Not that I have already obtained it...

"Into the darkness of petty self-preoccupation has shone ‘the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Cor. 4:4). This is about the glory of Christ, not about me. And when it is - in some measure – about me, it is not about my being made much of by God, but about God mercifully enabling me to enjoy making much of Him forever."

I am often times preoccupied with self. This is why I posted this quote by John Piper. How convicting yet encouraging it was for me to read this. Also this past Friday at Bible study our shepherd spoke on the heinous sin of Pride. He spoke of the importance of maintaining a right view of ourselves and a HIGH view of God our King. We were exhorted to be humble, broken, and trembling.

At one point he told us to realize who we are and who God is. When he said that, I wrote in my notes: I'm a worm...dust, and of God I wrote: HOLY, HOLY, HOLY.

I always have a lot on my mind. My little brother who's in a placement camp for boys, my mom whose got diabetes and who is struggling financially, my youngest sister's spiritual growth, as well as that of all my sisters and brother-in-laws who know Christ, my dad who hasn't been to church for a long time, but says he is reading the Word (I don't see him living it out though).

My prayer is that I'll learn to trust God, and learn to cast all my burdens upon Him. I am praying that God will be glorified in the lives of my parents who are divorced, so that they may know Him and look to Him for wisdom on how to bring up my two youngest sibs, and that they would know true and lasting joy. It's hard to know what to do. How can I help? "I lift up my eyes unto the hills, where does my help come from? It comes from the Lord!" Nothing is too hard for the maker of heaven and earth!

Pray with me for them and for me to love Him with all my heart, mind, soul and strength, and to show my family the same loving compassion which was shown me by Christ on the cross.