, I would certainly have killed you by now and spared the donkey.”
34 Then Balaam confessed to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned. I didn’t realize you were standing on the road to block my way. I will return home if you are against my going.”

The humor in this moment is undeniable. Balaam, so wrapped up in his anger, didn’t even pause to reflect on the absurdity of arguing with his donkey. He was so blinded by his frustration that he missed the miraculous nature of what was happening right in front of him.

The moral of the story? If your donkey starts talking, don’t make a donkey out of yourself by arguing back, especially when a talking donkey is outsmarting you!

This story isn’t just about humor—it’s also a reminder of God’s playfulness and creativity. Like any loving Father, God delights in connecting with His children in unexpected and even entertaining ways. Whether it’s through a sarcastic prophet, a talking donkey, or the small joys embedded in our everyday lives, God has a way of using moments like these to catch our attention and teach us important lessons.

The question is, are we paying attention? Pray for eyes that see His fingerprints in the ordinary—and the extraordinary. Don’t miss the humor, the joy, and the gentle reminders of His love that He weaves into your daily life.

¯_(ツ)_/¯10-30-2

© Dr. H 2024

Poor giving ∙∙

Poor giving ∙∙

And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury. – Luke 21:1

Luke 21:1-4

1 While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box.
2 Then, a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins.
3 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus said, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them.
4 For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.”

Remember the “good old days” when you could haul your piggy bank, brimming with coins, to the local bank? With a sense of accomplishment, you’d watch as the coins were carefully counted out and exchanged for crisp paper currency. While times have certainly changed, those days aren’t entirely gone. Say hello to Coinstar.

Coinstar brings coin counting into the modern era. Found in many major supermarkets across the United States, Coinstar kiosks are a handy solution for turning loose change into something more functional. Simply pour your coins in and choose your desired exchange option—cash, gift card, or even a charitable donation. Clink, clink, cha-ching, cha-ching, and you’re done

The sound of coins brings to mind a fascinating parallel from history. During the time of Jesus, the Jewish temple had a section known as the treasury. Within this area were thirteen trumpet-shaped receptacles. These collection containers were narrow at the top and flared out at the bottom.

People would throw their coins into these trumpets, and the coins would echo with a metallic melody as they tumbled down. The noise each offering produced was unmistakable, and, as you might imagine, it drew attention. The larger the offering, the louder the sound. It makes you wonder—is this where the phrase “blowing your own horn” originated?

Picture the scene as Jesus sits and observes the offerings one day. A rich man strides forward with his generous contribution, casting in a multitude of coins. The noise is loud and dazzling—clunk, clunk, cha-ching, cha-ching, reverberating through the temple and capturing the attention of onlookers. It would have been a proud moment indeed.

Then comes a poor widow. Her humble contribution—two small coins—barely makes a sound. Clink, clink, and her moment passes quietly, almost unnoticed by those around her.

But Jesus notices. He sees beyond the noise. They are both doing the same thing: giving. While the rich man’s offering impresses the crowd, Jesus’ focus is on the widow. He sees her heart, her selflessness, and her trust in giving everything she has, even though it’s small in material value. From His perspective, her humble sacrifice is worth more than the rich man’s abundant offering—because her giving stems from a place of pure faith and devotion.

This scene offers a profound lesson. What matters is not the size of the gift but the size of the giver’s heart. Why we give holds far more weight than what we offer. Are we giving to be noticed, to feel proud, or to garner applause? Or are we giving out of love, gratitude, and a desire to honor God? While the world often measures generosity by the size of the gift, Jesus evaluates the size of the heart behind it.

The Father turns everything on its head. True value doesn’t lie in how much is given but rather in how much is kept. This profound truth invites humbling self-reflection, challenging us to scrutinize our motives and priorities regarding generosity.

Two key factors determine the worth of any gift. The first is the intention behind it. Gifts with true value flow from the abundance of a loving heart, demonstrating selflessness and genuine care. The second is the degree of sacrifice involved. A gift that represents little sacrifice to one person might be an overwhelming expression of generosity for another. Consider the widow’s offering in the temple. For the wealthy, their gifts cost them very little—they gave out of their surplus, their abundance. Conversely, the widow gave all she had, holding back nothing. Her sacrifice was total, and in the Father’s eyes, her tiny offering outweighed the vast contributions of the rich (Barclay).

Some people give with reckless, joyful abandon, unable to restrain the generosity bubbling over within them. Others carefully calculate their giving, measuring precise amounts to fulfill an obligation or a predetermined percentage.

And yet, as Anne Frank beautifully put it, “No one has ever become poor by giving.” Giving enriches the soul, expands the heart, and aligns us with the Father’s generous heart. Paradoxically, though, withholding what we can provide can impoverish us in ways far beyond financial loss. It can leave us spiritually barren, disconnected from the joys of selflessness and the blessing of seeing lives transformed through generosity.

The widow’s gift reminds us that the Father doesn’t measure our giving by the size of the amount but by the size of our heart’s surrender. True generosity is never about what we give to impress others or satisfy a sense of duty—it’s about giving in love and trust, holding nothing back, and reflecting the Father’s heart.

REFLECT & PRAY

“Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness” (Martin Luther King).

Father, encourage me to follow the example of the poor widow and be wise and generous in my giving.

INSIGHT

Giving goes beyond just monetary contributions; it encompasses time, care, active listening, sharing, nurturing, and being attentive to the needs of others. In the Torah, the five books of Moses, the importance of sharing is emphasized through established principles. One of these principles is the practice of gleaning.

Leviticus 19:9-10

9 When you harvest the crops of your land, do not harvest the grain along the edges of your fields, and do not pick up what the harvesters drop.
10 It is the same with your grape crop – do not strip every last bunch of grapes from the vines, and do not pick up the grapes that fall to the ground. Leave them for the poor and the foreigners living among you

Gleaning is all about sharing the harvest. It is not about giving away the farm.

Gleaning is a beautiful concept rooted in the idea of sharing the harvest without depleting one’s resources. It’s not about “giving away the farm” but rather about intentionally and wisely sharing the abundance that God has provided. It’s an act of generosity balanced with stewardship. In modern terms, we generously give out of our abundance without diminishing our principal.

Generous giving is not something only a few are born with—it’s a skill that can be learned and cultivated. The apostle Paul outlines practical principles.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8

6 Remember this – a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.
7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”
8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.

“Paul’s emphasis falls on the value of advanced planning and preparation rather than last-minute scrambling and the resultant pressure” (Ciampa and Rosner). Good giving is planned giving. There was to be “No pressure, no gimmicks, no emotion” (Garland). As the Father provides success or prosperity, we are to set aside a portion of it to provide for others. The greater the abundance, the greater our ability to give. “Although he does not say as much, such a plan will also ensure a greater gift than a single collection” (Fee).

Each child of the King should set aside a portion of what we have received due to the Father’s blessing (1 Corinthians 16:2).

In the first century A.D., paychecks and direct deposits did not exist. People earned money through various means, such as labor, farming, and fishing. Some weeks or even seasons would bring an abundance, while at other times, there might be nothing at all. Many children of the King were slaves and had no income.

Ultimately, what matters is not the size of the gift but the generosity of the giver’s heart.

Learning to give generously starts with recognizing your abundance. It’s about seeing what God has entrusted to you—not as something to hoard—but as something to steward well and share. It’s not about draining your resources but about using the overflow to make a difference. And in practicing joyful generosity, you align your heart with God’s. He delights in cheerful givers because their giving reflects His own generous, abundant nature.

Again, what matters is not the size of the gift but the size of the giver’s heart.

¯_(ツ)_/¯1-31-1

Hurt people, hurt people ∙∙

Hurt people, hurt people ∙∙

The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. – Isaiah 61:1

Psalms 34:18-22

18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
19 The righteous person faces many troubles, but the LORD comes to the rescue each time.

22 But the LORD will redeem those who serve him. No one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

Who are the walking wounded?

The term “walking wounded” originates in first aid and triage and describes individuals with less severe injuries. These people are conscious and breathing and are of lower priority for immediate medical treatment. Sometimes, they even assist in helping those more critically hurt.

Emotionally, the walking wounded are people carrying deep losses, searching for closure but but never achieving 100% satisfaction. They go through life functioning, yet something inside them remains broken. Grief is a personal journey with no predefined path or guidebook. Everyone’s experience of loss is different, and navigating it often feels like wandering around in unknown territory.

Many of the walking wounded have wounded hearts. They had been ravaged by emotional pain. Wounded hearts can ache throughout a lifetime. To shield themselves, they prioritize safety and self-protection above all else, vowing never to be hurt again. The fear of vulnerability drives them to avoid being powerless, rejected, abandoned, dominated, or betrayed.

Folks with wounded hearts limit and control their emotions. They are like a rental truck with the governor or speed limiter on the engine, limiting the top speed. They function within boundaries that keep them from fully experiencing life. They may appear organized but struggle to maintain control. While they can be kind and giving, they may lack warmth and are hardly inviting. Though outwardly functional, they rarely feel fully alive.

Healing a wounded heart is not a one-size-fits-all process. However, the first step is recognizing that the Father’s love is constant and unwavering. He watches over the brokenhearted, offering comfort and healing. He understands their pain and sorrow. The Father is close and reaching out to them. He draws near.

Psalm 34:18 reminds us, “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”

The Father is an excellent heart surgeon, fully capable of repairing what feels irreparably broken. He works with precision and care, making no errors. His touch is safe and therapeutic. However, healing—even when guided by divine hands—can bring with it the fear of more pain. The question remains: Is the healing worth the potential discomfort? Is the risk worth the liberating outcome? The answer lies in the freedom and renewal that only His work can bring.

The 21st century has seen the emerging new modalities of regenerative science. Previously, deep wounds, insults to the body, and broken body parts necessitated invasive surgery and lengthy recuperation times. Enter the age of regenerative medicine, using STEM cells and PRP to regenerate human tissue without any surgical intervention and prolonged recovery or trauma.

If human innovation can achieve such remarkable outcomes, how much greater is the Father’s ability to restore emotional wounds and shattered spirits? He mends brokenness with a gentle touch, offering healing without additional pain, drawing the wounded into wholeness and life once more.

When permitted to operate, He performs the spiritual healing we desperately need. With profound care, He soothes our pain, brings comfort, and applies His unique and perfect healing balm. The process of restoration begins with His gentle touch. No matter how overwhelming the pain feels or how broken our hearts may seem, we can fully trust our hearts to the loving, compassionate, and skilled hands of the One who made it.

Psalm 147:3 reassures us, “He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.”

The Hebrew word translated as “heals” is rapha. Rapha has the sense of providing everything necessary to restore and make whole. While a human surgeon may fix physical heart damage, only the Father has the power to renew and completely restore a broken heart.

Redemption and regeneration are at the core of His divine business model,
bringing life, hope, and healing to places that seemed beyond repair.

REFLECT & PRAY

The pain of a wounded heart can feel overwhelming, almost impossible to endure. Yet, with grace, we can bear it. Healing and recovery seldom happen in an instant; instead, they unfold gradually, much like the recovery process after physical heart surgery. Restoration takes time, patience, and trust.

Father, I come to You with a damaged and shattered heart. I desperately need Your healing touch. Please do what only You, in Your infinite love and power, can do.

INSIGHT

The Father does not exempt His children from troubles, but He faithfully walks with us through them. We can always count on His unwavering acceptance and understanding.
As we receive His forgiveness, acceptance, and affirmation, we are to forgive and accept others as we have been forgiven and accepted. The way we respond to others in similar situations reveals the state of our hearts. Our attitudes and actions reflect our hearts. May we cultivate hearts filled with mercy, love, and forgiveness as we walk in His example.

James 2:13 There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.

How much acceptance should we extend to others? The answer lies in how much we have received ourselves.

Romans 15:7 says, “Accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.”

Sadly, many of us pass on the rejection we’ve experienced. As the saying goes, “Hurt People, Hurt People” (Sandra Wilson). But that cycle can stop right here and now. The pain of past rejection does not have to dictate how we treat others today or in the future. By letting go of the all-too-frequent tendency to reject others, we expand our ability to accept them.

Isaiah 43:18 reminds us, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.”

Wiersbe describes bitterness as a deep-rooted animosity that corrupts and poisons our inner being. It often starts small—someone offends us, and instead of letting it go, we hold on to resentment. Over time, this bitterness grows and manifests outwardly as anger and wrath, eventually spilling over into harmful actions: “brawling (clamor) or blasphemy (evil speaking). The first is fighting with fists; the second is fighting with words” (Wiersbe).

Sadly, bitterness and anger often stem from trivial beginnings but quickly escalate and create havoc, causing significant damage. While, as Children of the King, we are called to reflect God’s love, we often find ourselves falling into these toxic patterns.

Ephesians 4:31-32 reminds us, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malice. Instead, be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”

As Children of the King, we are invited to cultivate an attitude of forgiveness toward others, which mirrors the forgiveness we have received through the Lord Jesus Christ. Through kindness and tenderheartedness, we demonstrate His transforming power in our lives. Forgiveness is not just an action—it’s the evidence of His love at work in us, reshaping our hearts and the way we treat others.

¯_(ツ)_/¯9-14-2

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: