One thing that I need to be more consistant with is putting a little more thought in to what I'm learning through what I read in scripture.  So hopefully I'll get a few more posts like this one over the next while.  We'll see, I'm great at starting things but not so great at keeping them going.

Read: One Year Bible, August 8, Ezra 7:1-8:20, 1 Cor 4:1-21, Psalm 30:1-12, Prov. 20:28-30 NLT

Learned (reminded):  Ezra blows me away.  Here is a king (Artaxerxes) who funds Israel's return to the land as well as the rebuilding of the Temple.  The king gives a huge sum of money, supplies and power to Ezra.  There was nothing that Ezra could have done to accomplish this task, Ezra had no power over the king, he couldn't get the king to do this.  Only God could have done something like that.  God didn't just get the king to let the Israelites go back, that would have been miraculous enough.  God didn't even stop at giving them their freedom and just enough money to survive, God gave to them in abundance!! 
    Then in 1 Corinthians Paul tells the Corinthians, "what do you have that God hasn't given you?  And if  all that you have is from God, why boast as though you have accomplished something on your own?" 
    I get really caught up in what I can do for God.  I guess that is human nature, we what to be important and do great things.  It is true that God can use to do great things.  God accomplished great things through Ezra, through the abundance He provided for him by way of the king.  God accomplished great things through Paul, through Paul's relentless preaching and sufferings.  Paul and Ezra were willing servants of God and He used them greatly.  I need to remember that it is God who works through me.  Ministry isn't about me, about my good ideas or even the words I use.  Ministry is about being willing to be used by God and constantly humbly submitting myself to His plans.

Prayer:  God, give me the humility to submit myself to your plans and purposes.  Please give me the strenght to do what You want accomplished and let all the Glory be Yours.  Amen.