hardships

The best things in life are the result of being wounded.  Wheat must be crushed before becoming bread, and incense must be burned by fire before its fragrance is set free.  The earth must be broken with a sharp plow before being ready to receive the seed.  And it is a broken heart that pleases god.

In order to live life in his presence we must be broken to ourselves totally.  We must be totally surrendered to him and his will for us.  If we are not totally broken to ourselves we are still worldly and subject to all it's slings, arrows, and pitfalls.  We must be totally ready and a moments notice to do what he asks. 

Lord i pray that i am totally ready to do your will.  I pray that through my travels and how i conduct myself that i am a beacon in a dark and thirsty land.  I pray that i am the kind of father and husband that leads my family in your way.  I pray that i and the kind of servant, ready to do your will anytime!


 ⁴ Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
⁵ You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

⁶ Though he was God,^[a]
    he did not think of equality with God
    as something to cling to.
⁷ Instead, he gave up his divine privileges^[b];
    he took the humble position of a slave^[c]
    and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,^[d]
8     he humbled himself in obedience to God
    and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

⁹ Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
    and gave him the name above all other names,
¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹ and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

IHP!