Today has been an interesting day and not at all routine.  I’ve had pets, (usually dogs) since my wife is allergic to cats, most of the years we had children at home.  Now that they are grown with their own children, I’ve enjoyed the freedom of life without pets.  However, yesterday my wife and youngest daughter went to McCall, ID with my daughter’s four kids.  The 2 dogs are now with me.  The one is timid and shy while the other is so rambunctious he runs into himself trying to decide which way to go next.  I’ll have these two for the next four days.  This isn’t a huge thing, just a reminder that the peacefulness I love can have many interruptions.

In my devotions this morning I was reminded of Matthew 5:3 where Christ says:  “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  This time I looked up “poor in spirit” to find its actual meaning.  I found that poor in spirit means recognizing how weak we are if we operate in our own spirit.  If we recognize we are poor in spirit we can then claim the strength of The Holy Spirit and surrender our weakness for His Strength.  This is such a simple truth, yet profound when trying to apply it.  As the ones who have begun to read this blog know, today ends the first week of it.  I can see how many are following it, but I don’t know how many actually read it without responding to it.  My pride wants my book and this blog to reach everyone who is hurting and lost.  In a week’s time I want this done.  Well, in reality, I have a very few followers and probably just a few more readers.  So, this morning when I was having my devotions Christ reminds me of Matthew 5:3–“Blessed are the poor in spirit….”  My spirit was mine rather than His at the moment of my pridefulness.  So, I surrendered it and now feel much better!  The new me knows that each one of God’s children count.  If I can help one or a million ones, it is not up to me but up to Him who leads me.