by Alesha Sinks | Oct 15, 2015 | Uncategorized
“But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.”
Matthew 15:18
<img src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55c38a57e4b00989028332c9/1444869987749-V3VJQB2H1C1QQQV8MA8U/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kOyctPanBqSdf7WQMpY1FsRZw-zPPgdn4jUwVcJE1ZvWQUxwkmyExglNqGp0IvTJZUJFbgE-7XRK3dMEBRBhUpwwQIrqN0bcqL_6-iJCOAA0qwytzcs0JTq1XS2aqVbyK6GtMIM7F0DGeOwCXa63_4k/image.jpg?format=original" alt=""/>
There are all kinds of things we can do or not do and say or not say to be humble. But those things are useless on their own.
It is easy to fake humility. It’s easy to act ourselves into thinking we’re humble. It’s even easy to get so good at acting humble that we are prideful about our “humility”.
But actions don’t create or determine humility.
The heart determines humility.
<img src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55c38a57e4b00989028332c9/1444870207167-XB0UOTH2OKK75CUVIQ6T/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kJbosy0LGK_KqcAZRQ_Qph1Zw-zPPgdn4jUwVcJE1ZvWQUxwkmyExglNqGp0IvTJZUJFbgE-7XRK3dMEBRBhUpyRoXPauM_hSH3XAFUMH3fmO1jdMVKkonRM0cGdyUtJRnZ7FnwXS6LE3CJOOwAGcs0/image.jpg?format=original" alt=""/>
And hearts are hard to change. Hearts are tricky and selfish and deceitful.
My heart…
Your heart…
…our hearts are wicked.
““The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?”
Jeremiah 17:9
So can our wicked hearts, our minds inclined to sin, and our lives tainted by evil, even be capable of humility?
Yes. For we serve a God who changes hearts. That is what He has done all along…
“I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart.”
Jeremiah 24:7
…and that is what He will continue to do in us.
So let’s come to Him asking, seeking tender and humble hearts. He has promised to give to those who ask and to be found by those who seek.
And yes…it takes humility to even ask, to even believe that He is great enough to change our hearts.
Be blessed
<3
by Alesha Sinks | Oct 15, 2015 | Uncategorized
“But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.”
Matthew 15:18
<img src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55c38a57e4b00989028332c9/1444869987749-V3VJQB2H1C1QQQV8MA8U/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kOyctPanBqSdf7WQMpY1FsRZw-zPPgdn4jUwVcJE1ZvWQUxwkmyExglNqGp0IvTJZUJFbgE-7XRK3dMEBRBhUpwwQIrqN0bcqL_6-iJCOAA0qwytzcs0JTq1XS2aqVbyK6GtMIM7F0DGeOwCXa63_4k/image.jpg?format=original" alt=""/>
There are all kinds of things we can do or not do and say or not say to be humble. But those things are useless on their own.
It is easy to fake humility. It’s easy to act ourselves into thinking we’re humble. It’s even easy to get so good at acting humble that we are prideful about our “humility”.
But actions don’t create or determine humility.
The heart determines humility.
<img src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55c38a57e4b00989028332c9/1444870207167-XB0UOTH2OKK75CUVIQ6T/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kJbosy0LGK_KqcAZRQ_Qph1Zw-zPPgdn4jUwVcJE1ZvWQUxwkmyExglNqGp0IvTJZUJFbgE-7XRK3dMEBRBhUpyRoXPauM_hSH3XAFUMH3fmO1jdMVKkonRM0cGdyUtJRnZ7FnwXS6LE3CJOOwAGcs0/image.jpg?format=original" alt=""/>
And hearts are hard to change. Hearts are tricky and selfish and deceitful.
My heart…
Your heart…
…our hearts are wicked.
““The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?”
Jeremiah 17:9
So can our wicked hearts, our minds inclined to sin, and our lives tainted by evil, even be capable of humility?
Yes. For we serve a God who changes hearts. That is what He has done all along…
“I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart.”
Jeremiah 24:7
…and that is what He will continue to do in us.
So let’s come to Him asking, seeking tender and humble hearts. He has promised to give to those who ask and to be found by those who seek.
And yes…it takes humility to even ask, to even believe that He is great enough to change our hearts.
Be blessed
<3
by Alesha Sinks | Sep 17, 2015 | Uncategorized
{This post is an excerpt from my devotional ebook Perspective Reset: 28 readings and meditations from the Psalms. You can download the devotional for FREE when you
subscribe to my newsletter.}
<img src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55c38a57e4b00989028332c9/1443079599490-MXR8JHL2JEBC68VGNEER/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kEpbgve5YFelGwPmz2kJviRZw-zPPgdn4jUwVcJE1ZvWQUxwkmyExglNqGp0IvTJZUJFbgE-7XRK3dMEBRBhUpzriop3Pxd49apG-BeX_2ABtgdm9qy5i88BQdvWNb9Zau2L6tp6zTRDNXSYy6g_ODo/image.jpg?format=original" alt=""/>
“O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatver passes along the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
Psalm 8:1-9 ESV
Have you ever gazed out on the ocean or looked up at a starry night sky or tilted your head back to view the full height of a mountain and simply felt small? Have you ever looked at the span of history or considered the hugeness and diversity of our earth or considered the eternal impact of your own life and felt tiny and helpless?
It brings me great comfort to read that David felt the same way.
“When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” (v 3-4)
So many things in life, from the vastness of creation to belittling treatment by another human being, can cause us to feel small. And the truth of the matter is, we are small. In the scope of eternity, our lives are brief and seemingly insignificant.
But the truth also is, we are radically loved by God and highly valued by Him.
God created us in His image. (Genesis 1:27)
God put the earth under our care and dominion. (Genesis 1:26)
God revealed Himself to us over and over, and even sent His own Son to be born in human form and to walk among us. (Philippians 2:5-7)
God not only sent His Son to be with us, but sent Him to die for us, to rescue us from our sin and restore relationship with Him. (John 3:16)
And the list could go on and on of what God has done for us and the care and attention He has bestowed on each of us.
Maybe you don’t feel it today.
Maybe you don’t feel His loving eyes on you.
Maybe you don’t feel like He has a plan for you.
Maybe you don’t feel the weight of worth He has placed on your life by making you in His own likeness.
But what you feel, doesn’t change the truth of it.
When you feel small and insignificant, remember that David felt it too. But he didn’t stop there. He preached to his own heart the weight of glory God has placed on mankind, and it led him to worship.
“O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” (v 9)
Verse to Meditate On Today:
“O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.”
by Alesha Sinks | Sep 17, 2015 | Uncategorized
{This post is an excerpt from my devotional ebook Perspective Reset: 28 readings and meditations from the Psalms. You can download the devotional for FREE when you
subscribe to my newsletter.}
<img src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55c38a57e4b00989028332c9/1443079599490-MXR8JHL2JEBC68VGNEER/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kEpbgve5YFelGwPmz2kJviRZw-zPPgdn4jUwVcJE1ZvWQUxwkmyExglNqGp0IvTJZUJFbgE-7XRK3dMEBRBhUpzriop3Pxd49apG-BeX_2ABtgdm9qy5i88BQdvWNb9Zau2L6tp6zTRDNXSYy6g_ODo/image.jpg?format=original" alt=""/>
“O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatver passes along the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
Psalm 8:1-9 ESV
Have you ever gazed out on the ocean or looked up at a starry night sky or tilted your head back to view the full height of a mountain and simply felt small? Have you ever looked at the span of history or considered the hugeness and diversity of our earth or considered the eternal impact of your own life and felt tiny and helpless?
It brings me great comfort to read that David felt the same way.
“When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” (v 3-4)
So many things in life, from the vastness of creation to belittling treatment by another human being, can cause us to feel small. And the truth of the matter is, we are small. In the scope of eternity, our lives are brief and seemingly insignificant.
But the truth also is, we are radically loved by God and highly valued by Him.
God created us in His image. (Genesis 1:27)
God put the earth under our care and dominion. (Genesis 1:26)
God revealed Himself to us over and over, and even sent His own Son to be born in human form and to walk among us. (Philippians 2:5-7)
God not only sent His Son to be with us, but sent Him to die for us, to rescue us from our sin and restore relationship with Him. (John 3:16)
And the list could go on and on of what God has done for us and the care and attention He has bestowed on each of us.
Maybe you don’t feel it today.
Maybe you don’t feel His loving eyes on you.
Maybe you don’t feel like He has a plan for you.
Maybe you don’t feel the weight of worth He has placed on your life by making you in His own likeness.
But what you feel, doesn’t change the truth of it.
When you feel small and insignificant, remember that David felt it too. But he didn’t stop there. He preached to his own heart the weight of glory God has placed on mankind, and it led him to worship.
“O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” (v 9)
Verse to Meditate On Today:
“O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.”
by Alesha Sinks | Nov 17, 2012 | Uncategorized
Hello lovelies! Ready?
First Word that Pops into My Head:
Rough – Who knows? Don’t ask. =)
People I Know:
Rachel – I know a lot of Rachel’s
Robin – One of my mom’s best friends
Robbyn – Dear friend from Olympia
Rebecca – I know a few Rebecca’s too
Reese
Ray
Rhys
Rich – My uncle! The one we visited in New Jersey
Ronnie – Redemption Church member! =)
Colors:
Red
Robin Egg Blue
Ruby
Rose
Royal Blue
Royal Purple
Russet
Rust
Razzmatazz – Isn’t this just the coolest color name EVER! =) It makes me happy.
Favorites:
Ribbon
Roses
Rich Foods (haha!)
Recycling
Dictionary Word I didn’t Know:
Raciology – The study of racial differences
Food:
Radishes
Raisins
Ramen
Ruby Red Grapefruit
Red Onion (YUCK)
Red Potatoes (YUM)
Ribs (I love, love, LOVE ribs)
Reeses (Dark Chocolate Reese’s peanut butter cups are heaven in a wrapper.)
Rhubarb (My mom makes a fabulous strawberry rhubarb pie…maybe I should share that recipe sometime)
Well, there you R! 😉 Have a RADICALLY awesome weekend!
Be blessed.
<3
by Alesha Sinks | Nov 10, 2012 | Uncategorized
Hello! I have a Question for you…am a little nervous for this week (just wait til “x”), are you? Let’s see how it goes!
First Word that Pops into My Head:
Quick – Hmmm…in a hurry to get this done, Alesha? (now I’m talking to myself…uh oh)
People I Know:
Quinton – Sort of an acquaintance from my “homeschooling days” – which I guess was most of my schooling. =) LOL!
Colors:
Quartz Grey – Question? Why have I not heard of this color before?
Favorites:
Quality time
Quality products
Quality people
Quality….ummm, maybe just quality
Dictionary Word I didn’t Know:
Quackle – to choke; to suffocate
I know it’s a bit horrible, but I think this word is hilarious! I want to use it, but at the same time I don’t, because I don’t want anyone to suffocate. Yet on the other hand, I still want to use the word! =)
Food:
Quinoa
Quiche
Quesadillas
Quail – I’ve never had quail. Question for those of you who have: is it good?
I shouldn’t have been nervous. It was a bit short but not bad. (I’m still convinced “x” will be a nightmare though!)
Have a wonderful weekend lovelies!
Be blessed.
<3
