Dear Friends:

Last week, a girlfriend came over to pick up one of my favorite books of all time, Humility by Andrew Murray. As she looked at the cover, she asked incredulously, “When did life become all about me? I’m consumed with myself.” She went on to tell me that she recently broke off an engagement because she realized that self-absorption and marriage just don’t mix. She’s absolutely right. I applaud her self-awareness because most of us have no idea just how consumed we are with ourselves. I shuddered when the depth of my own pride became abundantly clear one day.

Exactly when did life become all about us? I believe it started in the Garden of Eden. The same tricks satan used to ensnare Eve at the beginning of mankind, still work brilliantly today. The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life get us every time. Pride, in essence, says: ‘It’s all about me. I don’t need God. I can do it myself.’ This sense of self-sufficiency is rampant in today’s culture.

The media and pop culture do a great job in promoting that spirit of pride. Just look at the most popular TV shows; “American Idol” “America’s Next Top Model” “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.” These messages all scream; “I’m number one!” “I’m a winner and you’re a loser!” “It’s all about me!” Our society breeds people who want to be exalted. To our detriment, the virtues of meekness, servanthood, and humility have become laughable in the world and virtually non-existent in the church.

Contrary to popular culture, it’s not about you. You were not created for your own pleasure. You were created by God for His pleasure. Until you realize this, life will be very frustrating. Jesus’ teachings on pride and humility are vast and clear:

himself will be exalted.” Luke 14:11

last.” Luke 13:30

servant.” Matthew 20:26

Matthew 5:5

In the Kingdom of God, the way up, is down and the way down is up. Remember, pride always comes before a fall. Just as pride says: ‘I don’t need God,’ humility says: ‘I am nothing without God. I choose to be nothing so that He can be all. "God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble". James 4:6.

As we enter this Christmas season, let us be ever mindful of the true reason for the season: The King of Kings and Lord of Lords who chose to make Himself of no reputation and came down from Heaven not to be served, but to serve and give His life a ransom for many. Behold, the meek and humble Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Let us humble ourselves, bow down and worship Him.

The Clean Heart Lifestyle Challenge
The Clean Heart Challenge is to read Andrew Murray’s enduring classic, Humility. My husband and I have both concluded that it is one of the most important books ever written about the most important virtue never discussed.

If you’re a pastor or ministry leader, I encourage you to teach about humility.

In the next newsletter, I will discuss the importance of humility in relationships. This, I learned the hard way but I firmly believe that humility is the very foundation of lasting love relationships.

The following is an excerpt from Humility:

I am sure there are many Christians who will confess that their experience has been very much like my own in this, that we had long known the Lord without realizing that meekness and lowliness of heart are to be the distinguishing feature of the disciple as they were of the Master. And further, that this humility is not a thing that will come of itself, but that it must be made the object of special desire and prayer and faith and practice. As we study the word, we shall see what very distinct and oft-repeated instructions Jesus gave His disciples on this point, and how slow they were in understanding Him. Let us, at the very commencement of our meditations, admit that there is nothing so natural to man, nothing so insidious and hidden from our sight, nothing so difficult and dangerous, as pride. Let us feel that nothing but a very determined and persevering waiting on God and Christ will discover how lacking we are in the grace of humility, and how impotent to obtain what we seek. Let us study the character of Christ until our souls are filled with the love and admiration of His lowliness. And let us believe that, when we are broken down under a sense of our pride, and our impotence to cast it out, Jesus Christ Himself will come in to impart this grace too, as a part of His wondrous life within us...read more

If you were to die today and are not sure where you will spend eternity, click here.

Testimonials
Thank you, Andrea, for the newsletter! Like the film itself, it is absolutely excellent. . . the finest product of its kind, produced and delivered with the purest possible motive. This is one of the sweetest ministries I've ever seen or experienced: it wrestles with the real issues and touches all the bases, always leading the individual to a personal relationship with Almighty God.

The film confirms a fact that has astonished me in my two years of life as a single man (following nearly 20 years of marriage and an involuntary divorce): some of the most accomplished, impressive, intelligent, youthful and incredibly beautiful women on the planet are single Black women over 40!...read more

Prayer Request
Please pray that God continues to guide this ministry and provide all the provisions necessary for completing our assignment in the earth and our mission to provide relevant, relatable and irresistible forms of media which will help transform this world into the Kingdom God created it to be.