It's hard to get me out of the picture.

I am not talking about photographs. I am talking about the things God wants to do in our lives and can't because we are standing in the way.

Someone comes up and says, "I want to know Jesus. I want to see Him. I want to know Him." And just like someone taking a photograph of Him, here's Lee (or you!) bobbing up in the photograph of Jesus, blocking His Glory, and their view of Him.

And then they make a mistake and we get all upset, but its only because their picture of Jesus is distorted, only a piece of the real Jesus because we got in the way.

And they say, "this is what I saw."

Isa 42:8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

My wife brought this scripture forth a few weeks ago. She was impressed with the fact that the Lord would not come in His fullness and power(who could stand?), until He was certain A) we would not touch His glory, and B)pride was removed.

And I know I have been in the picture too often. I was challenged by someone's statement that because of my charismatic nature people are attracted to me. That puts me in the photo, without even trying. And yes, "I" is in the picture too often. Pride.

I so frequently feel I have other choices, like not talk to people(hard to do when a)you are a pastor and b)loneliness is a batttle in your life.) Pride needs to come down in my own life and in the church today. I have made progress. Not enough. There is still enough Lee in the picture to muddy the waters for the new believer's snapshot of Jesus.

My wife attends a women's advance this weekend, so its me and God for a few days. Time to work on me!

A thought for today...is our pride preventing Jesus from restoring relationships and hindering His work in our lives and our church?